Commonwealth of Australia Bills Commonwealth of Australia Bills[Index] [Search] [Download] [Related Items] [Help]
This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.
1996-97
The Parliament of
the
Commonwealth of
Australia
HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
(As read a third
time)
Hearing Services
and AGHS Reform Bill 1997
No. ,
1997
A Bill for an Act to amend
the Hearing Services Act 1991, to enact transitional provisions relating
to the corporatisation of the Australian Government Health Service, and for
other purposes
9700540—880/3.3.1997—(5/97) Cat. No.
96 7274 5 ISBN 0644 497475
Contents
Hearing Services Act
1991 7hsar0h3.html
Part 1—Amendments commencing on Royal
Assent 7hsar0h3.html
Part 2—Amendments commencing on 1 July
1997 7hsar0h3.html
Social Security Act
1991 7hsar0h3.html
Veterans’ Entitlements Act
1986 7hsar0h3.html
Privacy Act 1988 7hsar0h3.html
This Bill originated in the House of Representatives; and,
having this day passed, is now ready for presentation to the Senate for its
concurrence.
L.M. BARLIN
Clerk of the House
of Representatives
House of Representatives
27
February 1997
A Bill for an Act to amend the Hearing Services Act
1991, to enact transitional provisions relating to the corporatisation of
the Australian Government Health Service, and for other
purposes
The Parliament of Australia enacts:
This Act may be cited as the Hearing Services and AGHS Reform Act
1997.
(1) Subject to this section, this Act commences on the day on which it
receives the Royal Assent.
(2) Part 2 of Schedule 1 commences on 1 July 1997.
(3) If Schedule 2 to the Reform of Employment Services (Consequential
Provisions) Act 1997 does not commence before the day on which this Act
receives the Royal Assent, the amendment of the definition of eligible
employment services provider in subsection 6(1) of the Privacy Act
1988 made by this Act commences immediately after the commencement of
Schedule 2 to the Reform of Employment Services (Consequential Provisions)
Act 1997.
The following is a simplified outline of this Part:
• This Part provides for the corporatisation of
the Australian Government Health Service (AGHS). AGHS was a part
of the Department as at the commencement of this Part.
• In this Part, the new corporate structure for
the operations of the AGHS is called the nominated
company.
• The Commonwealth may transfer AGHS assets,
contracts, liabilities and records to the nominated company.
• Provision is made for the transfer of pending
proceedings.
• The balance of the Australian Government
Health Service Trust Account will be transferred to the nominated
company.
• The nominated company will be exempt from
State and Territory taxes so long as the company is
Commonwealth-owned.
• The nominated company will not be treated as
an agency of the Commonwealth.
In this Part, unless the contrary intention appears:
AGHS means Australian Government Health Service.
asset means:
(a) any legal or equitable estate or interest in real or personal
property, whether actual, contingent or prospective; and
(b) any right, power, privilege or immunity, whether actual, contingent or
prospective.
Commonwealth-owned, in relation to a company, has the meaning
given by section 6.
contract includes:
(a) a deed; and
(b) a deed poll.
instrument includes a document.
land registration official, in relation to land, means the
Registrar of Titles or other proper officer of the State or Territory in which
the land is situated.
liability means any liability, duty or obligation, whether
actual, contingent or prospective.
nominated company has the meaning given by section
5.
(1) The Minister may, by writing, declare that a specified company is the
nominated company for the purposes of this Part.
(2) The company must:
(a) be incorporated under the Corporations Law; and
(b) have a share capital.
(3) The declaration has effect accordingly.
(4) A copy of the declaration is to be published in the Gazette
within 14 days after the making of the declaration.
For the purposes of this Part, a company is
Commonwealth-owned at a particular time if, and only if, all the
shares in the company are beneficially owned by the Commonwealth at that
time.
This Part binds the Crown in right of the Commonwealth, of each of the
States, of the Australian Capital Territory, of the Northern Territory and of
Norfolk Island.
This Part extends to all the external Territories.
This Part extends to acts, omissions, matters and things outside
Australia, whether or not in a foreign country.
(1) This section applies to an asset of the Commonwealth that was used, is
used, or is proposed to be used, by the AGHS.
(2) The Minister may, by writing, make any or all of the following
declarations:
(a) a declaration that a specified asset vests in the nominated company at
a specified time without any conveyance, transfer or assignment;
(b) a declaration that a specified instrument relating to a specified
asset continues to have effect after the asset vests in the nominated company as
if a reference in the instrument to the Commonwealth were a reference to the
nominated company;
(c) a declaration that the nominated company becomes the
Commonwealth’s successor in law in relation to a specified asset
immediately after the asset vests in the nominated company.
Note: An asset or instrument may be specified by name, by
inclusion in a specified class or in any other way.
(3) A declaration under subsection (2) has effect accordingly.
(4) A copy of a declaration under subsection (2) is to be published in the
Gazette within 14 days after the making of the declaration.
(5) A time specified under paragraph (2)(a) must be a time when the
nominated company is Commonwealth-owned.
(6) Subsection (2) does not prevent the Commonwealth from transferring an
asset to the nominated company otherwise than under that subsection.
(1) This section applies to a contract (other than a contract of
employment):
(a) that related or relates to the AGHS; and
(b) to which the Commonwealth is a party.
(2) The Minister may, by writing, declare that the Commonwealth’s
rights and obligations under a specified contract:
(a) cease to be rights and obligations of the Commonwealth at a specified
time; and
(b) become rights and obligations of the nominated company at that
time.
(3) The Minister may, by writing, declare that a specified contract
continues to have effect after a specified time as if a reference in the
contract to the Commonwealth were a reference to the nominated company.
(4) The Minister may, by writing, declare that a specified instrument
relating to a specified contract continues to have effect, after the
Commonwealth’s rights and obligations under the contract become rights and
obligations of the nominated company, as if a reference in the instrument to the
Commonwealth were a reference to the nominated company.
(5) The Minister may, by writing, declare that the nominated company
becomes the Commonwealth’s successor in law, in relation to the
Commonwealth’s rights and obligations under a specified contract,
immediately after the Commonwealth’s rights and obligations under the
contract become rights and obligations of the nominated company.
(6) A declaration under this section has effect
accordingly.
(7) A copy of a declaration under this section is to be published in the
Gazette within 14 days after the making of the declaration.
(8) A time specified under subsection (2) or (3) must be a time when the
nominated company is Commonwealth-owned.
(9) This section does not, by implication, limit section 10.
Note: A contract or instrument may be specified by name, by
inclusion in a specified class or in any other way.
(1) This section applies to a liability of the Commonwealth that related
or relates to the AGHS.
(2) The Minister may, by writing, make any or all of the following
declarations:
(a) a declaration that a specified liability ceases to be a liability of
the Commonwealth and becomes a liability of the nominated company at a specified
time;
(b) a declaration that a specified instrument relating to a specified
liability continues to have effect after the liability becomes a liability of
the nominated company as if a reference in the instrument to the Commonwealth
were a reference to the nominated company;
(c) a declaration that the nominated company becomes the
Commonwealth’s successor in law in relation to a specified liability
immediately after the liability becomes a liability of the nominated
company.
(3) A declaration under subsection (2) has effect accordingly.
(4) A copy of a declaration under subsection (2) is to be published in the
Gazette within 14 days after the making of the declaration.
(5) A time specified under paragraph (2)(a) must be a time when the
nominated company is Commonwealth-owned.
Note: A
liability or instrument may be specified by name, by inclusion in a specified
class or in any other way.
(1) This section applies if:
(a) any right, title or interest in particular land vests in the nominated
company under section 10; and
(b) there is lodged with a land registration official a certificate
that:
(i) is signed by the Minister; and
(ii) identifies the land; and
(iii) states that the right, title or interest has become vested in the
nominated company under section 10.
(2) The land registration official may:
(a) register the matter in a way that is the same as, or similar to, the
way in which dealings in land of that kind are registered; and
(b) deal with, and give effect to, the certificate.
(3) A document that appears to be a certificate under subsection (1) is to
be taken to be such a certificate, and to have been properly given, unless the
contrary is established.
This Division, in so far as it provides for the interpretation of
references in other instruments, does not modify any register kept by a land
registration official under a law of a State or Territory.
(1) This section applies if, as a result of a declaration made by the
Minister under this Division, a person (the successor) becomes the
successor in law of another person (the original person) at a
particular time in relation to a particular asset, liability, right, benefit or
obligation.
(2) If any proceedings to which the original person was a party:
(a) were pending in any court or tribunal immediately before that time;
and
(b) related, in whole or in part, to the asset, liability, right, benefit
or obligation, as the case may be;
then, unless the Minister otherwise determines in writing in relation to
the proceedings, the successor is, by force of this subsection, substituted for
the original person as a party to the proceedings to the extent to which the
proceedings relate to the asset, liability, right, benefit or obligation, as the
case requires.
(1) This section applies to a record of the Commonwealth that relates to
the AGHS.
(2) If the nominated company is Commonwealth-owned, the Minister may
direct the Secretary to the Department to transfer specified records to the
nominated company.
Note: A record may be specified by name, by inclusion in a
specified class or in any other way.
(3) The Secretary to the Department must ensure that the direction is
complied with.
(4) In this section:
record has the same meaning as in the Archives Act
1983.
(1) The Minister may, by writing, determine that a specified time is the
transfer time for the purposes of this Division.
(2) The determination has effect accordingly.
(1) This section applies if the Audit Act 1901 is in force at the
transfer time.
(2) As soon as practicable after the transfer time, there is payable to
the nominated company, out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, an amount equal to
the balance of the Australian Government Health Service Trust Account as at the
transfer time.
Note: The Australian Government Health Service Trust Account
will be closed under the Audit Act 1901 and the balance transferred to
the Consolidated Revenue Fund under that Act.
(3) The Consolidated Revenue Fund is appropriated accordingly.
(4) The payment under subsection (2) is to be made by way of
consideration, or partial consideration, for an issue of shares by the nominated
company to the Commonwealth.
(1) This section applies if the Financial Management and Accountability
Act 1997 is in force at the transfer time.
(2) As soon as practicable after the transfer time, there is payable to
the nominated company, out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, an amount equal to
the balance of the Australian Government Health
Ser*********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
|
************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** |
***********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************1)
and (2) do not limit each other.
(4) In this item:
modifications includes additions, omissions and
substitutions.
(5/96)