Telegraph Lines Protection Regulations (Amendment)

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1973 No. 191

REGULATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1971.

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL of Australia, acting with the advice of the Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1971.

Dated this twenty-fifth day of September, 1973.

PAUL HASLUCK

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

LIONEL BOWEN

Postmaster-General.

Amendments of the Telegraph Lines Protection Regulations†

Commencement.

1. These Regulations shall come into operation on 1 October 1973.

Schedule.

2. The Telegraph Lines Protection Regulations are amended as set out in the Schedule.

SCHEDULE

Amendments of the Telegraph Lines Protection Regulations

Provision	Amendment
1. Sub-regulation 11 (2).........	Omit the words “ three feet ”, substitute the figure and word “ 0.09 metre ”.
2. Paragraph 19 (5) (a)..........	Omit the words “ half a mile ”, substitute the words “ one kilometre ”.
3. Sub-paragraph 19 (5) (a) (i).....	Omit the figure and word “ 2 volts ”, substitute the figure and word “ 2.5 volts ”.
4. Sub-paragraph 19 (5) (a) (ii).....	Omit the figure and word “ 1 volt ”, substitute the figure and word “ 1.25 volts ”.
5. Sub-paragraph 19 (5) (b) (i).....	Omit the figure and words “ by 2 a number equal to the distance in miles and parts of a mile ”, substitute the figure and words “ by 1.25 a number equal to the distance in kilometres and parts of a kilometre ”.
6. Sub-paragraph 19 (5) (c) (i).....	Omit the figure and words “ by 4 a number equal to the distance in miles and parts of a mile ”, substitute the figure and words “ by 2.5 a number equal to the distance in kilometres and parts of a kilometre ”.

* Notified in the Australian Government Gazette on 27 September 1973.

† Statutory Rules 1934, No. 130, as amended by Statutory Rules 1962, No. 28.

Schedule—continued

Provision	Amendment
7. Paragraph 19 (5) (d)...........	Omit the figure and word “ 3 yards ”, substitute the figure and word “ 2.7 metres ”.
8. Sub-paragraph 19 (5) (e) (i).......	Omit the figure and words “ 1.5 milliohms per yard ”, substitute the figure and words “ 1.6 milliohms per metre ”.
9. Sub-paragraph 19 (5) (e) (ii)......	Omit the figure and words “ 6 milliohms per yard ”, substitute the figure and words “ 6.4 milliohms per metre ”.
10. Sub-paragraph 26 (8) (a) (i)......	Omit the figure and words “ 15 pounds per square foot ”, substitute the figure and word “ 750 Pascals ”.
11. Sub-paragraph 26 (8) (a) (ii).....	Omit the figure and words “ 25 pounds per square foot ”, substitute the figure and word “ 1200 Pascals ”.
12. Paragraph 26 (9) (a)...........	Omit the figure and words “ 60 degrees Fahrenheit”, substitute the figure and words “ 15 degrees Celsius ”.
13. Sub-regulation 27 (2)..........	Omit the words “ four twenty-fifths of an inch ”, substitute the figure and word “ 4 millimetres ”.
14. Sub-regulation 28 (1)..........	Omit the figure and word “ 700 pounds ”, substitute the figure and word “ 3000 Newtons ”.
15. Sub-regulation 28 (2)..........	Omit the figure and word “ 1250 pounds ”, substitute the figure and word “ 5000 Newtons ”.
16. Sub-paragraph 29 (4) (a) (i)......	Omit the figure and words “ 60 degrees Fahrenheit ”, substitute the figure and words “ 15 degrees Celsius ”.
17. Sub-paragraph 29 (4) (a) (ii).....	Omit the figures and words “ 7½ pounds per square foot ” and “ 10 pounds per square foot ”, substitute the figures and words “ 375 Pascals ” and “ 500 Pascals ” respectively.
18. Paragraph 29 (5) (a)...........	Omit the figure and words “ 60 degrees Fahrenheit ”, substitute the figure and words “ 15 degrees Celsius ”.
19. Sub-regulation 34 (1)..........	Omit the figures and words “ 6 feet ” and “ 3 feet ”, substitute the figures and words “ 2 metres ” and “ 0.9 metre ” respectively.
20. Paragraph 34 (2) (a)...........	Omit the figure and word “ 8 feet ”, substitute the figure and word “ 2.4 metres ”.
21. Sub-regulation 34 (4)..........	Omit the figures and words “ 8 feet ” and “ 4 feet ”, substitute the figures and words “ 2.4 metres ” and “ 1.2 metres ” respectively.
22. Paragraph 34 (6) (b)...........	Omit the figure and word “ 4 feet ”, substitute the figure and word “ 1.2 metres ”.
23. Sub-regulation 35 (1)..........	Omit the figure and word “ 10 yards ”, substitute the figure and word “ 9 metres ”.

Overview

Statutory Rules 1973 No. 191, enacted under the authority of the Governor-General of Australia, acting on the advice of the Executive Council, amends the Telegraph Lines Protection Regulations of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1971. These regulations, which came into effect on 1 October 1973, address the need to update and modernise existing measurements and standards used in the regulation of telegraph lines, ensuring compliance with contemporary technical specifications and international standards. The policy objective appears to be the streamlining of operational standards and enhancing the efficiency and safety of telegraph line maintenance and operations.

Scope and Application

These regulations, under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1971, apply to the protection of telegraph lines within Australia, impacting various entities, industries, and their conduct. They provide specific amendments to the Telegraph Lines Protection Regulations, updating technical specifications and measurements to reflect modern standards and international conventions, such as converting measurements from imperial to metric units. The regulations are applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia and extend to any person or entity involved in activities that affect telegraph lines, including utility companies, construction firms, and telecommunications providers. The regulations do not specify exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds but are enforced through the broader framework of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1971. The application of these regulations is further extended and detailed through subordinate instruments, which can provide additional clarifications or specific enforcement mechanisms as necessary.

Key Provisions

The Post and Telegraph Regulations 1973 (C1973L00191) amends the Telegraph Lines Protection Regulations, establishing new standards and specifications in various provisions. For instance, Section 1 changes the distance requirement from three feet to 0.09 metres, while Section 2 updates the distance from half a mile to one kilometre. Section 3 modifies the voltage from 2 volts to 2.5 volts, and Section 4 increases it from 1 volt to 1.25 volts. These changes are reflected across various provisions, updating measurements from imperial to metric units and adjusting specific values. The Regulations impose obligations on parties and entities governed by them to comply with the new standards and specifications. For example, entities must ensure that their equipment and installations adhere to the updated distances and voltages. Section 26 requires that equipment meet the new pressure requirements, while Section 27 necessitates that certain measurements be converted to metric units. The Regulations also require adherence to the new temperature standards specified in Sections 16 and 19. Breach of the Regulations can lead to civil or criminal consequences, although the specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text. Non-compliance with the updated standards and specifications could result in enforcement actions by the relevant authorities. While the exact penalties are not stated, it is likely that failure to adhere to these Regulations could result in fines, legal action, or other regulatory measures. The severity of the penalties would depend on the nature and extent of the breach.

Area of Law: Technology Law
Instrument: Legislative Instrument
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Regulatory Standards; Enforcement Powers

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.

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