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2013-2014-2015
THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
SENATE
JUDICIARY AMENDMENT BILL 2015
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
(Circulated by authority of the
Attorney-General, Senator the Honourable George Brandis QC)
JUDICIARY AMENDMENT BILL 2015
GENERAL OUTLINE
1. The purpose of the Judiciary Amendment Bill 2015 is to make legislative amendments
that will consolidate the Australian Government Solicitor (AGS) into the
Attorney-Generals Department (AGD).
2. The Bill implements the decision made as part of the Governments
Smaller Government Reform Agenda which was released at the 2014-15 Mid-Year
Economic and Fiscal Outlook in December 2014.
3. The Bill amends the Judiciary Act 1903, the Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1983
and the Freedom of Information Act 1982. The specific amendments are detailed below
under the heading ,,Note on Clauses.
4. The Bill comprises three schedules.
5. Schedule 1 makes amendments to the Judiciary Act. The purpose of the amendments
in this schedule is to provide for:
the Australian Government Solicitor to be a person in the Attorney-Generals
Department who is engaged under the Public Service Act 1999
the role of the Australian Government Solicitor
the definition of ,,AGS lawyer
the ability of the AGS to charge fees
the repeal of references to the AGS being a statutory corporation
the repeal of references to the functions, powers and constitution of the former AGS,
and
the repeal of references to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the AGS.
6. Schedule 2 makes amendments to the Director of Public Prosecutions Act and the
Freedom of Information Act to provide for:
the ongoing ability of the Director of Public Prosecutions to arrange for the AGS to
perform or exercise all or any of the Directors functions or powers under the
Director of Public Prosecutions Act, and
AGSs exemption from the Freedom of Information Act to continue to operate in
respect of its activities within AGD so that AGS can compete on an even footing
with private legal service providers.
7. Schedule 3 makes transitional amendments to address operational matters arising from
AGS being consolidated within AGD, including:
the transfer of AGSs assets (including money), liabilities, contracts, reporting
requirements and records to the Commonwealth
dealing with ongoing legal proceedings that AGS is acting in or party to
immediately before consolidation
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ensuring that stamp duty and other State or Territory tax consequences do not arise
as a result of the consolidation
dealing with references in existing Commonwealth laws to the former AGS
providing for the employment conditions of staff performing AGS functions
preserving the ability of AGS lawyers to receive service of process in matters in
which the Commonwealth is a party
providing for compensation for any acquisition of property arising in relation to the
operation of Schedule 3 to the Bill, and
enabling the Minister to make transitional rules prescribing matters relating to
Schedule 3 of the Bill.
FINANCIAL IMPACT STATEMENT
8. The Bill will have nil financial impact on government departments and agencies.
9. After consolidation, the Secretary of AGD will undertake a review of Commonwealth
legal services to identify efficiencies that can be gained in government legal costs.
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STATEMENT OF COMPATIBILITY WITH HUMAN RIGHTS
Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011
Judiciary Amendment Bill 2015
10. This Bill is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in
the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary
Scrutiny) Act 2011.
Overview of the Bill
11. This Bill makes amendments of a minor and machinery nature which do not limit any
human rights.
Human rights implications
12. This Bill is compatible with human rights as it does not engage any of the applicable
rights or freedoms.
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NOTES ON CLAUSES
Preliminary
Clause 1 - Short title
13. This clause provides for the Bill to be cited as the Judiciary Amendment Act 2015.
Clause 2 - Commencement
14. This clause sets out when various provisions of the Judiciary Amendment Act will
commence, as set out in the table.
15. Sections 1 to 3 of the Act will commence on the day it receives Royal Assent. The rest
of the Act (Schedules 1, 2 and 3) will commence on either a day fixed by proclamation
or, if the provisions do not commence within the period of 6 months beginning on the
day the Act receives Royal Assent, on the day after the end of that period.
Clause 3 - Schedules
16. This clause provides that any legislation that is specified in a Schedule to the
Judiciary Amendment Act is amended or repealed as set out in the Schedule and any
other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.
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SCHEDULE 1 - AMENDMENT OF THE JUDICIARY ACT 1903
17. Schedule 1 makes amendments to the Judiciary Act.
18. Item 1 repeals the definition of ,,AGS in section 2 of the Judiciary Act and replaces it
with a new definition (see Item 6 of Schedule 1 to this Bill).
19. Item 2 repeals and replaces the definition of ,,AGS lawyer in the Judiciary Act.
20. ,,AGS lawyer is defined to mean the AGS, or an employee of AGD whose name is on a
roll of legal practitioners referred to in paragraph 55I(b)(i) and who ordinarily performs
work for AGS clients under the supervision or direction of the AGS.
21. This definition of ,,AGS lawyer reflects the consolidation of the AGS within AGD and
maintains the existing Part VIIIB requirement for AGS lawyers to be on a roll of legal
practitioners.
22. The person within AGD who is the AGS will be an AGS lawyer. This means that
section 55Q of the Judiciary Act applies to him or her. The AGS will provide
high-level supervision and direction to other AGS lawyers.
23. The definition of ,,AGS lawyer closely mirrors the existing definition of
,,Attorney-Generals lawyer contained in subsection 55E(1) of the Judiciary Act. The
Act would continue to distinguish between AGS lawyers and AGD lawyers to reflect
arrangements for the AGS to continue to operate under its current name and brand
when consolidated into AGD. The intention is that AGS lawyers will continue to
perform different functions to other AGD lawyers. Unlike other AGD lawyers, AGS
lawyers (other than the AGS) will perform functions under the general supervision or
direction of the AGS.
24. Item 3 repeals the definition of ,,CEO in section 55I.
25. A definition of ,,CEO will no longer be necessary, as the position of Chief Executive
Officer of the AGS will be abolished (see item 15 of Schedule 1), consistent with AGS
ceasing to be a statutory corporation.
26. Item 4 repeals the definition of ,,Finance Minister in section 55I.
27. A definition of ,,Finance Minister will no longer be necessary as existing references to
the Finance Minister contained in Part VIIIB of the Judiciary Act will be repealed.
28. Item 5 omits the words ,,Establishment and functions of the
Australian Government Solicitor from the title of Division 2 of Part VIIIB and
substitutes the words ,,Identity and activity of Australian Government Solicitor. The
amended title reflects the identification of the AGS as a person within AGD.
29. Item 6 repeals sections 55J, 55K, 55L and 55M and inserts new section 55J (The
Australian Government Solicitor).
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30. The existing sections 55J, 55K, 55L and 55M establish AGS as a body corporate and
provide for its functions, powers and constitution. These provisions are no longer
required and are consistent with AGS ceasing to be a statutory corporation.
31. The amended section 55J defines the ,,Australian Government Solicitor or ,,AGS as an
AGD employee whose name is on a roll of legal practitioners as referred to in
paragraph 55J(2)(a). In practice, the Secretary of AGD will appoint an employee of
AGD as the Australian Government Solicitor. It is intended that the person will be a
Senior Executive Service Officer within AGD. The position would not be a statutory
office.
32. The position is given statutory recognition to make clear that the AGS may appear as
solicitor on the record in litigated matters.
33. Items 7 and 8 amend subsections 55N(1) and 55N(2) to omit the words ,,In performing
its functions, the AGS may provide services to the following and substitute the words
,,The AGS may provide legal services and related services to or for the following.
34. These amendments update section 55N to reflect the fact that section 55K (setting out
the functions of current AGS as a statutory corporation) will be repealed. It enables the
AGS to provide legal services and related services to the same range of persons and
entities to whom AGS can currently provide legal and related services.
35. Item 9 repeals and replaces subsections 55N(3) and 55N(4) and inserts new
subsection 55N(4A).
36. These amendments enable the AGS to provide legal and related services to a person or
body, or class of persons or bodies, which are not specifically referred to in
subsections 55N(1) or 55N(2) of the Judiciary Act, at the Attorney-Generals request.
37. It also enables the AGS to provide legal services and related services to a person or
body, or class of persons or bodies, which are not specifically referred to in
subsections 55N(1) or 55N(2) of the Judiciary Act, if the AGS so determines.
38. These amendments maintain the current arrangements which enable the
Attorney-General to request, and the CEO of AGS to determine, that the AGS is to
provide legal services or related services to persons or bodies not mentioned in
subsections 55N(1) and 55N(2).
39. Under new subsection 55N(4A), AGS may only provide services at the request of the
Attorney-General, or where the AGS made a determination, for a purpose for which the
Commonwealth has power to make laws. This is intended to make clear that the AGS
can only provide services to third parties (for example, where it provided pro bono or
other legal services to private companies) where it is within Commonwealth
constitutional power do so.
40. Items 10 and 11 amend section 55P to clarify that the AGS will charge fees on behalf
of the Commonwealth. Once the AGS ceases to be a separate legal entity and becomes
part of the Commonwealth, it will only charge fees on behalf of the Commonwealth.
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41. Item 12 inserts new subsections 55P(3) and 55P(4).
42. The addition of new subsection 55P(3) clarifies that fees charged by the AGS (other
than fees that are ,,notionally payable by the Commonwealth) are debts due to the
Commonwealth and are recoverable by the Commonwealth in a court of competent
jurisdiction.
43. The addition of new subsection 55P(4) makes it clear that fees charged to the
Commonwealth (or to a part of the Commonwealth) are ,,notionally payable by the
Commonwealth (or by the part of the Commonwealth). This provision recognises that
the Commonwealth is not able to legally impose fees on itself, but that parts of the
Commonwealth make ,,notional payments to other parts of the Commonwealth. It
expressly states that subsection 55P(3) does not apply to such fees because the
Commonwealth cannot legally owe a debt to itself.
44. Item 13 amends subsection 55Q(4) by omitting the words ,,the lawyers position as an
employee of the AGS and substituting the words ,,his or her position as an AGS
lawyer.
45. This amendment reflects the new definition of ,,AGS lawyer as defined in Item 2 of
Schedule 1 to this Bill.
46. Item 14 repeals Divisions 4 (Appointment and terms and conditions of CEO and staff)
and 5 (Money) of Part VIIIB (The Australian Government Solicitor) of the Judiciary
Act.
47. The amendments reflect that AGS will cease to be a statutory corporation and will be
consolidated into AGD.
48. Item 15 repeals paragraph 55ZF(3)(a) and substitutes the words ,,any work performed
by or on behalf of the AGS in providing services in accordance with section 55N.
49. This amendment updates the definition of ,,Commonwealth legal work to reflect the
fact that AGS will no longer have specific statutory functions (because section 55K of
the Judiciary Act will be repealed). It ensures that the AGS continues to be required to
comply with legal services directions made by the Attorney-General under Part VIIIC
of the Judiciary Act.
50. Item 16 omits ,,CEO from paragraph 55ZG(1)(d) and instead refers to the ,,AGS. This
amendment is necessary because the position of CEO will no longer exist.
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SCHEDULE 2 - CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS
51. Schedule 2 to the Bill makes consequential amendments to the
Director of Public Prosecutions Act and the Freedom of Information Act.
Amendments to the Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1983
52. The Bill makes consequential amendments to the Director of Public Prosecutions Act to
reflect the changes to the Judiciary Act made by this Bill. The amendments ensure that
the Director of Public Prosecutions Act continues to operate as it does currently.
53. Item 1 repeals and replaces paragraph 11(1)(b) to replace the words ,,the Chief
Executive Officer of the Australian Government Solicitor with the words ,,the
Australian Government Solicitor.
54. This amendment allows the Director of Public Prosecutions to continue to give
directions, or furnish guidelines to the AGS with respect to the prosecution of offences
against the laws of the Commonwealth.
55. Item 2 amends subsection 32(1) by omitting the words ,,the Chief Executive Officer of
the AGS and substituting the words ,,the Australian Government Solicitor (the AGS).
56. This amendment allows the Director of Public Prosecutions to continue to arrange for
the AGS to perform or exercise, in a State or Territory, all or any of the Directors
functions or powers under the Director of Public Prosecutions Act.
57. Item 3 repeals subsection 32(4) to remove reference to the definition of the former
AGS in the Judiciary Act.
58. Item 4 repeals and replaces paragraph 32A(5)(a) to replace the words ,,the Chief
Executive Officer of the AGS with the words ,,the Australian Government Solicitor
(the AGS). It also repeals and replaces paragraph 32A(5)(b) to replace the words ,,a
person employed under subsection 55ZB(1) of the Judiciary Act 1903 with the words
,,another AGS lawyer (within the meaning of section 55I of the Judiciary Act 1903).
This amendment reflects the new definitions of the AGS and AGS lawyer inserted by
this Bill.
59. Item 5 repeals subsection 32A(6) to remove reference to the definition of the former
AGS in the Judiciary Act.
60. Item 6 amends paragraph 33A(b) by omitting the words ,,the Chief Executive Officer of
the AGS (within the meaning of Part VIIB of that Act) and substituting the words ,,the
Australian Government Solicitor. The amendment reflects the new definition of the
AGS inserted by this Bill.
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Amendments to the Freedom of Information Act 1982
61. The Bill makes consequential amendments to the Freedom of Information Act so that
AGSs activities remain exempt from the operation of the Act. This will ensure AGS
can continue to compete on an even footing with private legal service providers.
62. Item 7 amends Division 1, Part I of Schedule 2 by omitting the reference to the
,,Australian Government Solicitor.
63. Item 8 amends paragraph (b) of the current exemption in Division 1, Part II of
Schedule 2 for documents held by the Attorney-Generals Department (AGD) that
relate to commercial activities undertaken by the AGS, by omitting the word
,,commercial.
64. The effect of this amendment is to exempt AGD from the operation of the
Freedom of Information Act in relation to ,,documents in respect of activities
undertaken by the Australian Government Solicitor. For example, documents held by
AGS lawyers and other persons working under the supervision or direction of the AGS
(such as legal support staff) would be covered by the exemption.
65. This amendment is intended to provide the continued operations of the AGS with the
same level of exclusion from the Freedom of Information Act that existed when the
AGS was a separate statutory authority operating as a government business enterprise.
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SCHEDULE 3 - TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
66. Schedule 3 to this Bill makes transitional arrangements in relation to AGS operational
matters. The Schedule is intended to ensure that there is minimal disruption to AGSs
services during the consolidations transition period.
Part 1 - Preliminary
67. Item 1 sets out various definitions for the purposes of this Schedule, including:
AGS agreement means the enterprise agreement known as the Australian
Government Solicitor Enterprise Agreement 2012 approved on 29 June 2012 in
decision [2012] FWAA 5568
former AGS means the Australian Government Solicitor established under the
Judiciary Act (as in force immediately before the commencement time), and
new AGS means the Australian Government Solicitor mentioned in section 55J
of the Judiciary Act (as in force on and after the commencement time).
Part 2 - Activity of AGS
68. Item 2 provides that the new AGS is taken to be substituted for the former AGS in
relation to any matter that the former AGS was acting in just before the commencement
time, and which continues after that time. Further, under the item all references to the
former AGS in relation to the matter are taken to be references to the new AGS.
69. This amendment ensures that the new AGS can continue to act in relation to ongoing
matters. It also ensures that any references to AGS in relation to ongoing matters (such
as references to AGS in court documents) are taken to be references to the new AGS.
A consequence of this is that the AGS does not need to take any steps (such as filing a
notice of change of solicitor) to notify courts about AGS being consolidated into AGD.
70. Item 3 ensures that any requests or determinations made under subsections 55N(3) or
55N(4) of the Judiciary Act as in force immediately before the commencement time for
the AGS to provide services to certain persons or bodies continue to have effect from
the commencement time. This amendment ensures that the new AGS can continue to
act in relation to ongoing matters.
71. Item 4 ensures continuity of appointments to receive service for legal matters in which
the Commonwealth is a party. Under section 63 of the Judiciary Act, the
Attorney-General has appointed particular AGS lawyers to receive service of process in
matters in which the Commonwealth is a party. This item is intended to clarify that
those AGS lawyers will continue to be able to receive service of process in matters in
which the Commonwealth is a party after the commencement time.
Part 3 - Transfer of assets and liabilities
Division 1 - Transfer from AGS to the Commonwealth
72. Item 5 subitem (1) transfers all of the assets (including money) and liabilities of the
former AGS to the Commonwealth at the commencement time.
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73. Subitem (2) ensures that no income tax (and, in particular, capital gains tax)
consequences would arise as a result of the transfer of the former AGSs assets to the
Commonwealth.
Division 2 - Instruments, legal proceedings and records
74. Item 6 applies to any instruments that refer to the former AGS and are in force at the
commencement time.
75. If any such instrument relates to an asset or liability that is transferred to the
Commonwealth under item 5, the instrument is taken to refer to the Commonwealth on
and after the commencement time. The purpose of this provision is to ensure that
existing ,,instruments, including things such as agreements, undertakings, legislative
instruments and other instruments made under an Act or regulations, continue to
operate as intended after the transition.
76. Subitem (3) puts beyond any doubt that instruments to which the item applied can still
be varied or terminated after the commencement time.
77. Item 7 provides that if the former AGS is a party to any legal proceedings immediately
before the commencement time, the Commonwealth is (from the commencement time)
to be substituted for the former AGS as a party to the proceedings.
78. This provision ensures that any existing litigation that AGS is a party to is not affected
by the former AGS becoming part of the Commonwealth.
Division 3 - General provisions
79. Item 8 enables a certificate to be made that allows an asset vested in the
Commonwealth under the Bill to be registered (on the relevant register of assets of that
kind) as an asset belonging to the Commonwealth.
80. Item 8 specifies that such a certificate is not a legislative instrument. This provision is
designed to assist readers, by making clear that the instrument is not a legislative
instrument within the meaning of section 5 of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.
Instruments made under this provision will be administrative in character.
81. Item 9 provides for any current contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding
entered into by the former AGS to have effect as if the Commonwealth had entered into
it.
82. This would ensure that all contracts, agreements, arrangements or understandings
entered into by the former AGS continue in force, and are deemed to have been entered
into by the Commonwealth.
83. AGS currently has a number of legally binding contracts with clients that form part of
the Commonwealth. Once those contracts are deemed to have been entered into by the
Commonwealth they would no longer be legally binding (because the Commonwealth
cannot legally contract with itself). Those types of contracts are treated as an
agreement, arrangement or understanding between parts of the Commonwealth that,
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although not legally binding, evidenced an understanding between each of the
Commonwealth parties.
84. Item 10 ensures that the vesting of assets and liabilities of the former AGS in the
Commonwealth does not result in any stamp duty or other tax liability under a law of a
State or Territory. It also provides a mechanism for the Minister to certify (under
subitem 10(3)) that a particular matter is an ,,exempt matter that does not attract
taxation under a State or Territory law.
85. A certificate under subitem 10(3) is not a legislative instrument. This provision is
designed to assist readers, by making clear that the instrument is not a legislative
instrument within the meaning of section 5 of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.
Instruments made under this provision will be administrative in character.
86. Item 11 creates a presumption that a certificate issued under items 8 or 10 is valid,
unless the contrary is established. This enables people to rely on such documents
unless there is evidence to the contrary.
Part 4 - Books, reports, returns etc.
87. Item 12 provides for the custody of records or documents to be transferred from the
former AGS to the Commonwealth.
88. Item 13 deals with reporting requirements for the former AGS. It requires the
Secretary of AGD to meet any reporting requirements that were previously imposed on
the CEO of AGS.
89. This item applies, for example, in relation to annual reports and financial statements
that the CEO of AGS is currently required to prepare under the Public Governance,
Performance and Accountability Act 2013.
Part 5 - Staff
90. This part modifies the operation of the Fair Work Act 2009 in relation to employees of
the former AGS, and employees of AGD, who ordinarily perform work under the
supervision or direction of the AGS. The Fair Work Act otherwise applies on its terms.
91. The modifications are:
the Bill will deem a connection to exist for the purposes of paragraph 311(1)(d)
of the Fair Work Act
the AGS agreement is the only transferable instrument
the AGS agreement covers and applies to any employee engaged in AGD who
ordinarily performs work under the direction or supervision of the AGS, and
the AGS agreement will no longer cover any employee when a new enterprise
agreement is made that covers AGD employees.
92. Subitem 14(2) provide that when determining if there is a transfer of business for the
purposes of section 311 of the Fair Work Act from the former AGS to the
Commonwealth, that the requirement in paragraph 311(1)(d) of the Fair Work Act is
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taken to be met. Subitem 14(1) provides that subitem (2) applies if immediately before
the commencement time a person was an employee of the former AGS and at the
commencement time the person becomes engaged as an APS employee in AGD under
section 72 of the Public Service Act. However, in order for there to be a transfer of
business under the Fair Work Act the requirements in paragraphs 311(1)(a)-(c) of that
Act must also be met.
93. Subitem 14(3) ensures that the only transferable instrument in relation to such a transfer
of business is the AGS agreement. The effect of subitem 14(3) is that no other
instrument that covers the AGS, including the Australian Government Solicitor Award
2001 [AP814283], is capable of being a transferable instrument for the purposes of
section 312 of the Fair Work Act.
94. Item 15 provides that the AGS agreement will, after the commencement time, cover
and apply to the Commonwealth, the Community and Public Sector Union and a person
if the person:
is not otherwise covered by the AGS agreement, for example, because of
section 313 of the Fair Work Act
is engaged under the Public Service Act in AGD, whether they were engaged
before or after commencement, and
ordinarily performs work under the supervision or direction of the AGS.
95. Subitem 15(1) modifies the ordinary rules in the Fair Work Act. It ensures that for all
employees who perform work under the supervision or direction of the AGS, including
employees engaged at SES classifications, the AGS agreement would apply rather than
the AGD agreement. So, for example, employees engaged following the
commencement time who work as AGS lawyers or in support of the functions of the
AGS will have the same remuneration and conditions as their colleagues who are
transferred at the commencement time.
96. Subitem 15(2) makes clear that references in the AGS agreement to the AGS CEO are
taken to be references to the Secretary of AGD and references to the AGS become
references to AGD following the commencement time.
97. Subitem 15(3) makes clear that this item is subject to item 17.
98. Item 16 makes clear that the guidelines and policies relating to employment conditions,
administrative process and employment related matters that had effect for the purposes
of the former AGS will continue to have effect following commencement. The
intention is that terms and conditions determined by the AGS agreement will continue
to be administered in accordance with the policies that applied to employees in the
former AGS, while the AGS agreement is in operation. However, those guidelines and
policies will still have force as administrative instruments; the preservation of the
guidelines and policies by this item does not change their legal status.
99. Subitem 16(2) makes clear that references in the relevant guidelines and policies to the
AGS CEO are taken to be references to the Secretary of AGD and references to the
AGS become references to AGD following the commencement time.
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100. Subitem 16(3) makes clear that subitem 16(2) does not prevent the subsequent
variation, withdrawal or replacement of any of the guidelines or policies preserved by
that subitem by the Secretary, for example, in reliance of his or her common law
powers under section 20 of the Public Service Act.
101. Subitem 16(4) makes clear that this item is subject to item 17.
102. Item 17 provides that the AGS agreement ceases to operate when a new AGD
enterprise agreement commences operation.
103. The effect of item 17 is that the AGS agreement will no longer cover any employee,
regardless of whether they are SES or non-SES employees, once a new AGD enterprise
agreement commences operation (after the commencement time). This is the case even
if the new AGD enterprise agreement would not cover all of the employees covered by
the AGS agreement.
104. Item 18 preserves various entitlements of employees of the former AGS who become
APS employees in AGD by virtue of a determination made by the Australian Public
Service Commissioner under section 72 of the Public Service Act at the
commencement time (,,transferring employees).
105. Subitem 18(2) preserves the accrued entitlement to benefits of transferring employees.
The effect of subitem 18(2) is, for example, that a transferring employees accrued
annual and personal/carers leave at the commencement time will be recognised by the
Commonwealth in relation to that employees employment in AGD.
106. Subitem 18(3) deems the service of a transferring employee in AGS to be continuous
with their service in AGD.
107. For the avoidance of any doubt, subitem 18(4) ensures that a transferring employees
service in AGS is treated as service in the Commonwealth for the purposes of the Long
Service Leave (Commonwealth Employees) Act 1976.
108. A transferring employee was not covered by the Maternity Leave (Commonwealth
Employees) Act 1973 in relation to their employment in the former AGS.
Subitem 18(5) provides that a transferring employees service in AGS is treated as
service in the Commonwealth for the purposes of the Maternity Leave (Commonwealth
Employees) Act.
109. Item 19 provides that the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (the SRC
Act) applies to an employee of the former AGS, who suffered an injury before the
commencement time, as if the employee had been an employee of the Commonwealth
in AGD. This is the case even if the employee is not employed in the former AGS at the
commencement time.
110. The item ensures that AGD is the relevant employer of employees of the former AGS
(including employees who ceased employment with the former AGS before the
commencement time) in respect of an injury within the meaning of the SRC Act
sustained before the commencement time.
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111. Item 20 provides for the making of rules, under item 25, dealing with additional
transitional matters relating to staffing procedures of former AGS employees who
become APS employees in AGD through the Public Service Act.
112. Subitem 20(2) makes clear that the rules may modify the operation of the
Public Service Act. This subitem allows maximum flexibility to ensure staffing
procedures for former AGS employees can be fairly delivered regardless of the timing
of commencement. Its purpose is to provide a means of varying the operation of
provisions relating to staffing procedures for the former AGS or AGD in this Schedule
in a timely way to avoid any results that were not intended to apply to former AGS
employees.
113. Item 21 provides that nothing in Schedule 3 will cause the appointment, engagement or
employment of former AGS staff to have effect as if it were an appointment,
engagement or employment of the person in relation to the Commonwealth.
114. This item makes it clear, for example, that item 6 in Division 2, Part 3 of Schedule 3
does not have the effect of requiring a reference in an instrument relating to the
engagement or employment of an employee of the former AGS to be read as a
reference that relates to the Commonwealth.
115. Subitem 21(2) provides that, to avoid doubt, if a person ceases to be an employee of the
former AGS and becomes an APS employee because of a determination by the
Australian Public Service Commissioner under section 72 of the Public Service Act, the
person is not entitled to receive any payment or other benefit merely because he or she
ceased to be an employee of the former AGS.
116. It is intended that the employment of such people will be continuous, regardless of the
fact that they move from being employees of the former AGS to being APS employees
in AGD. The continuity of the employees employment is achieved by the operation of
item 18.
117. Section 72 of the Public Service Act provides for the Australian Public Service
Commissioner, amongst other things, to engage persons, including non-APS
employees, as APS employees in a specified Agency. In this case, the specified Agency
would be AGD. It is intended that the staff of the AGS will be moved to AGD through
a section 72 determination.
Part 6 - Other transitional matters
118. Item 22 provides that any reference in a current law of the Commonwealth to the
Australian Government Solicitor or to the AGS is taken to be a reference to the new
AGS on and after the commencement time.
119. This item will avoid unintended consequences arising from the Bill by ensuring that
any reference to the former AGS in other Commonwealth legislation (including
delegated legislation) is deemed to be a reference to the new AGS. However, it is still
necessary to correct references as set out in this Bill to ensure they are appropriate,
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given the former AGS was a statutory corporation and the new AGS will be an
individual engaged in AGD under the Public Service Act.
120. Item 23 is intended to ensure that if any acquisition of property arose in relation to the
operation of Schedule 3, the Schedule would not contravene section 51(xxxi) of the
Constitution (which requires that an acquisition of property under a law of the
Commonwealth be on ,,just terms).
121. Although the operation of Schedule 3 is unlikely to result in any acquisition of
property, this item has been included as a precautionary measure to ensure the validity
of the Bill.
122. If the operation of Schedule 3 resulted in an acquisition of property otherwise than on
just terms, item 23 requires the Commonwealth to pay a reasonable amount of
compensation to the person whose property was acquired.
123. Subitem 23(2) provides that if the Commonwealth and the person cannot agree on the
amount of compensation, the amount may be determined by a court.
124. Item 24 enables the Minister to delegate, in writing, any or all of his or her powers and
functions under Schedule 3 to the Secretary of AGD, or to an employee who is a
substantive or acting Senior Executive Service employee in AGD.
125. Subitem 24(2) provides that, in exercising powers or functions under a delegation, the
delegate must comply with any directions of the Minister.
126. Item 25 confers a time limited transitional rule making power on the Minister. The
purpose of this item is to ensure that transitional arrangements can be made in the event
of unforeseen circumstances or unintended consequences arising from the consolidation
of AGS into AGD over the period in which the consolidation is intended to take place.
127. Subitem 25(1) enables the Minister to make transitional rules by legislative instrument
relating to the Judiciary Amendment Act. This power includes the ability to make rules
relating to staffing procedures, as set out in item 20.
128. Subitem 25(2) enables the Minister to prescribe matters of a transitional nature relating
to amendments or repeals made by the Act or the enactment of the Act.
129. Subitem 25(3) enables the making of rules to modify the provisions of Schedule 3 to
the Bill. This subitem has been included address any unforeseen circumstances or
unintended consequences that may arise in relation to the complex transitional matters
dealt with in the Schedule.
130. Subitem 25(4) provides that any rules cannot be made later than 12 months after the
commencement time. By this time, the consolidation of AGS into AGD is intended to
have been completed and the power will no longer be necessary.
131. Subitem 25(5) makes clear that the Minister is only limited in making rules by subitems
25(4) and 25(6) of this Schedule. No other provision in Schedule 3 of the Bill is
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intended to limit the rule making power. This will give appropriate scope for
unforeseen circumstances or unintended consequences to be addressed in the rules.
132. Subitem 25(6) sets out a standard limitation on what can be prescribed by the Minister
in the rules under this item. This provision is in accordance with Office of
Parliamentary Counsel Drafting Direction 3.8.
133. Subitem 25(6)(e) prohibits the making of rules that directly amend the text of this Act.
"Directly amend" means make an amendment that would need to be incorporated in
any reprint of the Act by the Government Printer (see section 2 of the Acts Publication
Act 1905). The subitem does not prohibit a rule that modifies the effect of a provision,
such as by providing that a provision has effect as if it had been amended in a specified
way, as long as it does not make a direct amendment of the Act.
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