No. 99 of 1991

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

PART 1—PRELIMINARY

Section

1.             Short title
2.             Commencement

PART 2—TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

3.                Interpretation

4.                Application

5.                Pre-existing notifications and directions to AUSTEL

6.                Pre-existing advisory committees established by AUSTEL

7.                Existing carriers may continue to operate pending grant of licences

8.                Disclosure of pre-existing communications

9.                Relief in respect of past infringing conduct

10.               Pre-existing interconnection rights

11.               Pre-existing class licences

12.               Pre-existing eligible services

13.               Pre-existing numbers

15.               Pre-existing authorities for connection of customer equipment

16.               Pre-existing licences for performing cabling work

17.               Pre-existing delegations by AUSTEL

18.               Continuation of investigations

19.               Existing members and associate members of AUSTEL

20.               Existing regulations under Telecommunications Act 1989

21.               Existing regulations under Telecommunications (Application Fees) Act 1989

22.               Application of State and Territory laws to Telecom

TABLE OF PROVISIONS—continued

Section

PART 3—REPEALS

23.               Repeal of regulatory legislation

24.               Repeal of Acts relating to Telecom and OTC

PART 4—AMENDMENTS

CONSEQUENTIAL ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1991

25. Amendments consequential on new regulatory legislation

PART 5—AMENDMENTS

CONSEQUENTIAL ON AUSTRALIAN AND OVERSEAS

TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION ACT 1991

26. Amendments consequential to formation of AOTC

SCHEDULE 1

SCHEDULE 2

No. 99 of 1991

An Act to enact transitional provisions, and to repeal some Acts and amend others, because of the enactment of the Telecommunications Act 1991, the Australian and Overseas Telecommunications Corporation Act 1991 and associated Acts

[Assented to 27 June 1991]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

PART 1—PRELIMINARY

Short title

1. The Act may be cited as the Telecommunications (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1991.

Commencement

2. (1) Part 1 commences on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

(2) Part 2, Part 3 (except section 24) and Part 4 commence on 1 July 1991.

(3) Section 24 and Part 5 commence on the day fixed under subsection 2 (1) of the Australian and Overseas Telecommunications Corporation Act 1991.

PART 2—TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

Interpretation

3. (1) In this Part:

“AUSSAT” means AUSSAT Pty Ltd;

“OTC” means OTC Limited.

(2) In this Part, unless the contrary intention appears, expressions have the same meanings as in the Telecommunications Act 1991.

Application

4. This Part has effect despite anything contained in the Telecommunications Act 1991.

Pre-existing notifications and directions to AUSTEL

5. (1) Any notification or direction given to AUSTEL under section 28 or 29 of the Telecommunications Act 1989 and in force immediately before the repeal of that section is taken to have been given to AUSTEL under section 49 or 50, as the case may be, of the Telecommunications Act 1991 on the commencement of that last-mentioned section.

(2) A reference in a notification or direction referred to in subsection (1) to a provision of the Telecommunications Act 1989 is a reference to the provision of the Telecommunications Act 1991 that corresponds, or most closely corresponds, to the first-mentioned provision.

Pre-existing advisory committees established by AUSTEL

6. (1) Any advisory committee that was established by AUSTEL under section 32 of the Telecommunications Act 1989 and was in existence immediately before the repeal of that section is taken to have been established under section 53 of the Telecommunications Act 1991 on the commencement of that last-mentioned section.

(2) Any direction that was given by AUSTEL under subsection 32 (3) of the Telecommunications Act 1989 to a committee referred to in subsection (1) of this section and was in force immediately before the repeal of that subsection is taken to have been given to AUSTEL under subsection 53 (3) of the Telecommunications Act 1991 on the commencement of that last-mentioned subsection.

Existing carriers may continue to operate pending grant of licences

7. (1) In this section:

“corporation to which this section applies” means AUSSAT, OTC or Telecom.

(2) A corporation to which this section applies may, after the commencement of this section, continue to perform the functions and exercise the powers that it was entitled to perform and exercise immediately before that commencement until:

whichever first occurs.

Disclosure of pre-existing communications

8. Section 88 of the Telecommunications Act 1991 applies to any disclosure or use by a person of a fact or document that takes place after the commencement of that section even though:

Relief in respect of past infringing conduct

9. Despite the repeal of section 69 of the Telecommunications Act 1989, that section continues in force in respect of conduct that was engaged in before that section was repealed.

Pre-existing interconnection rights

10. If, immediately before the commencement of section 137 of the Telecommunications Act 1991, a carrier within the meaning of the Telecommunications Act 1989 had, under section 49 of the Telecommunications Act 1989 or section 10a of the AUSSAT Act 1984, a right to interconnect its facilities to another carrier’s network on payment of an amount agreed between them or determined by AUSTEL, the payment of that amount is a term and condition for the purposes of the right of the first-mentioned carrier to interconnect its facilities to that other carrier’s network under section 137 of the Telecommunications Act 1991 and is taken to have been agreed or determined as mentioned in paragraph 137 (2) (b) of that Act.

Pre-existing class licences

11. (1) Until class licences are issued under section 209 of the Telecommunications Act 1991, services supplied after the commencement of that section in accordance with class licences within the meaning of the Telecommunications Act 1989 that were issued under section 75 of that Act and were in force immediately before the

repeal of that section are taken to be supplied under class licences issued under the first-mentioned section.

(2) This section has effect subject to section 12 of this Act.

Pre-existing eligible services

12. (1) Where, immediately before the repeal of section 104 of the Telecommunications Act 1989:

then, so far as it is supplied after that repeal, the service is taken to be an eligible service supplied under a class licence within the meaning of the Telecommunications Act 1991.

(2) However, if at any time after that repeal the person supplies the service in a way that is not in accordance with that approval, subsection (1) ceases to apply in relation to the supply of the service by the person.

Pre-existing numbers

13. Section 241 of the Telecommunications Act 1991 does not prohibit the provision of a telecommunications service by the use of numbers allocated before the national numbering plan referred to in that section is prepared.

Effect of standards determined under section 106 of the Telecommunications Act 1989

14. A technical standard that, immediately before the repeal of section 106 of the Telecommunications Act 1989, was in force under that section has effect after that repeal (including for the purposes of section 46a of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901) as if:

Pre-existing authorities for connection of customer equipment

15. Where, immediately before the commencement of Part 12 of the Telecommunications Act 1991 there was in force a permit (in this section called the “previous permit”) issued under section 118 of the

Telecommunications Act 1989 or a permit (in this section also called the “previous permit”) taken by section 126 of that Act to be issued under Division 4 of Part 5 of that Act:

Pre-existing licences for performing cabling work

16. Where, immediately before the commencement of Part 12 of the Telecommunications Act 1991 there was in force a cabling licence (in this section called the “previous cabling licence”) issued under section 131 of the Telecommunications Act 1989 or a cabling licence (in this section also called the “previous cabling licence”) taken by section 139 of that Act to be issued under Division 5 of Part 5 of that Act:

Pre-existing delegations by AUSTEL

17. Any delegation of a function or power of AUSTEL under the Telecommunications Act 1989 that was made under section 140 of that Act and was in force immediately before the repeal of that section continues in force after the commencement of section 279 of the Telecommunications Act 1991 as a delegation made under that section of the corresponding function or power of AUSTEL under that Act, being a function or power that AUSTEL is authorised by that section to delegate.

Continuation of investigations

18. (1) Where before the repeal of Part 6 of the Telecommunications Act 1989 AUSTEL had commenced, but had not concluded and reported on, an investigation under that Part, AUSTEL may complete and report on the investigation in accordance with that Part.

(2)     Where before the repeal of Part 6 of the Telecommunications Act 1989 the Minister had requested AUSTEL to conduct an investigation under that Part but AUSTEL had not concluded and reported on the investigation, AUSTEL must commence, or continue, as the case may be, and conclude and report on, the investigation in accordance with that Part.

(3)     Part 6 of the Telecommunications Act 1989 continues in force for the purposes of this section.

Existing members and associate members of AUSTEL

19. (1) A person who held office as a member of AUSTEL immediately before the repeal of Part 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1989 continues in office for the unexpired portion of the period of his or her appointment as if:

(b)     the person had been appointed under that section.

(2) A person who held office as an associate member of AUSTEL immediately before the repeal of Part 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1989 continues in office for the unexpired portion of the period of his or her appointment as if:

(b)     the person had been appointed under that section.

(3) Any directions given under subsection 160 (5) of the Telecommunications Act 1989 to a person referred to in subsection (2) that were in force immediately before the repeal of that Act continue in force as if:

(b)     the directions had been given under that subsection.

Existing regulations under Telecommunications Act 1989

20. (1) Subject to subsection (3), any regulations made under section 185 of the Telecommunications Act 1989 and in force immediately before the repeal of that section continue in force as if made under section 406 of the Telecommunications Act 1991.

(2)     A reference in a regulation so continued in force to a provision of the Telecommunications Act 1989 is taken to be a reference to the corresponding provision of the Telecommunications Act 1991.

(3)     This section does not apply to a regulation the making of which would not be authorised by the Telecommunications Act 1991.

Existing regulations under Telecommunications (Application Fees) Act 1989

21. (1) Subject to subsection (3). any regulations made under the Telecommunications (Application Fees) Act 1989 and in force immediately before the repeal of that Act continue in force as if made under the Telecommunications (Application Fees) Act 1991.

(2)     A reference in a regulation so continued in force to a provision of the Telecommunications Act 1989 is taken to be a reference to the corresponding provision of the Telecommunications Act 1991.

(3)     This section does not apply to a regulation the making of which would not be authorised by the Telecommunications (Application Fees) Act 1991.

Application of State and Territory laws to Telecom

22. (1) Subject to section 59 of the Australian Telecommunications Corporation Act 1989 and subsection (2) of this section, Telecom is not subject to any requirement, obligation, liability, penalty or disability under a law of a State or Territory to which the Commonwealth is not subject.

(2) Subsection (1) applies only in relation to the period beginning at the commencement of this section and ending immediately before the commencement of section 116 of the Telecommunications Act 1991.

PART 3—REPEALS

Repeal of regulatory legislation

23. The Telecommunications Act 1989 and the Telecommunications (Application Fees) Act 1989 are repealed.

Repeal of Acts relating to Telecom and OTC

24. The Australian Telecommunications Corporation Act 1989 and the OTC Act 1946 are repealed.

PART 4—AMENDMENTS CONSEQUENTIAL ON
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1991

Amendments consequential on new regulatory legislation

25. The Acts specified in Schedule 1 are amended as set out in that Schedule.

PART 5—AMENDMENTS CONSEQUENTIAL ON AUSTRALIAN AND OVERSEAS TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION ACT 1991

Amendments consequential on formation of AOTC

26. The Acts specified in Schedule 2 are amended as set out in that Schedule.

SCHEDULE 1 Section 25

AUSSAT Act 1984

Section 3 (definition of “Corporation”):

Omit the definition.

Section 4:

Omit “1989”, substitute “1991”.

Sections 10, 10a and 10b:

Repeal the sections.

Section 10c:

Omit “that, by virtue of this Act, AUSSAT has the right to provide”, substitute “, the carrying on of any business or activity, or the exercise of any power or right, that AUSSAT is entitled to provide, carry on or exercise, as the case may be, under this Act or the Telecommunications Act 1991”.

Sections 11, 12 and 17:

Repeal the sections.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983

Section 3 (definition of “telegraph line”):

Omit “1989”, substitute “1991”.

Subsection 77 (2):

Omit the subsection, substitute:

“(2) In respect of the erection, placing and maintenance of an electric line by a person under paragraph (1) (a), that person has the same powers, and is subject to the same obligations, as are conferred or imposed on a general carrier under Division 3 of Part 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1991 to install or maintain a facility within the meaning of that Act.”.

Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989

Section 11:

Omit “1989”, substitute “1991”.

SCHEDULE 1—continued

Australian Telecommunications Corporation Act 1989

Section 4:

Omit “1989”, substitute “1991”.

Section 11:

Omit “1989”, substitute “1991”.

Paragraph 28 (a):

Add at the end “and”.

Paragraph 28 (b):

Omit “45; and”, substitute “45.”.

Paragraph 28 (c)

Omit the paragraph.

Section 30:

Repeal the section.

Parts 8 and 9:

Repeal the Parts.

Sections 96 and 97:

Repeal the sections.

Section 102:

Repeal the section.

Broadcasting Act 1942

Subsection 4 (1) (definition of “telegraph line”):

Omit “1989”, substitute “1991”.

Subsection 74 (3):

Omit the subsection, substitute:

“(3) In respect of the erection, placing and maintenance of an electric line by a person under paragraph (1) (a), that person has the same powers, and is subject to the same obligations, as are conferred or imposed on a general carrier under Division 3 of Part 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1991 to install or maintain a facility within the meaning of that Act.”.

SCHEDULE 1—continued

Crimes Act 1914

Section 3 (definition of “public authority under the Commonwealth”):

Omit “, and includes AUSSAT Pty Ltd and OTC Limited”.

Subsection 76a (1):

Insert:

“ ‘carrier’ means:

(b)    a mobile carrier within the meaning of that Act; or

Subsection 76d (1):

After “Commonwealth”, insert “or by a carrier”.

Paragraph 76d (2) (a):

After “Commonwealth”, insert “or by a carrier”.

Paragraph 76d (3) (a):

After “Commonwealth”, insert “or by a carrier”.

Section 76e:

After “Commonwealth”, insert “or by a carrier”.

Section 85zb (definitions of “AUSSAT”, “carrier”, “OTC” and “Telecom”):

Omit the definitions.

Section 85zb:

Insert:

“ ‘carrier’ means:

(a)     a general carrier; or

(b)     a mobile carrier; or

‘communication’ does not include a communication solely by means of radiocommunication;

‘telecommunications network’ means a system, or series of systems, for carrying communications by means of guided or unguided electromagnetic energy or both;

SCHEDULE 1—continued

‘telecommunications service’ means a service for carrying telecommunications by means of guided or unguided electromagnetic energy or both.”.

After section 85zb:

Insert:

Interpretation—person acting for a general or mobile carrier

“85zba. For the purposes of this Part, a person who does any thing for or on behalf of a person who is, or persons at least one of whom is, a general carrier or a mobile carrier, is, in respect of:

(a)     the doing by that person of that thing; or

(d)     a facility belonging to that person; or

(e) the operation by that person of a satellite;

taken to be a carrier.”.

Section 85zc

Omit “1989”, substitute “1991”.

Subsection 85zk (2):

Omit “section 114 of the Telecommunications Act 1989”, substitute “section 253 of the Telecommunications Act 1991”.

Subsection 85zka (1):

(a)     Omit “Telecom,” (first occurring), substitute “a carrier,”.

Paragraph 85zka (2) (a):

Omit “section 114 of the Telecommunications Act 1989”, substitute “section 253 of the Telecommunications Act 1991”.

Ombudsman Act 1976

Subsections 6 (4d) and (4e):

Omit “Part 6 of the Telecommunications Act 1989”, substitute “Part 15 of the Telecommunications Act 1991”.

Subsection 6 (4f):

Omit “1989”, substitute “1991”.

SCHEDULE 1—continued

OTC Act 1946

Section 4:

Omit “1989”, substitute “1991”.

Sections 36, 37 and 38:

Repeal the sections.

Radiocommunications Act 1983

Subsection 3 (1) (definition of “radiocommunications transmitter”):

Omit “1989”, substitute “1991”.

Subsection 3 (1) (definition of “receiver”):

Omit “1975”, substitute “1991”.

Paragraph 24 (2) (f):

Omit the paragraph.

Paragraphs 25 (1) (j) and (k) and 35 (4) (c) and (d):

Omit “(which may include conditions for or in relation to giving effect to provisions of Division 1 of Part 3 of the Telecommunications Act 1989)”.

Paragraph 38 (2) (c):

Omit the paragraph.

Paragraphs 38 (6) (b) and (c):

Omit “(which may include conditions for or in relation to giving effect to provisions of Division 1 of Part 3 of the Telecommunications Act 1989)”.

Satellite Communications Amendment Act 1988

Section 3:

Repeal the section.

Sea Installations Act 1987

Schedule:

Omit “Telecommunications Act 1989”, substitute “Telecommunications Act 1991”.

Telecommunications (Interception) Act 1979

Subsection 5 (1) (definitions of “carrier”, “Corporation”, “employee of the Corporation” and “Managing Director”):

Omit the definitions.

SCHEDULE 1—continued

Subsection 5 (1):

Insert:

“ ‘carrier’ means:

(b)    a mobile carrier within the meaning of that Act; or

‘Managing Director’, in relation to a carrier, means the chief executive officer (however described) of the carrier;”.

Subsection 5 (1) (definitions of “equipment”, “facility” and “line”):

Omit “1989”, substitute “1991”.

Subsection 5 (1) (definitions of “telecommunications network” and “telecommunications service”):

Omit the definitions, substitute:

“ ‘telecommunications network’ means a system, or series of systems, for carrying communications by means of guided or unguided electromagnetic energy or both, but does not include a system, or series of systems, for carrying communications solely by means of radiocommunication;

‘telecommunications service’ means a service for carrying communications by means of guided or unguided electromagnetic energy or both, being a service the use of which enables communications to be carried over a telecommunications system operated by a carrier but not being a service for carrying communications solely by means of radiocommunication.”.

Subsection 5 (3):

Omit “1989”, substitute “1991”.

Subsection 8 (1):

Omit “the Corporation” (wherever occurring), substitute “a carrier”.

Subsections 11 (1) and (2):

Omit “the Corporation”, substitute “a carrier”.

Subsection 11 (8):

Omit “the Corporation” (first occurring), substitute “a carrier”.

Paragraphs 11 (8) (a) and (b):

Omit “Corporation” (wherever occurring), substitute “carrier”.

SCHEDULE 1—continued

Subsection 11 (10):

Omit “the Corporation”, substitute “a carrier”.

Paragraph 11a (1) (a):

Omit “the Corporation”, substitute “a carrier”.

Subsection 11a (1):

Omit “Corporation” (last occurring), substitute “carrier”.

Subsection 11a (6):

Omit “the Corporation” (first occurring), substitute “a carrier”.

Paragraphs 11a (6) (a) and (b):

Omit “Corporation” (wherever occurring), substitute “carrier”.

Section 15:

Omit “Corporation” (wherever occurring), substitute “carrier”.

Section 20a:

Omit “the Corporation”, substitute “a carrier”.

Section 20b:

Omit “the Corporation”, substitute “a carrier”.

Subsection 21 (6):

Omit “the Corporation” (first occurring), substitute “a carrier”.

Paragraphs 21 (6) (a) and (b):

Omit “Corporation” (wherever occurring), substitute “carrier”.

Paragraph 21 (8) (a):

Omit “the Corporation”, substitute “a carrier”.

Section 25:

Omit “Corporation” (wherever occurring), substitute “relevant carrier”.

SCHEDULE 2 Section 26

AMENDMENTS CONSEQUENTIAL ON AUSTRALIAN AND OVERSEAS TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION ACT 1991

Crimes Act 1914

Section 3 (definition of “Commonwealth officer”):

Omit from subparagraphs (d) (i), (ii) and (iii) “, the Australian Telecommunications Corporation, AUSSAT Pty Ltd or OTC Limited”.

Freedom of Information Act 1982

Schedule 2 (Part II):

(a) Omit:

“Australian Telecommunications Corporation, in relation to documents in respect of its competitive commercial activities”.

(b) Omit:

“OTC Limited, in relation to documents in respect of its competitive commercial activities”.

(c) Insert:

“Australian and Overseas Telecommunications Corporation Limited, in relation to documents in respect of its competitive commercial activities”.

Sea Installations Act 1987

Schedule:

NOTE

On the commencement of the amendments of the Crimes Act 1914 made by section 25 of, and Schedule 1 to, this Act, the headings to sections 76d and 76e of that Act are altered by omitting “Commonwealth facility” and substituting “certain facilities”.