NSW Bill to Modernise Government Telecommunications Structure
Thursday 25 October 2018 @ 10.47 a.m. | Legal Research
The Government Telecommunications Bill 2018 (NSW) (‘the Bill’), which is currently being considered by the NSW Legislative Assembly, aims to reform and update the governmental telecommunications network in NSW. The Bill proposes to do this by establishing a streamlined communications authority for government agencies in NSW.
Background
The Bill was initially released for public consultation as an exposure draft in relation to the proposed establishment of the New South Wales Government Telecommunications Authority and associated advisory board, access to and acquisition of infrastructure. The Government accepted submissions until 27 August 2018. Analysis and research was conducted on the current legislation, the Government Telecommunications Act 1991 (NSW) as part of the consultation process.
The objectives of the proposed Bill were to ensure that the modern and updated role of the NSW Telco Authority was appropriately reflected in statute. The NSW Telco Authority manages the Government Radio Network (GRN). As noted in the Information and Issues Paper as part of the draft explanatory material:
Main Objectives of the Bill
The Bill aims to:
- Establish the New South Wales Government Telecommunications Authority to create a network for operational communication services for the government agencies;
- Establish the New South Wales Government Telecommunications Authority Advisory Board;
- Establish the requirement that government sector agencies must use the network for operational communications;
- Create a new offence of interference with the network access provided by the New South Wales Government Telecommunications Authority.
In his second reading speech, the Minister for Finances, Services and Property, Victor Dominello stated that there would be certain benefits in establishing a single shared network:
He also commented on the importance of updating the previous legislation, the Government Telecommunications Act 1991 (NSW):
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Sources:
Government Telecommunications Bill 2018 (NSW), and associated second reading speech and explanatory memorandum, as published on TimeBase LawOne.
[Draft] Government Telecommunications Bill 2018 Information and Issues Paper, July 2018.