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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.


MARRIAGE AMENDMENT (CELEBRANT ADMINISTRATION AND FEES) BILL 2013

 

 

2010-2011-2012-2013 

 

The Parliament of the 

Commonwealth of Australia 

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

 

 

 

 

Presented and read a first time 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marriage Amendment (Celebrant 

Administration and Fees) Bill 2013 

 

No.      , 2013 

 

(Attorney-General) 

 

 

 

A Bill for an Act to amend the Marriage Act 1961 in 

relation to celebrants, and for other purposes 

   

   

 

 

i       Marriage Amendment (Celebrant Administration and Fees) Bill 2013       No.      , 2013 

Contents 

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

 

Commencement ................................................................................. 1

 

Schedule(s) ........................................................................................ 2

 

Schedule 1--Amendments relating to fees and charges

 

3

 

Part 1--Amendments relating to annual celebrant registration 

charge

 

3

 

Marriage Act 1961

 

3

 

Part 2--Amendments relating to fee for applying to become a 

marriage celebrant

 

6

 

Marriage Act 1961

 

6

 

Part 3--Amendments relating to fee for applying for 

exemption from professional development 

requirements

 

8

 

Marriage Act 1961

 

8

 

Part 4--Application of amendments

 

9

 

Schedule 2--Other amendments

 

10

 

Part 1--Amendments

 

10

 

Marriage Act 1961

 

10

 

Part 2--Transitional provisions

 

11

 

 

 

 

Marriage Amendment (Celebrant Administration and Fees) Bill 2013       No.      , 2013       1 

A Bill for an Act to amend the Marriage Act 1961 in 

relation to celebrants, and for other purposes 

The Parliament of Australia enacts: 

1  Short title 

 

  This Act may be cited as the Marriage Amendment (Celebrant 

Administration and Fees) Act 2013

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 

10 

according to its terms. 

11 

 

12 

   

   

 

 

2            Marriage Amendment (Celebrant Administration and Fees) Bill 2013       No.      , 2013 

Commencement information 

Column 1 

Column 2 

Column 3 

Provision(s) 

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. 

 

2.  Schedule 1 

The day this Act receives the Royal Assent. 

 

3.  Schedule 2 

The 28th day after this Act receives the 

Royal Assent. 

 

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  Schedule(s) 

 

  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 

10 

according to its terms. 

11 

Amendments relating to fees and charges  Schedule 1 

Amendments relating to annual celebrant registration charge  Part 1 

 

 

Marriage Amendment (Celebrant Administration and Fees) Bill 2013       No.      , 2013            3 

Schedule 1

--

Amendments relating to fees and 

charges 

Part 1

--

Amendments relating to annual celebrant 

registration charge 

Marriage Act 1961 

1  Subsection 5(1) 

Insert: 

celebrant registration charge: see subsection 39FA(1). 

2  Subsection 5(1) 

Insert: 

10 

charge payment day: see subsection 39FA(2). 

11 

3  After section 39F 

12 

Insert: 

13 

39FA  Celebrant registration charge: liability to pay charge 

14 

 

(1)  A person is liable to pay celebrant registration charge to the 

15 

Commonwealth in respect of a financial year if: 

16 

 

(a)  the person: 

17 

 

(i)  is a marriage celebrant on 1 July in that financial year; 

18 

or 

19 

 

(ii)  becomes a marriage celebrant later in that financial 

20 

year; and 

21 

 

(b)  the person has not, before the end of the charge payment day, 

22 

been granted an exemption from liability to pay the charge. 

23 

The charge must be paid by the end of the charge payment day. 

24 

Note: 

For the imposition and rate of the charge, see the Marriage (Celebrant 

25 

Registration Charge) Act 2013

26 

 

(2)  The Registrar of Marriage Celebrants must, in respect of a 

27 

financial year, send each person who is a marriage celebrant on 

28 

Schedule 1  Amendments relating to fees and charges 

Part 1  Amendments relating to annual celebrant registration charge 

 

 

4            Marriage Amendment (Celebrant Administration and Fees) Bill 2013       No.      , 2013 

1 July in the financial year, or who becomes a marriage celebrant 

on a later day in the financial year, a notice that: 

 

(a)  specifies: 

 

(i)  the amount of celebrant registration charge that is 

payable by the person (unless the person is granted an 

exemption); and 

 

(ii)  the charge payment day (being a day that is at least 30 

days after the day on which the notice is sent); and 

 

(b)  complies with any other requirements prescribed by the 

regulations relating to the content of the notice, or how it is to 

10 

be sent. 

11 

 

(3)  The regulations may do all or any of the following: 

12 

 

(a)  provide for the granting of exemptions, on grounds specified 

13 

in the regulations, from liability to pay celebrant registration 

14 

charge in respect of a financial year; 

15 

 

(b)  require a fee to be paid in respect of an application for an 

16 

exemption; 

17 

 

(c)  provide for internal review of decisions to refuse to grant 

18 

exemptions. 

19 

 

(4)  Regulations made for the purpose of paragraph (3)(b) may specify 

20 

a fee, or provide for a fee to be determined by the Minister by 

21 

legislative instrument. 

22 

 

(5)  Regulations made for the purpose of paragraph (3)(c) must provide 

23 

that the outcome of an internal review of a decision (the original 

24 

decision) is either: 

25 

 

(a)  that the original decision is confirmed; or 

26 

 

(b)  that a different decision is substituted for the original 

27 

decision, with effect from the time when the original decision 

28 

was made. 

29 

 

(6)  An amount of celebrant registration charge that a person is liable to 

30 

pay: 

31 

 

(a)  is a debt due by the person to the Commonwealth; and 

32 

 

(b)  may be recovered by action in a court of competent 

33 

jurisdiction. 

34 

Amendments relating to fees and charges  Schedule 1 

Amendments relating to annual celebrant registration charge  Part 1 

 

 

Marriage Amendment (Celebrant Administration and Fees) Bill 2013       No.      , 2013            5 

39FB  Celebrant registration charge: consequence of non-payment 

 

(1)  If a person has not, by the end of the charge payment day, paid an 

amount of celebrant registration charge that the person is liable to 

pay, the Registrar of Marriage Celebrants must, as soon as 

practicable after that day, send the person a notice in accordance 

with subsection (2), unless the Registrar considers that the notice 

should not be sent at that time because the person's liability to pay 

the charge may be affected by: 

 

(a)  the outcome of an application for internal review of a 

decision to refuse to grant an exemption; or 

10 

 

(b)  any other circumstance of which the Registrar is aware. 

11 

Note: 

Depending on the outcome of matters referred to in paragraph (a) or 

12 

(b), it may turn out that the person is not liable to pay the charge. 

13 

 

(2)  The notice referred to in subsection (1) must: 

14 

 

(a)  advise the person that, because the person has failed to pay 

15 

celebrant registration charge, the person will be deregistered 

16 

as a marriage celebrant after the day specified in the notice 

17 

(being a day that is at least 7 days after the day on which the 

18 

notice is sent); and 

19 

 

(b)  comply with any other requirements prescribed by the 

20 

regulations relating to the content of the notice, or how it is to 

21 

be sent. 

22 

 

(3)  The Registrar of Marriage Celebrants must deregister the person as 

23 

a marriage celebrant by removing his or her details from the 

24 

register of marriage celebrants as soon as practicable after the day 

25 

specified under paragraph (2)(a). 

26 

Note: 

If the person wishes to become a marriage celebrant again, the person 

27 

may reapply under section 39D. 

28 

4  At the end of paragraph 39J(1)(c) 

29 

Add "(including under subsection 39FB(3))". 

30 

Schedule 1  Amendments relating to fees and charges 

Part 2  Amendments relating to fee for applying to become a marriage celebrant 

 

 

6            Marriage Amendment (Celebrant Administration and Fees) Bill 2013       No.      , 2013 

Part 2

--

Amendments relating to fee for applying to 

become a marriage celebrant 

Marriage Act 1961 

5  Before subsection 39D(1) 

Insert: 

Applying for registration 

6  After subsection 39D(1) 

Insert: 

 

(1A)  An application is taken to be made if, and only if: 

 

(a)  the application complies with subsection (1); and 

10 

 

(b)  the applicant has either: 

11 

 

(i)  paid the registration application fee in respect of the 

12 

application; or 

13 

 

(ii)  been granted an exemption from liability to pay the 

14 

registration application fee. 

15 

Note: 

The application is made on the day on which paragraphs (a) and (b) 

16 

are first satisfied in relation to the application. 

17 

Registration application fees 

18 

 

(1B)  The regulations may require a fee (a registration application fee

19 

to be paid in respect of an application. 

20 

 

(1C)  The regulations may also do all or any of the following: 

21 

 

(a)  provide for the granting of exemptions, on grounds specified 

22 

in the regulations, from liability to pay a registration 

23 

application fee; 

24 

 

(b)  require a fee to be paid in respect of an application for an 

25 

exemption; 

26 

 

(c)  provide for internal review of decisions to refuse to grant 

27 

exemptions. 

28 

Amendments relating to fees and charges  Schedule 1 

Amendments relating to fee for applying to become a marriage celebrant  Part 2 

 

 

Marriage Amendment (Celebrant Administration and Fees) Bill 2013       No.      , 2013            7 

 

(1D)  Regulations made for the purpose of subsection (1B) or 

paragraph (1C)(b) may specify a fee, or provide for a fee to be 

determined by the Minister by legislative instrument. 

 

(1E)  Regulations made for the purpose of paragraph (1C)(c) must 

provide that the outcome of an internal review of a decision to 

refuse to grant an exemption is either: 

 

(a)  that the refusal decision is confirmed; or 

 

(b)  that an exemption is granted, with effect from when the 

internal review decision is made. 

7  Subsection 39D(2) 

10 

Repeal the subsection, substitute: 

11 

How Registrar deals with applications 

12 

 

(2)  The Registrar must deal with applications in the order in which 

13 

they are made (see subsection (1A)). 

14 

8  Paragraph 39D(4)(a) 

15 

Repeal the paragraph, substitute: 

16 

 

(a)  the person has made an application (see subsection (1A)); 

17 

and 

18 

9  Paragraph 39J(2)(a) 

19 

Omit "under section 39D", substitute "(see subsection 39D(1A))". 

20 

Schedule 1  Amendments relating to fees and charges 

Part 3  Amendments relating to fee for applying for exemption from professional 

development requirements 

 

 

8            Marriage Amendment (Celebrant Administration and Fees) Bill 2013       No.      , 2013 

Part 3

--

Amendments relating to fee for applying for 

exemption from professional development 

requirements 

Marriage Act 1961 

10  Section 39G 

Before "A marriage celebrant", insert "(1)". 

11  At the end of section 39G 

Add: 

 

(2)  Without limiting subsection (1), the regulations may require a fee 

to be paid in respect of an application for an exemption from 

10 

requirements prescribed by regulations made for the purpose of 

11 

paragraph (1)(b). The regulations may specify the fee, or provide 

12 

for the fee to be determined by the Minister by legislative 

13 

instrument. 

14 

Amendments relating to fees and charges  Schedule 1 

Application of amendments  Part 4 

 

 

Marriage Amendment (Celebrant Administration and Fees) Bill 2013       No.      , 2013            9 

Part 4

--

Application of amendments 

12  Application of amendments made by Part 1 

The amendments made by Part 1 apply in respect of the financial year 

starting on 1 July 2013 or a later financial year. 

13  Application of amendments made by Part 2 

The amendments made by Part 2 apply in relation to the making of 

applications for registration as a marriage celebrant on or after 1 July 

2013. 

14  Application of amendments made by Part 3 

The amendments made by Part 3 apply in relation to the making of 

10 

applications for exemptions on or after 1 July 2013. 

11 

Schedule 2  Other amendments 

Part 1  Amendments 

 

 

10            Marriage Amendment (Celebrant Administration and Fees) Bill 2013       No.      , 2013 

Schedule 2

--

Other amendments 

Part 1

--

Amendments 

Marriage Act 1961 

1  Section 39E 

Repeal the section. 

2  Subsections 39H(1) and (2) 

Repeal the subsections, substitute: 

 

(1)  The Registrar of Marriage Celebrants may, from time to time, 

review the performance of a marriage celebrant in respect of a 

period to determine whether the Registrar considers that the 

10 

celebrant's performance in the period is satisfactory. 

11 

Note: 

The period to which a review relates is at the discretion of the 

12 

Registrar. 

13 

3  Paragraph 39J(1)(a) 

14 

Omit "(unless a ground for the decision was that the Registrar would 

15 

breach section 39E by registering the person)". 

16 

4  Subsection 39J(3) 

17 

Omit "(even if doing so at the time the action is taken would cause a 

18 

breach of a limit under section 39E)". 

19 

5  Subparagraph 42(1)(b)(iii) 

20 

Omit "; and", substitute "; or". 

21 

6  At the end of paragraph 42(1)(b) 

22 

Add: 

23 

 

(iv)  an Australian passport, showing the date and place of 

24 

birth of the party; and 

25 

7  Subsection 115(1) 

26 

Omit ", as soon as practicable after each 14 March". 

27 

Other amendments  Schedule 2 

Transitional provisions  Part 2 

 

 

Marriage Amendment (Celebrant Administration and Fees) Bill 2013       No.      , 2013            11 

Part 2

--

Transitional provisions 

8  Definitions 

In this Part: 

amended Act means the Marriage Act 1961 as in force after 

commencement. 

commencement means the commencement of this Schedule. 

old Act means the Marriage Act 1961 as in force immediately before 

commencement. 

9  Transitional provisions relating to amendment made by 

item 2 

10 

(1) 

If: 

11 

 

(a)  before commencement, the Registrar of Marriage Celebrants 

12 

was obliged to conduct a review of a marriage celebrant's 

13 

performance in respect of a period under section 39H of the 

14 

old Act; but 

15 

 

(b)  the review had not been completed by commencement; 

16 

the obligation to conduct the review ceases on commencement. The 

17 

Registrar may (at the Registrar's discretion) complete any such review 

18 

under section 39H of the amended Act. 

19 

(2) 

To avoid doubt, disciplinary measures may, after commencement, be 

20 

taken in accordance with section 39I of the amended Act in relation to a 

21 

review that was completed under section 39H of the old Act before 

22 

commencement, or that is completed after commencement as mentioned 

23 

in subitem (1). 

24 

 


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