{"id":"a-2001-69","name":"Legislative Assembly (Broadcasting) Act 2001","slug":"legislative-assembly-broadcasting-act-2001","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"act","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"69 of 2001","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":23866,"registerId":"act-a-2001-69-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Legislative Assembly (Broadcasting) Act 2001","content":"Australian Capital Territory\nLegislative Assembly (Broadcasting)\nAct 2001\nA2001-69\nRepublication No 6\nEffective: 1 July 2012\nRepublication date: 1 July 2012\nLast amendment made by A2012-26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel\n\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAbout this republication\nThe republished law\nThis is a republication of the Legislative Assembly (Broadcasting) Act 2001 (including any\namendment made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 (Editorial changes)) as in force on 1\nJuly 2012. It also includes any commencement, amendment, repeal or expiry affecting this\nrepublished law to 1 July 2012.\nThe legislation history and amendment history of the republished law are set out in endnotes 3\nand 4.\nKinds of republications\nThe Parliamentary Counsel’s Office prepares 2 kinds of republications of ACT laws (see the\nACT legislation register at www.legislation.act.gov.au):\n authorised republications to which the Legislation Act 2001 applies\n unauthorised republications.\nThe status of this republication appears on the bottom of each page.\nEditorial changes\nThe Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 authorises the Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial\namendments and other changes of a formal nature when preparing a law for republication.\nEditorial changes do not change the effect of the law, but have effect as if they had been made\nby an Act commencing on the republication date (see Legislation Act 2001, s 115 and s 117).\nThe changes are made if the Parliamentary Counsel considers they are desirable to bring the law\ninto line, or more closely into line, with current legislative drafting practice.\nThis republication does not include amendments made under part 11.3 (see endnote 1).\nUncommenced provisions and amendments\nIf a provision of the republished law has not commenced, the symbol U appears immediately\nbefore the provision heading. Any uncommenced amendments that affect this republished law\nare accessible on the ACT legislation register (www.legislation.act.gov.au). For more\ninformation, see the home page for this law on the register.\nModifications\nIf a provision of the republished law is affected by a current modification, the symbol M\nappears immediately before the provision heading. The text of the modifying provision appears\nin the endnotes. For the legal status of modifications, see the Legislation Act 2001, section 95.\nPenalties\nAt the republication date, the value of a penalty unit for an offence against this law is $110 for\nan individual and $550 for a corporation (see Legislation Act 2001, s 133).\n\nR6\n01/07/12\nLegislative Assembly (Broadcasting) Act 2001\nEffective: 01/07/12\ncontents 1\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nLegislative Assembly (Broadcasting)\nAct 2001\nContents\nPage\n1 Name of Act 2\n3 Dictionary 2\n4 Notes 2\n5 Broadcasting of proceedings 2\n6 Withdrawal of rights to broadcast 3\n7 Electronic access to proceedings given by clerk 3\n8 Withdrawal of electronic access by clerk 4\n8A Electronic access to proceedings given by Speaker 5\n9 Privilege for broadcasts 5\n10 Approved forms 6\n\nContents\nPage\ncontents 2 Legislative Assembly (Broadcasting) Act 2001\nEffective: 01/07/12\nR6\n01/07/12\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nDictionary 7\nEndnotes\n1 About the endnotes 8\n2 Abbreviation key 8\n3 Legislation history 9\n4 Amendment history 10\n5 Earlier republications 11\n\nR6\n01/07/12\nLegislative Assembly (Broadcasting) Act 2001\nEffective: 01/07/12\npage 1\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nLegislative Assembly (Broadcasting)\nAct 2001\nAn Act about broadcasting of proceedings of the Legislative Assembly and its\ncommittees\n\nSection 1\npage 2 Legislative Assembly (Broadcasting) Act 2001\nEffective: 01/07/12\nR6\n01/07/12\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n1 Name of Act\nThis Act is the Legislative Assembly (Broadcasting) Act 2001.\n3 Dictionary\nThe dictionary at the end of this Act is part of this Act.\nNote 1 The dictionary at the end of this Act defines certain words and\nexpressions used in this Act.\nNote 2 A definition in the dictionary applies to the entire Act unless the\ndefinition, or another provision of the Act, provides otherwise or the\ncontrary intention otherwise appears (see Legislation Act 2001, s 155\nand s 156 (1)).\n4 Notes\nA note included in this Act is explanatory and is not part of the Act.\nNote See Legislation Act 2001, s 127 (1), (4) and (5) for the legal status of\nnotes.\n5 Broadcasting of proceedings\n(1) A person may broadcast, or record for broadcast, all or part of\npublic proceedings of the Legislative Assembly or a committee of\nthe Assembly.\n(2) The Legislative Assembly may, by resolution, determine the way\nrights given by subsection (1) must be exercised.\n(3) If the Legislative Assembly makes a determination under\nsubsection (2), a person exercising rights under subsection (1) must\ncomply with the determination.\n\nSection 6\nR6\n01/07/12\nLegislative Assembly (Broadcasting) Act 2001\nEffective: 01/07/12\npage 3\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n6 Withdrawal of rights to broadcast\n(1) The Legislative Assembly may, by resolution, withdraw the right of\na person to broadcast, or record for broadcast, public proceedings of\nthe Legislative Assembly or a committee of the Assembly.\n(2) The Legislative Assembly may, by resolution, delegate to the\nSpeaker the power to withdraw the right of a person to broadcast, or\nrecord for broadcast, public proceedings of the Legislative\nAssembly or a committee of the Assembly.\n(3) The Legislative Assembly may, by resolution, delegate to a\ncommittee of the Assembly the power to withdraw the right of a\nperson to broadcast, or record for broadcast, public proceedings of\nthe committee.\n(4) A resolution under subsection (1), (2) or (3) may state the way in\nwhich a right to broadcast or record may be withdrawn.\n7 Electronic access to proceedings given by clerk\n(1) A person may apply in writing to the clerk for access to the\nrecording and transmission facilities of the Legislative Assembly for\ntransmission to the applicant of public proceedings of the\nLegislative Assembly or a committee of the Assembly.\nNote If a form is approved under s 10 (Approved forms) for an application,\nthe form must be used.\n(2) The clerk must give the access requested in an application under\nsubsection (1) if—\n(a) the clerk is satisfied that the recording and transmission\nfacilities of the Legislative Assembly have the capacity to\nsatisfactorily support the equipment the applicant proposes to\nconnect to them; and\n(b) the clerk is satisfied the mode of access requested is reasonable\nfor the purpose for which it is sought; and\n\nSection 8\npage 4 Legislative Assembly (Broadcasting) Act 2001\nEffective: 01/07/12\nR6\n01/07/12\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(c) the applicant’s right to broadcast the proceedings for which the\napplication is made has not been withdrawn under this Act; and\n(d) the applicant enters into a written agreement with the Territory\nto—\n(i) comply with any determination in effect under\nsection 5 (2); and\n(ii) provide, or arrange for the provision of, the\ntelecommunication lines and other equipment necessary\nfor the access (the access equipment); and\n(iii) pay the costs and expenses of connecting the access\nequipment to the recording and transmission facilities of\nthe Legislative Assembly; and\n(iv) pay the costs and expenses of maintaining the access\nequipment; and\n(v) pay the costs and expenses of the Office of the Legislative\nAssembly in giving access to the proceedings of the\nLegislative Assembly and its committees by the access\nequipment.\n8 Withdrawal of electronic access by clerk\n(1) The clerk may withdraw electronic access to proceedings given to a\nperson under section 7 if the person—\n(a) ceases to be entitled to broadcast, or record for broadcast,\nproceedings of the Legislative Assembly or a committee of the\nAssembly under this Act; or\n(b) does not comply with the person’s agreement under\nsection 7 (2) (d).\n\nSection 8A\nR6\n01/07/12\nLegislative Assembly (Broadcasting) Act 2001\nEffective: 01/07/12\npage 5\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(2) If a person’s electronic access to proceedings is withdrawn under\nsubsection (1) (a), the clerk must restore the access if the person\nagain becomes entitled to broadcast, or record for broadcast,\nproceedings of the Assembly or a committee of the Assembly under\nthis Act and applies to the clerk in writing for restoration of the\naccess.\n(3) If a person’s electronic access to proceedings is withdrawn under\nsubsection (1) (b), the clerk must restore the access if the person\nremedies his or her breach of the agreement and applies to the clerk\nin writing for restoration of the access.\n8A Electronic access to proceedings given by Speaker\n(1) The Speaker may, in writing, direct that a person be given access to\nthe recording and transmission facilities of the Legislative Assembly\nfor transmission to the person of public proceedings of the\nAssembly or a committee of the Assembly.\nNote The power to make a direction includes the power to amend or repeal it\n(see Legislation Act, s 46 (1)).\n(2) The Speaker must give a copy of the direction to the person.\n(3) The direction is a disallowable instrument.\nNote 1 A disallowable instrument must be notified, and presented to the\nLegislative Assembly, under the Legislation Act.\nNote 2 An amendment or repeal of a direction is also a disallowable instrument\n(see Legislation Act, s 46 (2)).\n9 Privilege for broadcasts\n(1) Neither civil nor criminal proceedings may be brought against a\nmember of the Office of the Legislative Assembly for transmitting\nor broadcasting proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, or a\ncommittee of the Assembly, in carrying out the member’s duties.\n\nSection 10\npage 6 Legislative Assembly (Broadcasting) Act 2001\nEffective: 01/07/12\nR6\n01/07/12\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(2) It is a defence to an action for defamation for matter in a broadcast\nof proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, or a committee of the\nAssembly, made in the exercise of a right given by this Act that the\ndefamatory matter was broadcast by the defendant without adoption\nby the defendant of the substance of the matter and the defamatory\nmatter was part of a fair and accurate report of the proceedings.\n(3) Subsection (2) does not deprive a person of a defence that the\nperson has apart from this section.\n(4) Subsection (2) does not apply to a person for a broadcast made by\nthe person while the person’s right to make the broadcast was\nwithdrawn under section 6 (Withdrawal of rights to broadcast).\n10 Approved forms\n(1) The clerk may, in writing, approve forms for this Act.\n(2) If the clerk approves a form for a particular purpose, the approved\nform must be used for that purpose.\nNote For other provision about forms, see Legislation Act 2001, s 255.\n(3) An approved form is a notifiable instrument.\nNote A notifiable instrument must be notified under the Legislation Act 2001.\n\nDictionary\nR6\n01/07/12\nLegislative Assembly (Broadcasting) Act 2001\nEffective: 01/07/12\npage 7\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nDictionary\n(see s 3)\nNote 1 The Legislation Act 2001 contains definitions and other provisions\nrelevant to this Act.\nNote 2 In particular, the Legislation Act 2001, dict, pt 1, defines the following\nterms:\n function\n Legislative Assembly\n Office of the Legislative Assembly\n person\n Speaker.\nbroadcast includes—\n(a) transmission to the public by radio, television, landline, the\nInternet or any other electronic means; and\n(b) rebroadcast.\nclerk means the clerk of the Legislative Assembly.\npublic proceedings, of the Legislative Assembly or a committee of\nthe Assembly, means proceedings of the Assembly or committee\nopen to the public.\nrebroadcast means to broadcast from a recording.\nrecord, proceedings of the Legislative Assembly or a committee of\nthe Assembly, means make a sound or visual recording of the\nproceedings.\n\nEndnotes\n1 About the endnotes\npage 8 Legislative Assembly (Broadcasting) Act 2001\nEffective: 01/07/12\nR6\n01/07/12\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nEndnotes\n1 About the endnotes\nAmending and modifying laws are annotated in the legislation history and the\namendment history. Current modifications are not included in the republished\nlaw but are set out in the endnotes.\nNot all editorial amendments made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 are\nannotated in the amendment history. Full details of any amendments can be\nobtained from the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office.\nUncommenced amending laws are not included in the republished law. The\ndetails of these laws are underlined in the legislation history. Uncommenced\nexpiries are underlined in the legislation history and amendment history.\nIf all the provisions of the law have been renumbered, a table of renumbered\nprovisions gives details of previous and current numbering.\nThe endnotes also include a table of earlier republications.\n2 Abbreviation key\nA = Act NI = Notifiable instrument\nAF = Approved form o = order\nam = amended om = omitted/repealed\namdt = amendment ord = ordinance\nAR = Assembly resolution orig = original\nch = chapter par = paragraph/subparagraph\nCN = Commencement notice pres = present\ndef = definition prev = previous\nDI = Disallowable instrument (prev...) = previously\ndict = dictionary pt = part\ndisallowed = disallowed by the Legislative r = rule/subrule\nAssembly reloc = relocated\ndiv = division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired R[X] = Republication No\nGaz = gazette RI = reissue\nhdg = heading s = section/subsection\nIA = Interpretation Act 1967 sch = schedule\nins = inserted/added sdiv = subdivision\nLA = Legislation Act 2001 SL = Subordinate law\nLR = legislation register sub = substituted\nLRA = Legislation (Republication) Act 1996 underlining = whole or part not commenced\nmod = modified/modification or to be expired\n\nEndnotes\nLegislation history 3\nR6\n01/07/12\nLegislative Assembly (Broadcasting) Act 2001\nEffective: 01/07/12\npage 9\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n3 Legislation history\nLegislative Assembly (Broadcasting) Act 2001 A2001-69\nnotified 10 September 2001 (Gaz 2001 No S66)\ns 1, s 2 commenced 10 September 2001 (IA s 10B)\nremainder commenced 10 March 2002 (s 2 and LA s 79)\nas amended by\nStatute Law Amendment Act 2002 A2002-30 pt 3.41\nnotified LR 16 September 2002\ns 1, s 2 taken to have commenced 19 May 1997 (LA s 75 (2))\npt 3.41 commenced 17 September 2002 (s 2 (1))\nLegislative Assembly (Broadcasting) Amendment Act 2002 A2002-52\nnotified LR 20 December 2002\ns 1, s 2 commenced 20 December 2002 (LA s 75 (1))\nremainder commenced 21 December 2002 (s 2)\nPublic Sector Management Amendment Act 2005 A2005-42\nsch 1 pt 1.2\nnotified LR 31 August 2005\ns 1, s 2 commenced 31 August 2005 (LA s 75 (1))\nsch 1 pt 1.2 commenced 1 September 2005 (s 2)\nStatute Law Amendment Act 2007 A2007-3 sch 3 pt 3.59\nnotified LR 22 March 2007\ns 1, s 2 taken to have commenced 1 July 2006 (LA s 75 (2))\nsch 3 pt 3.59 commenced 12 April 2007 (s 2 (1))\nLegislative Assembly (Office of the Legislative Assembly) Act 2012\nA2012-26 sch 1 pt 1.7\nnotified LR 24 May 2012\ns 1, s 2 commenced 24 May 2012 (LA s 75 (1))\nsch 1 pt 1.7 commenced 1 July 2012 (s 2)\n\nEndnotes\n4 Amendment history\npage 10 Legislative Assembly (Broadcasting) Act 2001\nEffective: 01/07/12\nR6\n01/07/12\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n4 Amendment history\nCommencement\ns 2 om LA s 89 (4)\nElectronic access to proceedings given by clerk\ns 7 hdg sub A2002-52 s 4\ns 7 am A2012-26 amdt 1.33\nWithdrawal of electronic access by clerk\ns 8 hdg sub A2002-52 s 5\nElectronic access to proceedings given by Speaker\ns 8A ins A2002-52 s 6\nPrivilege for broadcasts\ns 9 am A2012-26 amdt 1.33\nApproved forms\ns 10 am A2002-30 amdt 3.571\nRepeal of Legislative Assembly (Broadcasting of Proceedings) Act\ns 11 om LA s 89 (3)\nDictionary\ndict am A2002-30 amdt 3.572; A2012-26 amdt 1.34\ndef Legislative Assembly secretariat sub A2005-42\namdt 1.2; A2007-3 amdt 3.332\nom A2012-26 amdt 1.35\n\nEndnotes\nEarlier republications 5\nR6\n01/07/12\nLegislative Assembly (Broadcasting) Act 2001\nEffective: 01/07/12\npage 11\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n5 Earlier republications\nSome earlier republications were not numbered. The number in column 1 refers to\nthe publication order.\nSince 12 September 2001 every authorised republication has been published in\nelectronic pdf format on the ACT legislation register. A selection of authorised\nrepublications have also been published in printed format. These republications\nare marked with an asterisk (*) in column 1. Electronic and printed versions of an\nauthorised republication are identical.\nRepublication\nNo and date\nEffective Last\namendment\nmade by\nRepublication\nfor\nR1\n10 Mar 2002\n10 Mar 2002–\n16 Sept 2002\nnot amended new Act\nR2\n17 Sept 2002\n17 Sept 2002–\n20 Dec 2002\nA2002-30 amendments by\nA2002-30\nR3\n21 Dec 2002\n21 Dec 2002–\n31 Aug 2005\nA2002-52 amendments by\nA2002-52\nR4\n1 Sept 2005\n1 Sept 2005–\n11 Apr 2007\nA2005-42 amendments by\nA2005-42\nR5\n12 Apr 2007\n12 Apr 2007–\n30 June 2012\nA2007-3 amendments by\nA2007-3\n© Australian Capital Territory 2012","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act’s practical scope was expanded and operationalised by later amendments. Notably, a Speaker power to grant electronic access was inserted (s8A inserted by Legislative Assembly (Broadcasting) Amendment Act 2002 A2002-52, see amendment history). Electronic-access provisions and privilege provisions were amended later (s7 and s9 amended by Legislative Assembly (Office of the Legislative Assembly) Act 2012 A2012-26; s10 and dictionary amendments by A2002-30 and others). Those changes broadened authorised means of granting access, formalised written-agreement cost-recovery obligations (s7(2)(d)(ii)–(v)), introduced a disallowable instrument mechanism for Speaker directions (s8A(3)), and revised definitions tied to the Office, altering administrative responsibilities and implementation mechanics."},"complexity_factors":["Delegated discretion to withdraw or limit broadcasting rights (Assembly resolutions; delegation to Speaker or committees) (s6).","Clerk’s operational discretion over electronic access, including capacity and reasonableness assessments (s7(2)(a)–(b)).","Contractual/commercial obligations imposed on applicants: written agreement to supply, connect, maintain and pay costs for access equipment and for Office services (s7(2)(d)(ii)–(v)).","Procedural restoration rules when access is withdrawn and remedial pathways after breaches (s8(2)–(3)).","Speaker’s power to direct access as a disallowable instrument, creating a statutory administrative instrument subject to Parliamentary notice and possible disallowance (s8A(1), (3)).","Limited civil/criminal immunity for Office members transmitting proceedings, and a conditional defamation defence for fair and accurate reports (s9(1)–(4)).","Requirements about approved forms and their notifiable-instrument status, adding formal administrative procedure (s10(1)–(3)).","Cross-references to the Legislation Act and defined terms in the Act’s dictionary create external interpretive dependencies (s3, Dictionary; notes)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Act allows people to broadcast or record public proceedings of the ACT Legislative Assembly and its committees, and lets the Assembly set conditions or withdraw those rights. The clerk and the Speaker can authorise electronic connections to the Assembly’s recording/transmission facilities subject to written agreements that require applicants to supply, connect and pay for equipment and access (s5, s6, s7, s8A). It also provides legal protections for Assembly staff and a limited defamation defence for fair, accurate broadcasts (s9)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains focused on its original purpose of regulating broadcasting of Legislative Assembly proceedings. The 2012 amendments (A2012-26) were minor technical updates related to the restructuring of the Office of the Legislative Assembly, not an expansion of scope. The addition of section 8A in 2002 simply provided an alternative pathway for electronic access via the Speaker rather than the Clerk, which is within the original legislative intent."},"complexity_factors":["Short statute: only 10 operative sections plus a dictionary","Minimal cross-referencing: primarily references to the Legislation Act 2001 for standard definitions and instrument types","Simple conditional structure: mostly straightforward 'if-then' logic without nested exceptions","Limited defined terms: only 5 specific definitions in the dictionary (broadcast, clerk, public proceedings, rebroadcast, record), with other terms imported from the Legislation Act","No complex temporal provisions or sunset clauses","Clear delineation of powers between the Assembly, Speaker, Clerk, and committees without overlapping jurisdictions"],"plain_english_summary":"The Act permits public broadcasting and recording of ACT Legislative Assembly sittings and committee hearings, subject to rules the Assembly sets and enforcement powers to suspend rights for rule breaches. It provides technical access routes via the Clerk or Speaker and shields staff and accurate reporters from defamation suits. It affects media, Assembly officials and members, and anyone accessing parliamentary broadcasts, promoting transparency while preserving orderly proceedings."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/legislative-assembly-broadcasting-act-2001","history":"/api/acts/legislative-assembly-broadcasting-act-2001/history","analysis":"/api/acts/legislative-assembly-broadcasting-act-2001/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/legislative-assembly-broadcasting-act-2001/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/legislative-assembly-broadcasting-act-2001/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/legislative-assembly-broadcasting-act-2001/documents"}}