House of Representatives

Second Reading Speech

Mr McGauran (Gippsland - Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs)

I move:

That the bill be now read a second time.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2004 contains transitional provisions and consequential amendments related to the establishment of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) by the Australian Communications and Media Authority Bill 2004 (the ACMA bill).

The bill deals with the consequences of the proposed merger of the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) and the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) to form the ACMA.

Schedules 1 and 2 to the bill make a number of consequential amendments to Commonwealth acts. Among other things, these amendments provide for the repeal of the Australian Communications Authority Act 1997, which establishes the ACA, and provisions in the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 which establish the ABA. They remove provisions dealing with the interaction between the ACA and the ABA that are no longer required as a consequence of the merger of those bodies. They also change references in Commonwealth legislation to the ABA and the ACA to references to the ACMA.

Schedule 3 to the bill will amend references to the ABA and the ACA in provisions of the Postal Industry Ombudsman Bill 2004 that is expected to be reintroduced into the parliament at or around the same time as the ACMA Bill, in the event that those provisions are passed by the parliament, and the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Telecommunications Offences and Other Measures) Act (No. 2) 2004, which will commence on 1 March 2005. In addition, schedule 3 will amend current references to the ACA and the ABA in the Ombudsman Act 1976 which would not be amended by the Postal Industry Ombudsman Bill.

Schedule 4 to the bill contains transitional provisions, including provisions dealing with the transfer of assets and liabilities of the ACA and the ABA to the Commonwealth, given that the members, associate members and staff of the ACMA will be a prescribed agency for the purposes of the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997. Schedule 4 to the bill also provides for the continuing operation of ACA and ABA instruments after the commencement of the bill.

I present the explanatory memorandum to this bill and eight related bills.

Debate (on motion by Mr Bevis) adjourned.

Interjection

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Jenkins) - Before we move to the next bill, I indicate to the minister that it is not the inclination of the chair to ask the clerk to announce a bill that is without notice. Having given a tutorial to the minister, I will also give a tutorial to the Chief Opposition Whip. The bills appear on the daily program; they do not appear on the Notice Paper. They are introduced and initiated without notice.