STATUTORY RULES
1968 No.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1966.*
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1966.
Dated this fourteenth day of February, 1968.
CASEY
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
Postmaster-General
[
Amendments of the Telephone Regulations†
Objectionable or fictitious messages.
1. Regulation 63 of the Telephone Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (1.) the words—
“Penalty: One hundred dollars.”
and inserting in their stead the words—
“Penalty: Two hundred dollars or imprisonment for twelve months.”.
Provision of services partly by the Department and partly by the subscriber.
2. Regulation 91 of the Telephone Regulations is amended—
(a) by omitting paragraph (e) of sub-regulation (1.) and inserting in its stead the following paragraph:—
“(e) For the rental and charges referred to in the last preceding paragraph, the Department shall provide all necessary exchange equipment and shall, without cost to the applicant, install a telephone;”;
(b) by omitting sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph (f) of sub-regulation (1.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-paragraph:—
“(ii) in return for that fee, the Department shall, without cost to the applicant, install a telephone for each additional point;”; and
(c) by omitting from sub-regulation (2.) the word “provide” (wherever occurring) and inserting in its stead the word “install”.
Installation of apparatus.
3. Regulation 101 of the Telephone Regulations is repealed.
* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 1968.
† Statutory Rules 1927, No. 145, as amended to date. For previous amendments of the Telephone Regulations, see footnote to Statutory Rules1968, No. 18, and see also Statutory Rules 1968, No. 18; and Act No. 63, 1967.
By Authority: A. J. Arthur, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra
25342/68—Price 5c 9/15.11.1968
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1968 No. Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1966, enacted by the Governor-General in accordance with advice from the Federal Executive Council, address specific amendments to the Telephone Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1966. The primary objective of these regulations is to enhance penalties for objectionable or fictitious messages, modify the terms for the provision of telephone services, and update the procedures for the installation of telephone apparatus. The alterations to the penalties aim to deter the misuse of telecommunication services, while the changes to service provisions and installation procedures reflect evolving technological standards and operational practices within the telecommunications sector.
Scope and Application
The Statutory Rules 1968 No. 19, made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1966, establish specific amendments to the Telephone Regulations. These amendments are aimed at updating penalties for objectionable or fictitious messages, enhancing clarity on the provision of services by the Department and subscribers, and making adjustments to the installation of telephone apparatus. The regulations apply to entities and individuals who engage in telephone services within the Commonwealth of Australia. The amendments specify a new penalty of two hundred dollars or imprisonment for twelve months for the transmission of objectionable or fictitious messages, replacing the previous penalty of one hundred dollars. Furthermore, the regulations clarify the roles and responsibilities of the Department in providing and installing telephone services, ensuring that certain equipment and installations are provided free of charge to applicants. The repeal of Regulation 101 concerning the installation of apparatus also signifies a shift in how services are to be rendered by both the Department and subscribers. These regulations collectively aim to streamline and modernise the administration of telephone services under the Post and Telegraph Act.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of these Regulations, under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1966, concern the amendment of the Telephone Regulations. Specifically, Regulation 63 is amended to increase the penalty for objectionable or fictitious messages from one hundred dollars to either two hundred dollars or imprisonment for twelve months (Reg. 1). Regulation 91 is amended to specify that the Department will provide all necessary exchange equipment and install telephones at no cost to the applicant, replacing the previous requirement that the Department provide such services (Reg. 2). Additionally, Regulation 101 is repealed, which previously dealt with the installation of apparatus (Reg. 3).
The obligations and requirements imposed by these Regulations on the parties or entities they govern include increased penalties for sending objectionable or fictitious messages, as well as a change in the Department's role from providing to installing necessary exchange equipment and telephones. The Department must now install telephones without cost to the applicant, as per the amended Regulation 91. Furthermore, the repeal of Regulation 101 removes any previous obligations related to the installation of apparatus.
The Regulations also outline the consequences for breaches. Specifically, Regulation 1 now states that the penalty for sending objectionable or fictitious messages is two hundred dollars or imprisonment for twelve months. This is an increase from the previous penalty of one hundred dollars. The Regulations do not explicitly detail other civil or criminal consequences for breaches beyond these penalties. The maximum penalty for the specified offence is clearly defined as either a fine of two hundred dollars or imprisonment for twelve months.