Trade Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2016

Administered by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Legislation au C2016A00031 In force Act

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Trade Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2016

 

No. 31, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

An Act to amend legislation relating to export and trade, and for other purposes

 

 

Contents

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Schedules

Schedule 1—Export Market Development Grants

Export Market Development Grants Act 1997

Schedule 2—Changing the name of the Australian Trade Commission

Australian Trade Commission Act 1985

Bankruptcy Act 1966

Consular Fees Act 1955

Evidence Act 1995

Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Act 1991

Export Market Development Grants Act 1997

Family Law Act 1975

Federal Circuit Court of Australia Act 1999

Federal Court of Australia Act 1976

Freedom of Information Act 1982

Marriage Act 1961

 

 

 

 

Trade Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2016

No. 31, 2016

 

 

 

An Act to amend legislation relating to export and trade, and for other purposes

[Assented to 23 March 2016]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

  This Act may be cited as the Trade Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 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 to 3 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table

The day this Act receives the Royal Assent.

23 March 2016

2.  Schedule 1

1 July 2016.

1 July 2016

3.  Schedule 2

A single day to be fixed by Proclamation.

However, if the provisions do not commence within the period of 6 months beginning on the day this Act receives the Royal Assent, they commence on the day after the end of that period.

1 May 2016

(F2016N00005)

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted.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  Schedules

  Legislation that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.

Schedule 1—Export Market Development Grants

 

Export Market Development Grants Act 1997

1  Subsection 33(2) (table item 3)

Repeal the item.

2  Subsection 33(2) (at the end of the cell at table item 4, column 3)

Add “up to any applicable limit for the applicant in relation to a grant year”.

3  Subsection 33(2) (table item 6, column 2)

After “material”, insert “(whether the literature or material is in electronic form or any other form)”.

4  At the end of section 33

Add:

 (4) If an applicant in relation to a grant year was a grantee in respect of any previous grant year, the applicable limit for the applicant is $15,000 for that grant year.

 (5) If:

 (a) an applicant in relation to a grant year was not a grantee in respect of any previous grant year; and

 (b) the immediately preceding financial year is not the financial year commencing on 1 July 2015;

the applicable limit for the applicant is $15,000 for that grant year and that immediately preceding financial year.

Note: If the immediately preceding financial year is the financial year commencing on 1 July 2015, then there is no applicable limit for the applicant for the grant year.

5  Subsection 34(3)

Repeal the subsection.

6  Paragraph 34(4)(a)

Omit “$300”, substitute “$350”.

7  Section 40 (at the end of the table)

Add:

20

Expenses relating to things that may have had a detrimental impact on Australia’s trade reputation

57C

8  At the end of Subdivision 4 of Division 2 of Part 5

Add:

57C  Expenses relating to things that may have had a detrimental impact on Australia’s trade reputation

  Expenses of an applicant in respect of an eligible promotional activity carried out for an approved promotional purpose are excluded if the CEO of Austrade considers that:

 (a) the activity may have had, or the activity involved a thing that may have had, a detrimental impact on Australia’s trade reputation; or

 (b) the purpose relates to an eligible product that may have had a detrimental impact on Australia’s trade reputation.

9  Subsection 63(1)

Omit “(2),”.

10  Subsection 63(2)

Repeal the subsection.

11  Paragraph 63(3)(e)

Omit “or (2) (as the case may be)”.

12  Section 105

Repeal the section, substitute:

105  Administration costs

 (1) In any financial year, no more than 5% of the money appropriated (the appropriated amount) by the Parliament for the purposes of making payments under this Act is to be applied in payment of the costs of the administration of this Act.

 (2) To avoid doubt, if the costs of the administration of this Act for a financial year exceed 5% of the appropriated amount for that year, the excess costs are to be paid otherwise than out of the appropriated amount.

13  Subsection 106A(1)

Repeal the subsection, substitute:

 (1) The Minister must cause an independent review of the assistance scheme provided for by this Act to be conducted in accordance with subsections (1A) and (1B).

 (1A) The first review must be completed, and a written report given to the Minister, by a date determined by the Minister that is not later than 31 December 2021.

 (1B) Each later review must be completed, and a written report given to the Minister, by a date determined by the Minister.

14  Subsection 106A(3)

Repeal the subsection.

15  Subsection 107(1)

Insert:

applicable limit has the meaning given by subsections 33(4) and (5).

16  Subsection 107(1) (paragraph (a) of the definition of grant year)

Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

 (a) the financial year commencing on 1 July 1996 or a later financial year; or

17  Application provision

The amendments of the Export Market Development Grants Act 1997 made by items 1 to 11 of this Schedule apply in relation to grants in respect of a grant year commencing on or after 1 July 2016.

Schedule 2—Changing the name of the Australian Trade Commission

 

Australian Trade Commission Act 1985

1  Title

After “Trade”, insert “and Investment”.

2  Section 1

After “Trade”, insert “and Investment”.

Note: This item amends the short title of the Act. If another amendment of the Act is described by reference to the Act’s previous short title, that other amendment has effect after the commencement of this item as an amendment of the Act under its amended short title (see section 10 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901).

3  Subsection 3(1) (definition of Commission)

Repeal the definition, substitute:

Commission means the body continued in existence by section 7.

4  Subsection 3(5)

After “Trade”, insert “and Investment”.

5  Part 2 (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

Part 2—Establishment and function of the Australian Trade and Investment Commission

6  Section 7 (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

7  Australian Trade and Investment Commission

7  Subsection 7(1)

Repeal the subsection, substitute:

 (1) The body known immediately before the commencement of this subsection as the Australian Trade Commission is continued in existence as the Australian Trade and Investment Commission.

Note: See also subsection 25B(1) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

8  Part 3 (heading)

Repeal the heading.

9  Section 7A (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

7A  Function of the Commission

10  After section 7A

Insert:

Part 3—Establishment and functions of the CEO

 

Bankruptcy Act 1966

11  Paragraph 262(2)(bb)

After “Trade”, insert “and Investment”.

Consular Fees Act 1955

12  Paragraph 3(d)

After “Trade”, insert “and Investment”.

Evidence Act 1995

13  Subsection 171(3) (subparagraph (a)(iii) of the definition of authorised person)

After “Trade”, insert “and Investment”.

Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Act 1991

14  Paragraph 66A(1)(a)

After “Trade”, insert “and Investment”.

Export Market Development Grants Act 1997

15  Subsection 107(1) (definition of Austrade)

Repeal the definition, substitute:

Austrade means the body continued in existence by section 7 of the Australian Trade and Investment Commission Act 1985.

16  Subsection 107(1) (definition of CEO of Austrade)

After “Trade”, insert “and Investment”.

Family Law Act 1975

17  Paragraph 98AB(2)(c)

After “Trade”, insert “and Investment”.

Federal Circuit Court of Australia Act 1999

18  Paragraph 59(2)(e)

After “Trade”, insert “and Investment”.

Federal Court of Australia Act 1976

19  Paragraph 45(2)(cb)

After “Trade”, insert “and Investment”.

Freedom of Information Act 1982

20  Division 1 of Part II of Schedule 2 (item dealing with the Australian Trade Commission)

After “Trade”, insert “and Investment”.

Marriage Act 1961

21  Subparagraphs 13(2)(b)(viii) and 42(2)(d)(v)

After “Trade”, insert “and Investment”.

 

 

 

 

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—

House of Representatives on 10 February 2016

Senate on 1 March 2016]

 

(11/16)

 

Overview

The Trade Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2016 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to address issues and gaps in the existing export and trade-related legislation, as well as to update and improve the overall framework for export market development. This legislation came into effect on 23 March 2016, with certain provisions scheduled to commence on later dates as specified in the Act. The policy objective behind this Act is to strengthen Australia's trade and investment efforts, promote economic growth, and support Australian businesses in expanding their presence in international markets. Key amendments include changes to the Export Market Development Grants Act 1997, and the renaming of the Australian Trade Commission to the Australian Trade and Investment Commission. The Trade Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2016 also updates and aligns various other Acts to reflect the new name of the Commission, ensuring consistency and coherence across the legislative framework. By addressing these issues and gaps, the Act aims to facilitate and enhance Australia's trade and investment activities, ultimately contributing to the nation's economic prosperity.

Scope and Application

The Trade Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2016 primarily concerns amendments to various Australian legislative instruments that relate to trade and export, aiming to streamline and modernise these areas. The Act applies to entities and individuals engaged in export activities and trade, particularly those who are recipients of grants under the Export Market Development Grants Act 1997. It also applies to the Australian Trade Commission, which is renamed to the Australian Trade and Investment Commission, broadening its scope to include investment alongside trade. The jurisdictional reach of this Act is federal, impacting national trade policies and practices. The Act includes provisions that specify the commencement of different sections and schedules, with some sections coming into effect upon Royal Assent, while others are set to commence on specific dates or within a defined period. Notably, the Act also provides for the repeal or amendment of certain subsections and the addition of new provisions to existing legislation, such as the exclusion of certain expenses from grant eligibility based on potential detrimental impacts on Australia's trade reputation. The Act does not explicitly state any exclusions or thresholds but rather modifies existing frameworks through subordinate instruments, such as schedules that detail specific legislative changes.

Key Provisions

The Trade Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2016 introduces several significant changes to existing Australian trade-related legislation. Section 1 of the Act provides that it may be cited as the Trade Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2016. The commencement provisions, outlined in Section 2, specify that certain sections of the Act commence on the day the Act receives Royal Assent, which was 23 March 2016. Other sections, such as those in Schedule 1, commence on 1 July 2016, while others in Schedule 2 commence on a date to be fixed by proclamation, with a default date of 1 May 2016 if not proclaimed within six months of Royal Assent. The Act imposes various obligations and requirements on parties and entities it governs. For example, under Schedule 1, which amends the Export Market Development Grants Act 1997, Section 33 is modified to include new definitions and conditions for grant limits and eligibility. The Act specifies that if an applicant was a grantee in the previous year, their applicable limit is $15,000 for the current grant year. Conversely, if an applicant was not a grantee in the previous year and the preceding financial year is not the one commencing on 1 July 2015, the applicable limit is also $15,000. Additionally, the Act mandates that an independent review of the assistance scheme be conducted by 31 December 2021, with subsequent reviews at intervals determined by the Minister. The Act also delineates specific offences, penalties, and consequences for non-compliance. For instance, breaches of the provisions in the Export Market Development Grants Act 1997 may result in exclusion from eligible promotional activities if the CEO of Austrade determines that such activities could detrimentally impact Australia's trade reputation. Although the Act does not explicitly state penalties for breaches, non-compliance with the Act's requirements could potentially lead to exclusion from funding or other administrative actions as deemed necessary by the relevant authorities.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
International Trade Law
Commercial Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Commencement Provisions
Regulatory Standards
Administrative Discretion

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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.