3General objects of Act

##### 3 General objects of Act 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.