PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS BROADCASTING ACT 1974

No. 32 of 1974

An Act to amend the Parliamentary Proceedings Broadcasting Act 1946-1973.

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

Short title and citation.

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1. (1) This Act may be cited as the Parliamentary Proceedings Broadcasting Act 1974.

The Parliamentary Proceedings Broadcasting Act 1946-1973 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Parliamentary Proceedings Broadcasting Act 1946-1974.

2 Commencement.

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

3 Interpretation

3. Section 3 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by inserting before the definition of “national broadcasting station” the following definition:—

“‘joint sitting’ means a joint sitting of the members of the Senate and of the House of Representatives convened by the Governor-General in pursuance of section 57 of the Constitution; ” and

(b) by adding at the end thereof the following sub-sections:—

“(2) In this Act—

(a) a reference to televising shall be read as a reference to the transmission from a television station of visual images, with or without accompanying sound; and

(b) a reference to re-broadcasting of proceedings shall be read as a reference to broadcasting from a sound recording of proceedings.

“(3) Sections 14, 15 and 16 apply in relation to proceedings of a joint sitting as if—

(a) a reference to broadcasting of proceedings included a reference to televising of proceedings; and

(b) a reference to re-broadcasting of proceedings included a reference to televising from a recording of proceedings.”.

Broadcasting of par liamentary proceedings.

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4. (1) Section 4 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by omitting the words “the Senate or the House of Representatives” and substituting the words “the Senate, the House of Representatives or a joint sitting”; and

(b) by adding at the end thereof the following sub-sections:—

“(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Broadcasting and Television Act 1942-1973, but subject to sub-section (3) of this section, the Australian Broadcasting Commission may televise the whole or a part of the proceedings of a joint sitting.

“(3) The Committee may make determinations requiring the Australian Broadcasting Commission to exercise its powers under sub-section (2) or otherwise relating to the exercise of those powers, and the Commission shall act in accordance with any such determination.”.

Regulations in force immediately before the commencement of this Act for the purposes of section 4 of the Principal Act have effect as all made under the Principal Act as amended by this Act for the purposes of section 4 of the Principal Act as amended by this Act, but may be amended or repealed by regulations made under the Principal Act as amended by this Act.

5 Power to sit during recess, &c.

5. Section 11 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting after the word ‘‘sitting’’ the words “or during a joint sitting’

6 Functions of Committee.

6. Section 12 of the Principal Act is amended by adding at the end thereof the following sub-section:—

“(3) The Committee shall determine the days upon which, and the periods during which, the proceedings of a joint sitting shall be broadcast.”.

Delegation to Subcommittee.

7. Section 13 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-section (1) the words “shall be broadcast” and substituting the words “or of a joint sitting shall be broadcast or its power to determine any matter in accordance with sub-section (3) of section 4” and

(b) by inserting in sub-section (4), after the word “sitting”, the words “or during a joint sitting”.

8 Recording of parliamentary proceedings.

8. Section 13a of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-section (2) the words “proceedings of the Senate or of the House of Representatives” and substituting the words “proceedings of either House of the Parliament or of a joint sitting”; and

(b) by inserting after sub-section (2) the following sub-section:—

“(2a) The Commission may, with the consent of the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Committee, make a visual recording, with or without accompanying sound, of any proceedings of a joint sitting, and shall make such a recording when directed so to do by the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Committee.

9 Rebroadcasting of parliamentary proceedings.

9. Section 14 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by inserting in sub-section (1), after the word “Parliament”, the words “or of a joint sitting”; and

(b) by inserting in sub-section (2), after the word “Parliament”, the words “ or of a joint sitting”.

10 No action for broadcasting parliamentary proceedings.

10. Section 15 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting after the word “Parliament” the words “or of a joint sitting”.

11 Section 117 of Broadcasting and Television Act inapplicable.

11. Section 16 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting after the word “Parliament” the words “or of a joint sitting”.

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