Administrators Pensions Act 1981 (NT)

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NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA

ADMINISTRATORS PENSIONS ACT 1981

As in force at 1 July 2015

Table of provisions [if supportFields]> TOC \o "1-9" <![endif] — Preliminary matters1 — Short title2 — Commencement3 — Definitions3AA — Application of Act3AB — Application of Criminal CodePart 2 — Tax related arrangements3A — Act to be administered so as to comply with superannuation surcharge laws and agreements with Commonwealth3B — Surcharge debt accounts3C — Advance payments to reduce superannuation contributions surcharge3D — Pension may be commuted to repay surcharge paid3E — Commutation to pay deferred superannuation contributions surchargePart 3 — Pensions4 — Pension payable5 — Pension of spouse or de facto partner6 — Variation of amount of pension7 — Reduction of amount where other pension payablePart 4 — Review of decisions7A — Meaning of 7B — Application for review by Tribunal7C — Time limit for application for review7D — Tribunal has jurisdictionPart 5 — General matters8 — Appropriation9 — Act to be administered so as to comply with Family Law Act provisions in relation to superannuation10 — Treasurer may charge fees for additional services10A — Confidentiality of informationPart 6 — Transitional matters11 — Judges and Administrators Pensions Legislation Amendment Act 200612 — Superannuation Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2014ENDNOTES northern territory of australia

northern territory of australia

As in force at 1 July 2015

ADMINISTRATORS PENSIONS act 1981

An Act to provide for the payment of pensions to former Administrators and to their spouses

Part 1Preliminary matters 1Short title

This Act may be cited as the Administrators Pensions Act 1981.

2Commencement

This Act shall be deemed to have come into operation on 1 January 1981.

3Definitions

In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

decision, for Part 4, see section 7A.

Family Law Act means the Family Law Act 1975 of the Commonwealth and includes regulations made under that Act.

member spouse, in relation to a superannuation interest, means the person who is the member spouse in relation to that interest under Part VIIIB of the Family Law Act.

non-member spouse, in relation to a superannuation interest, means the person who is the non-member spouse in relation to that interest under Part VIIIB of the Family Law Act.

splitting instrument means a superannuation agreement, a flag lifting agreement that provides for a payment split, or a splitting order, each within the meaning of Part VIIIB of the Family Law Act.

superannuation contributions surcharge means the superannuation contributions surcharge imposed under the Surcharge Act.

superannuation interest means an interest that an Administrator or former Administrator has under this Act.

Surcharge Act means the Superannuation Contributions Tax Imposition Act 1997 of the Commonwealth and includes regulations under that Act.

Surcharge Collection Act means the Superannuation Contributions Tax (Assessment and Collection) Act 1997 of the Commonwealth and includes regulations under that Act.

Tribunal, for Part 4,means the Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

3AAApplication of Act

(1)
This Act does not apply to an Acting Administrator or future Administrator.
(2)
In this section:
current Administrator means the Administrator holding office on the commencement of this section.
future Administrator means an Administrator appointed after the current Administrator ceases to hold office.

3ABApplication of Criminal Code

Part IIAA of the Criminal Code applies to an offence against this Act.

Note for section 3AB

Part IIAA of the Criminal Code states the general principles of criminal responsibility, establishes general defences, and deals with burden of proof. It also defines, or elaborates on, certain concepts commonly used in the creation of offences.

Part 2Tax related arrangements 3AAct to be administered so as to comply with superannuation surcharge laws and agreements with Commonwealth

This Act is to be administered in accordance with:

(a)
the Surcharge Act and the Surcharge Collection Act; and
(b)
a written agreement entered into by the Territory and the Commonwealth relating to exempt public sector superannuation schemes within the meaning of section 10 of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 of the Commonwealth.

3BSurcharge debt accounts

(1)
The Treasurer must establish and maintain for the purposes of section 16 of the Surcharge Collection Act a surcharge debt account for each Administrator in relation to whom superannuation contributions surcharge is paid or payable by the Treasurer.
(2)
The Treasurer must debit to the surcharge debt account of an Administrator:
- (a)
  superannuation contributions surcharge paid or payable by the Treasurer in respect of the Administrator; and
- (b)
  interest paid or payable under the Surcharge Collection Act on the amount by which the account is in debit.
(3)
The Treasurer must credit to the surcharge debt account of an Administrator an amount paid under section 3C by the Administrator.

3CAdvance payments to reduce superannuation contributions surcharge

(1)
An Administrator may, on lodging an approved election form with the Treasurer, pay an amount to the Territory for the purpose of reducing the amount by which the Administrator’s surcharge debt account is in debit.
(2)
A payment under this section may be made on a periodic or single payment basis.
(3)
An election form lodged under subsection (1) is to specify the amount to be paid and the manner of payment.
(4)
An Administrator may, on lodging an approved election form with the Treasurer:
- (a)
  vary in accordance with the form the amount or manner of payment of periodic payments; or
- (b)
  revoke an election under this section.
(5)
In this section, approved election form means a form approved by the Treasurer.

3DPension may be commuted to repay surcharge paid

The Treasurer may commute part of a pension payable under this Act in relation to an Administrator to a lump sum for the purposes of paying to the Territory an amount equal to the balance of the Administrator’s surcharge debt account.

3ECommutation to pay deferred superannuation contributions surcharge

(1)
If:
- (a)
  a former Administrator, or the surviving spouse or de facto partner of an Administrator or former Administrator who has died, is paid a pension under this Act; and
- (b)
  he or she has received from the Commissioner of Taxation notice under section 15 of the Surcharge Collection Act that he or she is liable to pay an amount of superannuation contributions surcharge specified in the notice; and
- (c)
  the superannuation contributions surcharge relates to surchargeable contributions, within the meaning of the Surcharge Collection Act, in relation to the former Administrator, or to an Administrator, or former Administrator, who has died,
the former Administrator or the surviving spouse may, within a reasonable period after the notice was given, request the Treasurer in writing to commute as much of the pension payable to him or her as is necessary to provide a lump sum equivalent to the amount.
(2)
The Treasurer must, if satisfied that the commuted amount will be used to pay the superannuation contributions surcharge, comply with a request under subsection (1).

Part 3Pensions 4Pension payable

(1)
Subject to sections 6 and 7, there is payable to a person who became the Administrator at any time after the commencement of the Administrators Pensions Amendment Act 1999 and who:
- (a)
  held that office for a period of not less than 5 years – an annual pension for life equal to 60% of the annual basic salary payable to him or her immediately before he or she ceased to hold that office; or
- (b)
  held that office for a period of less than 5 years:
  - (i)
    if the Commissioner within the meaning of the Public Sector Employment and Management Act1993 is satisfied that his or her ceasing to hold the office arose from a mental or physical incapacity to perform the duties of that office; or
  - (ii)
    if he or she ceased to hold that office for reasons other than voluntary retirement or the expiration of the period of his or her appointment,
an annual pension for life equal to 60% of the annual basic salary payable to him or her immediately before he or she ceased to hold that office; or
- (c)
  held that office for a period of less than 5 years due to voluntary retirement or the expiration of the period of his or her appointment – an annual pension for life equal to A% of the annual basic salary payable to him or her immediately before he or she ceased to hold that office, where:
(years served as Administrator )
A% = 60% x ( 5 ),
and with a part year being taken into account as a fraction of a whole year calculated on the basis of days.
(2)
Despite subsection (1) but subject to sections 6 and 7, the Treasurer may, before the appointment of an Administrator, determine that the annual pension for life payable under this Act to that Administrator, if he or she becomes eligible for the pension under this Act, is to be, in the place of the amount of pension he or she would have been entitled to receive under subsection (1) if the direction were not made, an amount per annum specified in the direction.
(3)
If the Treasurer makes a determination under subsection (2), he or she must table a copy of the direction in the Legislative Assembly within 3 sitting days of the Legislative Assembly after the day on which the direction was given.

5Pension of spouse or de facto partner

(1)
Subject to sections 6 and 7, where an Administrator in office, or a former Administrator receiving or entitled to receive a pension under this Act, dies leaving a surviving spouse or de facto partner (the surviving partner), there is payable to the surviving partner for life a pension at two-thirds of the rate of pension:
- (a)
  that would have been payable to the Administrator had he or she retired immediately before the date of his or her death and been eligible to receive a pension under this Act; or
- (b)
  payable to the former Administrator (disregarding any amount of reduction of pension pursuant to section 7) immediately before the date of his or her death,
as the case may be.
(2)
If the Administrator or former Administrator (the deceased) is survived by both a spouse and a de facto partner, the two-thirds pension is payable under subsection (1) to:
- (a)
  the de facto partner if:
  - (i)
    the de facto partner was the de facto partner of the deceased for a continuous period of at least 2 years immediately preceding the deceased’s death; and
  - (ii)
    the spouse had not lived with the deceased at any time during that period; or
- (b)
  the spouse if paragraph (a) does not apply.
6Variation of amount of pension
A pension payable under this Act shall be adjusted at such times and by the same percentage as the basic salary payable to the Administrator for the time being.

7Reduction of amount where other pension payable

(1)
Subject to subsection (2), the amount of pension that, but for this section, would be payable under this Act to a person in respect of a period shall be reduced by the amount of pension or retiring allowance payable to that person in respect of that period in respect of any remunerative activity undertaken by the former Administrator.
(2)
For the purposes of calculating the amount of pension payable in accordance with subsection (1), the Treasurer shall determine, after considering such actuarial advice as he or she thinks fit, the appropriate rate at which any lump sum payment in respect of any remunerative activity undertaken by the former Administrator, and payable as a result of his or her retirement or death, shall be taken into account, and it shall be taken into account accordingly as if it were a pension or retiring allowance.

Part 4Review of decisions 7AMeaning of

For this Part, a person makes a decision if the person:

(a)
makes a decision; or
(b)
engages in any conduct in relation to making a decision.

7BApplication for review

(1)
A person, or the executor or administrator of a person’s estate, who is aggrieved by a decision made under this Act in relation to the person, may apply to the Tribunal for review of the decision.
(2)
The application must be made:
- (a)
  within the time mentioned in section 7C; and
- (b)
  in accordance with the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2014.
7CTime limit for application for review
(1)
For section 7B(2)(a), the time within which an application for review of a decision must be made is:
- (a)
  if the decision relates to a benefit under section 5 – 30 days after the decision was made; or
- (b)
  otherwise – 12 months after the decision was made.
(2)
The Tribunal may allow a longer period within which an application for review may be made.
(3)
However, the Tribunal may do so for subsection (1)(a) only if satisfied that the decision maker failed to comply with the requirements under the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act2014 to notify the aggrieved person of his or her right to apply for review.

7DTribunal has jurisdiction

The Tribunal has jurisdiction to deal with matters under this Part.

Part 5General matters 8Appropriation

An amount payable under this Act shall be paid monthly, or at such shorter intervals as the Treasurer directs, out of the public moneys of the Territory and the appropriation for that purpose is hereby established or increased to the extent necessary.

9Act to be administered so as to comply with Family Law Act provisions in relation to superannuation

(1)
This section applies despite any other provision of this Act.
(2)
This Act is to be administered in accordance with the provisions of the Family Law Act relating to superannuation.
(3)
Subject to the provisions of the Family Law Act relating to superannuation, this Act is to be administered in relation to a person in accordance with the provisions of a splitting instrument, if any, that applies in relation to the person.
(4)
The Treasurer may prepare written administrative instructions that are necessary or convenient to give effect to:
- (a)
  the provisions of the Family Law Act relating to superannuation;
- (b)
  splitting instruments; and
- (c)
  Acts of the Commonwealth relating to superannuation and regulations under those Acts.
(5)
Without limiting the generality of subsection (4), administrative instructions for the purposes of that subsection may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- (a)
  the methods of calculating and paying a superannuation interest to member spouses and non-member spouses, including calculations that may reduce the superannuation interest of a member spouse;
- (b)
  the establishing of interests and accounts, including accounts under the Superannuation Act 1986, for non-member spouses.
(6)
An administrative instruction prepared under subsection (4) takes effect on the date specified in the instruction.
(7)
If a provision of this Act or the administrative instructions made under this section is inconsistent with:
- (a)
  a provision of the Family Law Act relating to superannuation; or
- (b)
  a splitting instrument,
the provision of this Act or the administrative instructions is taken to have been complied with if the provision of the Family Law Act or a splitting instrument, as the case may be, has been complied with.

10Treasurer may charge fees for additional services

The Treasurer may charge a person the reasonable cost of performing on behalf of the person a service in relation to this Act that the Treasurer undertakes at the request of the person.

10AConfidentiality of information

(1)
A person commits an offence if the person:
- (a)
  obtains information in the course of performing functions connected with the administration of this Act; and
- (b)
  engages in conduct that results in the disclosure of the information.
Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units or imprisonment for 2 years.
(2)
Strict liability applies in relation to subsection (1)(a).
(3)
Subsection (1) does not apply if:
- (a)
  the person discloses the information:
  - (i)
    for the administration of this Act; or
  - (ii)
    with the consent of the person to whom the information relates; or
  - (iii)
    for legal proceedings arising out of the operation of this Act; or
- (b)
  the information is otherwise available to the public.
Note for subsection (3)
In addition to the circumstances mentioned in subsection (3), a person who discloses confidential information will not be criminally responsible for an offence if the disclosure is justified or excused by or under a law (see section 43BE of the Criminal Code).

Part 6Transitional matters 11Judges and Administrators Pensions Legislation Amendment Act 2006

(1)
The amendments made to this Act by Part 3 of the Judges and Administrators Pensions Legislation Amendment Act 2006 have effect in relation to:
- (a)
  the current Administrator within the meaning of section 3AA; and
- (b)
  anyone who held office as Administrator before the current Administrator.
(2)
However, the amendments do not create an entitlement to an amount of pension for a period before the commencement of this section.

12Superannuation Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2014

Part 4 does not apply in relation to a decision made before the commencement of section 76 of the Superannuation Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2014.

ENDNOTES

1
KEY

Key to abbreviations

amd = amended od = order

app = appendix om = omitted

bl = by-law pt = Part

ch = Chapter r = regulation/rule

cl = clause rem = remainder

div = Division renum = renumbered

exp = expires/expired rep = repealed

f = forms s = section

Gaz = Gazette sch = Schedule

hdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision

ins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation

lt = long title sub = substituted

nc = not commenced

2
LIST OF LEGISLATION

Administrators Pensions Act 1981 (Act No. 96, 1981)
Assent date	12 November 1981
Commenced	1 January 1981 (s 2)
Public Sector Employment and Management (Consequential Amendments) Act 1993 (Act No. 28, 1993)
Assent date	30 June 1993
Commenced	1 July 1993 (s 2, s 2 Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993 (Act No. 11, 1993) and Gaz S53, 29 June 1993)
Financial Management (Consequential Amendments) Act 1995 (Act No. 5, 1995)
Assent date	21 March 1995
Commenced	1 April 1995 (s 2, s 2 Financial Management Act 1995 (Act No. 4, 1995) and Gaz S13, 31 March 1995)
Administrators Pensions Amendment Act 1998 (Act No. 66, 1998)
Assent date	23 September 1998
Commenced	20 October 1998 (Gaz S41 20 October 1998)
Administrators Pensions Amendment Act 1999 (Act No. 60, 1999)
Assent date	14 December 1999
Commenced	14 December 1999
Administrators Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (Act No. 11, 2003)
Assent date	18 March 2003
Commenced	28 May 2003 (Gaz G21, 28 May 2003, p 3)
Law Reform (Gender, Sexuality and De Facto Relationships) Act 2003 (Act No. 1, 2004)
Assent date	7 January 2004
Commenced	17 March 2004 (Gaz G11, 17 March 2004, p 8)
Administrators Pensions Amendment Act 2006 (Act No. 5, 2006)
Assent date	26 April 2006
Commenced	26 April 2006
Judges and Administrators Pensions Legislation Amendment Act 2006 (Act No. 21, 2006)
Assent date	28 June 2006
Commenced	28 June 2006
Financial Management Amendment Act 2009 (Act No. 15, 2009)
Assent date	18 June 2009
Commenced	18 June 2009
Superannuation Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2014 (Act No. 39, 2014)
Assent date	13 November 2014
Commenced	pts 1 and 2: 13 November 2014 (s 2); pts 3 and 5: 1 July 2015 (Gaz G21, 27 May 2015, p 2); pt 4: nc

3
SAVINGS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

s 45 Law Reform (Gender, Sexuality and De Facto Relationships) Act 2003 (Act No. 1, 2004)

4
GENERAL AMENDMENTS

General amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table of amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation Amendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22, 2018) to: ss 1, 4, 7B, 7C and 9.

5
LIST OF AMENDMENTS

pt 1 hdg ins No. 39, 2014, s 35

s 3 sub No. 66, 1998, s 4

amd No. 11, 2003, s 4; No. 5, 2006, s 3; No. 39, 2014, s 75

s 3AA ins No. 5, 2006, s 4

s 3AB ins No. 39, 2014, s 36

pt 2 hdg ins No. 39, 2014, s 37

ss 3A – 3D ins No. 66, 1998, s 4

s 3E ins No. 60, 1999, s 3

amd No. 1, 2004, s 43; No. 39, 2014, s 38

pt 3 hdg ins No. 39, 2014, s 39

s 4 amd No. 28, 1993, s 3; No. 66, 1998, s 5

sub No. 60, 1999, s 4

amd No. 39, 2014, s 40

s 5 amd No. 66, 1998, s 5; No. 1, 2004, s 44; No. 21, 2006, s 8

s 7 amd No. 66, 1998, s 5; No. 60, 1999, s 5

pt 4 hdg ins No. 39, 2014, s 76

ss 7A – 7D ins No. 39, 2014, s 76

pt 5 hdg ins No. 39, 2014, s 41

s 8 amd No. 5, 1995, s 19; No. 15, 2009, s 16

s 9 ins No. 11, 2003, s 5

amd No. 39, 2014, s 42

s 10 ins No. 11, 2003, s 5

s 10A ins No. 39, 2014, s 43

pt 6 hdg ins No. 39, 2014, s 77

s 11 ins No. 21, 2006, s 9

amd No. 39, 2014, s 78

s 12 ins No. 39, 2014, s 79

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Administrators Pensions Act 1981 (NT)

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