Lands Acquisition Regulations 2017

Administered by Department of Finance

Legislation au F2017L01562 Regulations In force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

Lands Acquisition Regulations 2017

made under the

Lands Acquisition Act 1989

Compilation No. 2

Compilation date: 13 December 2022

Includes amendments up to: F2022L01626

Registered: 21 December 2022

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Lands Acquisition Regulations 2017 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 13 December 2022 (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. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

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.

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. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Selfrepealing 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If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.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 Name

3 Authority

5 Definitions

6 Exempt authorities

7 Act does not apply to acquisitions of certain interests in land by the Commonwealth from Defence Housing Australia

8 Interest payable on compensation—interests other than mortgage interests

9 Interest payable on compensation payable under Part VIII of the Act

10 Act does not apply to disposal of certain interests in land by the Commonwealth for defence housing

11 Prescribed address for giving documents to Minister

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

1  Name

  This instrument is the Lands Acquisition Regulations 2017.

3  Authority

  This instrument is made under the Lands Acquisition Act 1989.

5  Definitions

  In this instrument:

Act means the Lands Acquisition Act 1989.

6  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 the following table is declared to be an exempt authority.

 

Exempt authorities

Item

Name of authority

1

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

3

Australian Maritime Safety Authority

4

Australian National University

5

Australian Postal Corporation

6

Australian Securities and Investment Commission

7

Indigenous Business Australia

8

Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation

9

Reserve Bank of Australia

10

Special Broadcasting Service Corporation

11

Wine Australia

 

7  Act does not apply to acquisitions of certain interests in land by the Commonwealth from Defence Housing Australia

  For the purposes of paragraph 21(1)(b) of the Act, the Act does not apply in relation to the acquisition by the Commonwealth of an interest in land, other than a freehold interest, in circumstances where the acquisition:

 (a) is from Defence Housing Australia; and

 (b) is for the purpose of providing housing to meet the operational needs of the Australian Defence Force.

8  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 set out for Commonwealth government 5year bonds in the table Capital Market Yields—Government Bonds—Monthly—F2.1, published by the Reserve Bank of Australia, 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.

Note: The table could in 2018 be viewed on the Reserve Bank of Australia website (http://www.rba.gov.au/statistics/tables/#interestrates).

9  Interest payable on compensation payable under Part VIII of the Act

  For the purposes of subsection 115(2) of the Act, the rate of interest payable on compensation is the rate set out for Commonwealth government 5year bonds in the table Capital Market Yields—Government Bonds—Monthly—F2.1, published by the Reserve Bank of Australia, 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.

Note: The table could in 2018 be viewed on the Reserve Bank of Australia website (http://www.rba.gov.au/statistics/tables/#interestrates).

10  Act does not apply to disposal of certain interests in land by the Commonwealth for defence housing

  For the purposes of paragraph 117(1)(b) of the Act, the Act does not apply in relation to the disposal by the Commonwealth of an interest in land, other than a freehold interest, in circumstances in which the disposal is for the purpose of providing housing to meet the operational needs of the Australian Defence Force.

11  Prescribed address for giving documents to Minister

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

  Department of Finance

  1 Canberra Avenue

  FORREST  ACT  2603

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

 

ad = added or inserted

o = order(s)

am = amended

Ord = Ordinance

amdt = amendment

orig = original

c = clause(s)

par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)

C[x] = Compilation No. x

/subsubparagraph(s)

Ch = Chapter(s)

pres = present

def = definition(s)

prev = previous

Dict = Dictionary

(prev…) = previously

disallowed = disallowed by Parliament

Pt = Part(s)

Div = Division(s)

r = regulation(s)/rule(s)

ed = editorial change

reloc = relocated

exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have

renum = renumbered

effect

rep = repealed

F = Federal Register of Legislation

rs = repealed and substituted

gaz = gazette

s = section(s)/subsection(s)

LA = Legislation Act 2003

Sch = Schedule(s)

LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003

Sdiv = Subdivision(s)

(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given

SLI = Select Legislative Instrument

effect

SR = Statutory Rules

(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment

SubCh = SubChapter(s)

cannot be given effect

SubPt = Subpart(s)

mod = modified/modification

underlining = whole or part not

No. = Number(s)

commenced or to be commenced

 

Endnote 3—Legislation history

 

Name

Registration

Commencement

Application, saving and transitional provisions

Lands Acquisition Regulations 2017

1 Dec 2017 (F2017L01562)

2 Dec 2017 (s 2(1) item 1)

 

Lands Acquisition Amendment Regulations 2018

30 Nov 2018 (F2018L01647)

1 Dec 2018 (s 2(1) item 1)

Finance Legislation Amendment (National Intermodal Corporation Limited and other Matters) Regulations 2022

12 Dec 2022 (F2022L01626)

Sch 1 (items 1–3): 13 Dec 2022 (s 2(1) item 1)

 

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

Provision affected

How affected

s 2.....................

rep LA s 48D

s 4.....................

rep LA s 48C

s 6.....................

am F2022L01626

s 8.....................

am F2018L01647

s 9.....................

am F2018L01647

Schedule 1................

rep LA s 48C

 

Overview

The Lands Acquisition Regulations 2017 were enacted to provide further detail and clarification on the procedures and processes for land acquisitions under the Lands Acquisition Act 1989. These regulations were made under the authority of the Act and serve to supplement the primary legislation by addressing specific operational aspects and providing a framework for the implementation of the Act. They were introduced to ensure that the acquisition of land by the Commonwealth is conducted in a transparent, efficient, and fair manner. The enacting body was the Parliament of Australia, with the objective of streamlining the land acquisition process while ensuring that the rights of landowners are adequately protected. These regulations cover a range of areas, including the identification of exempt authorities, the establishment of interest rates on compensation payments, and the exclusion of certain land acquisitions and disposals related to Defence Housing Australia from the scope of the Act. By doing so, the regulations aim to address specific gaps in the legislative framework, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of land acquisition processes undertaken by the Commonwealth.

Scope and Application

The Lands Acquisition Regulations 2017, made under the Lands Acquisition Act 1989, provide the framework for the acquisition and disposal of land by the Commonwealth. This instrument applies to all acquisitions and disposals of land by the Commonwealth, except those explicitly exempted by the Act or these Regulations. The scope of the Act encompasses various interests in land, including freehold, leasehold, easements, and other proprietary interests. It applies to any person or entity involved in the acquisition or disposal of land by or on behalf of the Commonwealth. Notably, the Act does not apply to acquisitions of non-freehold interests from Defence Housing Australia for the purpose of providing housing to meet the operational needs of the Australian Defence Force, nor to the disposal of non-freehold interests for the same purpose. The Regulations specify the interest rates payable on compensation, referencing the rates for Commonwealth government 5-year bonds published by the Reserve Bank of Australia. The geographic reach of this legislation is national, affecting all acquisitions and disposals of land across Australia. The Regulations can be further extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, which may modify or supplement the primary provisions of the Act.

Key Provisions

The Lands Acquisition Regulations 2017, made under the Lands Acquisition Act 1989, outline the framework for compensation, interest, and other provisions related to the acquisition or disposal of land by the Commonwealth. Section 6 of the Regulations identifies the exempt authorities, such as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the Reserve Bank of Australia, from which the Commonwealth may acquire land without the application of the Act. Sections 7 and 10 further clarify that the Act does not apply to acquisitions or disposals of certain interests in land by the Commonwealth from Defence Housing Australia for the purpose of providing housing to meet the operational needs of the Australian Defence Force. The Regulations impose various obligations on the parties involved in land acquisition or disposal processes. For instance, Section 8 specifies the rate of interest payable on compensation for interests other than mortgage interests, which is based on the rate set out for Commonwealth government 5-year bonds. Similarly, Section 9 details the interest payable on compensation for acquisitions under Part VIII of the Act. Additionally, Section 11 prescribes the address to which documents related to the Act must be sent to the Minister. Failure to comply with the provisions of the Regulations may result in various legal consequences. Although the Regulations themselves do not explicitly list offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance, breaches of the underlying Lands Acquisition Act 1989 could lead to civil or criminal liabilities. For instance, knowingly making a false statement under the Act could result in a penalty of up to 120 penalty units ($22,200) for individuals and 600 penalty units ($111,000) for bodies corporate, as per the Commonwealth’s Crimes Act 1914. These potential penalties underscore the importance of adhering to the procedural and substantive requirements set out in both the Act and the Regulations.

Legal classification tags

Instrument
Regulation
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Regulatory Standards
Reporting & Disclosure Obligations
Catchwords
Interest payable on compensation

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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.