Summary

Introduced with the Radiocommunications (Receiver Licence Tax) Amendment Bill 2020 and Radiocommunications (Transmitter Licence Tax) Amendment Bill 2020, the bill amends: the Radiocommunications Act 1992 to: amend the object of the Act; provide for the minister to issue ministerial policy statements which the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) must have regard to in exercising its spectrum management; require ACMA to publish an annual work program covering a minimum five-year period; streamline spectrum allocation and re-allocation processes; extend maximum licence terms for apparatus and spectrum licences, confer certain powers on ACMA to make equipment rules that prescribe standards of equipment and impose obligations or prohibitions in relation to equipment; make amendments contingent on the commencement of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2020; expand ACMA's accreditation, compliance and enforcement, and information-gathering powers; make miscellaneous amendments in relation to ACMA's powers to grant exemptions from penalty provisions, exemptions for Defence related activities, and ACMA's ability to use computer assisted decision making; and extend the maximum duration of spectrum and apparatus licences; the Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005 in relation to annual reporting requirements; the Radiocommunications Act 1991 and four other Acts to repeal the datacasting transmitter licence framework; the Radiocommunications Act 1992 and Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005 to repeal redundant provisions in relation to public inquiries; and five Acts to make consequential or minor amendments.