Australian Communication Authority v Viper Communications Pty Ltd (ACN 067 892 308) [2000] FCA 1664

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Communications Authority v Viper Communications Pty Ltd

(ACN 067 892 308) [2000] FCA 1664

TELECOMMUNICATIONS - application to enforce compliance with the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999 (Cth) - whether it is sufficient compliance with the Act for service providers to join the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) Scheme without becoming members of the company TIO Ltd - whether a requirement that service providers become members of the TIO Scheme or TIO Ltd will result in an abrogation of those members' fundamental common law rights – whether certain applications lodged by the respondents were valid applications to join the TIO Scheme. Bropho v State of Western Australia and Another (1990) 171 CLR 1 considered Coco v The Queen (1994) 179 CLR 427 considered Public Service Board of NSW v Osmond (1986) 159 CLR 657 applied Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999 (Cth) ss 126-133 Telecommunications Act 1997 (Cth) s 101, s 102, ss 244 – 251 Telecommunications Act 1991 (Cth) s 64 Constitution 1901 s 51(xxxi), s 55 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) s 78B AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY v VIPER COMMUNICATIONS PTY LTD (ACN 067 892 308) N 1451 of 1999 AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY v ALBURY LOCAL INTERNET PTY LTD (ACN 069 269 432) N 210 of 2000 MATHEWS J 22 NOVEMBER 2000 SYDNEY

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY N 1451 OF 1999

BETWEEN: AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY

APPLICANT

AND: VIPER COMMUNICATIONS PTY LIMITED

(ACN 067 892 308)

RESPONDENT

N 210 OF 2000 BETWEEN: AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY

APPLICANT

AND: ALBURY LOCAL INTERNET PTY LTD (ACN 069 269 432)

RESPONDENT

JUDGE: MATHEWS J