Future Drought Fund (Consequential Amendments) Act 2019

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Future Drought Fund (Consequential Amendments) Act 2019

 

No. 56, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

An Act to deal with consequential matters arising from the enactment of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019, and for other purposes

 

 

Contents

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Schedules

Schedule 1—General amendments

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land and Sea Future Fund Act 2018

COAG Reform Fund Act 2008

DisabilityCare Australia Fund Act 2013

Future Fund Act 2006

Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015

Nationbuilding Funds Act 2008

Regional Investment Corporation Act 2018

Schedule 2—Abolition of the Building Australia Fund

Part 1—Amendments

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land and Sea Future Fund Act 2018

COAG Reform Fund Act 2008

DisabilityCare Australia Fund Act 2013

Future Fund Act 2006

Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015

Nationbuilding Funds Act 2008

Part 2—Transitional provisions

Schedule 3—Technical corrections

DisabilityCare Australia Fund Act 2013

 

 

 

Future Drought Fund (Consequential Amendments) Act 2019

No. 56, 2019

 

 

 

An Act to deal with consequential matters arising from the enactment of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019, and for other purposes

[Assented to 30 July 2019]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

  This Act is the Future Drought Fund (Consequential Amendments) Act 2019.

2  Commencement

 (1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Commencement information

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provisions

Commencement

Date/Details

1.  Sections 1 to 3 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table

The day this Act receives the Royal Assent.

30 July 2019

2.  Schedules 1 and 2

At the same time as the Future Drought Fund Act 2019 commences.

However, the provisions do not commence at all if that Act does not commence.

1 September 2019

3. Schedule 3

The day after this Act receives the Royal Assent.

31 July 2019

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Act.

 (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this Act.

3  Schedules

  Legislation that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.

Schedule 1—General amendments

 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land and Sea Future Fund Act 2018

1  At the end of paragraph 16(a)

Add:

 or (vi) paragraph 16(e) of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019;

2  At the end of paragraph 16(b)

Add:

 or (vi) paragraph 16(f) of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019;

3  At the end of paragraph 16(c)

Add:

 or (vi) a paragraph of section 16 of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019;

COAG Reform Fund Act 2008

4  Subsection 5(2) (after note 2AA)

Insert:

Note 2AB: An amount originating in the Future Drought Fund may be transferred to the COAG Reform Fund—see the Future Drought Fund Act 2019.

5  After paragraph 7(1)(baa)

Insert:

 (bab) the grant is not covered by section 36AB of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019; and

6  Subsection 7(3) (after note 1AA)

Insert:

Note 1AB: The provision referred to in paragraph (1)(bab) deals with the channelling, through the COAG Reform Fund, of State/Territory grants payments from the Future Drought Fund established by the Future Drought Fund Act 2019. For terms and conditions of those grants, see the Future Drought Fund Act 2019.

DisabilityCare Australia Fund Act 2013

7  After subparagraph 16(a)(ii)

Insert:

 (iia) paragraph 16(e) of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019; or

8  After subparagraph 16(b)(ii)

Insert:

 (iia) paragraph 16(f) of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019; or

9  After subparagraph 16(c)(ii)

Insert:

 (iia) a paragraph of section 16 of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019; or

Future Fund Act 2006

10  Section 4 (note)

After “functions under”, insert “the Future Drought Fund Act 2019,”.

11  Section 5

Insert:

Drought Minister has the same meaning as in the Future Drought Fund Act 2019.

Future Drought Fund means the Future Drought Fund established by section 10 of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019.

Future Drought Fund Special Account means the Future Drought Fund Special Account established by section 13 of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019.

12  Section 13 (note 2A)

After “Fund to”, insert “the Future Drought Fund,”.

13  After paragraph 28(5)(a)

Insert:

 (aa) the Future Drought Fund Act 2019;

14  After paragraph 28(5)(c)

Insert:

 (ca) subsection 52(1) of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019;

15  Section 33 (note)

After “functions under”, insert “the Future Drought Fund Act 2019,”.

16  After subparagraph 35(b)(i)

Insert:

 (ia) the Future Drought Fund Act 2019; or

17  Before paragraph 55(3)(a)

Insert:

 (aa) the Future Drought Fund Act 2019; and

18  After paragraph 63(1)(a)

Insert:

 (aa) the Future Drought Fund Act 2019; or

19  After paragraph 63(2)(a)

Insert:

 (aaa) the Future Drought Fund Act 2019; or

20  After subsection 81(1)

Insert:

Future Drought Fund

 (1AA) A report under subsection (1) for a period must include a report of the following during the period:

 (a) the performance of the investments of the Future Drought Fund;

 (b) the total amount debited from the Future Drought Fund Special Account for the purpose mentioned in paragraph 16(d) of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019;

 (c) the total amount debited from the Future Drought Fund Special Account for the purpose mentioned in paragraph 17(d) of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019;

 (d) the total amount debited from the Future Drought Fund Special Account for the purpose mentioned in paragraph 17(e) of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019;

 (e) the total amount debited from the Future Drought Fund Special Account for the purpose mentioned in paragraph 17(f) of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019.

21  After subsection 81(2)

Insert:

 (2AA) A report under this section must include a benchmark in relation to the amounts referred to in paragraphs (1AA)(b) to (e).

22  Before paragraph 81(4)(b)

Insert:

 (aa) the Drought Minister;

23  After paragraph 83B(1)(a)

Insert:

 (aa) subsection 52(1) of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019; or

24  After subparagraph 84(1)(b)(i)

Insert:

 (ia) a provision of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019;

25  After subparagraph 84(1)(b)(iii)

Insert:

 (iiia) the Future Drought Fund Special Account; or

26  After subsection 84(1)

Insert:

Transfer of amounts to the Future Drought Fund Special Account

 (1A) If an amount is credited to the Fund Account under subsection (1), the nominated Minister may, by writing, direct that a specified amount is to be:

 (a) debited from the Fund Account; and

 (b) credited to the Future Drought Fund Special Account;

on a specified day.

27  Paragraph 84(5)(b)

After “subsections”, insert “(1A),”.

28  Subsection 84(6)

After “subsection”, insert “(1A),”.

29  After subparagraph 2(2)(a)(i) of Schedule 2

Insert:

 (ia) paragraph 16(e) of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019; or

30  After subparagraph 2(2)(b)(i) of Schedule 2

Insert:

 (ia) paragraph 16(f) of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019; or

31  After subparagraph 2(2)(c)(i) of Schedule 2

Insert:

 (ia) a paragraph of section 16 of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019; or

32  Clause 1 of Schedule 2A

After “Fund to”, insert “the Future Drought Fund,”.

33  After clause 1 of Schedule 2A

Insert:

1A  Transfers from the Future Fund to the Future Drought Fund

 (1) If an amount is debited from the Future Drought Fund Special Account for a purpose mentioned in section 17 of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019, the nominated Minister may, by writing, direct that a specified amount is to be:

 (a) debited from the Fund Account; and

 (b) credited to the Future Drought Fund Special Account;

on a specified day.

 (2) The specified amount must not exceed the amount debited from the Future Drought Fund Special Account as mentioned in subclause (1).

 (3) A direction under subclause (1) is not a legislative instrument.

Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015

34  At the end of paragraph 19(a)

Add:

 or (v) paragraph 16(e) of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019;

35  At the end of paragraph 19(b)

Add:

 or (v) paragraph 16(f) of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019;

36  At the end of paragraph 19(c)

Add:

 or (v) a paragraph of section 16 of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019;

Nation‑building Funds Act 2008

37  After subparagraph 138(a)(v)

Insert:

 (va) paragraph 16(e) of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019; or

38  After subparagraph 138(b)(v)

Insert:

 (va) paragraph 16(f) of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019; or

39  After subparagraph 138(c)(v)

Insert:

 (va) a paragraph of section 16 of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019; or

Regional Investment Corporation Act 2018

40  Section 4

Insert:

drought resilience has the same meaning as in the Future Drought Fund Act 2019.

41  Paragraph 15(1)(e)

Omit “or the rules”, substitute “, the rules or the Future Drought Fund Act 2019”.

42  Subparagraph 17(2)(a)(viii)

Omit “or”.

43  At the end of paragraph 17(2)(a)

Add:

 (ix) drought resilience; or

44  Subsection 26(2) (note)

Omit “Note”, substitute “Note 1”.

45  At the end of subsection 26(2)

Add:

Note 2: The appointment of a Board member may also be terminated under section 30 of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019 (which deals with terminating the appointment of a Board member for failing to comply with disclosure of interest obligations).

Schedule 2—Abolition of the Building Australia Fund

Part 1—Amendments

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land and Sea Future Fund Act 2018

1  Subparagraph 16(a)(iv)

Omit “18(1)(j),”.

2  Subparagraph 16(b)(iv)

Omit “18(1)(k),”.

3  Subparagraph 16(c)(iv)

Omit “18(1) or”.

COAG Reform Fund Act 2008

4  Subsection 5(2) (note 2)

Repeal the note.

5  Paragraph 7(1)(b)

Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

 (b) the grant is not covered by subsection 197(2) of the Nationbuilding Funds Act 2008; and

6  Subsection 7(3) (note 1)

Omit “The provisions referred to in paragraph (1)(b) deal with”, substitute “The provision referred to in paragraph (1)(b) deals with”.

7  Subsection 7(3) (note 1)

Omit “the Building Australia Fund or”.

DisabilityCare Australia Fund Act 2013

8  Subparagraph 16(a)(iii)

Omit “18(1)(j),”.

9  Subparagraph 16(b)(iii)

Omit “18(1)(k),”.

10  Subparagraph 16(c)(iii)

Omit “18(1) or”.

Future Fund Act 2006

11  Section 5

Repeal the following definitions:

 (a) the definition of Building Australia Fund;

 (b) the definition of Building Australia Fund Special Account;

 (c) the definition of Communications Minister;

 (d) the definition of Energy Minister;

 (e) the definition of Infrastructure Minister;

 (f) the definition of Water Minister.

12  Section 13 (note 2A)

Omit “the Building Australia Fund,”.

13  Paragraph 28(5)(d)

Repeal the paragraph.

14  Subsections 81(1A) and (2A)

Repeal the subsections.

15  Paragraphs 81(4)(a), (c) and (e)

Repeal the paragraphs.

16  Paragraph 81(4)(f)

Omit “Minister;”, substitute “Minister.”.

17  Paragraph 81(4)(g)

Repeal the paragraph.

18  Paragraph 83B(1)(b)

Repeal the paragraph.

19  Subparagraph 84(1)(b)(iv)

Repeal the subparagraph.

20  Subsection 84(2)

Repeal the subsection.

21  Paragraph 84(5)(b)

Omit “(2),”.

22  Subsection 84(6)

Omit “(2),”.

23  Subparagraphs 2(2)(a)(ii), (b)(ii) and (c)(ii) of Schedule 2

Repeal the subparagraphs.

24  Clause 1 of Schedule 2A

Omit “the Building Australia Fund,”.

25  Clause 2 of Schedule 2A

Repeal the clause.

Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015

26  Subparagraph 19(a)(iii)

Omit “18(1)(j),”.

27  Subparagraph 19(b)(iii)

Omit “18(1)(k),”.

28  Subparagraph 19(c)(iii)

Omit “18(1) or”.

Nation‑building Funds Act 2008

29  Title

Omit “the Building Australia Fund and”.

30  Section 3

Omit:

 Chapter 2 sets up the Building Australia Fund, which will enhance the Commonwealth’s ability:

 (a) to make payments in relation to the creation or development of transport infrastructure; and

 (b) to make payments in relation to the creation or development of communications infrastructure; and

 (c) to make payments in relation to eligible national broadband network matters; and

 (d) to make payments in relation to the creation or development of energy infrastructure; and

 (e) to make payments in relation to the creation or development of water infrastructure.

31  Section 4

Repeal the following definitions:

 (a) the definition of BAF Communications Portfolio Special Account;

 (b) the definition of BAF Energy Portfolio Special Account;

 (c) the definition of BAF evaluation criteria;

 (d) the definition of BAF Infrastructure Portfolio Special Account;

 (e) the definition of BAF Water Portfolio Special Account;

 (f) the definition of balance of the Building Australia Fund;

 (g) the definition of Building Australia Fund;

 (h) the definition of Building Australia Fund investment function;

 (i) the definition of Building Australia Fund Investment Mandate;

 (j) the definition of Building Australia Fund Special Account;

 (k) the definition of Communications Department;

 (l) the definition of Communications Minister;

 (m) the definition of eligible national broadband network matter;

 (n) the definition of Energy Department;

 (o) the definition of Energy Minister;

 (p) the definition of Infrastructure Department;

 (q) the definition of Infrastructure Minister;

 (r) the definition of investment of the Building Australia Fund;

 (s) the definition of national broadband network;

 (t) the definition of payment in relation to the creation or development of communications infrastructure;

 (u) the definition of payment in relation to the creation or development of energy infrastructure;

 (v) the definition of payment in relation to the creation or development of transport infrastructure;

 (w) the definition of payment in relation to the creation or development of water infrastructure.

32  Section 4 (definition of value)

Repeal the definition, substitute:

value of an investment of the Education Investment Fund means the market value of the investment. For this purpose, disregard anything that would prevent or restrict conversion of a financial asset to money.

33  Section 4 (definitions of Water Department and Water Minister)

Repeal the definitions.

34  Subsection 7(1)

Omit “(1)”.

35  Subsection 7(2)

Repeal the subsection.

36  Chapter 2

Repeal the Chapter.

37  Subparagraphs 138(a)(i), (b)(i) and (c)(i)

Repeal the subparagraphs.

38  Section 147

Repeal the section.

39  Subsection 207(1)

Omit “147,”.

40  Subsection 207(3)

Omit “, 147”.

Part 2—Transitional provisions

41  Transitional—reporting obligations of the Future Fund Board of Guardians

Despite the repeal of sections 113 and 114 (reporting obligations) of the Nationbuilding Funds Act 2008 by this Schedule, those sections continue to apply, after the commencement of this item, in relation to:

 (a) the performance of the Future Fund Board of Guardians’ functions; and

 (b) the operation of the Board;

in respect of the repealed Building Australia Fund, as if the repeal of those sections had not happened.

42  Transitional—reports

Despite the amendments of section 81 of the Future Fund Act 2006 made by this Schedule, that section continues to apply, in relation to the annual report for the period in which this item commences, as if those amendments had not been made.

43  Transitional rules

(1) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, make rules prescribing matters of a transitional nature (including prescribing any saving or application provisions) relating to the amendments or repeals made by this Schedule.

(2) However, to avoid doubt, the rules may not do the following:

 (a) create an offence or civil penalty;

 (b) provide powers of:

 (i) arrest or detention; or

 (ii) entry, search or seizure;

 (c) impose a tax;

 (d) set an amount to be appropriated from the Consolidated Revenue Fund under an appropriation in this Act;

 (e) directly amend the text of this Act.

Schedule 3—Technical corrections

 

DisabilityCare Australia Fund Act 2013

1  Subparagraph 16(a)(iv)

Omit “19(a)”, substitute “18(e)”.

2  Subparagraph 16(a)(v)

Omit “16(a)”, substitute “15(e)”.

3  Subparagraph 16(b)(iv)

Omit “19(b)”, substitute “18(f)”.

4  Subparagraph 16(b)(v)

Omit “16(b)”, substitute “15(f)”.

5  Subparagraph 16(c)(iv)

Omit “paragraph 19(c)”, substitute “a paragraph of section 18”.

6  Subparagraph 16(c)(v)

Omit “paragraph 16(c)”, substitute “a paragraph of section 15”.

 

 

 

 

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—

House of Representatives on 22 July 2019

Senate on 23 July 2019]

 

(142/19)

 

Overview

The Future Drought Fund (Consequential Amendments) Act 2019, enacted by the Parliament of Australia on 30 July 2019, addresses the consequential amendments arising from the enactment of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019. This legislation aims to ensure the smooth integration of the new fund into existing frameworks by making necessary adjustments to several related acts. It includes general amendments to various acts, such as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land and Sea Future Fund Act 2018, the COAG Reform Fund Act 2008, and the DisabilityCare Australia Fund Act 2013, to reflect the provisions of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019. Additionally, the act abolishes the Building Australia Fund and includes transitional provisions to manage the shift from the old fund to the new one. The overarching policy objective is to facilitate the establishment and operation of the Future Drought Fund while ensuring consistency and coherence across relevant legislative instruments.

Scope and Application

The Future Drought Fund (Consequential Amendments) Act 2019 applies to several other Acts, including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land and Sea Future Fund Act 2018, the COAG Reform Fund Act 2008, the DisabilityCare Australia Fund Act 2013, the Future Fund Act 2006, the Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015, the Nation-building Funds Act 2008, and the Regional Investment Corporation Act 2018. The Act also applies to the Building Australia Fund, which is being abolished by this Act. The Act has a Commonwealth reach, applying across Australia. There are no stated exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds in the Act. However, the Act does extend or restrict application through subordinate instruments, such as legislative instruments, which may prescribe matters of a transitional nature relating to the amendments or repeals made by this Schedule.

Key Provisions

The Future Drought Fund (Consequential Amendments) Act 2019 (the Act) makes several amendments to existing legislation to align with the establishment of the Future Drought Fund. Section 1 of the Act states that it is the Future Drought Fund (Consequential Amendments) Act 2019, while Section 2 outlines the commencement dates for different parts of the Act. Sections 1 to 3 and other unspecified provisions commence on the day the Act receives Royal Assent, which was 30 July 2019. Schedules 1 and 2 commence on 1 September 2019, the same day as the Future Drought Fund Act 2019, provided that Act commences. Schedule 3 commences the day after the Act receives Royal Assent, which was 31 July 2019. The Act imposes several obligations and requirements on various funds and entities governed by the amended legislation. For instance, Section 4 of the Future Fund Act 2006 is amended to include references to the Future Drought Fund Act 2019 and defines terms such as "Drought Minister" and "Future Drought Fund Special Account." Similarly, the DisabilityCare Australia Fund Act 2013 is amended to incorporate references to the Future Drought Fund Act 2019 and its provisions. The Act also mandates the inclusion of specific reports and benchmarks in the annual reports of these funds, detailing the performance of investments and the amounts debited from the Future Drought Fund Special Account for various purposes. There are no explicit offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences mentioned within the Act itself for breaches of the amended provisions. However, the Act does outline restrictions on the types of rules the Minister can make under Section 42, prohibiting the creation of offences, civil penalties, or the provision of certain powers such as arrest or detention, and preventing the setting of tax amounts or direct amendments to the Act's text. These transitional rules are meant to ensure a smooth transition while avoiding unintended legal complications.

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Finance & Banking Law
Environmental Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Commencement Provisions
Repeal & Amendment
Transitional Provisions
Reporting & Disclosure Obligations
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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.