REGISTER OF FOREIGN OWNERSHIP OF WATER OR AGRICULTURAL LAND ACT 2015

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

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 Part 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

Endnotes

Endnote 1--About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1--About the endnotes

Endnote 2--Abbreviation key

Endnote 3--Legislation history

Endnote 4--Amendment history

Abbreviation key--Endnote 2

The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history--Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.

If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe the amendment to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, the amendment is incorporated into the compiled law and the abbreviation "(md)" added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the abbreviation "(md not incorp)" is added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

Endnote 2--Abbreviation key

ad = added or inserted	o = order(s)
am = amended	Ord = Ordinance
amdt = amendment	orig = original
c = clause(s)	par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)
C[x] = Compilation No. x	/sub-subparagraph(s)
Ch = Chapter(s)	pres = present
def = definition(s)	prev = previous
Dict = Dictionary	(prev ... ) = previously
disallowed = disallowed by Parliament	Pt = Part(s)
Div = Division(s)	r = regulation(s)/rule(s)
ed = editorial change	reloc = relocated
exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have	renum = renumbered
effect	rep = repealed
F = Federal Register of Legislation	rs = repealed and substituted
gaz = gazette	s = section(s)/subsection(s)
LA = Legislation Act 2003	Sch = Schedule(s)
LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003	Sdiv = Subdivision(s)
(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given	SLI = Select Legislative Instrument
effect	SR = Statutory Rules
(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment	Sub-Ch = Sub-Chapter(s)
cannot be given effect	SubPt = Subpart(s)
mod = modified/modification	underlining = whole or part not
No. = Number(s)	commenced or to be commenced

Endnote 3--Legislation history

Act	Number and year	Assent	Commencement	Application, saving and transitional provisions
Register of Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land Act 2015	151, 2015	25 Nov 2015	1 Dec 2015 (s 2(1) item 1)
Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Legislation Amendment Act 2015	150, 2015	25 Nov 2015	Sch 5 (items 1, 2): 1 Dec 2015 (s 2(1) item 5)	--
Register of Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land Amendment (Water) Act 2016	96, 2016	7 Dec 2016	Sch 1 (items 1-34, 34 (2nd occurring)): 7 Dec 2016 (s 2(1))	Sch 1 (item 34 (1st occurring))
Treasury Laws Amendment (2018 Measures No. 4) Act 2019	8, 2019	1 Mar 2019	Sch 8 (item 15): 1 Apr 2019 (s 2(1) item 11)	--

Endnote 4--Amendment history

Provision affected	How affected
Title.....................................	am No 96, 2016
Part 1
s 1........................................	am No 96, 2016
s 3........................................	rs No 96, 2016
s 4........................................	am No 96, 2016
s 5A.....................................	ad No 96, 2016
s 6A.....................................	ad No 96, 2016
s 11......................................	am No 96, 2016
Part 2
Part 2 heading......................	rs No 96, 2016
s 12......................................	am No 96, 2016
s 13......................................	am No 96, 2016
s 14......................................	am No 96, 2016
s 15......................................	am No 96, 2016
s 16......................................	am No 96, 2016
s 17......................................	am No 96, 2016
Part 3A
Part 3A.................................	ad No 96, 2016
s 30A...................................	ad No 96, 2016
s 30B...................................	ad No 96, 2016
s 30C...................................	ad No 96, 2016
s 30D...................................	ad No 96, 2016
s 30E...................................	ad No 96, 2016
s 30F....................................	ad No 96, 2016
Part 3B
Part 3B.................................	ad No 96, 2016
Division 1
s 30G...................................	ad No 96, 2016
Division 2
s 30H...................................	ad No 96, 2016
s 30J....................................	ad No 96, 2016
Division 3
Subdivision A
s 30K...................................	ad No 96, 2016
Subdivision B
s 30L...................................	ad No 96, 2016
s 30M..................................	ad No 96, 2016
s 30N...................................	ad No 96, 2016
s 30P....................................	ad No 96, 2016
s 30Q...................................	ad No 96, 2016
Division 4
s 30R...................................	ad No 96, 2016
s 30S....................................	ad No 96, 2016
s 30T...................................	ad No 96, 2016
Division 5
s 30U...................................	ad No 96, 2016
Part 4
s 31......................................	am No 150, 2015; No 96, 2016
s 33......................................	am No 96, 2016
	rs No 8, 2019
s 34......................................	am No 96, 2016
s 34A...................................	ad No 150, 2015
	rs No 96, 2016

Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

REGISTER OF FOREIGN OWNERSHIP OF WATER OR AGRICULTURAL LAND ACT 2015 - NOTES