Senate passes electronic transactions bill
- — 26 November, 1999 21:49
Australian businesses will not benefit from the introduction of e-commerce legislation until state and territory governments enact similar laws.
Under the Electronic Transactions Bill, passed in the Senate late Thursday, electronic communication between Commonwealth departments and agencies and Australians is now as legally binding as paper-based transactions.
However, transactions involving businesses are not recognised under the law.
The legislation also provides certain minimum requirements in order for electronic transactions to the traditional legal requirements of writing, signature, production of original documents and retention of electronic records, officials said.
Darryl Williams, federal attorney general urged state and territory governments to enact similar legislation to "ensure national uniformity in regulating electronic commerce".
