Commonwealth Numbered Acts

POSTAL SERVICES ACT 1975 No. 54, 1975 - SECT 21

Division 3-Carriage of Mail
21. (1) The Commission may, by notice in writing addressed to the Australian
National Railways Commission, the person having, under the law of a State,
control of the government railways of the State or the owner or manager of any
other railways in a State and served as prescribed by the regulations, require
that scheduled trains under the control of that person be made available as
specified in the notice for the carriage of mail on behalf of the Commission
as provided in the notice and that the usual facilities for the receipt,
transmission and delivery of mail so carried be provided on those trains.

(2) Where mail is carried on trains in a State or Territory in compliance with
a requirement under sub-section (1), the Commission is liable to pay, for the
carriage of mail and the provision of the facilities, such annual sum as may
be agreed upon or, in the default of agreement, as is determined by
arbitration-

   (a)  in the case of payment for carriage or for facilities provided on a
        railway vested in the Australian National Railways Commission-in
        accordance with the law of the Australian Capital Territory; or

   (b)  in any other case-in accordance with the law of the State or
        Territory, relating to the settlement of commercial disputes by
        arbitration.

(3) A reference in this section to a railway under the control of a person
includes a reference to a bus service or other vehicular service operated by
the person for the carriage of persons or goods in accordance with fixed
schedules to and from fixed terminals over specific routes with or without
intermediate stopping places between terminals.

(4) A reference in this section to a train includes a reference to a bus or
other vehicle operated in connexion with a service referred to in sub-section
(3).