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TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1997 - SECT 317Q

Variation of technical assistance notices

  (1)   If a technical assistance notice has been given to a designated communications provider by the Director - General of Security, the Director - General of Security may vary the notice.

  (2)   If a technical assistance notice has been given to a designated communications provider by the chief officer of an interception agency, the chief officer may vary the notice.

Form of variation

  (3)   A variation may be made:

  (a)   orally; or

  (b)   in writing.

  (4)   A variation must not be made orally unless:

  (a)   an imminent risk of serious harm to a person or substantial damage to property exists; and

  (b)   the variation is necessary for the purpose of dealing with that risk; and

  (c)   it is not practicable in the circumstances to make the variation in writing.

  (5)   If a variation is made orally by the Director - General of Security or the chief officer of an interception agency, the Director - General of Security or the chief officer, as the case requires, must:

  (a)   make a written record of the variation; and

  (b)   do so within 48 hours after the variation was made.

  (6)   If, under subsection   (5), the Director - General of Security or the chief officer of an interception agency makes a written record of a variation, the Director - General of Security or the chief officer, as the case requires, must:

  (a)   give a copy of the record to the designated communications provider concerned; and

  (b)   do so as soon as practicable after the record was made.

  (7)   If a variation is made in writing by the Director - General of Security or the chief officer of an interception agency, the Director - General of Security or the chief officer, as the case requires, must:

  (a)   give a copy of the variation to the designated communications provider concerned; and

  (b)   do so as soon as practicable after the variation was made.

Acts or things specified in a varied technical assistance notice

  (8)   The acts or things specified in a varied technical assistance notice must be:

  (a)   in connection with any or all of the eligible activities of the designated communications provider concerned; and

  (b)   covered by subsection   317L(2).

  (9)   The acts or things specified in a varied technical assistance notice must be listed acts or things, so long as those acts or things:

  (a)   are in connection with any or all of the eligible activities of the designated communications provider concerned; and

  (b)   are covered by subsection   317L(2).

Note:   For listed acts or things , see section   317E.

Decision - making criteria

  (10)   The Director - General of Security or the chief officer of an interception agency must not vary a technical assistance notice unless the Director - General of Security or the chief officer, as the case requires, is satisfied that:

  (a)   the requirements imposed by the varied notice are reasonable and proportionate; and

  (b)   compliance with the varied notice is:

  (i)   practicable; and

  (ii)   technically feasible.

Note:   See also section   317RA.

Variation must not extend duration of technical assistance notice

  (11)   A variation of a technical assistance notice must not extend the period for which the notice is in force.

Notification obligations

  (12)   If the Director - General of Security varies a technical assistance notice, the Director - General of Security must, within 7 days after varying the notice, notify the Inspector - General of Intelligence and Security that the notice has been varied.

  (13)   If the chief officer of an interception agency varies a technical assistance notice, the chief officer must, within 7 days after varying the notice, notify the Commonwealth Ombudsman that the notice has been varied.

  (14)   A failure to comply with subsection   (12) or (13) does not affect the validity of a variation of a technical assistance notice.


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