An Act relating to the collection of levy imposed by the Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Levy Act 1992
This Act may be cited as the Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Levy Collection Act 1992.
This Act commences on the day on which section 2 of the Compensation Act commences.
In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:
authorised person means a person appointed as an authorised person under section 11.
Authority has the same meaning as in the Compensation Act.
Comcare means the body established under section 68 of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988.
Compensation Act means the Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1992.
employer means a person who employs or engages one or more seafarers on a prescribed ship.
levy means an amount of levy imposed by the Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Levy Act 1992.
premises includes:
(a) a structure, building, vehicle or vessel; and
(b) a place (whether enclosed or built on or not); and
(c) a part of premises (including premises of a kind referred to in paragraph (a) or (b)).
prescribed ship has the same meaning as in the Compensation Act.
quarter means:
(a) the period beginning on the day on which this Act commences and ending on the last day of March, June, September or December, whichever occurs first after the commencement of this Act; and
(b) each later period of 3 months.
seafarer has the same meaning as in the Compensation Act.
seafarer berth has the same meaning as in the Compensation Act.
Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code applies to all offences against this Act.
Note: Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the general principles of criminal responsibility.
A reference in this Act to the number of seafarer berths on a prescribed ship is a reference to the number of seafarer berths on the ship on the first day of each quarter.
Levy on a seafarer berth is payable at the end of the period within which an employer is required by this Act to give a return under section 6.
An employer must, within 14 days after the beginning of each quarter, give to the person prescribed by the regulations a return in accordance with a form approved by the Chief Executive Officer of Comcare containing:
(a) a statement of the number of seafarer berths on each prescribed ship in respect of which the employer employed or engaged seafarers on the first day of the quarter; and
(b) such other information, relating to those berths as is specified in the form.
(1) A person must not refuse or fail to give a return that he or she is required to give under section 6.
Penalty: 5 penalty units.
(1A) Subsection (1) does not apply if the person has a reasonable excuse.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (1A) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code).
(1B) For the purposes of an offence against subsection (1), strict liability applies to the physical element, that the person is required to give a return under section 6.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(2) A person must not give a return that does not contain all or any of the information required by section 6 to be included in the return.
Penalty: 20 penalty units.
(2A) Subsection (2) does not apply if the person has a reasonable excuse.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (2A) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code).
(2B) For the purposes of an offence against subsection (2), strict liability applies to the physical element, that the person is required under section 6 to include information in a return.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(3) A person is not excused from giving a return on the ground that the return might tend to incriminate the person, but any return given, and any information or thing (including any document) obtained as a direct or indirect consequence of the giving of the return, is not admissible in evidence against the person in criminal proceedings, other than proceedings for an offence against subsection (2) or section 137.1 or 137.2 of the Criminal Code in relation to giving the return.
Levy payable on a seafarer berth may be recovered by the Commonwealth as a debt due to the Commonwealth.
If any levy imposed on a seafarer berth on a prescribed ship remains unpaid after it becomes payable the ship may be detained by an authorised person until the levy is paid.
Levy is taken to be a levy in relation to a ship for the purposes of paragraph 4(3)(q) of the Admiralty Act 1988.
Note: paragraph 4(j)(q) of the Admiralty Act 1988 provides that certain claims in relation to a ship may be dealt with as claims in rem.
The Chief Executive Officer of Comcare may, in writing, appoint the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Comcare, or a member of Comcare’s staff:
(a) who is an SES employee or acting SES employee; or
(b) whose classification level appears in Group 7 or 8 of Schedule 1 to the Classification Rules under the Public Service Act 1999; or
(c) who is acting in a position usually occupied by a person with a classification level of the kind mentioned in paragraph (b);
to be an authorised person for the purposes of a specified provision of this Act.
(1) An authorised person may, with the consent of the occupier of premises, or in accordance with a warrant issued under subsection 13(2), enter the premises for the purpose of exercising the powers of an authorised person under this section.
(2) The powers of an authorised person under this section are to:
(a) search for, examine, take extracts from and make copies of any document; and
(b) search for and examine a thing;
relating to a berth on a prescribed ship, on which levy is, or may be, payable.
(1) If an authorised person suspects on reasonable grounds that there is on particular premises a book, document or thing relating to a seafarer berth, the person may apply to a Magistrate for a warrant under this section.
(2) If the Magistrate is satisfied, by information on oath or affirmation, that:
(a) there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is on the premises a book, document or thing relating to a berth on a prescribed ship, on which levy is, or may be, payable; and
(b) the issue of a warrant is reasonably required for the purposes of this Act;
the Magistrate may issue a warrant authorising the applicant to enter the premises with such assistance, and using such force, as is necessary and reasonable for the purpose of exercising some or all of the powers of an authorised person under subsection 12(2).
(3) The Magistrate must not issue a warrant unless:
(a) the informant or some other person has given to the Magistrate, either orally or by affidavit, such further information (if any) as the Magistrate requires concerning the grounds on which the issue of the warrant is being sought; and
(b) the Magistrate is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for issuing the warrant.
(4) There must be stated in the warrant:
(a) the purpose for which the warrant is issued; and
(b) the powers exercisable under subsection 12(2) by the authorised person to whom the warrant is issued; and
(c) a day (not more than 7 days after the day of issue of the warrant) on which the warrant ceases to have effect; and
(d) whether entry is authorised to be made at any time of the day or night, or during specified hours of the day or night; and
(e) a description of the book, document or thing that the applicant suspects are on the premises.
(1) The Chief Executive Officer of Comcare may cause an identity card to be issued to an authorised person.
(2) An identity card must:
(a) contain a recent photograph of the authorised person to whom it is issued; and
(b) be in a form approved by the Chief Executive Officer of Comcare.
(3) If an authorised person proposes to enter premises otherwise than in accordance with a warrant issued under subsection 13(2), the authorised person must produce his or her identity card to the occupier of the premises for the occupier’s inspection and, if the authorised person fails to do so, the authorised person is not entitled to enter the premises under subsection 12(1).
(4) If a person to whom an identity card has been issued ceases to be an authorised person, the person must immediately return the identity card to a person designated, in writing, by the Chief Executive Officer of Comcare.
(5) A person who contravenes subsection (4) is guilty of an offence punishable upon conviction by a fine not exceeding one penalty unit.
(6) Subsection (5) does not apply if the person has a reasonable excuse.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (6) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code).
(7) Subsection (5) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(1) The Chief Executive Officer of Comcare may, in writing, delegate all or any of his or her functions and powers under this Act (other than powers under section 11) to:
(a) the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Comcare; or
(b) a member of Comcare’s staff.
(2) A delegate is, in the exercise of a delegated power, subject to the directions of the Chief Executive Officer of Comcare.
(1) The Governor‑General 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 or for facilitating the collection or recovery of amounts of levy payable to the Commonwealth under section 8.
(2) The matters that may be prescribed under subsection (1) include but are not limited to:
(a) providing for the manner of payment of levy to the Commonwealth under section 8; and
(b) providing for the repayment of overpayments; and
(c) requiring employers to keep records relating to seafarer berths on prescribed ships; and
(d) requiring employers to give information relating to seafarer berths on prescribed ships to such persons as are prescribed; and
(e) the form of warrant for the purposes of section l 3; and
(f) penalties, not exceeding 10 penalty units, for offences against the regulations.
