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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.


ENHANCING ONLINE SAFETY FOR CHILDREN BILL 2014

 

 

 

2013-2014 

 

The Parliament of the 

Commonwealth of Australia 

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

 

 

 

 

Presented and read a first time 

 

 

 

 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children 

Bill 2014 

 

No.      , 2014 

 

(Communications) 

 

 

 

A Bill for an Act to enhance online safety for 

children, and for other purposes 

   

   

   

 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

i 

 

Contents 

Part 1--Preliminary

 

1

 

Short title ........................................................................................... 1

 

Commencement ................................................................................. 2

 

Simplified outline of this Act ............................................................. 2

 

Definitions ......................................................................................... 3

 

Cyber-bullying material targeted at an Australian child .................... 7

 

When material is provided on a social media service or 

relevant electronic service ................................................................. 8

 

When material is posted by an end-user of a social media 

service or relevant electronic service ................................................. 8

 

When material is removed from a social media service or 

relevant electronic service ................................................................. 8

 

Social media service .......................................................................... 9

 

10 

Crown to be bound ........................................................................... 10

 

11 

Application of this Act ..................................................................... 10

 

12 

Convention on the Rights of the Child ............................................ 10

 

Part 2--Children's e-Safety Commissioner

 

11

 

13 

Simplified outline of this Part .......................................................... 11

 

14 

Children's e-Safety Commissioner .................................................. 11

 

15 

Functions of the Commissioner ....................................................... 11

 

16 

Powers of the Commissioner ........................................................... 13

 

Part 3--Complaints about cyber-bullying material

 

14

 

17 

Simplified outline of this Part .......................................................... 14

 

18 

Complaints about cyber-bullying material ....................................... 14

 

19 

Investigation of complaints .............................................................. 16

 

Part 4--Social media services

 

17

 

Division 1--Introduction

 

17

 

20 

Simplified outline of this Part .......................................................... 17

 

21 

Basic online safety requirements ..................................................... 17

 

22 

Statement of Parliamentary expectations ......................................... 18

 

Division 2--Tier 1 social media services

 

19

 

Subdivision A--Declaration of tier 1 social media service

 

19

 

23 

Declaration of tier 1 social media service ........................................ 19

 

24 

Variation of declaration of tier 1 social media service--

change of name ................................................................................ 20

 

 

 

ii 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

25 

Revocation of declaration of social media service as a tier 1 

social media service ......................................................................... 20

 

26 

Notification of changes to terms of use of tier 1 social media 

service .............................................................................................. 21

 

27 

Notification of change of contact person etc.................................... 21

 

28 

Register of Tier 1 Social Media Services ......................................... 22

 

Subdivision B--Request for removal of cyber-bullying material

 

22

 

29 

Request for removal of cyber-bullying material .............................. 22

 

Division 3--Tier 2 social media services

 

25

 

Subdivision A--Declaration of tier 2 social media service

 

25

 

30 

Declaration of tier 2 social media service ........................................ 25

 

31 

Recommendation about declaration of a tier 2 social media 

service .............................................................................................. 25

 

32 

Variation of declaration of tier 2 social media service--

change of name ................................................................................ 27

 

33 

Revocation of declaration of social media service as a tier 2 

social media service ......................................................................... 27

 

34 

Register of Tier 2 Social Media Services ......................................... 28

 

Subdivision B--Social media service notices

 

28

 

35 

Social media service notice .............................................................. 28

 

36 

Compliance with social media service notice .................................. 29

 

37 

Formal warning ................................................................................ 29

 

Division 4--Non-compliant social media services

 

30

 

38 

Non-compliance with the basic online safety requirements ............. 30

 

39 

Non-compliance with a request for removal of 

cyber-bullying material .................................................................... 30

 

40 

Non-compliance with a social media service notice ........................ 30

 

Part 5--End-user notices

 

31

 

41 

Simplified outline of this Part .......................................................... 31

 

42 

End-user notice ................................................................................ 31

 

43 

Compliance with end-user notice ..................................................... 32

 

44 

Formal warning ................................................................................ 32

 

Part 6--Enforcement

 

33

 

45 

Simplified outline of this Part .......................................................... 33

 

46 

Civil penalty provision ..................................................................... 33

 

47 

Enforceable undertakings ................................................................ 34

 

48 

Injunctions ....................................................................................... 35

 

 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

iii 

 

Part 7--Administrative provisions relating to the 

Commissioner

 

36

 

Division 1--Introduction

 

36

 

49 

Simplified outline of this Part .......................................................... 36

 

Division 2--Appointment of the Commissioner

 

37

 

50 

Appointment of the Commissioner .................................................. 37

 

51 

Period of appointment for the Commissioner .................................. 37

 

52 

Acting appointments ........................................................................ 37

 

Division 3--Terms and conditions for the Commissioner

 

39

 

53 

Remuneration and allowances ......................................................... 39

 

54 

Leave of absence .............................................................................. 39

 

55 

Outside employment ........................................................................ 39

 

56 

Disclosure of interests to the Minister ............................................. 39

 

57 

Resignation ...................................................................................... 40

 

58 

Termination of appointment ............................................................ 40

 

59 

Other terms and conditions .............................................................. 40

 

Division 4--Other matters

 

41

 

60 

Supplementary powers ..................................................................... 41

 

61 

Commissioner's liabilities are Commonwealth liabilities ............... 41

 

62 

Commissioner has privileges and immunities of the Crown ............ 41

 

63 

Delegation by the Commissioner to a member of the staff of 

the ACMA etc. ................................................................................. 42

 

64 

Delegation by the Commissioner to a body corporate ..................... 42

 

65 

Sub-delegation by body corporate ................................................... 44

 

66 

Annual report ................................................................................... 44

 

67 

Assistance to the Commissioner ...................................................... 44

 

68 

Commissioner not subject to direction by the ACMA ..................... 45

 

69 

Consultants ...................................................................................... 46

 

70 

Minister may give directions to the Commissioner ......................... 46

 

Part 8--Children's Online Safety Special Account

 

47

 

71 

Simplified outline of this Part .......................................................... 47

 

72 

Children's Online Safety Special Account ...................................... 47

 

73 

Credits to the Account ..................................................................... 47

 

74 

Purposes of the Account .................................................................. 48

 

Part 9--Disclosure of information

 

49

 

75 

Simplified outline of this Part .......................................................... 49

 

76 

Scope ............................................................................................... 49

 

77 

Disclosure to Minister ...................................................................... 49

 

 

 

iv 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

78 

Disclosure to APS employees for advising the Minister.................. 49

 

79 

Disclosure to Royal Commissions ................................................... 49

 

80 

Disclosure to certain authorities ....................................................... 50

 

81 

Disclosure to teachers or school principals ...................................... 51

 

82 

Disclosure to parents or guardians ................................................... 51

 

83 

Disclosure with consent ................................................................... 51

 

84 

Disclosure of publicly available information ................................... 52

 

85 

Disclosure of summaries and statistics ............................................ 52

 

86 

Relationship with Part 13 of the Telecommunications Act 

1997 ................................................................................................. 52

 

Part 10--Miscellaneous

 

53

 

87 

Simplified outline of this Part .......................................................... 53

 

88 

Review of decisions ......................................................................... 53

 

89 

Protection from civil proceedings .................................................... 54

 

90 

Liability for damages ....................................................................... 54

 

91 

Protection from criminal proceedings--Commissioner etc. ............ 55

 

92 

Referral of matters to law enforcement agencies ............................. 56

 

93 

Deferral of action in order to avoid prejudicing a criminal 

investigation ..................................................................................... 57

 

94 

Copies of material ............................................................................ 57

 

95 

Compensation for acquisition of property ....................................... 57

 

96 

Service of notices by electronic means ............................................ 58

 

97 

Service of notices on contact person etc. ......................................... 58

 

98 

This Act does not limit Schedule 5 or 7 to the Broadcasting 

Services Act 1992 ............................................................................. 59

 

99 

This Act does not limit the Telecommunications Act 1997 .............. 59

 

100 

Implied freedom of political communication ................................... 59

 

101 

Concurrent operation of State and Territory laws ............................ 60

 

102 

This Act not to affect performance of State or Territory 

functions .......................................................................................... 60

 

103 

Revocation or variation of instruments ............................................ 60

 

104 

Terms of use of a social media service ............................................ 60

 

105 

Provider of social media service or relevant electronic 

service .............................................................................................. 61

 

106 

Extended meaning of use ................................................................. 61

 

107 

Review of this Act etc. ..................................................................... 61

 

108 

Legislative rules ............................................................................... 62

 

 

 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

1 

 

A Bill for an Act to enhance online safety for 

children, and for other purposes 

The Parliament of Australia enacts: 

Part 1--Preliminary 

   

1  Short title 

 

  This Act may be cited as the Enhancing Online Safety for Children 

Act 2014

   

Part 1  Preliminary 

   

 

Section 2 

 

2 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

2  Commencement 

 

(1)  Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table 

commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with 

column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect 

according to its terms. 

 

Commencement information 

Column 1 

Column 2 

Column 3 

Provisions 

Commencement 

Date/Details 

1.  Sections 1 and 

2 and anything in 

this Act not 

elsewhere covered 

by this table 

The day this Act receives the Royal Assent. 

 

2.  Sections 3 to 

108 

A single day to be fixed by Proclamation. 

However, if the provisions do not commence 

within the period of 6 months beginning on 

the day this Act receives the Royal Assent, 

they commence on the day after the end of 

that period. 

 

Note: 

This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally 

enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of 

this Act. 

 

(2)  Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. 

10 

Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it 

11 

may be edited, in any published version of this Act. 

12 

3  Simplified outline of this Act 

13 

•  

There is to be a Children's e-Safety Commissioner. 

14 

•  

A key function of the Commissioner is to administer a 

15 

complaints system for cyber-bullying material targeted at an 

16 

Australian child. 

17 

 

The complaints system includes the following components: 

18 

   

Preliminary  Part 1 

   

 

Section 4 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

3 

 

 

(a) 

a 2-tiered scheme for the rapid removal from social 

media services of cyber-bullying material targeted at an 

Australian child; 

 

(b) 

a tier 1 social media service may be requested to remove 

from the service cyber-bullying material targeted at an 

Australian child; 

 

(c) 

a tier 2 social media service may be given a notice (a 

social media service notice) requiring the removal from 

the service of cyber-bullying material targeted at an 

Australian child; 

10 

 

(d) 

a person who posts cyber-bullying material targeted at 

11 

an Australian child may be given a notice (an end-user 

12 

notice) requiring the person to remove the material, 

13 

refrain from posting cyber-bullying material or 

14 

apologise for posting the material. 

15 

•  

The functions of the Commissioner also include: 

16 

 

(a) 

promoting online safety for children; and 

17 

 

(b) 

coordinating activities of Commonwealth Departments, 

18 

authorities and agencies relating to online safety for 

19 

children; and 

20 

 

(c) 

administering the online content scheme that was 

21 

previously administered by the ACMA. 

22 

4  Definitions 

23 

 

  In this Act: 

24 

access includes: 

25 

 

(a)  access that is subject to a pre-condition (for example, the use 

26 

of a password); and 

27 

 

(b)  access by way of push technology; and 

28 

 

(c)  access by way of a standing request. 

29 

account includes: 

30 

 

(a)  a free account; and 

31 

 

(b)  a pre-paid account; and 

32 

   

Part 1  Preliminary 

   

 

Section 4 

 

4 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

 

(c)  anything that may reasonably be regarded as the equivalent 

of an account. 

ACMA means the Australian Communications and Media 

Authority. 

adult means an individual who is 18 or older. 

Appropriation Act means an Act appropriating money for 

expenditure out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund. 

Australia, when used in a geographical sense, includes all the 

external Territories. 

Australian child means a child who is ordinarily resident in 

10 

Australia. 

11 

Australian police force means: 

12 

 

(a)  the Australian Federal Police; or 

13 

 

(b)  the police force of a State or Territory. 

14 

basic online safety requirements has the meaning given by 

15 

section 21. 

16 

carriage service has the same meaning as in the 

17 

Telecommunications Act 1997

18 

child means an individual who has not reached 18 years. 

19 

Children's Online Safety Special Account means the Children's 

20 

Online Safety Special Account established by section 72. 

21 

civil proceeding includes a civil action. 

22 

Commissioner means the Children's e-Safety Commissioner. 

23 

Note: 

See section 14. 

24 

Convention on the Rights of the Child means the Convention on 

25 

the Rights of the Child done at New York on 20 November 1989. 

26 

Note: 

The Convention is in Australian Treaty Series 1991 No. 4 ([1991] 

27 

ATS 4) and could in 2014 be viewed in the Australian Treaties 

28 

Library on the AustLII website (http://www.austlii.edu.au). 

29 

   

Preliminary  Part 1 

   

 

Section 4 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

5 

 

cyber-bullying material targeted at an Australian child has the 

meaning given by section 5. 

de-identified: information is de-identified if the information is no 

longer about: 

 

(a)  an identifiable individual; or 

 

(b)  an individual who is reasonably identifiable. 

electronic service means: 

 

(a)  a service that allows end-users to access material using a 

carriage service; or 

 

(b)  a service that delivers material to persons having equipment 

10 

appropriate for receiving that material, where the delivery of 

11 

the service is by means of a carriage service; 

12 

but does not include: 

13 

 

(c)  a broadcasting service (within the meaning of the 

14 

Broadcasting Services Act 1992); or 

15 

 

(d)  a datacasting service (within the meaning of that Act). 

16 

end-user notice means a notice under subsection 42(1). 

17 

legislative rules means rules made under section 108. 

18 

material means material: 

19 

 

(a)  whether in the form of text; or 

20 

 

(b)  whether in the form of data; or 

21 

 

(c)  whether in the form of speech, music or other sounds; or 

22 

 

(d)  whether in the form of visual images (moving or otherwise); 

23 

or 

24 

 

(e)  whether in any other form; or 

25 

 

(f)  whether in any combination of forms. 

26 

online safety for children means the capacity of Australian 

27 

children to use social media services and electronic services in a 

28 

safe manner, and includes the protection of Australian children 

29 

using those services from cyber-bullying material targeted at an 

30 

Australian child. 

31 

   

Part 1  Preliminary 

   

 

Section 4 

 

6 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

parent: without limiting who is a parent of anyone for the purposes 

of this Act, a person is the parent of another person if the other 

person is a child of the person within the meaning of the Family 

Law Act 1975

posted by an end-user of a social media service or relevant 

electronic service has the meaning given by section 7. 

provided on a social media service or relevant electronic service 

has the meaning given by section 6. 

provider of a social media service or relevant electronic service has 

a meaning affected by section 105. 

10 

relevant electronic service means any of the following electronic 

11 

services: 

12 

 

(a)  a service that enables end-users to communicate, by means of 

13 

email, with other end-users; 

14 

 

(b)  an instant messaging service that enables end-users to 

15 

communicate with other end-users; 

16 

 

(c)  an SMS service that enables end-users to communicate with 

17 

other end-users; 

18 

 

(d)  an MMS service that enables end-users to communicate with 

19 

other end-users; 

20 

 

(e)  a chat service that enables end-users to communicate with 

21 

other end-users; 

22 

 

(f)  a service that enables end-users to play online games with 

23 

other end-users; 

24 

 

(g)  an electronic service specified in the legislative rules. 

25 

Note 1: 

SMS is short for short message service. 

26 

Note 2: 

MMS is short for multimedia message service. 

27 

removed from a social media service or relevant electronic service 

28 

has the meaning given by section 8. 

29 

service includes a website. 

30 

social media service has the meaning given by section 9. 

31 

social media service notice means a notice under subsection 35(1). 

32 

   

Preliminary  Part 1 

   

 

Section 5 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

7 

 

target of cyber-bullying material has the meaning given by 

section 5. 

terms of use includes anything that may be reasonably regarded as 

the equivalent of terms of use. 

tier 1 social media service means a social media service covered 

by a declaration under subsection 23(4). 

tier 2 social media service means a social media service covered 

by a declaration under subsection 30(1). 

use has a meaning affected by section 106. 

5  Cyber-bullying material targeted at an Australian child 

10 

 

(1)  For the purposes of this Act, if material satisfies the following 

11 

conditions: 

12 

 

(a)  the material is provided on a social media service or relevant 

13 

electronic service; 

14 

 

(b)  an ordinary reasonable person would conclude that: 

15 

 

(i)  it is likely that the material was intended to have an 

16 

effect on a particular Australian child; and 

17 

 

(ii)  the material would be likely to have the effect on the 

18 

Australian child of seriously threatening, seriously 

19 

intimidating, seriously harassing or seriously 

20 

humiliating the Australian child; 

21 

 

(c)  such other conditions (if any) as are set out in the legislative 

22 

rules; 

23 

then: 

24 

 

(d)  the material is cyber-bullying material targeted at the 

25 

Australian child; and 

26 

 

(e)  the Australian child is the target of the material. 

27 

 

(2)  An effect mentioned in subsection (1) may be: 

28 

 

(a)  a direct result of the material being accessed by, or delivered 

29 

to, the Australian child; or 

30 

 

(b)  an indirect result of the material being accessed by, or 

31 

delivered to, one or more other persons. 

32 

   

Part 1  Preliminary 

   

 

Section 6 

 

8 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

 

(3)  Subsection (1) has effect subject to subsection (4). 

 

(4)  For the purposes of this Act, if: 

 

(a)  a person is: 

 

(i)  in a position of authority over an Australian child; and 

 

(ii)  an end-user of a social media service or relevant 

electronic service; and 

 

(b)  in the lawful exercise of that authority, the person posts 

material on the service; and 

 

(c)  the posting of the material is reasonable action taken in a 

reasonable manner; 

10 

the material is taken not to be cyber-bullying material targeted at 

11 

the Australian child. 

12 

6  When material is provided on a social media service or relevant 

13 

electronic service 

14 

 

  For the purposes of this Act, material is provided on a social media 

15 

service or relevant electronic service if the material is accessible to, 

16 

or delivered to, one or more of the end-users using the service. 

17 

7  When material is posted by an end-user of a social media service 

18 

or relevant electronic service 

19 

 

  For the purposes of this Act, material is posted on a social media 

20 

service or relevant electronic service by an end-user if the end-user 

21 

causes the material to be accessible to, or delivered to, one or more 

22 

other end-users using the service. 

23 

8  When material is removed from a social media service or relevant 

24 

electronic service 

25 

 

  For the purposes of this Act, material is removed from a social 

26 

media service or relevant electronic service if the material is 

27 

neither accessible to, nor delivered to, any of the end-users in 

28 

Australia using the service. 

29 

   

Preliminary  Part 1 

   

 

Section 9 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

9 

 

9  Social media service 

 

(1)  For the purposes of this Act, social media service means: 

 

(a)  an electronic service that satisfies the following conditions: 

 

(i)  the sole or primary purpose of the service is to enable 

online social interaction between 2 or more end-users; 

 

(ii)  the service allows end-users to link to, or interact with, 

some or all of the other end-users; 

 

(iii)  the service allows end-users to post material on the 

service; 

 

(iv)  such other conditions (if any) as are set out in the 

10 

legislative rules; or 

11 

 

(b)  an electronic service specified in the legislative rules; 

12 

but does not include an exempt service (as defined by 

13 

subsection (4) or (5)). 

14 

Note: 

Online social interaction does not include (for example) online 

15 

business interaction. 

16 

 

(2)  For the purposes of subparagraph (1)(a)(i), online social interaction 

17 

includes online interaction that enables end-users to share material 

18 

for social purposes. 

19 

Note: 

Social purposes does not include (for example) business purposes. 

20 

 

(3)  In determining whether the condition set out in 

21 

subparagraph (1)(a)(i) is satisfied, disregard any of the following 

22 

purposes: 

23 

 

(a)  the provision of advertising material on the service; 

24 

 

(b)  the generation of revenue from the provision of advertising 

25 

material on the service. 

26 

Exempt services 

27 

 

(4)  For the purposes of this section, a service is an exempt service if: 

28 

 

(a)  none of the material on the service is accessible to, or 

29 

delivered to, one or more end-users in Australia; or 

30 

 

(b)  the service is specified in the legislative rules. 

31 

 

(5)  If the Commissioner is satisfied that: 

32 

 

(a)  an electronic service has controls on: 

33 

   

Part 1  Preliminary 

   

 

Section 10 

 

10 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

 

(i)  who can access material, or who can be delivered 

material, provided on the service; or 

 

(ii)  the material that can be posted on the service; and 

 

(b)  those controls will be effective in achieving the result that 

none of the material provided on the service could be 

cyber-bullying material targeted at an Australian child; 

the Commissioner may, by writing, declare that the service is an 

exempt service for the purposes of this section. 

 

(6)  A declaration made under subsection (5) is not a legislative 

instrument. 

10 

10  Crown to be bound 

11 

 

  This Act binds the Crown in each of its capacities. 

12 

11  Application of this Act 

13 

 

(1)  This Act extends to every external Territory. 

14 

 

(2)  This Act extends to acts, omissions, matters and things outside 

15 

Australia. 

16 

12  Convention on the Rights of the Child 

17 

 

(1)  In the performance of functions conferred by or under this Act, the 

18 

Commissioner must, as appropriate, have regard to the Convention 

19 

on the Rights of the Child. 

20 

 

(2)  Subsection (1) does not limit the matters to which the 

21 

Commissioner may have regard. 

22 

   

Children's e-Safety Commissioner  Part 2 

   

 

Section 13 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

11 

 

Part 2--Children's e-Safety Commissioner 

   

13  Simplified outline of this Part 

•  

There is to be a Children's e-Safety Commissioner. 

•  

A key function of the Commissioner is to administer a 

complaints system for cyber-bullying material targeted at an 

Australian child. 

•  

The functions of the Commissioner also include: 

 

(a) 

promoting online safety for children; and 

 

(b) 

coordinating activities of Commonwealth Departments, 

10 

authorities and agencies relating to online safety for 

11 

children; and 

12 

 

(c) 

administering the online content scheme that was 

13 

previously administered by the ACMA. 

14 

Note: 

For administrative provisions relating to the Commissioner, see Part 7. 

15 

14  Children's e-Safety Commissioner 

16 

 

  There is to be a Children's e-Safety Commissioner. 

17 

Note: 

In this Act, Commissioner means the Children's e-Safety 

18 

Commissioner (see section 4). 

19 

15  Functions of the Commissioner 

20 

 

(1)  The functions of the Commissioner are: 

21 

 

(a)  such functions as are conferred on the Commissioner by: 

22 

 

(i)  this Act; or 

23 

 

(ii)  Schedules 5 and 7 to the Broadcasting Services Act 

24 

1992; or 

25 

 

(iii)  any other law of the Commonwealth; and 

26 

 

(b)  to promote online safety for children; and 

27 

   

Part 2  Children's e-Safety Commissioner 

   

 

Section 15 

 

12 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

 

(c)  to support and encourage the implementation of measures to 

improve online safety for children; and 

 

(d)  to coordinate activities of Commonwealth Departments, 

authorities and agencies relating to online safety for children; 

and 

 

(e)  to collect, analyse, interpret and disseminate information 

relating to online safety for children; and 

 

(f)  to support, encourage, conduct, accredit and evaluate 

educational, promotional and community awareness 

programs that are relevant to online safety for children; and 

10 

 

(g)  to make, on behalf of the Commonwealth, grants of financial 

11 

assistance in relation to online safety for children; and 

12 

 

(h)  to support, encourage, conduct and evaluate research about 

13 

online safety for children; and 

14 

 

(i)  to publish (whether on the internet or otherwise) reports and 

15 

papers relating to online safety for children; and 

16 

 

(j)  to give the Minister reports about online safety for children; 

17 

and 

18 

 

(k)  to advise the Minister about online safety for children; and 

19 

 

(l)  to consult and cooperate with other persons, organisations 

20 

and governments on online safety for children; and 

21 

 

(m)  to advise and assist persons in relation to their obligations 

22 

under this Act; and 

23 

 

(n)  to monitor compliance with this Act; and 

24 

 

(o)  to promote compliance with this Act; and 

25 

 

(p)  to formulate, in writing, guidelines or statements that: 

26 

 

(i)  recommend best practices for persons and bodies 

27 

involved in online safety for children; and 

28 

 

(ii)  are directed towards facilitating the timely and 

29 

appropriate resolution of incidents involving 

30 

cyber-bullying material targeted at an Australian child; 

31 

and 

32 

 

(q)  to promote guidelines and statements formulated under 

33 

paragraph (p); and 

34 

 

(r)  such other functions (if any) as are specified in the legislative 

35 

rules; and 

36 

   

Children's e-Safety Commissioner  Part 2 

   

 

Section 16 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

13 

 

 

(s)  to do anything incidental to or conducive to the performance 

of any of the above functions. 

Grants 

 

(2)  Financial assistance may be granted under paragraph (1)(g) to: 

 

(a)  a State; or 

 

(b)  a Territory; or 

 

(c)  a person other than a State or Territory. 

 

(3)  The terms and conditions on which financial assistance is granted 

under paragraph (1)(g) are to be set out in a written agreement 

between the Commonwealth and the grant recipient. 

10 

 

(4)  An agreement under subsection (3) is to be entered into by the 

11 

Commissioner on behalf of the Commonwealth. 

12 

Guidelines and statements are not legislative instruments 

13 

 

(5)  Guidelines and statements formulated under paragraph (1)(p) are 

14 

not legislative instruments. 

15 

16  Powers of the Commissioner 

16 

 

  The Commissioner has power to do all things necessary or 

17 

convenient to be done for or in connection with the performance of 

18 

his or her functions. 

19 

Note: 

For supplementary powers, see section 60. 

20 

   

Part 3  Complaints about cyber-bullying material 

   

 

Section 17 

 

14 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

Part 3--Complaints about cyber-bullying material 

   

17  Simplified outline of this Part 

 

There is a complaints system for cyber-bullying material 

targeted at an Australian child. 

18  Complaints about cyber-bullying material 

Complaint made by an Australian child 

 

(1)  If an Australian child has reason to believe that he or she was or is 

the target of cyber-bullying material that has been, or is being, 

provided on a particular social media service or relevant electronic 

10 

service, the child may make a complaint to the Commissioner 

11 

about the matter. 

12 

Complaint made on behalf of an Australian child 

13 

 

(2)  If: 

14 

 

(a)  a person (the responsible person) has reason to believe that 

15 

cyber-bullying material targeted at an Australian child has 

16 

been, or is being, provided on a particular social media 

17 

service or relevant electronic service; and 

18 

 

(b)  either: 

19 

 

(i)  the responsible person is a parent or guardian of the 

20 

child; or 

21 

 

(ii)  the child has authorised the responsible person to make 

22 

a complaint about the matter; 

23 

the responsible person may, on behalf of the child, make a 

24 

complaint to the Commissioner about the matter. 

25 

Complaint made by an adult who was an Australian child 

26 

 

(3)  If: 

27 

 

(a)  a person is an adult; and 

28 

   

Complaints about cyber-bullying material  Part 3 

   

 

Section 18 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

15 

 

 

(b)  the person has reason to believe that, when he or she was an 

Australian child, he or she was the target of cyber-bullying 

material that was provided on a particular social media 

service or relevant electronic service; 

the person may make a complaint to the Commissioner about the 

matter, so long as: 

 

(c)  the complaint is made within a reasonable time after the 

person became aware of the matter; and 

 

(d)  the complaint is made within 6 months after the person 

reached 18 years. 

10 

Complaint about material that was provided on a social media 

11 

service 

12 

 

(4)  If: 

13 

 

(a)  a complaint made by a person under this section concerns 

14 

material that has been, or is being, provided on a tier 1 social 

15 

media service; and 

16 

 

(b)  the person wants the Commissioner to give the provider of 

17 

the service a notice under section 29 requesting the provider 

18 

to remove the material from the service; 

19 

the complaint under this section must be accompanied by evidence 

20 

that the material was the subject of a complaint that was previously 

21 

made under the service's complaints scheme. 

22 

 

(5)  If: 

23 

 

(a)  a complaint made by a person under this section concerns 

24 

material that has been, or is being, provided on a tier 2 social 

25 

media service; and 

26 

 

(b)  the person wants the Commissioner to give the provider of 

27 

the service a social media service notice requiring the 

28 

provider to remove the material from the service; 

29 

the complaint under this section must be accompanied by evidence 

30 

that the material was the subject of a complaint that was previously 

31 

made under the service's complaints scheme. 

32 

Note: 

A social media service notice is given under section 35. 

33 

 

(6)  For the purposes of subsections (4) and (5), evidence must be in a 

34 

form required by the Commissioner. 

35 

   

Part 3  Complaints about cyber-bullying material 

   

 

Section 19 

 

16 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

 

(7)  If a social media service issues a receipt or complaint number to a 

complainant as part of its ordinary business processes, the 

Commissioner may require evidence to be in the form of the 

receipt or complaint number. 

 

(8)  If a social media service does not issue a receipt or complaint 

number to a complainant as part of its ordinary business processes, 

the Commissioner may require evidence to be: 

 

(a)  in the form of a screen shot; or 

 

(b)  in the form of a statutory declaration; or 

 

(c)  in such other form as the Commissioner specifies. 

10 

 

(9)  Subsections (7) and (8) do not limit subsection (6). 

11 

 

(10)  A requirement under subsection (6), (7) or (8) is not a legislative 

12 

instrument. 

13 

19  Investigation of complaints 

14 

 

(1)  The Commissioner may investigate a complaint made under 

15 

section 18. 

16 

 

(2)  An investigation under this section is to be conducted as the 

17 

Commissioner thinks fit. 

18 

 

(3)  The Commissioner may, for the purposes of an investigation, 

19 

obtain information from such persons, and make such inquiries, as 

20 

he or she thinks fit. 

21 

 

(4)  Subsections (1), (2) and (3) have effect subject to Part 13 of the 

22 

Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (which confers certain 

23 

investigative powers on the Commissioner). 

24 

Termination of investigation 

25 

 

(5)  The Commissioner may terminate an investigation under this 

26 

section. 

27 

   

Social media services  Part 4 

Introduction  Division 1 

 

Section 20 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

17 

 

Part 4--Social media services 

Division 1--Introduction 

20  Simplified outline of this Part 

 

The Parliament expects that each social media service will 

comply with the basic online safety requirements. 

 

There is a 2-tiered scheme for the rapid removal from social 

media services of cyber-bullying material targeted at an 

Australian child. 

 

A tier 1 social media service may be requested to remove from 

the service cyber-bullying material targeted at an Australian 

10 

child. 

11 

 

A tier 2 social media service may be given a notice (a social 

12 

media service notice) requiring the removal from the service 

13 

of cyber-bullying material targeted at an Australian child. 

14 

21  Basic online safety requirements 

15 

 

(1)  For the purposes of this Act, the basic online safety requirements 

16 

for a social media service are as follows: 

17 

 

(a)  the service's terms of use must contain: 

18 

 

(i)  a provision that prohibits end-users from posting 

19 

cyber-bullying material on the service; or 

20 

 

(ii)  a provision that may reasonably be regarded as the 

21 

equivalent of a provision covered by subparagraph (i); 

22 

 

(b)  the service must have a complaints scheme under which 

23 

end-users of the service can request the removal from the 

24 

service of cyber-bullying material that breaches the service's 

25 

terms of use; 

26 

 

(c)  there must be an individual who is: 

27 

 

(i)  an employee or agent of the provider of the service; and 

28 

   

Part 4  Social media services 

Division 1  Introduction 

 

Section 22 

 

18 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

 

(ii)  designated as the service's contact person for the 

purposes of this Act; 

 

(d)  the contact details of the contact person must be notified to 

the Commissioner. 

Note: 

See also section 104 (terms of use). 

 

(2)  For the purposes of this section, cyber-bullying material has its 

ordinary meaning. 

22  Statement of Parliamentary expectations 

 

(1)  The Parliament expects that each social media service will comply 

with the basic online safety requirements. 

10 

 

(2)  The Commissioner should, as far as is practicable, communicate 

11 

that expectation to providers of social media services. 

12 

 

(3)  Subsections (1) and (2) do not impose a duty that is enforceable by 

13 

proceedings in a court. 

14 

   

Social media services  Part 4 

Tier 1 social media services  Division 2 

 

Section 23 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

19 

 

Division 2--Tier 1 social media services 

Subdivision A--Declaration of tier 1 social media service 

23  Declaration of tier 1 social media service 

Application 

 

(1)  The provider of a social media service may apply to the 

Commissioner for the declaration of the service as a tier 1 social 

media service. 

 

(2)  An application must: 

 

(a)  be in writing; and 

 

(b)  be in a form approved, in writing, by the Commissioner; and 

10 

 

(c)  be accompanied by such information as is specified in the 

11 

legislative rules. 

12 

 

(3)  An application may contain a statement that any request given to 

13 

the provider of the service under section 29 should be given under 

14 

subsection 29(2). 

15 

Declaration 

16 

 

(4)  If: 

17 

 

(a)  an application has been made under subsection (1) for the 

18 

declaration of a social media service as a tier 1 social media 

19 

service; and 

20 

 

(b)  the Commissioner is satisfied that the service complies with 

21 

the basic online safety requirements; and 

22 

 

(c)  the service is not a tier 2 social media service; 

23 

the Commissioner must, by writing, declare that the social media 

24 

service is a tier 1 social media service for the purposes of this Act. 

25 

Note: 

See also subsection 33(3). 

26 

Refusal 

27 

 

(5)  If: 

28 

   

Part 4  Social media services 

Division 2  Tier 1 social media services 

 

Section 24 

 

20 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

 

(a)  an application has been made under subsection (1) for the 

declaration of a social media service as a tier 1 social media 

service; and 

 

(b)  the Commissioner is not required by subsection (4) to make 

the declaration; 

the Commissioner must: 

 

(c)  refuse to declare the social media service as a tier 1 social 

media service; and 

 

(d)  give written notice of the refusal to the applicant. 

Declaration is not a legislative instrument 

10 

 

(6)  A declaration made under subsection (4) is not a legislative 

11 

instrument. 

12 

24  Variation of declaration of tier 1 social media service--change of 

13 

name 

14 

 

(1)  If: 

15 

 

(a)  a declaration is in force under subsection 23(4) in relation to 

16 

a social media service; and 

17 

 

(b)  the service changes its name; 

18 

the Commissioner may, by writing, vary the declaration to reflect 

19 

the new name of the service. 

20 

 

(2)  If the Commissioner varies the declaration, the Commissioner must 

21 

give written notice of the variation to the provider of the service. 

22 

Variation is not a legislative instrument 

23 

 

(3)  A variation under subsection (1) is not a legislative instrument. 

24 

25  Revocation of declaration of social media service as a tier 1 social 

25 

media service 

26 

 

(1)  The Commissioner may, by writing, revoke a subsection 23(4) 

27 

declaration that relates to a social media service if: 

28 

 

(a)  both: 

29 

   

Social media services  Part 4 

Tier 1 social media services  Division 2 

 

Section 26 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

21 

 

 

(i)  at least 12 months have passed since the declaration was 

made; and 

 

(ii)  during the preceding 12 months, the provider of the 

service has repeatedly failed to comply with requests 

given to the provider under section 29; or 

 

(b)  the Commissioner is satisfied that the service does not 

comply with the basic online safety requirements. 

 

(2)  If the Commissioner revokes the declaration, the Commissioner 

must give written notice of the revocation to the provider of the 

service. 

10 

 

(3)  If the Commissioner revokes the declaration, the provider of the 

11 

service is not entitled to make an application under 

12 

subsection 23(1) in relation to the service during the 28-day period 

13 

that began when the instrument of revocation was made. 

14 

Revocation is not a legislative instrument 

15 

 

(4)  A revocation under subsection (1) is not a legislative instrument. 

16 

26  Notification of changes to terms of use of tier 1 social media 

17 

service 

18 

 

(1)  If: 

19 

 

(a)  there is a change to the terms of use of a tier 1 social media 

20 

service; and 

21 

 

(b)  the change could affect cyber-bullying material; 

22 

the provider of the service must: 

23 

 

(c)  give the Commissioner written notice of the change; and 

24 

 

(d)  do so within 14 days after the change. 

25 

Note: 

The notice may be given by electronic means--see the Electronic 

26 

Transactions Act 1999 and section 96 of this Act. 

27 

 

(2)  For the purposes of this section, cyber-bullying material has its 

28 

ordinary meaning. 

29 

27  Notification of change of contact person etc. 

30 

 

  If: 

31 

   

Part 4  Social media services 

Division 2  Tier 1 social media services 

 

Section 28 

 

22 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

 

(a)  a social media service is a tier 1 social media service; and 

 

(b)  there is a change to: 

 

(i)  the identity; or 

 

(ii)  the contact details; 

 

  of the individual designated as the service's contact person 

for the purposes of this Act; 

the provider of the service must: 

 

(c)  give the Commissioner written notice of the change; and 

 

(d)  do so within 14 days after the change. 

Note: 

The notice may be given by electronic means--see the Electronic 

10 

Transactions Act 1999 and section 96 of this Act. 

11 

28  Register of Tier 1 Social Media Services 

12 

 

(1)  The Commissioner is to maintain a register, to be known as the 

13 

Register of Tier 1 Social Media Services, in which the 

14 

Commissioner includes the names of each tier 1 social media 

15 

service. 

16 

 

(2)  The Register of Tier 1 Social Media Services is to be maintained 

17 

by electronic means. 

18 

 

(3)  The Register of Tier 1 Social Media Services is to be made 

19 

available for inspection on the Commissioner's website. 

20 

 

(4)  The Register of Tier 1 Social Media Services is not a legislative 

21 

instrument. 

22 

Subdivision B--Request for removal of cyber-bullying material 

23 

29  Request for removal of cyber-bullying material 

24 

Default rule 

25 

 

(1)  If: 

26 

 

(a)  material is provided on a tier 1 social media service; and 

27 

 

(b)  the material was the subject of a complaint that was made 

28 

under the service's complaints scheme; and 

29 

 

(c)  the material was not removed from the service within: 

30 

   

Social media services  Part 4 

Tier 1 social media services  Division 2 

 

Section 29 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

23 

 

 

(i)  48 hours after the complaint was made; or 

 

(ii)  such longer period as the Commissioner allows; and 

 

(d)  a complaint has been made to the Commissioner under 

section 18 about the material; and 

 

(e)  the Commissioner is satisfied that the material is or was 

cyber-bullying material targeted at an Australian child; and 

 

(f)  the application for the declaration of the service as a tier 1 

social media service did not contain a statement covered by 

subsection 23(3); 

the Commissioner may give the provider of the service a written 

10 

notice requesting the provider to: 

11 

 

(g)  remove the material from the service; and 

12 

 

(h)  do so within 48 hours after the notice was given to the 

13 

provider. 

14 

Note: 

For declaration of a tier 1 social media service, see section 23. 

15 

Special rule 

16 

 

(2)  If: 

17 

 

(a)  material is provided on a tier 1 social media service; and 

18 

 

(b)  the service's terms of use contains: 

19 

 

(i)  a provision that prohibits end-users from posting 

20 

cyber-bullying material on the service; or 

21 

 

(ii)  a provision that may reasonably be regarded as the 

22 

equivalent of a provision covered by subparagraph (i); 

23 

and 

24 

 

(c)  the Commissioner is satisfied that the material breaches that 

25 

provision of the service's terms of use; and 

26 

 

(d)  the material was the subject of a complaint that was made 

27 

under the service's complaints scheme; and 

28 

 

(e)  the material was not removed from the service within: 

29 

 

(i)  48 hours after the complaint was made; or 

30 

 

(ii)  such longer period as the Commissioner allows; and 

31 

 

(f)  a complaint has been made to the Commissioner under 

32 

section 18 about the material; and 

33 

 

(g)  the Commissioner is satisfied that the material is or was 

34 

cyber-bullying material targeted at an Australian child; and 

35 

   

Part 4  Social media services 

Division 2  Tier 1 social media services 

 

Section 29 

 

24 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

 

(h)  the application for the declaration of the service as a tier 1 

social media service contained a statement covered by 

subsection 23(3); 

the Commissioner may give the provider of the service a written 

notice requesting the provider to: 

 

(i)  remove the material from the service; and 

 

(j)  do so within 48 hours after the notice was given to the 

provider. 

Note 1: 

For declaration of a tier 1 social media service, see section 23. 

Note 2: 

See also section 104 (terms of use). 

10 

Statement covered by subsection 23(3) 

11 

 

(3)  If: 

12 

 

(a)  the application for the declaration of a service as a tier 1 

13 

social media service contained a statement covered by 

14 

subsection 23(3); and 

15 

 

(b)  the service's terms of use does not contain: 

16 

 

(i)  a provision that prohibits end-users from posting 

17 

cyber-bullying material on the service; or 

18 

 

(ii)  a provision that may reasonably be regarded as the 

19 

equivalent of a provision covered by subparagraph (i); 

20 

disregard the statement. 

21 

Note: 

See also section 104 (terms of use). 

22 

Cyber-bullying material 

23 

 

(4)  For the purposes of paragraphs (2)(b) and (3)(b), cyber-bullying 

24 

material has its ordinary meaning. 

25 

   

Social media services  Part 4 

Tier 2 social media services  Division 3 

 

Section 30 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

25 

 

Division 3--Tier 2 social media services 

Subdivision A--Declaration of tier 2 social media service 

30  Declaration of tier 2 social media service 

 

(1)  The Minister may, by legislative instrument, declare that a 

specified social media service is a tier 2 social media service for 

the purposes of this Act. 

 

(2)  The Minister must not declare that a social media service is a tier 2 

social media service unless the Commissioner has, under 

section 31, recommended the making of the declaration. 

31  Recommendation about declaration of a tier 2 social media 

10 

service 

11 

 

(1)  The Commissioner may recommend that the Minister make a 

12 

declaration under subsection 30(1) in relation to a specified social 

13 

media service. 

14 

Criteria for recommendation 

15 

 

(2)  The Commissioner must not make a recommendation under 

16 

subsection (1) in relation to a social media service if the service is 

17 

a tier 1 social media service. 

18 

 

(3)  The Commissioner must not make a recommendation under 

19 

subsection (1) in relation to a social media service unless: 

20 

 

(a)  the Commissioner is satisfied that the social media service is 

21 

a large social media service; or 

22 

 

(b)  the provider of the social media service has requested the 

23 

Commissioner to make the recommendation. 

24 

 

(4)  If a social media service has never been a tier 1 social media 

25 

service, the Commissioner must not make a recommendation under 

26 

subsection (1) in relation to the service unless: 

27 

 

(a)  at least 28 days before making the recommendation, the 

28 

Commissioner gave the provider of the service a written 

29 

   

Part 4  Social media services 

Division 3  Tier 2 social media services 

 

Section 31 

 

26 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

invitation to apply under subsection 23(1) for the declaration 

of the service as a tier 1 social media service; and 

 

(b)  the provider failed to make such an application. 

 

(5)  In deciding whether to make a recommendation under 

subsection (1) in relation to a social media service, the 

Commissioner must have regard to: 

 

(a)  whether the service complies with the basic online safety 

requirements; and 

 

(b)  whether the provider of the service has failed to make an 

application under subsection 23(1) for a declaration of the 

10 

service as a tier 1 social media service; and 

11 

 

(c)  whether a subsection 23(4) declaration relating to the service 

12 

has been revoked under section 25; and 

13 

 

(d)  such other matters (if any) as the Commissioner considers 

14 

relevant. 

15 

 

(6)  Before making a recommendation under subsection (1) in relation 

16 

to a social media service, the Commissioner must consult the 

17 

provider of the service. 

18 

 

(7)  Subsections (4), (5) and (6) do not apply to a social media service 

19 

if the provider of the service has requested the Commissioner to 

20 

make the recommendation concerned. 

21 

Large social media service 

22 

 

(8)  In determining whether a social media service is a large social 

23 

media service, the Commissioner must have regard to: 

24 

 

(a)  if the service has accounts for end-users: 

25 

 

(i)  the number of accounts that are held by end-users who 

26 

are ordinarily resident in Australia; and 

27 

 

(ii)  the number of accounts that are held by end-users who 

28 

are Australian children; and 

29 

 

(b)  such other matters (if any) as the Commissioner considers 

30 

relevant. 

31 

 

(9)  For the purposes of paragraph (8)(a), the Commissioner may make 

32 

such assumptions and estimates as the Commissioner considers 

33 

reasonable. 

34 

   

Social media services  Part 4 

Tier 2 social media services  Division 3 

 

Section 32 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

27 

 

 

(10)  The Commissioner may publish on the Commissioner's website a 

statement that explains the Commissioner's approach to the 

administration of subsections (8) and (9). 

 

(11)  A statement under subsection (10) is not a legislative instrument. 

32  Variation of declaration of tier 2 social media service--change of 

name 

 

  If: 

 

(a)  a declaration is in force under subsection 30(1) in relation to 

a social media service; and 

 

(b)  the service changes its name; 

10 

the Minister may, by legislative instrument, vary the declaration to 

11 

reflect the new name of the service. 

12 

33  Revocation of declaration of social media service as a tier 2 social 

13 

media service 

14 

 

(1)  If: 

15 

 

(a)  a declaration is in force under subsection 30(1) in relation to 

16 

a social media service; and 

17 

 

(b)  the service complies with the basic online safety 

18 

requirements; and 

19 

 

(c)  at least 3 months have passed since the declaration was 

20 

made; and 

21 

 

(d)  if one or more social media service notices were given to the 

22 

provider of the service at any time during the preceding 3 

23 

months--the provider complied with all, or nearly all, of 

24 

those notices; and 

25 

 

(e)  the Commissioner has recommended the revocation of the 

26 

declaration; 

27 

the Minister may, by legislative instrument, revoke the declaration. 

28 

 

(2)  The revocation takes effect at the end of the 28-day period that 

29 

began at the end of the day on which the instrument was made. 

30 

   

Part 4  Social media services 

Division 3  Tier 2 social media services 

 

Section 34 

 

28 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

 

(3)  If, during that 28-day period, the provider of the service applies 

under subsection 23(1) for the declaration of the service as a tier 1 

social media service: 

 

(a)  paragraph 23(4)(c) does not apply to the making of a 

subsection 23(4) declaration in relation to the service; and 

 

(b)  if a subsection 23(4) declaration is made in relation to the 

service--the subsection 23(4) declaration takes effect 

immediately after the end of that 28-day period. 

34  Register of Tier 2 Social Media Services 

 

(1)  The Commissioner is to maintain a register, to be known as the 

10 

Register of Tier 2 Social Media Services, in which the 

11 

Commissioner includes the names of each tier 2 social media 

12 

service. 

13 

 

(2)  The Register of Tier 2 Social Media Services is to be maintained 

14 

by electronic means. 

15 

 

(3)  The Register of Tier 2 Social Media Services is to be made 

16 

available for inspection on the Commissioner's website. 

17 

 

(4)  The Register of Tier 2 Social Media Services is not a legislative 

18 

instrument. 

19 

Subdivision B--Social media service notices 

20 

35  Social media service notice 

21 

 

(1)  If: 

22 

 

(a)  material is provided on a tier 2 social media service; and 

23 

 

(b)  the material was the subject of a complaint that was made 

24 

under the service's complaints scheme; and 

25 

 

(c)  the material was not removed from the service within: 

26 

 

(i)  48 hours after the complaint was made; or 

27 

 

(ii)  such longer period as the Commissioner allows; and 

28 

 

(d)  a complaint has been made to the Commissioner under 

29 

section 18 about the material; and 

30 

   

Social media services  Part 4 

Tier 2 social media services  Division 3 

 

Section 36 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

29 

 

 

(e)  the Commissioner is satisfied that the material is or was 

cyber-bullying material targeted at an Australian child; 

the Commissioner may give the provider of the service a written 

notice (a social media service notice) requiring the provider to: 

 

(f)  remove the material from the service; and 

 

(g)  do so within 48 hours after the social media service notice 

was given to the provider. 

Note 1: 

For declaration of a tier 2 social media service, see section 30. 

Note 2: 

For enforcement, see: 

(a)  sections 36 and 46 (civil penalty); and 

10 

(b)  section 47 (enforceable undertakings); and 

11 

(c)  section 48 (injunctions). 

12 

Notice of refusal to give a social media service notice 

13 

 

(2)  If the Commissioner decides to refuse to give a social media 

14 

service notice to the provider of a social media service, the 

15 

Commissioner must give written notice of the refusal to the person 

16 

who made a section 18 complaint about the material concerned. 

17 

36  Compliance with social media service notice 

18 

 

  A person must comply with a requirement under a social media 

19 

service notice to the extent that the person is capable of doing so. 

20 

Civil penalty: 

100 penalty units. 

21 

37  Formal warning 

22 

 

  The Commissioner may issue a formal warning if a person 

23 

contravenes section 36. 

24 

   

Part 4  Social media services 

Division 4  Non-compliant social media services 

 

Section 38 

 

30 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

Division 4--Non-compliant social media services 

38  Non-compliance with the basic online safety requirements 

 

(1)  If the Commissioner is satisfied that a social media service does 

not comply with the basic online safety requirements, the 

Commissioner may: 

 

(a)  prepare a statement to that effect; and 

 

(b)  publish the statement on the Commissioner's website. 

 

(2)  If: 

 

(a)  the Commissioner has prepared a statement under 

subsection (1) in relation to a social media service; and 

10 

 

(b)  the statement has been published on the Commissioner's 

11 

website; and 

12 

 

(c)  the Commissioner is satisfied that the service complies with 

13 

the basic online safety requirements; 

14 

the Commissioner must remove the statement from the 

15 

Commissioner's website. 

16 

39  Non-compliance with a request for removal of cyber-bullying 

17 

material 

18 

 

  If the Commissioner is satisfied that the provider of a social media 

19 

service has not complied with a request under section 29, the 

20 

Commissioner may: 

21 

 

(a)  prepare a statement to that effect; and 

22 

 

(b)  publish the statement on the Commissioner's website. 

23 

40  Non-compliance with a social media service notice 

24 

 

  If the Commissioner is satisfied that the provider of a social media 

25 

service has not complied with a social media service notice, the 

26 

Commissioner may: 

27 

 

(a)  prepare a statement to that effect; and 

28 

 

(b)  publish the statement on the Commissioner's website. 

29 

   

End-user notices  Part 5 

   

 

Section 41 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

31 

 

Part 5--End-user notices 

   

41  Simplified outline of this Part 

 

A person who posts cyber-bullying material targeted at an 

Australian child may be given a notice (an end-user notice

requiring the person to do any or all of the following: 

 

(a) 

take all reasonable steps to ensure the removal of the 

material; 

 

(b) 

refrain from posting any cyber-bullying material for 

which the child is the target; 

10 

 

(c) 

apologise for posting the material. 

11 

42  End-user notice 

12 

 

(1)  If: 

13 

 

(a)  material is, or has been, provided on a social media service or 

14 

relevant electronic service; and 

15 

 

(b)  a complaint has been made to the Commissioner under 

16 

section 18 about the material; and 

17 

 

(c)  the Commissioner is satisfied that the material is or was 

18 

cyber-bullying material targeted at an Australian child; and 

19 

 

(d)  the material was posted on the service by a particular 

20 

end-user of the service; 

21 

the Commissioner may give the end-user a written notice (an 

22 

end-user notice) requiring the end-user to do any or all of the 

23 

following: 

24 

 

(e)  if the material is provided on the service--to: 

25 

 

(i)  take all reasonable steps to ensure the removal of the 

26 

material from the service; and 

27 

 

(ii)  do so within the period specified in the notice; 

28 

 

(f)  in any case--to refrain from posting any cyber-bullying 

29 

material for which the child is the target; 

30 

 

(g)  in any case--to: 

31 

   

Part 5  End-user notices 

   

 

Section 43 

 

32 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

 

(i)  apologise to the child (or, if the child has become an 

adult, to the adult) for posting the material; and 

 

(ii)  do so in the manner, and within the period, specified in 

the notice. 

Transitional 

 

(2)  If material was posted on a social media service or relevant 

electronic service before the commencement of this section, 

paragraph (1)(a) does not apply to the material unless the material 

was provided on the service after the commencement of this 

section. 

10 

43  Compliance with end-user notice 

11 

 

  A person must comply with a requirement under an end-user notice 

12 

to the extent that the person is capable of doing so. 

13 

Note: 

For enforcement, see section 48 (injunctions). 

14 

44  Formal warning 

15 

 

  The Commissioner may issue a formal warning if a person 

16 

contravenes section 43. 

17 

   

Enforcement  Part 6 

   

 

Section 45 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

33 

 

Part 6--Enforcement 

   

45  Simplified outline of this Part 

 

A civil penalty provision in this Act is enforceable under 

Part 4 of the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 

2014

 

The Commissioner may accept an enforceable undertaking 

under Part 6 of the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) 

Act 2014 that relates to a social media service notice. 

 

The Commissioner may seek an injunction under Part 7 of the 

10 

Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014 that 

11 

relates to: 

12 

 

(a) 

a social media service notice; or 

13 

 

(b) 

an end-user notice. 

14 

46  Civil penalty provision 

15 

Enforceable civil penalty provision 

16 

 

(1)  A civil penalty provision in this Act is enforceable under Part 4 of 

17 

the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014

18 

Note: 

Part 4 of the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014 

19 

allows a civil penalty provision to be enforced by obtaining an order 

20 

for a person to pay a pecuniary penalty for the contravention of the 

21 

provision. 

22 

Authorised applicant 

23 

 

(2)  For the purposes of Part 4 of the Regulatory Powers (Standard 

24 

Provisions) Act 2014, the Commissioner is an authorised applicant 

25 

in relation to a civil penalty provision in this Act. 

26 

   

Part 6  Enforcement 

   

 

Section 47 

 

34 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

Relevant court 

 

(3)  For the purposes of Part 4 of the Regulatory Powers (Standard 

Provisions) Act 2014, the Federal Circuit Court of Australia is a 

relevant court in relation to a civil penalty provision in this Act. 

Extension to external Territories etc. 

 

(4)  Part 4 of the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014

as it applies in relation to a civil penalty provision in this Act, 

extends to: 

 

(a)  every external Territory; and 

 

(b)  acts, omissions, matters and things outside Australia. 

10 

47  Enforceable undertakings 

11 

Enforceable provisions 

12 

 

(1)  Section 36 of this Act is enforceable under Part 6 of the Regulatory 

13 

Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014

14 

Authorised person 

15 

 

(2)  The Commissioner is an authorised person in relation to section 36 

16 

of this Act for the purposes of Part 6 of the Regulatory Powers 

17 

(Standard Provisions) Act 2014

18 

Relevant court 

19 

 

(3)  The Federal Circuit Court of Australia is a relevant court in 

20 

relation to section 36 of this Act for the purposes of Part 6 of the 

21 

Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014

22 

Extension to external Territories etc. 

23 

 

(4)  Part 6 of the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014

24 

as it applies in relation to section 36 of this Act, extends to: 

25 

 

(a)  every external Territory; and 

26 

 

(b)  acts, omissions, matters and things outside Australia. 

27 

   

Enforcement  Part 6 

   

 

Section 48 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

35 

 

48  Injunctions 

Enforceable provisions 

 

(1)  The following provisions are enforceable under Part 7 of the 

Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014

 

(a)  section 36; 

 

(b)  section 43. 

Authorised person 

 

(2)  The Commissioner is an authorised person in relation to the 

provisions mentioned in subsection (1) for the purposes of Part 7 of 

the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014

10 

Relevant court 

11 

 

(3)  The Federal Circuit Court of Australia is a relevant court in 

12 

relation to the provisions mentioned in subsection (1) for the 

13 

purposes of Part 7 of the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) 

14 

Act 2014

15 

Extension to external Territories etc. 

16 

 

(4)  Part 7 of the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014

17 

as it applies in relation to the provisions mentioned in 

18 

subsection (1), extends to: 

19 

 

(a)  every external Territory; and 

20 

 

(b)  acts, omissions, matters and things outside Australia. 

21 

   

Part 7  Administrative provisions relating to the Commissioner 

Division 1  Introduction 

 

Section 49 

 

36 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

Part 7--Administrative provisions relating to the 

Commissioner 

Division 1--Introduction 

49  Simplified outline of this Part 

•  

The Commissioner is to be appointed by the Minister. 

•  

The Commissioner may delegate his or her functions and 

powers. 

•  

The Commissioner must prepare an annual report. 

•  

The ACMA must assist the Commissioner. 

•  

The Minister may give directions to the Commissioner. 

10 

   

Administrative provisions relating to the Commissioner  Part 7 

Appointment of the Commissioner  Division 2 

 

Section 50 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

37 

 

Division 2--Appointment of the Commissioner 

50  Appointment of the Commissioner 

 

(1)  The Commissioner is to be appointed by the Minister by written 

instrument. 

 

(2)  A person is not eligible for appointment as the Commissioner 

unless the Minister is satisfied that the person has: 

 

(a)  substantial experience or knowledge; and 

 

(b)  significant standing; 

in at least one of the following fields: 

 

(c)  the operation of social media services; 

10 

 

(d)  the operation of the internet industry; 

11 

 

(e)  public engagement on issues relating to online safety; 

12 

 

(f)  public policy in relation to the communications sector. 

13 

 

(3)  The Commissioner holds office on a full-time basis. 

14 

51  Period of appointment for the Commissioner 

15 

 

  The Commissioner holds office for the period specified in the 

16 

instrument of appointment. The period must not exceed 5 years. 

17 

Note: 

The Commissioner may be reappointed: see the Acts Interpretation 

18 

Act 1901

19 

52  Acting appointments 

20 

 

(1)  The Minister may appoint a person to act as the Commissioner: 

21 

 

(a)  during a vacancy in the office of the Commissioner (whether 

22 

or not an appointment has previously been made to the 

23 

office); or 

24 

 

(b)  during any period, or during all periods, when the 

25 

Commissioner: 

26 

 

(i)  is absent from duty or from Australia; or 

27 

 

(ii)  is, for any reason, unable to perform the duties of the 

28 

office. 

29 

   

Part 7  Administrative provisions relating to the Commissioner 

Division 2  Appointment of the Commissioner 

 

Section 52 

 

38 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

Note: 

For rules that apply to acting appointments, see section 33A of the 

Acts Interpretation Act 1901

 

(2)  A person is not eligible for appointment to act as the 

Commissioner unless the person is eligible for appointment as the 

Commissioner. 

   

Administrative provisions relating to the Commissioner  Part 7 

Terms and conditions for the Commissioner  Division 3 

 

Section 53 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

39 

 

Division 3--Terms and conditions for the Commissioner 

53  Remuneration and allowances 

 

(1)  The Commissioner is to be paid the remuneration that is 

determined by the Remuneration Tribunal. If no determination of 

that remuneration by the Tribunal is in operation, the 

Commissioner is to be paid the remuneration that is prescribed by 

the legislative rules. 

 

(2)  The Commissioner is to be paid the allowances that are prescribed 

by the legislative rules. 

 

(3)  This section has effect subject to the Remuneration Tribunal Act 

10 

1973

11 

54  Leave of absence 

12 

 

(1)  The Commissioner has the recreation leave entitlements that are 

13 

determined by the Remuneration Tribunal. 

14 

 

(2)  The Minister may grant the Commissioner leave of absence (other 

15 

than recreation leave) on the terms and conditions, as to 

16 

remuneration or otherwise, that the Minister determines. 

17 

55  Outside employment 

18 

 

  The Commissioner must not engage in paid employment outside 

19 

the duties of his or her office without the Minister's approval. 

20 

56  Disclosure of interests to the Minister 

21 

 

  The Commissioner must give written notice to the Minister of all 

22 

interests, pecuniary or otherwise, that the Commissioner has or 

23 

acquires, and that conflict or could conflict with the proper 

24 

performance of the Commissioner's functions. 

25 

   

Part 7  Administrative provisions relating to the Commissioner 

Division 3  Terms and conditions for the Commissioner 

 

Section 57 

 

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No.      , 2014 

 

57  Resignation 

 

(1)  The Commissioner may resign his or her appointment by giving 

the Minister a written resignation. 

 

(2)  The resignation takes effect on the day it is received by the 

Minister or, if a later day is specified in the resignation, on that 

later day. 

58  Termination of appointment 

 

(1)  The Minister may terminate the appointment of the Commissioner: 

 

(a)  for misbehaviour; or 

 

(b)  if the Commissioner is unable to perform the duties of his or 

10 

her office because of physical or mental incapacity. 

11 

 

(2)  The Minister may terminate the appointment of the Commissioner 

12 

if: 

13 

 

(a)  the Commissioner: 

14 

 

(i)  becomes bankrupt; or 

15 

 

(ii)  applies to take the benefit of any law for the relief of 

16 

bankrupt or insolvent debtors; or 

17 

 

(iii)  compounds with his or her creditors; or 

18 

 

(iv)  makes an assignment of his or her remuneration for the 

19 

benefit of his or her creditors; or 

20 

 

(b)  the Commissioner is absent, except on leave of absence, for 

21 

14 consecutive days or for 28 days in any 12 months; or 

22 

 

(c)  the Commissioner engages, except with the Minister's 

23 

approval, in paid employment outside the duties of his or her 

24 

office (see section 55); or 

25 

 

(d)  the Commissioner fails, without reasonable excuse, to 

26 

comply with section 56. 

27 

59  Other terms and conditions 

28 

 

  The Commissioner holds office on the terms and conditions (if 

29 

any) in relation to matters not covered by this Act that are 

30 

determined by the Minister. 

31 

   

Administrative provisions relating to the Commissioner  Part 7 

Other matters  Division 4 

 

Section 60 

 

No.      , 2014 

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41 

 

Division 4--Other matters 

60  Supplementary powers 

 

(1)  The powers of the Commissioner include, but are not limited to, 

the power to enter into contracts. 

 

(2)  Any contract entered into by the Commissioner is to be entered 

into on behalf of the Commonwealth. 

 

(3)  Any real or personal property held by the Commissioner is held for 

and on behalf of the Commonwealth. 

 

(4)  Any money received by the Commissioner is received for and on 

behalf of the Commonwealth. 

10 

 

(5)  The Commissioner cannot hold real or personal property, or 

11 

money, on trust for a person other than the Commonwealth. 

12 

Note: 

The Commonwealth may hold real or personal property or money on 

13 

trust. 

14 

 

(6)  To avoid doubt, a right to sue is taken not to be personal property 

15 

for the purposes of subsection (3). 

16 

61  Commissioner's liabilities are Commonwealth liabilities 

17 

 

(1)  Any financial liabilities of the Commissioner are taken to be 

18 

liabilities of the Commonwealth. 

19 

 

(2)  For the purposes of this section, financial liability means a liability 

20 

to pay a person an amount, where the amount, or the method for 

21 

working out the amount, has been determined. 

22 

62  Commissioner has privileges and immunities of the Crown 

23 

 

  The Commissioner has the privileges and immunities of the Crown 

24 

in right of the Commonwealth. 

25 

   

Part 7  Administrative provisions relating to the Commissioner 

Division 4  Other matters 

 

Section 63 

 

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No.      , 2014 

 

63  Delegation by the Commissioner to a member of the staff of the 

ACMA etc. 

 

(1)  The Commissioner may, by writing, delegate any or all of the 

Commissioner's functions or powers to: 

 

(a)  a member of the staff of the ACMA; or 

 

(b)  a person whose services are made available to the ACMA 

under paragraph 55(1)(a) of the Australian Communications 

and Media Authority Act 2005

if the member or person is: 

 

(c)  an SES employee; or 

10 

 

(d)  an acting SES employee; or 

11 

 

(e)  an APS employee who holds or performs the duties of: 

12 

 

(i)  an Executive Level 1 or 2 position; or 

13 

 

(ii)  an equivalent position; or 

14 

 

(f)  an APS employee who holds or performs the duties of: 

15 

 

(i)  an APS 6 position; or 

16 

 

(ii)  an equivalent position. 

17 

Note: 

The expressions SES employee and acting SES employee are defined 

18 

in the Acts Interpretation Act 1901

19 

 

(2)  A delegate must comply with any written directions of the 

20 

Commissioner. 

21 

 

(3)  Subsection (1) does not apply to a power to make, vary or revoke a 

22 

legislative instrument. 

23 

64  Delegation by the Commissioner to a body corporate 

24 

 

(1)  The Commissioner may, by writing, delegate any or all of the 

25 

Commissioner's functions or powers under: 

26 

 

(a)  Part 3; or 

27 

 

(b)  Part 4 (other than section 35 or 37); 

28 

to a body corporate that is: 

29 

 

(c)  specified in the legislative rules; and 

30 

 

(d)  a company that is registered under Part 2A.2 of the 

31 

Corporations Act 2001; and 

32 

   

Administrative provisions relating to the Commissioner  Part 7 

Other matters  Division 4 

 

Section 65 

 

No.      , 2014 

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43 

 

 

(e)  a company limited by guarantee. 

 

(2)  A delegate must comply with any written directions of the 

Commissioner. 

Information 

 

(3)  If, under subsection (1), the Commissioner delegates one or more 

functions or powers to a body corporate: 

 

(a)  the body corporate may give the Commissioner information 

and documents that are relevant to the performance of the 

Commissioner's functions, or the exercise of the 

Commissioner's powers, under this Act; and 

10 

 

(b)  the Commissioner may give the body corporate information 

11 

and documents that are relevant to the performance of the 

12 

functions, or the exercise of the powers, delegated to the 

13 

body corporate. 

14 

Operation of other laws of the Commonwealth 

15 

 

(4)  The legislative rules may provide that if, under subsection (1), the 

16 

Commissioner delegates one or more functions or powers to a body 

17 

corporate, the body corporate is taken, for the purposes of a 

18 

specified law of the Commonwealth (other than this Act) to be a 

19 

body corporate established for a public purpose by this Act. 

20 

Funding agreement 

21 

 

(5)  If, under subsection (1), the Commissioner delegates one or more 

22 

functions or powers to a body corporate, the Minister may, on 

23 

behalf of the Commonwealth, enter into an agreement with the 

24 

body corporate for the payment to the body corporate of amounts 

25 

in respect of the performance of the functions, and the exercise of 

26 

the powers, delegated to the body corporate. 

27 

   

Part 7  Administrative provisions relating to the Commissioner 

Division 4  Other matters 

 

Section 65 

 

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No.      , 2014 

 

65  Sub-delegation by body corporate 

 

(1)  If, under subsection 64(1), the Commissioner delegates a function 

or power to a body corporate, the body corporate may, by writing, 

sub-delegate the function or power to a person who: 

 

(a)  is a director or employee of the body corporate; and 

 

(b)  satisfies the conditions set out in the legislative rules. 

 

(2)  A sub-delegate must comply with any written directions of: 

 

(a)  the body corporate; or 

 

(b)  the Commissioner. 

 

(3)  Sections 34AA, 34AB and 34A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 

10 

apply in relation to a sub-delegation in a corresponding way to the 

11 

way in which they apply to a delegation. 

12 

66  Annual report 

13 

 

(1)  The Commissioner must, as soon as practicable after the end of 

14 

each financial year, prepare and give to the Minister, for 

15 

presentation to the Parliament, a report on the operations of the 

16 

Commissioner during that year. 

17 

Note: 

See also section 34C of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901, which 

18 

contains extra rules about annual reports. 

19 

 

(2)  If, under subsection 64(1), the Commissioner delegates one or 

20 

more functions or powers to a body corporate, a report under 

21 

subsection (1) of this section for a financial year must include a 

22 

report on the operations of the body corporate under this Act 

23 

during the year. 

24 

67  Assistance to the Commissioner 

25 

 

(1)  The ACMA must: 

26 

 

(a)  assist the Commissioner to perform his or her functions and 

27 

exercise his or her powers; and 

28 

 

(b)  do so to such extent as the Commissioner reasonably 

29 

requires. 

30 

 

(2)  The assistance may include the following: 

31 

   

Administrative provisions relating to the Commissioner  Part 7 

Other matters  Division 4 

 

Section 68 

 

No.      , 2014 

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45 

 

 

(a)  the provision of advice; 

 

(b)  the making available of resources and facilities. 

 

(3)  The ACMA must: 

 

(a)  make available members of the staff of the ACMA to assist 

the Commissioner to perform his or her functions and 

exercise his or her powers; and 

 

(b)  do so to such extent as the Commissioner reasonably 

requires. 

 

(4)  The Minister may, by legislative instrument, give directions to the 

ACMA in relation to the performance of its functions, or the 

10 

exercise of its powers, under this section. 

11 

Note 1: 

For variation and revocation, see subsection 33(3) of the Acts 

12 

Interpretation Act 1901

13 

Note 2: 

Section 42 (disallowance) and Part 6 (sunsetting) of the Legislative 

14 

Instruments Act 2003 do not apply to the direction (see sections 44 

15 

and 54 of that Act). 

16 

 

(5)  The ACMA must comply with a direction under subsection (4). 

17 

 

(6)  For the purposes of this section, if a person is an officer or 

18 

employee whose services are made available to the ACMA under 

19 

paragraph 55(1)(a) of the Australian Communications and Media 

20 

Authority Act 2005, the person is taken to be a member of the staff 

21 

of the ACMA. 

22 

68  Commissioner not subject to direction by the ACMA 

23 

 

  To avoid doubt, the Commissioner is not subject to direction by: 

24 

 

(a)  the ACMA; or 

25 

 

(b)  a member or associate member of the ACMA; or 

26 

 

(c)  a member of the staff of the ACMA; 

27 

in relation to the performance of a function, or the exercise of a 

28 

power, by the Commissioner. 

29 

   

Part 7  Administrative provisions relating to the Commissioner 

Division 4  Other matters 

 

Section 69 

 

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No.      , 2014 

 

69  Consultants 

 

(1)  The Commissioner may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, engage 

persons having suitable qualifications and experience as 

consultants to the Commissioner. 

 

(2)  The consultants are to be engaged on the terms and conditions that 

the Commissioner determines in writing. 

70  Minister may give directions to the Commissioner 

 

(1)  The Minister may, by legislative instrument, give directions to the 

Commissioner about the performance of the Commissioner's 

functions or the exercise of the Commissioner's powers. 

10 

Note 1: 

For variation and revocation, see the Acts Interpretation Act 1901

11 

Note 2: 

Section 42 (disallowance) and Part 6 (sunsetting) of the Legislative 

12 

Instruments Act 2003 do not apply to the direction (see sections 44 

13 

and 54 of that Act). 

14 

 

(2)  A direction under subsection (1) must be of a general nature only. 

15 

 

(3)  Subsection (2) of this section does not apply to the Commissioner's 

16 

powers under subsection 64(1). 

17 

Note: 

Subsection 64(1) deals with delegation to a body corporate. 

18 

 

(4)  The Commissioner must comply with a direction under 

19 

subsection (1). 

20 

   

Children's Online Safety Special Account  Part 8 

   

 

Section 71 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

47 

 

Part 8--Children's Online Safety Special Account 

   

71  Simplified outline of this Part 

•  

The Children's Online Safety Special Account is established. 

72  Children's Online Safety Special Account 

 

(1)  The Children's Online Safety Special Account is established by 

this section. 

 

(2)  The Account is a special account for the purposes of the Public 

Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013

 

(3)  The Account is to be administered by the ACMA. 

10 

 

(4)  An amount must not be debited from the Account without the 

11 

written approval of the Commissioner. 

12 

73  Credits to the Account 

13 

Determination 

14 

 

(1)  The Minister may, by writing, determine that a specified amount is 

15 

to be: 

16 

 

(a)  debited against the appropriation for the ACMA departmental 

17 

item in a specified Appropriation Act; and 

18 

 

(b)  credited to the Children's Online Safety Special Account. 

19 

 

(2)  A determination under subsection (1) is a legislative instrument, 

20 

but section 42 (disallowance) of the Legislative Instruments Act 

21 

2003 does not apply to the determination. 

22 

ACMA departmental item 

23 

 

(3)  For the purposes of the application of this section to an 

24 

Appropriation Act, ACMA departmental item means a 

25 

   

Part 8  Children's Online Safety Special Account 

   

 

Section 74 

 

48 

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No.      , 2014 

 

departmental item (within the meaning of that Act) that relates to 

the ACMA. 

74  Purposes of the Account 

 

  The purposes of the Children's Online Safety Special Account are 

as follows: 

 

(a)  to enhance online safety for children; 

 

(b)  to make grants under paragraph 15(1)(g); 

 

(c)  to pay: 

 

(i)  remuneration, and other employment-related costs and 

expenses, in respect of APS employees whose duties 

10 

relate to the performance of the Commissioner's 

11 

functions or the exercise of the Commissioner's powers; 

12 

and 

13 

 

(ii)  any other costs, expenses and other obligations incurred 

14 

by the Commonwealth in connection with the 

15 

performance of the Commissioner's functions or the 

16 

exercise of the Commissioner's powers; 

17 

 

(d)  to pay any costs, expenses and other obligations incurred by 

18 

the Commonwealth under an agreement entered into under 

19 

subsection 64(5). 

20 

Note: 

See section 80 of the Public Governance, Performance and 

21 

Accountability Act 2013 (which deals with special accounts). 

22 

   

Disclosure of information  Part 9 

   

 

Section 75 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

49 

 

Part 9--Disclosure of information 

   

75  Simplified outline of this Part 

•  

The Commissioner may disclose information in certain 

circumstances. 

Note: 

See also section 92 (referral of matters to law enforcement agencies). 

76  Scope 

 

  This Part applies to information that was obtained by the 

Commissioner as a result of the performance of a function, or the 

exercise of a power, conferred on the Commissioner by or under: 

10 

 

(a)  this Act; or 

11 

 

(b)  the Broadcasting Services Act 1992

12 

77  Disclosure to Minister 

13 

 

  The Commissioner may disclose information to the Minister. 

14 

78  Disclosure to APS employees for advising the Minister 

15 

 

  For the purpose of advising the Minister, the Commissioner may 

16 

disclose information to: 

17 

 

(a)  the Secretary of the Department; or 

18 

 

(b)  an APS employee in the Department who is authorised, in 

19 

writing, by the Secretary of the Department for the purposes 

20 

of this section. 

21 

79  Disclosure to Royal Commissions 

22 

 

(1)  The Commissioner may disclose information to a Royal 

23 

Commission (within the meaning of the Royal Commissions Act 

24 

1902). 

25 

   

Part 9  Disclosure of information 

   

 

Section 80 

 

50 

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No.      , 2014 

 

 

(2)  The Commissioner may, by writing, impose conditions to be 

complied with in relation to information disclosed under 

subsection (1). 

 

(3)  An instrument made under subsection (2) that imposes conditions 

relating to one particular disclosure identified in the instrument is 

not a legislative instrument. 

 

(4)  Otherwise, an instrument made under subsection (2) is a legislative 

instrument. 

80  Disclosure to certain authorities 

 

(1)  The Commissioner may disclose information to any of the 

10 

following authorities if the Commissioner is satisfied that the 

11 

information will enable or assist the authority to perform or 

12 

exercise any of the authority's functions or powers: 

13 

 

(a)  the ACMA; 

14 

 

(b)  the National Children's Commissioner; 

15 

 

(c)  the Secretary of the Department administered by the Minister 

16 

administering the Classification (Publications, Films and 

17 

Computer Games) Act 1995 or an APS employee in that 

18 

Department whose duties relate to that Act; 

19 

 

(d)  the Australian Federal Police; 

20 

 

(e)  the Director of Public Prosecutions; 

21 

 

(f)  an authority of a State or Territory responsible for enforcing 

22 

one or more laws of the State or Territory; 

23 

 

(g)  an authority of a foreign country responsible for regulating 

24 

matters relating to the capacity of children to use social 

25 

media services and electronic services in a safe manner. 

26 

 

(2)  The Commissioner may, by writing, impose conditions to be 

27 

complied with in relation to information disclosed under 

28 

subsection (1). 

29 

 

(3)  An instrument made under subsection (2) that imposes conditions 

30 

relating to one particular disclosure identified in the instrument is 

31 

not a legislative instrument. 

32 

   

Disclosure of information  Part 9 

   

 

Section 81 

 

No.      , 2014 

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51 

 

 

(4)  Otherwise, an instrument made under subsection (2) is a legislative 

instrument. 

81  Disclosure to teachers or school principals 

 

(1)  The Commissioner may disclose information to a teacher or school 

principal if the Commissioner is satisfied that the information will 

assist in the resolution of a complaint made under section 18. 

 

(2)  The Commissioner may, by writing, impose conditions to be 

complied with in relation to information disclosed under 

subsection (1). 

 

(3)  An instrument made under subsection (2) that imposes conditions 

10 

relating to one particular disclosure identified in the instrument is 

11 

not a legislative instrument. 

12 

 

(4)  Otherwise, an instrument made under subsection (2) is a legislative 

13 

instrument. 

14 

82  Disclosure to parents or guardians 

15 

 

(1)  The Commissioner may disclose information to a parent or 

16 

guardian of an Australian child if the Commissioner is satisfied 

17 

that the information will assist in the resolution of a complaint 

18 

made under section 18. 

19 

 

(2)  The Commissioner may, by writing, impose conditions to be 

20 

complied with in relation to information disclosed under 

21 

subsection (1). 

22 

 

(3)  An instrument made under subsection (2) that imposes conditions 

23 

relating to one particular disclosure identified in the instrument is 

24 

not a legislative instrument. 

25 

 

(4)  Otherwise, an instrument made under subsection (2) is a legislative 

26 

instrument. 

27 

83  Disclosure with consent 

28 

 

  The Commissioner may disclose information that relates to the 

29 

affairs of a person if: 

30 

   

Part 9  Disclosure of information 

   

 

Section 84 

 

52 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

 

(a)  the person has consented to the disclosure; and 

 

(b)  the disclosure is in accordance with that consent. 

84  Disclosure of publicly available information 

 

  The Commissioner may disclose information if it is already 

publicly available. 

85  Disclosure of summaries and statistics 

 

  The Commissioner may disclose: 

 

(a)  summaries of de-identified information; and 

 

(b)  statistics derived from de-identified information. 

86  Relationship with Part 13 of the Telecommunications Act 1997 

10 

 

  This Part does not authorise a disclosure of information that is 

11 

prohibited by Part 13 of the Telecommunications Act 1997

12 

   

Miscellaneous  Part 10 

   

 

Section 87 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

53 

 

Part 10--Miscellaneous 

   

87  Simplified outline of this Part 

•  

This Part deals with miscellaneous matters, such as review of 

decisions and legislative rules. 

88  Review of decisions 

Declaration of tier 1 social media service 

 

(1)  An application may be made to the Administrative Appeals 

Tribunal for a review of any of the following decisions made by 

the Commissioner: 

10 

 

(a)  a decision under subsection 23(5) to refuse to make a 

11 

declaration in relation to a social media service; 

12 

 

(b)  a decision under section 25 to revoke a declaration that 

13 

relates to a social media service. 

14 

 

(2)  An application under subsection (1) may only be made by the 

15 

provider of the social media service concerned. 

16 

Social media service notice 

17 

 

(3)  An application may be made to the Administrative Appeals 

18 

Tribunal for a review of a decision of the Commissioner under 

19 

section 35 to give a social media service notice to the provider of a 

20 

social media service. 

21 

 

(4)  An application under subsection (3) may only be made by: 

22 

 

(a)  the provider of the social media service; or 

23 

 

(b)  the end-user who posted the material the subject of the 

24 

notice. 

25 

 

(5)  An application may be made to the Administrative Appeals 

26 

Tribunal for a review of a decision of the Commissioner to refuse 

27 

   

Part 10  Miscellaneous 

   

 

Section 89 

 

54 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

to give the provider of a social media service a social media service 

notice that relates to material provided on the service. 

 

(6)  An application under subsection (5) may only be made: 

 

(a)  by a person who made a section 18 complaint about the 

material provided on the service; or 

 

(b)  by, or with the consent of, the person who was the target of 

the material provided on the service. 

End-user notice 

 

(7)  An application may be made to the Administrative Appeals 

Tribunal for a review of a decision of the Commissioner under 

10 

section 42 to give an end-user notice. 

11 

89  Protection from civil proceedings 

12 

 

(1)  Civil proceedings do not lie against a person in respect of loss, 

13 

damage or injury of any kind suffered by another person because 

14 

of any of the following acts done in good faith: 

15 

 

(a)  the making of a complaint under section 18; 

16 

 

(b)  the making of a statement to, or the giving of a document or 

17 

information to, the Commissioner in connection with an 

18 

investigation under section 19. 

19 

 

(2)  Civil proceedings do not lie against a person in respect of anything 

20 

done by the person in compliance with: 

21 

 

(a)  a request under section 29; or 

22 

 

(b)  a social media service notice; or 

23 

 

(c)  an end-user notice. 

24 

90  Liability for damages 

25 

 

  None of the following: 

26 

 

(a)  the Commissioner; 

27 

 

(b)  a delegate of the Commissioner; 

28 

 

(c)  a director or employee of a body corporate that is a delegate 

29 

of the Commissioner; 

30 

   

Miscellaneous  Part 10 

   

 

Section 91 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

55 

 

is liable to an action or other proceeding for damages for, or in 

relation to, an act or matter in good faith done or omitted to be 

done: 

 

(d)  in the performance or purported performance of any function; 

or 

 

(e)  in the exercise or purported exercise of any power; 

conferred on the Commissioner by or under this Act or the 

Broadcasting Services Act 1992

91  Protection from criminal proceedings--Commissioner etc. 

 

(1)  For the purposes of this section, each of the following is a 

10 

protected person

11 

 

(a)  the Commissioner; 

12 

 

(b)  a member of the staff of the ACMA; 

13 

 

(c)  an officer or employee whose services are made available to 

14 

the ACMA under paragraph 55(1)(a) of the Australian 

15 

Communications and Media Authority Act 2005

16 

 

(d)  a consultant engaged under section 69; 

17 

 

(e)  a body corporate that is a delegate of the Commissioner; 

18 

 

(f)  a director or employee of a body corporate that is a delegate 

19 

of the Commissioner. 

20 

 

(2)  Criminal proceedings do not lie against a protected person for or in 

21 

relation to: 

22 

 

(a)  the collection of material; or 

23 

 

(b)  the possession of material; or 

24 

 

(c)  the distribution of material; or 

25 

 

(d)  the delivery of material; or 

26 

 

(e)  the copying of material; or 

27 

 

(f)  the doing of any other thing in relation to material; 

28 

in connection with the exercise of a power, or the performance of a 

29 

function, conferred on the Commissioner by or under this Act. 

30 

 

(3)  For the purposes of this section, possession includes have in 

31 

custody or control. 

32 

   

Part 10  Miscellaneous 

   

 

Section 92 

 

56 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

92  Referral of matters to law enforcement agencies 

 

(1)  If: 

 

(a)  in the performance of a function, or the exercise of a power, 

conferred on the Commissioner, the Commissioner becomes 

aware of particular material provided on a social media 

service or relevant electronic service; and 

 

(b)  the Commissioner is satisfied that the material is of a 

sufficiently serious nature to warrant referral to a law 

enforcement agency; and 

 

(c)  the material is not covered by clause 40 of Schedule 5, or 

10 

clause 69 of Schedule 7, to the Broadcasting Services Act 

11 

1992

12 

the Commissioner may notify the material to: 

13 

 

(d)  a member of an Australian police force; or 

14 

 

(e)  if there is an arrangement between: 

15 

 

(i)  the Commissioner; and 

16 

 

(ii)  the chief (however described) of an Australian police 

17 

force under which the Commissioner is authorised to 

18 

notify the material to another person or body; 

19 

 

  that other person or body. 

20 

Referral to law enforcement agency 

21 

 

(2)  The manner in which material may be notified under 

22 

paragraph (1)(d) to a member of an Australian police force 

23 

includes (but is not limited to) a manner ascertained in accordance 

24 

with an arrangement between: 

25 

 

(a)  the Commissioner; and 

26 

 

(b)  the chief (however described) of the police force concerned. 

27 

 

(3)  If a member of an Australian police force is notified of particular 

28 

material under this section, the member may notify the material to 

29 

a member of another law enforcement agency. 

30 

 

(4)  This section does not, by implication, limit the powers of the 

31 

Commissioner to refer other matters to a member of an Australian 

32 

police force. 

33 

   

Miscellaneous  Part 10 

   

 

Section 93 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

57 

 

93  Deferral of action in order to avoid prejudicing a criminal 

investigation 

 

  If: 

 

(a)  in the performance of a function, or the exercise of a power, 

conferred on the Commissioner, the Commissioner becomes 

aware of particular material provided on a social media 

service or relevant electronic service; and 

 

(b)  apart from this section, the Commissioner would be required 

to take action under this Act in relation to the material; and 

 

(c)  a member of an Australian police force satisfies the 

10 

Commissioner that the taking of that action should be 

11 

deferred until the end of a particular period in order to avoid 

12 

prejudicing a criminal investigation; 

13 

the Commissioner may defer taking that action until the end of that 

14 

period. 

15 

94  Copies of material 

16 

 

(1)  The Commissioner may make one or more copies of material for 

17 

the purposes of an investigation under section 19. 

18 

 

(2)  The Commissioner does not infringe copyright if the 

19 

Commissioner does anything authorised by subsection (1). 

20 

95  Compensation for acquisition of property 

21 

 

(1)  If the operation of this Act or the legislative rules would result in 

22 

an acquisition of property (within the meaning of 

23 

paragraph 51(xxxi) of the Constitution) from a person otherwise 

24 

than on just terms (within the meaning of that paragraph), the 

25 

Commonwealth is liable to pay a reasonable amount of 

26 

compensation to the person. 

27 

 

(2)  If the Commonwealth and the person do not agree on the amount 

28 

of the compensation, the person may institute proceedings in a 

29 

court of competent jurisdiction for the recovery from the 

30 

Commonwealth of such reasonable amount of compensation as the 

31 

court determines. 

32 

   

Part 10  Miscellaneous 

   

 

Section 96 

 

58 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

96  Service of notices by electronic means 

 

  Paragraphs 9(1)(d) and (2)(d) of the Electronic Transactions Act 

1999 do not apply to a notice under: 

 

(a)  this Act; or 

 

(b)  the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014, so 

far as that Act relates to this Act. 

Note: 

Paragraphs 9(1)(d) and (2)(d) of the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 

deal with the consent of the recipient of information to the information 

being given by way of electronic communication. 

97  Service of notices on contact person etc. 

10 

Scope 

11 

 

(1)  This section applies to: 

12 

 

(a)  a summons or process in any proceedings under, or 

13 

connected with, this Act; or 

14 

 

(b)  a summons or process in any proceedings under, or 

15 

connected with, the Regulatory Powers (Standard 

16 

Provisions) Act 2014, so far as that Act relates to this Act; or 

17 

 

(c)  a notice under this Act; or 

18 

 

(d)  a notice under the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) 

19 

Act 2014, so far as that Act relates to this Act. 

20 

Service of summons, process or notice on contact person 

21 

 

(2)  If: 

22 

 

(a)  the summons, process or notice, as the case may be, is 

23 

required to be served on, or given to, the provider of a social 

24 

media service; and 

25 

 

(b)  there is an individual who is: 

26 

 

(i)  an employee or agent of the provider; and 

27 

 

(ii)  designated as the service's contact person for the 

28 

purposes of this Act; and 

29 

 

(c)  the contact details of the contact person have been notified to 

30 

the Commissioner; 

31 

   

Miscellaneous  Part 10 

   

 

Section 98 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

59 

 

the summons, process or notice, as the case may be, is taken to 

have been served on, or given to, the provider if it is served on, or 

given to, the contact person. 

Service of summons, process or notice on agent 

 

(3)  If: 

 

(a)  the summons, process or notice, as the case may be, is 

required to be served on, or given to, a body corporate 

incorporated outside Australia; and 

 

(b)  the body corporate does not have a registered office or a 

principal office in Australia; and 

10 

 

(c)  the body corporate has an agent in Australia; 

11 

the summons, process or notice, as the case may be, is taken to 

12 

have been served on, or given to, the body corporate if it is served 

13 

on, or given to, the agent. 

14 

Other matters 

15 

 

(4)  Subsections (2) and (3) have effect in addition to section 28A of 

16 

the Acts Interpretation Act 1901

17 

Note: 

Section 28A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 deals with the service 

18 

of documents. 

19 

98  This Act does not limit Schedule 5 or 7 to the Broadcasting 

20 

Services Act 1992 

21 

 

  This Act does not limit the operation of Schedule 5 or 7 to the 

22 

Broadcasting Services Act 1992

23 

99  This Act does not limit the Telecommunications Act 1997 

24 

 

  This Act does not limit the operation of the Telecommunications 

25 

Act 1997

26 

100  Implied freedom of political communication 

27 

 

(1)  This Act does not apply to the extent (if any) that it would infringe 

28 

any constitutional doctrine of implied freedom of political 

29 

communication. 

30 

   

Part 10  Miscellaneous 

   

 

Section 101 

 

60 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

 

(2)  Subsection (1) does not limit the application of section 15A of the 

Acts Interpretation Act 1901 to this Act. 

101  Concurrent operation of State and Territory laws 

 

  It is the intention of the Parliament that this Act is not to apply to 

the exclusion of a law of a State or Territory to the extent to which 

that law is capable of operating concurrently with this Act. 

102  This Act not to affect performance of State or Territory 

functions 

 

  A power conferred by this Act must not be exercised in such a way 

as to prevent the exercise of the powers, or the performance of the 

10 

functions, of government of a State, the Northern Territory, the 

11 

Australian Capital Territory or Norfolk Island. 

12 

103  Revocation or variation of instruments 

13 

 

  A provision of this Act that expressly authorises the revocation or 

14 

variation of an instrument does not, by implication, limit the 

15 

application of subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 

16 

in relation to other instruments under this Act. 

17 

104  Terms of use of a social media service 

18 

 

(1)  For the purposes of this Act, if: 

19 

 

(a)  a social media service's terms of use contains a provision that 

20 

prohibits end-users from posting on the service one or more 

21 

kinds of material; and 

22 

 

(b)  that provision does not expressly prohibit end-users from 

23 

posting on the service cyber-bullying material; and 

24 

 

(c)  if an end-user were to post on the service cyber-bullying 

25 

material, the material would breach that provision; 

26 

that provision may reasonably be regarded as the equivalent of a 

27 

provision that prohibits end-users from posting on the service 

28 

cyber-bullying material. 

29 

   

Miscellaneous  Part 10 

   

 

Section 105 

 

No.      , 2014 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

61 

 

 

(2)  For the purposes of this section, cyber-bullying material has its 

ordinary meaning. 

105  Provider of social media service or relevant electronic service 

 

(1)  For the purposes of this Act, a person does not provide a social 

media service or relevant electronic service merely because the 

person supplies a carriage service that enables material to be 

accessed or delivered. 

 

(2)  For the purposes of this Act, a person does not provide a social 

media service or relevant electronic service merely because the 

person provides a billing service, or a fee collection service, in 

10 

relation to a social media service or relevant electronic service. 

11 

106  Extended meaning of use 

12 

 

  Unless the contrary intention appears, a reference in this Act to the 

13 

use of a thing is a reference to the use of the thing either: 

14 

 

(a)  in isolation; or 

15 

 

(b)  in conjunction with one or more other things. 

16 

107  Review of this Act etc. 

17 

 

(1)  Within 3 years after the commencement of this section, the 

18 

Minister must cause to be conducted a review of the following 

19 

matters: 

20 

 

(a)  the operation of this Act and the legislative rules; 

21 

 

(b)  whether this Act or the legislative rules should be amended; 

22 

 

(c)  whether a delegation should be made under subsection 64(1). 

23 

 

(2)  The Minister must cause to be prepared a report of a review under 

24 

subsection (1). 

25 

 

(3)  The Minister must cause copies of a report to be tabled in each 

26 

House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after 

27 

the completion of the report. 

28 

   

Part 10  Miscellaneous 

   

 

Section 108 

 

62 

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

108  Legislative rules 

 

(1)  The Minister may, by legislative instrument (and subject to 

subsection (2)), make rules (legislative rules) prescribing matters: 

 

(a)  required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed by the 

legislative rules; or 

 

(b)  necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or 

giving effect to this Act. 

 

(2)  To avoid doubt, the legislative rules may not do the following: 

 

(a)  create an offence or civil penalty; 

 

(b)  provide powers of: 

10 

 

(i)  arrest or detention; or 

11 

 

(ii)  entry, search or seizure; 

12 

 

(c)  impose a tax; 

13 

 

(d)  set an amount to be appropriated from the Consolidated 

14 

Revenue Fund under an appropriation in this Act; 

15 

 

(e)  amend this Act. 

16 

 


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