Satellite Communications Act 1984

Legislation au C2004A02885 Not in force Act

Select Document

No. 21 of 1984

An Act relating to the national telecommunications satellite system

[Assented to 26 April 1984]

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, and the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Satellite Communications Act 1984.

Commencement

2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Interpretation

3. In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—

“Aussat” means AUSSAT Pty Ltd, being a company incorporated on 6 November 1981 under the law in force in the Australian Capital Territory;

“Aussat satellite” means a space satellite used by Aussat in carrying on its business;

“Australia”, when used in a geographical sense, includes—

(a) the external Territories; and

(b) installations in areas that are adjacent areas within the meaning of the Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1967;

“Commission” means the Australian Telecommunications Commission established by the Telecommunications Act 1975;

“neighbouring regions” includes, without limiting the generality of the expression, Papua New Guinea and other places in the South-West Pacific area;

“satellite earth station” means a device for the transmission of signals from the earth to a space satellite or for the reception on the earth of signals transmitted from a space satellite;

“space satellite” means an apparatus placed in geostationary orbit relative to the earth for use as part of a telecommunications system.

Operation of Act

4. This Act applies both within and outside Australia and extends to every external Territory.

Application

5. This Act applies in relation to Aussat notwithstanding anything in the Memorandum of Association or the Articles of Association of Aussat, but this Act shall not be construed as affecting the operation of any provision of the Memorandum of Association or Articles of Association of Aussat that is capable of operating concurrently with this Act.

Primary object of Aussat

6. (1) It is the intention of the Parliament that Aussat have as its primary object the carrying on of the business, in accordance with sound commercial principles, of providing—

(a) a telecommunications system for Australia by the use of space satellites; and

(b) space satellite facilities for use in telecommunications systems for neighbouring regions.

(2) If the Memorandum of Association of Aussat does not provide that the principal object of Aussat is the object specified in sub-section (1), the Memorandum of Association shall be deemed so to provide and the Directors of Aussat and all other persons shall act accordingly.

National telecommunications network

7. It is the intention of the Parliament that the telecommunications system provided by the Commission and the telecommunications system provided by Aussat by the use of space satellites will provide the national telecommunications network for Australia.

Obligations of Directors of Aussat

8. (1) The Directors of Aussat shall ensure that, so far as practicable, Aussat is able to meet the requirements for space satellite facilities—

(a) of the Commonwealth for the purpose of the provision and maintenance of air navigation facilities and related safety services;

(b) of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation for the purpose of the provision by the Corporation of television and broadcasting services to remote communities and dwellings; and

(2) The Directors of Aussat shall, in the performance of their duties—

(a) have regard to, and endeavour to give effect to, the intention of the Parliament expressed in section 7; and

(b) have regard to, and endeavour to comply with, the obligations of Australia under international law.

Directors of Aussat

9. (1) In this section—

“Commissioner” means—

(a) the Managing Director of the Commission; or

(b) another Commissioner holding office under section 22 of the Telecommunications Act 1975;

“prescribed person” means—

(a) a Commissioner; or

(b) a person holding an office in the Service that is higher than any office in the Service held by a person who is principally responsible for the management of the affairs of the Commission in a State;

“Service” means the Australian Telecommunications Commission Service established by section 38 of the Telecommunications Act 1975.

(2) At any time—

(a) the Directors of Aussat shall not include more than 2 persons who are, or, within the period of 3 years immediately preceding their appointment, have been, prescribed persons; and

(b) at least three-quarters of the Directors of Aussat shall be persons other than persons who are, or, within that period, have been, prescribed persons.

Aussat not required to provide services without reward

10. Nothing in this Act or in any other Act shall be read as requiring Aussat to allow the use by any person of facilities in an Aussat satellite, or to provide any other facilities or any services to any person, without adequate payment to, or other adequate reward for, Aussat.

Aussat not to be public company

11. Aussat is not capable of being converted to a public company.

Shares in Aussat

12. (1) Shares in Aussat are not capable of being held by any person other than—

(a) the Commonwealth;

(b) the Commission; or

(2) Shares in Aussat shall not be issued or sold to the Commission except with the approval of the Minister.

(3) The number of shares in Aussat held by the Commission at any time shall not exceed 25% of the issued shares in Aussat at that time.

(4) Where the Commission holds shares in Aussat, the Commission shall not give a proxy in relation to any of those shares to any person for valuable consideration.

(5) Each share in Aussat shall be issued with the same rights and restrictions with regard to voting.

(6) Any issue or sale of shares, or any arrangement or agreement, that is contrary to this section is void and of no effect.

Winding up of Aussat

13. Aussat is not capable of being—

(a) voluntarily wound up; or

(b) wound up under an order of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory on an application made, whether alone or otherwise, by Aussat or a person referred to in sub-section 12 (1) (whether in the capacity of the person as a creditor of Aussat or otherwise),

except in accordance with a resolution passed by each House of the Parliament.

Aussat not to provide certain services

14. Nothing in this Act shall be read as authorizing the provision by Aussat of—

(a) services of a kind known as public switched telephone services; or

(b) services of a kind known as public switched data services.

Installations incidental to satellite services

15. (1) Subject to any law of the Commonwealth providing for licences or permits in relation to telecommunications installations, Aussat or a person entitled to use facilities in an Aussat satellite may erect, maintain or operate a telecommunications installation that is necessary or desirable for the use of such facilities, including a telecommunications installation for the transmission

of signals between a satellite earth station and premises owned or occupied, and used, by Aussat or the person, as the case may be.

(2) In this section, “telecommunications installation” has the same meaning as it has in the Telecommunications Act 1975.

Disclosure of contents of telecommunication messages

16. (1) Subject to this section, a person who is or has been a Director, or an officer or employee, of Aussat shall not divulge or communicate to any person, or make use of or record, the contents or substance of a message or other communication received or transmitted by, or intended for transmission by, Aussat by means of a telecommunication, being a message or other communication that came to his knowledge or to which he had access by reason of his position as a Director, officer or employee of Aussat.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.

(2) Sub-section (1) does not prohibit the doing of any thing by a person—

(a) in the performance of his duties as a Director, officer or employee of Aussat;

(b) as a witness summoned to give evidence or to produce documents in a court of law;

(d) in other prescribed circumstances, being circumstances in which the doing of the thing was in the public interest.

Right to send signals to Aussat satellite

17. (1) A person shall not, without reasonable excuse, transmit a signal to an Aussat satellite otherwise than in accordance with—

(a) an agreement between Aussat and the person; or

(b) approval given by, Aussat.

Penalty:

(a) if the offender is a natural person—$10,000; or

(b) if the offender is a body corporate—$50,000.

(2) Where an agreement between Aussat and a person (in this sub-section referred to as the “authorized user”) gives the authorized user the right to transmit signals to an Aussat satellite—

(a) that right is incapable of being sold or otherwise disposed of by the authorized user to another person; and

(b) it is a term of the agreement that Aussat may terminate the agreement if the authorized user offers, or purports, to sell or otherwise dispose of that right under the agreement to another person.

Aussat satellite facilities not to be used for certain businesses

18. (1) Subject to the regulations, a person, other than Aussat or an eligible person, shall not use a facility in an Aussat satellite for the purpose of

carrying on a business of providing facilities for telecommunication between other persons. Penalty:

(a) if the offender is a natural person—$10,000; or

(b) if the offender is a body corporate—$50,000.

(2) Sub-section (1) shall not be read as authorizing the making of regulations that would increase a penalty provided for by that sub-section.

(3) In this section, “eligible person” means—

(a) the Commission;

(b) the Australian Postal Commission;

(d) a person declared by the regulations to be an eligible person for the purposes of this section.

Regulations

19. (1) The Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all matters—

(a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or

(b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act or for carrying out the objects of Aussat.

(2) Without limiting the generality of sub-section (1) but subject to any agreement (including a treaty or convention) between Australia and a foreign country or foreign countries, regulations may be made—

(a) prescribing matters relating to the use of relevant facilities;

(b) prohibiting the sending by a satellite service provided by Aussat of indecent, obscene or offensive communications, or the use of such a service for the purpose of harassing a person; and

(3) The limitation imposed by paragraph (2) (c) on the penalties that may be prescribed by the regulations does not prevent the regulations from requiring a person to make a statutory declaration.

(4) In this section, “relevant facility” means—

(a) an Aussat satellite;

(b) a facility in an Aussat satellite; or

Overview

The Satellite Communications Act 1984 was enacted to establish and regulate the operations of Aussat Pty Ltd, focusing on its role in providing telecommunications services via space satellites. The Act was passed by the Australian Parliament and received Royal Assent on 26 April 1984. The primary objective of this Act is to ensure that Aussat focuses on providing a telecommunications system for Australia and space satellite facilities for neighbouring regions, in accordance with sound commercial principles. The Act also seeks to integrate Aussat's services with the national telecommunications network and mandates the Directors of Aussat to meet certain requirements, including those of the Commonwealth, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and the Australian Telecommunications Commission. Furthermore, the Act outlines specific obligations and restrictions regarding the use of Aussat's facilities, including the prohibition of unauthorised use of its satellites for certain telecommunications services and the requirement for adequate payment for the use of Aussat's facilities.

Scope and Application

The Satellite Communications Act 1984 applies to Aussat Pty Ltd, which is mandated to provide telecommunications services using space satellites, both within Australia and its external territories. The Act specifically outlines the primary object of Aussat to be the provision of a national telecommunications system and satellite facilities for neighbouring regions, ensuring its operations align with sound commercial principles. The obligations of the Directors of Aussat include ensuring the company meets the telecommunications needs of the Commonwealth, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and the Australian Telecommunications Commission, while also adhering to international obligations. The Act ensures that Aussat remains a private entity, not open to public share ownership, with shares only held by the Commonwealth, the Commission, or as trustees for the Commonwealth. Additionally, it prohibits Aussat from providing certain services such as public switched telephone and data services, mandates the confidentiality of communication contents by certain personnel, and restricts unauthorised signal transmissions to Aussat satellites. The Act also imposes penalties for unauthorised use of Aussat satellite facilities for telecommunication services and allows for regulations to further define operational parameters, including restrictions on indecent or harassing communications. The Governor-General has the authority to make regulations to implement the Act, subject to international agreements, and these regulations may include penalties not exceeding $1,000 for regulatory breaches.

Key Provisions

The Satellite Communications Act 1984 (sections 1-19) establishes a legislative framework governing the national telecommunications satellite system, primarily focusing on the operations and obligations of AUSSAT Pty Ltd (Aussat). The primary object of Aussat, as stipulated in section 6, is to provide telecommunications services using space satellites for Australia and neighbouring regions. This Act mandates that Aussat's Directors ensure the company meets specific requirements for space satellite facilities, particularly for the Commonwealth, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and the Australian Telecommunications Commission (section 8). Additionally, it restricts the composition of Aussat's board of directors, limiting the number of former or current prescribed persons who can serve on the board (section 9). The Act also prohibits Aussat from providing certain services such as public switched telephone and data services (section 14) and from being wound up or converted to a public company without parliamentary resolution (section 13). Furthermore, it stipulates that shares in Aussat can only be held by the Commonwealth, the Commission, or a trustee for the Commonwealth, with specific conditions on share issuance and voting rights (section 12). The Act further imposes restrictions on the disclosure of telecommunication message contents by Aussat's Directors, officers, or employees, with potential penalties for breaches (section 16). The obligations imposed by the Act on parties include ensuring Aussat meets its primary object of providing telecommunications services via space satellites, maintaining confidentiality of communications, and adhering to the restrictions on service provision and board composition. The Act also places a responsibility on Aussat's Directors to ensure compliance with international obligations and to facilitate the national telecommunications network. There are also specific prohibitions on the unauthorized use of Aussat's facilities and the unauthorized transmission of signals to Aussat satellites, with clear directives on how agreements and approvals must be obtained (sections 16-18). Breaches of the Act can result in significant penalties. For instance, unauthorised transmission of signals to an Aussat satellite carries a penalty of up to $10,000 for natural persons and $50,000 for bodies corporate (section 17). Similarly, unauthorised use of Aussat satellite facilities for telecommunications services attracts penalties of $10,000 for natural persons and $50,000 for bodies corporate (section 18). Additionally, disclosure of the contents of telecommunication messages by Aussat personnel can result in imprisonment for up to 2 years (section 16). The Act allows for the creation of regulations to further specify the use of Aussat facilities and to prescribe penalties for breaches, with a maximum fine of $1,000 (section 19).

Area of Law: Technology Law; Telecommunications Law
Instrument: Act
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Commencement Provisions; Offence Provisions; Licensing & Registration; Compliance Obligations; Prohibited Conduct

Interactions

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.

Legislation content

Overview

Scope and Application

Key Provisions

Legal classification tags

Interactions

Authorises

All Versions