EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Issued by the Minister for Finance and the Public Service
Superannuation Act 1976
Declaration under paragraph (a) of the definition of “Approved Authority” in subsection 3(1)
Superannuation (CSS) Approved Authority Amendment Declaration (No.1) 2019
The Superannuation Act 1976 (the 1976 Act) makes provisions for, and in relation to, the Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme (CSS) for Australian Government employees and certain other persons.
Persons who are “eligible employees” under the Act include certain persons who are are employed by an “approved authority” (subject to certain other requirements). Under paragraph (a) of the definition of “approved authority” in subsection 3(1) of the 1976 Act, an approved authority includes an authority or other body declared by the Minster to be an approved authority for the purposes of the 1976 Act, being an authority of a kind described by the definition.
A consolidated list of bodies that have been declared by the Minster to be approved authorities for the purpose of the Act is contained in the Superannuation (CSS) Approved Authority Declaration 1995 (the Principal Declaration).
Subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 provides that where an Act confers a power to make, grant or issue any instrument of an legislative or administrative character (including rules, regulations or by-laws), the power shall be construed as including a power exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like conditions (if any) to repeal, rescind, revoke, amend or vary any such instrument.
Amending Declaration
The purpose of the Superannuation (CSS) Approved Authority Amendment Declaration (No.1) 2019 (the Amending Declaration) is to amend the Principal Declaration by including the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) in the list of bodies declared by the Minster to be approved authorities for the purposes of the 1976 Act.
The NHFIC was established by the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation Act 2018 on 30 June 2018 as a body corporate with power to engage employees necessary for the performance of its functions.
NHFIC is a body of a kind described by the definition of “approved authority” in subsection 3(1) of the 1976 Act.
The details of the Amending Declaration are at Attachment A.
Legislation Act 2003
The Amending Declaration is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2003, and is subject to disallowance in accordance with subsection 4A(1) of the 1976 Act.
Consultation
Section 17 of the Legislation Act 2003 specifies that rule-makers should consult before making legislative instruments. Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation, the trustee of the CSS, and NHFIC have been consulted on the Amending Declaration.
The Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR) assessed that the changes do not require a Regulations Impact Statement as they are machinery of government and do not substantially alter existing arrangements (OBPR Reference Number 24977)
Commencement
The Amending Declaration commences the day after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.
Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights
A statement of Compatibility with Human Rights is at Attachment B.
ATTACHMENT A
Superannuation (CSS) Approved Authority Amendment Declaration (No.1) 2019
Name
- Section 1 provides that the name of the instrument is the Superannuation (CSS) Approved Authority Amendment Declaration (No.1) 2019 (Amending Declaration).
Commencement
2. Section 2 provides for the instrument to commence on the day after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.
Authority
3. Section 3 identifies the authority for the instrument as the Superannuation Act 1976 (1976 Act).
Schedules
4. Section 4 provides that each instrument specified in a Schedule to the instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to the instrument has effect according to its terms.
Schedule 1 - Amendments
5. Schedule 1 amends the Superannuation (CSS) Approved Authority Declaration 1995 (the Principal Declaration).
6. Item 1 of Schedule 1 to the Amending Declaration amends section 4 of the Principal Declaration to include the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation in the list of bodies that are approved authorities for the purposes of the 1976 Act.
ATTACHMENT B