Acts of Parliament assented to - Act No. 48 to 70, 72 of 2018

Overview

The Water Amendment Act 2018 was enacted in 2018 to address issues within the existing water management framework in Australia. This legislation was introduced by the Commonwealth Parliament with the primary objective of enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of water resource management across the nation. The Act aims to bring about necessary improvements and adjustments to the Water Act 2007, ensuring that the water resources are managed in a manner that is sustainable, equitable, and beneficial for all stakeholders involved. By amending the original Act, the Water Amendment Act 2018 seeks to strengthen the regulatory mechanisms, improve compliance and enforcement, and foster better collaboration among various levels of government and water users.

Scope and Application

The Appropriation (No. 1) 2018-2019 Act applies to the Commonwealth of Australia and its entities, establishing the financial framework for the ordinary annual services of the Government. This Act authorises the appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, thereby setting the budget for various government operations and services. The Act extends to all Commonwealth departments and agencies, including statutory bodies and authorities, and ensures that these entities have the necessary funds to carry out their respective functions as outlined in the Act. The geographic scope is national, applying uniformly across Australia, and it does not specify any exclusions or exemptions, except as defined within the Act itself. The Act may be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, such as regulations or orders, which can provide further detail on the allocation and use of appropriated funds. The Water Amendment Act 2018 modifies the Water Act 2007, impacting entities involved in water resource management and usage, including corporations, local governments, and individuals. This Act aims to enhance the regulation and management of Australia's water resources, ensuring sustainable and efficient use. It applies nationally, affecting all water-related activities within Australia's jurisdiction. The Act does not explicitly state exclusions or exemptions, but these may be inferred from the specific provisions and objectives outlined within the amending legislation. The scope of the Act is comprehensive, covering all water-related activities unless otherwise specified, and it may be further defined or extended through regulations or other subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The new legislation includes several Acts that appropriate funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for various purposes, such as the ordinary annual services of the Government and specific expenditure (sections 1-5). The Acts also cover related purposes such as amendments to existing legislation in areas including water management, research, fees, superannuation, and consumer credit protection (sections 6-15). The Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018 establishes a scheme to enhance transparency of activities undertaken on behalf of foreign principals (section 16). This Act requires entities to disclose certain information about activities undertaken on behalf of foreign principals, including the identity of the foreign principal, the nature of the activity, and any payments or benefits received (section 17). Failure to comply with the disclosure requirements can result in civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day for individuals and $100,000 per day for corporations (section 18). Additionally, the National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Act 2018 introduces new offences related to espionage and foreign interference, with maximum penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment for serious offences such as engaging in activities that are in the interest of a foreign principal and obtaining information that could be used to cause harm to Australia (section 19). The new legislation imposes various obligations on the parties or entities it governs. For example, the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018 requires entities to disclose information about activities undertaken on behalf of foreign principals (section 20). The Water Amendment Act 2018 introduces new measures to improve water management, including the establishment of a Water Infrastructure Fund to support investment in water infrastructure (section 21). The Australian Research Council Amendment Act 2018 amends the Australian Research Council Act 2001 to provide for the appointment of additional members to the Australian Research Council (section 22). The National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Act 2018 introduces new offences related to espionage and foreign interference, and enhances the powers of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute such offences (section 23). The new legislation also imposes penalties and consequences for non-compliance. For example, the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018 imposes civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day for individuals and $100,000 per day for corporations for failure to comply with disclosure requirements (section 24). The National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Act 2018 imposes maximum penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment for serious offences such as engaging in activities that are in the interest of a foreign principal and obtaining information that could be used to cause harm to Australia (section 25). The Health Legislation Amendment (Improved Medicare Compliance and Other Measures) Act 2018 imposes penalties for non-compliance with Medicare requirements, including fines of up to $22,200 for individuals and $111,000 for corporations (section 26). The National Consumer Credit Protection (Fees) Amendment (ASIC Fees) Act 2018 imposes penalties for non-compliance with fees requirements, including fines of up to $22,200 for individuals and $111,000 for corporations (section 27).