Broadcasting and Television Act (No. 2) 1956

Overview

The Broadcasting and Television Act (No. 2) 1956 was enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament to amend the Broadcasting Act 1942–1954, as further amended by the Broadcasting and Television Act 1956. The principal objective of this Act was to address issues arising from the rapid development of television broadcasting in Australia and to refine the regulatory framework around broadcasting licences. This Act specifically altered certain provisions of the Principal Act, including amendments to licence fees and conditions, to reflect the changing landscape of media consumption and to provide more equitable terms for pensioners. The amendments aim to streamline the licensing process and ensure the ongoing relevance of regulatory provisions in light of technological and societal changes.

Scope and Application

The Broadcasting and Television (No. 2) Act 1956 amends the Broadcasting and Television Act 1956, and applies to broadcast listener’s licences granted for a period commencing on or after the first day of October 1956, and the renewal of such licences where they expire on or after that date. The Act also applies to television viewer’s licences and their renewals, with particular provisions for pensioners. The amendments concerning licence fees come into effect on the first day of January 1957, while the other amendments apply from the date of Royal Assent. The Act regulates the licensing of broadcast listeners and television viewers, including the setting of licence fees for different zones and specific concessions for pensioners. This legislation operates at the Commonwealth level and applies to all entities and individuals within Australia who hold or seek broadcast listener’s or television viewer’s licences, with no explicit exclusions mentioned in the text provided. The Act’s scope may be further defined or extended through subordinate instruments not detailed in the excerpt.

Key Provisions

The Broadcasting and Television (No. 2) Act 1956 primarily modifies the Broadcasting and Television Act 1942–1956. Section 1 outlines the citation and references the Principal Act, while Section 2 provides the commencement dates for different parts of the amendments, with specific dates mentioned for certain provisions. Section 3 details the amendment of section 54 of the Principal Act, which comes into effect on 1 January 1957, and Section 4 focuses on licence fees, with adjustments to the fees for broadcast and television licences, particularly for pensioners. Under the Act, broadcast listener's licences and television viewer's licences are subject to specific fees as outlined in the amended section 128 of the Principal Act. For instance, the fee for a broadcast listener’s licence is increased from Two pounds to Two pounds fifteen shillings. Additionally, pensioners are entitled to a discounted fee for both broadcast listener’s and television viewer’s licences, with specific amounts set at Ten shillings and Seven shillings respectively, depending on the licence zone. The Act also introduces a concession for pensioners, allowing them to pay only one-quarter of the otherwise applicable fee for a television viewer’s licence. The obligations imposed by the Act include adherence to the new fee structures and conditions for licence grants. Broadcasters and television service providers must ensure that they collect the correct fees as specified and offer the discounted rates to eligible pensioners. The Act also mandates that the new provisions regarding the licence fees and concessions apply to licences granted or renewed on or after specified dates. Failure to comply with the provisions of the Broadcasting and Television (No. 2) Act 1956 may result in legal consequences. Although the Act does not explicitly outline specific penalties for non-compliance, breaches of such legislative requirements typically attract penalties under the Principal Act or other related laws. These may include fines or other sanctions as deemed appropriate by the relevant authorities. It is essential for broadcasters and television service providers to ensure that they implement the changes as stipulated to avoid any legal repercussions.