Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1997 - SECT 367

             (1)  For the purposes of this section, an international telecommunications operator engages in unacceptable conduct if, and only if:

                     (a)  the operator uses, in a manner that is, or is likely to be, contrary to the national interest, the operator's power in a market for:

                              (i)  carriage services; or

                             (ii)  goods or services for use in connection with the supply of carriage services; or

                            (iii)  the installation of, maintenance of, operation of, or provision of access to, telecommunications networks or facilities; or

                     (b)  the operator uses, in a manner that is, or is likely to be, contrary to the national interest, any legal rights or legal status that the operator has because of foreign laws that relate to:

                              (i)  carriage services; or

                             (ii)  goods or services for use in connection with the supply of carriage services; or

                            (iii)  the installation of, maintenance of, operation of, or provision of access to, telecommunications networks or facilities; or

                     (c)  the operator engages in any other conduct that is, or is likely to be, contrary to the national interest.

             (2)  With a view to preventing, mitigating or remedying unacceptable conduct engaged in by international telecommunications operators, the Minister may, by written instrument, make Rules of Conduct:

                     (a)  prohibiting or regulating dealings by either or both of the following:

                              (i)  carriers;

                             (ii)  carriage service providers;

                            with such operators and with other persons; or

                     (b)  authorising the ACCC to make written determinations of a legislative character, where the determination imposes requirements, prohibitions or restrictions on either or both of the following:

                              (i)  carriers;

                             (ii)  carriage service providers; or

                     (c)  authorising the ACCC to give either or both of the following:

                              (i)  carriers;

                             (ii)  carriage service providers;

                            written directions of an administrative character, where the direction imposes a requirement, prohibition or restriction on the carrier or provider, as the case requires; or

                     (d)  requiring:

                              (i)  carriers; and

                             (ii)  carriage service providers;

                            to comply with:

                            (iii)  a determination mentioned in paragraph (b); or

                            (iv)  a direction mentioned in paragraph (c); or

                     (e)  authorising the ACCC to make information available to:

                              (i)  the public; or

                             (ii)  a specified class of persons; or

                            (iii)  a specified person;

                            if, in the opinion of the ACCC, the disclosure of the information:

                            (iv)  would promote the fair and efficient operation of a market; or

                             (v)  would otherwise be in the national interest.

             (3)  Before the ACCC makes a determination, or gives a direction, under the Rules of Conduct, the ACCC must consult the ACMA.

             (4)  Rules of Conduct are disallowable instruments for the purposes of section 46A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 .

             (5)  A determination mentioned in paragraph (2)(b) is a disallowable instrument for the purposes of section 46A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 .

             (6)  For the purposes of this section, if a person carries on activities outside Australia that involve:

                     (a)  the supply of a carriage service specified in paragraph 16(1)(b) or (c); or

                     (b)  the supply of goods or services for use in connection with the supply of a carriage service specified in paragraph 16(1)(b) or (c); or

                     (c)  the installation of, maintenance of, operation of or provision of access to:

                              (i)  a telecommunications network; or

                             (ii)  a facility;

                            where the network or facility is used to supply a carriage service specified in paragraph 16(1)(b) or (c);

the person is an international telecommunications operator .

             (7)  In this section:

"engaging in conduct" has the same meaning as in the Trade Practices Act 1974 .

"foreign law" means a law of a place outside Australia.

"international telecommunications operator" has the meaning given by subsection (6).