Lands Acquisition Act 1936

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LANDS ACQUISITION.

No. 60 of 1936.

An Act to amend the Lands Acquisition Act 1906-1934.

[Assented to 28th. November, 1936.]

BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows :—

Short title and citation.

1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the Lands Acquisition Act 1936.

(2.) The Lands Acquisition Act 1906–1934 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Lands Acquisition Act 1906–1936.

Claim for compensation.

2. Section thirty-two of the Principal Act is amended by omitting sub-section (2.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-section:—

“(2.) A claim for compensation shall—

(a) be in accordance with such of the prescribed forms as is applicable to the case;

(b) set forth the total amount of compensation claimed and the amount (if any) attributable to each item in that prescribed form; and

Procedure on claim for compensation being received.

3. Section thirty-four of the Principal Act is amended by omitting sub-sections (2.) and (3.) and inserting in their stead the following sub-sections :—

“(2.) After the receipt of the report, the Minister shall—

(a) notify the claimant that he admits the claim for compensation ;

(b) notify the claimant that he admits the claim in respect of such items (if any) in the prescribed form as are specified in the notification, and that, in respect of each item in the prescribed form not so admitted, he offers such amount (if any) as is specified in the notification ; or

“(3.) The claimant shall, within sixty days after the receipt of an offer by the Minister in pursuance of paragraph (b) of the last preceding sub-section, by notice in writing notify the Minister whether he does or does not accept the offer.

“(4.) Where the Minister—

(a) notifies the claimant in accordance with paragraph (a) of sub-section (2.) of this section—the compensation claimed shall be paid to the claimant on compliance with this Act; or

(b) notifies the claimant in accordance with paragraph (b) of sub-section (2.) of this section—the whole amount of the compensation shall be paid to the claimant, on compliance with this Act, if he accepts the amounts offered by the Minister as specified in the notification.”.

4. Section thirty-seven of the Principal Act is amended by adding at the end thereof the following sub-sections :—

Action for compensation.

“(2.) The plaintiff shall, in his statement of claim, declaration, or other like document, specify the total amount of compensation claimed and the amount (if any) attributable to each item in the claim made in pursuance of section thirty-two of this Act.

“(3.) When an action for compensation has been instituted in respect of the acquisition of any parcel of land, the Court may, on the application of the Commonwealth, by order direct any other person who has claimed compensation in respect of the acquisition of that parcel of land, or who appears to have had, at the date of acquisition, an estate or interest in that parcel of land, to join as a plaintiff in the action within a time specified in the order.

“(4.) If any person so ordered fails to join as a plaintiff in the. action within the time specified in the order, he shall be absolutely debarred from thereafter instituting any action against the Commonwealth for compensation in respect of the acquisition of that parcel of land.

“(5.) When, by reason of the joinder of a new plaintiff or otherwise, the total compensation claimed in an action for compensation in a County Court, District Court, or Local Court exceeds the amount up to which that Court has jurisdiction, the action shall, on the application of the Commonwealth—

(a) to the High Court, be removed into the High Court; or

(b) to the Supreme Court, be removed into the Supreme Court, and shall thereafter proceed in the court to which it is removed as if it had been instituted in that court.

“(6.) If, in relation to the acquisition by the Commonwealth of any parcel of land, an action for compensation has been instituted in the High Court, and an action for compensation has also been instituted in another court, the action in that other court shall, on the application of the Commonwealth to the High Court, be removed into the High Court.

“(7.) The proceedings in the action, and such documents (if any) relating thereto as are tiled as of record in the court in which the action was instituted, shall be transmitted to the Registry of the High Court in the State or Territory in which the first-mentioned court is situated, or, if there is no such Registry, to the Principal Registry of the High Court.

“(8.) The provisions of sections forty-one and forty-three of the Judiciary Act 1903–1934 shall apply in relation to any action which is removed into the High Court in pursuance of sub-section (6.) of this section.

“(9.) On the trial of the action the Court shall—

(a) determine the total amount of compensation which would be payable by the Commonwealth to the plaintiff for the parcel of land acquired if no amount for enhancement in value were set off in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2.) of section twenty-eight of this Act;

(b) determine the amount (if any) attributable to each item in the prescribed form of claim;

(c) determine the amount of any enhancement in value to be set off in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2.) of section twenty-eight of this Act; and

(d) where two or more persons are entitled to share in the compensation, determine the amount payable to each person and the manner in which it shall be paid.”.

Determination of compensation on application of the Minister.

5. Section thirty-eight of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by omitting sub-section (2.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-sections:—

“(2.) The Court shall, after such notice to such persons as it directs, hear the application, and—

(a) determine the total amount of compensation which would be payable by the Commonwealth for the land acquired if no amount for enhancement in value were set off in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2.) of section twenty-eight of this Act;

(b) determine the amount (if any) attributable to each item in the prescribed form of claim;

(c) determine the amount of any enhancement in value to be set off in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2.) of section twenty-eight of this Act; and

(d) where two or more persons are entitled to share in the compensation, determine the amount payable to each person and the manner in which it shall be paid.

“(2a.) Where there are two or more claims in respect of the same parcel of land the claims shall be dealt with m the same application.” ; and

(b) by omitting sub-section (4.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-section :—

“(4.) The determination of the Court shall be final and conclusive and without appeal, and shall be binding upon all persons having any right to compensation in

respect of the acquisition of the parcel of land, whether those persons are represented before the Court on the hearing of the application or not.”.

Procedure to determine compensation where no claim made.

6. Section thirty-nine of the Principal Act is amended by omitting sub-section (4.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-section :—

“(4.) The Court shall, after such notice to such persons as it directs, hear the application, and—

(a) determine the amount of compensation which would be payable by the Commonwealth for the land acquired if no amount for enhancement in value were set off in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2.) of section twenty-eight of this Act;

(b) determine the amount of any enhancement in value to be set off in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2.) of section twenty-eight of this Act; and

(c) where two or more persons are entitled to share in the compensation, determine the amount payable to each person and the manner in which it shall be paid.”.

Overview

The Lands Acquisition Act 1936, enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament, was introduced to address gaps and deficiencies in the Lands Acquisition Act 1906-1934, commonly referred to as the Principal Act. This 1936 Act aimed to refine and update the legal framework governing the acquisition of land by the Commonwealth, ensuring that the processes for claiming and determining compensation were more precise and efficient. It provided clarity and structured procedures for claimants, including specific forms and timelines for claims, and established a formal process for the Minister to respond to these claims, thereby formalising the interaction between the Commonwealth and landholders regarding compensation. The policy objective of the Act was to streamline and formalise the compensation process for land acquired by the Commonwealth, ensuring fairness and efficiency in its administration.

Scope and Application

The Lands Acquisition Act 1936, which amends the Lands Acquisition Act 1906-1934, applies to all claims for compensation in relation to the acquisition of land by the Commonwealth government. The Act sets out the procedures for submitting a claim for compensation, including the requirement for the claim to be made in accordance with prescribed forms and to specify the total amount claimed and the amount attributable to each item. The Act applies to any person or entity who has an estate or interest in the land being acquired. The Act has a national jurisdictional reach as it is a Commonwealth Act. There are no stated exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds in the Act, meaning that all claims for compensation in relation to land acquisitions by the Commonwealth are subject to the provisions of the Act. The Act may be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, such as regulations or rules, made under the authority of the Act.

Key Provisions

The Lands Acquisition Act 1936 (C1936A00060) amends the Lands Acquisition Act 1906-1934 to update certain procedures regarding the acquisition of land and compensation. Section 2 revises the claim for compensation to require that it be submitted in a prescribed form, detailing the total amount claimed and the amount attributable to each item. Section 3 outlines the procedures following the receipt of a compensation claim, stipulating that the Minister must notify the claimant of the acceptance, partial acceptance, or dispute of the claim. The claimant has 60 days to respond if the Minister offers a partial acceptance. Section 4 provides for actions for compensation, specifying that the plaintiff must detail the total compensation claimed and the amount for each item. The Court can order other claimants to join the action, and failure to do so results in a permanent bar from future compensation claims. If the total compensation exceeds the jurisdictional limit of the court, the case can be transferred to a higher court. Section 5 details the process for determining compensation upon the Minister's application, including the finality of the Court's decision. Section 6 outlines the procedure for determining compensation when no claim has been made, similar to the provisions in section 5. The Act imposes several obligations on the parties involved in land acquisitions. Claimants must submit their claims in a prescribed form and detail the total compensation and each item's value. The Minister is obligated to notify the claimant of the status of their claim within specified timelines and provide reasons for partial acceptances or disputes. Claimants must respond within 60 days if the Minister offers a partial acceptance. The Court must hear applications for compensation and make binding decisions on the amount owed, which are final and without appeal. Failure to join an action as ordered by the Court results in a permanent bar from future compensation claims. The Act also outlines consequences for non-compliance. Under section 4, failure to join an action as directed by the Court results in an absolute bar from instituting any future action against the Commonwealth for compensation concerning the acquired land. Additionally, the Court's determination of compensation is final and conclusive, leaving no room for appeal, and binding on all parties, whether represented or not. While the Act does not explicitly list criminal penalties for non-compliance, the severe consequences, such as the permanent bar from compensation claims, serve as a strong deterrent against non-compliance.

Area of Law: Property Law
Instrument: Act
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Repeal & Amendment; Reporting & Disclosure Obligations; Enforcement Powers; Administrative Discretion

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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.

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