We’re seeking views on proposed amendments to subordinate instruments to improve the efficiency of telecommunications network rollouts, as well as the resilience and energy usage of telecommunications infrastructure.
Why we want your input
The department is seeking views on proposed changes to the Telecommunications (Low-Impact Facilities) Determination 2018 (LIFD) and the Telecommunications Code of Practice 2021 (Code of Practice). Submissions received by the department as part of this consultation process will be used to inform the Australian Government’s decision on the proposed amendments.How you can voice your opinion
Upload your submission using the ‘Have Your Say’ button. Alternatively, you can email you submission to powersandimmunities@communications.gov.au.What will be the outcome of this consultation?
Your feedback on the proposed amendments will assist the Australian Government in ensuring that the proposed amendments are fit-for-purpose and meet the connectivity needs for all Australians.The Issue
Australians expect to have access to a reliable telecommunications service in the same way as they expect to have access to water and electricity. Connectivity is essential for driving national productivity growth and provides opportunities for all Australians regardless of where they live or work. To meet these connectivity needs, it is often necessary for carriers to deploy new infrastructure.
The Australian Government’s last substantial updates to the LIFD and the Code of Practice occurred in 2018 and 2021 respectively. Since these changes were implemented, there has been greater demand on both fixed line and mobile telecommunications services by Australians. The post-COVID environment has also seen the continued decentralisation of Australia’s workforce from city and commercial centres to working from home, and for some, home has shifted to regional and rural areas.
This has resulted in all Australians expecting better and more resilient connectivity. The proposed changes are intended to meet these increased consumer demands and improve connectivity, particularly in regional areas. The proposed changes would also provide additional redundancy and resiliency for telecommunications networks.
Summarised, the proposed amendments would:
- Increase the size of already defined ‘low-impact facilities’ in certain circumstances;
- Introduce cabling on bridges as a low-impact facility; and
- Empower land occupiers to waive installation certificate requirements if they elect to do so.
The consultation paper and accompanying draft instruments provide further details on the proposed changes.
If you would like to discuss these proposed amendments with us, you can email powersandimmunities@communications.gov.au
Relevant documentation
- Consultation Paper – Proposed Amendments to the Powers and Immunities Framework
- Marked Up Exposure Draft - Telecommunications (Low-Impact Facilities) Determination 2018
- Exposure Draft - Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Amendment Determination 2024
- Marked Up Exposure Draft - Telecommunications Code of Practice 2021
- Exposure Draft - Telecommunications Code of Practice Amendment 2024
Participate
11 Nov 2024 09:00 AEDT
02 Dec 2024 23:59 AEDT
Closed
We invite you to tell us your views on this topic.
Please include:
- contact name
- organisation name, if applicable
- contact details, including telephone number, postal and email addresses
- confirmation whether or not your submission can be made public—published—or kept confidential.
All submissions to be made public need to meet the Digital Service Standard for accessibility. Any submission that does not meet this standard may be modified before being made public.
If your submission is to be made public, please ensure you do not include any personal information that you don't want to be published.
If your submission is confidential, please ensure each page of the submission is marked as confidential.
Please click on the 'Have your say now' button below to upload your submission.
This consultation is closed.
Privacy Collection Notice
Amending the Telecommunications (Low-Impact Facilities) Determination 2018 and Telecommunications Code of Practice 2021
Your submission, including any personal information supplied, is being collected by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (“the Department”) in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988
Use
The Department may use your submission to inform consideration of issues relating to the amendment of the Telecommunications (Low-Impact Facilities) Determination 2018 and Telecommunications Code of Practice 2021.
Disclosure
The Department may publish your submission as explained below. Otherwise your submission will not be disclosed unless authorised or required by law.
Contacting You
The Department may use your contact information to make further contact with you about your submission and the consultation process.
Publication
Unless marked confidential (see below) submissions (including the author’s name) may be published in part or full on the Department’s website or in any public response by the Department. When publishing, the Department will redact any personal contact details of the author.
Confidentiality
Confidential submissions will not be published and will only be disclosed in the following circumstances:
- in response to a request by a Commonwealth Minister;
- where required by a House or a Committee of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia;
- where necessary in the public interest; or
- where authorised or required by law.
Submissions will only be treated as confidential if they are expressly stated to be confidential. Automatically generated confidentiality statements or disclaimers appended to an email do not suffice for this purpose. If you wish you make a confidential submission, you must indicate this by ensuring your submission is clearly marked confidential. Even if a submission is not marked confidential, the Department may choose not to publish it, or any part of it, in the Department’s discretion (for example where it includes personal information or opinions about a third party).
Access
The Department will securely store your personal information and the Department’s privacy policy contains information regarding complaint handling processes and how to access and/or seek correction of personal information held by the Department. Further information is available at Privacy | Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.