Transport Legislation Amendment (Search and Rescue Service) Act 1997

Administered by Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

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Transport Legislation Amendment (Search and Rescue Service) Act 1997

 

No. 130, 1997

 

 

 

 

An Act to amend the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990, the Air Services Act 1995 and the Civil Aviation Act 1988, and for related purposes

 

 

Contents

1 Short title................................5587

2 Commencement............................5588

3 Schedule(s)...............................5588

Schedule 1—Amendment of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990 5589

Schedule 2—Amendment of the Air Services Act 1995 5591

Schedule 3—Amendment of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 5592

Schedule 4—Transitional 5593

 

Transport Legislation Amendment (Search and Rescue Service) Act 1997

No. 130, 1997

 

 

 

An Act to amend the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990, the Air Services Act 1995 and the Civil Aviation Act 1988, and for related purposes

Assented to 17 September 1997

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

  This Act may be cited as the Transport Legislation Amendment (Search and Rescue Service) Act 1997.

2  Commencement

 (1) Subject to subsection (2), this Act commences on a day to be fixed by Proclamation.

 (2) If this Act does not commence under subsection (1) within the period of 6 months beginning on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent, it commences on the first day after the end of that period.

3  Schedule(s)

  Subject to section 2, each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.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—Amendment of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990

 

1  After paragraph 2A(b)

Insert:

 (ba) to provide for a national search and rescue service; and

2  Subsection 3(1)

Insert:

Chicago Convention means:

 (a) the Convention on International Civil Aviation done at Chicago on 7 December 1944, whose English text is set out in Schedule 1 to the Air Navigation Act 1920; and

 (b) the Protocols amending that Convention, being the Protocols referred to in subsection 3A(2) of that Act, whose English text is set out in Schedules to that Act; and

 (c) the Annexes to that Convention relating to international standards and recommended practices, being Annexes adopted in accordance with that Convention.

3  Subsection 3(1)

Insert:

the Safety Convention has the same meaning as in the Navigation Act 1912.

4  At the end of section 6

Add:

 (5) The provision of a search and rescue service must be in a manner that is consistent with Australia’s obligations under:

 (a) the Chicago Convention; and

 (b) the Safety Convention; and

 (c) the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue 1979 done at Hamburg on 27 April 1979.

5  Paragraph 13(1)(d)

Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

 (d) if the Minister specifies in writing an office in the Department for the purposes of this subsection—the person for the time being occupying that office; and

6  Paragraph 13(1)(e)

Omit “3”, substitute “4”.


Schedule 2—Amendment of the Air Services Act 1995

 

1  Subparagraph 8(1)(b)(iv)

Repeal the subparagraph.

2  Subparagraph 77(2)(b)(ii)

Omit “search and rescue operations, or”

3  Subparagraph 77(2)(b)(iii)

Omit “, water craft or land vehicles for search and rescue operations”.

4  Paragraph 77(2)(c)

Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

 (c) for compensating persons for loss sustained in respect of the requisitioning of an aircraft; and

5  Subsection 77(3) (definition of search and rescue operations)

Repeal the definition.


Schedule 3—Amendment of the Civil Aviation Act 1988

 

1  Subsection 3(1) (at the end of subparagraph (e)(ii) of the definition of aviation safety standards)

Add:

 and (iii) services of the kind referred to in paragraph 6(1)(b) of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990 to the extent that those services use aircraft;

2  At the end of subparagraph 98(3)(s)(ii)

Add:

 and (iii) services of the kind referred to in paragraph 6(1)(b) of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990 to the extent that those services use aircraft;


Schedule 4—Transitional

 

1  Interpretation

In this Schedule, unless the contrary intention appears:

AA means Airservices Australia established by the Air Services Act.

Air Services Act means the Air Services Act 1995.

AMSA means the Australian Maritime Safety Authority established by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990.

assets means any legal or equitable estates or interests in real or personal property, whether actual, contingent or prospective, and includes all rights, powers, privileges and immunities, whether actual, contingent or prospective.

authorised person means the Minister, or an officer of the Department authorised by the Minister for the purposes of this Schedule.

commencing time means the time when this Schedule commences.

instrument includes a document and an oral agreement.

2  Transfer of certain AA assets to AMSA

(1) If an asset of AA is identified in a written determination that:

 (a) is made by an authorised person for the purposes of this clause; and

 (b) takes effect at the commencing time;

the asset becomes an asset of AMSA at the commencing time.

(2) If an asset of AA is identified in a written determination that:

 (a) is made, after the commencing time, by an authorised person for the purposes of this clause; and

 (b) states that the asset is to become an asset of AMSA on the day specified in the determination;

the asset becomes an asset of AMSA on that day.

(3) A transfer effected by this clause of an asset is not a disposal of that asset for the purposes of Part IIIA of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936.

3  References in certain instruments

(1) If an instrument of AA is identified in a written determination that:

 (a) is made by an authorised person for the purposes of this clause; and

 (b) takes effect at the commencing time;

the instrument continues to have effect, on and after the commencing time, as if a reference in the instrument to AA were a reference to AMSA.

(2) If an instrument of AA is identified in a written determination that:

 (a) is made by an authorised person for the purposes of this clause; and

 (b) states that the instrument is to have effect, on and after the day specified in the determination, as if a reference in the instrument to AA were a reference to AMSA;

the instrument continues to have effect, on and after that day, as if a reference in the instrument to AA were a reference to AMSA.

4  Value of assets transferred from AA to AMSA

(1) The Minister must make a written determination specifying the value, at the commencing time, of any asset transferred from AA to AMSA under subclause 2(1).

(2) The Minister may make a written determination specifying the value, at the time of transfer, of any asset transferred from AA to AMSA under subclause 2(2).

(3) On the transfer of an asset in respect of which a determination has been made under this clause, AA and AMSA must make all necessary adjustments to their capital accounts based on the value of the asset as specified in the determination.

5  Legal proceedings by AA

Despite the amendment of the Air Services Act by Schedule 2, AA may institute or continue any legal proceedings that relate to the performance before the commencement of that Schedule of its function of providing a search and rescue service under paragraph 8(1)(b) of that Act.

6  Regulations

(1) The Governor-General may make regulations prescribing matters necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Schedule.

(2) In particular, regulations may be made in relation to transitional matters arising out of the transfer of the search and rescue function from AA to AMSA, or otherwise arising out of the enactment of this Schedule.

 

 

Minister’s second reading speech made in

House of Representatives on 25 June 1997

Senate on 28 August 1997

 

(113/97)

 

 

Overview

The Transport Legislation Amendment (Search and Rescue Service) Act 1997 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to address the need for a unified and efficient national search and rescue service across maritime, air, and civil aviation sectors. This Act amended the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990, the Air Services Act 1995, and the Civil Aviation Act 1988, centralising the search and rescue operations under the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). The policy objective of this Act was to ensure that search and rescue services are provided in a manner consistent with Australia's international obligations under the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, the Safety Convention, and the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue. The Act also facilitated the transfer of certain assets and functions from Airservices Australia to AMSA, streamlining the administration and execution of search and rescue operations across the transport sectors.

Scope and Application

The Transport Legislation Amendment (Search and Rescue Service) Act 1997 applies to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990, the Air Services Act 1995, and the Civil Aviation Act 1988, amending these Acts to establish a national search and rescue service. The Act extends its application to the provision of search and rescue services in a manner consistent with Australia's obligations under the Chicago Convention, the Safety Convention, and the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue 1979. It also includes the transfer of certain assets and responsibilities from Airservices Australia to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, as outlined in the Schedules. The Act’s amendments are applicable throughout Australia, with its provisions designed to align with international standards and practices. The Act does not explicitly state any exclusions or exemptions but allows for the creation of regulations to address transitional matters arising from the amendments. The Act's application may be further defined or extended through subordinate legislation as necessary.

Key Provisions

The Transport Legislation Amendment (Search and Rescue Service) Act 1997 (Cth) makes several key amendments to existing transport legislation. Firstly, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990 is amended to mandate the provision of a national search and rescue service, which must be consistent with Australia’s obligations under international conventions, including the Chicago Convention, the Safety Convention, and the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue 1979 (sections 1, 4 and 5). Secondly, the Act revises the Air Services Act 1995 by removing specific references to search and rescue operations and re-wording definitions to reflect the transfer of certain responsibilities (Schedule 2). Similarly, it amends the Civil Aviation Act 1988 by adding specific references to search and rescue services using aircraft (Schedule 3). The Act imposes obligations on the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to provide a national search and rescue service in compliance with international conventions. It also mandates the Minister to determine the value of assets transferred from Airservices Australia (AA) to AMSA, and requires both entities to adjust their capital accounts accordingly (Schedule 4). Additionally, the Act allows AA to continue or initiate legal proceedings related to search and rescue services performed before the amendments took effect. Breaching the provisions of this Act can result in various legal consequences. For instance, failing to provide a search and rescue service in compliance with international obligations could lead to legal action under the amended Acts. The Act itself does not specify maximum penalties for breaches, but penalties would typically be determined by the relevant legislation, such as fines for non-compliance with safety standards or regulations. In criminal cases, penalties could include imprisonment, while in civil cases, damages or injunctions may be sought. The precise penalties would depend on the specific nature of the breach and the relevant statutory provisions.

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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.