Lands Acquisition Regulations 1989

Administered by Department of Finance

Legislation au F1996B01160 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

Lands Acquisition Regulations 1989

Statutory Rules 1989 No. 111 as amended

made under the

Lands Acquisition Act 1989

This compilation was prepared on 4 March 2010
taking into account amendments up to SLI 2010 No. 22

Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
AttorneyGeneral’s Department, Canberra

Contents

 1 Name of Regulations [see Note 1]

 2 Interpretation 

 3 Exempt authorities 

 4 Specified circumstance — paragraph 21 (1) (b) of the Act 

 4A Specified circumstances — paragraph 21 (1) (b) of the Act (Pipeline Authority and its subsidiaries)             

 4B Specified circumstances — paragraph 21 (1) (b) of the Act (defence housing)             

 4C Specified circumstance – paragraph 21 (1) (b) of the Act (lease of township area vested in the Tiwi Aboriginal Land Trust)             

 5 Interest payable on compensation — interests other than mortgage interests             

 6 Interest payable in compensation 

 7A Specified circumstances — paragraph 117 (1) (b) of the Act (Pipeline Authority and its subsidiaries)             

 7B Specified circumstances — paragraph 117 (1) (b) of the Act (defence housing)             

 7C Specified circumstances — paragraph 117 (1) (b) of the Act (AlburyWodonga Development Corporation)             

 8 Prescribed address (Act s 137) 

Schedule 1 Exempt authorities 

Notes   

 

 

 

 

1 Name of Regulations [see Note 1]

  These Regulations are the Lands Acquisition Regulations 1989.

2 Interpretation

  In these Regulations, unless the contrary intention appears:

the Act means the Lands Acquisition Act 1989.

3 Exempt authorities

  For the purposes of paragraph (b) of the definition of Commonwealth authority in section 6 of the Act, each of the authorities specified in Column 2 in Schedule 1 is declared to be an exempt authority.

4 Specified circumstance — paragraph 21 (1) (b) of the Act

  The Act does not apply in relation to the acquisition by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission of an interest in land under section 14 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989 for the benefit of, or assistance to, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations.

4A Specified circumstances — paragraph 21 (1) (b) of the Act (Pipeline Authority and its subsidiaries)

  The Act does not apply in relation to an acquisition by the Pipeline Authority, or a subsidiary company of the Authority, of an interest in land (including land in a public park) by agreement, under the Pipeline Authority Act 1973.

4B Specified circumstances — paragraph 21 (1) (b) of the Act (defence housing)

  The Act does not apply in relation to the acquisition by the Commonwealth from the Defence Housing Authority of an interest in land, other than a freehold interest, for the purpose of providing housing to meet the operational needs of the Defence Force.

4C Specified circumstance – paragraph 21 (1) (b) of the Act (lease of township area vested in the Tiwi Aboriginal Land Trust)

 (1) The Act does not apply in relation to the acquisition by the Commonwealth of a lease of the land mentioned in subregulation (2) in the circumstance that the acquisition occurs in accordance with section 19A of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976.

 (2) The land is the parcel of land on Bathurst Island in the Northern Territory with an area of 454 hectares more or less, being Northern Territory Portion 6798, delineated on Survey Plan S2007/183 lodged with the Northern Territory SurveyorGeneral in Darwin.

 (3) This regulation ceases to have effect at the end of 31 March 2008.

5 Interest payable on compensation — interests other than mortgage interests

  For the purposes of subsection 91 (2) of the Act, the rate of interest payable on compensation is the rate that is the assessed secondary market yield, in respect of 5year nonrebate Treasury bonds, published by the Reserve Bank in respect of a month in respect of which the Commonwealth is liable to pay compensation to the relevant claimant under Part VII of the Act.

6 Interest payable in compensation

  For the purposes of subsection 115 (2) of the Act, the rate of interest payable on compensation is the rate that is the assessed secondary market yield, in respect of 5year nonrebate Treasury bonds, published by the Reserve Bank in respect of a month in respect of which the Commonwealth is liable to pay compensation to the relevant claimant under Part VIII of the Act.

7A Specified circumstances — paragraph 117 (1) (b) of the Act (Pipeline Authority and its subsidiaries)

  The Act does not apply in relation to a disposal by the Pipeline Authority, or a subsidiary company of the Authority, of an interest in land (including land in a public park) by agreement, under the Pipeline Authority Act 1973.

7B Specified circumstances — paragraph 117 (1) (b) of the Act (defence housing)

  The Act does not apply in relation to the disposal by the Commonwealth of an interest in land, other than a freehold interest, for the purpose of providing housing to meet the operational needs of the Defence Force.

7C Specified circumstances — paragraph 117 (1) (b) of the Act (Albury‑Wodonga Development Corporation)

  The Act does not apply in relation to the disposal by the AlburyWodonga Development Corporation of an interest in land for the purpose of managing or disposing of assets under the AlburyWodonga Development Act 1973.

8 Prescribed address (Act s 137)

  For subsection 137 (1) of the Act, the following address is prescribed:

  Secretary

  Department of Finance and Administration

  John Gorton Building

  King Edward Terrace

  CANBERRA   ACT   2600

Note   Subsection 137 (1) of the Act deals with addresses at which a document is to be given to the Minister.

Schedule 1 Exempt authorities

(regulation 3)

 

 

Column 1
Item No.

Column 2
Authority

1

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1A

Australian Dairy Corporation

2

Australian Dried Fruits Corporation

3

Australian Honey Board

3A

Australian Horticultural Corporation

3B

Australian Horticultural Research and Development Corporation

4

Australian Industry Development Corporation

4A

Australian Maritime Safety Authority

5

Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation

5A

Australian Meat and Livestock Research and Development Corporation

5B

Australian National Railways Commission

5BA

Australian National University

5C

Australian Postal Corporation

5D

Australian Securities Commission

5E

Australian Shipping Commission

5F

Australian Telecommunications Corporation

6

Australian Tobacco Board

7

Australian Wheat Board

8

Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation

9

Australian Wool Corporation

10

Commonwealth Banking Corporation

11

Commonwealth Development Bank

12

Commonwealth Savings Bank

13

Commonwealth Trading Bank

13B

Indigenous Business Australia

13C

Indigenous Land Corporation

14

Joint Coal Board

15

Reserve Bank of Australia

17

Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority

18

Special Broadcasting Service

 

Notes to the Lands Acquisition Regulations 1989

Note 1

The Lands Acquisition Regulations 1989 (in force under the Lands Acquisition Act 1989) as shown in this compilation comprise Statutory Rules 1989 No. 111 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

Table of Instruments

Year and
number

Date of notification
in Gazette or FRLI registration

Date of
commencement

Application, saving or
transitional provisions

1989 No. 111

7 June 1989

9 June 1989 (see Gazette 1989, No. S185)

 

1989 No. 274

19 Oct 1989

19 Oct 1989

1990 No. 291

21 Sept 1990

21 Sept 1990

1993 No. 56

4 May 1993

4 May 1993

1993 No. 325

10 Dec 1993

9 Nov 1993 (see r. 1)

R. 3

1994 No. 389

25 Nov 1994

25 Nov 1994

1995 No. 110

31 May 1995

1 June 1995

1995 No. 112

6 June 1995

6 June 1995

2000 No. 304

16 Nov 2000

16 Nov 2000

2004 No. 20

26 Feb 2004

26 Feb 2004

2004 No. 82

30 Apr 2004

30 Apr 2004

2005 No. 8

14 Feb 2005 (see F2005L00220)

15 Feb 2005

2005 No. 156

8 July 2005 (see F2005L01694)

9 July 2005

2005 No. 207 (a)

19 Sept 2005 (see F2005L02673)

1 Oct 2005 (see r. 2)

2007 No. 223

23 July 2007 (see F2007L02272)

24 July 2007

2010 No. 22

3 Mar 2010 (see F2010L00539)

4 Mar 2010

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted      am. = amended      rep. = repealed      rs. = repealed and substituted

Provision affected

How affected

R. 1.................

rs. 2000 No. 304

R. 4.................

rs. 1990 No. 291

R. 4A................

ad. 1994 No. 389

R. 4B................

ad. 1995 No. 112

R. 4C................

ad. 2007 No. 223

R. 7.................

rs. 1990 No. 291

 

rep. 2004 No. 82

R. 7A................

ad. 1994 No. 389

R. 7B................

ad. 1995 No. 112

R. 7C................

ad. 2004 No. 20

R. 8.................

rs. 2000 No. 304; 2005 No. 8

Schedule 1

 

Schedule 1............

am. 1989 No. 274; 1990 No. 291; 1993 Nos. 56 and 325; 1995 No. 110; 2005 Nos. 156 and 207; 2010 No. 22

Schedule 2

 

Schedule 2............

rep. 2000 No. 304

 

Overview

The Lands Acquisition Regulations 1989, enacted under the Lands Acquisition Act 1989, were introduced to provide a framework for the acquisition of land by the Commonwealth and its authorities. This legislation was developed by the Parliament of Australia to address the need for a consistent and fair process for acquiring land for public purposes, ensuring that landowners are adequately compensated and that the acquisitions are carried out in a transparent and lawful manner. The objective of these regulations is to detail the specific circumstances under which the Act applies, including exemptions for certain authorities and the rates of interest payable on compensation. These regulations serve as a crucial instrument in balancing the needs of the public with the rights of private landowners.

Scope and Application

The Lands Acquisition Regulations 1989, made under the Lands Acquisition Act 1989, apply to the acquisition and disposal of land by Commonwealth authorities. These regulations provide the framework for determining the compensation payable to landowners when their land is acquired by the Commonwealth or its instrumentalities. The Act applies to the Commonwealth and its authorities, except where specific exemptions are outlined in the regulations. The regulations specify certain circumstances where the Act does not apply, such as acquisitions by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, the Pipeline Authority, or in relation to defence housing. Additionally, the regulations establish the rate of interest payable on compensation for acquisitions and disposals, based on the assessed secondary market yield of 5-year non-rebate Treasury bonds. The scope of the Act and these regulations is limited by specified circumstances and exemptions, ensuring that certain acquisitions and disposals are conducted outside the purview of the Lands Acquisition Act 1989. The application of the Act and the regulations can be further refined through subordinate instruments, which may introduce additional specified circumstances or modify existing provisions.

Key Provisions

The Lands Acquisition Regulations 1989 (the Regulations) operate under the Lands Acquisition Act 1989 (the Act). They provide detailed provisions for the acquisition and disposal of land by the Commonwealth and certain specified authorities. The Regulations outline specific circumstances where the Act does not apply, determine the rate of interest payable on compensation for certain types of interests, and prescribe certain addresses relevant to the Act. They also specify certain authorities that are exempt from the Act's provisions and provide details on the prescribed address for certain statutory communications. The Regulations impose specific obligations on the parties involved in land acquisitions and disposals. For example, certain acquisitions and disposals by specified authorities, such as the Pipeline Authority, the Defence Housing Authority, and the Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation, are exempt from the Act's provisions (Regulations 4, 4A, 4B, 4C, 7A, 7B, and 7C). Additionally, the Regulations mandate that the rate of interest payable on compensation for certain interests is based on the assessed secondary market yield of 5-year non-rebate Treasury bonds published by the Reserve Bank (Regulations 5 and 6). Furthermore, the Regulations declare certain authorities as exempt authorities (Schedule 1) and prescribe an address for the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration for certain statutory communications (Regulation 8). Breach of the provisions of the Act or the Regulations can lead to various consequences. While the Act itself does not explicitly outline offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences, the failure to comply with the prescribed rates of interest on compensation or the non-application of the Act in specified circumstances could result in disputes or legal actions. Additionally, the non-compliance with the prescribed address for statutory communications could result in procedural issues or delays in legal processes. The maximum penalties for offences under the Act are not explicitly stated in the Regulations but would typically be determined by the relevant courts based on the nature and severity of the breach. The Regulations provide a comprehensive framework for land acquisition and disposal processes by the Commonwealth and specified authorities, ensuring clarity and compliance with the Act's objectives. They also establish specific circumstances where the Act does not apply, ensuring that certain acquisitions and disposals are governed by other legislation or authorities. The Regulations' obligations and requirements are essential for maintaining orderly and lawful land transactions within the scope of the Act.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Property Law
Instrument
Legislative Instrument
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Exempt authorities
Specified circumstances
Interest payable in compensation
Delegated & Subordinate Legislation

Interactions

Authorises

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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.