Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated ActsAct No. 42 of 1996 as amended
This compilation was prepared on 13 May 2007
taking into account amendments up to Act No. 59 of 2007
The text of any of those
amendments not in force
on that date is appended in the Notes section
The operation of amendments that
have been incorporated may be
affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section
Prepared by the Office of
Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
Attorney‑General's Department,
Canberra
Contents
Part 1--Introduction 1
1............ Short title [see Note 1] ....................................................................... 1
2............ Commencement [see Note 1] .............................................................. 1
3............ Objects ................................................................................................ 1
4............ Simplified outline ................................................................................ 2
5............ Definitions .......................................................................................... 4
6............ Sydney West Airport ......................................................................... 8
7............ Meaning of core regulated airport ..................................................... 8
7A......... Transfers and acquisitions by way of the enforcement of a loan security 9
7B......... Meaning of joint‑user airport ............................................................. 9
7C......... Giving information and the Electronic Transactions Act ................. 10
8............ Crown to be bound ........................................................................... 10
9............ External Territories ........................................................................... 10
10.......... Extra‑territorial operation ................................................................. 10
10A....... Application of the Criminal Code .................................................... 10
Part 2--Leasing and management of airports 11
Division 1--Simplified outline 11
11.......... Simplified outline .............................................................................. 11
Division 2--Scope of Part 13
12.......... Airports to which Part applies ......................................................... 13
Division 3--Grant of airport leases 14
13.......... Commonwealth may grant airport lease ........................................... 14
14.......... Rules about airport leases ................................................................. 14
15.......... Termination of airport lease if lessee ceases to be a qualified company 15
16.......... Person may acquire airport leases for only one airport site ............. 15
17.......... Simultaneous grant of leases to the same person must relate to the same airport 15
18.......... Sydney (Kingsford‑Smith) Airport and Sydney West Airport to be under common ownership 16
19.......... Only one person to hold airport leases for an airport site ............... 17
20.......... Simultaneous grant of leases relating to the same airport site to be to the same person 18
20A....... Airport leases for an airport site to expire on the same day ............ 18
21.......... No grant of lease if Part 3 contravened ............................................. 18
22.......... Airport lease granted subject to existing interests in the land .......... 18
Division 4--Restrictions on acquisition and transfer of airport leases 20
23.......... Restriction on acquisition of airport lease ........................................ 20
24.......... No transfer of airport lease without approval of Minister .............. 20
25.......... No transfer of lease if Part 3 contravened ........................................ 20
26.......... No declaration of trust in respect of airport lease ............................ 21
27.......... Beneficial interest in airport lease must not be transferred independently of legal interest 21
28.......... Notification of acquisition of lease or of entry into possession--enforcement of loan security 21
29.......... Re‑transfer of lease--enforcement of loan security ......................... 22
30.......... Termination of airport lease otherwise than under this Act ............. 23
Division 5--Obligation to use airport site as an airport 24
31.......... Obligation to use airport site as an airport ....................................... 24
Division 6--Restrictions on lessees 25
Subdivision A--Airport‑operator company must not carry on non‑airport business 25
32.......... Airport‑operator company must not carry on non‑airport business 25
Subdivision B--Airport‑management agreements 26
33.......... Airport‑management agreements ...................................................... 26
Subdivision C--Subleases and licences 29
34.......... Regulations may prohibit subleases of airport leases ....................... 29
34A....... Regulations may prohibit terms from being included in sublease of airport lease 29
34B....... Regulations may require terms to be included in sublease of airport lease 30
34C....... Regulations may prohibit declaration of trust in respect of sublease of airport lease 31
34D....... Regulations may provide that a beneficial interest in a sublease of airport lease must not be transferred independently of the legal interest ............................................................................ 31
35.......... Regulations may prohibit licences relating to airport leases ............. 31
35A....... Regulations may prohibit terms from being included in licence relating to airport lease 32
35B....... Regulations may require terms to be included in licence relating to airport lease 32
35C....... Regulations may prohibit declaration of trust in respect of licence relating to airport lease 33
35D....... Regulations may provide that a beneficial interest in a licence relating to an airport lease must not be transferred independently of the legal interest .................................................... 33
35E........ Termination of sublease or licence otherwise than under this Subdivision 34
35F........ Compensation--constitutional safety‑net ....................................... 34
Division 7--Lands Acquisition Act 1989 not to apply to anything done under this Part 35
36.......... Lands Acquisition Act 1989 not to apply to anything done under this Part 35
Division 8--Entries in title registers 36
37.......... Entries in title registers ..................................................................... 36
Part 3--Restrictions on ownership of airport‑operator companies 37
Division 1--Simplified outline 37
38.......... Simplified outline .............................................................................. 37
Division 2--Definitions in Schedule 39
39.......... Definitions in Schedule ..................................................................... 39
Division 3--49% limit on foreign ownership 40
40.......... Meaning of unacceptable foreign‑ownership situation ..................... 40
41.......... Acquisitions of shares ...................................................................... 40
42.......... Compliance by airport‑operator company ....................................... 40
43.......... Remedial orders ................................................................................ 41
Division 4--5% limit on ownership by airlines of airport‑operator companies for certain airports 42
44.......... Meaning of unacceptable airline‑ownership situation ...................... 42
45.......... Acquisitions of shares ...................................................................... 42
46.......... Compliance by airport‑operator company ....................................... 43
47.......... Remedial orders ................................................................................ 43
Division 5--Limits on cross‑ownership of pairs of airport‑operator companies 45
Subdivision A--Simplified outline 45
48.......... Simplified outline .............................................................................. 45
Subdivision B--Pairs of airport‑operator companies 46
49.......... Pairs of airport‑operator companies ................................................. 46
Subdivision C--15% limit on cross‑ownership 47
50.......... Meaning of unacceptable cross‑ownership situation ........................ 47
51.......... Acquisitions of shares ...................................................................... 48
52.......... Compliance by airport‑operator companies ..................................... 48
53.......... Remedial orders ................................................................................ 49
Subdivision D--Practical control 50
54.......... Meaning of control ........................................................................... 50
55.......... Minister may declare person to have practical control of an airport‑operator company 50
56.......... Requirement to relinquish practical control or reduce stake ............. 51
57.......... Remedial orders ................................................................................ 52
Division 6--Head office of airport‑operator company and citizenship/residency of directors of airport‑operator company 54
58.......... Head office to be in Australia ........................................................... 54
59.......... Majority of directors must be Australian citizens or Australian residents 54
Division 7--Record‑keeping and giving of information 55
60.......... Record‑keeping and giving of information ........................................ 55
Division 8--Concurrent operation of State/Territory laws 57
61.......... Concurrent operation of State/Territory laws .................................. 57
Division 9--Validity of acts done in contravention of this Part 58
62.......... Validity of acts done in contravention of this Part ........................... 58
Division 10--Acquisition of property 59
63.......... Acquisition of property ................................................................... 59
Part 4--Anti‑avoidance 60
64.......... Simplified outline .............................................................................. 60
65.......... Anti‑avoidance--assets etc. ............................................................. 60
66.......... Anti‑avoidance--airport‑management agreements ........................... 61
Part 5--Land use, planning and building controls 63
Division 1--Simplified outline 63
67.......... Simplified outline .............................................................................. 63
Division 2--Scope of Part 64
68.......... Airports to which Part applies ......................................................... 64
Division 3--Airport master plans 65
69.......... Simplified outline .............................................................................. 65
70.......... Final master plans ............................................................................. 65
71.......... Contents of draft or final master plan .............................................. 66
72.......... Planning period ................................................................................. 69
73.......... Assumption of continuity of lease ................................................... 69
74.......... Plan does not lapse when lease transferred ...................................... 69
75.......... Draft master plan to be given to Minister after acquisition or grant of airport lease 69
76.......... New draft master plan to be submitted before expiry of old plan ... 70
77.......... Duration of final master plan ............................................................ 70
78.......... Replacement of final master plan ..................................................... 71
79.......... Public comment and advice to State or Territory etc. ...................... 72
80.......... Consultations .................................................................................... 73
80A....... Minister may request more material for making decision ................. 74
81.......... Approval of draft by Minister ......................................................... 74
82.......... Transfer of airport lease during approval process ............................ 76
83.......... Effect of approval ............................................................................. 76
84.......... Minor variation of final master plan ................................................. 76
84A....... Public comment and advice to State or Territory etc.--minor variation 77
85.......... Notification of matters that may affect the achievement of final master plan 79
86.......... Publication of final master plan or variation of final master plan ..... 80
87.......... Transitional--adoption of FAC documents ..................................... 81
Division 4--Major development plans 82
88.......... Simplified outline .............................................................................. 82
89.......... Meaning of major airport development ............................................ 82
90.......... Major airport development must not be carried out except in accordance with an approved major development plan .......................................................................................................... 84
91.......... Contents of major development plan ............................................... 86
92.......... Public comment and advice to State or Territory etc. ...................... 88
93.......... Consultations .................................................................................... 89
93A....... Minister may request more material for making decision ................. 90
94.......... Approval of major development plan by Minister .......................... 90
94A....... Examples of conditions ..................................................................... 92
95.......... Minor variation of major development plan ..................................... 93
95A....... Public comment and advice to State or Territory etc.--minor variation 94
96.......... Publication of major development plan or variation of major development plan 96
Division 5--Building control 98
Subdivision A--Simplified outline 98
97.......... Simplified outline .............................................................................. 98
Subdivision B--Interpretation 98
98.......... Interpretation .................................................................................... 98
Subdivision C--Building approvals 99
99.......... Building activities not to be carried out without approval ............... 99
100........ Regulations about building approvals ............................................. 101
101........ Building approval to be consistent with final master plan and major development plan 102
102........ Offence of contravening conditions ................................................ 102
103........ Remedial directions ......................................................................... 103
Subdivision D--Certificates of compliance 104
104........ Certificates of compliance .............................................................. 104
105........ Eligible alterations ........................................................................... 104
106........ Requirement for certificate of compliance ...................................... 104
107........ Regulations about certificates of compliance .................................. 106
108........ Offence of contravening conditions ................................................ 107
109........ Remedial directions ......................................................................... 108
110........ Transitional--buildings and structures in existence when airport lease first granted 109
Division 6--Miscellaneous 110
111........ Infringement notices ....................................................................... 110
112........ Exclusion of State/Territory laws ................................................... 110
112A..... Exclusion of Part III of Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 110
Part 6--Environmental management 111
Division 1--Simplified outline 111
113........ Simplified outline ............................................................................ 111
Division 2--Environment strategies 112
114........ Airports to which Division applies ................................................ 112
115........ Final environment strategies ........................................................... 112
116........ Contents of draft or final environment strategy ............................. 112
117........ Strategy period ............................................................................... 114
118........ Assumption of continuity of lease ................................................. 114
119........ Strategy does not lapse when lease transferred .............................. 115
120........ Draft environment strategy to be given to Minister after acquisition or grant of airport lease 115
121........ New draft environment strategy to be submitted before expiry of old strategy 115
122........ Duration of final environment strategy .......................................... 116
123........ Replacement of final environment strategy .................................... 116
124........ Public comment and advice to State or Territory etc. .................... 117
125........ Consultations .................................................................................. 119
125A..... Minister may request more material for making decision ............... 119
126........ Approval of draft by Minister ....................................................... 120
127........ Transfer of airport lease during approval process .......................... 121
128........ Effect of approval ........................................................................... 122
129........ Minor variation of final environment strategy ............................... 122
130........ Compliance with final environment strategy .................................. 123
131........ Publication of final environment strategy or variation of final environment strategy 123
Division 3--Environmental standards at airports 125
131A..... Airports to which Division applies ................................................ 125
131B..... Offence resulting in serious environmental harm ............................ 125
131C..... Offence resulting in material environmental harm .......................... 126
131D..... Offence resulting in environmental nuisance .................................. 126
131E...... Alternative verdicts--offence against section 131B or 131C ......... 127
132........ Regulations about environmental standards at airports .................. 127
133........ Regulations about monitoring, and remedying breaches of, environmental standards at airports 128
134........ Remedying breaches of environmental standards--recovery of expenses by airport‑operator company 130
135........ Remedying breaches of environmental standards--recovery of expenses by the Commonwealth 130
136........ Operation of State/Territory laws .................................................. 131
137........ Severability ..................................................................................... 131
Division 4--Infringement notices 132
138........ Infringement notices ....................................................................... 132
Part 7--Accounts and reports of airport‑operator companies 133
Division 1--Simplified outline 133
139........ Simplified outline ............................................................................ 133
Division 2--Scope of Part 134
140........ Airports to which Part applies ....................................................... 134
Division 3--Accounts 135
141........ Preparation and retention of accounts ............................................ 135
142........ Audit of accounts ........................................................................... 136
143........ Lodgment of accounts with the ACCC .......................................... 137
143A..... Publication of accounts and statements .......................................... 138
144........ Approved auditor ........................................................................... 138
Division 4--Airport reports 139
145........ Airport reports ............................................................................... 139
145A..... Publication of airport reports ......................................................... 139
Division 5--Record‑keeping 140
146........ Record‑keeping ............................................................................... 140
Division 6--Protection of documents given to the ACCC 141
147........ Protection of documents given to the ACCC ................................. 141
Division 7--Part supplements the Trade Practices Act 1974 142
148........ Part supplements the Trade Practices Act 1974 ............................ 142
Division 8--Concurrent operation of State/Territory laws 143
149........ Concurrent operation of State/Territory laws ................................ 143
Part 8--Quality of service monitoring and reporting 144
Division 1--Simplified outline 144
150........ Simplified outline ............................................................................ 144
Division 2--Scope of Part 145
151........ Airports to which Part applies ....................................................... 145
152........ Airport services and facilities ......................................................... 145
Division 4--ACCC to monitor quality of services and facilities 146
155........ ACCC to monitor quality of services and facilities ........................ 146
Division 5--Record‑keeping and giving of information 147
156........ Record‑keeping and giving of information ...................................... 147
Division 6--ACCC may publish quality of service information 149
157........ Publication of quality of service information ................................. 149
Division 7--Protection of information given to the ACCC 150
158........ Protection of information given to the ACCC ................................ 150
Division 8--Part supplements the Trade Practices Act 1974 151
159........ Part supplements the Trade Practices Act 1974 ............................ 151
Part 9--Variation and closure of airport sites 152
160........ Simplified outline ............................................................................ 152
161........ Variation of airport sites--consent of lessee .................................. 152
162........ Closure of airport sites ................................................................... 152
163........ Surrender of airport leases .............................................................. 153
163A..... Variation of airport lease--reducing leased area ............................. 153
Part 10--Implementation of international agreements relating to airports 154
164........ Simplified outline ............................................................................ 154
165........ Designated international agreements ............................................... 154
166........ Regulations may give effect to designated international agreements 155
167........ Compliance by airport operators with regulations ......................... 155
Part 11--Control of certain on‑airport activities 156
168........ Simplified outline ............................................................................ 156
169........ Airports to which Part applies ....................................................... 156
170........ Control of liquor ............................................................................. 156
171........ Control of commercial trading ........................................................ 157
172........ Control of vehicle movements ........................................................ 157
173........ Control of gambling ........................................................................ 158
174........ Control of smoking ......................................................................... 158
175........ Enforcement .................................................................................... 158
176........ Infringement notices ....................................................................... 158
177........ Operation of State/Territory laws .................................................. 159
178........ Submissions .................................................................................... 159
Part 12--Protection of airspace around airports 160
Division 1--Simplified outline 160
179........ Simplified outline ............................................................................ 160
Division 2--Scope of Part 161
180........ Airports to which Part applies ....................................................... 161
Division 3--Prescribed airspace 162
181........ Prescribed airspace ......................................................................... 162
Division 4--Protection of prescribed airspace 163
182........ Controlled activities ........................................................................ 163
183........ Controlled activities not to be carried out without approval ......... 164
184........ Regulations about approvals .......................................................... 165
185........ Offence of contravening conditions ................................................ 165
186........ Notification of proposals to carry out controlled activities ........... 166
187........ Remedial orders .............................................................................. 167
188........ Compensation--constitutional safety‑net ..................................... 168
189........ Severability ..................................................................................... 169
Division 5--Part supplements regulations under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 170
190........ Part supplements regulations under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 ... 170
Part 13--Access to airports and demand management at airports 171
Division 1--Simplified outline 171
191........ Simplified outline ............................................................................ 171
Division 2--Application of the access regime in Part IIIA of the Trade Practices Act 1974 173
193........ Part IIIA of the Trade Practices Act 1974 to be subject to the demand management provisions of this Part 173
Division 3--Scope of demand management provisions 174
194........ Scope of demand management provisions ...................................... 174
Division 4--Airport capacity declarations 175
195........ Airport capacity declarations ......................................................... 175
196........ Public comment .............................................................................. 175
197........ Submissions .................................................................................... 176
Division 5--Declarations subjecting airports to statutory demand management 177
198........ Declarations subjecting airports to statutory demand management 177
199........ Criteria for making declaration ........................................................ 177
200........ Submissions .................................................................................... 178
Division 6--Demand management schemes 179
201........ Demand management schemes ........................................................ 179
202........ Submissions .................................................................................... 179
203........ Types of schemes ........................................................................... 180
204........ Category exclusion schemes ........................................................... 180
205........ Slot allocation schemes ................................................................... 180
206........ Movement limitation schemes ........................................................ 181
207........ Concurrent schemes ........................................................................ 181
Division 7--Compliance with demand management schemes 182
208........ Compliance with demand management schemes ............................ 182
209........ Infringement notices ....................................................................... 182
Division 8--Part supplements Sydney Airport Curfew Act and Air Navigation Regulations 183
210........ Part supplements Sydney Airport Curfew Act ............................. 183
211........ Part supplements Air Navigation Regulations ............................... 183
Division 9--Intervals of time 184
212........ Recurring intervals of time .............................................................. 184
213........ Specification of 2 or more intervals of time .................................... 184
Division 10--Severability 185
214........ Severability ..................................................................................... 185
Part 14--Air traffic services and rescue and fire fighting services 186
215........ Simplified outline ............................................................................ 186
216........ Air traffic services, and rescue and fire fighting services, not to be provided without approval 186
Part 15--Injunctions 188
217........ Simplified outline ............................................................................ 188
218........ Injunctions ...................................................................................... 188
219........ Interim injunctions .......................................................................... 189
220........ Discharge etc. of injunctions ........................................................... 190
221........ Certain limits on granting injunctions not to apply ........................ 190
222........ Other powers of the court unaffected ............................................ 191
Part 16--Prosecutions 192
223........ Simplified outline ............................................................................ 192
224........ Prosecutions of corporations .......................................................... 192
225........ Prosecutions of persons other than corporations ........................... 193
Part 17--Incorrect records 195
226........ Simplified outline ............................................................................ 195
228........ Incorrect records ............................................................................. 195
230........ Incorrect accounts and statements .................................................. 195
231........ False or misleading audit certificates .............................................. 196
Part 18--Monitoring powers 197
232........ Simplified outline ............................................................................ 197
233........ Authorised officers ......................................................................... 197
234........ Identity cards .................................................................................. 198
235........ Searches to monitor compliance with Part 5 or 6--occupier consents 199
236........ Monitoring warrants ....................................................................... 200
237........ Power to require persons to answer questions etc. ........................ 200
238........ Monitoring powers ......................................................................... 201
239........ Airport premises ............................................................................ 202
240........ References to Part 5 or 6 ................................................................ 203
Part 19--Miscellaneous 204
241........ Simplified outline ............................................................................ 204
242........ Review of decisions by Administrative Appeals Tribunal ............ 204
243........ Tabling of Ministerial statements about certain decisions ............. 206
244........ Delegation ....................................................................................... 206
245........ Indictable offences .......................................................................... 207
246........ Constitutional corporations ............................................................ 207
247........ Severability ..................................................................................... 207
248........ Application of the Trade Practices Act 1974 ................................. 207
249........ Relocation of abandoned aircraft etc. .............................................. 208
250........ Access to airports for defence‑related purposes and for emergency or disaster relief 209
251........ Compensation for access to airports for defence‑related purposes and for emergency or disaster relief 210
252........ Regulations ..................................................................................... 212
253........ Repeals ........................................................................................... 212
Schedule--Ownership definitions 213
1............ Object ............................................................................................. 213
2............ Definitions ...................................................................................... 213
3............ When foreign citizens are ordinarily resident in Australia .............. 216
4............ Entering into an agreement or arrangement ..................................... 216
5............ Associates ....................................................................................... 217
6............ Power to appoint director .............................................................. 219
7............ Meaning of entitled to acquire ........................................................ 219
8............ Meaning of interest in a share ......................................................... 219
9............ Certain interests and stakes to be disregarded ................................ 220
10.......... Voting power .................................................................................. 221
11.......... Stake in a company ......................................................................... 222
12.......... Direct control interests in a company ............................................ 222
13.......... Substantial interests in trust estates ............................................... 223
14.......... Airport holding companies in which foreign persons have direct control interests 224
Notes 227
An Act about airports
Notes to
the
Airports Act 1996 Note 1 The Airports Act 1996 as shown in this compilation
comprises Act No. 42, 1996 amended as indicated in the Tables below. For application, saving or transitional provisions made by
the Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001, see
Act No. 55, 2001. For all relevant information pertaining to application,
saving or transitional provisions see Table A. Table of Acts
|
Act |
Number |
Date |
Date of commencement |
Application, saving or transitional provisions |
|
42, 1996 |
9 Oct 1996 |
9 Oct 1996 |
|
|
|
30, 1997 |
17 Apr 1997 |
17 Apr 1997 |
-- |
|
|
173, 1997 |
17 Nov 1997 |
Schedule 2: |
-- |
|
|
95, 1998 |
23 July 1998 |
Schedule 2: Royal Assent (b) |
-- |
|
|
19, 1999 |
19 Apr 1999 |
19 Apr 1999 |
Sch. 1 (item 18) |
|
|
92, 1999 |
16 July 1999 |
Schedule 7 (items 5, 6): 16 July 2000 (c) |