Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers (Secretary) Delegations and Appointments Instrument 2025

Administered by Department of the Treasury

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Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers (Secretary) Delegations and Appointments Instrument 2025

made under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975

Compilation No. 1

Compilation date: 30 April 2026

Includes amendments: Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers (Secretary) Delegations and Appointments Amendment (No. 1) Instrument 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepared by The Treasury

About this compilation

       

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers (Secretary) Delegations and Appointments Instrument 2025 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 30 April 2026 (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 (www.legislation.gov.au). 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.

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.

Selfrepealing 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If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.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

Part 1—Preliminary

1 Name

3 Authority

4 Definitions

Part 2—Delegations

5 Delegations—General

6 Delegations—Regulatory Powers Act

Part 3—Appointments

7 Appointment of infringement officers

Part 4—Repeal of previous delegations

8 Repeal of previous delegations

Schedule 1—General delegations

Schedule 2—Regulatory Powers Act delegations

Schedule 3—Appointment of infringement officers

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

Part 1—Preliminary

 

1  Name

  This instrument is the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers (Secretary) Delegations and Appointments Instrument 2025.

3  Authority

  This instrument is made under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975.

4  Definitions

Note: Expressions have the same meaning in this instrument as in the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 as in force from time to time—see paragraph 13(1)(b) of the Legislation Act 2003.

  In this instrument:

Commissioner means the Commissioner of Taxation.

EL2 employee means an APS employee who has been allocated an Executive Level 2 classification.

SES Band 2 employee means an SES employee who has been allocated an SES Band 2 classification.

SES Band 3 employee means an SES employee who has been allocated an SES Band 3 classification.

the Act means the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975.

Treasury means the Department of the Treasury.

Part 2—Delegations

5  Delegations—General

  Under subsection 137(3) of the Act, each item of the table in Schedule 1 specifies a function or power that is delegated to the person or persons referred to in that item in the table (being the persons for the time being holding, acting or performing the duties of the respective offices or positions in the Treasury or the Australian Taxation Office that are specified).

6  Delegations—Regulatory Powers Act

 (1) Under subsection 100(4A) of the Act, each item of Table 1 in Schedule 2 specifies a function or power under the Regulatory Powers Act that is delegated to the person or persons referred to in that item in the table (being the persons for the time being holding, acting or performing the duties of the respective offices or positions in the Treasury that are specified).

 (2) Under subsection 101F(3) of the Act, each item of Table 2 in Schedule 2 specifies a function or power under the Regulatory Powers Act that is delegated to the person or persons referred to in that item in the table (being the persons for the time being holding, acting or performing the duties of the respective offices or positions in the Treasury that are specified).

Part 3—Appointments

7  Appointment of infringement officers

  Under subsection 100(3) of the Act, each item of the table in Schedule 3 specifies the person or persons (being the persons for the time being holding, acting or performing the duties of the respective offices or positions in the Treasury that are so specified) appointed as infringement officers for the purposes of this Act.

Part 4—Repeal of previous delegations

8  Repeal of previous delegations

 (1) All previous delegations of the Secretary’s functions or powers under the Act to APS employees in the Treasury are revoked.

 (2) All previous appointments of infringement officers made by the Secretary under the Act to APS employees in the Treasury are revoked.

Schedule 1—General delegations

Note:  See section 5.

 

Item

Function or power

Description of the function or power

Delegates

1

subsection 100(3) of the Act

appointment of infringement officers

(a) All SES employees in the Treasury

(b) The Commissioner

2

section 101E of the Act

appointment of authorised officer

(a) All SES Band 3 employees in the Treasury

(b) All SES Band 2 employees in the Treasury

3

subsection 135(1) of the Act

approval of the manner or form for giving a notice or making an application

(a) All SES employees in the Treasury

3A

subsection 135(2A) of the Act

satisfaction that strict compliance with an approved manner or an approved form is not required in relation to a particular notice or application

(a) All SES employees in the Treasury

(b) All EL2 employees in the Treasury

(c) The Commissioner

4

section 135A of the Act

serving documents without leave of court in some cases

(a) All SES employees in the Treasury

(b) All EL2 employees in the Treasury

Note: The descriptions of the functions or powers in the table are for the purpose of assisting readers only. The descriptions are not intended to affect the interpretation or limit the function or power referred to in the table.

Schedule 2—Regulatory Powers Act delegations

Note:  See section 6.

 

TABLE 1

Item

Function or power

Description of the function or power

Delegates

1

section 105 of the Regulatory Powers Act (as it applies to the Act)

extensions of time to pay amount for infringement notice

(a) All SES employees

2

section 106 of the Regulatory Powers Act (as it applies to the Act)

withdrawal of an infringement notice

(a) All SES employees

Note: The descriptions of the functions or powers in the table are for the purpose of assisting readers only. The descriptions are not intended to affect the interpretation or limit the function or power referred to in the table.

 

TABLE 2

Item

Function or power

Description of the function or power

Delegates

1

section 35 of the Regulatory Powers Act (as it applies to the Act)

issue of an identity card to an authorised person (monitoring powers)

(a) All SES employees

2

section 66 of the Regulatory Powers Act (as it applies to the Act)

return of seized things under Part 3 of the Regulatory Powers Act

(a) All SES employees

3

section 67 of the Regulatory Powers Act (as it applies to the Act)

apply to an issuing officer permitting the retention of a thing seized under Part 3 of the Regulatory Powers Act

(a) All SES employees

4

section 68 of the Regulatory Powers Act (as it apples to the Act)

disposal of a thing seized under Part 3 of the Regulatory Powers Act

(a) All SES employee

5

section 76 of the Regulatory Powers Act (as it applies to the Act)

issue of an identity card to authorised person (investigation powers)

(a) All SES employees

Note: The descriptions of the functions or powers in the table are for the purpose of assisting readers only. The descriptions are not intended to affect the interpretation or limit the function or power referred to in the table.

Schedule 3—Appointment of infringement officers

Note:  See section 7.

 

Item

Power to appoint

Function or role

Appointments

1

subsection 100(3) of the Act

infringement officers

(a) All SES employees

(b) All EL2 employees

Note: The descriptions of the functions or powers in the table are for the purpose of assisting readers only. The descriptions are not intended to affect the interpretation or limit the function or power referred to in the table.

 

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About 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.

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 2—Abbreviation key

 

ad = added or inserted

orig = original

am = amended

par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)

amdt = amendment

/subsubparagraph(s)

c = clause(s)

pres = present

C[x] = Compilation No. x

prev = previous

Ch = Chapter(s)

(prev…) = previously

def = definition(s)

Pt = Part(s)

Dict = Dictionary

r = regulation(s)/rule(s)

disallowed = disallowed by Parliament

reloc = relocated

Div = Division(s)

renum = renumbered

exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have

rep = repealed

effect

rs = repealed and substituted

F = Federal Register of Legislation

s = section(s)/subsection(s)

gaz = gazette

Sch = Schedule(s)

LA = Legislation Act 2003

Sdiv = Subdivision(s)

LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003

SLI = Select Legislative Instrument

(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment

SR = Statutory Rules

cannot be given effect

SubCh = SubChapter(s)

mod = modified/modification

SubPt = Subpart(s)

No. = Number(s)

underlining = whole or part not

o = order(s)

commenced or to be commenced

Ord = Ordinance

 

 

 

 

 

 

Endnote 3—Legislation history

 

Name

Registration

Commencement

Application, saving and transitional provisions

Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers (Secretary) Delegations and Appointments Instrument 2025

9 October 2025

(F2025N00816)

10 October 2025

Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers (Secretary) Delegations and Appointments Amendment (No. 1) Instrument 2026

29 April 2026

(F2026N00288)

30 April 2026

 

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

Provision affected

How affected

Part 1

 

s2

rep LA s48D

s4

am F2026N00288

Schedule 1

 

table item 1

table item 3

table item 3A

am F2026N00288

am F2026N00288

ad F2026N00288

 

Overview

The Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers (Secretary) Delegations and Appointments Instrument 2025 was enacted to provide a framework for the delegation of specific functions and powers under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 to certain officers within the Department of the Treasury and the Australian Taxation Office. This instrument was prepared by The Treasury and outlines the delegations of authority and appointments necessary for the effective administration of the Act. It was made under the authority of the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 and came into effect on 10 October 2025, with subsequent amendments incorporated on 30 April 2026. The policy objective of this instrument is to ensure that the administrative functions and regulatory powers under the Act are efficiently managed by appropriately qualified personnel within the specified government departments.

Scope and Application

The Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers (Secretary) Delegations and Appointments Instrument 2025, compiled as at 30 April 2026, governs the delegation of specific functions and powers under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 to certain officials within the Department of the Treasury and the Australian Taxation Office. This instrument delegates a range of functions to Senior Executive Service (SES) employees and other specified officers, including the appointment of infringement officers, the satisfaction of strict compliance requirements for notices or applications, and the approval of the manner or form for giving notices or making applications. It also outlines the appointment of authorised officers and details the delegation of specific powers under the Regulatory Powers Act, such as issuing identity cards and dealing with seized items. Notably, the instrument revokes all previous delegations and appointments made by the Secretary under the Act to Australian Public Service employees in the Treasury, replacing them with the current delegations and appointments. The instrument applies across Australia, reflecting the national scope of the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975.

Key Provisions

The Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers (Secretary) Delegations and Appointments Instrument 2025 (the Instrument) under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (the Act) sets out the delegations of specific functions and powers to certain officials within the Treasury and the Australian Taxation Office, as well as the appointment of infringement officers. Section 5 of the Instrument details the delegation of functions and powers to various employees within the Treasury, such as the appointment of infringement officers by all Senior Executive Service (SES) employees (Schedule 1, item 1), the appointment of authorised officers by SES Band 3 and SES Band 2 employees (Schedule 1, item 2), and the approval of the manner or form for giving a notice or making an application by all SES employees (Schedule 1, item 3). Additionally, Schedule 1, item 3A, specifies that the satisfaction of strict compliance with an approved manner or form is not required in relation to a particular notice or application, which is delegated to all SES employees, EL2 employees, and the Commissioner. Furthermore, Section 6 of the Instrument details the delegation of functions and powers under the Regulatory Powers Act to certain officials within the Treasury, such as the extension of time to pay an amount for an infringement notice and the withdrawal of an infringement notice by all SES employees (Schedule 2, Table 1, items 1 and 2). The obligations and requirements imposed by the Instrument on the parties or entities it governs include the delegation of specific functions and powers to certain officials within the Treasury and the Australian Taxation Office. These officials are required to perform their duties as specified in the Instrument, such as the appointment of infringement officers, the appointment of authorised officers, and the approval of the manner or form for giving a notice or making an application. Moreover, the Instrument requires the revocation of all previous delegations of the Secretary’s functions or powers under the Act to APS employees in the Treasury and all previous appointments of infringement officers made by the Secretary under the Act to APS employees in the Treasury (Section 8). Any breaches of the obligations and requirements imposed by the Instrument may result in civil or criminal consequences, depending on the nature and severity of the breach. The Act provides for penalties for offences related to the contravention of its provisions, including fines and imprisonment. However, the specific penalties for breaches of the Instrument are not detailed within the text of the Instrument itself. For detailed information on the penalties applicable to breaches of the Act, one would need to refer to the relevant sections of the Act. It is essential for the parties or entities governed by the Instrument to adhere to the specified delegations and appointments to ensure compliance with the Act and avoid potential legal repercussions.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Commercial Law
International Trade Law
Instrument
Instrument
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Delegations & Appointments
Enforcement Powers
Regulatory Standards

Interactions

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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.