Telephone Regulations (Amendment)

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STATUTORY RULES.

1958. No. 14.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1950.*

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 1901-1950.

Dated this eleventh

day of March, 1958.

W.J.Slim

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

Postmaster-General.

Amendments of the Telephone Regulations.†

Facilities provided.

1. Regulation 30 of the Telephone Regulations is repealed and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

“30.—(1.) For the rental payable under regulation 29 of these Regulations, the Department shall—

(a) provide and maintain all necessary exchange equipment;

(b) subject to the payment of the extra charge (if any) payable under regulation 31 of these Regulations, provide and maintain the necessary line from the exchange to the telephone; and

(c) subject to payment of the increased amount (if any) payable under regulation 33b of these Regulations, provide and maintain the telephone for the service.

“(2.) Notwithstanding anything in the last preceding sub-regulation and subject to regulation 91 of these Regulations, the Department is not required to provide and maintain the whole or part of the necessary line from the exchange to the telephone if, in the opinion of the Department, the provision and maintenance of the line or that part of the line by the Department is not justified.”.

Services to distant exchanges.

2. Regulation 32 of the Telephone Regulations is amended by omitting from paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (1.) the words “wall pattern”.

* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 20th March 1958.

† Statutory Rules 1927, No. 145, as amended to date. For previous amendments of the Telephone Regulations see footnote † to Statutory Rules 1957, No. 46.

6220/57.—Price 3d. 9/19.12.1957.

3. After regulation 33 of the Telephone Regulations the following regulations are inserted:—

Type of telephone provided.

“33a. Nothing in the preceding provisions of this Division imposes an obligation on the Department to provide a telephone of a type other than a handset type of telephone and, where a telephone of a type other than a handset type of telephone is provided on an existing service, the Department may, if, in its discretion, it considers such a course to be necessary, provide a telephone of a handset type in place of the telephone provided for the service.

Increased charges for certain types of telephones.

“33b. Where a telephone of a type specified in the first column of the table in this regulation is provided by the Department either at the request of the subscriber or in pursuance of the last preceding regulation, the rental or charges otherwise payable under this Division shall be increased by the amount specified in the second column of that table opposite to that type.

Type of Telephone.	Amount of Increase per annum.
	s.	d.
Pedestal type..........................................	5	0
Handset wall type ......................................	7	6
Handset table type ......................................	12	6

Provision of services not wholly provided by Department.

4. Regulation 91 of the Telephone Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from paragraph (d) the words “Department the” and inserting in their stead the words “Department, the rental and”;

(b) by omitting paragraph (e) 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, subject to paragraph (fa) of this regulation, one telephone, complete with batteries, for installation by the applicant at his own cost;”;

“and (iii) for the fees specified in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this paragraph, the Department shall, subject to the next succeeding paragraph, provide a telephone, complete with batteries, for each point for installation by the applicant at his own cost;”;

(d) by inserting after paragraph (f) the following paragraph:—

“(fa) Where a telephone of a type specified in the first column of the table in regulation 33b of these Regulations is provided by the Department either at the request of the subscriber or in pursuance of the next succeeding sub-regulation, the rental and charges payable shall be increased by the amount specified in the second column of that table opposite to the type of telephone for each telephone of the type so provided;”; and

(e) by adding at the end thereof the following sub-regulation:—

“(2.) Nothing in the last preceding sub-regulation imposes an obligation on the Department to provide a telephone of a type other than a handset type of telephone and, where a telephone of a type other than a handset type of telephone is provided on an existing service, the Department may, if, in its discretion, it considers such a course to be necessary, provide a telephone of a handset type in the place of the telephone provided for the service.”.

By Authority: A. J. Arthur, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1958, No. 14, made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950, aim to amend the Telephone Regulations by the Commonwealth of Australia. Enacted by the Governor-General in accordance with the Federal Executive Council, these regulations respond to the need for updated provisions governing telephone services, including the types of telephones provided, the charges for different types, and the responsibilities of the Department in terms of equipment and line maintenance. The policy objective is to ensure the efficient and cost-effective management of telephone services while providing clear guidelines for both the Department and subscribers regarding equipment types and associated costs. This legislative instrument was made to provide a structured framework that addresses both the administrative and financial aspects of telephone services, thereby ensuring clarity and consistency in service delivery.

Scope and Application

The Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950 pertain specifically to the services provided by the Department, particularly concerning telephone services. These regulations apply to subscribers who use the telephone services provided by the Department and dictate the terms and conditions under which such services are rendered. The Regulations outline the responsibilities of the Department in providing and maintaining exchange equipment, telephone lines, and telephones, including the types of telephones available and the associated charges. The regulations also detail the circumstances under which the Department may decline to provide or maintain certain telephone lines if it deems such provision unjustified. These regulations have a national reach, applying across the Commonwealth of Australia and are intended to govern the operational aspects of the telephone services provided by the Department. Any amendments or additions to these regulations can be made through subordinate instruments, allowing for adjustments to be implemented in response to changing needs or circumstances without the need for primary legislation amendments.

Key Provisions

The primary operative sections of these regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950 concern the provision and maintenance of telephone services, including exchange equipment, telephone lines, and telephones themselves. Regulation 30 specifies that the Department is responsible for providing and maintaining necessary exchange equipment and telephone lines, subject to certain conditions and additional charges. Regulation 33a further clarifies that the Department is not obligated to provide a telephone other than a handset type, and may replace any other type of telephone with a handset type if deemed necessary. Regulation 33b outlines increased charges for certain types of telephones, such as pedestal, handset wall, and handset table types, as specified in the regulation. Regulation 91 details the services to be provided by the Department, including the provision of a telephone for installation by the applicant at their own cost, and the associated charges and rental payments. The obligations imposed by these regulations on the Department include providing and maintaining necessary exchange equipment and telephone lines, subject to the payment of additional charges as specified. The Department is also required to provide a telephone for installation by the applicant at their own cost, and to increase charges for certain types of telephones as outlined in the regulation. The Department may replace any telephone of a type other than a handset type with a handset type if deemed necessary. Additionally, the Department is not required to provide and maintain the whole or part of the necessary line from the exchange to the telephone if it is deemed not justified. There are no explicit offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences outlined in these regulations for breach of any provision. However, the failure to comply with the regulations, such as not providing necessary services or charging incorrect amounts, could potentially result in legal action or other consequences under the broader legislative framework of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950. The specific consequences would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, and could include financial penalties, legal action, or other remedies as appropriate.

Instrument: Regulation
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Licensing & Registration; Reporting & Disclosure Obligations

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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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