Commonwealth Numbered Acts

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1997 No. 47 of 1997 - SECT 593

(1) The Minister may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, make a grant of financial
assistance to a consumer body for purposes in connection with the
representation of the interests of consumers in relation to telecommunications
issues.

(2) The Minister may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, make a grant of financial
assistance to a person or body for purposes in connection with research into
the social, economic, environmental or technological implications of
developments relating to telecommunications.

(3) The terms and conditions on which financial assistance is to be granted
under this section are to be set out in a written agreement between the
Commonwealth and the person or body receiving the grant.

(4) An agreement under subsection (3) may be entered into by the Minister on
behalf of the Commonwealth.

(5) The Minister must, as soon as practicable after the end of each financial
year (and, in any event, within 6 months after the end of the financial year),
cause to be prepared a report relating to the administration of this section
during the financial year.

(6) The Minister must cause copies of a report prepared under subsection (5)
to be laid before each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that
House after the completion of the preparation of the report.

(7) Grants under this section are to be paid out of money appropriated by the
Parliament for the purposes of this section.

(8) In this section:
consumer body means a body or association that represents the interests of
consumers.
telecommunications means the carriage of communications by means of guided
and/or unguided electromagnetic energy.