Commonwealth Numbered Acts

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1997 No. 47 of 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.