Significant events

The ACMA has introduced a number of exemptions to the telecommunications and radiocommunications regulatory arrangements for the purposes of allowing international visitors to be exempt from these requirements while attending a ‘significant event’ in Australia.

The major effect of the exemption is to remove testing and labelling requirements for importers of telecommunications and radiocommunications equipment given its expected short duration within Australia. An ‘importer’ in the context of the exemption is an event official or organiser, media broadcaster or competitor and not someone whose business it is to import this equipment on a daily basis.

A significant event is an event determined by the Chair of the ACMA and listed on this website below. Factors that may be considered by the Chair in determining whether an event is a ‘significant event’ are:

• whether it is a public event of State or National significance;
• the duration of the event;
• whether the event has an international contingent or a significant international media presence;
• held at a limited number of identifiable places within Australia;
• if the event involves the use of telecommunications or radiocommunications equipment that is subject to the ACMA regulatory arrangements; and
• if suitable risk mitigation strategies are in place to avoid any possible interference or non-compliance issues.

The determination of a significant event by the Chair affects the application of subordinate instruments made under the Telecommunications Act 1997 and the Radiocommunications Act 1992. These instruments are:

• Telecommunications Labelling (Customer Equipment and Customer Cabling) Notice 2001
  This notice exempts equipment imported specifically for use in conjunction with a ‘significant event’ from compliance and labelling requirements where that customer equipment is only connected at a specified location with the network manager’s consent.
• Various Radiocommunications Standards
  Under the amendment radiocommunications equipment is exempt from the compliance and labelling requirements where it is imported for sole use during a ‘significant event’.
• Telecommunications (Types of Cabling Work) Amendment Declaration 2005 (No. 1)
  Cabling work covered under Schedule 1 of this amendment exempts cabling that involves the installation or maintenance of customer cabling work in relation to broadcasting content from complying with labelling and testing requirements for the duration of a ‘significant event’.

The events listed in column 1 are significant events for the dates that are mentioned in column 2. The specific locations at which the exemptions apply can be accessed by clicking on the link for the event.

* This date includes additional time before and after the event to allow for equipment setup and removal.