TELEVISION.
No. 6 of 1953.
An Act
relating to the provision of Television Services, and matters incidental
thereto.
[Assented
to 20th March, 1953.]
[Date
of commencement, 17th April, 1953.]
BE it
enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of
Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—
Short
title.
1. This Act may be cited as the Television
Act 1953.
Definitions.
2. In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—
“authorized
authority” means an authority of the Commonwealth that is empowered to provide
television programmes or the Commission;
“commercial
television station” means a television station other than a television station
that is made available by the Postmaster-General “for the transmission of
television programmes provided by an authorized authority;
“television
station” means a station for the transmission of transient images and
associated sound intended for reception by the general public;
“the
Board” means the Australian Broadcasting Control Board constituted under the
Broadcasting Act;
“the
Broadcasting Act” means the Broadcasting
Act 1942-1951;
“the
Commission” means the Australian Broadcasting Commission constituted under the
Broadcasting Act.
Postmaster-General
may make television stations available to an authorized authority.
3.The Postmaster-General may make television stations
available for the transmission of television programmes provided by an
authorized authority.
Licences
for commercial television stations.
4.—(1.) The Minister may, subject to the regulations
and any determination made by the Board under section six k of the Broadcasting Act, grant to a
person a licence for a commercial television station upon such conditions, and
in such form, as the Minister determines.
(2.) Before
exercising the power conferred on him by this section, the Minister shall take
into consideration any recommendations that have been made by the Board as to
the exercise of that power.
National
television programmes.
5.The Minister may direct an authorized authority to
provide television programmes for transmission from a television station that
is made available by the Postmaster-General under section three of this Act and
that authority shall, subject to this Act and any directions of the Minister,
provide adequate and comprehensive programmes for transmission from that
station.
Powers
of Commission.
6.Where the Minister, under the last preceding section,
directs the Commission to provide television programmes, the Commission has
such powers as are necessary or convenient for the purpose of enabling the
Commission to comply with that section and, without limiting the generality of
those powers, the Commission may—
(a)for that purpose and with the approval in writing of the Minister, acquire,
dispose of or otherwise deal with any land, buildings, easements or other
property, rights or privileges; and
(b)subject to sub-section (3.) of section twenty-eight of the Broadcasting
Act, defray the costs, charges and expenses incurred by the Commission in
complying with the last preceding section out of moneys standing to the credit
of the account or accounts opened and maintained by the Commission under the
Broadcasting Act.
Establishment,
&c., of licensed commercial television stations not a contravention of
Wireless Telegraphy Act.
7.The establishment, erection, maintenance or use of a
commercial television station in pursuance of a licence granted under this Act
shall be deemed not to be in contravention of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905-1950 or of the regulations made under
that Act.
Licences
subject to Act and regulations.
8.A licence granted under this Act is subject to the
provisions of this Act and the regulations so far as those provisions are
applicable to the licence, and those provisions shall be deemed to be
incorporated in the licence as terms and conditions of the licence.
Offences.
9. A person who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of
this Act or the regulations, or with a condition of a licence granted under
this Act, is guilty of an offence against this Act punishable upon conviction
by such penalty as is prescribed.
Regulations.
10.