Insurance Amendment Act 1983 (Cth)
PART I—PRELIMINARY
Section
1. Short title, &c.
2. Commencement
PART II—AMENDMENTS OF THE PRINCIPAL ACT
3. Interpretation
4. Application of Act
5. Repeal of section 13
6. Public servant appointed as Commissioner may continue in office as public servant
7. Termination of appointment
8. Repeal of section 19 and substitution of new sections—
19. Acting Commissioner
19a. Delegation
9. Repeal of section 21 and substitution of new section—
21. Certain persons not to carry on insurance business
10. Application for authority
11. Authority to commence carrying on insurance business
12. Authority to carry on insurance business for body corporate that carried on insurance business before 9 December 1971
13. Repeal of section 26
14. Refusal to grant authority
15. Repeal of section 29 and substitution of new section—
29. Conditions to which authority is subject
16. Assets
17. Liabilities
18. Valuation of assets
TABLE OF PROVISIONS—
Section
19. Exemption from requirement relating to assets in Australia
20. Cancellation of authority
21. Exemption in respect of insurance business carried on for benefit of limited class of persons
22. Interpretation
23. Accounting records
24. Accounts and statements to be lodged with Commissioner
25. Audit of accounts
26. Extension of time
27. Report of inspector
28. Directions
29. Review of certain decisions
30. Insertion of new section—
64. Statements to accompany notification of decisions
31. Repeal of section 104
32. Bodies corporate ceasing to carry on insurance business
33. Persons ceasing to carry on insurance business
34. Transitional provisions relating to bodies corporate refused authorities under section 27
35. Power to require production of books
36. Inspection of Register, accounts and auditors’ certificates
37. Annual report
38. Offences
39. Insertion of new sections—
129a. Joinder of charges and penalties for certain offences
129b. Continuing offences
40. Schedule
41. Amendments relating to accounts and accounting records
42. Amendments relating to penalties
43. Formal amendments
44. Application of certain amendments
PART III—INTERIM PROVISIONS
45. Interpretation
46. Notification in
Gazette of prescribed bodies corporate47. Interim application of section 29 of the
Insurance Act 1973 to prescribed bodies corporate48. Directions
SCHEDULE 1
Amendments relating to accounts and accounting records
SCHEDULE 2
Amendments relating to penalties
SCHEDULE 3
Formal amendments
SCHEDULE 4
Interim
application of section 29 of the
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BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, and the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:
(a) by inserting after the definition of “accident insurance business” in sub-section (1) the following definitions:
“‘accounting records’, in relation to a body corporate, includes invoices, receipts, orders for the payment of money, bills of exchange, cheques, promissory notes, vouchers and other documents of prime entry and also includes such working papers and other documents as are necessary to explain the methods and calculations by which accounts of the body corporate are made up, and such other documents (if any) as are prescribed;
‘accounts’, except in sub-sections 44 (1), (2) and (3) and the Schedule, means ordinary accounts and statutory accounts”;
(b) by omitting from sub-section (1) the definition of “books” and substituting the following definitions:
“‘books’ includes any register or other record of information or any accounts or accounting records, however compiled, recorded or stored, and also includes any document; ‘charge’ means a charge created in any way and includes a mortgage or an agreement to give or execute a charge or mortgage, whether upon demand or otherwise;”;
(c) by omitting from sub-section (1) the definition of “debenture” and substituting the following definition:
“‘debenture’ includes debenture stock, bonds, notes and any other document evidencing or acknowledging indebtedness of a body corporate in respect of money that is or may be deposited with or lent to the body corporate, whether constituting a charge on property of the body corporate or not, but does not include—
(a) a document that merely acknowledges the receipt of money by a body corporate in a case where, in respect of the money, the body corporate issues, in compliance with section 97 of the
Companies Act 1981, a document prescribed by sub-section (2) of that section and complies with the other requirements of that section;(b) a cheque, order for the payment of money or bill of exchange; or
(c) for the purposes of the application of this definition to a provision of this Act in respect of which the regulations
provide that the word ‘debenture’ does not include a prescribed document or a document included in a prescribed class of documents—that document or a document included in that class of documents, as the case may be;”;
(d) by inserting after the definition of “financial year” in sub-section (1) the following definition:
“‘floating charge’ includes a charge that conferred a floating security at the time of its creation but has since become a fixed or specific charge;”;
(e) by inserting after the definition of “Lloyd’s underwriter” in sub-section (1) the following definition:
“‘ordinary accounts’ means ledgers, journals, profit and loss accounts and balance-sheets, whether or not prepared for the purposes of any law (including this Act), and includes statements, reports and notes (other than auditors’ reports or directors’ reports) attached to, or intended to be read with, any of the foregoing, but does not include statutory accounts;”;
(f) by inserting after the definition of “profit and loss account” in sub-section (1) the following definition:
“‘quarterly statutory accounts’, in relation to a body corporate authorized under this Act to carry on insurance business, means the statements that the body corporate is required to lodge with the Commissioner under sub-section 44 (4);”; and
(g) by adding at the end of sub-section (1) the following definitions:
“‘statutory accounts’, in relation to a body corporate authorized under this Act to carry on insurance business, means—
(a) yearly statutory accounts of the body corporate;
(b) quarterly statutory accounts of the body corporate; and
(c) if sub-section 44 (6) applies to the body corporate—statements that the body corporate is required to lodge with the Commissioner under that sub-section;
‘yearly statutory accounts’, in relation to a body corporate authorized under this Act to carry on insurance business, means the accounts and statements that the body corporate is required to lodge with the Commissioner under sub-section 44 (1).”.
(a) by omitting “or” from paragraph (2) (g);
(b) by inserting after paragraph (2) (g) the following paragraph:
“(ga) a prescribed company, being the business of insuring against the whole or part of any loss in relation to the withdrawable share capital of, and loans (including deposits) to, building societies; or”; and
(c) by adding at the end thereof the following sub-section:
“(4) In paragraph (2) (ga), ‘building society’ means a society registered or incorporated as a building society, co-operative housing society or similar society under the law in force in a State or Territory relating to such societies.”.
“(aa) fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with his obligations under sub-section 12 (3);”.
“19. (1) The Treasurer may appoint a person to act as Commissioner—
(a) during a vacancy in the office of Commissioner; or
(b) during any period, or during all periods, when the Commissioner is absent from duty or from Australia or is, for any other reason, unable to perform the functions of his office,
but a person appointed to act during a vacancy shall not continue so to act for more than 12 months.
“(2) An appointment of a person under sub-section (1) may be expressed to have effect only in such circumstances as are specified in the instrument of appointment.
“(3) The Treasurer may—
(a) determine the terms and conditions of appointment, including remuneration and allowances, of a person acting as Commissioner; and
(b) terminate such an appointment at any time.
“(4) Where a person is acting as Commissioner in accordance with paragraph (1) (b) and the office of Commissioner becomes vacant while that person is so acting, then, subject to sub-section (2), that person may continue so to act until the Treasurer otherwise directs, the vacancy is filled or a period of 12 months from the date on which the vacancy occurred expires, whichever first happens.
“(5) The appointment of a person to act as Commissioner ceases to have effect if he resigns his appointment by writing signed by him and delivered to the Treasurer.
“(6) While a person is acting as Commissioner, he has and may exercise all the powers, and shall perform all the functions, of the Commissioner under this Act or the regulations.
“(7) Sections 11, 12, 14 and 126 apply in relation to an Acting Insurance Commissioner in like manner as they apply in relation to the Commissioner.
“(8) The validity of anything done by a person purporting to act under sub-section (1) shall not be called in question on the ground that the occasion for his appointment had not arisen, that there is a defect or irregularity in or in connection with his appointment, that the appointment had ceased to have effect or that the occasion for him to act had not arisen or had ceased.
“19a. (1) The Commissioner may, either generally or as otherwise provided by the instrument of delegation, by writing signed by him, delegate to a person all or any of his powers under this Act or the regulations, other than—
(a) this power of delegation; or
(b) the Commissioner’s powers under section 23 or 24.
“(2) A power so delegated, when exercised by the delegate, shall, for the purposes of this Act or the regulations, as the case requires, be deemed to have been exercised by the Commissioner.
“(3) A delegation under this section does not prevent the exercise of a power by the Commissioner.”.
“21. (1) Subject to this Act, a person other than a body corporate or a Lloyd’s underwriter who carries on insurance business is, in respect of each day during which he so carries on insurance business (including the day of a conviction under this sub-section or any subsequent day), guilty of an offence punishable on conviction by a fine not exceeding $2,000.
“(2) Subject to this Act, a body corporate that carries on insurance business without being authorized under this Act to do so is, in respect of each day during which it so carries on insurance business (including the day of a
conviction under this sub-section or any subsequent day), guilty of an offence punishable on conviction by a fine not exceeding $20,000.
“(3) A Lloyd’s underwriter who carries on insurance business at any time after Part VII has ceased to have effect is, in respect of each day during which he so carries on insurance business (including the day of a conviction under this sub-section or any subsequent day), guilty of an offence punishable on conviction by a fine not exceeding $2,000.”.
“(ea) if the name of the body corporate is reserved or registered under the law in force in a State or Territory relating to companies and the body corporate is neither incorporated, nor registered as a foreign company, under that law—the name of each such State or Territory and the date of reservation or registration;”.
(a) by omitting “Treasurer” and substituting “Commissioner”;
(b) by omitting paragraph (a) and substituting the following paragraph:
“(a) where the body corporate has a share capital—the paid-up share capital of the body corporate is not less than $500,000;”;
(c) by omitting from paragraphs (b) and (c) “One hundred thousand dollars” and substituting “$1,000,000”;
(d) by adding at the end of paragraph (e) “and”;
(e) by omitting from paragraph (f) “and” (last occurring); and
(f) by omitting paragraph (g).
(a) by omitting paragraph (a) and substituting the following paragraph:
“(a) where the body corporate has a share capital—the paid-up share capital of the body corporate is not less than $500,000;”;
(b) by omitting from sub-paragraphs (b) (i) and (c) (i) “One hundred thousand dollars” and substituting “$1,000,000”;
(c) by omitting from sub-paragraphs (b) (ii) and (c) (ii) “fifteen per centum” and substituting “20%”;
(d) by adding at the end of paragraph (e) “and”;
(e) by omitting from paragraph (f) “and” (last occurring); and
(f) by omitting paragraph (g).
“(1) Where the Commissioner decides not to grant an authority to a body corporate under section 23 or 24 because he is not satisfied with respect to the matters referred to in whichever of those sections is applicable, he shall inform the Treasurer accordingly and the Treasurer shall, after having considered that information—
(a) grant the authority; or
(b) refuse to grant the authority.
“(2) Where the Treasurer decides under sub-section (1) to refuse to grant an authority to a body corporate, he shall notify the body corporate, in writing, of his decision.”.
“29. (1) Subject to this Part, an authority granted to a body corporate under this Part is subject to the following conditions:
(a) where the body corporate has a share capital—a condition that its paid-up share capital shall not at any time be less than $500,000;
(b) where the body corporate is incorporated in Australia—a condition that the value of its assets shall at all times exceed the amount of its liabilities by not less than—
(i) $1,000,000; or
(ii) 20% of its premium income during its last preceding financial year,
whichever is the greater;
(c) a condition that the value of the assets in Australia of the body corporate shall at all times exceed the amount of its liabilities in Australia by not less than—
(i) $1,000,000; or
(ii) 20% of its premium income in Australia during its last preceding financial year,
whichever is the greater;
(d) a condition that the body corporate shall, at all times other than a time at which an exemption from the requirements of section 34 is in force in respect of it, have arrangements for reinsurance, being arrangements approved by the Commissioner under that section, or, if it has been granted an exemption under that section, shall comply with the terms and conditions of that exemption;
(e) where a change occurs in the particulars specified in the application for the authority and referred to in paragraph 22 (2) (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (ea) or (f) or in the matters contained in a document required to accompany that application—a condition that the body corporate shall, within a period of 21 days after the change occurs, or within such further period as the Commissioner, within that period of 21 days, approves, give to the Commissioner notice in writing signed by a director and specifying particulars of the change; and
(f) such other conditions (if any) as the Commissioner or the Treasurer, as the case may be, specifies in the authority.
“(2) The Commissioner or the Treasurer may, by notice in writing served on the body corporate, impose further conditions to which the authority of the body corporate is subject.
“(3) Subject to sub-section (5), where the authority of a body corporate is subject to a condition specified under paragraph (1) (f) or imposed under sub-section (2), and it appears at any time to the Commissioner or the Treasurer that the condition is no longer necessary or should be varied, the Commissioner or the Treasurer shall, by notice in writing served on the body corporate, revoke or vary the condition.
“(4) Subject to sub-section (5), where a body corporate whose authority is subject to a condition specified under paragraph (1) (f) or imposed under sub-section (2) applies to the Commissioner or the Treasurer, by notice in writing, for the condition to be revoked or varied, the Commissioner or the Treasurer shall—
(a) if it appears to him that the condition is no longer necessary or should be varied—revoke or vary the condition; or
(b) in any other case—refuse to revoke or vary the condition,
and shall serve on the body corporate notice in writing of his decision.
“(5) The Commissioner is not empowered by sub-section (3) or (4) to revoke or vary a condition specified, imposed or varied by the Treasurer.
“(6) Part VI applies to a decision of the Treasurer or the Commissioner under this section.
“(7) In this section, unless the contrary intention appears, ‘condition’ includes, where a condition is varied, the condition as varied.”.
imposed by the Treasurer or the Commissioner under a provision of section 29 of the Principal Act or of that section as having effect by virtue of sub-section 44 (3) of this Act, the condition has effect on and after that date as if it had been specified or imposed by the Treasurer or the Commissioner, as the case may be, under section 29 of the Principal Act as amended by this Act.
(a) by omitting from paragraph (1) (c) “mortgaged or” (wherever occurring);
(b) by inserting after paragraph (1) (c) the following paragraph:
“(ca) where the whole or part of the undertaking, business or property of the body corporate is subject to a floating charge, that undertaking, business or property to the extent that it is so subject;”;
(c) by omitting from paragraph (1) (e) “six” and substituting “3”;
(d) by inserting after sub-section (2) the following sub-sections:
“(2a) The Commissioner shall, in exercising his power of approval under sub-section (2) in relation to a loan to, debenture of, or a share in, a related body corporate made or held by a body corporate, have regard to all matters that he considers relevant and, in particular, to the following matters:
(a) the proportion that the value of the loan, debenture or share, together with the aggregate value of all other loans to, debentures of, and shares in, the related body corporate made or held by the body corporate, whether approved under sub-section (2) or not, bears to the value of the assets of the body corporate not consisting of loans to, debentures of, or shares in, the related body corporate;
(b) the proportion that the value of the loan, debenture or share bears to the value of the assets of the related body corporate;
(c) the nature, and the degree of diversity, of the assets of the body corporate;
(d) the nature, and the degree of diversity, of the assets of the related body corporate;
(e) the nature of the business carried on by the related body corporate.
“(2b) For the purposes of sub-section (2a), the value of a loan, debenture or share that is not an asset within the meaning of this Part shall be determined as if it were such an asset.”; and
(e) by omitting from sub-section (3) “six months but not more than twelve months” and substituting “3 months but not more than 9 months”.
(a) by omitting from sub-section (1) “provisions” and substituting “provision”;
(b) by omitting sub-sections (2) and (3) and substituting the following sub-sections:
“(2) For the purposes of this Act, a body corporate carrying on insurance business shall make in its accounts provision in respect of liabilities.
“(3) For the purposes of this Act, the Commissioner may, at any time, if he thinks fit, by notice in writing served on a body corporate carrying on insurance business, direct that the body corporate shall, within a specified period, not being less than 21 days, after the giving of the direction, make in its accounts provision, or further provision—
(a) of a specified amount; or
(b) of an amount determined in a specified manner,
in respect of liabilities.
“(3a) Part VI applies to a decision of the Commissioner under this section.
“(3b) Where a direction has been given to a body corporate under sub-section (3) and it appears at any time to the Commissioner that the direction is no longer necessary or should be varied, the Commissioner shall, by notice in writing served on the body corporate, revoke or vary the direction.
“(3c) Where a body corporate to which a direction has been given under sub-section (3) applies to the Commissioner, by notice in writing, for the direction to be revoked or varied, the Commissioner shall—
(a) if it appears to him that the direction is no longer necessary or should be varied—revoke or vary the direction; or
(b) in any other case—refuse to revoke or vary the direction,
and shall serve on the body corporate notice in writing of his decision.
“(3d) The powers of the Commissioner under this section are in addition to, and do not derogate from, the powers of the Commissioner or of the Treasurer under Part V.
“(3e) Where a body corporate in respect of which a direction has been given under sub-section (3) is commenced to be wound up, the direction ceases to have effect.
“(3f) A body corporate that fails to comply with a direction given to it under sub-section (3) is, in respect of each day during which it so fails to comply with the direction (including the day of a conviction
under this sub-section or any subsequent day), guilty of an offence punishable on conviction by a fine not exceeding $10,000.”; and
(c) by adding at the end thereof the following sub-section:
“(5) In this section, unless the contrary intention appears, ‘direction’ includes, where a direction is varied, the direction as varied.”.
(a) by omitting from sub-section (3) “, (5)”;
(b) by omitting from sub-section (4) “(not being approved securities referred to in sub-section (5))”;
(c) by omitting sub-section (5); and
(d) by omitting from sub-section (6) “sub-sections (4) and (5)” and substituting “sub-section (4)”.
“(8) A reference in this section to a body corporate having no liabilities in respect of insurance business carried on by it in Australia shall be read as including a reference to a body corporate that has assigned the whole of its interests under all contracts of insurance in respect of insurance business carried on by it in Australia to another body corporate authorized under this Act to carry on insurance business.
“(9) In sub-section (8)—
‘assignment’ means an absolute assignment, but does not include an equitable assignment;
‘interests’ includes rights and benefits.”.
(a) by inserting in sub-section (2) “or vary” after “revoke”;
(b) by inserting after sub-section (2) the following sub-section:
“(2a) Part VI applies to a decision of the Treasurer under this section made after the commencement of this sub-section.”;
(c) by inserting in sub-section (5) “, varied” after “given”; and
(d) by inserting in sub-section (5) “, variation” after “exemption” (last occurring).
(a) by omitting sub-section (3) and substituting the following sub-section:
“(3) The accounting records kept in accordance with sub-section (1) shall be kept in Australia.”;
(b) by omitting from sub-section (4) “referred to in sub-section (1) and the statements and records”;
(c) by omitting from sub-section (5) “, statements and records” (wherever occurring); and
(d) by omitting from sub-section (5) “(4)” and substituting “(3)”.
“(4) A body corporate authorized under this Act to carry on insurance business shall, within the period of 6 weeks after each 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December, lodge with the Commissioner—
(a) a statement of assets and liabilities on that day; and
(b) a statement of premiums and claims in respect of insurance business carried on by it during the period of 3 months ending on that day.
“(5) The statements lodged by a body corporate under sub-section (4) shall relate—
(a) to insurance business and other business carried on by it in Australia; and
(b) where the body corporate is incorporated in Australia—to all business of insurance and all other business carried on by it outside Australia.”.
(a) by inserting after sub-section (1) the following sub-section:
“(1a) The body corporate shall make such arrangements as are necessary to enable the audit of the yearly statutory accounts in accordance with this Act.”; and
(b) by omitting from sub-section (2) “within the period of three months or, where sub-section 44 (6) applies to the body corporate, four months, after the end of each financial year of the body corporate” and substituting “for the purposes of this Part”.
(a) by omitting sub-section (1) and substituting the following sub-sections:
“(1) An inspector, not being the Commissioner—
(a) may make one or more reports in writing to the Commissioner during the investigation of the whole or a part of the affairs of a body corporate and shall, if so directed in writing by the Commissioner, make such reports as are specified in the direction; and
(b) shall, on a completion or termination of the investigation, report in writing to the Commissioner on the result of the investigation.
“(1a) An inspector, being the Commissioner—
(a) may make one or more reports in writing to the Treasurer during the investigation of the whole or a part of the affairs of a body corporate and shall, if so directed in writing by the Treasurer, make such reports as are specified in the direction; and
(b) shall on a completion or termination of the investigation, report in writing to the Treasurer on the result of the investigation.”;
(b) by inserting after sub-section (4) the following sub-section:
“(4a) The Commissioner shall forward to the Treasurer a copy of a report made to him under this section together with such report (if any) as he wishes to make in relation to the first-mentioned report.”;
(c) by inserting in sub-section (5), “or forwarded” after “made”; and
(d) by omitting from sub-sections (6) and (7) “the report” (first occurring) and substituting “a report”.
(a) by inserting in sub-section (1) “give directions to the body corporate with respect to the carrying on of insurance business by the body
corporate and, without limiting the generality of the directions that may be given, may” after “notice in writing served on the body corporate,”;
(b) by omitting from sub-section (2) “under” and substituting “of a direction of the kind referred to in”;
(c) by omitting sub-section (3) and substituting the following sub-section:
“(3) Part VI applies to a decision of the Treasurer under this section.”;
(d) by inserting in sub-section (6) “a direction given under” after “contravention of;
(e) by inserting in sub-section (7) “at any time” after “appears”;
(f) by inserting after sub-section (7) the following sub-section:
“(7a) Where a body corporate to which a direction has been given under this section applies to the Treasurer, by notice in writing, for the direction to be revoked or varied, the Treasurer shall—
(a) if it appears to him that the direction is no longer necessary or should be varied—revoke or vary the direction; or
(b) in any other case—refuse to revoke or vary the direction,
and shall serve on the body corporate notice in writing of his decision.”;
(g) by omitting sub-sections (9), (10) and (11) and substituting the following sub-sections:
“(9) A body corporate that contravenes or fails to comply with a direction given to it under sub-section (1), being a direction of the kind referred to in paragraph (1) (a), (b), (c) or (d), is, in respect of each day during which it so contravenes or fails to comply with the direction (including the day of a conviction under this sub-section or any subsequent day), guilty of an offence punishable on conviction by a fine not exceeding $20,000.
“(10) A body corporate shall not contravene or fail to comply with a direction given to it under sub-section (1), not being a direction of the kind referred to in paragraph (1) (a), (b), (c) or (d).
Penalty: $20,000.”;
(h) by omitting from sub-section (12) “paragraph (1) (a), (b), (c) or (d)” and substituting “this section, being a direction of the kind referred to in paragraph (1) (a), (b), (c) or (d),”; and
(j) by adding at the end thereof the following sub-section:
“(13) In this section, unless the contrary intention appears, ‘direction’ includes, where a direction is varied, the direction as varied.”.
material questions of fact, refer to the evidence or other material on which those findings were based and give his reasons”.
“64. (1) Where a reviewable decision of the Treasurer or the Commissioner within the meaning of section 63 is made and notice in writing of the decision is given to a person affected by the decision, that notice shall include a statement to the effect that—
(a) the person may, if he is dissatisfied with the decision, seek a reconsideration of the decision by the Treasurer or the Commissioner, as the case may be, in accordance with sub-section 63 (2); and
(b) a person whose interests are affected by the decision may, subject to the
Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975, if he is dissatisfied with a decision made by the Treasurer or the Commissioner upon that reconsideration confirming or varying the first-mentioned decision, make application to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of the decision so confirmed or varied.
“(2) Where the Treasurer or the
Commissioner confirms or varies a decision under sub-section 63 (4) and gives
to a person notice in writing of the confirmation or variation of the decision,
that notice shall include a statement to the effect that a person whose
interests are affected by the decision may, subject to the
“(3) Any failure to comply with the requirements of sub-section (1) or (2) in relation to a decision does not affect the validity of the decision.”.
(a) by omitting from sub-section (1) “carried on insurance business in Australia immediately before the date of commencement of section 21 and has” and substituting “, immediately before 1 August 1974, carried on insurance business in Australia and had”;
(b) by omitting sub-section (10) and substituting the following sub-section:
“(10) Part VI applies to a decision of the Treasurer under sub-section (8), (12) or (12a).”;
(c) by inserting in sub-section (12) “at any time” after “appears”;
(d) by inserting after sub-section (12) the following sub-section:
“(12a) Where a body corporate to which a direction has been given under this section applies to the Treasurer, by notice in writing, for the direction to be revoked or varied, the Treasurer shall—
(a) if it appears to him that the direction is no longer necessary or should be varied—revoke or vary the direction; or
(b) in any other case—refuse to revoke or vary the direction,
and shall serve on the body corporate notice in writing of his decision.”; and
(e) by adding at the end thereof the following sub-section:
“(16) In this section, unless the contrary intention appears, ‘direction’ includes, where a direction is varied, the direction as varied.”.
(a) by omitting from sub-section (1) “has” and substituting “had”; and
(b) by omitting sub-section (2) and substituting the following sub-section:
“(2) A person who fails to comply with a notice served on him under sub-section (1) is, in respect of each day during which he so fails to comply with the notice (including the day of a conviction under this sub-section or any subsequent day), guilty of an offence punishable on conviction by a fine not exceeding $2,000.”.
(a) by omitting from sub-section (1) “from time to time—
(a) give directions to the body corporate with respect to the carrying on of insurance business by the body corporate; and
(b) vary or revoke directions so given to the body corporate”,
and substituting “give directions to the body corporate with respect to the carrying on of its insurance business”;
(b) by inserting after sub-section (1) the following sub-sections:
“(1a) Where a direction has been given to a body corporate under sub-section (1) and it appears at any time to the Treasurer that the direction is no longer necessary or should be varied, the Treasurer shall, by notice in writing served on the body corporate, revoke or vary the direction.
“(1b) Where a body corporate to which a direction has been given under sub-section (1) applies to the Treasurer, by notice in writing, for the direction to be revoked or varied, the Treasurer shall—
(a) if it appears to him that the direction is no longer necessary or should be varied—revoke or vary the direction; or
(b) in any other case—refuse to revoke or vary the direction,
and shall serve on the body corporate notice in writing of his decision.”;
(c) by omitting sub-section (3) and substituting the following sub-section:
“(3) A body corporate that contravenes or fails to comply with a direction given to it under sub-section (1) is, in respect of each day during which it so contravenes or fails to comply with the direction (including the day of a conviction under this sub-section or any subsequent day), guilty of an offence punishable on conviction by a fine not exceeding $20,000.”; and
(d) by adding at the end thereof the following sub-sections:
“(6) Part VI applies to a decision of the Treasurer under this section made after the commencement of this sub-section.
“(7) In this section, unless the contrary intention appears, ‘direction’ includes, where a direction is varied, the direction as varied.”.
(a) by inserting after paragraph (a) the following paragraph:
“(aa) inspect an auditor’s certificate lodged with the Commissioner under section 48;”; and
(b) by inserting in paragraph (c) “auditor’s certificate,” after “such an”.
“(1) Where a body corporate is guilty of an offence against sub-section 21 (2), section 22, sub-section 31 (3f) or 37 (6), section 40, 44 or 48, sub-section 51 (5), 62 (9) or (10), 105 (15), 109 (3) or 113 (3), a director, officer or auditor of the body corporate who is in any way, by act or omission, directly or
indirectly, knowingly concerned in or party to the offence, shall be deemed to be also guilty of that offence and is punishable on conviction—
(a) in the case of an offence against sub-section 21 (2), 31 (3f), 62 (9) or 109 (3)—by a fine not exceeding $2,000; or
(b) in the case of an offence against section 22, sub-section 37 (6), section 40, 44 or 48, sub-section 51 (5), 62 (10), 105 (15) or 113 (3)—by a fine not exceeding $4,000.”.
“129a. (1) Charges against the same person for any number of offences against sub-section 21 (1), (2) or (3), 31 (3f), 62 (9), 106 (2) or 109 (3) may be joined in the same information or complaint if those offences relate to doing or failing to do the same act or thing.
“(2) If a person is convicted of 2 or more offences referred to in sub-section (1), being offences related to doing or failing to do the same act or thing, the court may impose one penalty in respect of both or all of those offences, but that penalty shall not exceed the sum of the maximum penalties that could be imposed if a penalty were imposed in respect of each offence separately.
“129b. Where, by or under a provision of this Act, an act or thing is required to be done within a particular period or before a particular time, the obligation to do that act or thing continues, notwithstanding that that period has expired or that time has passed, until that act or thing is done.”.
“(2) The Commissioner or the Treasurer may, by notice in writing served on the body corporate, impose further conditions to which the authority of the body corporate is subject.
“(3) Subject to sub-section (5), where the authority of a body corporate is subject to a condition specified under paragraph (1) (g) or imposed under sub-section (2), and it appears at any time to the Commissioner or the Treasurer that the condition is no longer necessary or should be varied, the Commissioner or the Treasurer shall, by notice in writing served on the body corporate, revoke or vary the condition.
“(4) Subject to sub-section (5), where a body corporate whose authority is subject to a condition specified under paragraph (1) (g) or imposed under sub-section (2) applies to the Commissioner or the Treasurer, by notice in writing, for the condition to be revoked or varied, the Commissioner or the Treasurer shall—
(a) if it appears to him that the condition is no longer necessary or should be varied—revoke or vary the condition; or
(b) in any other case—refuse to revoke or vary the condition, and shall serve on the body corporate notice in writing of his decision.
“(5) The Commissioner is not empowered by sub-section (3) or (4) to revoke or vary a condition specified, imposed or varied by the Treasurer.
“(6) Part VI applies to a decision
made by the Treasurer or the Commissioner under this section after the
commencement of section 15 of the
“(7) In this section, unless the contrary intention appears, ‘condition’ includes, where a condition is varied, the condition as varied.”.
“prescribed body corporate” means a body corporate authorized under the
Insurance Act 1973 to carry on insurance business which lodges with the Commissioner, within a period of 28 days before the commencement of its first interim year (or such period after the commencement of its first interim year as the Commissioner, by notice in writing given to the body corporate, in accordance with section 121 of theInsurance Act 1973, within that period of 28 days, allows), anotice in writing stating that it elects to be a body corporate to which this Part applies;
“interim year”, in relation to a body corporate, means one of the first 4 financial years of that body corporate commencing after the commencement of section 15.
(a) in relation to an interim year of that body corporate specified in Table A of Schedule 4, as if a reference in that section to an amount specified in Column 1 of that Table were a reference to the amount specified in relation to that year opposite that first-mentioned amount; and
(b) in relation to an interim year of that body corporate specified in Table B of Schedule 4, as if a reference in that section to 20% were a reference to the percentage specified in that Table in relation to that year.
(a) if it appears to him that the direction is no longer necessary or should be varied—revoke or vary the direction; or
(b) in any other case—refuse to revoke or vary the direction,
and shall serve on the body corporate notice in writing of his decision.
(a) a direction that the body corporate shall not issue policies or undertake liability under contracts of insurance;
(b) a direction that the body corporate shall not renew policies;
(c) a direction that the body corporate shall not issue policies in respect of insurance business included in a class of insurance business specified in the direction or undertake liability under contracts of insurance included in a class of contracts of insurance so specified;
(d) a direction that the body corporate shall not renew policies in respect of insurance business included in a class of insurance business specified in the direction;
(e) a direction that the body corporate shall limit the amount of its premium income during a specified financial year, or the amount of its premium income in Australia during a specified financial year, to a specified amount.
—————
AMENDMENTS RELATING TO ACCOUNTS AND ACCOUNTING RECORDS
Provision amended | Omit— | Substitute |
Paragraph 22 (2) (g) | accounts | ordinary accounts |
Paragraph 40 (1) (b) |
| yearly statutory accounts |
Paragraph 40 (1) (c) | accounts and statements | yearly statutory accounts |
Sub-section 41 (1) | accounts | statutory accounts |
Paragraph 41 (2) (a) | accounts | statutory accounts |
Sub-section 42 (1) | accounts | statutory accounts |
Sub-section 44 (7) |
|
|
Sub-section 44 (8) |
| yearly statutory accounts |
Sub-section 44 (9) | an account or statement |
|
Sub-section 45 (2) | A statement | Yearly statutory accounts |
Sub-section 47 (1) |
| Yearly statutory accounts of a body corporate |
Sub-section 47 (2) | accounts and statements in respect of that year | yearly statutory accounts |
Sub-section 47 (3) | accounts and statements (wherever occurring) | yearly statutory accounts |
Section 48 |
| yearly statutory accounts in respect of that year |
Sub-section 49 (1) |
|
|
Paragraph 132 (c) |
|
|
—————
AMENDMENTS RELATING TO PENALTIES
Provision amended | Omit— | Substitute— |
Section 22 | Ten thousand dollars | $20,000 |
Sub-section 37 (6) | Ten thousand dollars | $20,000 |
Section 40 | Ten thousand dollars | $20,000 |
Section 44 | Ten thousand dollars | $20,000 |
Section 48 | Ten thousand dollars | $20,000 |
Section 51 | Ten thousand dollars | $20,000 |
Sub-section 105 (15) | Ten thousand dollars | $20,000 |
Sub-section 113 (3) | (a) Ten thousand dollars | $20,000 |
(b) Two thousand dollars | $4,000 | |
Sub-section 113 (4) | One thousand dollars | $2,000 |
—————
FORMAL AMENDMENTS
Provision amended | Omit— | Substitute— |
Sub-section 3 (1) | (a) 1959-1967 | |
| (b) 1904-1972 | |
(c) 1953-1972 | ||
Sub-section 3 (1) | 1945-1973 | |
| ||
Paragraph 5 (2) (b) | 1965-1966 | |
Paragraph 5 (2) (e) | 1946-1966 | |
Section 9 | seven | 7 |
Paragraph 14 (2) (c) | salary | remuneration |
Section 20 | 1922-1973 | |
Section 22 | (a) two | 2 |
(b) one director | 1 director | |
(c) five (wherever occurring) | 5 | |
(d) fourteen | 14 | |
Section 23 | 9th December, 1971 | 9 December 1971 |
Sub-paragraph 30 (1) (b) (ii) | One thousand dollars (wherever occurring) | $1,000 |
Paragraph 30 (1) (f) | 1945-1973 | |
Paragraph 31 (1) (b) | 1945-1973 | |
Section 35 | six (wherever occurring) | 6 |
Section 36 | (a) twelve (wherever occurring) | 12 |
(b) one month (wherever occurring) | 1 month | |
Sub-section 37 (4) | three | 3 |
Section 40 | seven | 7 |
Section 43 | seven | 7 |
Section 44 | (a) six (wherever occurring) | 6 |
Provision amended | Omit | Substitute |
(b) two | 2 | |
(c) one director | 1 director | |
(d) four | 4 | |
(e) five | 5 | |
(f) seven | 7 | |
Sub-section 45 (1) | (a) two | 2 |
(b) one director | 1 director | |
Section 48 | (a) four | 4 |
(b) five | 5 | |
Paragraph 51 (1) (a) | seven | 7 |
Paragraph 51 (1) (b) | six | 6 |
Sub-section 52 (1) | fourteen | 14 |
Sub-section 54 (3) |
| $1,000 or imprisonment for 3 months |
Sub-section 56 (1) | (a) A person under this Part, | A person |
| $1,000 or imprisonment for 3 months | |
Sub-section 61 (1) |
| $1,000 or imprisonment for 3 months |
Paragraph 62 (1) (f) | twenty-one | 21 |
Sub-section 93 (2) | fourteen | 14 |
Sub-section 93 (3) | three (wherever occurring) | 3 |
Paragraph 93 (6) (a) | (3); | (3); or |
Paragraph 93 (6) (b) | three | 3 |
Paragraph 93 (6) (d) | one month | 1 month |
Paragraph 93 (6) (e) | one month | 1 month |
Paragraph 94 (2) (b) | thirty | 30 |
Sub-section 105 (1) | (a) 1932-1973 | |
(b) three | 3 | |
(c) seven | 7 | |
Sub-section 105 (2) | fourteen | 14 |
Sub-section 105a (1) | the commencement of section 21 | 1 August 1974 |
Sub-section 105a (2) | the date of commencement of section 21 | 1 August 1974 |
Sub-section 106 (1) | (a) the date of commencement of section 21 | 1 August 1974 |
(b) 1932-1973 | ||
(c) seven | 7 | |
Sub-section 107 (1) |
| 1 February 1975 |
Sub-paragraph 107 (2) (a) (i) | the date of commencement of section 21 | 1 August 1974 |
Sub-paragraph 107 (2) (a) (ii) | the date referred to in sub-paragraph (i) | 1 August 1974 |
Paragraph 107 (2) (b) | the date of commencement of section 21 | 1 August 1974 |
Section 108 |
| 1 August 1974 |
| 3 months after 1 August 1974 | |
(c) that commenced on that date | that commenced on 1 August 1974 | |
Sub-section 109 (1) | the date of commencement of section 21 | 1 August 1974 |
Provision amended | Omit— | Substitute— | |
Section 119 | 1959-1967 | ||
Section 125 | 30th June | 30 June | |
Sub-section 127 (2) | 1905-1966 | ||
Sub-section 128 (2) |
| $1,000 or imprisonment for 3 months | |
Section 129 | three | 3 | |
Paragraph 132 (f) | (a) One thousand dollars | $1,000 | |
(b) three | 3 | ||
SCHEDULE— | |||
| (a) twenty-eight (wherever occurring) | 28 | |
| $500,000 | ||
(c) 31st December (wherever occurring) | 31 December | ||
SCHEDULE— | |||
| (a) twenty-eight | 28 | |
(b) 1959-1967 (wherever occurring) | |||
(c) 30th June (wherever occurring) | 30 June | ||
(d) 31st December (wherever occurring) | 31 December | ||
(e) sixty (wherever occurring) | 60 | ||
SCHEDULE— | |||
| (a) 30th April | 30 April | |
(b) 31st December (wherever occurring) | 31 December | ||
(c) six | 6 | ||
SCHEDULE— | |||
| (a) 31st March | 31 March | |
(b) 31st December (wherever occurring) | 31 December | ||
(c) twenty-eight | 28 | ||
(d) nine | 9 | ||
(e) six | 6 | ||
SCHEDULE— | |||
| twenty-eight | 28 | |
SCHEDULE— | |||
| fourteen | 14 | |
SCHEDULE— | |||
| fourteen | 14 | |
SCHEDULE— | |||
| twenty-one | 21 | |
SCHEDULE— | |||
| 1959-1967 | ||
SCHEDULE— | |||
| 1936-1972 (wherever occurring) | ||
————
INTERIM APPLICATION OF SECTION 29 OF THE INSURANCE ACT 1973 TO PRESCRIBED BODIES CORPORATE
TABLE A
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 |
Reference
in Section 29 of the | First Interim Year | Second Interim Year | Third Interim Year | Fourth Interim Year |
(a) $500,000 | $200,000 | $200,000 | $300,000 | $400,000 |
(b) $1,000,000 | $100,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 | $750,000 |
TABLE B
First Interim Year | Second Interim Year | Third Interim Year | Fourth Interim Year |
15% | 15% | 17.5% | 17.5% |
1. No. 76, 1973, as amended. For previous amendments, see No. 216, 1973; No. 157, 1976; and No. 31, 1977.
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