Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner (Consequential Provisions) Act 1987

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Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner (Consequential Provisions) Act 1987

No. 99 of 1987

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

PART I—PRELIMINARY

Section

1. Short title

2. Commencement

PART II—AMENDMENTS OF THE COMPANIES ACT 1981

3. Principal Act

4. Application for winding-up

PART III—AMENDMENTS OF THE INSURANCE ACT 1973

5. Principal Act

6. Interpretation

7. Repeal of sections 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18 and 19 and substitution of new section:

8. General administration of Act

8. Repeal of section 20

9. Secrecy

PART IV—AMENDMENTS OF THE INSURANCE (AGENTS AND BROKERS) ACT 1984

10. Principal Act

11. Interpretation

12. Insurance intermediaries other than brokers to operate under written agreements

13. Brokers not to carry on business unless registered


TABLE OF PROVISIONS—continued

Section

14. Applications for registration

15. Registration of brokers

16. Registers to be kept

17. Inspection of Registers, accounts and contracts

18. Delay in registration or renewal

19. Suspension or cancellation of registration

20. Insurance broking accounts

21. Hearing before making adverse decision

22. Application for review

23. Statement to accompany notice of decisions

24. Certain particulars to be included in reports

25. Delegation

PART V—AMENDMENTS OF THE LIFE INSURANCE ACT 1945

26. Principal Act

27. Interpretation

28. Repeal of sections 9, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f, 9g and 9h and substitution of new section:

9. General administration of Act

29. Repeal of section 10a

PART VI—AMENDMENTS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE ACT 1922

30. Principal Act

31. Officers engaged in eligible public employment

PART VII—TRANSITIONAL

32. Transitional—acts and things done by or in relation to the Insurance Commissioner before commencement etc.

33. Transitional—acts and things done by or in relation to the Life Insurance Commissioner before commencement etc.

Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner (Consequential Provisions) Act 1987

No. 99 of 1987

 

An Act to amend certain Acts in consequence of the enactment of the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner Act 1987, and for related purposes

[Assented to 5 November 1987]

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, and the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:

PART I—PRELIMINARY

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner (Consequential Provisions) Act 1987.

Commencement

2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner Act 1987 comes into operation.


PART II—AMENDMENTS OF THE COMPANIES ACT 1981

Principal Act

3. The Companies Act 19811 is in this Part referred to as the Principal Act.

Application for winding-up

4. Section 363 of the Principal Act is amended:

(a) by omitting paragraph (1) (h) and substituting the following paragraph:

(h) the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner appointed under the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner Act 1987;; and

(b) by omitting from subsection (2) Insurance Commissioner and substituting Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner.

PART III—AMENDMENTS OF THE INSURANCE ACT 1973

Principal Act

5. The Insurance Act 19732 is in this Part referred to as the Principal Act.

Interpretation

6. Section 3 of the Principal Act is amended:

(a) by omitting from subsection (1) the definition of Commissioner and substituting the following definition:

“‘Commissioner means the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner appointed under the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner Act 1987, or a person for the time being acting as Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner under that Act;; and

(b) by omitting from subsection (1) the definition of Acting Insurance Commissioner.

7. Sections 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18 and 19 of the Principal Act are repealed and the following section is substituted:

General administration of Act

8. Subject to any directions of the Treasurer, the Commissioner shall have the general administration of this Act..

Repeal of section 20

8. Section 20 of the Principal Act is repealed.


Secrecy

9. Section 126 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting subsection (1) and substituting the following subsection:

(1) Subsection (2) applies to:

(a) any person who is or has been the Commissioner or a member of the staff assisting the Commissioner; and

(b) any person who, at any time before the commencement of this subsection, was the Insurance Commissioner or a member of the staff assisting the Insurance Commissioner..

PART IV—AMENDMENTS OF THE INSURANCE (AGENTS AND BROKERS) ACT 1984

Principal Act

10. The Insurance (Agents and Brokers) Act 19843 is in this Part referred to as the Principal Act.

Interpretation

11. Section 9 of the Principal Act is amended:

(a) by omitting the definition of Commissioner and substituting the following definition:

Commissioner means the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner appointed under the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner Act 1987, or a person for the time being acting as Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner under that Act;; and

(b) by omitting the definitions of Insurance Commissioner, Life Insurance Commissioner and relevant Commissioner.

Insurance intermediaries other than brokers to operate under written agreements

12. Section 10 of the Principal Act is amended:

(a) by omitting from subsection (4) relevant; and

(b) by omitting from subsection (5) A relevant Commissioner and substituting The Commissioner.

Brokers not to carry on business unless registered

13. Section 19 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from paragraph (1) (b) and subsection (3) relevant.


Applications for registration

14. Section 20 of the Principal Act is amended:

(a) by omitting subsection (1) and substituting the following subsection:

(1) A person who wants to be registered under this Part in respect of life insurance business or in respect of general insurance business may apply to the Commissioner accordingly.;

(b) by omitting from paragraph (2a) (b) relevant; and

(c) by omitting from paragraphs (3) (a) and (b) a Commissioner and substituting the Commissioner.

Registration of brokers

15. Section 21 of the Principal Act is amended:

(a) by omitting from subsections (1), (2) and (4) relevant;

(b) by omitting from subsection (4) that Commissioner (wherever occurring) and substituting the Commissioner; and

(c) by omitting from subsection (5) a Commissioner and substituting the Commissioner.

Registers to be kept

16. Section 22 of the Principal Act is amended:

(a) by omitting subsection (1) and substituting the following subsection:

(1) For the purposes of this Act, the Commissioner shall cause registers to be kept, to be known as the Register of Life Insurance Brokers and the Register of General Insurance Brokers.; and

(b) by omitting from subsection (2) relevant.

Inspection of Registers, accounts and contracts

17. Section 23 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from paragraphs (b) and (c) a Commissioner and substituting the Commissioner.

Delay in registration or renewal

18. Section 24 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from paragraphs (1) (a) and (b) and (2) (a) and (b) and subsections (3) and (4) relevant.

Suspension or cancellation of registration

19. Section 25 of the Principal Act is amended:

(a) by omitting from subsections (1), (3) and (5) relevant (wherever occurring); and

(b) by omitting from subsection (7) a Commissioner and substituting the Commissioner.


Insurance broking accounts

20. Section 26 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from subsection (3) relevant.

Hearing before making adverse decision

21. Section 41 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting A Commissioner and substituting The Commissioner.

Application for review

22. Section 42 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from subsection (1) a Commissioner and substituting the Commissioner.

Statement to accompany notice of decisions

23. Section 43 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from subsection (1) a Commissioner and substituting the Commissioner.

Certain particulars to be included in reports

24. Section 45 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting A relevant Commissioner and substituting The Commissioner.

Delegation

25. Section 47 of the Principal Act is amended:

(a) by omitting from subsection (1) A Commissioner and substituting The Commissioner;

(b) by omitting from subsections (2) and (3) a Commissioner and substituting the Commissioner; and

(c) by omitting from subsection (2) that Commissioner and substituting the Commissioner.

PART V—AMENDMENTS OF THE LIFE INSURANCE ACT 1945

Principal Act

26. The Life Insurance Act 19454 is in this Part referred to as the Principal Act.

Interpretation

27. Section 4 of the Principal Act is amended:

(a) by omitting from subsection (1) the definition of the Commissioner; and

(b) by inserting in subsection (1) the following definition in its appropriate alphabetical position (determined on a letter-by-letter basis):

Commissioner means the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner appointed under the Insurance and


Superannuation Commissioner Act 1987, or a person for the time being acting as Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner under that Act;.

28. Sections 9, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f, 9g and 9h of the Principal Act are repealed and the following section is substituted:

General administration of Act

9. Subject to any directions of the Treasurer, the Commissioner shall have the general administration of this Act..

Repeal of section 10a

29. Section 10a of the Principal Act is repealed.

PART VI—AMENDMENTS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE ACT 1922

Principal Act

30. The Public Service Act 19225 is in this Part referred to as the Principal Act.

Officers engaged in eligible public employment

31. Section 87c of the Principal Act is amended:

(a) by adding at the end of paragraph (4) (c) or; and

(b) by omitting paragraph (4) (d).

PART VII—TRANSITIONAL

Transitional—acts and things done by or in relation to the Insurance Commissioner before commencement etc.

32. (1) In this section:

(a) instrument means any instrument (including rules, regulations and by-laws) made, granted or issued pursuant to any Act; and

(b) a reference to a thing done by, or in relation to, the Insurance Commissioner includes a reference to a thing done by, or in relation to:

(i) a person acting as Insurance Commissioner; or

(ii) a delegate of the Insurance Commissioner.

(2) Any act or thing done at any time before the commencement of this Act by, or in relation to, the Insurance Commissioner, being an act or thing done pursuant to, or in relation to, the duties of the Insurance Commissioner under any Act, shall have such effects after the commencement of this Act as it would have if it had been done by, or in relation to, the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner pursuant to, or in relation to, the corresponding duties of the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner.


(3) Where, immediately before the commencement of this Act, there were pending in any court or tribunal any proceedings to which the Insurance Commissioner was a party, those proceedings may be continued after the commencement of this Act with the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner being substituted for the Insurance Commissioner as a party to the proceedings.

(4) A reference in any instrument to the Insurance Commissioner shall, in relation to any act or thing done, or to be done, after the commencement of this Act, be read as a reference to the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner.

Transitional—acts and things done by or in relation to the Life Insurance Commissioner before commencement etc.

33. (1) In this section:

(a) instrument means any instrument (including rules, regulations and by-laws) made, granted or issued pursuant to any Act; and

(b) a reference to a thing done by, or in relation to, the Life Insurance Commissioner includes a reference to a thing done by, or in relation to:

(i) a person acting as Life Insurance Commissioner; or

(ii) a delegate of the Life Insurance Commissioner.

(2) Any act or thing done at any time before the commencement of this Act by, or in relation to, the Life Insurance Commissioner, being an act or thing done pursuant to, or in relation to, the duties of the Life Insurance Commissioner under any Act, shall have such effects after the commencement of this Act as it would have if it had been done by, or in relation to, the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner pursuant to, or in relation to, the corresponding duties of the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner.

(3) Where, immediately before the commencement of this Act, there were pending in any court or tribunal any proceedings to which the Life Insurance Commissioner was a party, those proceedings may be continued after the commencement of this Act with the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner being substituted for the Life Insurance Commissioner as a party to the proceedings.

(4) A reference in any instrument to the Life Insurance Commissioner shall, in relation to any act or thing done, or to be done, after the commencement of this Act, be read as a reference to the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner.

 


NOTES

1. No. 89, 1981, as amended. For previous amendments, see No. 153, 1981; Nos. 26 and 80, 1982; No. 108, 1983; No. 13, 1984; Nos. 140, 192 and 193, 1985; Nos. 68 and 163, 1986; and No. 6, 1987.

2. No. 76, 1973, as amended. For previous amendments, see No. 216, 1973; No. 157, 1976; No. 31, 1977; Nos. 92 and 177, 1981; No. 26, 1982; Nos. 54 and 129, 1983; No. 72, 1984; No. 187, 1985; and No. 168, 1986.

3. No. 75, 1984, as amended. For previous amendments, see Nos. 76 and 168, 1986.

4. No. 28, 1945, as amended. For previous amendments, see Nos. 65 and 80, 1950; No. 94, 1953; No. 3, 1958; No. 93, 1959; No. 29, 1961; No. 145, 1965; Nos. 78 and 216, 1973; No. 32, 1977; No. 177, 1978; Nos. 92 and 176, 1981; No. 143, 1983; No. 74, 1984; and No. 65, 1985.

5. No. 21, 1922, as amended. For previous amendments, see No. 46, 1924; No. 41, 1928; No. 19, 1930; No. 21, 1931; No. 72, 1932; No. 38, 1933; Nos. 45 and 46, 1934; No. 72, 1936; No. 41, 1937; No. 72, 1939; No. 88, 1940; No. 5, 1941; No. 19, 1943; Nos. 11, 29 and 43, 1945; No. 16, 1946; Nos. 1, 38, 52 and 84, 1947; Nos. 35 and 75, 1948; Nos. 51 and 80, 1950; Nos. 46 and 48, 1951; No. 22, 1953; No. 63, 1954; No. 18, 1955; Nos. 13 and 39, 1957; No. 11, 1958; Nos. 17 and 105, 1960; Nos. 2 and 75, 1964; Nos. 47 and 85, 1966; Nos. 2 and 115, 1967; Nos. 59, 114 and 120, 1968; No. 6, 1972; Nos. 21, 71, 73 and 209, 1973; No. 59, 1974; No. 40, 1975; Nos. 193 and 194, 1976; Nos. 6 and 80, 1977; Nos. 36 and 170, 1978; Nos. 52 and 155, 1979; No. 177, 1980; No. 61, 1981; Nos. 26 and 80, 1982; No. 111, 1982 (as amended by No. 39, 1983); Nos. 39, 56 and 92, 1983; No. 63, 1984 (as amended by No. 165, 1984); No. 165, 1984; Nos. 65, 166 and 187, 1985; and Nos. 28, 29, 76 and 153, 1986.

[Ministers second reading speech made in—

House of Representatives on 18 September 1987

Senate on 6 October 1987]

Overview

The Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner (Consequential Provisions) Act 1987 was enacted to amend various Acts in response to the establishment of the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner under the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner Act 1987. The Act was assented to on 5 November 1987 by the Queen, in accordance with the authority of the Commonwealth Parliament. It addresses the legislative gaps created by the restructuring of the roles and responsibilities of the Insurance Commissioner and Life Insurance Commissioner into a single Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner, ensuring continuity and consistency in the administration of insurance and superannuation laws. This Act amends several principal Acts, including the Companies Act 1981, the Insurance Act 1973, the Insurance (Agents and Brokers) Act 1984, the Life Insurance Act 1945, and the Public Service Act 1922, by replacing references to the Insurance Commissioner and Life Insurance Commissioner with the new Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner. The transitional provisions ensure that actions taken by the former Commissioners prior to the commencement of this Act maintain their legal effect, and any ongoing legal proceedings involving the former Commissioners can continue with the new Commissioner as the party.

Scope and Application

The Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner (Consequential Provisions) Act 1987 applies to various entities and individuals within the Australian insurance and superannuation sectors, and it is designed to effect consequential amendments to a number of other legislative instruments in light of the enactment of the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner Act 1987. This Act amends the Companies Act 1981, the Insurance Act 1973, the Insurance (Agents and Brokers) Act 1984, the Life Insurance Act 1945, and the Public Service Act 1922. It modifies definitions, repeals and substitutes sections, and generally aligns the referenced Acts with the new regime established under the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner Act 1987. This Act is of Commonwealth nature and applies across Australia, impacting entities such as insurance companies, brokers, and public service officers engaged in eligible public employment. The Act does not specify exclusions or exemptions but ensures that any actions taken by the former Insurance Commissioner or Life Insurance Commissioner prior to the commencement of this Act will have the same legal effect as if performed by the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner. Additionally, the Act may be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments as necessary to implement its provisions effectively.

Key Provisions

The Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner (Consequential Provisions) Act 1987 makes several amendments to existing legislation in response to the creation of the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner role under the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner Act 1987. Key provisions include amendments to the Companies Act 1981, the Insurance Act 1973, the Insurance (Agents and Brokers) Act 1984, the Life Insurance Act 1945, and the Public Service Act 1922. For instance, Section 4 of the Act amends the Companies Act 1981 to replace references to the Insurance Commissioner with the Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner in the context of winding-up applications. In the Insurance Act 1973, Section 6 amends the definition of "Commissioner" to reflect the new role, while Section 7 repeals certain sections and replaces them with a new general administration provision in Section 8. Furthermore, Section 12 of the Insurance (Agents and Brokers) Act 1984 mandates that insurance intermediaries other than brokers must operate under written agreements, and Section 13 ensures that brokers cannot carry on business unless registered. These amendments impose several obligations on the parties and entities governed by the affected Acts. For example, under the revised Insurance (Agents and Brokers) Act 1984, insurance intermediaries must ensure they have written agreements in place if they are not registered brokers. Additionally, brokers must apply for and maintain registration with the Commissioner, as detailed in Sections 14 to 26. The Commissioner is also tasked with maintaining registers of life insurance and general insurance brokers, inspecting these registers, and managing the registration process, including handling delays, suspensions, and cancellations. Failure to comply with the provisions of the amended Acts can lead to various consequences. While the Act itself does not explicitly outline specific offences or penalties, the underlying Acts—such as the Insurance (Agents and Brokers) Act 1984—likely impose penalties for non-compliance. For instance, operating as an insurance broker without proper registration could result in fines or other legal actions under the Insurance (Agents and Brokers) Act 1984. Additionally, breaches of secrecy provisions, such as those found in the repealed Section 20 of the Insurance Act 1973, could lead to civil or criminal penalties, depending on the nature and severity of the breach. The exact penalties would be governed by the specific provisions of the Acts being amended.

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