SEAT OF GOVERNMENT (ADMINISTRATION).

No. 86 of 1939.

An Act to amend the Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1910–1933, and for other purposes.

[Assented to 15th December, 1939.]

[Date of commencement. 12th January, 1940.]

BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title and citation.

1.—(1.)     This Act may be cited as the Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1939.

(2.)     The Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1910–1933 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.)     The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1910–1939.

Definition.

2.  In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—

“the Territory” means the Australian Capital Territory and includes the Territory accepted by the Commonwealth in pursuance of the Jervis Bay Territory Acceptance Act 1915, and described in the agreement contained in the Schedule to that Act.

3.  After section nine of the Principal Act the following section is inserted:—

Power to dispose of Commonwealth lands.

“9a.  Notwithstanding anything contained in any other Act, but subject to this Act, all lands in the Territory acquired by or vested in the Commonwealth may be disposed of, and instruments, receipts and other documents in relation to those lands may be executed, in accordance with any Ordinance or other law for the time being in force in relation to such disposal or execution.”.

Ordinances.

4.  Section twelve of the Principal Act is amended by omitting paragraph (b) of sub-section (2.) and inserting in its stead the following paragraph:—

“(b) take effect—

(i) from the date of notification;

(ii) where another date (whether before or after the date of notification) is specified in the Ordinance, from the date specified; or

(iii) where the Ordinance so provides, from such date as is fixed by the Minister by notice in the Gazette; and”.

Validation leases, &c.

5.  Where, prior to the commencement of this Act, any Minister, the Federal Capital Commission constituted under the Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1924–1929, or the Commissioner for Housing appointed under any Ordinance in force in the Territory relating to housing, purported, in pursuance of any provision of any Ordinance or other law for the time being in force in relation to land in the Territory, to lease any such land or to execute any instrument, receipt or other document in relation to such land, the lease shall be deemed to have been duly granted, and every such instrument, receipt or other document shall be deemed to have been duly executed, if granted or executed in accordance with such Ordinance or other law, and shall be deemed to be and at all times to have been as valid and effectual for all purposes as if this Act had been in force at the date of the grant or of the execution.

Validation of commencement dates of Ordinances.

6.  Where in any Ordinance made under the Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1910, or under that Act as subsequently amended, it is provided that the Ordinance shall commence on a date to be fixed by notice in the Gazette, that Ordinance shall be deemed to have taken effect from the date so fixed.