Contents

Part 1--Preliminary                                                                                                                1

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

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

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

4............ Extension to external Territories ......................................................... 2

Part 2--Establishment, functions and management of the SBS                    3

5............ Special Broadcasting Service Corporation .......................................... 3

6............ Charter of the SBS .............................................................................. 3

6A......... Datacasting functions ......................................................................... 4

7............ Establishment of Special Broadcasting Service Board ........................ 5

8............ Constitution of the Board ................................................................... 5

9............ Role of the Board ................................................................................ 5

10.......... Duties of the Board ............................................................................ 5

11.......... Minister may give directions to the Board ......................................... 6

12.......... Minister may give directions to the SBS in the national interest ....... 6

13.......... Limits on Government directions to SBS ........................................... 7

14.......... Managing Director ............................................................................. 7

15.......... Duties of the Managing Director ........................................................ 7

Part 3--The Board of Directors and the Managing Director                         9

Division 1--Provisions relating to non‑executive Directors                   9

16.......... This Division applies to non‑executive Directors .............................. 9

17.......... Appointment of non‑executive Directors ........................................... 9

18.......... Term of appointment ......................................................................... 9

19.......... Non‑executive Directors hold office on part‑time basis ................... 10

20.......... Terms and conditions of appointment not provided for by Act ...... 10

21.......... Appointment of Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson .................. 10

22.......... Board's functions and powers not affected by vacancy etc. ............ 10

23.......... Remuneration and allowances of non‑executive Directors ............... 10

24.......... Acting Chairperson and other acting non‑executive Directors ......... 11

25.......... Leave of absence of non‑executive Directors .................................... 12

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

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

Division 2--Provisions relating to the Managing Director                     14

28.......... Appointment of Managing Director ................................................. 14

29.......... Term of appointment of Managing Director .................................... 14

30.......... Managing Director holds office on a full‑time basis ......................... 14

31.......... Terms and conditions of appointment not provided for by Act ...... 14

32.......... Remuneration and allowances of Managing Director ....................... 14

33.......... Acting Managing Director ................................................................ 15

34.......... Leave of absence of Managing Director ............................................ 15

35.......... Resignation of Managing Director .................................................... 16

36.......... Duty of Managing Director to disclose certain interests .................. 16

37.......... Removal of Managing Director from office ...................................... 16

Division 3--Meetings of the Board                                                                     17

38.......... Meetings of the Board ...................................................................... 17

39.......... Presiding at meetings ........................................................................ 17

40.......... Quorum and voting at meetings ........................................................ 18

41.......... Conduct of meetings ......................................................................... 18

42.......... Resolutions without formal meetings ............................................... 19

Part 4--Powers and duties of the SBS                                                                       20

44.......... General powers of the SBS ............................................................... 20

45.......... Advertising and sponsorship ............................................................ 21

46.......... Community information ................................................................... 23

47.......... Corporate plans ................................................................................ 23

48.......... Matters to be included in corporate plans ........................................ 23

49.......... Corporate plans to be given to Minister .......................................... 24

50.......... Community Advisory Committee .................................................... 24

51.......... Board to notify Minister of certain matters ..................................... 25

52.......... Power to form companies etc. .......................................................... 25

Part 5--Staff                                                                                                                             27

53.......... Staff of the SBS until section 54 commences ................................... 27

54.......... Staff of the SBS ................................................................................ 27

55.......... The SBS is to achieve and maintain high standards as an employer . 27

Part 6--Finance                                                                                                                       28

56.......... Money to be appropriated ............................................................... 28

57.......... Money of the SBS ............................................................................ 28

58.......... Application of money ...................................................................... 28

59.......... Borrowing from the Commonwealth ................................................ 29

60.......... Borrowings otherwise than from the Commonwealth ...................... 29

61.......... Guarantee of borrowing .................................................................... 29

62.......... The SBS may give security ............................................................... 30

63.......... Borrowings not otherwise permitted ................................................ 30

64.......... Delegation by Finance Minister ....................................................... 30

65.......... Hedging contracts etc. ....................................................................... 30

68.......... Taxation ............................................................................................ 31

Part 7--Miscellaneous                                                                                                        32

70.......... Application of Broadcasting Act ...................................................... 32

70AA.... Report by ACMA on degradation of signal quality ......................... 32

70A....... Broadcasting of political or controversial matter .............................. 32

70B....... Records of matter broadcast ............................................................. 34

70C....... Broadcasting of election advertisements ........................................... 35

73.......... Matters to be included in annual report ........................................... 37

74.......... Delegation by the SBS ...................................................................... 38

75.......... Delegation by Managing Director ..................................................... 38

76.......... Regulations ....................................................................................... 38

Part 8--Transitional                                                                                                             39

77.......... Interpretation .................................................................................... 39

78.......... Person holding office as Executive Director of the old body corporate .. 39

79.......... Person holding office as member of the old body corporate ............ 40

80.......... Persons employed or engaged by the old body corporate ................ 41

81.......... Persons engaged under section 53 ..................................................... 41

82.......... Delegations and authorisations ......................................................... 41

83.......... References to old body corporate in instruments etc. ...................... 42

84.......... Property, powers, liabilities etc. ...................................................... 42

85.......... Saving of proceedings ....................................................................... 42

86.......... Judicial notice ................................................................................... 43

87.......... Application of money ...................................................................... 43

88.......... First estimates .................................................................................. 43

89.......... Bank accounts to be treated as if opened under this Act ................. 43

90.......... Audit ................................................................................................. 44

91.......... Annual report and financial statements ........................................... 44

92.......... Transfer of appropriations ............................................................... 45

Part 9--Consequential amendments of the Broadcasting Act 1942         46

Sections 93 to 115 ........................................................................................... 46

Part 10--Consequential amendments of other Acts                                          47

116........ Consequential amendments of other Acts ........................................ 47

Schedule--Consequential amendments of other Acts                                      48

Notes                                                                                                                                             49

An Act relating to the Special Broadcasting Service Corporation, and for related purposes

 

Notes to the Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991

Note 1

The Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 180, 1991 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
Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991	180, 1991	25 Nov 1991	S. 54: 24 Mar 1994 (see Gazette 1994, No. GN10) Remainder: 23 Dec 1991
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)	--
Sales Tax Amendment (Transitional) Act 1992	118, 1992	30 Sept 1992	28 Oct 1992	--
Radiocommunications (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1992	167, 1992	11 Dec 1992	1 July 1993	--
Transport and Communications Legislation Amendment Act (No. 3) 1992	216, 1992	24 Dec 1992	Part 9 (ss. 33-35): Royal Assent (a)	--
Communications and the Arts Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 1995	32, 1995	12 Apr 1995	S. 3 (item 122): Royal Assent (b)	--
Telecommunications (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1997	59, 1997	3 May 1997	Schedule 1 (items 49, 50): 1 July 1997 (c)	--
Audit (Transitional and Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 1997	152, 1997	24 Oct 1997	Schedule 2 (items 1207-1218): 1 Jan 1998 (see Gazette 1997, No. GN49) (d)	--
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 (items 826, 827): 5 Dec 1999 (see Gazette 1999, No. S584) (e)	--
Corporate Law Economic Reform Program Act 1999	156, 1999	24 Nov 1999	Schedule 10 (items 119-121): 13 Mar 2000 (see Gazette 2000, No. S114) (f)	--
Broadcasting Legislation Amendment Act 2001	23, 2001	6 Apr 2001	6 Apr 2001	--
Statute Law Revision Act 2002	63, 2002	3 July 2002	Schedule 1 (item 29): (g)	--
Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Act 2005	8, 2005	22 Feb 2005	Schedule 2 (items 162-168, 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 124-126) and Schedule 4: 1 July 2005 (h) Schedule 2: (h)	Sch. 4 [see Note 1]
Tax Laws Amendment (Repeal of Inoperative Provisions) Act 2006	101, 2006	14 Sept 2006	Schedule 5 (item 138) and Schedule 6 (items 5-11): Royal Assent	Sch. 6 (items  5-11) [see Table A]
Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Amendment Act 2008	20, 2008	26 May 2008	Schedule 2 (item 8): 1 July 2008	--

(a)     The Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991 was amended by Part 9 (sections 33-35) 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.

(b)    The Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991 was amended by section 3 (item 122) only of the Communications and the Arts Legislation Amendment (No. 1) Act 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.

(c)     The Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991 was amended by Schedule 1 (items 49 and 50) only of the Telecommunicatiuons (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;

(d)     The Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991 was amended by Schedule 2 (items 1207-1218) only 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.

(e)     The Special  Broadcasting Service Act 1991 was amended by Schedule 1 (items 826 and 827) only of the Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999, subsections 2(1) and (2) of which provid 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.

(f)      The Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991 was amended by Schedule 10 (items 119-121) 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.

(g)     The Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991 was amended by Schedule 1 (item 29) only of the Statue Law Revision Act 2002, subsection 2(1) (item 23) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, on the day or at the time specified in column 2 of the table.

 

Commencement information
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Provision(s)	Commencement	Date/Details
23.  Schedule 1, item 29	Immediately after subsection 53(2) of the Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991 commenced	23 December 1991

(h)     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 1
S. 3 .....................................	am. No. 167, 1992; No. 131, 1998; No. 23, 2001; Nos. 8 and 45, 2005
Part 2
Note to s. 5(1).....................	ad. No. 152, 1997
S. 6 .....................................	am. No. 105, 1992
S. 6A...................................	ad. No. 23, 2001
S. 10 ...................................	am. No. 105, 1992; No. 23, 2001; No. 45, 2005
Heading to s. 13..................	rs. No. 152, 1997
S. 13....................................	am. No. 152, 1997; No. 20, 2008
Part 3
Division 1
S. 27....................................	am. No. 152, 1997; No. 156, 1999
Division 2
S. 34....................................	am. No. 146, 1999
S. 37....................................	am. No. 152, 1997; No. 156, 1999
Division 3
S. 40....................................	am. No. 152, 1997; No. 156, 1999
S. 43....................................	rep. No. 152, 1997
Part 4
S. 44 ...................................	am. No. 131, 1998
S. 45 ...................................	am. Nos. 105 and 216, 1992
S. 52....................................	am. No. 152, 1997
Note to s. 52(2)...................	ad. No. 152, 1997
Part 5
S. 53 ...................................	am. No. 63, 2002
Part 6
S. 56 ...................................	am. No. 8, 2005
Heading to s. 58..................	am. No. 152, 1997
S. 58....................................	am. No. 152, 1997
Ss. 59-61 ...........................	am. No. 8, 2005
S. 64 ...................................	rs. No. 8, 2005
S. 66....................................	rep. No. 152, 1997
S. 67 ...................................	rep. No. 32, 1995
S. 68 ...................................	am. No. 118, 1992; No. 101. 2006
S. 69....................................	rep. No. 152, 1997
Part 7
S. 70 ...................................	am. No. 105, 1992
Heading to s. 70AA ............	am. No. 45, 2005
S. 70AA .............................	ad. No. 131, 1998
	am. No. 45, 2005
S. 70A ................................	ad. No. 105, 1992
	am. No. 45, 2005
S. 70B ................................	ad. No. 105, 1992
S. 70C ................................	ad. No. 216, 1992
S. 71 ...................................	rep. No. 131, 1998
S. 72 ...................................	am. No. 59, 1997
	rep. No. 131, 1998
S. 73....................................	am. No. 152, 1997; No. 131, 1998
Part 8
S. 81....................................	am. No. 146, 1999

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.

Tax Laws Amendment (Repeal of Inoperative Provisions) Act 2006
(No. 101, 2006)

Schedule 6

5  Application of Schedule 5 amendments

The repeals and amendments made by Schedule 5 apply to acts done or omitted to be done, or states of affairs existing, after the commencement of the amendments.

6  Object

The object of this Part is to ensure that, despite the repeals and amendments made by this Act, the full legal and administrative consequences of:

                     (a)  any act done or omitted to be done; or

                     (b)  any state of affairs existing; or

                     (c)  any period ending;

before such a repeal or amendment applies, can continue to arise and be carried out, directly or indirectly through an indefinite number of steps, even if some or all of those steps are taken after the repeal or amendment applies.

7  Making and amending assessments, and doing other things, in relation to past matters

Even though an Act is repealed or amended by this Act, the repeal or amendment is disregarded for the purpose of doing any of the following under any Act or legislative instrument (within the meaning of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003):

                     (a)  making or amending an assessment (including under a provision that is itself repealed or amended);

                     (b)  exercising any right or power, performing any obligation or duty or doing any other thing (including under a provision that is itself repealed or amended);

in relation to any act done or omitted to be done, any state of affairs existing, or any period ending, before the repeal or amendment applies.

Example 1: On 31 July 1999, Greg Ltd lodged its annual return under former section 160ARE of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936. The return stated that the company had a credit on its franking account and that no franking deficit tax was payable for the 1998‑99 franking year. Under former section 160ARH of that Act, the Commissioner was taken to have made an assessment consistent with the return.

                   Following an audit undertaken after the repeal of Part IIIAA of that Act, the Commissioner concludes that Greg Ltd fraudulently overfranked dividends it paid during the 1998‑99 franking year, and had a franking account deficit for that franking year. As a result, the Commissioner considers that franking deficit tax and a penalty by way of additional tax are payable.

                   The Commissioner can amend the assessment under former section 160ARN of that Act, because item 7 of this Schedule disregards the repeal of that section for the purposes of making an assessment in relation to the 1998‑99 franking year. Item 7 will also disregard the repeal of Division 11 of former Part IIIAA to the extent necessary for the Commissioner to assess Greg Ltd's liability to a penalty by way of additional tax.

                   Despite the repeal of sections 160ARU and 160ARV, item 9 will ensure that the general interest charge will accrue on the unpaid franking deficit tax and penalty until they are paid.

                   Item 7 will also preserve Greg Ltd's right, under former section 160ART of that Act, to object against the Commissioner's amended assessment (including the penalty), since the objection is the exercise of a right in relation to a franking year that ended before the repeal of Part IIIAA.

Example 2: During the 1997‑98 income year, Duffy Property Ltd withheld amounts from its employees' wages as required by former Divisions 1AAA and 2 of Part VI of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936. The company failed to notify the Commissioner of those amounts, and failed to remit them to the Commissioner.

                   Following an audit undertaken after the repeal of those Divisions, the Commissioner discovers that the withheld amounts have not been remitted. The company's records are incomplete and the Commissioner is unable to completely ascertain the extent of its liability for the withheld amounts. Under section 222AGA of that Act, the Commissioner makes an estimate of the liability.

                   Item 7 will disregard the repeal of section 220AAZA of that Act (which empowered the Commissioner to recover the amount of the estimate). Even though the estimate is made after the repeal, it relates to amounts withheld before the repeal.

8  Saving of provisions about effect of assessments

If a provision or part of a provision that is repealed or amended by this Act deals with the effect of an assessment, the repeal or amendment is disregarded in relation to assessments made, before or after the repeal or amendment applies, in relation to any act done or omitted to be done, any state of affairs existing, or any period ending, before the repeal or amendment applies.

9  Saving of provisions about general interest charge, failure to notify penalty or late reconciliation statement penalty

If:

                     (a)  a provision or part of a provision that is repealed or amended by this Act provides for the payment of:

                              (i)  general interest charge, failure to notify penalty or late reconciliation statement penalty (all within the meaning of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936); or

                             (ii)  interest under the Taxation (Interest on Overpayments and Early Payments) Act 1983; and

                     (b)  in a particular case, the period in respect of which the charge, penalty or interest is payable (whether under the provision or under the Taxation Administration Act 1953) has not begun, or has begun but not ended, when the provision is repealed or amended;

then, despite the repeal or amendment, the provision or part continues to apply in the particular case until the end of the period.

10  Repeals disregarded for the purposes of dependent provisions

If the operation of a provision (the subject provision) of any Act or legislative instrument (within the meaning of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003) made under any Act depends to any extent on an Act, or a provision of an Act, that is repealed by this Act, the repeal is disregarded so far as it affects the operation of the subject provision.

11  Schedule does not limit operation of section 8 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901

This Schedule does not limit the operation of section 8 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.