Australian Film, Television and Radio School (Purchase and Disposal of Assets) Regulations 2017

Administered by Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Legislation au F2017L01013 Regulations In force Legislative Instrument

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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Australian Film, Television and Radio School Act 1973

Australian Film, Television and Radio School (Purchase and Disposal of Assets) Regulations 2017

Issued by the Authority of the Minister for the Arts

 

Authority

The Governor-General has made the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (Purchase and Disposal of Assets) Regulations 2017 (the new Regulations) under paragraphs 40(1)(a), (b) and (c), and section 51 of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School Act 1973 (the Act).

Paragraphs 40(1)(a) and (b) of the Act provide that Ministerial approval is required for acquisitions or disposals of property by the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS) exceeding $250,000 or, if a higher amount is prescribed, that higher amount. Paragraph 40(1)(c) provides that Ministerial approval is required for the School to enter into a contract for construction of a building for the School with a value exceeding $50,000 or a higher prescribed amount.

Section 51 of the Act provides that the Governor-General may make regulations prescribing all matters required or permitted by the Act to be prescribed, or necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to the Act.

Subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 relevantly provides that where an Act confers a power to make an instrument of a legislative character (including regulations), the power shall be construed as including a power exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like conditions to repeal, rescind, revoke, amend, or vary any such instrument. The new Regulations repeal the Australian Film, Television and Radio School Regulations 1986 (the sunsetting Regulations).

Purpose and operation

The Act establishes AFTRS as a body corporate. Section 6 of the Act relevantly empowers AFTRS to enter into contracts; to erect buildings; to occupy, use and control any land or building owned or held under lease by the Commonwealth and made available for the purposes of AFTRS; to acquire, hold and dispose of real or personal property; and to accept gifts, devises and bequests made to AFTRS and to act as trustee of moneys or other property vested in AFTRS upon trust.

The sunsetting Regulations prescribe the value for the phrase ‘higher amount’ in relation to the purchase and disposal of assets. Following a review of the sunsetting Regulations, and consultation with AFTRS, it was determined that the Regulations continue to be required.

The new Regulations reflect the sunsetting Regulations.

The new Regulations are a legislative instrument for the purposes of section 8 of the Legislation Act 2003.

The notes on the provisions of the new Regulations are set out in Attachment A.

Consultation

AFTRS was consulted throughout the process of preparing the new Regulations.

Regulatory Impact

The Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR) has advised that, the remaking of the sunsetting Regulations will not have a regulatory impact, as the regulations apply to a government entity. Therefore, no further action is required under the Government’s regulatory impact analysis requirements. The OBPR reference number is 22480.

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

A statement of compatibility with human rights for the purposes of Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 is set out in Attachment B.

Attachment A

Notes on the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (Purchase and Disposal of Assets) Regulations 2017

Part 1 – Preliminary

Division 1 - Preliminary

Section 1 Name

Section 1 provides that the name of the instrument is the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (Purchase and Disposal of Assets) Regulations 2017 (the Regulations).

Section 2 Commencement

Section 2 provides that the Regulations commence on the day after they are registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.

Section 3 Authority

Section 3 provides that the authority for making the Regulations is the Australian Film, Television and Radio School Act 1973 (the Act). The applicable provisions that give authority are paragraphs 40 (1)(a), (b) and (c), and section 51 of the Act.

Section 4 Schedule 3

Section 4 provides that each instrument that is specified in Schedule 3 is amended or repealed as set out in the respective item.

Section 5 Higher amounts-purchase and disposal of assets

Section 5 provides that $1,000,000 is prescribed as the ‘higher amount’ for the purposes of paragraphs 40(1)(a), (b) and (c) of the Act.

Schedule 1 Repeals

Schedule 1 repeals the sunsetting Australian Film, Television and Radio School Regulations 1986.

 


Attachment B

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

 

Australian Film, Television and Radio School (Purchase and Disposal of Assets) Regulations 2017

 

These Regulations are compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

 

Overview of the Regulations

The Australian Film, Television and Radio School (Purchase and Disposal of Assets) Regulations 2017 (the new Regulations) is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2003.

The new Regulations are prepared under paragraphs 40(1)(a), (b) and (c), and section 51 of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School Act 1973 (the Act), and repeal and remake the Australian Film, Television and Radio School Regulations 1986 (the sunsetting Regulations), due to sunset on 1 April 2018.

The sunsetting Regulations set the value for the phrase the ‘higher amount’ in relation to the purchase and disposal of assets. Consultation with AFTRS has determined that the sunsetting Regulations are still required and will therefore be remade.

The new Regulations contain minor non-substantive amendments that reflect current drafting practices.

 

Human rights implications

The new Regulations do not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.

AFTRS is established as a body corporate under section 4 of the Act. The new Regulations will only impact AFTRS and will not inhibit the rights of any natural persons.

Conclusion

The Regulations are compatible with human rights as they do not raise any human rights issues.

 

 

 

Overview

The Australian Film, Television and Radio School (Purchase and Disposal of Assets) Regulations 2017 were enacted to provide continued regulatory oversight of the acquisition and disposal of assets by the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS), as required under the Australian Film, Television and Radio School Act 1973. The Act established AFTRS as a body corporate and empowered it to engage in various activities including the purchase and disposal of assets. The Regulations were introduced by the Governor-General under the authority conferred by the Act, specifically paragraphs 40(1)(a), (b) and (c), and section 51, to ensure that significant financial decisions such as the purchase or disposal of assets exceeding a certain value require Ministerial approval. The policy objective is to maintain proper financial oversight and accountability in the operations of AFTRS, ensuring that substantial transactions are subject to appropriate scrutiny. The new Regulations replace the Australian Film, Television and Radio School Regulations 1986, which were set to sunset, reflecting a continued need for such regulatory measures while incorporating minor drafting updates.

Scope and Application

The Australian Film, Television and Radio School Act 1973 establishes AFTRS as a body corporate with various powers, including the ability to enter into contracts, acquire and dispose of property, and accept gifts. The Act is applicable to AFTRS as an entity, and the geographic reach is federal, applying throughout Australia. The Act mandates Ministerial approval for property acquisitions or disposals exceeding $250,000 or a higher prescribed amount, as well as for contracts for building construction exceeding $50,000 or a higher prescribed amount. The Australian Film, Television and Radio School (Purchase and Disposal of Assets) Regulations 2017, made under the Act, repeal the 1986 regulations and set $1,000,000 as the threshold for Ministerial approval. These regulations apply to AFTRS, and no exclusions, exemptions, or additional thresholds are specified beyond those mentioned. The Act and its subordinate regulations do not extend beyond federal jurisdiction and apply solely to AFTRS, ensuring compliance with legislative requirements for significant financial transactions.

Key Provisions

The Australian Film, Television and Radio School (Purchase and Disposal of Assets) Regulations 2017 (new Regulations) govern the acquisition and disposal of assets by the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS) (sections 1 to 5). They specify the threshold for the value of assets that require Ministerial approval for purchase or disposal, and for contracts for the construction of buildings (section 5). These Regulations were made under the authority provided by paragraphs 40(1)(a), (b), and (c), and section 51 of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School Act 1973 (Act) and repeal the Australian Film, Television and Radio School Regulations 1986 (suntsetting Regulations). The Act establishes AFTRS as a body corporate with the capacity to enter into contracts, acquire and dispose of property, and manage funds and property held in trust (section 6 of the Act). The new Regulations impose specific requirements on AFTRS regarding the purchase and disposal of assets. For instance, AFTRS must obtain Ministerial approval for the acquisition or disposal of any property exceeding $250,000 or the prescribed higher amount, which is set at $1,000,000 (section 5). Similarly, for contracts related to the construction of buildings, AFTRS must secure Ministerial approval if the contract value exceeds $50,000 or the prescribed higher amount (section 5). Failure to comply with the requirements outlined in the new Regulations could lead to legal consequences. However, the text does not explicitly state specific offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance. Given the regulatory nature of these provisions, breaches could potentially result in legal actions, financial liabilities, or the nullification of transactions. The absence of explicit penalties in the text suggests that further clarification might be found in the Act or other related legal instruments. These Regulations are compatible with human rights, as affirmed in the Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights (Attachment B). The new Regulations do not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms and will only impact AFTRS without inhibiting the rights of any natural persons. This compatibility ensures that the regulations align with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.