Commonwealth Numbered Acts

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1991 No. 98 of 1991 - SECT 3

3. The objects of this Act include:

   (a)  ensuring that the standard telephone service:

   (i)  is supplied as efficiently and economically as practicable; and

   (ii) is, in view of the social importance of the service, reasonably
        accessible to all people in Australia on an equitable basis, wherever
        they reside or carry on business; and

   (iii) is supplied at performance standards that reasonably meet the social,
        industrial and commercial needs of the Australian community; and

   (b)  maximising the efficiency of the carriers, as the primary providers of
        Australia's telecommunications networks and the primary suppliers of
        Australia's telecommunications services; and

   (c)  enabling the carriers to meet their commercial obligations and their
        obligations under this Act and other laws of the Commonwealth; and

   (d)  ensuring that the carriers achieve the highest possible levels of
        accountability and responsiveness to customer and community needs; and

   (e)  achieving optimal rates of expansion and modernisation for Australia's
        telecommunications infrastructure and networks; and

   (f)  promoting the introduction of new and diverse telecommunications
        services; and

   (g)  enabling all sectors of the Australian telecommunications industry to
        participate effectively in Australian and overseas telecommunications
        markets on a commercial basis and making Australia more attractive as
        an international telecommunications centre; and

   (h)  promoting the development of other sectors of the Australian economy
        through the commercial supply of a full range of modern
        telecommunications services at the lowest possible prices; and

   (i)  creating a regulatory environment for the supply of telecommunications
        services which promotes competition and fair and efficient market
        conduct; and

   (j)  promoting the development of Australia's telecommunications
        capabilities, industries and skills, for use in Australia and
        overseas; and

   (k)  promoting research and development within Australia in relation to new
        and diverse telecommunications facilities and services for use in
        Australia and overseas; and

   (l)  ensuring that all parts of the community benefit from lower prices for
        telecommunications facilities and services and from the future
        development of telecommunications networks.