FOREIGN INFLUENCE TRANSPARENCY SCHEME ACT 2018 - SECT 37 Reporting registrable activity (other than disbursement activity) during voting periods

FOREIGN INFLUENCE TRANSPARENCY SCHEME ACT 2018 - SECT 37

  (1)   If:

  (b)   a person undertakes an activity on behalf of a foreign principal at any time in the voting period for a federal election (other than a by - election) or for a designated vote; and

  (c)   the activity is registrable in relation to the foreign principal within the meaning of:

  (i)   section   20 (parliamentary lobbying on behalf of a foreign government); or

  (ii)   section   21 (activities in Australia for the purpose of political or governmental influence), other than disbursement activity; and

  (d)   the activity relates to the federal election or the designated vote;

the person must give the Secretary a notice in relation to the activity.

Note:   It is an offence for a registrant not to give this notice (see subsection   58(1)). It is also an offence under the Criminal Code to give false or misleading information in compliance with a law of the Commonwealth (see section   137.1 of the Code).

  (2)   The notice must be given before the end of the period of 7 days after the day the activity is undertaken.

  (3)   However, if the person was not registered under the scheme in relation to the foreign principal on the day the activity was undertaken, the notice may instead be given on the day the person applies for registration in relation to the foreign principal.

  (5)   The notice must be:

  (a)   in writing; and

  (b)   in an approved form (if any); and

  (c)   given in an approved manner (if any); and

  (d)   accompanied by any information or documents required by the Secretary.