Notes to the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997

Note 1

The Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 153, 1997 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

The Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 was amended by the Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Regulations 1999 (1999 No. 301 as amended by 2000 No. 332). The amendments are incorporated in this compilation.

For application, saving or transitional provisions made by the Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001, see Act No. 55, 2001.

For all other 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
Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997	153, 1997	24 Oct 1997	1 Jan 1998 (see Gazette 1997, No. GN49)
Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999	146, 1999	11 Nov 1999	Schedule 1 (item 299): 5 Dec 1999 (see Gazette 1999, No. S584) (a)	--
Corporate Law Economic Reform Program Act 1999	156, 1999	24 Nov 1999	Schedule 5 (items 2-12): 13 Mar 2000 (see Gazette 2000, No. S114) (b)	--
as amended by
Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999	146, 1999	24 Nov 1999	Schedule 1 (item 339): 5 Dec 1999 (see Gazette 1999, No. S584) (c)	--
as amended by
Statute Law Revision Act 2002	63, 2002	3 July 2002	Schedule 2 (items 21, 22): (d)	--
Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001	55, 2001	28 June 2001	Ss. 4-14 and Schedule 3 (items 103-120): 15 July 2001 (see Gazette 2001, No. S285) (e)	Ss. 4-14 [see Note 1]
Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Registration and Accountability of Organisations) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2002	105, 2002	14 Nov 2002	Schedule 3 (item 33): 12 May 2003 (see s. 2 and Gazette 2002, No. GN49)	--
US Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act 2004	120, 2004	16 Aug 2004	Schedule 6: Royal Assent	--
Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Act 2005	8, 2005	22 Feb 2005	Schedule 2 (items 72-78, 174): Royal Assent	Sch. 2 (item 174)
Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Consequential, Transitional and Other Measures Act 2006	125, 2006	4 Nov 2006	Schedules 1-3: 1 July 2007 (see s. 2(1)) Remainder: Royal Assent	--
Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Amendment Act 2008	20, 2008	26 May 2008	Schedule 1 (items 1-41, 43-50, 53-74): 1 July 2008 Schedule 1 (item 42): 1 July 2009 (see F2009L01781 and Gazette 2009, No. GN19) Schedule 1 (items 51, 52): (f)	Sch. 1 (items 70-74)
Fair Work (State Referral and Consequential and Other Amendments) Act 2009	54, 2009	25 June 2009	Schedule 10 (item 3): (g)	--
Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Act 2010	148, 2010	17 Dec 2010	Schedule 5: 1 Mar 2011 (see F2011L00245)	--
as amended by
Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2012	25, 2012	4 Apr 2012	Schedule 3: (h)	--
Acts Interpretation Amendment Act 2011	46, 2011	27 June 2011	Schedule 2 (items 376-380) and Schedule 3 (items 10, 11): 27 Dec 2011	Sch. 2 (item 380) and Sch. 3 (items 10, 11)
Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2011	89, 2011	4 Aug 2011	Schedule 1: 1 Sept 2011 (see F2011L01793)	Sch. 1 (item 7)
Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2012	25, 2012	4 Apr 2012	Schedule 2 (items 1-7): 5 Apr 2012 Schedule 2 (items 8-14): [see Note 2 and Table A]	Sch. 2 (items 7, 11-14)

(a)     The Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 was amended by Schedule 1 (item 299) only of the Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999, subsections 2(1) and (2) of which provide as follows:

                 (1)   In this Act, commencing time means the time when the Public Service Act 1999 commences.

                 (2)   Subject to this section, this Act commences at the commencing time.

(b)     The Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 was amended by Schedule 5 (items 2-12) only of the Corporate Law Economic Reform Program Act 1999, subsection 2(2) of which provides as follows:

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

                              (a)   section 3;

                              (b)   the items in Schedules 1 to 7 (other than item 18 of Schedule 7);

                              (c)   the items in Schedules 10, 11 and 12.

(c)     The Corporate Law Economic Reform Program Act 1999 was amended by Schedule 1 (item 339) only of the Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999, subsections 2(1) and (2) of which provide as follows:

                 (1)   In this Act, commencing time means the time when the Public Service Act 1999 commences.

                 (2)   Subject to this section, this Act commences at the commencing time.

(d)     The Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999 was amended by Schedule 2 (items 21 and 22) only of the Statute Law Revision Act 2002 , subsection 2(1) (items 50 and 51) of which provides as follows:

 

Commencement information
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Provision(s)	Commencement	Date/Details
50.  Schedule 2, item 21	Immediately after the time specified in the Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999 for the commencement of item 339 of Schedule 1 to that Act	5 December 1999
51.  Schedule 2, item 22	Immediately after the time specified in the Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999 for the commencement of item 339 of Schedule 1 to that Act	5 December 1999

(e)     The Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 was amended by Schedule 3 (items 103-120) only of the Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001, subsection 2(3) of which provides as follows:

                 (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.

(f)      Subsection 2(1) (item 5) of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Amendment 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.

 

Provision(s)	Commencement	Date/Details
5. Schedule 1, items 51 and 52	Immediately after the commencement of section 3 of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.	1 January 2005

(g)     Subsection 2(1) (item 32) of the Fair Work (State Referral and Consequential and Other Amendments) Act 2009 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.

 

Provision(s)	Commencement	Date/Details
32.  Schedule 10	Immediately after the commencement of Part 2-4 of the Fair Work Act 2009.	1 July 2009

(h)     Subsection 2(1) (items 5 and 6) of the Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2012 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.

 

Provision(s)	Commencement	Date/Details
5.  Schedule 3, item 1	Immediately after the time specified in the Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Act 2010 for the commencement of item 7 of Schedule 5 to that Act.	1 March 2011
6.  Schedule 3, item 2	Immediately after the time specified in the Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Act 2010 for the commencement of item 8 of Schedule 5 to that Act.	1 March 2011

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted     am. = amended     rep. = repealed     rs. = repealed and substituted
Provision affected	How affected
Reader's Guide .................	am. No. 55, 2001
Part 2
S. 5 .....................................	am. No. 156, 1999; No. 55, 2001; No. 20, 2008; No. 148, 2010; No. 46, 2011
Heading to s. 6..................	rs. No. 20, 2008
S. 6 .....................................	am. No. 156, 1999; No. 8, 2005; No. 20, 2008
Part 3
Division 1
S. 7 .....................................	am. No. 55, 2001; No. 105, 2002; No. 125, 2006; No. 54, 2009
Division 2
Subdivision A
S. 9......................................	am. No. 20, 2008
Note to s. 9(1)....................	rs. No. 20, 2008
Note to s. 9(2)(a)...............	ad. No. 148, 2010
S. 11....................................	am. No. 20, 2008
S. 12....................................	am. No. 55, 2001; No. 20, 2008
Subdivision B
S. 14....................................	am. No. 25, 2012
S. 15....................................	am. No. 148, 2010
S. 17....................................	am. No. 89, 2011
Division 3
S. 18 ...................................	am. No. 8, 2005; No. 20, 2008; No. 148, 2010
Ss. 19, 20............................	am. No. 20, 2008
Division 4
Div. 4 of Part 3 ..................	rs. No. 156, 1999
S. 21 ...................................	rs. No. 156, 1999
	am. No. 20, 2008
Subdivision A
S. 22 ...................................	rs. No. 156, 1999
	am. No. 148, 2010
Note to s. 22(2)..................	am. No. 148, 2010
S. 23 ...................................	am. Statutory Rules 1999 No. 301 (as am. by Statutory Rules 2000 No. 332)
	rs. No. 156, 1999
Note 2 to s. 23(1)...............	am. No. 55, 2001
Note 3 to s. 23(1)...............	ad. No. 20, 2008
Note 3 to s. 23(2)...............	ad. No. 20, 2008
S. 24....................................	rs. No. 156, 1999
Note 1 to s. 24(1)...............	rs. No. 20, 2008
S. 25....................................	rs. No. 156, 1999
Note 1 to s. 25(1)...............	rs. No. 20, 2008
Subhead. to s. 26(2)..........	ad. No. 20, 2008
S. 26....................................	rs. No. 156, 1999
	am. No. 20, 2008
Note to s. 26(1)..................	am. No. 55, 2001
S. 27 ...................................	rep. No. 156, 1999
S. 27A ................................	ad. No. 156, 1999 (as am. by No. 146, 1999 [as am. by No. 63, 2002])
	am. Statutory Rules 1999 No. 301 (as am. by Statutory Rules 2000 No. 332)
	rs. No. 20, 2008
	am. No. 148, 2010 (as am. by No. 25, 2012)
Note to s. 27A(1)................	am. No. 148, 2010 (as am. by No. 25, 2012)
S. 27B ................................	ad. No. 156, 1999
	am. No. 148, 2010
S. 27C ................................	ad. No. 156, 1999
	am. No. 8, 2005; No. 20, 2008
S. 27D.................................	ad. No. 156, 1999
	am. No. 20, 2008
Heading to s. 27E..............	am. No. 148, 2010
S. 27E ................................	ad. No. 156, 1999
Subdivision B
S. 27F.................................	ad. No. 156, 1999
	am. No. 20, 2008
Ss. 27G, 27H .....................	ad. No. 156, 1999
S. 27J..................................	ad. No. 156, 1999
	am. No. 20, 2008
Ss. 27K, 27L.......................	ad. No. 156, 1999
Division 4A
Div. 4A of Part 3.................	ad. No. 156, 1999
S. 27M.................................	ad. No. 156, 1999
S. 27N.................................	ad. No. 156, 1999
	am. No. 20, 2008
S. 27P.................................	ad. No. 156, 1999
Division 5
S. 28....................................	rs. No. 20, 2008
S. 28A.................................	ad. No. 20, 2008
S. 28B.................................	ad. No. 20, 2008
S. 30....................................	am. No. 20, 2008
S. 31....................................	am. No. 55, 2001
S. 33....................................	am. No. 46, 2011
Part 3A
Part 3A................................	ad. No. 148, 2010
S. 33A.................................	ad. No. 148, 2010
Part 4
Division 1
Heading to s. 34................	am. No. 20, 2008
Subhead. to s. 34(2)..........	ad. No. 20, 2008
S. 34....................................	am. No. 55, 2001; No. 20, 2008
Note to s. 34(2)..................	ad. No. 20, 2008
S. 35....................................	am. No. 55, 2001
Division 2
Subdivision A
Ss. 36, 37 ...........................	am. No. 55, 2001; No. 20, 2008
Subdivision B
S. 39....................................	am. No. 25, 2012
S. 40....................................	am. No. 148, 2010
S. 42....................................	am. No. 89, 2011
Subdivision C
S. 43....................................	rs. No. 20, 2008
S. 44....................................	am. No. 55, 2001
Part 5
S. 45....................................	am. No. 55, 2001
	rep. No. 148, 2010
S. 46....................................	am. No. 46, 2011
S. 47A.................................	ad. No. 120, 2004
	am. No. 148, 2010
S. 48....................................	am. No. 20, 2008
S. 48A.................................	ad. No. 20, 2008
	am. No. 148, 2010
S. 48B.................................	ad. No. 148, 2010
S. 49....................................	am. No. 20, 2008
Schedule 2
Schedule 2 ........................	rs. No. 156, 1999
Heading to Part 1..............	rep. No. 156, 1999
C. 1.....................................	rs. No. 156, 1999
	am. No. 20, 2008
C. 2.....................................	rs. No. 156, 1999
C. 3.....................................	rs. No. 156, 1999
	am. No. 20, 2008
Heading to Part 2..............	rep. No. 156, 1999
Cc. 4, 5...............................	rs. No. 156, 1999
	am. No. 20, 2008
Subhead. to c. 6(2)............	am. No. 20, 2008
C. 6.....................................	rs. No. 156, 1999
	am. No. 20, 2008
Cc. 7-10.............................	rs. No. 156, 1999
Heading to Part 3..............	rep. No. 156, 1999
Cc. 11, 12...........................	rs. No. 156, 1999
C. 13...................................	rs. No. 156, 1999
	am. No. 20, 2008
Heading to Part 4..............	rep. No. 156, 1999
Cc. 14, 15...........................	rs. No. 156, 1999
Cc. 16-24...........................	rep. No. 156, 1999
Heading to Part 5..............	rep. No. 156, 1999
Cc. 25-30...........................	rep. No. 156, 1999
Heading to Part 6..............	rep. No. 156, 1999
Cc. 31, 32...........................	rep. No. 156, 1999
Schedule 3
Schedule 3.........................	ad. No. 156, 1999
Cc. 1, 2...............................	ad. No. 156, 1999
C. 3.....................................	ad. No. 156, 1999
	am. No. 20, 2008
Cc. 4, 5...............................	ad. No. 156, 1999

Note 2

Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2012
(No. 25, 2012)

The following amendments commence on 4 October 2012 unless proclaimed earlier:

Schedule 2

8  Section 15

Repeal the section, substitute:

15  Responsible Minister to be notified of significant events

             (1)  If a Commonwealth authority, or any of its subsidiaries, decides to do any of the following things, the directors of the Commonwealth authority must immediately give the responsible Minister written particulars of the decision:

                     (a)  form a company or participate in the formation of a company;

                     (b)  participate in a significant partnership, trust, unincorporated joint venture or similar arrangement;

                     (c)  acquire or dispose of a significant shareholding in a company;

                     (d)  acquire or dispose of a significant business;

                     (e)  commence or cease a significant business activity;

                      (f)  make a significant change in the nature or extent of its interest in a significant partnership, trust, unincorporated joint venture or similar arrangement.

             (2)  The responsible Minister may give written guidelines to the directors that are to be used by the directors in deciding whether particulars are required to be given under subsection (1).

9  Paragraph 33A(2)(b)

Omit "of a proposal mentioned in subsection 15(1)", substitute "under subsection 15(1)".

10  Section 40

Repeal the section, substitute:

40  Responsible Minister to be notified of significant events

             (1)  If a wholly-owned Commonwealth company, or any of its subsidiaries, decides to do any of the following things, the directors of the Commonwealth company must immediately give the responsible Minister written particulars of the decision:

                     (a)  form a company or participate in the formation of a company;

                     (b)  participate in a significant partnership, trust, unincorporated joint venture or similar arrangement;

                     (c)  acquire or dispose of a significant shareholding in a company;

                     (d)  acquire or dispose of a significant business;

                     (e)  commence or cease a significant business activity;

                      (f)  make a significant change in the nature or extent of its interest in a significant partnership, trust, unincorporated joint venture or similar arrangement.

             (2)  The responsible Minister may give written guidelines to the directors that are to be used by the directors in deciding whether particulars are required to be given under subsection (1).

As at 4 May 2012 the amendments are not incorporated in this compilation.

Table A

Application, saving or transitional provisions

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 Authorities and Companies Amendment Act 2008
 (No. 20, 2008)

Schedule 1

70  Application of amendments

(1)       The amendments made by items 14 to 18, 46 to 48, 57 (in so far as the amendment made by that item relates to Commonwealth companies), 58 to 66 and 68 of this Schedule apply in relation to annual reports of a Commonwealth authority or Commonwealth company for financial years of the Commonwealth authority or Commonwealth company that commence on or after the commencement of this item.

(2)       The amendments made by items 21 and 49 of this Schedule apply in relation to Auditor-General's reports on financial statements of a subsidiary of a Commonwealth authority or Commonwealth company for the subsidiary's annual accounting periods that commence on or after the commencement of this item.

(3)       The amendments made by items 24 and 57 (in so far as the amendment made by that item relates to Commonwealth authorities) of this Schedule apply in relation to accounting records of a Commonwealth authority for financial years of the Commonwealth authority that commence on or after the commencement of this item.

71  Transitional provision--general policy notifications for Commonwealth authorities

Application of this item

(1)       This item applies to a notification (a section 28 notification) that:

                     (a)  was given to a Commonwealth authority under section 28 of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 before the commencement of this item; and

                     (b)  is in force immediately before the commencement of this item.

Section 28 notification to continue in force

(2)       Despite the repeal of that section made by this Schedule, a section 28 notification continues in force, and may be dealt with, after the commencement of this item as if that section had not been repealed.

When section 28 notification ceases to be in force

(3)       If a determination is made under item 73 that all notifications about a particular general policy cease to be in force, then a section 28 notification about that general policy ceases to be in force when the determination takes effect.

When part of section 28 notification ceases to be in force

(4)       If a determination is made under item 73 that a part of all notifications about a particular general policy ceases to be in force, then that part of a section 28 notification about that policy ceases to be in force when the determination takes effect.

72  Transitional provision--general policy notifications for wholly-owned Commonwealth company

Application of this item

(1)       This item applies to a notification (a section 43 notification) that:

                     (a)  was given to a wholly-owned Commonwealth company under section 43 of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 before the commencement of this item; and

                     (b)  is in force immediately before the commencement of this item.

Section 43 notification to continue in force

(2)       Despite the repeal of that section made by this Schedule, a section 43 notification continues in force, and may be dealt with, after the commencement of this item as if that section had not been repealed.

When section 43 notification ceases to be in force

(3)       If a determination is made under item 73 that all notifications about a particular general policy cease to be in force, then a section 43 notification about that general policy ceases to be in force when the determination takes effect.

When part of section 43 notification ceases to be in force

(4)       If a determination is made under item 73 that a part of all notifications about a particular general policy ceases to be in force, then that part of a section 43 notification about that policy ceases to be in force when the determination takes effect.

73  Determinations cancelling the whole or part of section 28 notifications and section 43 notifications

(1)       This item applies to notifications that are continued in force by subitem 71(2) or 72(2).

(2)       The Finance Minister may, by legislative instrument, make a determination that all notifications about a particular general policy of the Australian Government cease to be in force.

(3)       The Finance Minister may make a determination that a part of all notifications about a particular general policy of the Australian Government ceases to be in force.

(4)       A determination made under subitem (2) or (3) is a legislative instrument, but neither section 42 nor Part 6 of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 applies to the determination.

74  Transitional provision--general policy notifications

Section 48A of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 applies to consultation on the application of a general policy of the Australian Government occurring before or after the commencement of this item.

Acts Interpretation Amendment Act 2011 (No. 46, 2011)

Schedule 2

380  Saving of regulations

(1)       Regulations in force for the purposes of subsection 33(1) of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 immediately before the commencement of this item continue in force on and after that commencement as if they were regulations in force for the purposes of section 33 of that Act.

(2)       The amendment made by item 379 does not affect the validity of regulations in force for the purposes of subsection 46(1) of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 immediately before the commencement of that item.

Schedule 3

10  Saving--appointments

The amendments made by Schedule 2 do not affect the validity of an appointment that was made under an Act before the commencement of this item and that was in force immediately before that commencement.

11  Transitional regulations

The Governor-General may make regulations prescribing matters of a transitional nature (including prescribing any saving or application provisions) relating to the amendments and repeals made by Schedules 1 and 2.

Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2011
(No. 89, 2011)

Schedule 1

7  Application of amendments made by this Schedule

The amendments made by this Schedule apply in respect of a corporate plan prepared on or after the commencement of this item.

Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2012
(No. 25, 2012)

Schedule 2

7  Application

The amendments made by this Part apply in relation to the following:

                     (a)  budget estimates for a financial year starting on or after 1 July 2012;

                     (b)  budget estimates for any other period starting after 1 July 2012 in respect of which a direction is given on or after the commencement of this Part.

The following provisions commence on 4 October 2012 unless proclaimed earlier:

Schedule 2

11  Application

The amendments made by this Part apply in respect of decisions made on or after 1 July 2012.

12  Transitional--guidelines under section 15

(1)       This item applies to guidelines if:

                     (a)  the guidelines were made under section 15 of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997; and

                     (b)  the guidelines were in force immediately before the commencement of this Part.

(2)       The guidelines have effect, after the commencement of this Part, as if they had been made under section 15 of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 as amended by this Part.

13  Transitional--regulations under section 33A

(1)       This item applies to regulations if:

                     (a)  the regulations were made under section 33A of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997; and

                     (b)  the regulations were in force immediately before the commencement of this Part.

(2)       The regulations continue in force, after the commencement of this Part, as if they had been made under section 33A of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 as amended by this Part.

14  Transitional--guidelines under section 40

(1)       This item applies to guidelines if:

                     (a)  the guidelines were made under section 40 of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997; and

                     (b)  the guidelines were in force immediately before the commencement of this Part.

(2)       The guidelines have effect, after the commencement of this Part, as if they had been made under section 40 of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 as amended by this Part.