Telecommunications (Participating Person Exemption—Public Safety) Determination 2022

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Legislation au F2022L00844 In force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

Telecommunications (Participating Person Exemption—Public Safety) Determination 2022

made under subsection 44(2) of the

Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999

Compilation No. 2

Compilation date: 26 May 2026

Includes amendments: F2026L00624

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Telecommunications (Participating Person Exemption—Public Safety) Determination 2022 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 26 May 2026 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au).

Application, saving and transitional provisions

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Editorial changes

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

Presentational changes

The Legislation Act 2003 provides for First Parliamentary Counsel to make presentational changes to a compilation. Presentational changes are applied to give a more consistent look and feel to legislation published on the Register, and enable the user to more easily navigate those documents.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. Any modifications affecting the law are accessible on the Register.

Selfrepealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

 

 

 

Contents

1 Name

3 Authority

4 Repeal

5 Definitions

6 Determination of a kind of exempt person

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

1  Name

  This instrument is the Telecommunications (Participating Person Exemption—Public Safety) Determination 2022.

3  Authority

  This instrument is made under subsection 44(2) of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.

4  Repeal

 

This instrument is repealed at the start of 1 July 2031.

5  Definitions

Note: A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in section 5 of the Act, including the following:

(a) eligible revenue;

(b) participating person.

 

  In this instrument:

Act means the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.

Government Radio Network means a radiocommunications system:

 (a) owned and operated by a State or Territory or a corporation owned wholly by a State or Territory; and

 (b) used to supply carriage services using trunked radiocommunications.

Permitted Purpose means any voice or data communication necessary or desirable to facilitate the exercise of functions in connection with:

 (a) preventing, preparing for, responding to or recovering from, an emergency, public safety incident or other incident posing a risk of harm to any person or property (including training activities in relation to the exercise of those functions); or

 (b) law enforcement and compliance; or

 (c) national security.

Permitted User means:

 (a) a department, agency, authority, institution or instrumentality of the Commonwealth of Australia; or

 (b) a department, agency, authority, institution or instrumentality (including of local government) of a State or Territory; or

 (c) a corporation owned wholly by the Commonwealth, a State or Territory; or

 (d) a nongovernment entity involved in the provision of public safety activities or public safety services.

Qualifying Entity means each of the following:

 (a) a Department of State;

 (b) an agency of a State or a Territory;

 (c) an authority of a State or a Territory;

 (d) an instrumentality of a State or a Territory.

Specified Period means an eligible revenue period comprising any of the following financial years:

 (a) the 202122 financial year;

 (b) the 202223 financial year;

 (ba) the 2024‑25 financial year;

 (bb) the 202526 financial year;

 (bc) the 202627 financial year;

 (bd) the 202728 financial year;

 (be) the 202829 financial year;

 (bf) the 202930 financial year;

 (bg) the 203031 financial year;

 (c) the 202324 financial year.

 (2) In this instrument, the following terms have the same meaning as in the Telecommunications Act 1997:

 (a) carriage service;

 (b) communications;

 (c) radiocommunication;

 (d) telecommunications network.

6  Determination of a kind of exempt person

 (1) For the purposes of subsection 44(2) of the Act, subsection (2) below prescribes the kind of person who is determined to be exempt from section 44 of the Act for the relevant Specified Period.

 (2) The kind of person is a person who:

 (a) at any time during the Specified Period was a Qualifying Entity; and 

 (b) satisfies each of the following paragraphs during all times that the person was a Qualifying Entity in the Specified Period:

 (i) it owns, or is vested with and operates, a Government Radio Network; and

 (ii) it supplies carriage services using any telecommunications networks which it either owns, or is vested with and operates (including without limitation the Government Radio Network) only to Permitted Users and only for Permitted Purposes: and

 (iii) each carriage service it supplies (as referred to in paragraph (ii) above) is wholly on a noncommercial basis or noprofit basis.

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Abbreviation key—Endnote 2

The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.

If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and “(md not incorp)” is added to the amendment history.

 

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

 

ad = added or inserted

orig = original

am = amended

p = page(s)

amdt = amendment

para = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)

C[x] = Compilation No. x

/subsubparagraph(s)

ch = Chapter(s)

pres = present

cl = clause(s)

prev = previous

cont. = continued

(prev…) = previously

def = definition(s)

pt = Part(s)

Dict = Dictionary

r = regulation(s)/Court rule(s)

disallowed = disallowed by Parliament

reloc = relocated

div = Division(s)

renum = renumbered

ed = editorial change

rep = repealed

exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have

rs = repealed and substituted

effect

s = section(s)/subsection(s)

gaz = gazette

/rule(s)/subrule(s)/order(s)/suborder(s)

LA = Legislation Act 2003

sch = Schedule(s)

LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003

SLI = Select Legislative Instrument

(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given

SR = Statutory Rules

effect

sub ch = SubChapter(s)

(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment

sub div = Subdivision(s)

cannot be given effect

sub pt = Subpart(s)

mod = modified/modification

underlining = whole or part not

No. = Number(s)

commenced or to be commenced

Ord = Ordinance

 

 

Endnote 3—Legislation history

 

Name

Registration

Commencement

Application, saving and transitional provisions

Telecommunications (Participating Person Exemption—Public Safety) Determination 2022

27 June 2022

28 June 2022 (s 2(1) item 1)

 

Telecommunications Amendment (Participating Person Exemption—Public Safety) Determination 2024

22 May 2024 (F2024L00568)

23 May 2024 (s 2)

Telecommunications Amendment (Participating Person Exemption—Public Safety) Determination 2026

25 May 2026 (F2026L00624)

26 May 2026 (s 2)

 

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

Provision affected

How affected

s 2.....................

rep LA s 48D

s 4.....................

am F2024L00568; F2026L00624

s 5.....................

am F2024L00568; F2026L00624

 

Overview

The Telecommunications (Participating Person Exemption—Public Safety) Determination 2022, made under subsection 44(2) of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999, aims to address a specific gap in the existing legislative framework by exempting certain public safety entities from particular provisions of the Act. This determination was enacted to facilitate the provision of essential telecommunications services to entities involved in public safety and national security, ensuring that these critical services operate without unnecessary regulatory burdens. The determination was issued by the relevant federal authority and its primary policy objective is to support the efficient operation of government radio networks used exclusively for public safety and national security purposes, by exempting these networks from certain consumer protection and service standards requirements during specified financial years.

Scope and Application

The Telecommunications (Participating Person Exemption—Public Safety) Determination 2022 applies to Qualifying Entities that are government departments, agencies, authorities, or instrumentalities of the Commonwealth, a State, or a Territory, or corporations wholly owned by these entities, as well as non-government entities involved in the provision of public safety activities or services. The determination identifies these entities as exempt from certain sections of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999 for a specified period, which includes financial years from 2021-22 to 2030-31. The exemption applies to entities that own or operate a Government Radio Network and supply carriage services using telecommunications networks, but only to Permitted Users for Permitted Purposes, and on a non-commercial or no-profit basis. The determination is repealed at the start of 1 July 2031, and its application may be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments. The definitions provided in the determination and the Telecommunications Act 1997 further clarify the terms used within this legislative instrument.

Key Provisions

The Telecommunications (Participating Person Exemption—Public Safety) Determination 2022 (paragraph 1) outlines the criteria for determining a kind of person exempt from certain provisions of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999 (paragraph 3). This determination applies to entities that were Qualifying Entities (paragraph 6) during specified periods (paragraph 5) and operated Government Radio Networks (paragraph 5) for Permitted Purposes (paragraph 5) exclusively serving Permitted Users (paragraph 5). These services must be provided on a non-commercial or no-profit basis (paragraph 6). The determination imposes several obligations on the entities it governs. Firstly, these entities must be Qualifying Entities during the Specified Period (paragraph 6). Secondly, they must own or operate a Government Radio Network and supply carriage services through telecommunications networks (paragraph 6). Lastly, these services must be provided solely to Permitted Users and exclusively for Permitted Purposes (paragraph 6). Any deviation from these requirements could result in losing the exemption. For entities that breach the conditions outlined in this determination, there are potential consequences. While the determination does not explicitly detail penalties for non-compliance, entities found to be in breach of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999 could face fines and other enforcement actions under that Act. The specific penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, as well as the provisions of the overarching Act. In summary, the Telecommunications (Participating Person Exemption—Public Safety) Determination 2022 sets out the criteria for exemption from certain telecommunications regulations for Qualifying Entities operating Government Radio Networks for public safety purposes. Compliance with these criteria is mandatory, and failure to adhere to the terms could lead to enforcement actions under the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999. The specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed within this determination but would be governed by the overarching Act.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Telecommunications Law
Instrument
Legislative Instrument
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Enforcement Powers
Regulatory Standards

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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.