House debates

Tuesday, 26 June 2018

Bills

Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Bill 2017; Consideration in Detail

4:42 pm

Photo of Christian PorterChristian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

I present a supplementary explanatory memorandum to the bill, being the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Bill 2017. I also ask leave of the House to move government amendments (1) to (126) together.

Leave granted.

I move government amendments (1) to (126) together:

(1) Clause 3, page 2 (line 16), omit ", foreign businesses".

(2) Clause 4, page 2 (line 23) to page 3 (line 2), omit "whether the person has recently held a senior Commonwealth position (including as a member of Parliament)", substitute "the person's former status".

(3) Clause 6, page 3 (lines 18 and 19), omit the clause.

(4) Page 5 (after line 21), at the end of Division 1, add:

9A Relationship of this Act to certain privileges and immunities

Parliamentary privilege

(1) To avoid doubt, this Act does not affect the law relating to the powers, privileges and immunities of any of the following:

(a) each House of the Parliament;

(b) the members of each House of the Parliament;

(c) the committees of each House of the Parliament and joint committees of both Houses of the Parliament.

Legal professional privilege

(2) To avoid doubt, this Act does not affect the law relating to legal professional privilege.

Effect on Secretary ' s power to obtain information and documents

(3) In particular:

(a) the Secretary's powers under sections 45 and 46 do not extend to requiring a person to give information, or produce documents or copies of documents, if:

  (i) the information or documents are protected by a privilege or immunity mentioned in subsection (1) or (2); or

  (ii) complying with the requirement would involve a breach of a privilege or immunity mentioned in subsection (1) or (2); and

(b) the person need not comply with any purported requirement to that effect.

(5) Clause 10, page 6 (before line 4), before the definition of approved form, insert:

applicable disallowance period: see subsection 53(5).

(6) Clause 10, page 6 (lines 13 to 24), omit the definition of broadcaster.

(7) Clause 10, page 7 (line 6), omit "subsection 13(1)", substitute "section 13".

(8) Clause 10, page 7 (lines 7 to 30), omit the definition of controlled.

(9) Clause 10, page 7 (after line 33), after the definition of deal, insert:

designated position holder means:

(a) a Minister; or

(b) a member of the Parliament; or

(c) a person employed under section 13 or 20 of the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 who is a member of the staff of a Minister and whose position is at or above the level of Senior Advisor; or

(d) an Agency Head (within the meaning of the Public Service Act 1999); or

(e) a deputy agency head (however described); or

(f) the holder of an office established by or under a law of the Commonwealth and equivalent to that of Agency Head or deputy agency head; or

(g) the holder of an office of the Commonwealth as an Ambassador or High Commissioner, in a country or place outside Australia.

(10) Clause 10, page 8 (lines 5 to 9), omit the definition of donor activity, substitute:

disbursement activity: a person undertakes disbursementactivity if:

(a) the person disburses money or things of value; and

(b) neither the person nor a recipient of the disbursement is required to disclose it under Division 4, 5 or 5A of Part XX of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918.

(11) Clause 10, page 8 (after line 13), after the definition of federal election, insert:

final transparency notice: see subsection 14C(4).

(12) Clause 10, page 8 (lines 14 to 21), omit the definition of foreign business.

(13) Clause 10, page 8 (after line 31), after the definition of foreign government, insert:

foreign government related entity means a person, other than an individual, who is related to a foreign principal that is a foreign government or a foreign political organisation in one or more of the following ways:

(a) if the person is a company—one or more of the following applies:

  (i) the foreign principal holds more than 15% of the issued share capital of the company;

  (ii) the foreign principal holds more than 15% of the voting power in the company;

  (iii) the foreign principal is in a position to appoint at least 20% of the company's board of directors;

  (iv) the directors (however described) of the company are accustomed, or under an obligation (whether formal or informal), to act in accordance with the directions, instructions or wishes of the foreign principal;

  (v) the foreign principal is in a position to exercise, in any other way, total orsubstantial control over the company;

(b) if the person is not a company—either of the following applies:

  (i) the members of the executive committee (however described) of the person are accustomed, or under an obligation (whether formal or informal), to act in accordance with the directions, instructions or wishes of the foreign principal;

  (ii) the foreign principal is in a position to exercise, in any other way, total orsubstantial control over the person;

(c) if the person is a person other than a body politic and the foreign principal is a foreign political organisation:

  (i) a director, officer or employee of the person, or any part of the person, is required to be a member or part (however described) of that foreign political organisation; and

  (ii) that requirement is contained in a law, or in the constitution, rules or other governing documents by which the person is constituted or according to which the person operates.

Note: A transparency notice issued under Division 3 of this Part may state that a person is a foreign government related entity.

foreign government related individual means an individual:

(a) who is neither an Australian citizen nor a permanent Australian resident; and

(b) who is related to a foreign principal that is a foreign government, foreign government related entity or foreign political organisation in either or both of the following ways:

  (i) the individual is accustomed, or under an obligation (whether formal or informal), to act in accordance with the directions, instructions or wishes of the foreign principal;

  (ii) the foreign principal is in a position to exercise, in any other way, total or substantial control over the individual.

Note: A transparency notice issued under Division 3 of this Part may state that a person is a foreign government related individual.

(14) Clause 10, page 8 (line 32), omit the definition of foreign political organisation, substitute:

foreign political organisation includes:

(a) a foreign political party; and

(b) a foreign organisationthat exists primarily to pursue political objectives.

(15) Clause 10, page 9 (line 3), omit "public enterprise", substitute "government related entity".

(16) Clause 10, page 9 (lines 5 to 7), omit paragraphs (d) and (e) of the definition of foreign principal, substitute:

(d) a foreign government related individual.

(17) Clause 10, page 9 (lines 8 to 10), omit the definition of foreign public enterprise.

(18) Clause 10, page 9 (after line 10), after the definition of foreign public enterprise, insert:

former Cabinet Minister, at a particular time, means a person:

(a) who was a member of the Cabinet at any time before the particular time; and

(b) who is not at the particular time a designated position holder.

(19) Clause 10, page 9 (line 31), omit the definition of periodical.

(20) Clause 10, page 10 (after line 16), after the definition of political or governmental influence, insert:

provisional transparency notice: see subsection 14B(1).

(21) Clause 10, page 10 (lines 18 to 22), omit the definition of recent Cabinet Minister.

(22) Clause 10, page 10 (after line 22), after the definition of recent Cabinet Minister, insert:

recent designated position holder, at a particular time, means a person:

(a) who was a designated position holder at any time in the 15 years before the particular time; and

(b) who is not at the particular time a designated position holder.

(23) Clause 10, page 10 (lines 23 to 28), omit the definition of recent holder of a senior Commonwealth position.

(24) Clause 10, page 10 (line 29) to page 11 (line 2), omit the definition of recent Minister or member of Parliament.

(25) Clause 10, page 11 (lines 11 to 14), omit the definition of registrable arrangement, substitute:

registrable arrangement: see section 13A.

(26) Clause 10, page 11 (lines 18 to 20), omit ", the rules, the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme (Charges Imposition) Act 2017 and the regulations made under that Act", substitute "and the rules".

(27) Clause 10, page 11 (line 22), omit "subsection 51(1)", substitute "section 51".

(28) Clause 10, page 11 (lines 24 to 30), omit the definition of senior Commonwealth position.

(29) Clause 10, page 11 (after line 30), after the definition of senior Commonwealth position, insert:

transparency notice: see subsection 14A(2).

(30) Clause 11, page 12 (lines 23 to 30), omit subclause (1), substitute:

(1) A person undertakes an activity on behalf of a foreign principal if:

(a) the person undertakes the activity in any of the following circumstances:

  (i) under an arrangement with the foreign principal;

  (ii) in the service of the foreign principal;

  (iii) on the order or at the request of the foreign principal;

  (iv) under the direction of the foreign principal; and

(b) at the time the arrangement or service is entered into, or the order, request or direction made, both the person and the foreign principal knew or expected that:

  (i) the person would or might undertake the activity; and

  (ii) the person would or might do so in circumstances set out in section 20, 21, 22 or 23 (whether or not the parties expressly considered the existence of the scheme).

(31) Clause 11, page 13 (lines 1 to 7), omit subclause (3), substitute:

(3) An activity undertaken by a company registered under the Corporations Act 2001 is not undertaken on behalf of a foreign principal merely because the company is a subsidiary (within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001) of a foreign principal.

(32) Clause 12, page 13 (lines 10 to 13), omit all the words from and including "a purpose" to and including "the following", substitute "the sole or primary purpose, or a substantial purpose, of the activity is to influence one or more of the following".

(33) Clause 12, page 13 (lines 22 to 26), omit subclause (2), substitute:

(2) A person also undertakes an activity for the purposes of political or governmental influence if the sole or primary purpose, or a substantial purpose, of the activity is to influence the public, or a section of the public, in relation to a process or proceedings mentioned in subsection (1).

(34) Clause 12, page 14 (lines 24 to 27), omit subparagraph (5) (a) (vi), substitute:

  (vi) relationships with foreign principals;

(35) Clause 12, page 15 (lines 18 to 21), omit subparagraph (6) (a) (iv), substitute:

  (iv) relationships with foreign principals;

(36) Clause 13, page 15 (line 28), at the end of subclause (1), add "to the public or a section of the public".

(37) Clause 13, page 15 (line 30), omit "materials includes information or materials", substitute "material includes information or material".

(38) Clause 13, page 15 (line 32) to page 16 (line 18), omit subclauses (3) to (5), substitute:

(3) Despite subsection (1), an activity undertaken by a person (the disseminator) is not communications activity if:

(a) the activity is undertaken in the ordinary course of the disseminator's business; and

(b) the activity is communicating or distributing, to the public or a section of the public, information or material:

  (i) produced entirely by a person other than the disseminator; or

  (ii) produced by the disseminator only to the extent that the disseminator alters the information or material, without affecting substance, to ensure compliance with the law or to fit time or space constraints; and

(c) the identity of:

  (i) if the producer produced the information or material on behalf of another person—that other person; or

  (ii) otherwise—the producer of the information or material;

is either apparent in the communicating or distributing or is disclosed in accordance with rules prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph.

(4) Despite subsection (1), a carriage service provider (within the meaning of section 87 of the Telecommunications Act 1997) does not undertake communications activity in relation to information or material merely because the carriage service provider supplies the listed carriage service (within the meaning of section 16 of that Act) used to communicate the information or material.

(39) Page 16 (after line 18), after clause 13, insert:

13A Registrable arrangement

(1) A registrable arrangement is an arrangement between a person and a foreign principal for the person to undertake, on behalf of the foreign principal, one or more activities that, if undertaken by the person on behalf of the foreign principal, would be registrable in relation to the foreign principal.

(2) An arrangement is not a registrable arrangement to the extent that the arrangement is for the person to undertake an activity in circumstances in which the person would be exempt under Division 4 of Part 2.

(40) Clause 14, page 16 (lines 19 to 28), omit the clause, substitute:

14 Purpose of activity

The purpose of an activity must be determined by having regard to:

(a) the intention or belief of the person undertaking the activity; and

(b) either or both of the following:

  (i) the intention of any foreign principal on whose behalf the activity is undertaken;

  (ii) all of the circumstances in which the activity is undertaken.

(41) Page 16 (after line 28), at the end of Part 1, add:

Division 3—Transparency notices

14A Transparency notices

(1) For the purposes of this Act:

(a) a person stated to be a foreign government related entity in a transparency notice that is in force is taken to be a foreign government related entity; and

(b) a person stated to be a foreign government related individual in a transparency notice that is in force is taken to be a foreign government related individual.

Note: Section 14D sets out when a transparency notice is in force.

(2) A transparency notice means:

(a) a provisional transparency notice; or

(b) a final transparency notice.

14B Provisional transparency notice

(1) If the Secretary is satisfied that a person is a foreign government related entity or a foreign government related individual, the Secretary may issue a notice (a provisionaltransparency notice) stating that the person is a foreign government related entity or a foreign government related individual (as the case requires).

Note: The Secretary's powers to obtain information or documents under section 46 may assist the Secretary to be satisfied about whether a person is a foreign government related entity or foreign government related individual.

(2) The provisional transparency notice must:

(a) be in writing; and

(b) include such details as the Secretary considers necessary to identify the person who is the subject of the notice.

Note 1: The Secretary must make provisional transparency notices publicly available on a website (see subsection 43(2A)).

Note 2: Section 14C provides for the person who is the subject of the notice to make submissions about the notice. A decision to issue a provisional transparency notice is also reviewable (see section 14H). Notice of review rights must be provided on the website with the provisional transparency notice (see subsection 43(2A)).

14C Submissions in relation to provisional transparency notice

(1) If the Secretary issues a provisional transparency notice, the Secretary must also:

(a) prepare an invitation for the person who is the subject of the notice in accordance with subsection (2); and

(b) take reasonable steps to give the invitation and the provisional transparency notice to the person as soon as practicable.

(2) The invitation must:

(a) invite the person to make submissions to the Secretary about the provisional transparency notice within 14 days of the date of the invitation; and

(b) set out the effect of sections 137.1 and 137.2 of the Criminal Code (false or misleading information or documents); and

(c) notify the person of the person's right to have the decision to issue the provisional transparency notice reviewed.

(3) If the person makes submissions about the provisional transparency notice within 14 days of the date of the invitation, the Secretary must consider the submissions before the end of the period of 28 days after the date of the invitation.

(4) If a provisional transparency notice is not revoked before the end of the period of 28 days after the date of the invitation, the provisional transparency notice becomes a final transparency notice at the end of that period.

14D When a transparency notice is in force

A transparency notice:

(a) comes into force on the day the provisional transparency notice is first made available to the public on a website under subsection 43(2A); and

(b) remains in force, whether as a provisional transparency notice or a final transparency notice, until revoked.

Note: If a provisional transparency notice becomes a final transparency notice under subsection 14C(4), the provisional transparency notice made publicly available on a website must be accompanied by a statement to that effect (see subsection 43(2A)).

14E Varying or revoking transparency notices

(1) The Secretary may vary a transparency notice if the Secretary is satisfied that the details in the notice that identify the person stated to be a foreign government related entity or a foreign government related individual (as the case requires) should be updated or corrected.

(2) The Secretary must revoke a transparency notice if the Secretary ceases to be satisfied that the person is a foreign government related entity or a foreign government related individual (as the case requires).

(3) A variation or revocation of a transparency notice must be in writing.

Note 1: The Secretary must make a variation or revocation of a transparency notice publicly available on a website (see subsection 43(2A)).

Note 2: A decision to vary or revoke a transparency notice is reviewable (see section 14H). Notice of review rights must be provided on the website with the variation or revocation (see subsection 43(2A)).

14F Transparency notice is not a legislative instrument

A transparency notice, or a variation or revocation of a transparency notice, is not a legislative instrument.

14G Requirements in relation to procedural fairness

The Secretary is not required to observe any requirements of procedural fairness in exercising a power or performing a function under this Division other than those set out in section 14C.

14H Review of decisions relating to transparency notices

Applications may be made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of the following decisions of the Secretary:

(a) a decision under subsection 14B(1) to issue a provisional transparency notice;

(b) a decision under subsection 14E(1) to vary a transparency notice;

(c) a decision under subsection 14E(2) to revoke a transparency notice.

14J Protection against actions for defamation

(1) No action for defamation lies against the Commonwealth, a Minister, the Secretary, the Department or another Agency (within the meaning of the Public Service Act 1999), or an officer of the Department or another Agency, because the Secretary or an officer takes any of the following actions:

(a) issues, varies or revokes a transparency notice;

(b) includes a transparency notice, or any variation or revocation of a transparency notice, on the register;

(c) makes available a transparency notice, or any variation or revocation of a transparency notice, on a website;

(d) publishes or otherwise makes available, in any way, a transparency notice, or any variation or revocation of a transparency notice;

(e) supplies or gives access to a draft transparency notice, or a draft of any variation or revocation of a transparency notice, to a Minister or Agency or any other person.

(2) Subsection (1) applies even if, in taking the action, there has been a failure to comply with a requirement of this Act or the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975.

(3) In this section:

officer of a Department or Agency includes:

(a) a scheme official; and

(b) an APS employee in the Department or Agency; and

(c) a member of the staff of the Department or Agency; and

(d) a member of the Agency; and

(e) a person engaged to perform services for the Department or Agency.

(42) Clause 15, page 17 (lines 14 and 15), omit "whether the person has recently held a senior Commonwealth position (including as a member of Parliament)", substitute "the person's former status".

(43) Clause 16, page 19 (line 18), omit the note.

(44) Clause 19, page 20 (line 32), omit "recent", substitute "former".

(45) Clause 19, page 20 (lines 33 and 34), omit paragraphs (b) and (c), substitute:

(b) a recent designated position holder.

(46) Clause 21, page 21 (table item 1, column headed "Foreign principal"), omit paragraph (a), substitute:

(a) a foreign government related entity; or

(47) Clause 21, page 21 (table item 1, column headed "Foreign principal"), omit paragraphs (c) and (d), substitute:

(c) a foreign government related individual

(48) Clause 21, page 22 (table item 4, column headed "Activity"), omit "Donor activity", substitute "Disbursement activity".

(49) Clause 21, page 22 (table item 4, column headed "Foreign principal"), omit paragraphs (a), (b) and (c), substitute:

any kind of foreign principal

(50) Heading to clause 22, page 22 (line 4), omit "recent", substitute "former".

(51) Clause 22, page 22 (line 7), omit "recent", substitute "former".

(52) Clause 22, page 22 (line 8), omit paragraph (b).

(53) Clause 23, page 22 (line 13) to page 23 (line 6), omit the clause, substitute:

23 Registrable activities: recent designated position holders

An activity that a person undertakes on behalf of a foreign principal is registrable in relation to the foreign principal if:

(a) the person is a recent designated position holder; and

(b) in undertaking the activity, the person contributes experience, knowledge, skills or contacts gained in the person's former capacity as a designated position holder; and

(c) the activity is not registrable in relation to the foreign principal under another provision of this Division; and

(d) the person is not exempt under Division 4 in relation to the activity.

(54) Clause 24, page 24 (line 4), omit "solely", substitute "primarily".

(55) Clause 25, page 24 (lines 6 to 11), omit the clause, substitute:

25 Exemption: legal advice or representation

A person is exempt in relation to an activity the person undertakes on behalf of a foreign principal if the activity is, or relates primarily to, or is incidental to, the provision of:

(a) legal advice; or

(b) legal representation in judicial, criminal or civil inquiries, investigations or proceedings; or

(c) legal representation in relation to a government administrative processinvolving the foreign principal.

(56) Page 24 (after line 11), after clause 25, insert:

25A Exemption: members of Parliament and statutory office holders

A person is exempt in relation to an activity the person undertakes on behalf of a foreign principal if the person:

(a) is a member of the Parliament; or

(b) is a member of the Parliament of a State, the Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory or the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory; or

(c) holds any office or appointment under a law of the Commonwealth, or under a law of a State or Territory.

(57) Clause 27, page 25 (lines 7 to 19), omit the clause, substitute:

27 Exemption: religion

A person is exempt in relation to a religious activity the person undertakes, in good faith, on behalf of a foreign principal.

(58) Clause 28, page 25 (line 20) to page 26 (line 2), omit the clause.

(59) Clause 29, page 26 (lines 3 to 29), omit the clause, substitute:

29 Exemption: foreign government employees and commercial or business pursuits

Individual employed by foreign government

(1) An individual is exempt in relation to an activity the individual undertakes on behalf of a foreign principal if:

(a) the foreign principal is a foreign government; and

(b) the individual undertakes the activity:

  (i) in the individual's capacity as an officer or employee of the foreign principal; and

  (ii) in the name of the foreign principal.

Individual employed by foreign government related entity

(2) An individual is exempt in relation to an activity the individual undertakes on behalf of a foreign principal if:

(a) the foreign principal is a foreign government related entity; and

(b) the activity is a commercial or business pursuit undertaken by the individual in the individual's capacity as a director, officer or employee of the foreign principal; and

(c) it is apparent in the circumstances that the individual is undertaking the activity in that capacity.

Person operating under name of foreign government related entity

(3) A person is exempt in relation to an activity the person undertakes on behalf of a foreign principal if:

(a) the foreign principal is a foreign government related entity; and

(b) the activity is a commercial or business pursuit undertaken by the person in or under the name of the foreign principal or under a substantially similar name.

Exemption not applicable to former Cabinet Ministers or recent designated position holders

(4) This section does not apply in relation to an activity undertaken by a former Cabinet Minister or a recent designated position holder.

(60) Page 26 (after line 29), after clause 29, insert:

29A Exemption: industry representative bodies

A person is exempt in relation to an activity the person undertakes on behalf of a foreign principal if:

(a) the person is an entity formed in Australia, or incorporated under a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory (an Australian entity); and

(b) the person's purpose is to represent the interests of business or a particular sector of business or industry; and

(c) the person has members who are also Australian entities; and

(d) the activity is, or relates primarily to, representing the interests of business, or the particular sector, as a whole.

(61) Page 26, after proposed clause 29A, insert:

29B Exemption: personal representation in relation to government administrative process etc.

An individual is exempt in relation to an activity the individual undertakes on behalf of a foreign principal who is also an individual if:

(a) the individuals either:

  (i) are members of the same family; or

  (ii) know each other personally and the individual undertaking the activity does so because of this and in that individual's personal capacity; and

(b) the activity is, or relates primarily to, representing in good faith the interests of the foreign principal in relation to:

  (i) a government administrative process involving the foreign principal; or

  (ii) matters affecting the personal welfare of the foreign principal.

(62) Page 26, after proposed clause 29B, insert:

29C Exemption: registered charities

A person is exempt in relation to an activity the person undertakes on behalf of a foreign principal if:

(a) the person is registered as a charity under the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012; and

(b) the activity is undertaken in pursuit of a charitable purpose of the person within the meaning of Part 3 of the Charities Act 2013; and

(c) the activity is not disbursement activity; and

(d) at the time the activity is undertaken, both of the following matters are either apparent to the public or disclosed to the public:

  (i) the fact that the person is undertaking the activity on behalf of a foreign principal;

  (ii) the identity of the foreign principal.

(63) Page 26, after proposed clause 29C, insert:

29D Exemption: artistic purposes

A person is exempt in relation to an activity the person undertakes on behalf of a foreign principal if:

(a) for a person other than an individual:

  (i) the person's purpose is, or relates primarily to, the arts; and

  (ii) the activity is, or relates primarily to, or is incidental to, the person's artistic purposes; and

(b) for an individual—the person's purpose in undertaking the activity is, or relates primarily to, or is incidental to, the arts; and

(c) the activity is not disbursement activity; and

(d) at the time the activity is undertaken, both of the following matters are either apparent to the public or disclosed to the public:

  (i) the fact that the person is undertaking the activity on behalf of a foreign principal;

  (ii) the identity of the foreign principal.

(64) Page 26, after proposed clause 29D, insert:

29E Exemption: certain registered organisations

A person is exempt in relation to an activity the person undertakes on behalf of a foreign principal if:

(a) the person is an association of employees, or an enterprise association, that is registered as an organisation under the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009; and

(b) the activity is undertaken in the interests of members of the organisation in Australia; and

(c) the activity is not communications activity or disbursement activity; and

(d) at the time the activity is undertaken, both of the following matters are either apparent to the public or disclosed to the public:

  (i) the fact that the person is undertaking the activity on behalf of a foreign principal;

  (ii) the identity of the foreign principal.

(65) Page 26, after proposed clause 29E, insert:

29F Exemption: activities of members of certain professions

A person is exempt in relation to an activity the person undertakes on behalf of a foreign principal if:

(a) the person's profession is any of the following:

  (i) a tax agent;

  (ii) a customs broker;

  (iii) a liquidator or receiver; and

(b) the activity is undertaken in the ordinary course of the person's practice of that profession; and

(c) the activity is, or relates primarily to, or is incidental to, the provision of representation in relation to a government administrative process involving the foreign principal; and

(d) at the time the activity is undertaken, both of the following matters are either apparent to all persons with whom the person is dealing or disclosed to them:

  (i) the fact that the person is undertaking the activity on behalf of a foreign principal;

  (ii) the identity of the foreign principal.

(66) Clause 31, page 28 (line 17), omit "57", substitute "57A".

(67) Clause 33, page 30 (line 8), omit "donor activity", substitute "disbursement activity".

(68) Heading to clause 35, page 32 (line 19), omit "donor activity", substitute "disbursement activity".

(69) Clause 35, page 32 (line 24), omit "donor activity", substitute "disbursement activity".

(70) Clause 35, page 32 (line 26), omit "donor activity", substitute "disbursement activity".

(71) Clause 35, page 32 (line 31), omit "donor activity", substitute "disbursement activity".

(72) Clause 37, page 34 (line 32), omit "donor activity", substitute "disbursement activity".

(73) Clause 37, page 34 (line 33), omit "donor activity", substitute "disbursement activity".

(74) Clause 37, page 35 (line 1), omit "donor activity", substitute "disbursement activity".

(75) Clause 37, page 35 (line 6), omit "donor activity", substitute "disbursement activity".

(76) Clause 39, page 36 (line 31), omit "Note 1", substitute "Note".

(77) Clause 39, page 37 (line 1), omit the note.

(78) Clause 40, page 38 (line 3), omit "5", substitute "3".

(79) Clause 40, page 38 (after line 5), after subclause (1), insert:

(1A) Despite subsection (1), a person is not required to keep any particular record for more than 10 years from the day the record was made.

(80) Clause 40, page 38 (line 14), after "or distributed", insert "to the public or a section of the public".

(81) Clause 42, page 40 (before line 25), before paragraph (3) (a), insert:

(aa) any provisional transparency notices issued under section 14B;

(ab) any variation or revocation of a transparency notice under section 14E;

(ac) for any provisional transparency notices that become final transparency notices under subsection 14C(4)—a statement to that effect;

(82) Clause 43, page 41 (before line 7), before subclause (1), insert:

Information relating to registrants

(83) Clause 43, page 41 (after line 14), after subclause (1), insert:

(1A) If information that the Secretary is required to make available under subsection (1) is provided to the Secretary under section 36 (reporting on registration review when voting period begins) or 37 (reporting registrable activity during voting periods), the information must be made available within 48 hours of it being provided to the Secretary.

(1B) Other information that the Secretary is required to make available under subsection (1) must be made available within 4 weeks of it being provided to the Secretary.

(1C) However, the Secretary need not comply with subsection (1A) or (1B) if the Secretary is considering whether subsection (2) applies to the information.

(84) Clause 43, page 41 (lines 15 to 17), omit "the Secretary may decide not to make particular information available to the public if the Secretary is satisfied that the information", substitute "the website must not include information that the Secretary is satisfied".

(85) Clause 43, page 41 (after line 23), after subclause (2), insert:

Information relating to transparency notices

(2A) The Secretary must also make available to the public, on a website, the following:

(a) each provisional transparency notice issued under section 14B, along with:

  (i) a written statement to the effect that a person whose interests are affected by the decision to issue the notice may, subject to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975, apply to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of the decision; and

  (ii) if the notice becomes a final transparency notice under subsection 14C(4)—a written statement to that effect;

(b) any variation or revocation of a transparency notice under section 14E, along with a written statement to the effect that a person whose interests are affected by the decision to vary or revoke the notice may, subject to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975, apply to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of the decision.

Note: See also section 14H (review of decisions relating to transparency notices).

Removal of information from website

(86) Clause 45, page 42 (line 7), omit "the foreign", substitute "a foreign".

(87) Clause 45, page 42 (line 24), at the end of the note, add "However, the notice does not override certain privileges and immunities (see section 9A).".

(88) Clause 45, page 43 (lines 3 to 5), omit subclause (7), substitute:

(7) The notice must set out:

(a) the relationship of this Act to the privileges and immunities mentioned in section 9A; and

(b) the effect of section 60 of this Act and sections 137.1 and 137.2 of the Criminal Code (false or misleading information or documents).

(8) Nothing in this section authorises the Secretary to give a person a notice for the purpose of obtaining information or documents in relation to the possibility of the person having committed an offence against Part 5.1 (treason and related offences), Part 5.2 (espionage and related offences) or Part 5.6 (secrecy of information) of the Criminal Code.

(89) Clause 46, page 43 (line 19), at the end of the note, add "However, the notice does not override certain privileges and immunities (see section 9A).".

(90) Clause 46, page 43 (lines 29 to 31), omit subclause (7), substitute:

(7) The notice must set out:

(a) the relationship of this Act to the privileges and immunities mentioned in section 9A; and

(b) the effect of section 60 of this Act and sections 137.1 and 137.2 of the Criminal Code (false or misleading information or documents).

(8) Nothing in this section authorises the Secretary to give a person a notice for the purpose of obtaining information or documents in relation to the possibility of the person having committed an offence against Part 5.1 (treason and related offences), Part 5.2 (espionage and related offences) or Part 5.6 (secrecy of information) of the Criminal Code.

(91) Clause 47, page 44 (after line 18), at the end of subclause (2), add:

Note: Paragraph (2) (c) confers a derivative use immunity. For example, in criminal proceedings for an offence by an individual against Part 5.2 of the Criminal Code (espionage and related offences), any information, document or other thing obtained as a direct or indirect consequence of the individual giving information or producing documents in compliance with a notice under section 45 or 46 would not be admissible.

(92) Heading to subclause 51(1), page 46 (line 11), omit the heading.

(93) Clause 51, page 46 (line 12), omit "(1)".

(94) Clause 51, page 46 (lines 21 to 28), omit subclauses (2) and (3).

(95) Clause 53, page 48 (after line 3), at the end of the clause, add:

(3) The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security must:

(a) review rules made for the purposes of item 4 of the table in subsection (1) as soon as possible after the rules are made; and

(b) report the Committee's comments and recommendations to each House of the Parliament before the end of the applicable disallowance period for that House.

(4) If the Committee's report on a review of the rules is tabled in a House of the Parliament:

(a) during the applicable disallowance period for that House; and

(b) on or after the eighth sitting day of the applicable disallowance period;

then Part 2 of Chapter 3 of the Legislation Act 2003 has effect, in relation to the rules and that House, as if each period of 15 sitting days referred to in that Part were extended in accordance with the following table.

(5) The applicable disallowance period for a House of the Parliament means the period of 15 sitting days of that House after the rules, or a copy of the rules, was laid before that House in accordance with section 38 of the Legislation Act 2003.

(96) Heading to clause 57, page 49 (line 11), omit "maintain", substitute "renew".

(97) Heading to subclause 57(1), page 49 (lines 12 and 13), omit the heading, substitute:

Intentional omission to apply or renew knowing required to do so, and registrable activity undertaken

(98) Clause 57, page 49 (line 17), omit "the foreign", substitute "a foreign".

(99) Clause 57, page 49 (line 18), omit "relation to the foreign", substitute "under the scheme in relation to a foreign".

(100) Clause 57, page 49 (line 24), omit "7", substitute "5".

(101) Clause 57, page 49 (line 25) to page 50 (line 14), omit subclause (2), substitute:

Intentional omission to apply or renew reckless as to whether required to do so, and registrable activity undertaken

(2) A person commits an offence if:

(a) the person is required:

  (i) to apply for registration under the scheme in relation to a foreign principal by the end of a period; or

  (ii) to renew the person's registration under the scheme in relation to a foreign principal by the end of a period; and

(b) the person intentionally omits to do so; and

(c) the person undertakes an activity on behalf of the foreign principal after the end of the period; and

(d) the activity is registrable in relation to the foreign principal.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 3 years.

(102) Heading to subclause 57(3), page 50 (lines 15 and 16), omit the heading, substitute:

Reckless omission to apply or renew knowing required to do so, and registrable activity undertaken

(103) Clause 57, page 50 (line 20), omit "the foreign", substitute "a foreign".

(104) Clause 57, page 50 (lines 21 and 22), omit "in relation to the foreign", substitute "under the scheme in relation to a foreign".

(105) Clause 57, page 50 (line 28), omit "5", substitute "3".

(106) Clause 57, page 50 (after line 28), after subclause (3), insert:

Reckless omission to apply or renew reckless as to whether required to do so, and registrable activity undertaken

(3A) A person commits an offence if:

(a) the person is required:

  (i) to apply for registration under the scheme in relation to a foreign principal by the end of a period; or

  (ii) to renew the person's registration under the scheme in relation to a foreign principal by the end of a period; and

(b) the person is reckless as to whether the person has omitted to do so; and

(c) the person undertakes an activity on behalf of the foreign principal after the end of the period; and

(d) the activity is registrable in relation to the foreign principal.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.

(107) Clause 57, page 51 (line 2), omit "the foreign", substitute "a foreign".

(108) Clause 57, page 51 (line 3), omit "relation to the foreign", substitute "under the scheme in relation to a foreign".

(109) Clause 57, page 51 (lines 8 to 21), omit subclause (5).

(110) Page 51 (after line 21), after clause 57, insert:

57A Giving notice of end of liability to register while still liable to register

Notice given knowing arrangement still exists, and registrable activity undertaken

(1) A person commits an offence if:

(a) the person gives the Secretary a notice under section 31 (notice of end of liability to register) for the person's registration under the scheme in relation to a foreign principal; and

(b) at the time the person does so a registrable arrangement exists between the person and the foreign principal; and

(c) the person knows that the registrable arrangement will still be in existence on the day specified in the notice under subsection 31(3) as the day the person's registration in relation to the foreign principal is to cease; and

(d) the person undertakes an activity on behalf of the foreign principal after that day; and

(e) the activity is registrable in relation to the foreign principal.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.

Notice given reckless as to whether arrangement still exists, and registrable activity undertaken

(2) A person commits an offence if:

(a) the person gives the Secretary a notice under section 31 (notice of end of liability to register) for the person's registration under the scheme in relation to a foreign principal; and

(b) at the time the person does so a registrable arrangement exists between the person and the foreign principal; and

(c) the registrable arrangement will still be in existence on the day specified in the notice under subsection 31(3) as the day the person's registration in relation to the foreign principal is to cease; and

(d) the person undertakes an activity on behalf of the foreign principal after that day; and

(e) the activity is registrable in relation to the foreign principal.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 3 years.

Notice given knowing arrangement still exists, whether or not registrable activity undertaken

(3) A person commits an offence if:

(a) the person gives the Secretary a notice under section 31 (notice of end of liability to register) for the person's registration under the scheme in relation to the foreign principal; and

(b) at the time the person does so a registrable arrangement exists between the person and the foreign principal; and

(c) the person knows that the registrable arrangement will still be in existence on the day specified in the notice under subsection 31(3) as the day the person's registration in relation to the foreign principal is to cease.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 12 months.

Notice given reckless as to whether arrangement still exists, whether or not registrable activity undertaken

(4) A person commits an offence if:

(a) the person gives the Secretary a notice under section 31 (notice of end of liability to register) for the person's registration under the scheme in relation to the foreign principal; and

(b) at the time the person does so a registrable arrangement exists between the person and the foreign principal; and

(c) the registrable arrangement will still be in existence on the day specified in the notice under subsection 31(3) as the day the person's registration in relation to the foreign principal is to cease.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 6 months.

(111) Clause 58, page 51 (line 24), omit "of strict liability".

(112) Clause 58, page 52 (line 3), omit "of strict liability".

(113) Clause 58, page 52 (line 11), omit "of strict liability".

(114) Clause 59, page 52 (before line 23), before the penalty, insert:

Note: A notice given under section 45 or 46 does not override certain privileges and immunities (see section 9A).

(115) Clause 60, page 53 (line 16), omit "5", substitute "3".

(116) Clause 61, page 54 (line 22), omit "(1)".

(117) Clause 61, page 55 (line 1), omit "3", substitute "2".

(118) Clause 61, page 55 (line 2), omit subclause (2).

(119) Page 55 (after line 2), at the end of Part 5, add:

61A Geographical jurisdiction of offences

(1) Section 15.4 of the Criminal Code (extended geographical jurisdiction—category D) applies to an offence against this Part if, at the time of the conduct constituting the offence, the defendant was a former Cabinet Minister or a recent designated position holder.

(2) Section 14.1 of the Criminal Code (standard geographical jurisdiction) applies to any other offence against this Part.

(120) Clause 62, page 56 (lines 4 and 5), omit "matters relating to charges payable under the scheme,".

(121) Clause 62, page 56 (lines 10 and 11), omit "scheme to be reviewed before the end of its first 5 years of operation", substitute "Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security to begin a review of the scheme within 3 years of the scheme commencing".

(122) Clause 63, page 56 (line 12) to page 57 (line 2), omit the clause.

(123) Clause 67, page 58 (line 2), omit "The", substitute "Subject to subsections (1A) and (1B), the".

(124) Clause 67, page 58 (after line 9), after subclause (1), insert:

(1A) The Secretary must not delegate the Secretary's functions or powers under any of the following provisions:

(a) section 14B (issuing provisional transparency notices);

(b) section 14E (varying or revoking transparency notices).

(1B) The Secretary may only delegate the Secretary's functions or powers under the following provisions to a person mentioned in paragraph (1) (a):

(a) section 43 (certain information to be made publicly available);

(b) section 45 (notice requiring information to satisfy Secretary whether person is liable to register under the scheme);

(c) section 46 (notice requiring information relevant to scheme);

(d) subsection 53(1) (authorisation for Secretary to communicate scheme information).

(125) Clause 69, page 58 (lines 25 and 26), omit subclause (2), substitute:

(2) The report must include the following matters in relation to the financial year:

(a) the number of new registrations;

(b) the number of registrations that ended;

(c) the number of notices given to the Secretary under Division 2 of Part 3 (reporting to the Secretary);

(d) a statement as to whether the Secretary has complied with section 42 (requirement to keep a register);

(e) the number of provisional transparency notices issued;

(f) the number of submissions made in response to invitations prepared under subsection 14C(1) for the subjects of provisional transparency notices;

(g) the number of transparency notices varied or revoked;

(h) the number of notices issued under section 45 (notice requiring information to satisfy Secretary whether person is liable to register under the scheme);

  (i) the number of notices issued under section 46 (notice requiring information relevant to scheme);

(j) the number of documents produced to the Secretary in compliance with notices issued under section 46;

(k) the number of occasions on which the Secretary or a scheme official communicates scheme information to a person in reliance on the authorisation in section 52 (purposes of scheme) or 53 (other purposes) (whether or not any other authorisation is also relied on);

(l) a list of Departments, agencies, authorities or Australian police forces to which scheme information has been communicated in reliance on the authorisation in section 52 or 53 (whether or not any other authorisation is also relied on);

(m) the number of persons charged with offences under Part 5 (enforcement);

(n) the number of proceedings before the courts in relation to the scheme;

(o) any other matters prescribed by the rules for the purposes of this section.

(126) Clause 70, page 59 (lines 5 to 14), omit the clause, substitute:

70 Review of scheme by Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security must:

(a) begin a review of the operation, effectiveness and implications of the scheme by the third anniversary of the day this Act commences; and

(b) report the Committee's comments and recommendations to each House of the Parliament as soon as practicable after completing the review.

Question agreed to.

Bill, as amended, agreed to.

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