Aircraft Noise Levy Collection Act 1995 (Cth)

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Aircraft Noise Levy Collection Act 1995

No. 98, 1995

Compilation No. 15

Compilation date: 14 October 2024

Includes amendments: Act No. 38, 2024

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Aircraft Noise Levy Collection Act 1995 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 14 October 2024 (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 Register ( 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 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 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If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.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

An Act relating to levy imposed by the Aircraft Noise Levy Act 1995

Part 1Preliminary 1Short title

This Act may be cited as the Aircraft Noise Levy Collection Act 1995.

2Commencement

This Act commences on the same day as the Aircraft Noise Levy Act 1995.

3Definitions

In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:
AOC means an Air Operator’s Certificate or AOC issued under Part III of the Civil Aviation Act 1988.
Commonwealth authority means a corporation established for a public purpose by a law of the Commonwealth.
Finance Minister means the Minister administering the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.
jet aircraft means an aircraft that is propelled by one or more turbofan engines, turbojet engines, unducted fan engines or rocket engines.
landing means a landing of a jet aircraft at an airport that is a leviable airport when the landing occurs.
late‑payment penalty means penalty imposed by section 9.
leviable airport means an airport that is declared to be a leviable airport under section 7.
levy means levy imposed by the Aircraft Noise Levy Act 1995.
noise amelioration program, in relation to an airport, means a program undertaken or supported by the Commonwealth to do either or both of the following:
(a)
reduce the impact of aircraft noise on occupants of public buildings, or residences, around the airport;
(b)
compensate persons for the impact of aircraft noise on occupants of public buildings, or residences, around the airport.
operator, in relation to a jet aircraft, has the meaning given by section 4.
public building means:
(a)
a hospital that provides health care to in‑patients; or
(b)
a nursing home; or
(c)
a building used on an ongoing or regular basis wholly or mainly for one or more of the following activities:
(i)
provision of formal courses of education;
(ii)
provision of residential care for aged people;
(iii)
provision of centre‑based child care for groups of children;
(iv)
religious services.
qualifying airport has the meaning given by section 6.
Secretary means the Secretary of the Department.

4Operator of a jet aircraft

The operator of a jet aircraft making a landing is the person indicated in the following table:

Item	Source of authority for operation of the aircraft	Operator
1	AOC (regardless of whether there is also other authority for operating the aircraft)	Person who holds the AOC and operates the aircraft
2	Permission granted under section 27A of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (regardless of whether there is also other authority for operating the aircraft)	Person who was granted the permission and operates the aircraft
3	International airline licence granted under the Air Navigation Regulations (but not a permission under section 27A of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 or an AOC)	Licensee or, if the aircraft is operated under an agreement with the licensee that has been approved by the Secretary under subsection 12(1B) of the Air Navigation Act 1920, the person who operates the aircraft
4	Permission under subsection 25(2) of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (but not a permission under section 27A of that Act or an AOC)	Person who was granted the permission
5	Permission under subsection 25(3) of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (but not a permission under section 27A of that Act or an AOC)	Person who was granted the permission
6	Permission under subsection 26(1) of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (but not a permission under section 27A of that Act)	Person who was granted the permission
7	None of the sources of authority mentioned in items 1 to 6 (inclusive)	Holder of certificate of registration of the aircraft (whether the aircraft was registered in Australia or a foreign country)

5Act binds Crown

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

5AApplication of the Criminal Code

Chapter 2 (other than Part 2.5) of the Criminal Code applies to all offences created by this Act.
Note: Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the general principles of criminal responsibility.

Part 2Leviable airports 6Identification of qualifying airports

(1)
If an airport is a qualifying airport at the commencement of this Act, the Minister must publish a notice in the Gazette as soon as possible after the commencement, identifying the airport as a qualifying airport.
(2)
If an airport becomes a qualifying airport after the commencement of this Act, the Minister must publish a notice in the Gazette as soon as possible after the airport has become a qualifying airport, identifying the airport as a qualifying airport.
(3)
A notice under this section cannot be revoked or amended.
(4)
An airport is a qualifying airport at a particular time if:
1. (a)
  at that time there is:
  1. (i)
    a public building within a 25‑unit contour shown on an Australian Noise Exposure Forecast previously prepared for the area around the airport for a date after that time; or
  2. (ii)
    a residence within a 30‑unit contour shown on an Australian Noise Exposure Forecast previously prepared for the area around the airport for a date after that time; and
2. (b)
  the Commonwealth is funding at that time, or has funded before that time, a noise amelioration program for the airport.
(5)
Once an airport has become a qualifying airport, it remains a qualifying airport even if it no longer meets the description in paragraph (4)(a).
(6)
In this section:
Australian Noise Exposure Forecast means an Australian Noise Exposure Forecast that has been endorsed by the Civil Aviation Authority established by the Civil Aviation Act 1988 or by Airservices Australia established by the Air Services Act 1995.

7Declaration of leviable airports

(1)
The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, declare that an airport that has been identified as a qualifying airport is a leviable airport for the period specified in the declaration.
(2)
The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette:
1. (a)
  amend a declaration to change the period for which the airport is a leviable airport; or
2. (b)
  revoke a declaration.
(3)
Subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 does not apply in relation to this section.
(4)
The Minister must exercise his or her powers under this section to ensure that:
1. (a)
  each qualifying airport is declared a leviable airport as soon as practicable after it is identified as a qualifying airport; and
2. (b)
  as far as practicable, the adjusted levy liability for an airport at any given time does not exceed the Commonwealth expenditure on the noise amelioration program for the airport up to that time; and
3. (c)
  as far as practicable, the ratio of the adjusted levy liability for an airport to the Commonwealth expenditure on the noise amelioration program for the airport is ultimately the same for each leviable airport.
(5)
The adjusted levy liability for an airport at a particular time is the sum of the amounts of levy for which operators of jet aircraft have incurred liability as a result of landings of those aircraft at the airport before that time (whether or not any of those amounts are due for payment and whether or not any of those amounts have been paid) minus the amount spent up to that time on collection of levy on landings at the airport.
(6)
The Commonwealth expenditure on a noise amelioration program for an airport is the sum of:
1. (a)
  amounts spent by the Commonwealth under one or more appropriations on the implementation (including administration) of a noise amelioration program for the airport; and
2. (b)
  a reasonable allowance in the nature of interest on amounts spent as described in paragraph (a).
(7)
The Minister is taken:
1. (a)
  to have declared under subsection (1) that Sydney (Kingsford‑Smith) Airport is a leviable airport for the period from and including 1 July 1996 to and including 21 February 2001; and
2. (b)
  to have made that declaration by notice published in the Gazette before 1 July 1996.
(8)
Subsection (4) does not apply to the making of the declaration mentioned in subsection (7).

Part 3Payment of levy and penalty for late payment of levy 8When levy becomes due for payment

Levy becomes due for payment in accordance with the regulations.

9Penalty for late payment of levy

(1)
If levy payable by a person remains unpaid after it has become due for payment, the person is liable to pay (in addition to the levy) a prescribed penalty on the unpaid amount of levy, calculated from the day the levy became due for payment, and compounded.
(2)
The regulations must not prescribe a penalty exceeding the equivalent of 1.5% of the amount of unpaid levy for each month or part of a month during which it is unpaid.
(3)
Subsection (2) does not require the penalty to be calculated on a monthly basis.
(4)
The fact that a judgment is entered or given in a court for the payment of levy, or of a composite amount that includes levy, does not of itself cause the levy to stop being unpaid for the purposes of subsection (1).
(5)
If the judgment debt bears interest, the penalty payable under subsection (1) is reduced by the following amount:

10Remission of late‑payment penalty

(1)
If late‑payment penalty is payable in relation to levy on a landing, the Secretary may remit some or all of the late‑payment penalty in any of the following cases:
1. (a)
  the Secretary is satisfied that the operator of the jet aircraft that made the landing did not contribute to the delay in payment and has taken reasonable steps to mitigate the causes of the delay;
2. (b)
  the Secretary is satisfied that:
  1. (i)
    the operator contributed to the delay but has taken reasonable steps to mitigate the causes of the delay; and
  2. (ii)
    having regard to the nature of the things that caused the delay, it would be fair and reasonable to remit some or all of the penalty;
3. (c)
  the Secretary is satisfied that there are special circumstances that make it reasonable to remit some or all of the penalty.
(2)
The operator may apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal for review of a decision of the Secretary.
(3)
The Secretary may delegate his or her power under subsection (1) to:
1. (a)
  an SES employee, or acting SES employee, in the Department; or
2. (b)
  an officer, member or employee of a Commonwealth authority.
The delegation must be in writing.
(4)
In exercising the delegated power, the delegate is subject to any directions given by the Secretary.

11Manner of payment

Levy and late‑payment penalty must be paid in the manner prescribed by the regulations.

12Recovery of unpaid levy and late‑payment penalty

(1)
Unpaid levy on a landing and related late‑payment penalty may be recovered as a debt in any court of competent jurisdiction by the Secretary suing on behalf of the Commonwealth.
(2)
The Secretary may delegate to a Commonwealth authority the Secretary’s power under subsection (1). The delegation must be in writing.
(3)
In exercising the delegated power, the delegate is subject to any directions given by the Secretary.

13Refund of overpayment of levy or late‑payment penalty

An amount of levy or late‑payment penalty that is overpaid by the operator of a jet aircraft may be credited against a liability of the operator to pay levy or late‑payment penalty, and must be refunded to the extent that it is not credited.

Part 4Powers to gather information relevant to collecting levy 14Authorised officers’ powers to seek information

(1)
An authorised officer may give a person a written notice requiring the person:
1. (a)
  to give the authorised officer specified information on matters relevant to the operation of this Act within a reasonable time specified in the notice; and
2. (b)
  to verify the information by statutory declaration.
(2)
The Secretary may authorise an officer in writing for the purposes of this section.
(3)
The Secretary may delegate to an SES employee or acting SES employee in the Department the Secretary’s power under subsection (2). The delegation must be in writing.
(4)
In exercising the delegated power, the delegate is subject to any directions given by the Secretary.
(5)
In this section:
authorised officer means:
1. (a)
  the Secretary; or
2. (b)
  an officer authorised by the Secretary for the purposes of this section.
officer means an officer of the Department or an officer, member or employee of a Commonwealth authority.

15Offences in relation to returns etc.

(1)
A person must not fail to give information or a return that the person is required to give under this Act or the regulations.
Penalty: 60 penalty units.
(1A)
Subsection (1) does not apply if the person has a reasonable excuse.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (1A) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code).
(2)
The offence created by subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
(3)
A person is not excused from giving a return or information on the ground that the information, or giving the return, might tend to incriminate the person. However, any information or return given, and any information or thing (including any document) obtained as a direct or indirect consequence of the giving of the return or information, is not admissible in evidence against the person in:
1. (a)
  criminal proceedings other than proceedings for an offence against subsection (1) or (4); or
2. (b)
  proceedings for recovery of an amount of late‑payment penalty.
(4)
A person who presents a document, makes a statement or gives a return or information, that is false or misleading in a material particular, to a person carrying out functions under this Act commits an offence punishable on conviction by a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months.

16Conduct by directors, employees and agents

(1)
Subject to subsection (2), in proceedings against a body corporate for an offence against this Act:
1. (a)
  any conduct engaged in by a director, employee or agent of the body corporate within the actual or apparent scope of his or her employment or within his or her actual or apparent authority is taken to have been engaged in also by the body corporate; and
2. (b)
  it is taken to be established that conduct (the relevant conduct) was engaged in by the body corporate if it is proved:
  1. (i)
    that the directors of the body corporate engaged in the relevant conduct or expressly, tacitly or impliedly authorised or permitted the relevant conduct to be engaged in; or
  2. (ii)
    that an employee or agent of the body corporate with duties of such responsibility that his or her conduct may fairly be assumed to represent the policy of the body corporate engaged in the relevant conduct or expressly, tacitly or impliedly authorised or permitted the relevant conduct to be engaged in.
(2)
Subparagraph (1)(b)(ii) does not apply if the body corporate proves that it exercised due diligence to prevent the relevant conduct.
(3)
Subject to subsection (4), in proceedings against an individual for an offence against this Act:
1. (a)
  any conduct engaged in by an employee or agent of the individual within the actual or apparent scope of his or her employment or within his or her actual or apparent authority is taken to have been engaged in also by the individual; and
2. (b)
  it is taken to be established that conduct (the relevant conduct) was engaged in by the individual knowingly if it is proved that an employee or agent of the individual with duties of such responsibility that his or her conduct may fairly be assumed to represent the policy of the individual knowingly engaged in the relevant conduct or expressly, tacitly or impliedly authorised or permitted the relevant conduct to be engaged in.
(4)
Paragraph (3)(b) does not apply if the individual proves that he or she exercised due diligence to prevent the relevant conduct.
(5)
If:
1. (a)
  an individual is convicted of an offence against this Act; and
2. (b)
  the individual would not have been convicted of the offence if subsections (3) and (4) had not been enacted;
the individual is not liable to be punished by imprisonment for the offence.
(6)
A reference in this section to engaging in conduct includes a reference to failing or refusing to engage in conduct.
(7)
In this section:
director, in relation to a body corporate incorporated for a public purpose by a law of the Commonwealth, of a State or of a Territory, means:
1. (a)
  a constituent member of the body; or
2. (b)
  if the body does not have any members—a member of the board or other group of persons responsible for the administration or management of the affairs of the body.
offence against this Act includes an offence against:
1. (a)
  section 6 of the Crimes Act 1914; or
2. (b)
  section 11.1, 11.4 or 11.5 of the Criminal Code;
that relates to an offence against this Act.

Part 5Miscellaneous 17Agreement for collecting levy and late‑payment penalty

(1)
On behalf of the Commonwealth, the Finance Minister may enter into an agreement with a Commonwealth authority for the receipt or custody of levy or late‑payment penalty on behalf of the Commonwealth.
(2)
The Finance Minister may delegate his or her power under subsection (1) to an SES employee or acting SES employee. The delegation must be in writing.
(3)
In exercising the delegated power, the delegate is subject to any directions given by the Finance Minister.

18Evidentiary certificates

(1)
The Secretary may give a signed certificate stating that:
1. (a)
  a particular jet aircraft landed at a particular airport at a particular time; or
2. (b)
  a particular person was the operator of a particular jet aircraft at a particular time; or
3. (c)
  the assessed noise (as defined in subsection 6(1) of the Aircraft Noise Levy Act 1995) of a particular jet aircraft was a particular number; or
4. (d)
  a particular landing is not covered by subsection 5(2) of the Aircraft Noise Levy Act 1995.
(2)
A certificate is prima facie evidence of the matters stated in it.
(3)
The Secretary may delegate his or her power under subsection (1) to:
1. (a)
  an SES employee, or acting SES employee, in the Department; or
2. (b)
  an officer, member or employee of a Commonwealth authority.
The delegation must be in writing.
(4)
In exercising the delegated power, the delegate is subject to any directions given by the Secretary.

19Agreements etc. by Commonwealth authorities

A Commonwealth authority may:
(a)
enter into, and give effect to, an agreement under this Act; or
(b)
exercise a power delegated under this Act;
whether or not the authority’s powers and functions (apart from this section) include matters covered by the agreement or delegation.

20Annual report

(1)
As soon as practicable after 30 June in each year, the Secretary must prepare and give to the Minister a report on the working of this Act and the Aircraft Noise Levy Act 1995 during the year ending on that 30 June.

(2)
The report must include a report on any breaches of either Act that are known to the Secretary.
(3)
The Minister must cause a copy of the report to be laid before each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the Minister receives the report.

21Regulations

(1)
The Governor‑General may make regulations prescribing matters:
1. (a)
  required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or
2. (b)
  necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.
(2)
The matters that may be prescribed under subsection (1) include, but are not limited to:
1. (a)
  requiring operators of jet aircraft to make and keep records of their operation of jet aircraft; and
2. (b)
  requiring operators of jet aircraft to give returns or information for the purposes of this Act; and
3. (c)
  rules of procedure in proceedings for recovery of levy or late‑payment penalty; and
4. (d)
  prescribing penalties, not exceeding a fine of 10 penalty units, for offences against the regulations.

Endnotes

Endnote 1About 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 how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and “(md not incorp)” is added to the amendment history.

Endnote 2Abbreviation 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 3Legislation history

Act	Number and year	Assent	Commencement	Application, saving and transitional provisions
Aircraft Noise Levy Collection Act 1995	98, 1995	5 Sept 1995	5 Sept 1995 (s 2)
Audit (Transitional and Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 1997	152, 1997	24 Oct 1997	Sch 2 (item 152): 1 Jan 1998(s 2(2))	—
Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999	146, 1999	11 Nov 1999	Sch 1 (items 63‑66): 5 Dec 1999 (s 2(1), (2))	—
Aircraft Noise Levy Collection Amendment Act 2001	17, 2001	30 Mar 2001	30 Mar 2001 (s 2)	—
Transport and Regional Services Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001	143, 2001	1 Oct 2001	Sch 3 (items 7–10): 2 Oct 2001 (s 2)	s 4
Transport and Regional Services Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2002	8, 2002	4 Apr 2002	Sch 1 (item 1): 5 Apr 2002 (s 2)	—
Aviation Legislation Amendment (International Airline Licences and Carriers’ Liability Insurance) Act 2008	87, 2008	20 Sept 2008	Sch 1 (item 24): 20 Mar 2009 (s 2(1) item 2)	—
Crimes Legislation Amendment (Serious and Organised Crime) Act (No. 2) 2010	4, 2010	19 Feb 2010	Sch 11 (item 1): 20 Feb 2010 (s 2(1) item 13)	—
Statute Law Revision Act 2011	5, 2011	22 Mar 2011	Sch 5 (items 3, 4) and Sch 7 (item 6): 19 Apr 2011 (s 2(1) items 13, 18)	—
Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2014	62, 2014	30 June 2014	Sch 7 (item 96): 1 July 2014 (s 2(1) item 6)	Sch 14
as amended by
Public Governance and Resources Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2015	36, 2015	13 Apr 2015	Sch 2 (items 7–9) and Sch 7: 14 Apr 2015 (s 2)	Sch 7
as amended by
Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2015	126, 2015	10 Sept 2015	Sch 1 (item 486): 5 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 2)	—
Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2015	126, 2015	10 Sept 2015	Sch 1 (item 495): 5 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 2)	—
Statute Law Revision Act (No. 1) 2015	5, 2015	25 Feb 2015	Sch 3 (items 21–24): 25 Mar 2015 (s 2(1) item 10)	—
Statute Law Revision Act (No. 1) 2016	4, 2016	11 Feb 2016	Sch 4 (items 1, 8): 10 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 6)	—
Administrative Review Tribunal (Consequential and Transitional Provisions No. 1) Act 2024	38, 2024	31 May 2024	Sch 14 (item 5): 14 Oct 2024 (s 2(1) item 2)	—

Endnote 4Amendment history

Provision affected	How affected
Part 1
s 3.............................................	am No 5, 2011; No 62, 2014
s 4.............................................	am No 87, 2008
s 5A...........................................	ad No 143, 2001
Part 2
s 7.............................................	am No 17, 2001
Part 3
s 10............................................	am No 146, 1999; No 38, 2024
Part 4
s 14............................................	am No 146, 1999
s 15............................................	am No 143, 2001; No 8, 2002; No 4, 2016
s 16............................................	am No 143, 2001; No 4, 2010; No 5, 2015
Part 5
s 17............................................	am No 152, 1997; No 146, 1999; No 5, 2011
s 18............................................	am No 146, 1999

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Aircraft Noise Levy Collection Act 1995 (Cth)

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