Bills Digest no. 47A 1976
Broadcasting Stations
Licence Fees Amendment Bill 1976
WARNING:
This Digest was prepared for debate. It reflects the legislation as introduced
and does not canvass subsequent amendments. This Digest does not have
any official legal status. Other sources should be consulted to determine
the subsequent official status of the Bill.
CONTENTS
Passage History
Purpose
Provisions
Contact Officer & Copyright Details
Passage History
1. Broadcasting
and Television Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1976
2.
Broadcasting Stations Licence Fees Amendment Bill 1976
3.
Television Stations Licence Fees Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1976
Date introduced: 18 November
1976
House: House of Representatives
Purpose
These Bills seek to implement Government decisions
on the licensing, regulation, planning and administration of the Australian
broadcasting system.
The Broadcasting Stations Licence Fees Amendment
Bill 1976 and the Television Stations Licence Fees Amendment Bill (No.
2) 1976 are consequential machinery amendments dealing with the accounting
period for assessing broadcasting and television station licence fees.
They will omit from the Principal Acts a direct reference to the Australian
Broadcasting Control Board in relation to the future application of sub-section
106(2) of the Broadcasting and Television Act 1942.
Provisions
The Broadcasting and Television Amendment
Bill (No. 2) 1976 provides for:
- the disbandment of the Australian Broadcasting Control Board and
the establishment, with transitional arrangements, of an Australian
Broadcasting Tribunal. The Bill specifies membership of the Tribunal
and transfers to it the Broadcasting Control Board’s present functions
and responsibilities regarding licensing and public inquiries; the administration
of present standards of broadcasting practice; the determination of
standards to be observed by licensees in the broadcasting or televising
of programs; the conditions subject to which advertisements may be broadcast
or televised; and the hours during which programs are or may be broadcast
or televised.
- the restructuring of the Australian Broadcasting Commission to consist
of nine part-time Commissioners (one from each State plus three others)
of whom at least two shall be women.
- the removal of the need for Public Service Board approval on ABC
staffing positions involving salaries below minimum salaries at Second
Division Public Service levels.
- the establishment of a Joint Consultative Committee comprising representatives
of the Australian Broadcasting Commission and officers and full-time
employees of the Commission.
- the licensing of public broadcasting and television stations under
this Act instead of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905.
- the payment of Commonwealth Government financial assistance to commercial
broadcasting and television stations to ensure that programs of adequate
extent, standard and variety are provided.
- the extension of the functions of the Postal and Telecommunications
Department to include the planning of the physical development of the
Australian broadcasting system.
- the establishment of a Broadcasting Council to be consulted by the
Tribunal and the Department in the performance of their functions.
The Broadcasting and Television Amendment
Bill (No. 2) 1976 is an interim legislative measure. According to the
Second Reading Speech, the new Broadcasting Tribunal will ultimately be
granted all the powers presently available to either the Minister or the
Control Board in the administration of ownership and control provisions
applicable to broadcasting licences.
Education and Welfare Group
25 November 1976
Bills Digest Service
Information and Research Services
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ISSN 1328-8091
© Commonwealth of Australia 2006
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