Telecommunications (Universal Service Levy) Act 1991

No. 91 of 1991

An Act to impose a levy in connection with ensuring that standard telephone services, and payphones, are reasonably accessible to all people in Australia

[Assented to 26 June 1991]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

Short title

1.  This Act may be cited as the Telecommunications (Universal Service Levy) Act 1991.

Commencement

2.  (1) Subject to this section, this Act commences on 1 July 1991.

(2) Sections 1 and 2 commence on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

Incorporation of Telecommunications Act 1991

3.  The Telecommunications Act 1991 is incorporated with this Act and is to be read as one with it.

Participating carrier in relation to a financial year

4.  (1) The Minister may, by notice published in the Gazette, declare a specified carrier to be a participating carrier.

(2)    A carrier in relation to which a declaration under subsection (1) was in force at the end of a financial year is a participating carrier in relation to that financial year.

(3)    A declaration under subsection (1) cannot be revoked while a declaration under subsection 290 (1) or (2) of the Telecommunications Act 1991 is in force in relation to the carrier.

Imposition of levy

5.  Where a participating carrier has a levy debit balance for a financial year because of section 311 of the Telecommunications Act 1991, levy is imposed on that balance.

Amount of levy

6.  The amount of the levy that this Act imposes on a carrier’s levy debit balance for a financial year is an amount equal to the amount of that balance.

Carrier liable to pay levy

7.  Subject to this Act, levy imposed on a carrier’s levy debit balance for a financial year is payable by the carrier.

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—

House of Representatives on 7 May 1991

Senate on 29 May 1991]