Loans Securities Act 1919

No. 25, 1919 as amended

Compilation start date: 1 July 2014

Includes amendments up to: Act No. 62, 2014

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Loans Securities Act 1919 as in force on 1 July 2014. It includes any commenced amendment affecting the legislation to that date.

This compilation was prepared on 15 August 2014.

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of each amended provision.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not reflected in the text of the compiled law but the text of the amendments is included in the endnotes.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

If the operation of a provision or amendment is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Modifications

If a provision of the compiled law is affected by a modification that is in force, details are included in the endnotes.

Provisions ceasing to have effect

If a provision of the compiled law has expired or otherwise ceased to have effect in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

Contents

1 Short title 1

2 Interpretation 1

3 Conditions of loans 1

4 Payment of principal and interest 2

5 Establishment of Registries and appointment of Registrars 2

5A Powers of Treasurer in relation to borrowings outside Australia 3

5B Power of Treasurer to enter into swaps or other financial arrangements 3

5BA Power to enter into securities lending arrangements 4

5C Jurisdiction of foreign courts 5

5D Delegation under sections 3, 5A, 5B and 5C 5

5E Delegation of powers and functions under section 5BA 6

6 Provisions for payment of judgments in United Kingdom 7

6A Currency in which moneys may be borrowed 7

6B Exemption of certain securities issued abroad from taxation 8

7 Regulations 9

Endnotes 10

Endnote 1—About the endnotes 10

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key 12

Endnote 3—Legislation history 13

Endnote 4—Amendment history 14

Endnote 5—Uncommenced amendments [none] 15

Endnote 6—Modifications [none] 15

Endnote 7—Misdescribed amendments [none] 15

Endnote 8—Miscellaneous [none] 15

An Act to authorize the issue of Securities in relation to Loans and for other purposes in connexion therewith
1 Short title

This Act may be cited as the Loans Securities Act 1919.
2 Interpretation

In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

Finance Minister means the Minister administering the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.

Registrar means the Registrar or a Deputy Registrar of Stock or the Registrar or a Deputy Registrar of securities or other documents issued under this Act.

Registry means a Registry for the inscription of Stock and for the issue and registration of securities or other documents in relation to loans.

Security means any document made out and issued under this Act for defining or registering the indebtedness of the Commonwealth to lenders, and includes a Debenture to bearer, Bond to Bearer, and Treasury Bill, and any coupon in connexion therewith.

Stock means Stock issued under this Act and a reference to Stock includes a reference to Stock included in a Stock Certificate to bearer and a reference to registered Stock.
3 Conditions of loans 1

(1) Where under an Act the Treasurer has the authority to borrow money in accordance with the Commonwealth Inscribed Stock Act 1911 or any Act authorising the issue of Treasury bills, the Governor-General may, in spite of anything in those Acts, in writing, authorise the Treasurer:

 a

to borrow the money in amounts not exceeding, in the aggregate, such amount as the Governor-General determines;

 b

to borrow the money:

 i

either by way of a single borrowing or by way of a program of borrowings, as the Governor-General determines;

 ii

in such manner as the Governor-General determines; and

 iii

at prices, and on terms and conditions, that are not less favourable to the Commonwealth than the prices, and the terms and conditions, determined by the Governor-General; and

 c

to issue, in such form as the Governor-General determines, such stock and securities as the Governor-General determines.

 2

An authority under subsection (1) may, instead of determining any matter referred to in paragraph (1)(b) or (c), authorise the Treasurer to determine that matter and, in that case, the Treasurer is empowered to determine, in writing, that matter.
4 Payment of principal and interest

The principal money secured by any Stock or security issued under this Act and the interest thereon shall be payable out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is hereby appropriated for the purpose.
5 Establishment of Registries and appointment of Registrars

The Governor-General may:

 a

establish Registries at any places outside the Commonwealth for the inscription of Stock and for the issue and registration of securities or any other documents required in connexion with the issue of any loan or for defining or registering the indebtedness of the Commonwealth to lenders;

 b

appoint such Registrars or Deputy Registrars as he or she thinks necessary.
5A Powers of Treasurer in relation to borrowings outside

Where the Treasurer is authorised to borrow money outside , the Treasurer may, for the purposes of the borrowing:

 a

enter into agreements with banks or other financial institutions;

 b

enter into fiscal agency agreements;

 c

in relation to the issue of any stock or security:

 i

issue information memoranda in relation to the stock or security; and

 ii

issue any document necessary for the listing of the stock or security on any stock exchange or security market; and

 d

take any action (including the signing of any document) required or permitted to be taken by or on behalf of the Commonwealth:

 i

under any agreement referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) or following the issue of a document under paragraph (c); or

 ii

for any purpose relating to the borrowing.
5B Power of Treasurer to enter into swaps or other financial arrangements 1

The Treasurer may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, enter into an agreement with any person or organisation or the government of any country, either within or outside , under which:

 a

the Commonwealth undertakes to make payments in any currency to, or to the account of, the other party to the agreement; and

 b

the other party undertakes to make payments to, or to the account of, the Commonwealth, in the same or any other currency.

 2

Any money payable by the Commonwealth under an agreement under subsection (1) and any expenditure incurred in connection with the negotiation, management or service of, or a repayment under, any such agreement, shall be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is appropriated accordingly.
5BA Power to enter into securities lending arrangements 1

(1) The Treasurer may, from time to time, enter into securities lending arrangements, on behalf of the Commonwealth, by lending stock and securities issued under the Commonwealth Inscribed Stock Act 1911, and denominated in Australian currency.

 2

(2) The total face value of stock and securities on loan by the Treasurer at any time under securities lending arrangements entered into under subsection (1) must not exceed $5 billion.

 3

The Treasurer must not lend stock or securities under securities lending arrangements entered into under subsection (1) unless the Treasurer receives collateral of one or more of the following kinds:

 a

cash;

 b

debt instruments denominated in Australian currency with an investment grade credit rating;

 c

collateral of the kind mentioned in paragraph (b), where the instrument is in electronic form;

 d

a deposit with a bank, including a deposit evidenced by a certificate of deposit;

 e

any other collateral prescribed by the regulations.

 4

The Treasurer must take sufficient collateral of one or more of the kinds mentioned in subsection (3) to cover the market value of the security on loan at all times.

 5

(5) Lending stock or a security is taken to include an arrangement under which it is sold and repurchased.

 6

The Consolidated Revenue Fund is appropriated as necessary for the purposes of this section.

 7

(7) Nothing in this section affects the power to make investments under Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (which deals with investment by the Commonwealth.section 58 of the

5C Jurisdiction of foreign courts 1

The Treasurer may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, enter into a written agreement or undertaking under which the Commonwealth agrees or undertakes to submit to the jurisdiction of a foreign court for the purposes of any action or proceeding before that court relating to:

 a

an agreement referred to in section 5A or subsection 5B(1); or

 b

the issue by the Treasurer of any stock or security in relation to the borrowing of money outside .

 2

Subject to any other Act, the Treasurer may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, in connection with:

 a

any action or proceeding referred to in subsection (1); or

 b

the execution of any order made or judgment given in such an action or proceeding;

waive, and enter into a written agreement or undertaking under which the Commonwealth agrees or undertakes to waive, any immunity from suit or other legal process of:

 c

the Commonwealth; or

 d

any property or asset of, or in the custody of, or administered by, the Commonwealth (other than any property or asset used or intended to be used for any diplomatic, consular or military purpose).
5D Delegation under sections 3, 5A, 5B and 5C 1

The Treasurer may, by signed instrument, delegate to:

 a

a specified officer of the Department; or

 b

any person who from time to time holds, or performs the duties of, a specified office in the Department;

all or any of the following powers:

 c

the powers (if any) of the Treasurer under subsection 3(2) to determine matters for the purposes of paragraph 3(1)(b) or (c);

 d

the powers of the Treasurer under sections 5A, 5B and 5C.

 2

The Treasurer may, by signed instrument, delegate to:

 a

a specified member of the diplomatic mission of in a foreign country; or

 b

any person who from time to time holds, or performs the duties of, a specified post in the diplomatic mission of Australia in a specified foreign country;

all or any of the following powers:

 c

the powers (if any) of the Treasurer under subsection 3(2) to determine matters for the purposes of paragraph 3(1)(b) or (c);

 d

the powers of the Treasurer under section 5A;

 e

the powers of the Treasurer under section 5C in so far as they are exercisable for the purposes of an action or proceeding relating to:

 i

an agreement referred to in section 5A; or

 ii

the issue by the Treasurer of any stock or security in relation to the borrowing of money outside .
5E Delegation of powers and functions under section 5BA 1

The Treasurer may, by signed instrument, delegate all or any of the Treasurer’s powers and functions under section 5BA to:

 a

an SES employee in the Department; or

 b

an APS employee who holds or performs the duties of an Executive Level 2, or equivalent, position in the Department; or

 c

(c) a person appointed as a staff member of the Reserve Bank Service under Reserve Bank Act 1959 who occupies an office or position at an equivalent level to that of an SES employee, or an Executive Level 2, in the Department.section 67 of the

2

The Treasurer must, by signed instrument, give a direction as to the kinds of collateral that must be received in relation to securities lending arrangements entered into under subsection 5BA(1).

 3

In exercising the Treasurer’s powers and functions under section 5BA, a delegate must comply with:

 a

a direction in force under subsection (2); and

 b

any other direction given, by signed instrument, to the delegate by the Treasurer.

 4

The Treasurer must table a direction given under subsection (2) or paragraph (3)(b) in each House of the Parliament no later than 15 sitting days of that House after it is given.
6 Provisions for payment of judgments in 1

Whenever, by the final judgment decree rule or order of any court of competent jurisdiction in the United Kingdom, any sum of money is adjudged to be payable by the Commonwealth in respect of any stock or securities, the Finance Minister shall forthwith pay the sum out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is hereby appropriated accordingly.

 2

(2) In this section final judgment decree rule or order means, in case of appeal, the final judgment decree rule or order of the ultimate court hearing the appeal.

 3

Without in any way limiting the foregoing provisions of this section, it is hereby declared that, in the case of any Stock or securities being colonial Stock to which the Imperial Acts known as the Colonial Stock Acts 1877 to 1900 apply, the Finance Minister shall forthwith pay out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is hereby appropriated accordingly, whatever sums of money are from time to time required to enable the Registrar to comply forthwith with any judgment decree rule or order with which under the Imperial Acts the Registrar is required to comply.
6A Currency in which moneys may be borrowed

Where under an Act the Treasurer has authority to borrow moneys, the Governor-General may authorize the Treasurer to borrow the moneys in whole or in part in currency other than Australian currency, and, in that case, the Treasurer is empowered to borrow the moneys accordingly.
6B Exemption of certain securities issued abroad from taxation 1

Where, by the terms or conditions upon which any stock or security has been issued by or on behalf of the Commonwealth outside Australia (whether before or after the commencement of this section and whether under this Act or otherwise), the Commonwealth has given an undertaking, howsoever expressed, to the effect that the stock or security, or the principal or interest moneys payable under the stock or security, will be exempt from, free of, or not subject to, taxes imposed in the Commonwealth except where the stock or security is the property of a person included in a particular class of persons consisting of or including all residents of Australia, then, notwithstanding anything contained in any law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory, the stock or security, its amount or value, and any principal or interest moneys payable under the stock or security, are not subject to any tax or duty under any such law and shall be disregarded for all purposes in determining the liability of any person to pay tax or duty under any such law or in determining the amount of any such liability, except where the stock or security was, at the time of the act, transaction or event that, according to the provisions of the law imposing the tax or duty, gave rise to liability to the tax or duty, the property of a person included in that particular class of persons.

 1A

Where, by the terms or conditions upon which any stock or security has been issued by or on behalf of the Commonwealth outside Australia (whether under this Act or otherwise), the Commonwealth has given an undertaking, howsoever expressed, to the effect that any amount, including the amount of any commitment fee, payable in respect of the stock or security, in addition to the principal or interest moneys payable under the stock or security, will be exempt from, free of, or not subject to, taxes imposed in the Commonwealth except where the amount is payable to or in respect of a person included in a particular class of persons consisting of or including all residents of Australia, then, notwithstanding anything contained in any law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory, the amount so payable is not subject to any tax or duty under any such law and shall be disregarded for all purposes in determining the liability of any person to pay tax or duty under any such law or in determining the amount of any such liability, except where the amount was, at the time of the act, transaction or event that, according to the provisions of the law imposing the tax or duty, gave rise to liability to the tax or duty, payable to or in respect of a person included in that particular class of persons.

 2

In this section:

 a

a reference to stock or to a security shall be read as including a reference to an interest in stock or in a security; and

 b

(b) a reference to tax or duty shall be read as including a reference to withholding tax within the meaning of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936-1968 and to tax or duty in respect of:

 i

the estates of deceased persons;

 ii

property derived from deceased persons; and

 iii

gifts or other dispositions of property.
7 Regulations 1

The Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all matters and forms which by this Act are required or permitted to be prescribed, or which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act, or for the conduct of any business relating to the issue, sale, transfer and dealing with securities to which this Act applies.

 2

Authority is given for the making by the Registrar of the Registry situated at London in the United Kingdom of regulations under section 16 of the Imperial Act known as the Colonial Stock Act 1877 for the purpose specified in subsection (1) of section 1 of the Imperial Act known as the Colonial Stock Act 1948 in relation to stock issued in the United Kingdom before the date of commencement of this section.

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

The endnotes provide details of the history of this legislation and its provisions. The following endnotes are included in each compilation:

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Endnote 5—Uncommenced amendments

Endnote 6—Modifications

Endnote 7—Misdescribed amendments

Endnote 8—Miscellaneous

If there is no information under a particular endnote, the word “none” will appear in square brackets after the endnote heading.

Abbreviation key—Endnote 2

The abbreviation key in this endnote sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended the compiled law. The information includes commencement information for amending laws and details of application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision level. It also includes information about any provisions that have expired or otherwise ceased to have effect in accordance with a provision of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments—Endnote 5

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not reflected in the text of the compiled law but the text of the amendments is included in endnote 5.

Modifications—Endnote 6

If the compiled law is affected by a modification that is in force, details of the modification are included in endnote 6.

Misdescribed amendments—Endnote 7

An amendment is a misdescribed amendment if the effect of the amendment cannot be incorporated into the text of the compilation. Any misdescribed amendment is included in endnote 7.

Miscellaneous—Endnote 8

Endnote 8 includes any additional information that may be helpful for a reader of the compilation.

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
ad = added or inserted pres = present
am = amended prev = previous
c = clause(s) (prev) = previously
Ch = Chapter(s) Pt = Part(s)
def = definition(s) r = regulation(s)/rule(s)
Dict = Dictionary Reg = Regulation/Regulations
disallowed = disallowed by Parliament reloc = relocated
Div = Division(s) renum = renumbered
exp = expired or ceased to have effect rep = repealed
hdg = heading(s) rs = repealed and substituted
LI = Legislative Instrument s = section(s)
LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003 Sch = Schedule(s)
mod = modified/modification Sdiv = Subdivision(s)
No = Number(s) SLI = Select Legislative Instrument
o = order(s) SR = Statutory Rules
Ord = Ordinance Sub-Ch = Sub-Chapter(s)
orig = original SubPt = Subpart(s)
par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s) /sub-subparagraph(s)

Endnote 3—Legislation history
Act Number and year Assent Commencement Application, saving and transitional provisions
Loans Securities Act 1919 25, 1919
Loans Securities Act 1956 82, 1956 —
Loans Securities Act 1959 55, 1959 —
Loans Securities Act 1968 28, 1968 7 June 1968 7 June 1968 —
Statute Law Revision Act 1973 216, 1973 ss. 9(1) and 10
Administrative Changes (Consequential Provisions) Act 1978 36, 1978 12 June 1978 12 June 1978 s. 8
Loans Securities Amendment Act 1988 131, 1988 —
Statute Law Revision Act 2008 73, 2008 3 July 2008 Schedule 4 (item 385): 4 July 2008 —
Commonwealth Securities and Investment Legislation Amendment Act 2008 78, 2008 12 July 2008 Schedule 1 (items 10, 11, 16): 13 July 2008 Sch. 1 (item 16)
Statute Law Revision Act 2012 136, 2012 22 Sept 2012 Schedule 5 (items 4, 5): 20 Oct 2012 —
Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2014 62, 2014 30 June 2014 Sch 9 (items 220, 221) and Sch 14 (items 1–4): 1 July 2014 (s 2(1) item 6, 14) Sch 14 (items 1–4)

Endnote 4—Amendment history
Provision affected How affected
s. 2 am. No. 136, 2012; No 62, 2014
s. 3 rs. No. 82, 1956; No. 131, 1988
s. 5 am. No. 73, 2008
ss. 5A, 5B ad. No. 131, 1988
s. 5BA ad. No. 78, 2008
am No 62, 2014
s. 5C ad. No. 131, 1988
Heading to s. 5D am. No. 78, 2008
s. 5D ad. No. 131, 1988
s. 5E ad. No. 78, 2008
s. 6 am. No. 36, 1978; No. 136, 2012
s. 6A ad. No. 82, 1956
s. 6B ad. No. 55, 1959
am. No. 28, 1968; No. 216, 1973
s. 7 am. No. 28, 1968

Endnote 5—Uncommenced amendments [none]

Endnote 6—Modifications [none]

Endnote 7—Misdescribed amendments [none]

Endnote 8—Miscellaneous [none]