Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1997 - SECT 3

             (1)  The main object of this Act, when read together with Parts XIB and XIC of the Trade Practices Act 1974 , is to provide a regulatory framework that promotes:

                     (a)  the long‑term interests of end‑users of carriage services or of services provided by means of carriage services; and

                     (b)  the efficiency and international competitiveness of the Australian telecommunications industry.

             (2)  The other objects of this Act, when read together with Parts XIB and XIC of the Trade Practices Act 1974 , are as follows:

                     (a)  to ensure that standard telephone services, payphones and other carriage services of social importance are:

                              (i)  reasonably accessible to all people in Australia on an equitable basis, wherever they reside or carry on business; and

                             (ii)  are supplied as efficiently and economically as practicable; and

                            (iii)  are supplied at performance standards that reasonably meet the social, industrial and commercial needs of the Australian community;

                     (b)  to provide a framework under which a carriage service that provides digital data capability comparable to an ISDN channel is to become available to all people in Australia:

                              (i)  by 1 January 2000; or

                             (ii)  by another date having regard to the findings of the review into the timing of the availability of that service;

                     (c)  to promote the supply of diverse and innovative carriage services and content services;

                     (d)  to promote the development of an Australian telecommunications industry that is efficient, competitive and responsive to the needs of the Australian community;

                     (e)  to promote the effective participation by all sectors of the Australian telecommunications industry in markets (whether in Australia or elsewhere);

                      (f)  to promote:

                              (i)  the development of the technical capabilities and skills of the Australian telecommunications industry; and

                             (ii)  the development of the value‑adding and export‑oriented activities of the Australian telecommunications industry; and

                            (iii)  research and development that contributes to the growth of the Australian telecommunications industry;

                     (g)  to promote the equitable distribution of benefits from improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of:

                              (i)  the provision of telecommunications networks and facilities; and

                             (ii)  the supply of carriage services;

                     (h)  to provide appropriate community safeguards in relation to telecommunications activities and to regulate adequately participants in sections of the Australian telecommunications industry;

                      (i)  to promote the placement of lines underground, taking into account economic and technical issues, where placing such lines underground is supported by the affected community;

                      (j)  to promote responsible practices in relation to the sending of commercial electronic messages;

                     (k)  to promote responsible practices in relation to the making of telemarketing calls.