Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move government amendments (1) and (2) on sheet QL144:

(1) Schedule 4, item 13, page 192 (lines 5 and 6), omit "one month after the end of the applicable reporting period", substitute "60 days after the commencement of this section".

(2) Schedule 4, item 13, page 193 (lines 3 and 4), omit "the second month that began after the commencement of this section", substitute "the month immediately preceding the month in which this section commenced".

These amendments modify the reporting month and lodgement time frame for the one-off report which carriers would be required to provide to the ACCC under existing section 102ZF. This amendment is complementary to opposition amendment 8878, as it would ensure that the ACCC has current information from carriers when undertaking its review of the Regional Broadband Scheme modelling. The government's complementary amendments on QL144 make sure that the ACCC will have access to current information from carriers as an input to its report.

Amendment (1) would shorten the period of provision of the one-off report by carriers within 60 days of the bill's royal assent. Amendment (2) updates the reporting period to the month prior to the due date of the report. The report gives a snapshot of the high-speed fixed-line broadband market after commencement of this bill. This information will be an important data source for the ACCC as part of preparing advice to the minister about the base component of this charge. This allows more timely information and support and it also supports the government's evidence based decision-making sooner, meaning better outcomes for consumers and also for industry.