Senator ALSTON (Minister for Communications and the Arts)(5.35 p.m.) —I move:

(155)   Page 292 (after line 25), after clause 387, insert:

387A Register of connection permits

   (1)   The ACA is to maintain a Register in which it includes:

      (a)   all connection permits currently in force; and

      (b)   all conditions of such permits.

   (2)   The Register may be maintained by electronic means.

   (3)   A person may, on payment of the charge (if any) fixed by a determination under section 52 of the Australian Communications Authority Act 1996 :

      (a)   inspect the Register; and

      (b)   make a copy of, or take extracts from, the Register.

   (4)   For the purposes of this section, if the Register is maintained by electronic means, a person is taken to have made a copy of, or taken an extract from, the Register if the ACA gives the person a printout of, or of the relevant parts of, the Register.

   (5)   If a person requests that a copy be provided in an electronic form, the ACA may provide the relevant information:

      (a)   on a data processing device; or

      (b)   by way of electronic transmission.

This amendment will require the ACA to maintain a register of connection permits and give effect to one of the useful suggestions made in the submissions to the committee.

Amendment agreed to.