Television Licence Fees Amendment Act 1999

Overview

The Television Licence Fees Amendment Act 1999, enacted by the Parliament of Australia and assented to on 13 October 1999, serves to amend the existing Television Licence Fees Act 1964. This legislation was introduced to address the need for temporary additional licence fees to support certain broadcasting services during the period of 1999 to 2001. The Act specifically aims to introduce additional fees for licensees on 31 December of each of these years, calculated based on the fees payable under sections 6 and 6A of the original Act as of the previous year-end. The purpose of these amendments is to ensure that the licensees contribute proportionately to the costs associated with these broadcasting services during the transitional period outlined.

Scope and Application

The Television Licence Fees Amendment Act 1999 applies to all entities and individuals who hold a television licence as defined under the Television Licence Fees Act 1964. The Act pertains specifically to the television industry and the conduct associated with the payment of television licence fees. Geographically, this Act applies at the Commonwealth level, extending across Australia, as it is an enactment of the Parliament of Australia. The Act introduces additional licence fee provisions for the years 1999, 2000, and 2001, specifying the method of fee calculation for each of these years based on the previous year's total licensees' fees. Notably, the Act does not provide for any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds within its primary text; however, it allows for further detailing and application through subordinate instruments, which may define specific operational aspects or exceptions not explicitly stated in the main Act.

Key Provisions

The Television Licence Fees Amendment Act 1999 (C2004A00520) is a legislative instrument that amends the Television Licence Fees Act 1964. The key operative sections of this amendment pertain to additional licence fees for the years 1999, 2000, and 2001, which are introduced through the insertion of a new subsection 6B (Schedule 1, item 2). Under this new subsection, licensees must pay an additional fee calculated based on their previous year’s fee and the total fees paid by all licensees. Specifically, on 31 December 1999, the fee is determined by the licensee's fee on 31 December 1998 and the total licensees' fees on the same date, and similarly for 2000 and 2001 based on the respective previous years. This fee is in addition to the existing fees under subsections 6 and 6A. The obligations imposed by the Television Licence Fees Amendment Act 1999 require licensees to calculate and pay the additional fees as stipulated in subsection 6B. This involves determining their individual fee based on the provided formula and the total fees paid by all licensees. The Act also mandates that these additional fees be paid by the specified dates, i.e., 31 December 1999, 2000, and 2001. Furthermore, the Act implies that the existing framework for fee calculation and payment under sections 6 and 6A continues to apply, with the additional fees serving as a supplement. The Act does not explicitly detail offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance within the provided excerpt. However, given the legislative context, it can be inferred that non-compliance with the payment of the additional fees could potentially lead to legal ramifications. This might include enforcement actions by the relevant authorities, such as the issuance of fines or other civil remedies to ensure compliance with the legislative requirements. The specific penalties would likely be governed by the overarching provisions of the Television Licence Fees Act 1964 or related administrative regulations.