(1) The Minister shall, after taking into consideration any advice furnished to him or her by the Australian Postal Commission and any advice furnished to him or her by the Australian Telecommunications Commission, determine, in writing, to which of the Services, that is to say, the Australian Postal Commission Service or the Australian Telecommunications Commission Service, it is appropriate to appoint:
(a) officers of the Australian Public Service who were, on the relevant day, holding, or performing the duties of, officers in the Postmaster - General's Department; and
(b) officers of the Australian Public Service who were, on the relevant day, unattached officers in the Postmaster - General's Department.
(2) Where the Minister determines that it is appropriate to appoint an officer of the Australian Public Service to the Australian Postal Commission Service, the officer shall be deemed to have been appointed by the Australian Postal Commission, on the commencing day, to that Service under section 42 of the Postal Services Act 1975 .
(3) Where the Minister determines that it is appropriate to appoint an officer of the Australian Public Service to the Australian Telecommunications Commission Service, the officer shall be deemed to have been appointed by the Australian Telecommunications Commission, on the commencing day, to that Service under section 39 of the Telecommunications Act 1975 .
(4) Subsections ( 2) and (3) do not apply to a person who ceased to be an officer of the Australian Public Service on or after the relevant day but before the commencing day.
(5) References in this section to the Minister are:
(a) in the application of this section before the commencing day--references to the Postmaster - General; and
(b) in the application of this section on and after that day--references to the Minister administering this Act or another Minister acting for and on behalf of that Minister.