Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1981
No. 176 of 1981
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
PART I—PRELIMINARY
Section
1. Short title
2. Commencement
PART II—AMENDMENTS OF THE ABORIGINAL COUNCILS AND ASSOCIATIONS ACT 1976
3. Principal Act
4. Establishment of Aboriginal Council
5. Powers of Aboriginal Council generally
6. Incorporation of Aboriginal association
7. Powers to borrow money and give securities
PART III—AMENDMENTS OF THE AUDIT ACT 1901
8. Liability in respect of losses, &c.
9. Method of paying salary
PART IV—AIR NAVIGATION (CHARGES) ACT 1974
10. Commencement of sections 3, 12 and 13 of Air Navigation Charges Act 1974
PART V—AMENDMENT OF AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY EVIDENCE (TEMPORARY PROVISIONS) ACT 1971
11. Principal Act
12. Validation of provisions of Australian Capital Territory Evidence Ordinance
TABLE OF PROVISIONS—continued
PART VI—AMENDMENTS OF THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY SUPREME COURT ACT 1933
Section
13. Principal Act
14. Oath of allegiance and office by Judge
15. Insertion of new section
44a. Reserved judgments
16. Indictable offences
17. Insertion of new section
53a. Interest up to judgment
PART VII—AMENDMENTS OF THE AUSTRALIAN OVERSEAS PROJECTS CORPORATION ACT 1978
18. Principal Act
19. Interpretation
20. Objects of Act
21. Functions of Corporation
22. Corporation not to engage in trade
23. Corporation not to compete against Australian private organizations or consortiums
24. Insertion of new section
8a. Corporation not to assist Australian authorities or public consortiums to compete against Australian private organizations or consortiums
25. Corporation not to act as prime contractor except with approval
26. Powers of Corporation
27. Repeal of section 43 and substitution of new section
43. Assessed net commercial risk
PART VIII—AMENDMENTS OF THE BANKRUPTCY ACT 1966
28. Principal Act
29. Bankruptcy courts
30. Transitional provisions
PART IX—AMENDMENTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH ELECTORAL ACT 1918
31. Principal Act
32. Persons entitled to enrolment and to vote
33. Unenrolled members of Defence Force serving outside Australia
34. Qualifications of Members of House of Representatives
35. Questions to be put to voter
PART X—AMENDMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH FUNCTIONS (STATUTES REVIEW) ACT 1981
36. Principal Act
37. Proceedings and order on creditor’s petition
PART XI—AMENDMENTS OF THE DESIGNS AMENDMENT ACT 1981
38. Principal Act
39. Amendment of section 5
40. Amendments of section 11
41. Amendments of section 15
42. Amendment of section 22
43. Repeal and substitution of section 25
PART XII—AMENDMENT OF THE HEALTH ACTS AMENDMENT ACT 1981
44. Principal Act
45. Amendment of section 6
TABLE OF PROVISIONS—continued
PART XIII—AMENDMENT OF THE MINERALS (SUBMERGED LANDS)
ACT 1981
Section
46. Principal Act
47. Repeal of section 92 and substitution of new section—
92. Prosecution of offences
PART XIV—AMENDMENTS OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH ACT 1953
48. Principal Act
49. Change of rules, &c, by registered organizations
PART XV—AMENDMENTS OF THE NATIONAL LABOUR CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL ACT 1977
50. Principal Act
51. Interpretation
52. Membership of Council
53. Substitute members
PART XVI—AMENDMENT OF THE PETROLEUM PRODUCTS PRICING ACT 1981
54.
Overview
The Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1981 was enacted to address the need for a comprehensive revision and update of various Commonwealth statutes. This Act, assented to on 2 December 1981, is the product of the joint legislative efforts of the Queen, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia. It aims to streamline and modernise existing legislation across multiple domains, ensuring that the laws remain relevant and effective. The Act includes amendments to numerous Acts, ranging from the Aboriginal Councils and Associations Act 1976 to the Trade Union Training Authority Act 1975, reflecting a broad spectrum of policy objectives, including administrative efficiency, regulatory clarity, and alignment with contemporary legal standards.
Scope and Application
The Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1981 is a Commonwealth Act that makes various amendments to existing statutes. The amendments span across a range of Acts, including the Aboriginal Councils and Associations Act 1976, Audit Act 1901, Air Navigation (Charges) Act 1974, Australian Capital Territory Evidence (Temporary Provisions) Act 1971, Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court Act 1933, Australian Overseas Projects Corporation Act 1978, Bankruptcy Act 1966, Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, Commonwealth Functions (Statutes Review) Act 1981, Designs Amendment Act 1981, Health Acts Amendment Act 1981, Minerals (Submerged Lands) Act 1981, National Health Act 1953, National Labour Consultative Council Act 1977, Petroleum Products Pricing Act 1981, Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Amendment Act 1980, and Trade Union Training Authority Act 1975. The Act applies to the specified statutes and their respective amendments, which are outlined in the various parts and sections of the Act. The Act also includes provisions for the repeal of certain Acts and the substitution of new sections in their place. The Act extends its application through subordinate instruments and has a national jurisdictional reach, applying across the Commonwealth of Australia.
Key Provisions
- The Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1981 makes various amendments to a number of existing statutes. The Act includes provisions for the amendment of the Aboriginal Councils and Associations Act 1976, the Audit Act 1901, the Air Navigation (Charges) Act 1974, and many others. It includes provisions for changing the way Aboriginal Councils and Associations can dispose of their property, amending the liability for losses in the Audit Act 1901, and setting the commencement date for certain sections of the Air Navigation (Charges) Act 1974.
- The Act imposes obligations on parties and entities it governs, such as requiring consent from the Minister for certain actions by Aboriginal Councils and Associations, amending the method of paying salaries in the Audit Act 1901, and inserting new sections on reserved judgments and indictable offences in the Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court Act 1933.
- The Act also outlines offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach, including maximum penalties where stated. For example, the Australian Overseas Projects Corporation Act 1978 is amended to include provisions on the Corporation's assessed net commercial risk, with a maximum limit of $250,000,000. Breach of this provision could result in legal consequences for the Corporation. Additionally, the Act includes provisions for the repeal of certain Acts, such as the Darwin Reconstruction Act 1975 and the Processed Milk Products Bounty Act 1964.
- Area of Law
- Administrative Law
- Statutory Interpretation
- Instrument
- Act
- Concepts
- Commencement Provisions
- Repeal & Amendment
- Transitional Provisions
- Offence Provisions
- Regulatory Standards
- Enforcement Powers
