Contents
Part 1—Preliminary 1
1............ Short title............................................................................................. 1
2............ Commencement................................................................................... 1
3............ Simplified outline of this Act.............................................................. 2
4............ Definitions.......................................................................................... 3
5............ Rules may specify that land is not agricultural land............................. 5
5A......... Meaning of registrable water entitlement........................................... 5
6............ Starting and ceasing to hold freehold interests in, and rights to occupy, land 6
6A......... Starting and ceasing to hold water entitlements and rights.................. 6
7............ Extension to external Territories.......................................................... 7
8............ Extraterritoriality................................................................................. 7
9............ This Act binds the Crown................................................................... 7
10.......... Concurrent operation of State and Territory laws................................ 7
11.......... Severability......................................................................................... 7
Part 2—Register of Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land 9
12.......... Simplified outline of this Part.............................................................. 9
13.......... Commissioner must keep this register................................................. 9
14.......... Parts of this register............................................................................ 9
15.......... Commissioner may add information to basic part of this register...... 10
16.......... Commissioner may correct or update information in this register..... 10
17.......... Statistical part of this register to be published on website................. 10
Part 3—Requirements to give information about foreign holdings of agricultural land 11
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part 11
18.......... Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 11
Division 2—Foreign holdings of agricultural land on 1 July 2015 12
19.......... Notification of foreign persons’ holdings of agricultural land as at 1 July 2015 12
Division 3—Changes in foreign holdings of agricultural land 13
Subdivision A—Requirement to notify Commissioner of events affecting foreign holding of agricultural land 13
20.......... Notification of changes of foreign persons’ holdings of agricultural land 13
Subdivision B—Events that must be notified 13
21.......... Foreign person starting to hold agricultural land............................... 13
22.......... Foreign person ceasing to hold agricultural land............................... 14
23.......... Becoming a foreign person while holding agricultural land.............. 14
24.......... Ceasing to be a foreign person while holding agricultural land......... 14
25.......... Land becoming agricultural land while held by a foreign person...... 14
26.......... Land ceasing to be agricultural land while held by a foreign person. 15
Division 4—Giving of notice by agents 16
27.......... Requirement for executors and administrators to give notice for persons who die 16
28.......... Requirement for corporate liquidators to give notice......................... 16
29.......... Agents may give notice..................................................................... 16
Division 5—Exemptions from requirements to give notice 17
30.......... Rules may exempt from requirements to give notice......................... 17
Part 3A—Register of Foreign Ownership of Water Entitlements 18
30A....... Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 18
30B....... Commissioner must keep this register............................................... 18
30C....... Parts of this register.......................................................................... 18
30D....... Commissioner may add information to basic part of this register...... 19
30E........ Commissioner may correct or update information in this register..... 19
30F........ Statistical part of this register to be published on website................. 19
Part 3B—Requirements to give information about foreign holdings of water entitlements 20
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part 20
30G....... Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 20
Division 2—Foreign holdings of water entitlements or contractual water rights on 30 November 2017 21
30H....... Notification of foreign persons’ holdings of water entitlements or contractual water rights as on 30 November 2017.......................................................................................................... 21
30J........ Notification of changes to these holdings that occur before 1 December 2017 21
Division 3—Changes in foreign holdings of water entitlements or contractual water rights 23
Subdivision A—Requirement to notify of events affecting foreign holding of these entitlements or rights 23
30K....... Notification of changes of foreign persons’ holdings of water entitlements or contractual water rights 23
Subdivision B—Events that must be notified 24
30L........ Foreign person starting to hold a water entitlement or contractual water right 24
30M...... Foreign person ceasing to hold a water entitlement or contractual water right 24
30N....... Becoming a foreign person while holding a water entitlement or contractual water right 24
30P........ Ceasing to be a foreign person while holding a water entitlement or contractual water right 25
30Q....... Change to certain characteristics of a water entitlement or contractual water right 25
Division 4—Giving of notice by agents 26
30R....... Requirement for executors and administrators to give notice for persons who die 26
30S........ Requirement for corporate liquidators to give notice......................... 26
30T........ Agents may give notice..................................................................... 26
Division 5—Exemptions from requirements to give notice 27
30U....... Rules may exempt from requirements to give notice......................... 27
Part 4—Miscellaneous 28
31.......... Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 28
32.......... Commissioner has the general administration of this Act.................. 28
33.......... Offshore information notices for persons who may have obligations under Part 3 or 3B 28
34.......... Periodic report................................................................................... 29
34A....... Productivity Commission inquiry—Parts 3A and 3B....................... 30
35.......... Rules................................................................................................. 30
Endnotes 32
Endnote 1—About the endnotes 32
Endnote 2—Abbreviation key 34
Endnote 3—Legislation history 35
Endnote 4—Amendment history 36
An Act to provide for the collection of information, and publication of statistics, about foreign interests in certain water or land, and for related purposes
Part 1—Preliminary
1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Register of Foreign Ownership of Water or Agricultural Land Act 2015.
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. The whole of this Act | At the same time as Schedule 1 to the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Legislation Amendment Act 2015 commences. | 1 December 2015 |
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 Simplified outline of this Act
The Commissioner must keep 2 registers under this Act.
The first register is the Register of Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land, which contains:
(a) information the Commissioner obtains about foreign persons’ holdings of agricultural land; and
(b) published statistics derived from that information.
Foreign persons must give notice to the Commissioner of:
(a) their holdings of agricultural land as at the start of 1 July 2015; and
(b) later events causing agricultural land to start or cease to be held by foreign persons.
The second register is the Register of Foreign Ownership of Water Entitlements, which contains:
(a) information the Commissioner obtains about foreign persons’ holdings of certain water entitlements and contractual water rights; and
(b) published statistics derived from that information.
Foreign persons must give notice to the Commissioner of:
(a) their holdings of such water entitlements and contractual water rights as at the end of 30 November 2017; and
(b) later events causing such entitlements or rights to start or cease to be held by foreign persons, notice of which must be given annually.
The Commissioner must give the Minister reports, including statistics from each register, for presentation to the Parliament.
The provisions in Schedule 1 to the Taxation Administration Act 1953 about confidentiality of information control what can be done with information in the registers (apart from the published statistics).
4 Definitions
In this Act:
agricultural land means land in Australia that is used, or that could reasonably be used, for a primary production business.
Note: The rules may provide that land is not agricultural land (see section 5).
Australia, when used in a geographical sense, includes the external Territories.
Australian water access entitlement means a perpetual or ongoing entitlement, by or under a law of a State or Territory, to exclusive access to a share of the water resources of an area in the State or Territory.
cease:
(a) in relation to holding a freehold interest in, or a right to occupy, agricultural land—has a meaning affected by section 6; or
(b) in relation to holding a registrable water entitlement or a contractual water right—has a meaning affected by section 6A.
Commissioner means the Commissioner of Taxation.
contract includes a deed.
contractual water right of a person means a contractual right that the person holds (alone or jointly) to all or part of another person’s:
(a) registrable water entitlement; or
(b) water allocation; or
(c) right of a kind specified in the rules.
foreign person has the same meaning as in the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975.
freehold interest of a person in land means a legal interest in an estate in fee simple in the land that the person holds (alone, as a tenant in common or as a joint tenant).
land includes a building or a part of a building.
lease includes a sublease.
primary production business has the same meaning as in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.
registrable water entitlement has the meaning given by section 5A.
registration trigger time:
(a) in relation to a right held by a person to occupy land under a lease or licence—means the latest of the following times:
(i) the time the person started to hold the right;
(ii) the time the person became a foreign person;
(iii) the time the land became agricultural land;
(iv) the start of 1 July 2015; or
(b) in relation to a contractual water right held by a person—means the latest of the following times:
(i) the time the person started to hold the right;
(ii) the time the person became a foreign person;
(iii) the start of 1 December 2017.
rules means rules made under section 35.
start:
(a) in relation to holding a freehold interest in, or a right to occupy, land—has a meaning affected by section 6; or
(b) in relation to holding a registrable water entitlement or a contractual water right—has a meaning affected by section 6A.
water allocation means the specific volume of water allocated to an Australian water access entitlement in a given period.
water resource means:
(a) surface water or ground water; or
(b) a watercourse, lake, wetland or aquifer (whether or not it currently has water in it).
An expression used in this definition that is also used in the Water Act 2007 has the same meaning as in that Act.
5 Rules may specify that land is not agricultural land
(1) The rules may provide that land of a specified kind is not agricultural land for the purposes of this Act.
(2) Those rules have effect despite the definition of agricultural land in section 4.
5A Meaning of registrable water entitlement
(1) A registrable water entitlement of a person is any of the following rights that the person holds (alone or jointly):
(a) an irrigation right (within the meaning of the Water Act 2007) that relates to a water resource in Australia;
(b) a right (including an Australian water access entitlement) conferred by or under a law of a State or Territory to do either or both of the following:
(i) to hold water from a water resource in Australia;
(ii) to take water from a water resource in Australia.
(2) However, a registrable water entitlement does not include:
(a) stock and domestic rights; or
(b) riparian rights; or
(c) water allocations; or
(d) a right of a kind specified in the rules.
6 Starting and ceasing to hold freehold interests in, and rights to occupy, land
Starting
(1) A person starts to hold a freehold interest in, or right to occupy, land even if:
(a) the person starts to hold the interest or right jointly with one or more other persons; or
(b) the person already holds or has previously held such an interest or right in other land.
Ceasing
(2) A person ceases to hold a freehold interest in, or right to occupy, agricultural land even if the person continues to hold another such interest or right in other agricultural land.
This section is not limiting
(3) This section does not limit when a person starts or ceases to hold a freehold interest in, or right to occupy, land.
6A Starting and ceasing to hold water entitlements and rights
Starting
(1) A person starts to hold a registrable water entitlement or a contractual water right even if:
(a) the person starts to hold the entitlement or right jointly with one or more other persons; or
(b) the person already holds or has previously held another registrable water entitlement or contractual water right.
Ceasing
(2) A person ceases to hold a registrable water entitlement, or contractual water right, even if the person continues to hold another such entitlement or right.
This section is not limiting
(3) This section does not limit when a person starts or ceases to hold a registrable water entitlement or contractual water right.
7 Extension to external Territories
This Act extends to every external Territory.
8 Extraterritoriality
This Act applies both within and outside Australia.
9 This Act binds the Crown
(1) This Act binds the Crown in each of its capacities.
(2) This Act does not make the Crown liable to a pecuniary penalty or to be prosecuted for an offence.
10 Concurrent operation of State and Territory laws
This Act is not intended to exclude or limit the operation of a law of a State or Territory to the extent that that law is capable of operating concurrently with this Act.
11 Severability
(1) Without limiting its effect apart from each of the following subsections of this section, this Act also has effect as provided by that subsection.
(2) This Act also has the effect it would have if each reference to a foreign person were expressly confined to an individual who is outside Australia.
(3) This Act also has the effect it would have if each reference to a foreign person were expressly confined to an alien (within the meaning of paragraph 51(xix) of the Constitution).
(4) This Act also has the effect it would have if each reference to a foreign person were expressly confined to a corporation that:
(a) is described in paragraph (b) or (c) of the definition of foreign person in section 4 of the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975; and
(b) is a foreign corporation, or a trading or financial corporation, to which paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution applies.
(5) This Act also has the effect it would have if each reference to a foreign person were expressly confined to a trustee who:
(a) is a trustee of a trust described in paragraph (d) or (e) of the definition of foreign person in section 4 of the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975; and
(b) is:
(i) an individual outside Australia; or
(ii) an alien (within the meaning of paragraph 51(xix) of the Constitution); or
(iii) a foreign corporation, or a trading or financial corporation, to which paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution applies.
(6) This Act also has the effect it would have if each reference to land were expressly confined to land within a Territory.
(7) This Act also has the effect it would have if each reference to a water resource were expressly confined to a water resource within a Territory.
Part 2—Register of Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land
12 Simplified outline of this Part
The Commissioner must keep a Register of Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land, in 2 parts.
The basic part contains information the Commissioner obtains about foreign persons’ holdings of agricultural land.
The statistical part, which must be published on a website, contains statistics derived from the information in the basic part.
The Commissioner may correct and update this register.
13 Commissioner must keep this register
The Commissioner must keep a Register of Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land.
14 Parts of this register
(1) The Commissioner must keep this register in 2 separate parts:
(a) the basic part; and
(b) the statistical part.
(2) The basic part must contain:
(a) all the information obtained by the Commissioner under Part 3; and
(b) any information added under section 15; and
(c) any corrections or updates of information described in paragraph (a) or (b) that are made under section 16.
(3) The statistical part must contain statistics derived by the Commissioner from information in the basic part of this register, and any corrections or updates of those statistics.
(4) The statistics in the statistical part must not identify, or be reasonably capable of being used to identify, a person.
15 Commissioner may add information to basic part of this register
The Commissioner may add to the basic part of this register any information obtained by the Commissioner (other than information obtained under Part 3) relating to:
(a) the holding by a foreign person at the start of 1 July 2015 of an interest or right described in subsection 19(1); or
(b) an event that is described in Subdivision B of Division 3 of Part 3 and that occurs after the start of 1 July 2015.
Note 1: Information obtained under Part 3 must be included in the basic part of this register.
Note 2: Although the information described in this section is information about matters that must be notified to the Commissioner under Part 3, the Commissioner may obtain that information in other ways, such as by the exercise of powers under section 33 of this Act or Division 353 in Schedule 1 to the Taxation Administration Act 1953.
16 Commissioner may correct or update information in this register
The Commissioner may correct or update information in the basic part, or the statistical part, of this register.
17 Statistical part of this register to be published on website
The Commissioner must publish on a website the statistical part of this register.
Part 3—Requirements to give information about foreign holdings of agricultural land
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part
18 Simplified outline of this Part
After the commencement of this Act, a foreign person who held agricultural land at the start of 1 July 2015 must give the Commissioner notice of the holding.
If an event happens after the start of 1 July 2015 causing agricultural land to start or cease to be held by a particular foreign person, the person must give the Commissioner notice of the event after the commencement of this Act.
If a person required to give notice dies or is wound up before doing so, the person’s executor or liquidator must give the notice. An agent may give notice for a person.
The rules may provide for exemptions from these requirements.
Division 2—Foreign holdings of agricultural land on 1 July 2015
19 Notification of foreign persons’ holdings of agricultural land as at 1 July 2015
(1) This section applies if, at the start of 1 July 2015, a foreign person held:
(a) a freehold interest in agricultural land; or
(b) a right to occupy agricultural land under a lease or licence whose remaining term (including any extension or renewal) was (at the start of 1 July 2015) reasonably likely to exceed 5 years.
(2) The person must give notice of the holding to the Commissioner in the approved form before the end of 30 days starting on the day this section commences.
Note 1: Subdivision 388‑B in Schedule 1 to the Taxation Administration Act 1953 contains rules about giving notices in the approved form. Subdivision 286‑C in that Schedule provides for an administrative penalty for failure to give notice in the approved form on time.
Note 2: Division 4 requires or permits other persons to give notice of the event in some cases.
Note 3: The rules may provide for exemptions from requirements of this Part (see section 30).
Division 3—Changes in foreign holdings of agricultural land
Subdivision A—Requirement to notify Commissioner of events affecting foreign holding of agricultural land
20 Notification of changes of foreign persons’ holdings of agricultural land
A person must give the Commissioner notice, in the approved form, of an event described in Subdivision B involving the person and occurring after the start of 1 July 2015. The person must do so before the end of 30 days after the later of:
(a) the occurrence of the event; and
(b) the commencement of this section.
Note 1: Subdivision 388‑B in Schedule 1 to the Taxation Administration Act 1953 contains rules about giving notices in the approved form. Subdivision 286‑C in that Schedule provides for an administrative penalty for failure to give notice in the approved form on time.
Note 2: Division 4 requires or permits other persons to give notice of the event in some cases.
Note 3: The rules may provide for exemptions from requirements of this Part (see section 30).
Subdivision B—Events that must be notified
21 Foreign person starting to hold agricultural land
One event is that a foreign person starts to hold:
(a) a freehold interest in agricultural land; or
(b) a right to occupy agricultural land under a lease or licence whose term (including any extension or renewal) after the person starts to hold the right is reasonably likely to exceed 5 years.
22 Foreign person ceasing to hold agricultural land
Another event is that a foreign person ceases to hold:
(a) a freehold interest in agricultural land; or
(b) a right to occupy agricultural land under a lease or licence whose term (including any extension or renewal) after the registration trigger time was (at that time) reasonably likely to exceed 5 years.
23 Becoming a foreign person while holding agricultural land
Another event is that a person becomes a foreign person while holding:
(a) a freehold interest in agricultural land; or
(b) a right to occupy agricultural land under a lease or licence whose term (including any extension or renewal) after the person becomes a foreign person is reasonably likely to exceed 5 years.
24 Ceasing to be a foreign person while holding agricultural land
Another event is that a person ceases to be a foreign person while holding:
(a) a freehold interest in agricultural land; or
(b) a right to occupy agricultural land under a lease or licence whose term (including any extension or renewal) after the registration trigger time was (at that time) reasonably likely to exceed 5 years.
25 Land becoming agricultural land while held by a foreign person
Another event is that land becomes agricultural land while a foreign person holds:
(a) a freehold interest in the land; or
(b) a right to occupy the land under a lease or licence whose term (including any extension or renewal) after the time the land becomes agricultural land is (at that time) reasonably likely to exceed 5 years.
26 Land ceasing to be agricultural land while held by a foreign person
Another event is that land ceases to be agricultural land while a foreign person holds:
(a) a freehold interest in the land; or
(b) a right to occupy the land under a lease or licence whose term (including any extension or renewal) after the registration trigger time was (at that time) reasonably likely to exceed 5 years.
Division 4—Giving of notice by agents
27 Requirement for executors and administrators to give notice for persons who die
(1) If a person who is required by section 19 or 20 to give notice dies before giving the notice, the executor or administrator of the person’s estate must give notice in accordance with that section.
(2) Subsection (1) applies even if the person dies before the commencement of section 19 or 20.
28 Requirement for corporate liquidators to give notice
(1) If a person who is required by section 19 or 20 to give notice is a corporation and is wound up before giving the notice, the liquidator of the corporation must give notice in accordance with that section.
(2) Subsection (1) applies even if the corporation is wound up before the commencement of section 19 or 20.
29 Agents may give notice
A person required by section 19, 20, 27 or 28 to give notice is taken to have complied with the requirement if someone else gives notice, in accordance with that section, on the person’s behalf.
Division 5—Exemptions from requirements to give notice
30 Rules may exempt from requirements to give notice
The rules may provide that this Part, or specified provisions of this Part, do not apply in relation to either all persons or persons specified by the rules, either generally or in circumstances specified by the rules.
Part 3A—Register of Foreign Ownership of Water Entitlements
30A Simplified outline of this Part
The Commissioner must keep a Register of Foreign Ownership of Water Entitlements, in 2 parts.
The basic part contains information the Commissioner obtains about foreign persons’ holdings of certain water entitlements and contractual water rights.
The statistical part, which must be published on a website, contains statistics derived from the information in the basic part.
The Commissioner may correct and update this register.
30B Commissioner must keep this register
The Commissioner must keep a Register of Foreign Ownership of Water Entitlements.
30C Parts of this register
(1) The Commissioner must keep this register in 2 separate parts:
(a) the basic part; and
(b) the statistical part.
(2) The basic part must contain:
(a) all the information obtained by the Commissioner under Part 3B; and
(b) any information added under section 30D; and
(c) any corrections or updates of information described in paragraph (a) or (b) that are made under section 30E.
(3) The statistical part must contain statistics derived by the Commissioner from information in the basic part of this register, and any corrections or updates of those statistics.
(4) The statistics in the statistical part must not identify, or be reasonably capable of being used to identify, a person.
30D Commissioner may add information to basic part of this register
The Commissioner may add to the basic part of this register any information obtained by the Commissioner (other than information obtained under Part 3B) relating to:
(a) the holding by a foreign person at the end of 30 November 2017 of an entitlement or right described in subsection 30H(1); or
(b) an event that is described in Subdivision B of Division 3 of Part 3B and that occurs on or after 1 December 2017.
Note 1: Information obtained under Part 3B must be included in the basic part of this register.
Note 2: Although the information described in this section is information about matters that must be notified to the Commissioner under Part 3B, the Commissioner may obtain that information in other ways, such as by the exercise of powers under section 33 of this Act or Division 353 in Schedule 1 to the Taxation Administration Act 1953.
30E Commissioner may correct or update information in this register
The Commissioner may correct or update information in the basic part, or the statistical part, of this register.
30F Statistical part of this register to be published on website
The Commissioner must publish on a website the statistical part of this register.
Part 3B—Requirements to give information about foreign holdings of water entitlements
Division 1—Simplified outline of this Part
30G Simplified outline of this Part
Foreign persons who will hold, or who hold, certain water entitlements or contractual water rights at the end of 30 November 2017 must give the Commissioner notice of those holdings.
If an event occurs on or after 1 December 2017 causing such entitlements or rights to start or cease to be held by a particular foreign person, the person must give the Commissioner notice of the event. Such notices must be given annually.
If a person required to give notice dies or is wound up before doing so, the person’s executor or liquidator must give the notice. An agent may give notice for a person.
The rules may provide for exemptions from these requirements.
Division 2—Foreign holdings of water entitlements or contractual water rights on 30 November 2017
30H Notification of foreign persons’ holdings of water entitlements or contractual water rights as on 30 November 2017
(1) This section applies if a foreign person will hold, or holds, either of the following at the end of 30 November 2017:
(a) a registrable water entitlement;
(b) a contractual water right under a contract whose remaining term (including any extension or renewal) is (at the end of 30 November 2017) reasonably likely to exceed 5 years.
(2) The person must give notice of the holding to the Commissioner in the approved form during the period:
(a) starting on 1 July 2017; and
(b) ending on the later of:
(i) 30 November 2017; and
(ii) the 30th day after the day the person starts to hold that entitlement or right.
Note 1: Subdivision 388‑B in Schedule 1 to the Taxation Administration Act 1953 contains rules about giving notices in the approved form. Subdivision 286‑C in that Schedule provides for an administrative penalty for failure to give notice in the approved form on time.
Note 2: Division 4 requires or permits other persons to give notice of the event in some cases.
Note 3: The rules may provide for exemptions from requirements of this Part (see section 30U).
30J Notification of changes to these holdings that occur before 1 December 2017
If:
(a) a person gives notice of a holding under section 30H; and
(b) an event of a kind described in section 30M, 30P or 30Q occurs in relation to the holding before 1 December 2017;
the person must give the Commissioner notice, in the approved form, of the event before the later of:
(c) 1 December 2017; and
(d) the end of 30 days after the occurrence of the event.
Division 3—Changes in foreign holdings of water entitlements or contractual water rights
Subdivision A—Requirement to notify of events affecting foreign holding of these entitlements or rights
30K Notification of changes of foreign persons’ holdings of water entitlements or contractual water rights
(1) A person must give the Commissioner notice, in the approved form, of the events described in Subdivision B that:
(a) involve the person; and
(b) occur during a financial year; and
(c) relate to a registrable water entitlement or a contractual water right.
The person must do so before the end of 30 days after the end of the financial year.
Note 1: Subdivision 388‑B in Schedule 1 to the Taxation Administration Act 1953 contains rules about giving notices in the approved form. Subdivision 286‑C in that Schedule provides for an administrative penalty for failure to give notice in the approved form on time.
Note 2: If the person’s notice misses an event occurring during the financial year, a further notice will need to be given.
Note 3: Division 4 requires or permits other persons to give notice of the events in some cases.
Note 4: The rules may provide for exemptions from requirements of this Part (see section 30U).
(2) Subsection (1) applies to:
(a) the period starting on 1 December 2017 and ending on 30 June 2018 as if that period were a financial year; and
(b) the 2018‑19 financial year and each later financial year.
Exceptions
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to:
(a) a person if the person is not a foreign person:
(i) at the end of the financial year; and
(ii) at the end of the previous financial year; or
(b) an entitlement or right if the person does not hold the entitlement or right:
(i) at the end of the financial year; and
(ii) at the end of the previous financial year.
Subdivision B—Events that must be notified
30L Foreign person starting to hold a water entitlement or contractual water right
One event is that a foreign person starts to hold:
(a) a registrable water entitlement; or
(b) a contractual water right under a contract whose term (including any extension or renewal) after the person starts to hold the right is reasonably likely to exceed 5 years.
30M Foreign person ceasing to hold a water entitlement or contractual water right
Another event is that a foreign person ceases to hold:
(a) a registrable water entitlement; or
(b) a contractual water right under a contract whose term (including any extension or renewal) after the registration trigger time was (at that time) reasonably likely to exceed 5 years.
30N Becoming a foreign person while holding a water entitlement or contractual water right
Another event is that a person becomes a foreign person while holding:
(a) a registrable water entitlement; or
(b) a contractual water right under a contract whose term (including any extension or renewal) after the person becomes a foreign person is reasonably likely to exceed 5 years.
30P Ceasing to be a foreign person while holding a water entitlement or contractual water right
Another event is that a person ceases to be a foreign person while holding:
(a) a registrable water entitlement; or
(b) a contractual water right under a contract whose term (including any extension or renewal) after the registration trigger time was (at that time) reasonably likely to exceed 5 years.
30Q Change to certain characteristics of a water entitlement or contractual water right
Another event is a change to the volume of water, or to the share of a water resource, referred to in either of the following rights held by a foreign person:
(a) a registrable water entitlement;
(b) a contractual water right under a contract whose term (including any extension or renewal) after the registration trigger time was (at that time) reasonably likely to exceed 5 years.
Division 4—Giving of notice by agents
30R Requirement for executors and administrators to give notice for persons who die
If a person who is required by section 30H, 30J or 30K to give notice dies before giving the notice, the executor or administrator of the person’s estate must give notice in accordance with that section.
30S Requirement for corporate liquidators to give notice
If a person who is required by section 30H, 30J or 30K to give notice is a corporation and is wound up before giving the notice, the liquidator of the corporation must give notice in accordance with that section.
30T Agents may give notice
A person required by section 30H, 30J, 30K, 30R or 30S to give notice is taken to have complied with the requirement if someone else gives notice, in accordance with that section, on the person’s behalf.
Division 5—Exemptions from requirements to give notice
30U Rules may exempt from requirements to give notice
The rules may provide that this Part, or specified provisions of this Part, do not apply in relation to either all persons or persons specified by the rules, either generally or in circumstances specified by the rules.
Part 4—Miscellaneous
31 Simplified outline of this Part
The Commissioner has the general administration of this Act, so it is a taxation law for the purposes of the Taxation Administration Act 1953, which contains various supplementary provisions.
The Commissioner may request a person to give information from outside Australia that is relevant to the person’s compliance with Part 3 or 3B.
The Commissioner must give the Minister periodic reports, at least annually, for presentation to Parliament.
The Minister may make rules for the purposes of this Act.
32 Commissioner has the general administration of this Act
The Commissioner has the general administration of this Act.
Note: This Act is therefore a taxation law for the purposes of the Taxation Administration Act 1953 (among other laws). That Act contains a wide range of provisions about gathering, protecting and dealing with information, the exercise of powers and the performance of functions, under taxation laws, and the enforcement of taxation laws.
33 Offshore information notices for persons who may have obligations under Part 3 or 3B
For the purposes of this Act, section 264A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 applies as if:
(a) a reference in that section to an assessment of a taxpayer were a reference to the determination of either or both of the following:
(i) whether a person has or had an obligation under Part 3 or 3B of this Act;
(ii) whether a person has complied with an obligation the person has or had under Part 3 or 3B of this Act; and
(b) a reference in that section to a taxpayer were a reference to a person to whom the determination described in paragraph (a) relates or is to relate; and
(c) a reference in that section to that Act included a reference to this Act.
Note 1: Section 264A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936:
(a) lets the Commissioner give a taxpayer an offshore information notice requesting the taxpayer to give the Commissioner information, or a document, that is outside Australia and that the Commissioner believes is relevant to an assessment of the taxpayer; and
(b) sets out the consequences if the taxpayer does not comply with the request.
Note 2: Division 353 in Schedule 1 to the Taxation Administration Act 1953 also gives the Commissioner power to require a person to give the Commissioner information or documents for the administration of this Act.
34 Periodic report
(1) The Commissioner must give the Minister, for presentation to the Parliament, a report that:
(a) is on the operation of this Act; and
(b) includes statistics derived by the Commissioner from:
(i) information in the basic part of the Register of Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land kept under section 13; and
(ii) information in the basic part of the Register of Foreign Ownership of Water Entitlements kept under section 30B.
(2) The Commissioner must do so as soon as practicable after:
(a) each 30 June in a year; or
(b) each occurrence in a year of a date prescribed by the rules.
Note: See also section 34C of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901, which contains extra rules about periodic reports.
34A Productivity Commission inquiry—Parts 3A and 3B
(1) Before the end of the period of 3 years after the commencement of this section, the Minister administering the Productivity Commission Act 1998 (the Productivity Minister) must, under paragraph 6(1)(a) of that Act, refer to the Productivity Commission for inquiry the matter of the effectiveness of the scheme set out in Parts 3A and 3B of this Act, including an assessment of the costs and benefits of that scheme.
(2) In referring the matter to the Productivity Commission for inquiry, the Productivity Minister must:
(a) under paragraph 11(1)(b) of the Productivity Commission Act 1998, specify that the Productivity Commission must submit its report on the inquiry to the Productivity Minister within 5 years of the commencement of this section; and
(b) under paragraph 11(1)(d) of that Act, require the Productivity Commission to make recommendations in relation to the matter.
Note: Under section 12 of the Productivity Commission Act 1998, the Productivity Minister must cause a copy of the Productivity Commission’s report to be tabled in each House of the Parliament.
(3) For the purposes of paragraph 6(1)(a) of the Productivity Commission Act 1998, the matter mentioned in subsection (1) of this section is taken to be a matter relating to industry, industry development and productivity.
35 Rules
(1) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, make rules prescribing matters:
(a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed by the rules; or
(b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.
(2) To avoid doubt, the rules may not do the following:
(a) create an offence or civil penalty;
(b) provide powers of:
(i) arrest or detention; or
(ii) entry, search or seizure;
(c) impose a tax;
(d) set an amount to be appropriated from the Consolidated Revenue Fund under an appropriation in this Act;
(e) directly amend the text of this Act.