Summary
Amends the:
Telecommunications Act 1997
in relation to the regulatory regime for the protection of international submarine cables landing in Australia by: ensuring consistency with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea by modifying the regime’s application, including criminal and civil enforcement options, to foreign ships and nationals in the water beyond Australia’s territorial seas; enabling domestic submarine cables to be brought within the scope of the regime by regulation; providing for a consultation process between the Australian Communications and Media Authority and the Attorney-General’s department on submarine cable installation permit applications; amending the submarine cable installation permit process by removing the requirement to obtain multiple permits, tightening processing timeframes and removing duplicated processes; and amending the operation of the protection zone declaration, revocation and variation processes; and
Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977
and
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979
to make consequential amendments.