Marine Navigation Levy Collection Act 1989

Administered by Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Legislation au C2004A03910 In force Act

Legislation content

Marine Navigation Levy Collection Act 1989

No. 162, 1989

Compilation No. 7

Compilation date:   1 July 2016

Includes amendments up to: Act No. 59, 2015

Registered:    20 July 2016

 

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Marine Navigation Levy Collection Act 1989 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 1 July 2016 (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If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.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 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Definitions

4 Application to Crown

5 Appointment of authorised person

6 Liability to levy

7 When levy is payable

8 To whom levy is payable

9 Recovery of levy

10 Detention of ship

11 Rights of agent etc. who has paid levy

12 Regulations

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

An Act to provide for the collection of the levy imposed by the Marine Navigation Levy Act 1989, and for related purposes

1  Short title

  This Act may be cited as the Marine Navigation Levy Collection Act 1989.

2  Commencement

  This Act commences on the day on which the Marine Navigation Levy Act 1989 commences.

3  Definitions

  In this Act:

Australian port means a place appointed, proclaimed or prescribed as a port under the Customs Act 1901, or under a law of a State or the Northern Territory.

authorised person means a person appointed under section 5.

Collector means:

 (a) a Collector within the meaning of the Customs Act 1901; or

 (b) an authorised person.

exempt ship means a ship declared by the regulations to be an exempt ship.

home port, in relation to a ship, means the port notified by the ship’s owner or agent as the ship’s home port in a written notice to a Collector at that port.

levy means the levy payable in accordance with this Act and imposed by the Levy Act.

Levy Act means the Marine Navigation Levy Act 1989.

officer of Customs has the same meaning as in the Customs Act 1901.

quarter means a period of 3 months commencing on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July or 1 October in any year.

seagoing ship includes a ship which, in the course of a voyage to or from an Australian port, passes an AMSA aid to navigation (as defined in the Navigation Act 2012).

ship includes every description of vessel used in navigation not ordinarily propelled by oars only.

4  Application to Crown

  This Act binds the Crown in right of each of the States, of the Australian Capital Territory and of the Northern Territory.

5  Appointment of authorised person

 (1) The Minister may, in writing, appoint a person to be an authorised person for the purposes of this Act.

 (2) The Minister may, in writing, delegate the power of appointment under subsection (1) to an officer of the Department.

6  Liability to levy

 (1) Levy is payable in respect of a seagoing ship, other than an exempt ship.

 (2) The following persons are jointly and separately liable to pay any levy that is payable in respect of a ship:

 (a) the ship’s owner or master;

 (b) an agent or consignee of the ship who has paid, or is liable to pay, any charge on account of the ship.

7  When levy is payable

 (1) Levy in respect of a ship which trades solely between Australian ports (other than a ship to which subsection (2) applies) is payable on the first day of each quarter.

 (2) Levy in respect of a ship is payable on the day on which the ship leaves an Australian port if the ship:

 (a) is being first placed in commission after construction in that port; or

 (b) is usually employed or moored within the limits of that port; or

 (c) is an exempt ship on arrival at that port and stops being an exempt ship while in that port; or

 (d) is placed in commission at that port, or is to be sent to sea from that port, after a period in respect of which levy was remitted under the regulations.

 (3) Levy in respect of a ship (other than a ship to which subsection (1) or (2) applies) is payable:

 (a) where levy has not previously been paid in respect of the ship—on the day of its arrival at an Australian port; or

 (b) where the ship arrives at an Australian port 3 months or more after the day on which levy was last payable in respect of the ship—on the day of its arrival at that port; or

 (c) where the ship is in an Australian port on the day after the end of the period of 3 months after the day on which levy was last payable in respect of the ship—on the day after the end of that period.

 (4) Levy is not payable in respect of a ship under subsection (3) merely because the ship arrives at, or is in, an Australian port:

 (a) to take aboard water, provisions or fuel to be used by it for completing a voyage; or

 (b) to engage or discharge a member of the crew; or

 (c) to disembark a passenger or a member of the crew for medical treatment; or

 (d) for shelter, repairs or refitting.

 (5) Levy is not payable under this section in respect of a ship more than 4 times in any period of 12 consecutive months.

8  To whom levy is payable

 (1) Levy payable under subsection 7(1) must be paid:

 (a) to a Collector at the ship’s home port; or

 (b) to a Collector at such other Australian port as the owner or agent of the ship has specified in a written notice given, before the day on which the levy is payable, to a Collector at the ship’s home port.

 (2) Levy payable under subsection 7(2) must be paid:

 (a) to a Collector at the Australian port referred to in that subsection; or

 (b) to a Collector at such other Australian port as the owner or agent of the ship has specified in a written notice given, before the day on which the levy is payable, to the Collector at that port.

 (3) Levy payable under subsection 7(3) must be paid to a Collector at the Australian port referred to in that subsection.

 (4) The payment of levy may be made:

 (a) personally; or

 (b) by post addressed to the Collector; or

 (c) as otherwise prescribed.

9  Recovery of levy

  Levy payable in respect of a ship may be recovered in any court of summary jurisdiction by proceedings in the name of a Collector.

10  Detention of ship

 (1) Any ship in respect of which levy is payable may be detained by any officer of Customs at any Australian port until the levy is paid.

 (2) While a ship is detained under subsection (1), a person does not have the power of seizure provided for by section 123 of the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 in relation to the ship.

11  Rights of agent etc. who has paid levy

  The agent or consignee of a ship who has paid an amount of levy in respect of the ship may, out of any money received on account of the ship, or belonging to the owner of it, retain an amount that is not more than the amount of levy so paid.

12  Regulations

 (1) The GovernorGeneral may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing matters:

 (a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or

 (b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.

 (2) Without limiting subsection (1), the regulations may provide for the refund or remission (in whole or in part) of an amount of levy paid or payable in respect of a ship in such circumstances as are specified in the regulations.

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 the amendment to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, the amendment is incorporated into the compiled law and the abbreviation “(md)” added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the abbreviation “(md not incorp)” is added to the details of the amendment included in 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

 

Act

Number and year

Assent date

Commencement
date

Application, saving and transitional provisions

Marine Navigation Levy Collection Act 1989

162, 1989

18 Dec 1989

1 July 1990 (s 2)

 

Marine Navigation (Regulatory Functions) Levy Collection Act 1991

41, 1991

27 Mar 1991

1 July 1991

Protection of the Sea Legislation Amendment Act 2008

94, 2008

3 Oct 2008

Sch 3 (item 1): 3 Oct 2008 (s 2(1) item 7)

Personal Property Securities (Consequential Amendments) Act 2009

131, 2009

14 Dec 2009

Sch 3 (items 2, 3): 30 Jan 2012 (s 2(1) item 1)

Navigation (Consequential Amendments) Act 2012

129, 2012

13 Sept 2012

Sch 2 (items 19–21): 1 July 2013 (s2(1) item 2)

Statute Law Revision Act 2012

136, 2012

22 Sept 2012

Sch 6 (items 47, 48): 22 Sept 2012 (s 2(1) item 37)

Norfolk Island Legislation Amendment Act 2015

59, 2015

26 May 2015

Sch 2 (item 246): 1 July 2016 (s 2(1) item 5)
Sch 2 (items 356–396): 18 June 2015 (s 2(1) item 6)

Sch 2 (items 356–396)

as amended by

 

 

 

 

Territories Legislation Amendment Act 2016

33, 2016

23 Mar 2016

Sch 2: 24 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 2)

 

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

Provision affected

How affected

s 3.....................

am. No. 94, 2008; No. 129, 2012

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

am No 59, 2015

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

rs. No. 41, 1991

s 10....................

am. No. 131, 2009

s 13....................

rep. No. 136, 2012

Schedule.................

rep. No. 136, 2012

 

Overview

The Marine Navigation Levy Collection Act 1989 was enacted to address the need for a structured framework to facilitate the collection of the levy imposed by the Marine Navigation Levy Act 1989. This Act was introduced to ensure that the collection process of the levy, which is intended to fund navigational aids and maritime safety services, is organised and efficiently managed. The Act was passed by the Commonwealth Parliament and outlines the procedures for levy collection, including the appointment of authorised persons, the determination of levy liability, the timing and method of levy payments, and the mechanisms for levy recovery. The primary policy objective of the Act is to provide a clear and enforceable legal framework to support the effective collection of marine navigation levies, thereby supporting maritime safety and navigational infrastructure in Australian waters.

Scope and Application

The Marine Navigation Levy Collection Act 1989 applies to sea-going ships that are used in navigation and are not ordinarily propelled by oars only. The Act binds the Crown in right of each of the States, the Australian Capital Territory, and the Northern Territory, indicating its comprehensive jurisdictional reach across Australia. The Act imposes a levy on ships that are not exempt and stipulates that the levy is payable by the ship's owner or master, or an agent or consignee of the ship who has paid or is liable to pay a charge on account of the ship. The levy is payable on the first day of each quarter for ships trading solely between Australian ports, on the day the ship leaves an Australian port under certain conditions, or upon the ship’s arrival at an Australian port under various circumstances. Notably, the Act does not require the payment of levy if a ship arrives in an Australian port to take aboard water, provisions, or fuel, to engage or discharge crew, to disembark a passenger or crew member for medical treatment, or for shelter, repairs, or refitting. The levy cannot be imposed more than four times in any 12-month period. The Act extends its application through subordinate regulations, which may provide for the refund or remission of the levy under specified circumstances.

Key Provisions

The Marine Navigation Levy Collection Act 1989 (the "Act") provides the legal framework for the collection of the levy imposed by the Marine Navigation Levy Act 1989. The Act is structured into several key sections that outline the provisions for levy collection, the parties involved, and the consequences of non-compliance. The Act commences on the same day as the Marine Navigation Levy Act 1989. The primary sections of the Act outline the levy's applicability and the parties responsible for its payment. According to section 6, the levy is payable for sea-going ships, excluding those designated as exempt ships under the regulations. The ship's owner or master, along with any agent or consignee who has paid or is liable to pay charges related to the ship, are jointly and severally liable for the levy, as stated in section 7(2). The timing of the levy payment is specified in section 7, which stipulates that the levy is payable on the first day of each quarter for ships trading solely between Australian ports, on the ship's departure from an Australian port if it is being placed in commission or is usually employed within the port, or upon the ship's arrival at an Australian port if it has not been paid previously or if it arrives 3 months or more after the last payable date. The levy is not payable if the ship is in port for specific reasons, such as taking on supplies or medical treatment, as detailed in section 7(4). The payment of the levy is directed to a Collector at the ship’s home port or a specified Australian port, as per section 8. The Act imposes certain obligations on the parties it governs. For example, ship owners and masters must ensure the levy is paid in accordance with the Act, and any agent or consignee must make the necessary payment. Furthermore, the ship may be detained by an officer of Customs until the levy is paid if it is outstanding, as outlined in section 10. In addition, the Act allows the agent or consignee who has paid the levy to retain an amount not exceeding the levy paid from any money received on account of the ship or belonging to the ship's owner, as specified in section 11. Breaches of the Act can lead to significant penalties and consequences. Section 9 allows the levy to be recovered through proceedings in a court of summary jurisdiction by a Collector. Additionally, the detention of a ship under section 10 until the levy is paid serves as a direct enforcement mechanism. Failure to comply with the Act could result in the ship being held at port, which can have severe implications for the ship's operations and the parties involved. The Act does not specify maximum penalties for non-compliance, but legal action could lead to financial and operational disruptions for the defaulting parties.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Marine Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Liability to levy
Recovery of levy
Regulatory Standards

Interactions

Authorises

All Versions

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.