PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS BROADCASTING.

No. 20 of 1946.

An Act to provide for the Broadcasting of the Proceedings of the Houses of the Parliament, and for other purposes.

[Assented to 5th July, 1946.]

BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title.

1. This Act may be cited as the Parliamentary Proceedings Broadcasting Act 1946.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Definitions.

3. In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—

“national broadcasting station” means a national broadcasting station within the meaning of the Australian Broadcasting Act 1942;

“the Committee” means the Joint Committee on the Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings appointed under this Act.

Broadcasting of parliamentary proceedings.

4. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Australian Broadcasting Act 1942, the Australian Broadcasting Commission shall broadcast the proceedings of the Senate or the House of Representatives from—

(a) a medium-wave national broadcasting station in the capital city in each State and in the city of Newcastle in the State of New South Wales; and

(b) such other national broadcasting stations (including shortwave national broadcasting stations) as are prescribed, upon such days and during such periods as the Committee determines.

Constitution of Committee.

5.—(1.) As soon as conveniently practicable after the commencement of this Act, and thereafter at the commencement of the first session of every Parliament, a Joint Committee of nine members of the Parliament, to be called the Joint Committee on the Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings, shall be appointed according to the practice of the Parliament with reference to the appointment of members to serve on Joint Select Committees of both Houses of the Parliament.

(2.) One of the members of the Committee shall be the President of the Senate, one member shall be the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and, of the other seven members of the Committee, two shall be members of, and appointed by, the Senate and five shall be members of, and appointed by, the House of Representatives.

Tenure of office of members of Committee.

6. The members of the Committee shall hold office as a Joint Committee until the House of Representatives for the time being expires by dissolution or effluxion of time.

Resignation.

7.—(1.) Any member of the Committee (other than the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives) may resign his seat on the Committee by writing under his hand addressed to the President of the Senate if he be a Senator, or to the Speaker of the House of Representatives if he be a member of the House of Representatives.

(2.) The seat of any member of the Committee shall be deemed to have become vacant if he ceases to be a Senator or a member of the House of Representatives (as the case may be).

Vacancies.

8. Where the seat of any member of the Committee (other than the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives) becomes vacant, it shall be filled by appointment according to the practice referred to in section five of this Act within fifteen sitting days after the happening of the vacancy if the House of the Parliament of which he is a member is then sitting, or, if not, then within fifteen sitting days after the next meeting of that House.

Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

9. There shall be a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman of the Committee, who shall be elected by the members of the Committee at their first meeting, or as soon thereafter as is practicable.

Quorum and procedure at meetings.

10. At any meeting of the Committee—

(a) five members shall form a quorum;

(b) the Chairman or, in his absence, the Vice-Chairman or, in the absence of both the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman, a member elected by the members present, shall preside

(d) the Chairman or other member presiding shall have a deliberative vote and, in the event of an equality of votes, shall also have a casting vote.

Power to sit during recess.

11. The Committee may sit and transact business during any adjournment or recess as well as during the session, and may sit at such times (including times while either House of the Parliament is actually sitting) and in such places, and conduct their proceedings in such manner, as they deem proper.

Functions of Committee.

12.—(1.) The Committee shall consider and specify in a report presented to each House of the Parliament, the general principles upon which there should be determined the days upon which, and the periods during which, the proceedings of the Senate and the House of Representatives shall be broadcast.

(2.) The Committee shall, in accordance with general principles specified by the Committee and adopted by each House of the Parliament, determine the days upon which, and the periods during which, the proceedings of either House of the Parliament shall be broadcast.

Delegation to Sub-Committee.

13.—(1.) The Committee may delegate to a Sub-Committee of the Committee, consisting of two Senators and two members of the House of Representatives, the power to determine the days upon which, and the periods during which, the proceedings of either House of the Parliament shall be broadcast, and any determination of the Sub-Committee shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to be a determination of the Committee.

(2.) Two members of the Sub-Committee shall form a quorum.

(3.) No delegation under this section shall prevent the exercise of any power by the Committee.

(4.) The Sub-Committee may sit and transact business during any adjournment or recess as well as during the session, and may sit at such times (including times while either House of the Parliament is actually sitting) as they deem proper.

Re-broadcasting of parliamentary proceedings.

14.—(1.) The Committee shall have power to determine the conditions in accordance with which a re-broadcast may be made of any portion of the proceedings of either House of the Parliament.

(2.) No re-broadcast shall be made of any portion of the proceedings of either House of the Parliament otherwise than in accordance with the conditions so determined.

No action for broadcasting parliamentary proceedings.

15. No action or proceeding, civil or criminal, shall lie against any person for broadcasting or re-broadcasting any portion of the proceedings of either House of the Parliament.

Section 90 of Australian Broadcasting Act inapplicable.

16. The provisions of section ninety of the Australian Broadcasting Act 1942 shall not apply to the broadcasting or re-broadcasting of any proceedings of either House of the Parliament.

Regulations.

17. The Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all matters which, by this Act, are required or permitted to be prescribed or which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.