AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY ACT 1991

This compilation was prepared on 7 July 2008
taking into account amendments up to Act No. 73 of 2008

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--Preliminary 1

1............ Short title [see Note 1] ....................................................................... 1

2............ Commencement .................................................................................. 1

3............ Interpretation ...................................................................................... 1

Part 2--The Australian National University 4

Division 1--Establishment of the University 4

4............ Establishment of the University ......................................................... 4

4A......... Modification of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 4

4B......... University's financial year starts on 1 January .................................. 5

5............ Functions of the University ............................................................... 5

6............ Powers of the University ................................................................... 5

7............ Organisation of the University ........................................................... 7

Division 2--The Council 8

8............ The Council ........................................................................................ 8

9............ Powers of Council .............................................................................. 8

10.......... Constitution of Council ...................................................................... 8

11.......... Qualifications for membership of Council ........................................ 10

12.......... Meetings of Council ......................................................................... 10

13.......... Resolutions without meetings .......................................................... 11

15.......... Vacation of office .............................................................................. 11

16.......... Casual vacancies ............................................................................... 12

17.......... Delegation to member of Council etc. ............................................... 13

18.......... Delegation to committee of Council ................................................. 13

18A....... Member to act solely in interest of University ................................ 14

18B....... Member to exercise care and diligence .............................................. 14

18C....... Member to act in good faith ............................................................. 15

18D....... Member not to use position improperly .......................................... 15

18E........ Member not to use information improperly .................................... 15

18F........ Material personal interest ................................................................. 15

18G....... Application of Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 16

Division 3--The Institute of Advanced Studies 17

19.......... Constitution of the Institute ............................................................. 17

Division 5--Convocation 18

30.......... Constitution of Convocation ............................................................ 18

31.......... Quorum at meetings of Convocation ................................................ 18

Division 6--Senior officers of the University 19

32.......... Chancellor ......................................................................................... 19

33.......... Pro‑Chancellor .................................................................................. 19

34.......... Vice‑Chancellor ................................................................................. 19

35.......... Deputy Vice‑Chancellor ................................................................... 20

37.......... Acting appointments ........................................................................ 20

Division 7--Miscellaneous 21

38.......... Execution of contracts ...................................................................... 21

39.......... Validity of acts and proceedings ....................................................... 21

40.......... Religious test not to be administered ................................................ 22

Part 3--Financial matters 23

Division 1--Fees 23

41.......... Fees ................................................................................................... 23

Division 2--Finances of the University 24

43.......... Application of fees and other money ............................................... 24

44.......... Borrowing ......................................................................................... 24

48.......... Taxation ............................................................................................ 25

Part 4--Statutes 26

50.......... Statutes ............................................................................................. 26

51.......... Statutes relating to traffic ................................................................. 29

52.......... Statutes to be published ................................................................... 29

Part 5--Consequential and transitional provisions 31

Division 1--Preliminary 31

53.......... Interpretation .................................................................................... 31

Division 2--Repeal 32

54.......... Repeal ............................................................................................... 32

Division 3--General 33

55.......... Senior officers to continue in office .................................................. 33

56.......... University successor in law of the Arts Institute ............................ 33

57.......... Preservation of Statutes etc. ............................................................. 33

58.......... Transfer of assets and liabilities of the Arts Institute ...................... 34

59.......... Arts Institute instruments ................................................................ 35

60.......... State or Territory officer may act on certificate ............................... 35

61.......... Pending proceedings ......................................................................... 35

62.......... Staff of the Arts Institute ................................................................. 36

63.......... Students of the Arts Institute ........................................................... 36

64.......... Granting of Arts Institute awards .................................................... 37

65.......... Transfer of appropriated money ...................................................... 37

66.......... Annual report and financial statements ............................................ 37

Notes 39

Notes to the Australian National University Act 1991

Note 1

The Australian National University Act 1991 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 131, 1991 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

For all relevant information pertaining to application, saving or transitional provisions see Table A.

Table of Acts

Act	Number and year	Date of Assent	Date of commencement	Application, saving or transitional provisions
Australian National University Act 1991	131, 1991	2 Sept 1991	1 Jan 1992
Higher Education Funding Amendment Act (No. 2) 1992	158, 1992	11 Dec 1992	Part 1 (ss. 1, 2): Royal Assent Parts 2, 3 (ss. 3-46) and Part 5 (ss. 60‑70): 1 Jan 1993 Remainder: 1 Jan 1994	S. 38(3)
Industrial Relations and other Legislation Amendment Act 1995	168, 1995	16 Dec 1995	Ss. 1-12, Schedules 5 and 7-10: Royal Assent S. 13: 13 Jan 1996 Remainder: 15 Jan 1996 (see Gazette 1996, No. S16)	--
Statute Law Revision Act 1996	43, 1996	25 Oct 1996	Schedule 3 (item 5): 2 Sept 1991	--
Audit (Transitional and Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 1997	152, 1997	24 Oct 1997	Schedule 2 (items 415-422): 1 Jan 1998 (see Gazette 1997, No. GN49) (a)	--
Corporate Law Economic Reform Program Act 1999	156, 1999	24 Nov 1999	Schedule 10 (item 45): 13 Mar 2000 (see Gazette 2000, No. S114) (b)	--
Higher Education Funding Amendment Act 2001	86, 2001	18 July 2001	Schedule 3: Royal Assent (c)	--
Higher Education Support (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2003	150, 2003	19 Dec 2003	Schedule 2 (items 20-63): 1 July 2004	Sch. 2 (item 37)
Bankruptcy Legislation Amendment Act 2004	80, 2004	23 June 2004	Schedule 1 (items 191, 212, 213, 215): 1 Dec 2004 (see Gazette 2004, No. GN34)	Sch. 1 (items 212, 213, 215)
Higher Education Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 2004	114, 2004	13 July 2004	Schedule 2 (items 39-45, 80): 14 July 2004 Remainder: Royal Assent	Sch. 4 (items 20-22)
Higher Education Legislation Amendment Act (No. 3) 2004	157, 2004	17 Dec 2004	Schedule 3: Royal Assent	--
Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Act 2005	8, 2005	22 Feb 2005	Schedule 2 (items 56, 57, 174): Royal Assent	Sch. 2 (item 174)
Higher Education Legislation Amendment (2005 Measures No. 3) Act 2005	143, 2005	14 Dec 2005	Schedule 8 (item 1): Royal Assent	--
Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Amendment Act 2008	20, 2008	26 May 2008	Schedule 2 (item 3): 1 July 2008	--
Statute Law Revision Act 2008	73, 2008	3 July 2008	Schedule 1 (item 10): (d)	--

(a) The Australian National University Act 1991 was amended by Schedule 2 (items 415-422) only of the Audit (Transitional and Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 1997, subsection 2(2) of which provides as follows:

(2) Schedules 1, 2 and 4 commence on the same day as the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997.

(b) The Australian National University Act 1991 was amended by Schedule 10 (item 45) only of the Corporate Law Economic Reform Program Act 1999, subsection 2(2)(c) of which provides as follows:

(2) The following provisions commence on a day or days to be fixed by Proclamation:

(c) The Australian National University Act 1991 was amended by Schedule 3 only of the Higher Education Funding Amendment Act 2001, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

(1) Subject to this section, this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(d) Subsection 2(1) (item 8) of the Statute Law Revision Act 2008 provides as follows:

(1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

Commencement information
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Provision(s)	Commencement	Date/Details
8. Schedule 1, item 10	Immediately after the commencement of item 36 of Schedule 2 to the Higher Education Support (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2003.	1 July 2004

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted am. = amended rep. = repealed rs. = repealed and substituted
Provision affected	How affected
Part 1
S. 3......................................	am. No. 86, 2001; No. 150, 2003; No. 114, 2004
Part 2
Division 1
Note to s. 4(2).....................	ad. No. 152, 1997
S. 4A...................................	ad. No. 152, 1997
	am. No. 20, 2008
S. 4B...................................	ad. No. 152, 1997
S. 6......................................	am. No. 152, 1997
S. 7......................................	am. No. 150, 2003
Division 2
S. 10....................................	am. No. 86, 2001; No. 150, 2003; Nos. 114 and 157, 2004; No. 73, 2008
S. 11....................................	am. No. 80, 2004
Ss. 12, 13............................	am. No. 114, 2004
S. 14....................................	rep. No. 152, 1997
S. 15....................................	am. No. 152, 1997; No. 156, 1999; No. 86, 2001; No. 150, 2003; No. 114, 2004
Ss. 16-18............................	am. No. 150, 2003
Ss. 18A-18G......................	ad. No. 150, 2003
Division 3
S. 20....................................	am. No. 86, 2001
	rep. No. 150, 2003
Ss. 21-24............................	rep. No. 150, 2003
Division 4
Heading to Div. 4.................	rep. No. 143, 2005
S. 25....................................	am. No. 86, 2001
	rep. No. 150, 2003
Ss. 26-29............................	rep. No. 150, 2003
Division 6
Ss. 32, 33............................	am. No. 114, 2004
S. 36....................................	rep. No. 168, 1995
Division 7
S. 39....................................	am. No. 150, 2003
Part 3
Division 1
S. 41....................................	rs. No. 158, 1992
	am. No. 150, 2003
Division 2
S. 42....................................	rep. No. 158, 1992
S. 43....................................	am. No. 158, 1992
	rs. No. 150, 2003
S. 44....................................	am. No. 8, 2005
Ss. 45-47............................	rep. No. 152, 1997
S. 49....................................	rep. No. 152, 1997
Part 4
S. 50....................................	am. No. 158, 1992; No. 152, 1997; No. 150, 2003
S. 51....................................	am. No. 150, 2003
Heading to s. 52..................	am. No. 150, 2003
S. 52....................................	am. No. 150, 2003
Div. 4 of Part 5....................	rep. No. 150, 2003
Ss. 67-75............................	rep. No. 150, 2003
Div. 5 of Part 5....................	rep. No. 43, 1996
Ss. 76, 77............................	rep. No. 43, 1996

Table A

Application, saving or transitional provisions

Higher Education Support (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2003 (No. 150, 2003)

Schedule 2

37 Operation of Nominations Committee prior to commencement

If, because of section 4 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901, persons are appointed to the Nominations Committee of the Council prior to the commencement of this item:

(a) the Nominations Committee may make recommendations to the Minister for appointment of persons to the Council as if this item had commenced; and

(b) despite subsection 4(2) of that Act, the appointment of persons to the Nominations Committee of the Council is taken to have taken effect before the making of any such recommendation.

Bankruptcy Legislation Amendment Act 2004 (No. 80, 2004)

Schedule 1

212 Transitional--pre‑commencement deeds and compositions

(1) For the purposes of this item, if a deed of assignment or a deed of arrangement was executed by a debtor and a trustee under Part X of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 before the commencement of this item, the deed is a pre‑commencement deed.

(2) For the purposes of this item, if a composition was accepted before the commencement of this item by a special resolution of a meeting of creditors under section 204 of the Bankruptcy Act 1966, the composition is a pre‑commencement composition.

(3) Despite the repeals and amendments made by Parts 1 and 2 of this Schedule:

(a) the Bankruptcy Act 1966 and regulations under that Act; and

(b) the Acts amended by Part 2 of this Schedule;

continue to apply, in relation to:

(d) a pre‑commencement composition; and

(e) any matter connected with, or arising out of:

(i) a pre‑commencement deed; or

(ii) a pre‑commencement composition;

as if those repeals had not happened and those amendments had not been made.

213 Transitional--pre‑commencement authorities

(1) For the purposes of this item, if:

(a) an authority given by a debtor under section 188 of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 became effective before the commencement of this item; and

(b) as at the commencement of this item, none of the following had happened:

(i) the execution by the debtor and the trustee of a deed of assignment under Part X of the Bankruptcy Act 1966;

(ii) the execution by the debtor and the trustee of a deed of arrangement under Part X of the Bankruptcy Act 1966;

(iii) the acceptance of a composition by a special resolution of a meeting of the debtor's creditors under section 204 of the Bankruptcy Act 1966;

the authority is a pre‑commencement authority.

(2) Despite the repeals and amendments made by Parts 1 and 2 of this Schedule:

(a) the Bankruptcy Act 1966 and regulations under that Act; and

(b) the Acts amended by Part 2 of this Schedule;

continue to apply, in relation to:

(d) the control of the debtor's property following a pre‑commencement authority becoming effective; and

(e) a meeting of the debtor's creditors called under a pre‑commencement authority; and

(f) whichever of the following is applicable:

(i) a deed of assignment executed after the commencement of this item by the debtor and the trustee under Part X of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 in accordance with a special resolution of such a meeting;

(ii) a deed of arrangement executed after the commencement of this item by the debtor and the trustee under Part X of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 in accordance with a special resolution of such a meeting;

(iii) a composition accepted after the commencement of this item by a special resolution of such a meeting; and

(g) any other matter connected with, or arising out of:

(i) a pre‑commencement authority; or

(ii) a deed of assignment mentioned in subparagraph (f)(i); or

(iii) a deed of arrangement mentioned in subparagraph (f)(ii); or

(iv) a composition mentioned in subparagraph (f)(iii);

as if those repeals had not happened and those amendments had not been made.

215 Transitional--regulations

(1) The regulations may make provision for matters of a transitional nature arising from the amendments made by Parts 1 and 2 of this Schedule.

(2) The Governor‑General may make regulations for the purposes of subitem (1).

Higher Education Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 2004 (No. 114, 2004)

Schedule 4

20 Definition

In this Part:

Principal Act means the Australian National University Act 1991.

21 Amendments relating to the Chancellor

The amendments of section 32 of the Principal Act made by this Act apply to each person holding office as Chancellor under that section on or after the commencement of this item, whether that person was appointed to that office before, on or after that commencement.

22 Amendments relating to the Pro‑Chancellor

(1) This item applies to a person who holds office as Pro‑Chancellor immediately before the commencement of this item.

(2) The appointment of the person as Pro‑Chancellor continues in force after the commencement of this item as if it had been made under section 33 of the Principal Act as amended by this Act.

(3) For the purposes of the Principal Act as amended by this Act, the person is taken, on the commencement of this item:

(a) to have been appointed to the Council by the Minister under paragraph 10(1)(q) of the Principal Act on the recommendation of the Nominations Committee of Council; and

(b) to have been so appointed for a period equal to the remainder of the period of his or her office as Pro‑Chancellor if no amendment of section 33 of the Principal Act had been made by this Act.

Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Act 2005 (No. 8, 2005)

Schedule 2

174 Saving provision--provisions that formerly referred to the Treasurer

(1) Any thing that:

(a) was done by the Treasurer, or by a delegate of the Treasurer, before the commencing time under an affected provision; and

(b) was in effect immediately before the commencing time;

continues to have effect after the commencing time as if it had been done by the Finance Minister under the affected provision.

(2) In this item:

affected provision means a provision that is amended by an item in this Schedule so as to replace references to the Treasurer with references to the Finance Minister.

commencing time means the day this Act receives the Royal Assent.

Finance Minister means the Minister who administers the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997.

Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY ACT 1991 - NOTES