{"id":"F2021L00555","name":"Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) (Assessment Deadline and Standard Due Date) Determination 2021","slug":"telecommunications-consumer-protection-and-service-standards-assessment-deadline-and-standard-due-da","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":101755,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2021L00555-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name","content":"#### 1 Name\n\n  This is the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) (Assessment Deadline and Standard Due Date) Determination 2021.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"#### 2 Commencement\n\n  This instrument commences at the start of the day after the day it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.\n\n> Note: The Federal Register of Legislation may be accessed free of charge at [www.legislation.gov.au](http://www.legislation.gov.au).","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authority","content":"#### 3 Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under subsections 102(5) and 102D(15) of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definition","content":"#### 4 Definition\n\n  In this instrument:\n\n> Act means the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Assessment deadline","content":"#### 5 Assessment deadline\n\n  For the purposes of subparagraph 102(4)(b)(i) of the Act, the assessment deadline for a financial year is 31 December next following the financial year.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Standard due date","content":"#### 6 Standard due date\n\n  For the purposes of subparagraph 102D(14)(b)(i) of the Act, the standard due date for a financial year is 28 February next following the financial year.","sortOrder":5}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument does not change the substantive scope of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999. It only specifies timing: the assessment deadline (31 December next following the financial year) and the standard due date (28 February next following the financial year) under the authority cited in section 3 (see sections 5 and 6)."},"complexity_factors":["Very narrow subject matter: prescribes only two calendar deadlines (section 5 and section 6).","Simple commencement rule: instrument starts the day after registration (section 2).","Made under clear statutory authority (subsections 102(5) and 102D(15) of the Act; section 3).","No new substantive duties, penalties or standards — primarily administrative scheduling.","Dependence on terms defined in the parent Act (eg. ‘financial year’) creates a cross-reference requirement for full interpretation.","Low discretion for administrators or regulated parties; dates are fixed rather than subject to formulae or ministerial choice."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument fixes two administrative deadlines under the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999: an assessment deadline of 31 December following a financial year, and a standard due date of 28 February following a financial year. It commences the day after registration. It affects persons and firms required by the Act to provide assessments or standards by those dates; the practical effect is to set timing and compliance windows rather than alter substantive obligations."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument performs exactly the narrow, technical function suggested by its title: setting two specific deadlines. There is no indication of scope creep beyond the original purpose of specifying dates for assessment and payment obligations."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short: only 6 sections spanning 2 pages","Single defined term ('Act')","No cross-references beyond the enabling Act","No conditional logic, exceptions, or nested provisions","Straightforward operative provisions that simply state two calendar dates","No subordinate legislation references or administrative procedures"],"plain_english_summary":"This is a short, technical piece of legislation that sets two important deadlines for telecommunications companies in Australia.\n\n**What it does:**\n- Sets the **assessment deadline** for telecommunications companies to submit certain reports to the government. Companies must submit these by **31 December** following the end of each financial year (which runs 1 July to 30 June).\n- Sets the **standard due date** for when telecommunications companies must pay certain charges. These payments are due by **28 February** following the end of each financial year.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Telecommunications companies operating in Australia (like Telstra, Optus, TPG, etc.) that are required to submit reports and pay charges under the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.\n\n**Why it matters:**\n- These deadlines ensure telecom companies report on their performance and pay required fees on a predictable schedule. This helps the government monitor whether companies are meeting service standards (like providing phone services to rural areas) and fund programs that support universal access to telecommunications."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/telecommunications-consumer-protection-and-service-standards-assessment-deadline-and-standard-due-da","history":"/api/acts/telecommunications-consumer-protection-and-service-standards-assessment-deadline-and-standard-due-da/history","analysis":"/api/acts/telecommunications-consumer-protection-and-service-standards-assessment-deadline-and-standard-due-da/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/telecommunications-consumer-protection-and-service-standards-assessment-deadline-and-standard-due-da/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/telecommunications-consumer-protection-and-service-standards-assessment-deadline-and-standard-due-da/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/telecommunications-consumer-protection-and-service-standards-assessment-deadline-and-standard-due-da/documents"}}