2010‑2011

The Parliament of the

Commonwealth of Australia

THE SENATE

Presented and read a first time

Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (International Broadcasting Services) Bill 2011

No.      , 2011

(Senator Ludlam)

A Bill for an Act to amend the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983, and for related purposes

Contents

1............ Short title............................................................................................. 1

2............ Commencement................................................................................... 1

3............ Schedule(s)......................................................................................... 2

Schedule 1—Amendments                                                                                                3

Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983                                                  3

A Bill for an Act to amend the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983, and for related purposes

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

                   This Act may be cited as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (International Broadcasting Services) Act 2011.

2  Commencement

                   This Act commences on the day this Act receives the Royal Assent.

3  Schedule(s)

                   Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.

Schedule 1—Amendments

Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983

1  Paragraph 6(1)(b)

Before “to transmit”, insert “as the sole Commonwealth-funded provider of such services—”.

2  At the end of Part IV

Add:

31AA  Sole provider of Commonwealth‑funded international broadcasting services

             (1)  The Commonwealth must not enter into a contract or other arrangement with an entity other than the Corporation or a prescribed company (within the meaning of section 25A) if the contract or other arrangement:

                     (a)  is for the provision of international broadcasting services; and

                     (b)  provides for the Commonwealth to make payments to the entity.

             (2)  To avoid doubt, subsection (1) does not prevent the Australian Communications and Media Authority from allocating international broadcasting licences in accordance with the Broadcasting Services Act 1992.