International Finance Corporation Act 1955

International Finance Corporation Act 1955

No. 66, 1955

Compilation No. 4

Compilation date: 9 April 2026

Includes amendments: Act No. 35, 2026

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the International Finance Corporation Act 1955 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 9 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. The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au).

Application, saving and transitional provisions

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.

Editorial changes

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

Presentational changes

The Legislation Act 2003 provides for First Parliamentary Counsel to make presentational changes to a compilation. Presentational changes are applied to give a more consistent look and feel to legislation published on the Register, and enable the user to more easily navigate those documents.

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. Any modifications affecting the law are accessible on the Register.

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If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.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

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Interpretation

4 Membership of Australia of International Finance Corporation

4A Meaning of relevant financial obligation

5 Appropriation for relevant financial obligations

6 Regulations

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

An Act to approve Acceptance by Australia of Membership in the International Finance Corporation and for purposes connected therewith

1  Short title

  This Act may be cited as the International Finance Corporation Act 1955.

2  Commencement

  This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

3  Interpretation

  In this Act:

relevant financial obligation has the meaning given by section 4A.

the Agreement means the Articles of Agreement of the International Finance Corporation, done at Washington on 25 May 1955, as in force for Australia from time to time.

Note: The Agreement is in Australian Treaty Series 1956 No. 14 ([1956] ATS 14) and could in 2026 be viewed in the Australian Treaties Library on the AustLII website (https://www.austlii.edu.au).

4  Membership of Australia of International Finance Corporation

  The membership of Australia of the International Finance Corporation established under the Agreement is approved.

4A  Meaning of relevant financial obligation

 (1) For the purposes of this Act, a relevant financial obligation is an obligation of Australia (contingent or otherwise) for which the following requirements are satisfied:

 (a) the obligation requires (or could require) Australia to make one or more payments;

 (b) the obligation is undertaken or imposed under:

 (i) the Agreement; or

 (ii) an agreement or arrangement between Australia and the International Finance Corporation (other than an agreement mentioned in section 8CA of the International Monetary Agreements Act 1947); or

 (iii) a resolution adopted by the Board of Governors of the International Finance Corporation;

 (c) for an obligation undertaken or imposed under an agreement, arrangement or resolution mentioned in subparagraph (b)(ii) or (iii)—the agreement, arrangement or resolution relates to Australia:

 (i) purchasing or subscribing to shares of the capital stock of the International Finance Corporation; or

 (ii) purchasing a bond, debenture, convertible note or similar financial instrument issued by the International Finance Corporation; or

 (iii) granting a guarantee in support of the purpose of the International Finance Corporation; or

 (iv) providing any other form of financial accommodation in support of the purpose of the International Finance Corporation;

 (d) the obligation is not excluded by a determination under subsection (4).

 (2) However, for the purposes of this Act:

 (a) an obligation that is undertaken or imposed after the commencement of this section is a relevant financial obligation only if notice of the obligation has been given under subsection (5); and

 (b) an increase in an amount of a relevant financial obligation because of the variation of, or making of a new, agreement, arrangement or resolution after the commencement of this section is to be taken into account only if notice of the increase has been given under subsection (5).

 (3) To avoid doubt, for the purposes of subsection (2), the timing of when a contingency happens or may happen does not affect the timing of when a contingent obligation itself is undertaken or imposed.

Note: For example, an obligation to make one or more payments in response to a call on callable shares is undertaken or imposed when the callable shares are purchased or subscribed to (rather than when the call is made).

Minister may exclude obligations

 (4) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, determine that an obligation is excluded for the purposes of paragraph (1)(d).

Notification of new financial obligations

 (5) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, give notice of:

 (a) the undertaking or imposition of an obligation for the purposes of paragraph (2)(a); or

 (b) an increase in an amount for the purposes of paragraph (2)(b).

 (6) A legislative instrument under subsection (5) commences at the later of the following days or times:

 (a) the earliest day or time applicable under subsection 12(1) of the Legislation Act 2003;

 (b) the start of the day immediately after the last day on which a resolution referred to in subsection 42(1) of the Legislation Act 2003 disallowing the instrument could be passed.

5  Appropriation for relevant financial obligations

  The Consolidated Revenue Fund is appropriated for the purposes of making any payments necessary to meet relevant financial obligations.

6  Regulations

 (1) The Governor‑General may make regulations for carrying out or giving effect to the Agreement (other than Article VI).

 (2) Regulations so made shall have effect notwithstanding that the regulations are inconsistent with an Act or with an instrument having effect by virtue of an Act.

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.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.

If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

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

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history