Narcotic Drugs (Licence Charges) Act 2016

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Legislation au C2016A00075 In force Act

Legislation content

Narcotic Drugs (Licence Charges) Act 2016

No. 75, 2016

Compilation No. 1

Compilation date: 1 December 2022

Includes amendments up to: Act No. 70, 2022

Registered: 6 December 2022

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Narcotic Drugs (Licence Charges) Act 2016 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 1 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If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.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 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Definitions

4 Crown to be bound

5 Extension to external Territories

6 Imposition of charges

7 By whom charges payable

8 Amounts of charges

9 Regulations

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

An Act to impose charges relating to licences granted under the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967, and for related purposes

1  Short title

  This Act is the Narcotic Drugs (Licence Charges) Act 2016.

2  Commencement

 (1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Commencement information

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provisions

Commencement

Date/Details

1.  Sections 1 and 2 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table

The day this Act receives the Royal Assent.

23 November 2016

2.  Sections 3 to 9

The later of:

(a) immediately after the commencement of Schedule 1 to the Narcotic Drugs Amendment Act 2016; and

(b) the start of the day this Act receives the Royal Assent.

23 November 2016

(paragraph (b) applies)

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Act.

 (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this Act.

3  Definitions

  In this Act:

charge means charge imposed by this Act.

licence means a licence granted under the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967.

4  Crown to be bound

  This Act binds the Crown in each of its capacities. However, it does not bind the Crown in right of the Commonwealth.

5  Extension to external Territories

  This Act extends to every external Territory.

6  Imposition of charges

Charge on a licence

 (1) Charge is imposed on a licence that is in force at whichever of the following times is applicable:

 (a) any time during a financial year;

 (b) any time during such other period as is prescribed by the regulations.

 (2) Without limiting subsection (1), the regulations may prescribe different periods in relation to the following:

 (a) different classes of licence;

 (b) licences of the same class that authorise different activities.

Charge on matters that relate to a licence

 (3) Charge is imposed on each matter prescribed by the regulations, being a matter that relates to a licence that is in force.

 (4) Without limiting subsection (3), the regulations may prescribe different matters in relation to the following:

 (a) different classes of licence;

 (b) licences of the same class that authorise different activities.

 (5) Subsection (3) imposes a charge only so far as that charge is neither a duty of customs nor a duty of excise within the meaning of section 55 of the Constitution.

7  By whom charges payable

  Charge is payable by the holder of the licence.

8  Amounts of charges

 (1) The amount of a charge is the amount prescribed by, or worked out in accordance with a method prescribed by, the regulations.

 (2) Without limiting subsection (1), the regulations may prescribe different amounts of, or prescribe different methods of working out amounts of, charge in relation to the following:

 (a) different classes of licence;

 (b) licences of the same class that authorise different activities.

 (3) In this section:

amount includes a nil amount.

9  Regulations

  The GovernorGeneral may make regulations 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.

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

 

Act

Number and year

Assent

Commencement

Application, saving and transitional provisions

Narcotic Drugs (Licence Charges) Act 2016

75, 2016

23 Nov 2016

23 Nov 2016 (s 2(1) items 1, 2)

 

Narcotic Drugs (Licence Charges) Amendment Act 2022

70, 2022

30 Nov 2022

1 Dec 2022 (s 2(1) item 1)

Sch 1 (item 10)

 

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

Provision affected

How affected

Title....................

am No 70, 2022

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

am No 70, 2022

s 7.....................

am No 70, 2022

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

am No 70, 2022

 

 

Overview

The Narcotic Drugs (Licence Charges) Act 2016 was enacted to address the need for a structured financial framework for the administration of licences granted under the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967. This Act, which received Royal Assent on 23 November 2016, was enacted by the Parliament of Australia with the primary policy objective of establishing a formal system for the imposition and collection of charges associated with the licensing activities related to narcotic drugs. The Act binds the Crown in its various capacities, excluding the Commonwealth, and extends to all external territories of Australia. The imposition of charges under this Act is applicable to licences in force during specified periods and to matters relating to such licences, as prescribed by regulations. These charges are payable by the licence holder, with the amounts determined by regulations, allowing for differentiation based on licence class and authorised activities. The Narcotic Drugs (Licence Charges) Act 2016 allows for the creation of regulations to detail the specifics of charge imposition, including the periods for charge application, the matters subject to charges, and the calculation of charge amounts. The Act ensures that the charges do not conflict with duties of customs or excise as defined in the Constitution. This legislative framework was introduced to provide a clear and regulated approach to financing the oversight and regulation of activities involving narcotic drugs, ensuring that the administrative costs are effectively managed and distributed.

Scope and Application

The Narcotic Drugs (Licence Charges) Act 2016 applies to licences granted under the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967. The Act imposes charges on licences that are in force at any time during a financial year or during such other period as is prescribed by the regulations. Additionally, the Act imposes charges on matters that relate to a licence that is in force, as prescribed by the regulations. The Act applies to all external Territories of Australia. Charges are payable by the holder of the licence, and the amount of a charge is prescribed by, or worked out in accordance with a method prescribed by, the regulations. The Act also extends to matters prescribed by the regulations, which may include different classes of licences or licences that authorise different activities. The Governor-General may make regulations to prescribe matters required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed, or necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act. The Narcotic Drugs (Licence Charges) Act 2016 commenced on 23 November 2016, with some provisions commencing on a later date. The Act has been amended by the Narcotic Drugs (Licence Charges) Amendment Act 2022, which commenced on 1 December 2022. The Act binds the Crown in each of its capacities, except in right of the Commonwealth. The Act does not apply to charges that are duties of customs or excise. The Act's scope and application may be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, such as regulations made by the Governor-General. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Key Provisions

The Narcotic Drugs (Licence Charges) Act 2016 (Cth) (Act) establishes the legal framework for imposing charges on licences issued under the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 (Cth). Section 6(1) of the Act stipulates that a charge is imposed on a licence in force during a financial year or any other period prescribed by regulations. The Act also imposes a charge on matters related to a licence that is in force, as outlined in section 6(3). These charges are not considered duties of customs or excise, as per section 6(5). The Act further details that the charge is payable by the licence holder (section 7), and the amount of the charge is determined by or according to a method prescribed by the regulations (section 8). The Act imposes several obligations on parties governed by it. Primarily, it mandates the payment of charges on licences and related matters by the licence holders. The specifics of these charges, including the timing and amount, are to be prescribed by regulations. Additionally, the Act requires the Governor-General to make regulations that prescribe various matters necessary for the implementation and enforcement of the Act (section 9). These regulations may specify different periods, matters, amounts, or methods of calculating charges for different classes of licences or activities authorised by the same class of licence. The Act does not explicitly detail specific offences or penalties for non-compliance with its provisions. However, the nature of the charges and the obligations to pay them imply that failure to comply could lead to enforcement actions under the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 or other relevant legislation. The penalties for non-compliance with charges under the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 could include fines and imprisonment, as per the relevant sections of that Act. Given the serious nature of narcotic drugs regulation, penalties for non-compliance with the Narcotic Drugs (Licence Charges) Act 2016 are likely to be significant, reflecting the importance of ensuring compliance with licensing and charge obligations in the regulated industry.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Commercial Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Commencement Provisions
Licensing & Registration
Reporting & Disclosure Obligations
Regulatory Standards

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.