Hearing Services and AGHS Reform Act 1997

No. 82, 1997

Compilation No.   7

Compilation date: 1 July 2016

Includes amendments up to: Act No. 33, 2016

Registered: 14 July 2016

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Hearing Services and AGHS Reform Act 1997 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 1 July 2016 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

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

Editorial changes

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Self - repealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

Contents

Part 1—Preliminary 1

1 Short title 1

2 Commencement 1

Part 2—Transitional provisions relating to the corporatisation of the Australian Government Health Service (AGHS) 2

Division 1—Introduction 2

3 Simplified outline 2

4 Definitions 3

5 Nominated company 3

6 Commonwealth-owned company 4

7 Crown to be bound 4

8 External Territories 4

9 Extra-territorial operation 4

Division 2—Transfers from the Commonwealth to the nominated company 5

10 Transfer of assets 5

11 Transfer of contractual rights and obligations 6

12 Transfer of liabilities 7

13 Transfers of land may be registered 8

14 This Division does not modify registers kept by land registration officials 8

15 Transfer of pending proceedings 8

16 Transfer of records 9

Division 4—Exemption of nominated company from State and Territory taxes 10

20 Exemption of nominated company from State and Territory taxes 10

Division 5—Miscellaneous 11

21 Nominated company not to be an agency of the Commonwealth etc. 11

22 Compensation—constitutional safety-net 11

Endnotes 13

Endnote 1—About the endnotes 13

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key 15

Endnote 3—Legislation history 16

Endnote 4—Amendment history 18

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

 1 Preliminary
1 Short title

This Act may be cited as the Hearing Services and AGHS Reform Act 1997.
2 Commencement 1

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

 3

(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.
2 Transitional provisions relating to the corporatisation of the Australian Government Health Service (AGHS) 1 Introduction
3 Simplified outline

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.
4 Definitions

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 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.
5 Nominated company 1

(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

(a) be incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001; and

 b

have a share capital.

 3

The declaration has effect accordingly.

 4

(4) A copy of the declaration is to be published in the Gazette within 14 days after the making of the declaration.
6 Commonwealth-owned company

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.
7 Crown to be bound

This Part binds the Crown in right of the Commonwealth, of each of the States, of the Australian Capital Territory and of the Northern Territory.

8

This Part extends to all the external Territories.
9 Extra-territorial operation

This Part extends to acts, omissions, matters and things outside , whether or not in a foreign country.
2 Transfers from the Commonwealth to the nominated company
10 Transfer of assets 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

(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.
11 Transfer of contractual rights and obligations 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

(6) A declaration under this section has effect accordingly.

 7

(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.
12 Transfer of liabilities 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

(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.
13 Transfers of land may be registered 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.
14 This Division does not modify registers kept by land registration officials

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.
15 Transfer of pending proceedings 1

(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.
16 Transfer of records 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.
4 Exemption of nominated company from State and Territory taxes
20 Exemption of nominated company from State and Territory taxes

The nominated company is not subject to taxation under a law of a State or Territory in respect of a particular period if, throughout that period:

 a

the nominated company is Commonwealth-owned; and

 b

the nominated company only carries on activities that are within the legislative powers of the Parliament.
5 Miscellaneous
21 Nominated company not to be an agency of the Commonwealth etc. 1

(1) The nominated company is not taken, for the purposes of a law, to be:

 a

a Commonwealth authority; or

 b

established for a public purpose or for a purpose of the Commonwealth; or

 c

a public authority or an agency or instrumentality of the Crown;

(within the ordinary meaning of the expression concerned) unless a law expressly provides otherwise.

 2

(2) Subsection (1) does not prevent the nominated company from being a Commonwealth authority for the purposes of the Public Service Act 1922 if paragraph (c) or (d) of the definition of Commonwealth authority in subsection 7(1) of that Act applies to the company.

 3

Subsection (2) is enacted for the avoidance of doubt.

 4

In this section:

law means:

 a

an Act of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory; or

 b

regulations or any other instrument made under such an Act.
22 Compensation—constitutional safety-net 1

If:

 a

apart from this section, the operation of this Part would result in the acquisition of property from a person otherwise than on just terms; and

 b

the acquisition would be invalid because of paragraph 51(xxxi) of the Constitution;

the Commonwealth is liable to pay compensation of a reasonable amount to the person in respect of the acquisition.

 2

If the Commonwealth and the person do not agree on the amount of the compensation, the person may institute proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia for the recovery from the Commonwealth of such reasonable amount of compensation as the court determines.

 3

In this section:

acquisition of property has the same meaning as in paragraph 51(xxxi) of the Constitution.

just terms has the same meaning as in paragraph 51(xxxi) of the Constitution.

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Abbreviation key—Endnote 2

The abbreviation key 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 (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any 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 (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.

If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe the amendment to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, the amendment is incorporated into the compiled law and the abbreviation “(md)” added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the abbreviation “(md not incorp)” is added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
ad = added or inserted o = order(s)
am = amended Ord = Ordinance
amdt = amendment orig = original
c = clause(s) par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)
C[x] = Compilation No. x /sub-subparagraph(s)
Ch = Chapter(s) pres = present
def = definition(s) prev = previous
Dict = Dictionary (prev…) = previously
disallowed = disallowed by Parliament Pt = Part(s)
Div = Division(s) r = regulation(s)/rule(s)
ed = editorial change reloc = relocated
exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have renum = renumbered
effect rep = repealed
F = Federal Register of Legislation rs = repealed and substituted
gaz = gazette s = section(s)/subsection(s)
LA = Legislation Act 2003 Sch = Schedule(s)
LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003 Sdiv = Subdivision(s)
(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given SLI = Select Legislative Instrument
effect SR = Statutory Rules
(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment Sub-Ch = Sub-Chapter(s)
cannot be given effect SubPt = Subpart(s)
mod = modified/modification underlining = whole or part not
No. = Number(s) commenced or to be commenced

Endnote 3—Legislation history
Act Number and year Assent Commencement Application, saving and transitional provisions
Hearing Services and AGHS Reform Act 1997 82, 1997 18 June 1997 Part 2 of Schedule 1: 1 July 1997 Schedule 4 (item 3): (a) Remainder: Royal Assent
Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001 55, 2001 28 June 2001 ss. 4–14 and Schedule 3 (item 216): 15 July 2001 (see Gazette 2001, No. S285 (b) ss. 4–14
Statute Law Revision Act 2005 100, 2005 6 July 2005 Sch 2 (item 20): 18 June 1997 (s 2(1) item 38) —
Statute Law Revision Act 2006 9, 2006 Sch 2 (item 19): 18 June 1997 (s 2(1) item 34) —
Statute Stocktake (Regulatory and Other Laws) Act 2009 111, 2009 16 Nov 2009 Schedule 1 (items 14–16): 17 Nov 2009 Sch. 1 (item 16)
Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Act 2010 148, 2010 17 Dec 2010 Schedule 11 (item 13): 18 Dec 2010 —
Statute Law Revision Act (No. 1) 2014 31, 2014 27 May 2014 Sch 9 (items 5, 6): 24 June 2014 —
Territories Legislation Amendment Act 2016 33, 2016 23 Mar 2016 Sch 5 (item 61): 1 July 2016 (s 2(1) item 7) —
a

(a) Subsection 2(3) provides as follows:

 3

(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 Reform of Employment Services (Consequential Provisions) Bill 1997 was never enacted. Therefore the amendment made by Schedule 4 (item 3) of this Act will not commence.

 b

(b) The Hearing Services and AGHS Reform Act 1997 was amended by Schedule 3 (item 216) only of the Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001, subsection 2(3) of which provides as follows:

 3

(3) Subject to subsections (4) to (10), Schedule 3 commences, or is taken to have commenced, at the same time as the Corporations Act 2001.

Endnote 4—Amendment history
Provision affected How affected
Part 1
s. 2 am. No. 111, 2009
Part 2
Division 1
s. 5 am. No. 55, 2001
s 7 am No. 33, 2016
Div. 3 of Part 2 rep. No. 148, 2010
ss. 17–19 rep. No. 148, 2010
Pt 3 rep No 31, 2014
s 23 rep No 31, 2014
Schedule 1 rep. No. 111, 2009
Sch 2 rep No 31, 2014
Sch 3 rep No 31, 2014
Sch 4 rep No 31, 2014
items 1–5 rep No 31, 2014
item 6 rs. No. 100, 2005; No. 9, 2006
rep No 31, 2014
items 7–12 rep No 31, 2014