Contents

Part I--Preliminary                                                                                                                 1

1............ Short title [see Note 1] ....................................................................... 1

2............ Commencement [see Note 1] .............................................................. 1

3............ Interpretation ...................................................................................... 1

4............ Extension to external Territories ......................................................... 3

Part II--Establishment, functions and management of the Corporation 4

5............ Australian Broadcasting Corporation ................................................. 4

6............ Charter of the Corporation ................................................................. 4

6A......... Datacasting functions ......................................................................... 6

7............ Establishment of Australian Broadcasting Corporation Board .......... 6

8............ Duties of the Board ............................................................................ 6

9............ Managing Director .............................................................................. 7

10.......... Duties of the Managing Director ........................................................ 7

11.......... Advisory Councils and committees .................................................... 7

Part III--The Board of Directors and the Managing Director                   10

12.......... Membership of Board ...................................................................... 10

13.......... Tenure of Managing Director ........................................................... 11

14.......... Remuneration and allowances ........................................................... 11

14A....... Leave of absence of Managing Director ............................................ 11

15.......... Leave of absence ............................................................................... 11

16.......... Resignation of non‑executive Directors ............................................ 12

17.......... Disclosure of interests ...................................................................... 12

18.......... Removal from office of non‑executive Directors .............................. 12

19.......... Acting Chairperson ........................................................................... 13

20.......... Acting Managing Director ................................................................ 14

21.......... Acting non‑executive Directors ........................................................ 15

22.......... Meetings of the Board ...................................................................... 16

23.......... Delegation by Corporation ............................................................... 18

24.......... Delegation by Managing Director ..................................................... 18

Part IV--Powers and duties of the Corporation                                                   19

25.......... General powers of Corporation ........................................................ 19

25A....... Power to form companies etc. .......................................................... 21

25B....... Hedging contracts etc. ....................................................................... 22

26.......... Corporation to have regard to services of the Special Broadcasting Service Corporation        23

27.......... News services ................................................................................... 23

28.......... Orchestras, bands, concerts etc. ....................................................... 24

29.......... Publication of journals etc. and making etc. of sound recordings etc. 24

29A....... Broadcasting facilities may be made available .................................. 25

31.......... Advertisements ................................................................................. 25

Part IVA--Corporate plans                                                                                              27

31A....... Corporate plans ................................................................................ 27

31B....... Matters to be included in corporate plans ........................................ 27

31C....... Corporate plans to be given to Minister .......................................... 28

31D....... Board to notify Minister of certain matters ..................................... 28

Part V--Employees                                                                                                               29

32.......... Staff of Corporation ......................................................................... 29

33.......... The Corporation is to achieve and maintain high standards as an employer            29

Part VI--Finance                                                                                                                    30

67.......... Moneys of the Corporation ............................................................. 30

68.......... Application of money ...................................................................... 30

70A....... Borrowing from Commonwealth ...................................................... 30

70B....... Borrowings otherwise than from Commonwealth ............................ 31

70C....... Guarantee of borrowings by Corporation ........................................ 32

70D....... Corporation may give security ......................................................... 33

70E........ Borrowings not otherwise permitted ................................................ 33

71.......... Taxation ............................................................................................ 34

71A....... Delegation by Finance Minister ....................................................... 34

Part VIII--Miscellaneous                                                                                                 35

78.......... Power of Minister to give directions to Corporation in the national interest           35

79.......... Application of Broadcasting Act ...................................................... 36

79AA.... Report by ACMA on degradation of signal quality ......................... 36

79A....... Broadcasting of political or controversial matter .............................. 36

79B....... Records of matter broadcast ............................................................. 38

80.......... Matters to be included in annual report ........................................... 39

81.......... Joint Consultative Committee .......................................................... 40

83.......... Regulations and rules ........................................................................ 41

Notes                                                                                                                                             43

An Act relating to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and for other purposes

 

Notes to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983

Note 1

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 6, 1983 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

For application, saving or transitional provisions made by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2005, see Act No. 45, 2005.

All other relevant information pertaining to application, saving or transitional provisions prior to 22 February 2005 is not included in this compilation. For subsequent information see Table A.

Table of Acts

Act	Number and year	Date of Assent	Date of commencement	Application, saving or transitional provisions
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983	6, 1983	1 June 1983	Part I (ss. 1-4), ss. 7, 9-24, 34, 69 and 83: Royal Assent Remainder: 1 July 1983 (see Gazette 1983, No. S124)
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 2) 1983	91, 1983	22 Nov 1983	S. 3: 20 Dec 1983 (a)	S. 6(1)
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1985	65, 1985	5 June 1985	S. 3: (b)	--
Broadcasting and Television (Consequential Amendments) Act 1985	67, 1985	5 June 1985	1 Jan 1986	S. 4
Broadcasting and Television Legislation Amendment Act 1986	2, 1986	19 Feb 1986	19 Feb 1986	Ss. 4(2)-(4), 5(2), (4) and 14(2) S. 5(3A) and (3B) (ad. by 76, 1986, Sch. 1)
as amended by
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1986	76, 1986	24 June 1986	S. 3: (c)	S. 9
Industrial Relations (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988	87, 1988	8 Nov 1988	Ss. 1 and 2: Royal Assent Remainder: 1 Mar 1989 (see s. 2(2) and Gazette 1989, No. S53)	--
Statutory Instruments (Tabling and Disallowance) Legislation Amendment Act 1988	99, 1988	2 Dec 1988	2 Dec 1988	--
Telecommunications Amendment Act 1988	121, 1988	14 Dec 1988	Ss. 5, 6, 10, 12, 13, 23(2) and 26(1): 1 Jan 1989 (see Gazette 1988, No. S402) Ss. 14, 23(3) and 26(2): 30 June 1989 (see Gazette 1989, No. S216) Remainder: Royal Assent	S. 39
Broadcasting Legislation Amendment Act 1988	146, 1988	26 Dec 1988	S. 8: 4 May 1994 (see Gazette 1994, No. GN17) Ss. 11 and 12: 15 June 1994 (see Gazette 1994, No. S212) Ss. 15, 16, 36, 47, 48(2) and 49: 1 Mar 1989 Ss. 51 and 52: 16 Dec 1987 S. 54(1)(b): 4 Aug 1987 Remainder: 23 Jan 1989	Ss. 8(2)-(6) and 12
Telecommunications and Postal Services (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1989	63, 1989	19 June 1989	Ss. 1 and 2: Royal Assent Part 5 (ss. 17, 18): 30 June 1989 (see s. 2(3) and Gazette 1989, No. S216) Remainder: 1 July 1989 (see Gazette 1989, No. S230)	--
Telecommunications (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1991	99, 1991	27 June 1991	S. 25: 1 July 1991 (d)	--
Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991	180, 1991	25 Nov 1991	S. 116: 23 Dec 1991 (e)	--
Superannuation Legislation (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 1992	94, 1992	30 June 1992	S. 3: 1 July 1990 Remainder: Royal Assent	S. 4
Broadcasting Services (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1992	105, 1992	9 July 1992	5 Oct 1992 (see s. 2 and Gazette 1992, No. GN38)	--
as amended by
Statute Law Revision Act 2006	9, 2006	23 Mar 2006	Schedule 2 (item 8): (f)	--
Transport and Communications Legislation Amendment Act (No. 3) 1992	216, 1992	24 Dec 1992	Part 2 (ss. 3-5): Royal Assent (g)	--
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment Act 1993	3, 1994	18 Jan 1994	18 Jan 1994	S. 4(2) and (3)
Communications and the Arts Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 1995	32, 1995	12 Apr 1995	S. 3 (item 1): Royal Assent (h)	--
Statute Law Revision Act 1996	43, 1996	25 Oct 1996	Schedule 4 (items 16, 17) and Schedule 5 (item 19): Royal Assent (i)	--
Telecommunications (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1997	59, 1997	3 May 1997	Schedule 1 (items 1, 2): 1 July 1997(j)	--
Audit (Transitional and Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 1997	152, 1997	24 Oct 1997	Schedule 2 (items 201-215): 1 Jan 1998 (see Gazette 1997, No. GN49) (k)	--
National Transmission Network Sale (Consequential Amendments) Act 1998	131, 1998	21 Dec 1998	21 Dec 1998	S. 4
Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999	146, 1999	11 Nov 1999	Schedule 1: (item 112): 5 Dec 1999 (see Gazette 1999, No. S584) (l)	--
Corporate Law Economic Reform Program Act 1999	156, 1999	24 Nov 1999	Schedule 10 (items 18, 19): 13 Mar 2000 (see Gazette 2000, No. S114) (m)	--
Broadcasting Legislation Amendment Act 2001	23, 2001	6 Apr 2001	6 Apr 2001	--
Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Act 2005	8, 2005	22 Feb 2005	Schedule 2 (items 29-39, 174): Royal Assent	Sch. 2 (item 174) [see Table A]
Australian Communications and Media Authority (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2005	45, 2005	1 Apr 2005	Schedule 1 (items 1-4) and Schedule 4: 1 July 2005 (n) Schedule 2: (n)	Sch. 4 [see Note 1]
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment Act 2006	49, 2006	1 June 2006	Schedule 1: 15 June 2006 Remainder: Royal Assent	Sch. 1 (item 11) [see Table A]
Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Amendment Act 2008	20, 2008	26 May 2008	Schedule 2 (item 1): 1 July 2008	--

(a)     The Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 was amended by section 3 only of the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 2) 1983, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act shall come into operation on the twenty‑eighth day after the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(b)    The Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 was amended by section 3 only of the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1985, subsections 2(1) and (5) of which provide as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act shall come into operation on the twenty‑eighth day after the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

                 (5)   The amendment of subsection 71(2) of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 made by this Act shall come into operation, or be deemed to have come into operation, as the case requires, on the commencement of the Radiocommunications (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1983.

         The date fixed in pursuance of subsection 2(1) was 3 July 1985.

         The date fixed in pursuance of subsection 2(5) was 27 August 1985 (see Gazette 1985, No. S322).

(c)     The Broadcasting and Television Legislation Amendment Act 1986 was amended by section 3 only of the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1986, subsection 2(5) of which provides as follows:

                 (5)   The amendments of the Broadcasting and Television Legislation Amendment Act 1986 made by this Act shall be deemed to have come into operation on 19 February 1986.

(d)     The Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 was amended by section 25 only of the Telecommunications (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1991, subsection 2(2) of which provides as follows:

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

(e)     The Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 was amended by section 116 only of the Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to subsection (2), this Act commences 28 days after the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(f)      Subsection 2(1) (item 25) of the Statute Law Revision Act 2006 provides as follows:

                 (1)   Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Commencement information
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Provision(s)	Commencement	Date/Details
25.  Schedule 2, item 8	Immediately after the time specified in the Broadcasting Services (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1992 for the commencement of the amendments in Schedule 2 to that Act of section 6 of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983.	5 October 1992

(g)     The Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 was amended by Part 2 (sections 3-5) only of the Transport and Communications Legislation Amendment Act (No. 3) 1992, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(h)     The Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 was amended by section 3 (item 1) only of the Communications and the Arts Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 1995, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(i)      The Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 was amended by Schedule 4 (items 16 and 17) and Schedule 5 (item 19) only of the Statute Law Revision Act 1996, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to subsections (2) and (3), this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(j)      The Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 was amended by Schedule 1 (items 1 and 2) only of the Telecommunications (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1997, subsection 2(2)(d) of which provides as follows:

                 (2)   The following provisions commence on 1 July 1997:

                              (d)   Schedule 1;

(k)     The Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 was amended by Schedule 2 (items
201-215) of the Audit (Transitional and Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 1997, subsection 2(2) of which provides as follows:

                 (2)   Schedules 1, 2 and 4 commence on the same day as the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997.

(l)      The Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 was amended by Schedule 2 (item 112) only of the Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999, subsections 2(1) and (2) of which provide as follows:

                 (1)   In this Act, commencing time means the time when the Public Service Act 1999 commences.

                 (2)   Subject to this section, this Act commences at the commencing time.

(m)    The Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 was amended by Schedule 10 (items 18 and 19) only of the Corporate Law Economic Reform Program Act 1999, subsection 2(2)(c) of which provides as follows:

                 (2)   The following provisions commence on a day or days to be fixed by Proclamation:

                              (c)   the items in Schedules 10, 11 and 12.

(n)     Subsection 2(1) (items 2, 3 and 10) of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2005 provide as follows:

                 (1)   Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Provision(s)	Commencement	Date/Details
2.  Schedule 1	At the same time as section 6 of the Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005 commences.	1 July 2005
3.  Schedule 2	Immediately after the commencement of the provision(s) covered by table item 2.	1 July 2005
10.  Schedule 4	At the same time as section 6 of the Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005 commences.	1 July 2005

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted     am. = amended     rep. = repealed     rs. = repealed and substituted
Provision affected	How affected
Part I
S. 3......................................	am. No. 67, 1985; Nos. 87 and 146, 1988; No. 63, 1989; Nos. 99 and 180, 1991; No. 3, 1994; No. 131, 1998; No. 23, 2001; Nos. 8 and 45, 2005
Part II
Note to s. 5(1) ....................	ad. No. 152, 1997
S. 6......................................	am. No. 105 , 1992 (as am. by No. 9, 2006); No. 3, 1994; No. 45, 2005
S. 6A...................................	ad. No. 23, 2001
S. 8......................................	am. No. 105, 1992; No. 3, 1994; No. 152, 1997; No. 23, 2001; No. 45, 2005
S. 10....................................	am. No. 146, 1988; No. 3, 1994
S. 11....................................	am. No. 3, 1994; No. 43, 1996
Part III
S. 12....................................	am. No. 91, 1983; No. 2, 1986; No. 3, 1994; No. 49, 2006
S. 13....................................	am. No. 3, 1994
S. 13A.................................	ad. No. 2, 1986
	am. No. 146, 1988
	rep. No. 49, 2006
S. 13B.................................	ad. No. 2, 1986
	rep. No. 49, 2006
S. 14....................................	am. No. 43, 1996
S. 14A.................................	ad. No. 3, 1994
	am. No. 146, 1999
Ss. 15, 16............................	am. No. 3, 1994
S. 17....................................	am. No. 2, 1986; No. 146, 1988; No. 3, 1994; No. 152, 1997; No. 156, 1999; No. 49, 2006
S. 18....................................	am. No. 2, 1986; No. 3, 1994; No. 152, 1997; No. 156, 1999; No. 49, 2006
S. 19....................................	am. No. 3, 1994
S. 20....................................	am. No. 146, 1988; No. 3, 1994
S. 21....................................	am. No. 2, 1986; No. 3, 1994; No. 49, 2006
S. 22....................................	am. No. 3, 1994
S. 23....................................	am. No. 146, 1988
S. 24....................................	am. No. 146, 1988; No. 3, 1994
Part IV
S. 25....................................	am. No. 146, 1988; Nos. 105 and 216, 1992; No. 3, 1994; No. 131, 1998
S. 25A.................................	ad. No. 2, 1986
	am. No. 3, 1994; No. 152, 1997
Note to s. 25A(2) ...............	ad. No. 152, 1997
S. 25B.................................	ad. No. 146, 1988
	am. No. 3, 1994; No. 8, 2005
S. 26....................................	am. No. 67, 1985
	rs. No. 180, 1991
S. 27....................................	am. No. 146, 1988; No. 3, 1994
S. 29....................................	am. No. 3, 1994
S. 29A.................................	ad. No. 146, 1988
	rs. No. 105, 1992
S. 30....................................	rep. No. 105, 1992
S. 31....................................	am. No. 216, 1992; No. 3, 1994
Part IVA
Part IVA...............................	ad. No. 3, 1994
Ss. 31A-31D.......................	ad. No. 3, 1994
Part V
Part V..................................	rs. No. 146, 1988
S. 32....................................	am. No. 3, 1994
	rs. No. 146, 1988
S. 33....................................	am. No. 2, 1986; No. 3, 1994
	rs. No. 146, 1988
Ss. 34-37............................	rep. No. 146, 1988
Ss. 38-40............................	am. No. 3, 1994
	rep. No. 146, 1988
S. 41....................................	am. No. 87, 1988; No. 3, 1994
	rep. No. 146, 1988
S. 42....................................	am. No. 3, 1994
	rep. No. 146, 1988
S. 43....................................	rep. No. 146, 1988
S. 44....................................	am. No. 3, 1994
	rep. No. 146, 1988
S. 45....................................	rep. No. 146, 1988
S. 46....................................	am. No. 91, 1983; No. 3, 1994
	rep. No. 146, 1988
S. 47....................................	rep. No. 146, 1988
Ss. 48-51............................	am. No. 3, 1994
	rep. No. 146, 1988
S. 52....................................	rep. No. 146, 1988
Ss. 53-56............................	am. No. 3, 1994
	rep. No. 146, 1988
S. 57....................................	am. No. 87, 1988; No. 3, 1994
	rep. No. 146, 1988
Ss. 58-61............................	am. No. 3, 1994
	rep. No. 146, 1988
S. 62....................................	am. No. 94, 1992; No. 3, 1994
	rep. No. 146, 1988
S. 63....................................	rep. No. 146, 1988
Ss. 64, 65............................	am. No. 3, 1994
	rep. No. 146, 1988
S. 66....................................	am. No. 2, 1986; No. 87, 1988; No. 3, 1994
	rep. No. 146, 1988
Div. 5 of Part V ...................	ad. No. 2, 1986
	rep. No. 146, 1988
S. 66A.................................	ad. No. 2, 1986
	rep. No. 146, 1988
S. 66B.................................	ad. No. 2, 1986
	am. No. 94, 1992
	rep. No. 146, 1988
Part VI
S. 67....................................	am. No. 8, 2005
Heading to s. 68..................	am. No. 152, 1997
S. 68....................................	am. No. 146, 1988; No. 152, 1997
S. 69....................................	am. No. 3, 1994
	rep. No. 152, 1997
S. 70....................................	am. No. 3, 1994
	rep. No. 32, 1995
Ss. 70A-70C.......................	ad. No. 146, 1988
	am. No. 8, 2005
Ss. 70D, 70E.......................	ad. No. 146, 1988
S. 70F..................................	ad. No. 146, 1988
	rep. No. 8, 2005
S. 71....................................	am. No. 65, 1985
S. 71A.................................	ad. No. 8, 2005
S. 72 ...................................	am. No. 65, 1985
	rep. No. 152, 1997
Part VII ................................	rep. No. 131, 1998
S. 73....................................	am. No. 67, 1985; No. 105, 1992; No. 3, 1994
	rep. No. 131, 1998
S. 74....................................	am. No. 3, 1994
	rep. No. 131, 1998
S. 75 ...................................	rep. No. 131, 1998
S. 76....................................	am. No. 43, 1996
	rep. No. 131, 1998
S. 77....................................	am. No. 121, 1988; No. 63, 1989; No. 99, 1991; No. 59, 1997
	rep. No. 131, 1998
Part VIII
S. 78....................................	am. No. 67, 1985; No. 2, 1986; No. 3, 1994; No. 152, 1997; No. 20, 2008
S. 79....................................	am. No. 67, 1985; No. 105, 1992; No. 3, 1994
Heading to s. 79AA.............	am. No. 45, 2005
S. 79AA..............................	ad. No. 131, 1998
	am. No. 45, 2005
S. 79A.................................	ad. No. 105, 1992
	am. No. 45, 2005
S. 79B.................................	ad. No. 105, 1992
S. 80....................................	am. No. 2, 1986; No. 105, 1992; No. 3, 1994; No. 152, 1997; No. 131. 1998
S. 81....................................	am. No. 146, 1988
S. 82....................................	am. No. 91, 1983
	rep. No. 3, 1994
S. 83....................................	am. No. 65, 1985; Nos. 99 and 146, 1988; No. 3, 1994

Table A

Application, saving or transitional provisions

Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Act 2005 (No. 8, 2005)

Schedule 2

174  Saving provision--provisions that formerly referred to the Treasurer

(1)        Any thing that:

                     (a)  was done by the Treasurer, or by a delegate of the Treasurer, before the commencing time under an affected provision; and

                     (b)  was in effect immediately before the commencing time;

continues to have effect after the commencing time as if it had been done by the Finance Minister under the affected provision.

(2)        In this item:

affected provision means a provision that is amended by an item in this Schedule so as to replace references to the Treasurer with references to the Finance Minister.

commencing time means the day this Act receives the Royal Assent.

Finance Minister means the Minister who administers the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment Act 2006 (No. 49, 2006)

Schedule 1

11  Cessation of staff‑elected Director and deputy

(1)        Any person who is the staff‑elected Director immediately before the commencement of item 2 of this Schedule ceases, by force of this subitem, to be a member of the Board on the commencement of that item.

(2)        Any person who is the deputy of the staff‑elected Director immediately before the commencement of item 5 of this Schedule ceases, by force of this subitem, to be the deputy of the staff‑elected Director on the commencement of that item.