EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
MARRIAGE ACT 196;
MARRIAGE REGULATIONS (Amendment)
(STATUTORY RULES 1990 No 246
The purpose of the amendment to the Marriage Regulations (the Principal Regulations) is to increase certain fees which may be charged by civil celebrants and marriage officers; fees payable for various applications, and increasing the period for notice of cancellation of a marriage to a celebrant attracting a full refund of the marriage fee.
A policy decision taken by the Attorney-General is 1982 stated a review of the fee schedule was to take place at intervals of not less than two years. The last amendments increasing fees were made in 1988.
The increase in the fee schedule reflects the movements in the Consumer Price Index for the period under review (January 1988 to December 1989).
Details of the Proposed Marriage Regulation (the Proposed Regulation) is as follows
Paragraph (a) amends Item 11 by increasing the fee payable on giving notice of intended marriage from $20 to $30.
Paragraph (b) amends Item 12 by increasing the fee payable in respect of solemnization of a marriage by a civil celebrant from $55 to $60.
Paragraph (c) and (d) amends Items 12A and 12B to provide for a travelling fee where the distance between the home of that celebrant and the place of marriage is not more than 30 kilometres - $12 for the whole or part of the (first 20 kilometres) and $6 for the whole or part of each additional 10 kilometres (including return journey).
Paragraph (e) amends Item 13 by increasing the fee payable on solemnization of a marriage by a marriage officer from $55 to $65.
Paragraph (f) amends Item 14 by increasing the fee payable on an application for shortening time for giving notice of intended marriage from $20 to $25.
Paragraph (a) amends Item 14 by increasing the fee payable on an application for dispensing with consent under section 15 from $20 to $25.
Paragraph (h) amends paragraph 5B(a)(i) by omitting “7 days” and substituting “14 days” where notice of cancellation is given to the celebrant.
(Authorized by the Minister of State for Justice and Consumer Affairs)