Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

BROADCASTING SERVICES ACT 1992 - SECT 43A

             (1)  The ACMA must ensure that, at all times on and after 1 January 2008, there is in force under section 43 a condition that has the effect of requiring the licensee of a regional aggregated commercial television broadcasting licence to broadcast to each local area, during such periods as are specified in the condition, at least a minimum level of material of local significance.

             (2)  For the purposes of subsection (1), a regional aggregated commercial television broadcasting licence is a commercial television broadcasting licence for any of the following licence areas:

                     (a)  Northern New South Wales;

                     (b)  Southern New South Wales;

                     (c)  Regional Victoria;

                     (d)  Eastern Victoria;

                     (e)  Western Victoria;

                      (f)  Regional Queensland;

                     (g)  Tasmania.

             (3)  The condition must define local area and material of local significance for the purposes of the condition. The definition of material of local significance must be broad enough to cover news that relates directly to the local area concerned.

             (4)  To avoid doubt, this section does not:

                     (a)  prevent the condition from setting out different requirements for different types of material; or

                     (b)  prevent the condition from specifying periods that recur (for example, the hours between 7 am and 10 am Monday to Friday); or

                     (c)  prevent the condition from setting out different requirements for different periods; or

                     (d)  create any obligations under subsection 43(2) that would not exist apart from this section.

             (5)  Subsection 43(5) does not apply to the condition.

             (6)  This section does not limit the powers conferred on the ACMA by section 43 to impose, vary or revoke other conditions.