{"id":"C1915L00009","name":"Control of Radiotelegraphic Communication in Emergencies Regulations","slug":"control-of-radiotelegraphic-communication-in-emergencies-regulations","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"repealed","isInForce":false,"actNumber":"9 of 1915","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":20620,"registerId":"commonwealth-C1915L00009-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"Repealed","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Control of Radiotelegraphic Communication in Emergencies Regulations","content":"STATUTORY RULES.\n\n1915\\. No. 9.\n\nREGULATION UNDER THE WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY ACT 1905 AND THE TELEGRAPH ACT 1909.\n\n(Issued provisionally as Statutory Rules 1914, No. 156.)\n\nI, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the undermentioned Regulation under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905 and the Telegraph Act 1909, to come into operation forthwith.\n\nDated this 14th day of January, One thousand nine hundred and fifteen.\n\nR. M. FERGUSON,\n\nGovernor-General.\n\nBy His Excellency’s Command,\n\nW. G. SPENCE,\n\nPostmaster-General.\n\nRegulation under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905 and the Telegraph Act 1909.\n\nControl of Radiotelegraphic Communication in Emergencies.\n\n(1) The Postmaster-General may, notwithstanding anything contained in a license issued to a licensee under the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations 1913, by order published in the Gazette, prohibit for such time as he directs any licensee (whether licensed in respect of a land station or a ship station) from communicating with any radiotelegraph station licensed by, or belonging to, or in any country which is at war with His Majesty the King, or the possessions thereof.\n\n(2) Any order under this Regulation may prohibit all communications whatever, or may permit communications to particular stations, or under special circumstances.\n\nPrinted and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.\n\nC.393.—Price 3d.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"model":"kimi-k2.5","source":"moonshot-batch","completionTokens":1914},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This 1915 regulation formalises the provisional 1914 version without expanding its scope. It remains tightly focused on the original emergency purpose: enabling executive control over radiotelegraphic communication with enemy nations during WWI."},"complexity_factors":["Only 2 operative subsections","No definitions section or defined terms","No internal cross-references","Simple, direct conferral of discretionary power without nested conditions","Single-purpose wartime instrument with minimal procedural requirements"],"plain_english_summary":"This regulation gives the government emergency powers to censor radio communications during wartime.\n\n**The practical effect:**\nThe Postmaster-General can issue orders banning licensed radio operators—including ship and land stations—from communicating wirelessly with stations in **enemy countries** (nations at war with Britain). These orders, published in the official Gazette, can block all messages or allow exceptions for specific stations or special circumstances.\n\n**Who it affects:**\nLicensed wireless telegraphy operators in Australia (both land-based and maritime).\n\n**Why it matters:**\nCreated during World War I, this was a national security measure to prevent sensitive military and commercial information reaching enemy forces via early radio technology (then called 'wireless telegraphy'). It allowed the government to override existing radio licenses to control telecommunications in a national emergency."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/control-of-radiotelegraphic-communication-in-emergencies-regulations","history":"/api/acts/control-of-radiotelegraphic-communication-in-emergencies-regulations/history","analysis":"/api/acts/control-of-radiotelegraphic-communication-in-emergencies-regulations/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/control-of-radiotelegraphic-communication-in-emergencies-regulations/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/control-of-radiotelegraphic-communication-in-emergencies-regulations/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/control-of-radiotelegraphic-communication-in-emergencies-regulations/documents"}}