[Index] [Search] [Download] [Bill] [Help]
2013-2014-2015-2016 THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA SENATE TREASURY LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (REPEAL DAY 2015) BILL 2016 REVISED EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM (Circulated by authority of the Minister for Small Business and Assistant Treasurer, the Hon Kelly O'Dwyer MP) THIS MEMORANDUM TAKES ACCOUNT OF AMENDMENTS MADE BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO THE BILL AS INTRODUCEDIndex] [Search] [Download] [Bill] [Help]Table of contents Glossary ................................................................................................. 1 General outline and financial impact....................................................... 3 Chapter 1 Lost members and unclaimed superannuation reforms .......................................................................... 5 Chapter 2 Modify 'in receivership' rules ........................................11 Chapter 3 Repeal of inoperative acts and provisions of the taxation law ..................................................................23 Index......................................................................................................29
Glossary The following abbreviations and acronyms are used throughout this explanatory memorandum. Abbreviation Definition AFSL Australian financial services license ASIC Australian Securities & Investments Commission Commissioner Commissioner of Taxation DA Act Development Allowance Authority Act 1992 ICCT Act Infrastructure Certificate Cancellation Tax Act 1994 ITAA 1936 Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 SGAA Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 SSSA Small Superannuation Accounts Act 1995 SUMLMA Superannuation (Unclaimed Money and Lost Members) Act 1999 TAA 1953 Taxation Administration Act 1953 the Guide Attorney-General's Department Guide to Framing Criminal Offences 1
General outline and financial impact Lost members and unclaimed superannuation Schedule 2 to this Bill amends the Superannuation (Unclaimed Money and Lost Members) Act 1999, and other superannuation laws to enable the Commissioner of Taxation (Commissioner) to pay certain superannuation amounts directly to individuals with a terminal medical condition and to remove the requirement for superannuation funds to lodge a separate biannual lost members statement with the Commissioner. Date of effect: 1 July 2016. Proposal announced: The measures in Schedule 2 were announced in the 2015-16 Budget as part of the lost and unclaimed superannuation reform package, which contains a total of six measures that reduce red tape for superannuation funds and members by removing additional reporting obligations and by streamlining lost and unclaimed superannuation administrative arrangements. Schedule 2 only implements two of the six measures in that package. Legislative and administrative changes necessary to implement the remaining measures are being progressed through separate processes. Financial impact: The lost and unclaimed superannuation changes have a nil net financial impact. Human rights implications: This Schedule does not raise any human rights issue. See Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights -- Chapter 1, paragraphs 1.24 to 1.28. Compliance cost impact: The estimated reduction in compliance costs from implementing all six measures in the lost and unclaimed superannuation reform package, including the two measures in Schedule 2, is $0.97 million per annum. Modify 'in receivership' Schedule 3 to this Bill contains amendments to the Corporations Act 2001 to modify the notification and reporting obligations applying to certain corporations that have property in receivership or property in respect of which a controller is acting. 3
Treasury Legislation Amendment (Repeal Day 2015) Bill 2016 Date of effect: This Schedule will commence on the day after this Bill receives Royal Assent. Proposal announced: This measure was released as an exposure draft for public consultation on 28 August 2015. Financial impact: Modifying the notification and reporting obligations has a nil net financial impact. Human rights implications: This Schedule does not raise any human rights issues. See Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights -- Chapter 2, paragraphs 2.49 to 2.52. Compliance cost impact: This measure will reduce regulatory burden by $1.8 million. Repeal of inoperative Acts and provisions of the taxation law Schedule 4 to this Bill repeals several inoperative acts in the Treasury portfolio as well as amending the taxation law to remove a number of inoperative or spent provisions. Date of effect: This Schedule will commence on the day after this Bill receives Royal Assent. Proposal announced: This measure was released as an exposure draft for public consultation on 28 August 2015. Financial impact: This measure will have a nil net financial impact. Human rights implications: This Schedule does not raise any human rights issues. See Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights -- Chapter 3, paragraphs 3.29 to 3.33. Compliance cost impact: This measure will reduce compliance costs for affected taxpayers by reducing the overall size of the tax law. The overall magnitude of the compliance save is unquantifiable, but expected to be small. 4
Chapter 1 Lost members and unclaimed superannuation reforms Outline of chapter 1.1 Schedule 2 to this Bill amends the Superannuation (Unclaimed Money and Lost Members) Act 1999 (SUMLMA), and other superannuation laws to enable the Commissioner of Taxation (Commissioner) to pay certain superannuation amounts directly to individuals with a terminal medical condition and to remove the requirement for superannuation funds to lodge a separate biannual lost members statement with the Commissioner. Context of amendments 1.2 In the 2015-16 Budget the Government announced a package of measures to reduce red tape for superannuation funds and members by removing redundant reporting obligations and by streamlining lost and unclaimed superannuation administrative arrangements. 1.3 There are legislative impediments to the Commissioner directly paying some lost member balances and other superannuation amounts to individuals with a terminal medical condition. In many circumstances these amounts must first be transferred to an account with a complying superannuation plan before being paid to the individual. This creates unnecessary red tape and delays for those needing immediate access to their superannuation benefits. 1.4 Superannuation funds are required to lodge a biannual lost members statement with the Commissioner, identifying all superannuation balances of lost members. This statement provides information to the Commissioner to display on a register of lost members. The Commissioner also collects member information through the annual member information statement, some of which is duplicated in the lost member statement. Removing the requirement for superannuation funds to lodge a lost members statement on a twice yearly basis will remove an additional reporting burden for funds, reducing compliance costs. 5
Treasury Legislation Amendment (Repeal Day 2015) Bill 2016 Summary of new law 1.5 Part 1 of Schedule 2 amends the SUMLMA, the Small Superannuation Accounts Act 1995 (SSSA) and the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (SGAA) to enable the Commissioner to pay unclaimed money of lost members and other superannuation amounts directly to persons with a terminal medical condition. Part 2 of Schedule 2 amends the SUMLMA to remove the requirement for superannuation providers to lodge, twice yearly, a lost members statement with the Commissioner. Information for the purposes of the register of lost members will be collected using the Commissioner's existing administrative powers under the Taxation Administration Act 1953 (TAA 1953). Part 3 of Schedule 2 amends the SUMLMA to enable the meaning of a lost member to be placed in regulation. Comparison of key features of new law and current law New law Current law The Commissioner can pay amounts The Commissioner cannot always pay under the SUMLMA, SSAA and amounts under the SUMLMA, SSAA SGAA directly to persons with a and SGAA directly to persons with a terminal medical condition. terminal medical condition. Superannuation providers will not be Superannuation providers must give required to provide the Commissioner the Commissioner a lost members with a lost members statement on a statement on a twice yearly basis. twice yearly basis. Detailed explanation of new law Terminal medical condition 1.6 Amounts in the superannuation system are generally able to be released, tax-free, to persons with a terminal medical condition. 1.7 The SUMLMA requires superannuation providers to report and transfer unclaimed money to the Commissioner on a twice yearly basis. Individuals are able to claim back unclaimed superannuation amounts from the Commissioner at any time with interest. These unclaimed money amounts include certain lost member accounts, being small lost accounts and inactive accounts of unidentifiable members. 6
Lost members and unclaimed superannuation reforms 1.8 Part 4A of the SUMLMA only permits the Commissioner to pay claimed lost member accounts directly to a person, if the person has reached a certain 'eligibility' age; or the amount is less than $200; and the person has not died. In other circumstances, including where a person has a terminal medical condition, the claimed amount must be first transferred into an account with a complying superannuation plan, before being released from the superannuation system. This creates unnecessary delays and paperwork for terminally ill persons wishing to access their superannuation benefits. 1.9 Similarly, the Commissioner also administers small accounts under the SSAA and shortfall superannuation guarantee amounts under the SGAA. Section 65 of the SSAA enables direct withdrawal of account balances in certain circumstances, including on retirement on the ground of disability. Similarly, section 66 of the SGAA requires the Commissioner to pay an amount of shortfall component directly to a former employee that has retired due to permanent incapacity or invalidity. Accounts under the SSAA and shortfall amounts under the SGAA can also be transferred to a complying superannuation plan. However, there is no specific provision in either the SSAA or the SGAA to enable the Commissioner to pay these amounts directly to a person with a terminal medical condition. 1.10 Part 1 of Schedule 2 will amend the SUMLMA to enable the Commissioner to pay amounts held in respect of lost member accounts directly to individuals with a terminal medical condition. The Commissioner will also be required to make direct payments of account balances under the SSAA and shortfall amounts under the SGAA, on request, to individuals with a terminal medical condition. [Schedule 2, Part 1, items 4 to 12, section 14, paragraph 16(b), note 2A to section 16, sections 62 and 65A of the SSAA, subsection 65(1) and section 66A of the SGAA, and paragraph 24G(2)(d) and subsection 24G(2A) of the SUMLMA] 1.11 A terminal medical condition exists in relation to an individual if two registered medical practitioners, at least one of whom is a specialist; have certified that a person suffers from an illness or injury that is likely to result in their death within the certification period of 24 months or less. A payment of an amount, under the SSAA or SGAA, or a lost member amount under subsection 24G(2) of the SUMLMA, by the Commissioner to a person with a terminal medical condition will be a superannuation benefit. These types of superannuation benefits under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 are tax-free in the hands of the individual concerned. [Schedule 2, Part 1, items 1 to 3, items 4 and 7 of the table in subsection 307-5(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997] 7
Treasury Legislation Amendment (Repeal Day 2015) Bill 2016 Lost member account reporting 1.12 Part 4 of the SUMLMA requires the Commissioner to keep a register of lost members containing information for the purpose of reuniting individuals with their lost superannuation money. Superannuation providers must give the Commissioner a twice yearly statement containing information relating to lost members for the purpose of the register. These requirements are in addition to the biannual reporting and payment requirements for certain unclaimed lost member accounts in Part 4A of the SUMLMA. 1.13 Superannuation providers are also required to give the Commissioner a member information statement, in the approved form under section 390-5 of Schedule 1 to the TAA 1953. Subsections 390-5(5) and 390-5(6) of Schedule 1 of the TAA 1953 enable the Commissioner to specify, by legislative instrument, the period covered by the statement and the day on which the statement must be given to the Commissioner. Currently, a member information statement is required for each individual who held a superannuation interest in a superannuation plan for a financial year and is due on 31 October each year. 1.14 The proposed amendments will repeal requirements under Part 4 of the SUMLMA for the provision of information about lost superannuation members to the Commissioner for the purposes of the register of lost members. The Commissioner will continue to be required to keep a register of lost members under Part 4 of the SUMLMA and will be permitted to give information contained in the register to State and Territory authorities. Information for the purposes of the register of lost members will be collected using the Commissioner's existing administrative powers under the TAA 1953. [Schedule 2, Part 2, items 13 and 15 to 20, section 7, Part 4, subsections 24HA(1), 25(3) and 26(3), section 27, paragraph 29(1)(b) and subsection 44(1) of the SUMLMA] 1.15 The amendments will also repeal the meaning of a lost member in Part 4 of the SUMLMA, and incorporate this meaning within the definition of lost member in section 8 of the SUMLMA. A lost member continues to be a lost RSA holder within the meaning of the Retirement Savings Accounts Regulations 1997 or a lost member within the meaning of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Regulations 1994. [Schedule 2, Part 2, item 14, section 8 of the SUMLMA] 8
Lost members and unclaimed superannuation reforms 1.16 Part 3 of Schedule 2 will repeal the meaning of a lost member in section 8 of the SUMLMA, so it refers to a meaning in the regulations. This schedule will not commence until a day fixed by proclamation. However, if Part 3 of Schedule 2 does not commence within six months from the day this Bill receives Royal Assent, then the meaning of a lost member will remain within the definition of a lost member in the SUMLMA. [Schedule 2, Part 3, item 23, section 8 of the SUMLMA] 1.17 It is intended that regulations will be made to place the meaning of a lost member in the Superannuation (Unclaimed Money and Lost Members) Regulations 1999 following Royal Assent of the Bill. The proclamation provision will enable a definition of a lost member to be maintained on a continuous basis for the purposes of the SUMLMA. 1.18 Consequential amendments to the Superannuation (Unclaimed Money and Lost Members) Regulations 1999 will be made to repeal regulations made for the purposes of Part 4 of the SUMLMA. Application and transitional provisions 1.19 The amendments in Part 1 of Schedule 2 will commence on 1 July 2016. 1.20 The amendments in Part 2 of Schedule 2 will commence on 1 July 2016. The amendments in Part 2 of Schedule 2 will not apply to information in relation to lost members that must be given to the Commissioner for a half year ending before 1 July 2016. [Schedule 2, Part 2, item 21] 1.21 Information for the purposes of the register of lost members will be collected by the Commissioner through a lost members statement given under Part 4 of the SUMLMA for the half year ending on 30 June 2016. This information must generally be given to the Commissioner on or before 31 October 2016, in accordance with the SUMLM regulations. For subsequent reporting periods, commencing from the 2016-17 financial year, information will be collected under section 390-5 of the TAA 1953. 1.22 The amendments in Part 3 of Schedule 2 will commence on a day to be fixed by proclamation. However, if the provisions do not commence within the period of 6 months beginning on the day the Act receives Royal Assent they do not commence at all. 1.23 Transitional provisions will ensure that any information, collected under Part 4 of the SUMLMA, for a half year ending before 1 July 2016, can continue to be included in the register of lost members. [Schedule 2, Part 2, item 22] 9
Treasury Legislation Amendment (Repeal Day 2015) Bill 2016 STATEMENT OF COMPATIBILITY WITH HUMAN RIGHTS Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 Lost members and unclaimed superannuation 1.24 This Schedule 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 1.25 Schedule 2 to this Bill amends the Superannuation (Unclaimed Money and Lost Members) Act 1999, and other superannuation laws to enable the Commissioner to pay certain superannuation amounts directly to individuals with a terminal medical condition and to remove the requirement for superannuation funds to lodge a separate biannual lost members statement with the Commissioner. 1.26 These amendments will make it easier for individuals with a terminal medical condition to access certain superannuation amounts and simplify superannuation funds' lost member reporting obligations. Human rights implications 1.27 This Schedule does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms. Conclusion 1.28 Schedule 2 to this Bill is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues. 10
Chapter 2 Modify 'in receivership' rules Outline of chapter 2.1 Schedule 3 to this Bill contains amendments to the Corporations Act 2001 to modify the notification and reporting obligations applying to certain corporations that have property in receivership or property in respect of which a controller is acting. 2.2 Responsible entities of managed investment schemes, licensed trustee companies or custodians will now: • notify of the appointment of a receiver only on the public documents and negotiable instruments relating to the registered scheme or trust that is in receivership (rather than all public documents and negotiable instruments of the corporation); and • report to the controller only on the affairs of the registered scheme or trust in respect of which the controller is acting (rather than all the affairs of the corporation). Context of amendments Notification obligations 2.3 Generally, when a receiver is appointed to property of a corporation, that corporation must notify of the receivership on all its public documents and negotiable instruments (the notification obligation). The same obligation applies when a controller is acting in relation to property of a corporation. 2.4 The notification obligations impose unnecessary compliance costs and may cause investor confusion and damage business reputations for certain corporations that are in the business of holding property on trust. These corporations are: • responsible entities of registered schemes holding scheme property; 11
Treasury Legislation Amendment (Repeal Day 2015) Bill 2016 • licensed trustee companies that hold property on trust; and • corporations holding an Australian financial services license (AFSL) authorising the provision of custodial and depository services that hold property on trust ('licensed custodians'). 2.5 As these corporations hold property on trust (including bare trusts), liability from receivership is confined to the assets of the particular registered scheme or trust, rather than all assets of the corporation. It is therefore appropriate that the notification obligation be confined to the registered scheme or trust containing the assets under receivership (or assets in respect of which the controller is acting). 2.6 Restricting the notification obligations to the public documents and negotiable instruments relating to the affected registered scheme or trust will reduce unnecessary compliance costs whilst ensuring persons dealing with the corporation are informed of the receivership as required. The modified notification obligation will also reduce investor confusion as only documents and instruments relating to the affected scheme or trust will contain notification of the receivership or that a controller is acting. 2.7 These amendments also specifically address the situation where the scheme property is held by a corporation other than the responsible entity, which is common business practice. The Schedule requires the responsible entity of the registered scheme that has property in receivership to notify of the receivership on all its public documents and negotiable instruments that relate to the registered scheme. This is to ensure that persons dealing with the responsible entity are informed of the receivership. 2.8 The policy intent is not to modify notification obligations for corporations generally. While there may be other corporations that hold property on trust, it would be less likely that such corporations would have their other business operations unaffected by the receivership of trust assets. The other policy reason for not extending the modified notification obligations to corporations generally is to safeguard against the risk that a corporation will claim that the relevant assets held under receivership are merely held in trust when this is not the case to avoid having to notify of the receivership on all their public documents or negotiable instruments. Reporting obligations 2.9 Where a controller is acting in relation to property of a corporation, that corporation's 'reporting officers' must report to the controller on all the affairs of the corporation (reporting obligation) in the prescribed form. 12
Modify 'in receivership' rules 2.10 The purpose of the reporting obligation is to ensure that a controller receives required information on the affairs of the corporation. However, the reporting obligation results in unnecessary compliance costs, without resulting in additional meaningful information to the controller in the case of: • responsible entities of registered schemes; • licensed trustee companies; and • licensed custodians. 2.11 This is because these corporations, in the absence of the changes made by this Schedule, would be required to report to the controller in respect of all their affairs, including in respect of registered schemes and trusts, or the corporation's own affairs, notwithstanding the affairs are not related to the assets to which the controller was appointed. 2.12 Restricting the reporting obligation for such corporations to affairs relating to the particular registered scheme or trust containing the property to which the controller has been appointed addresses this problem whilst ensuring the necessary information flows to the controller. 2.13 A separate problem arises in the case where scheme property is held by a corporation other than the responsible entity of the registered scheme (which is common). The obligation to report to the controller falls on the corporation holding the scheme property (the custodian) rather than the responsible entity, even though the latter has better access to the information sought by the controller. The corporation holding the scheme property generally needs to obtain information from the responsible entity to comply with their reporting obligation, and this increases their compliance costs. These amendments provide that where a licensed custodian holds scheme property, the obligation to report to a controller on the affairs of the particular registered scheme falls solely on the responsible entity. Summary of new law 2.14 The Schedule amends the Act: • in the case where scheme property of a responsible entity of a registered scheme, or property held on trust by a licensed trustee company or licensed custodian is in receivership, to require the corporation to notify of the receivership only on the public documents and negotiable instrument related to the particular registered scheme or trust; 13
Treasury Legislation Amendment (Repeal Day 2015) Bill 2016 • in the case where a controller is acting in relation to scheme property of a registered scheme, or property held on trust by a licensed trustee company or a licensed custodian, to require the corporation's reporting officers to report to the controller only on the affairs of the particular registered scheme or trust; and • in the case where a controller is appointed to scheme property of a registered scheme held by a licensed custodian, to require the controller to only serve a notice on the responsible entity of the registered scheme and require a director or secretary of the responsible entity to report to the controller on the affairs of the scheme. Comparison of key features of new law and current law New law Current law Where a receiver has been appointed Where a receiver has been appointed to: scheme property of a registered to property of a corporation, the scheme of a responsible entity; or corporation must set out a statement property held on trust by a licensed that a receiver has been appointed on trustee company or corporation that every public document or negotiable holds an AFSL authorising the instrument of the corporation. provision of custodial or depository services, that the corporation must set out a statement that a receiver has been appointed only on the public documents or negotiable instruments of the corporation that relate to the registered scheme or trust containing the property in receivership. Where there is a controller acting in Where there is a controller acting in relation to: scheme property of a relation to property of a corporation, registered scheme of a responsible the corporation must set out a entity; or property held in trust by a statement that a controller is acting on licensed trustee company or a every public document or negotiable corporation that holds an AFSL instrument of the corporation. authorising the provision of custodial or depository services, that corporation must set out a statement that a controller is acting only on the public documents or negotiable instruments relating to the particular registered scheme or trust containing the property in respect of which the controller is acting. 14
Modify 'in receivership' rules New law Current law Where a receiver has been appointed No equivalent. to scheme property of a registered scheme that is not property of the responsible entity of the registered scheme, the responsible entity must set out a statement that a receiver has been appointed on all public documents and negotiable instruments relating to the registered scheme. Where a controller is acting in No equivalent. relation to scheme property of a registered scheme that is not property of the responsible entity of the registered scheme, the responsible entity must set out a statement that a controller is acting on all public documents and negotiable instruments relating to the registered scheme. The reporting officers: of the The reporting officers of a responsible entity of a registered corporation that has property in scheme, licensed trustee company or respect of which a controller has been corporation that holds an AFSL appointed must report to the authorising the provision of custodial controller on all the affairs of the or depository services that has corporation. scheme property or trust property in respect of which a controller is acting must report to the controller only on the affairs of the particular registered scheme or trust. When a person becomes a controller When a person becomes controller of of scheme property of a registered scheme property of a registered scheme that is not property of the scheme that is held by a licensed responsible entity of the scheme and custodian, the controller must serve a is property held on trust by a licensed notice on the licensed custodian and, custodian, the controller must serve a within 14 days (or any additional notice, as soon as practicable, on the period allowed), a director or responsible entity (not the licensed secretary of the licensed custodian custodian) and, within 14 days must report to the controller on all its (or any additional period allowed), a affairs. director or secretary of the responsible entity must report to the controller on the affairs of the scheme. 15
Treasury Legislation Amendment (Repeal Day 2015) Bill 2016 Detailed explanation of new law Modified notification obligations 2.15 The Schedule modifies the notification obligations for the following corporations: • a responsible entity of a registered scheme where scheme property is in receivership or a controller is acting in relation to such property; • a licensed trustee company, where property held on trust is in receivership or a controller is acting in relation to such property; and • a corporation holding an AFSL that authorises the provision of custodial or depository services, where property held on trust is in receivership or a controller is acting in relation to such property. 2.16 These corporations must include a statement that a receiver (or receiver and manager) has been appointed or a controller is acting only on the public documents and negotiable instruments relating to the particular registered scheme or trust under receivership or in respect of which the controller is acting. [Schedule 3, item 6, subsection 428(2A)] 2.17 The corporation may specify, in the public document or negotiable instrument, the relevant affected scheme or trust to provide further clarity regarding the assets in respect of which the receiver (or receiver and manager) or controller has been appointed. [Schedule 3, item 6, subsection 428(2A)] 2.18 The modified notification obligations apply only to a licensed custodian; that is, a corporation holding an AFSL authorising the provision of custodial or depository services, including where the licensed custodian holds the property on bare trust (where the beneficiary is absolutely entitled to the trust property and can call for immediate payment). 2.19 While the property must be held by a corporation that holds an AFSL authorising the provision of custodial or depository services, it is not necessary that the property be held in connection with the provision of custodial or depository services. This is to ensure that the modified notification obligation applies to licensed custodians holding scheme property of a registered scheme. As paragraph 766E(3)(b) provides that 'holding the assets of a registered scheme' does not constitute providing a custodial or depository service, not requiring the property to be held in connection with the provision of custodial and depository services ensures 16
Modify 'in receivership' rules that a licensed custodian holding scheme property of a registered scheme under receivership will only need to notify of the receivership on public documents and negotiable instruments relating to the scheme, which is the policy intent. Scheme property not held by a responsible entity 2.20 Where a receiver is appointed to scheme property of a registered scheme that is not property of the responsible entity of the registered scheme, the responsible entity of the registered scheme must notify of the receivership on every public document or negotiable instrument that relates to the registered scheme. [Schedule 3, item 6, subsection 428(2B)]. 2.21 It is common business practice for scheme property of a registered scheme to be held by a person other than the responsible entity of the scheme. Typically, the scheme property is held by a custodian agent (or sub custodian) of the responsible entity on trust for the responsible entity who holds the beneficial interest on trust for the members of the registered scheme. 2.22 In the absence of this provision, the responsible entity would not have been required to notify of the receivership on its public documents and negotiable instruments and persons dealing solely with the responsible entity would not have been informed of the receivership. Requiring the responsible entity to notify of the receivership ensures that persons that only have dealings with the responsible entity in relation to scheme property under receivership will be informed of the receivership. 2.23 For the same reason, where a controller is acting in relation to scheme property that is not held by the responsible entity of the registered scheme, the responsible entity must now notify that a controller is acting on all public documents and negotiable instruments relating to the particular registered scheme. [Schedule 3, item 6, subsection 428(2C)] 2.24 The notification obligations imposed on the responsible entity are in addition to the notification obligations applying to the corporation holding the property. For example, if scheme property of a particular registered scheme under receivership were held by a licensed custodian (that is, a corporation holding an AFSL authorising the provision of custodial or depository services), the custodian would be required to notify of the receivership only on those public documents and negotiable instruments relating to the registered scheme [Schedule 3, item 6, subparagraph 428(2A)(b)(ii)]. On the other hand, if the scheme property were held by another corporation (for example, an unlicensed custodian), the unlicensed custodian would be required to notify of the receivership on all its public documents and negotiable instruments, pursuant to subsection 428(1). 17
Treasury Legislation Amendment (Repeal Day 2015) Bill 2016 2.25 Failure to comply with the notification obligations in this Schedule is a strict liability offence [Schedule 3, item 7, subsection 428(3)], carrying a maximum penalty of 15 penalty units [Schedule 3, item 18, item 120 in the table in Schedule 3]. 2.26 The offence previously carried a maximum penalty of 10 penalty units or imprisonment for 3 months, or both. The offence remains a strict liability offence but the penalty has been changed to ensure it is consistent with the Attorney-General's Department Guide to Framing Criminal Offences (the Guide). 2.27 Strict liability, and the level of penalty, is appropriate, for the following reasons: • notification of receivership or that a controller is acting is critical information that must be communicated to persons dealing with an insolvent entity, and the use of strict liability is necessary to protect the integrity of the regime; • the requirement is clear and easy to understand, and the offence depends entirely on the action or non-action of the person who is liable for the offence; • the offence no longer carries a term of imprisonment, making it consistent with section 2.2.6 of the Guide which states that imprisonment should not be used for strict liability offences; • following the removal of the 3 month term of imprisonment, the offence now attracts a maximum penalty of 15 penalty units, consistent with the fine/imprisonment ratio of 5 penalty units for each month's imprisonment, which the Guide indicates should be followed unless there are cogent reasons to depart from it (section 3.1.3). Modified reporting requirements 2.28 Subsection 429(2) requires the reporting officer of a corporation that has property to which a controller has been appointed, to report to the controller on all the corporation's affairs. 2.29 The Schedule modifies this reporting obligation for the following corporations that have property to which a controller has been appointed: • a responsible entity of a registered scheme, in the case of scheme property; 18
Modify 'in receivership' rules • a licensed trustee company that holds the property on trust; and • a corporation that holds an AFSL authorising the provision of custodial or depository services that holds the property on trust. 2.30 The modified reporting obligation means the reporting officers of these corporations must report to the controller only on the affairs of the corporation to the extent they relate to the particular registered scheme or trust containing property in respect of which the controller is acting. [Schedule 3, item 13, subsection 429A(1); and item 8, subsection 429(2A)] 2.31 Requiring these corporations to report only on the affairs relating to the particular affected registered scheme or trust will reduce unnecessary compliance and reporting burdens, whilst ensuring the controller (and Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC)) receive the required information regarding the property in respect of which the controller has been appointed. 2.32 When property is held by a custodian, the modified reporting obligations will only apply to licensed custodial arrangements (where the custodian holds an AFSL authorising the provision of custodial or depository services) [Schedule 3, item 13, subparagraph 429(2A)(a)(ii)]. Where the custodian is unlicensed, the custodian must continue to report to the controller on all its affairs (including in relation to other trusts to which the controller has not been appointed), as required under subsection 429(2). Scheme property not held by a responsible entity 2.33 Where a person becomes a controller of scheme property of a registered scheme that is held by a licensed custodian and not the responsible entity of the registered scheme, the controller must not serve a notice on the licensed custodian. [Schedule 3, item 13, subsection 429A(2)] 2.34 Instead, the controller must, as soon as practicable, serve a notice on the responsible entity of the affected registered scheme [Schedule 3, item 13, paragraph 429A(3)(e)]. A director or secretary of the responsible entity must report to the controller, in the prescribed form, on the affairs of the relevant registered scheme as at the control day, within 14 days (or any further period allowed, as explained below in paragraph 2.39) [Schedule 3, item 13, paragraph 429A(3)(f)]. 2.35 Requiring the controller to issue a notice to the responsible entity recognises that the responsible entity is in a much better position to provide a report to the controller on the affairs of the relevant scheme. 19
Treasury Legislation Amendment (Repeal Day 2015) Bill 2016 2.36 The corporation holding the scheme property continues to have an obligation to report to the controller where the corporation holding the scheme property is: • a licensed trustee company, but only in respect of the affairs of the particular scheme; • another corporation (for example, an unlicensed custodian or sub custodian), in respect of all the affairs of the custodian (paragraph 429(2)(b)). In the case of an unlicensed custodian, the custodian may not have many affairs that do not relate to the scheme which is one reason the policy intent is not to limit the reporting obligations of unlicensed custodians (and sub custodians). [Schedule 3, item 8, subsection 429(2A)] 2.37 The requirement in subparagraph 429(2)(c)(i) -- that the controller must lodge a copy of the report with ASIC within one month of receiving it from the reporting officers, including either a notice setting out any comments the controller sees fit to make or a notice indicating the controller did not see fit to make any comments -- applies to the report from the responsible entity [Schedule 3, item 13, paragraph 429A(3)(g)]. The amendments provide the controller will have qualified privilege in relation to comments made [Schedule 3, item 4, paragraph 426(b)], consistent with the position relating to other reports received by the controller. 2.38 The controller must send a copy of the report, as lodged, to the responsible entity, as well as the corporation that holds the scheme property, unless the scheme property is held by a licensed custodian. [Schedule 3, item 13, paragraph 429A(3)(h)] 2.39 Subsections 429(3) to (5) set out the process by which a reporting officer of a corporation that has been served a notice by a controller to report on the affairs of the corporation may apply for an extension of time by which to report. The amendments replicate those rules for a reporting officer of a responsible entity that has been served a notice to report by a controller [Schedule 3, item 13, paragraph 429A(3)(g)]. This means that: • a director or secretary of the responsible entity may apply to the controller or the Court for an extension of time by which to report to the controller; • if the application is made to the controller, the controller may agree to the extension if they believe there are special reasons for doing so and must give notice in writing of the extension and lodge that notice as soon as practicable after it is granted; or 20
Modify 'in receivership' rules • if the application is made to the Court, the Court may make an order extending the period for reporting to the controller and a director or secretary of the responsible entity must, as soon as practicable, lodge a copy of that order with ASIC. 2.40 Consistent with the existing rules, the Schedule addresses the appointment of an additional or replacement controller to scheme property not held by a responsible entity. Where this occurs, the amendments provide the controller is not required to issue a notice to the responsible entity where that person became a controller to act either with an existing controller or in place of a controller who has died or ceased to be controller [Schedule 3, item 9, subsection 429(6)]. Not requiring the new controller to issue the notice is appropriate given the requirement to issue the notice would already have been fulfilled by the incumbent controller. 2.41 If, however, the replacement controller is appointed due to the death or cessation of a previous controller and the previous controller did not issue the required notice prior to their death or cessation, the amendments provide the replacement controller must issue the required notice to the responsible entity. [Schedule 3, item 10, subsection 429(6A); and item 10, paragraph 429(6A)(a)] 2.42 Subsection 429(7) provides that where a corporation is being wound up and the same person acts as both controller and liquidator, the rules for reporting to a controller, broadly, continue to apply. These amendments extend the operation of this subsection to also cover cases where the property to which the controller has been appointed is scheme property. [Schedule 3, item 12, subsection 429(7)] Consequential amendments 2.43 These amendments move two definitions from section 761A to section 9: • 'custodial or depository services', which cross-references to the definition in section 766E; and • 'licensed trustee company', which cross-references to the definition in Chapter 5D. [Schedule 3, item 1, section 9; and item 15, section 761A] 2.44 These changes are necessary as the terms 'custodial or depository services' and 'licensed trustee company' no longer operate exclusively in Chapters 7 and 5D respectively and it is, therefore, appropriate that definitions of these terms be in section 9. 21
Treasury Legislation Amendment (Repeal Day 2015) Bill 2016 2.45 Minor amendments have been made to the references to 'custodial or depository services' in paragraph 601RAC(3)(b) and section 766E as this term is no longer exclusively used in Chapter 7. [Schedule 3, item 14, paragraph 601RAC(3)(b); item 16, subsection 766E(1); and item 17, paragraph 766E(2)(a)] 2.46 Likewise, minor amendments have been made to the references in paragraphs 53(b) and paragraph 283(1)(aa) to 'licensed trustee company' as this term is no longer exclusively used in Chapter 5D. [Schedule 3, items 2 and 3, paragraphs 53(b) and 283AC(1)(aa)] 2.47 A new heading - 'Property of corporation' has been introduced to improve the readability of section 428. [Schedule 3, item 5, subsection 428(1)] Application and transitional provisions 2.48 The amendments apply from the date of Royal Assent. STATEMENT OF COMPATIBILITY WITH HUMAN RIGHTS Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 Modify 'in receivership' rules 2.49 This Schedule 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 2.50 Schedule 3 to the Bill contains amendments to the Corporations Act 2001 to modify the notification and reporting obligations applying to certain corporations that have property in receivership or property in respect of which a controller is acting. Human rights implications 2.51 This Schedule does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms. Conclusion 2.52 This Schedule is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues. 22
Chapter 3 Repeal of inoperative acts and provisions of the taxation law Outline of chapter 3.1 Schedule 4 to this Bill repeals several inoperative acts in the Treasury portfolio as well as amending the taxation law to remove a number of inoperative or spent provisions. Context of amendments Background 3.2 There are various reasons why Acts and provisions within an Act can become spent or cease to be operative. 3.3 Some Acts or provisions in the law are intended to apply only for a limited period. Once this period expires, the provisions are spent and no longer have any effect. 3.4 In other cases, while the Act or provision is intended to apply on an ongoing basis, changes in external circumstances, such as to the way entities behave or other provisions of the law, can mean that in practice the provision no longer applies to anything and has become inoperative. 3.5 While these spent or inoperative Acts and provisions have no application to any entity, they remain on the statute book until repeal by Parliament. Retaining these provisions increases the volume of Commonwealth legislation, without providing any benefit. Summary of new law 3.6 Schedule 4 to this Bill repeals several inoperative acts in the Treasury portfolio as well as amending the taxation law to remove a number of inoperative or spent provisions. 23
Treasury Legislation Amendment (Repeal Day 2015) Bill 2016 Detailed explanation of new law Repeal of the Commonwealth Borrowing Levy 3.7 Part 1 of Schedule 4 repeals the Commonwealth Borrowing Levy Act 1987 and the Commonwealth Borrowing Levy Collection Act 1987. [Schedule 4, items 1 and 2, the whole of the Commonwealth Borrowing Levy Act 1987 and the Commonwealth Borrowing Levy Collection Act 1987] 3.8 These Acts imposed and provided for the collection of the Commonwealth Borrowing Levy - a tax on borrowings by certain commonwealth-controlled entities. Since changes to the governance framework for Commonwealth-controlled entities in 1997, the rate of the levy has been set at zero by the Commonwealth Borrowing Levy Regulations. As a result, no tax is payable as a result of the levy. 3.9 Additionally, the levy only ever applied to a small group of entities listed in the Schedule to the Commonwealth Borrowing Levy Act 1987, most of which have now either ceased to exist, or been privatised and exempted from the levy. 3.10 Given this, neither the Commonwealth Borrowing Levy Act 1987 nor the Commonwealth Borrowing Levy Collection Act 1987 have any ongoing operative effect. 3.11 The repeal of these Acts will also result in the Commonwealth Borrowing Levy Regulations lapsing as a result of the repeal of the provision enabling the regulations to be made. Repeal of the tax exempt infrastructure borrowing concession 3.12 Part 2 of Schedule 4 repeals Division 16L of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936), the Development Allowance Authority Act 1992 (DA Act) and the Infrastructure Certificate Cancellation Tax Act 1994 (ICCT Act). [Schedule 4, items 10, 11 and 17, the whole of the DA Act and ICCT Act and Division 16L of the ITAA 1936] 3.13 Division 16L, together with the DA Act and ICCT Act, provides for income in relation to borrowings for certain infrastructure projects to be non-assessable, but also not to give rise to deductions, for a 15 year period, subject to conditions being met in relation to the project and the use of the borrowings. If the conditions are not met at any point in the life of the project, additional tax will be imposed to recover the benefit of the concessions. 24
Repeal of inoperative acts and provisions of the taxation law 3.14 This tax exempt infrastructure borrowing concession was closed to new projects in 1997. As the tax concession is only available in relation to borrowings for a project for 15 years, it is no longer operative. 3.15 The repeal of these Acts will also result in the Development Allowance Authority Regulations lapsing as a result of the repeal of the provision enabling the regulations to be made. Repeal of the concession for equity investments by lenders in small and medium enterprises 3.16 Part 3 of Schedule 4 repeals Division 11B of the ITAA 1936. [Schedule 4, item 34, Division 11B of the ITAA 1936] 3.17 Division 11B broadly allows entities that acquire at least 10 per cent of the ordinary shares of an enterprise in the course of a business of lending money, to treat any profit or loss from the disposal of those shares as being a capital gain rather than ordinary income. 3.18 The intention of this provision was to improve access to finance by small and medium enterprises by providing a tax incentive for banks and other entities to lend to and invest in these businesses. It did so by treating the gains or losses that financial institutions made from the disposal of an eligible equity interest in the small or medium enterprise as capital gains or losses that were subject to capital gains tax rather than ordinary income or general deductions, allowing the lending entity to apply indexation to reduce the value of any gain that arose (see paragraph 5.4 to 5.15 of the Explanatory Memorandum for the Taxation Laws Amendment (No.3) Bill 1996). 3.19 Subsequently, changes were made to the taxation law to freeze indexation for all existing capital gains tax assets from 11.45 am on 21 September 1999 and remove access to indexation for all assets subsequently acquired by taxpayers. 3.20 As a result of the removal of indexation, the 'concession' in Division 11B no longer provides any benefit to financial institutions. There is no evidence that any entities are currently accessing the provisions, leaving them, in practice, inoperative. 25
Treasury Legislation Amendment (Repeal Day 2015) Bill 2016 Consequential amendments 3.21 Schedule 4 includes a number of consequential amendments to remove references to the repealed provisions and Acts in the taxation law and other Commonwealth legislation. [Schedule 4, items 3 to 8, 12 to 16, 18 to 32, 35 to 40 and 42, Part 7 of the AeroSpace Technologies of Australia Limited Sale Act 1994, section 52 of the CSL Sale Act 1993, Schedule 3 to the Medibank Private Sale Act 2006, section 54 to the Moomba-Sydney Pipeline System Sale Act 1994, section 28 to the Qantas Sale Act 1992, section 42 of the Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation Limited Sale Act 1993, section 56 of the Airports (Transitional) Act 1996, the definition of 'assessment' in subsection 6(1), the note to subsection 82KZME(1), subsection 82KZME(6), paragraphs 126(1)(d) and 128B(3)(bb) and Division 16L of the ITAA 1936, subsection 272-90(10) in Schedule 2F to the ITAA 1936, the items headed 'interest' and 'shares' in the table in section 10-5, the item headed 'financial transactions' in the table in section 11-15, the items headed 'infrastructure' and 'shares' in the table in section 12-5, the item headed 'infrastructure' in the table in section 13-1, paragraph 104-71(3)(a), item 7 in section 109-60, items 9 and 12A of the table in section 112-97, paragraphs 118-425(13)(d) and 118-427(14)(d), subsection 230 460(14), items 1 and 2 in subsection 713-140(5) and the note to subsection 721 10(2) in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, subsection 3B(1B), section 8AB, paragraph 8J(2)(ga) and subsections 8W(1B), 13K(11), 15(4) and 15A(11) of the Taxation Administration Act 1953 and item 105 in the table in subsection 250-10(1) of Schedule 1 and item 3 in the table in subsection 355-65(5) of Schedule 1 to the Taxation Administration Act 1953 and the whole of the Housing Loans Insurance Corporation (Transfer of Assets and Abolition) Act 1996] Application and transitional provisions Application dates 3.22 The amendments relating to the Commonwealth Borrowing Levy apply from the day after the Bill receives Royal Assent. However, the amendments make any entity liable to pay Commonwealth Borrowing Levy. [Item 5 of the table in clause 2 of the Bill and Schedule 4, item 9] 3.23 The amendments relating to the tax exempt infrastructure borrowing concession, except as they relate to the closure of the Development Allowance Authority, do not apply in relation to a borrowing that has benefitted from the concession. [Schedule 4, subitem 33(1)] 3.24 This means that while the provisions will be repealed going forwards, projects that benefitted from the concessions will still be required to repay the benefit of the concession if they breach the conditions imposed by the legislation. 26
Repeal of inoperative acts and provisions of the taxation law 3.25 The abolition of the Development Allowance Authority will apply from the day after Royal Assent. To the extent it may be required by the residual application of the concession, the Commissioner of Taxation (the Commissioner) will be able to exercise the powers and functions of the Authority. [Schedule 4, subitems 33(1) and (2)] 3.26 Finally, the amendments relating to equity investment in small and medium enterprises in relation to income tax assessments for 2015-16 and later income years. [Schedule 4, subitem 41] 3.27 However, to ensure the measure can have no effect on arrangements entered into prior to the repeal, the amendments will not apply in respect of threshold interests acquired on or before the day of Royal Assent. [Schedule 4, subitem 41(2)] Transitional rules 3.28 Schedule 4 also includes general savings provisions. These provisions, which are standard when there are repeals of tax legislation that has become inoperative, preserve the rights and obligations of taxpayers and the Commissioner in relation to past years. This ensures that the repeal can have no effect on liabilities and entitlements in prior income years, even where these liabilities or entitlements are not identified until after the repeal commences. [Schedule 4, items 43 to 47] STATEMENT OF COMPATIBILITY WITH HUMAN RIGHTS Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 Repeal of inoperative acts and provisions of the taxation law 3.29 This Schedule 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 3.30 Schedule 4 to this Bill repeals several inoperative acts in the Treasury portfolio as well as amending the taxation law to remove a number of inoperative or spent provisions. 27
Treasury Legislation Amendment (Repeal Day 2015) Bill 2016 3.31 Schedule 4 will commence on the day after it receives Royal Assent. Human rights implications 3.32 Schedule 4 to this Bill does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms. None of the provisions being repealed have, in practice, any ongoing operative effect. Conclusion 3.33 Schedule 4 to this Bill is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues. 28
Index Schedule 2: Lost members and unclaimed superannuation Bill reference Paragraph number Part 1, items 1 to 3, items 4 and 7 of the table in subsection 307-5(1) 1.11 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Part 1, items 4 to 12, section 14, paragraph 16(b), note 2A to section 1.10 16, sections 62 and 65A of the SSAA, subsection 65(1) and section 66A of the SGAA, and paragraph 24G(2)(d) and subsection 24G(2A) of the SUMLMA Part 2, items 13 and 15 to 20, section 7, Part 4, subsections 24HA(1), 1.14 25(3) and 26(3), section 27, paragraph 29(1)(b) and subsection 44(1) of the SUMLMA Part 2, item 14, section 8 of the SUMLMA 1.15 Part 2, item 21 1.20 Part 2, item 22 1.23 Part 3, item 23, section 8 of the SUMLMA 1.16 Schedule 3: Receivers, and other controllers, of property of corporations Bill reference Paragraph number Item 1, section 9; and item 15, section 761A 2.43 Items 2 and 3, paragraphs 53(b) and 283AC(1)(aa) 2.46 Item 4, paragraph 426(b) 2.37 Item 5, subsection 428(1) 2.47 Item 6, subparagraph 428(2A)(b)(ii) 2.24 Item 6, subsection 428(2A) 2.16 Item 6, subsection 428(2A) 2.17 Item 6, subsection 428(2B) 2.20 Item 6, subsection 428(2C) 2.23 Item 7, subsection 428(3) 2.25 Item 8, subsection 429(2A) 2.36 29
Treasury Legislation Amendment (Repeal Day 2015) Bill 2016 Bill reference Paragraph number Item 9, subsection 429(6) 2.40 Item 10, subsection 429(6A); and item 10, paragraph 429(6A)(a) 2.41 Item 12, subsection 429(7) 2.42 Item 13, paragraph 429A(3)(h) 2.38 Item 13, paragraph 429A(3)(g) 2.39 Item 13, subsection 429A(2) 2.33 Item 13, paragraph 429A(3)(e) 2.34 Item 13, paragraph 429A(3)(f) 2.34 Item 13, subsection 429A(1); and item 8, subsection 429(2A) 2.30 Item 13, paragraph 429A(3)(g) 2.37 Item 13, subparagraph 429(2A)(a)(ii) 2.32 Item 14, paragraph 601RAC(3)(b); item 16, subsection 766E(1); and 2.45 item 17, paragraph 766E(2)(a) Item 18, item 120 in the table in Schedule 3 2.25 Schedule 4: Inoperative provisions Bill reference Paragraph number Items 1 and 2, the whole of the Commonwealth Borrowing Levy Act 3.7 1987 and the Commonwealth Borrowing Levy Collection Act 1987 30
Index Bill reference Paragraph number Items 3 to 8, 12 to 16, 18 to 32, 35 to 40 and 42, Part 7 of the 3.21 AeroSpace Technologies of Australia Limited Sale Act 1994, section 52 of the CSL Sale Act 1993, Schedule 3 to the Medibank Private Sale Act 2006, section 54 to the Moomba-Sydney Pipeline System Sale Act 1994, section 28 to the Qantas Sale Act 1992, section 42 of the Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation Limited Sale Act 1993, section 56 of the Airports (Transitional) Act 1996, the definition of 'assessment' in subsection 6(1), the note to subsection 82KZME(1), subsection 82KZME(6), paragraphs 126(1)(d) and 128B(3)(bb) and Division 16L of the ITAA 1936, subsection 272-90(10) in Schedule 2F to the ITAA 1936, the items headed 'interest' and 'shares' in the table in section 10-5, the item headed 'financial transactions' in the table in section 11-15, the items headed 'infrastructure' and 'shares' in the table in section 12- 5, the item headed 'infrastructure' in the table in section 13-1, paragraph 104-71(3)(a), item 7 in section 109-60, items 9 and 12A of the table in section 112-97, paragraphs 118-425(13)(d) and 118- 427(14)(d), subsection 230 460(14), items 1 and 2 in subsection 713- 140(5) and the note to subsection 721 10(2) in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, subsection 3B(1B), section 8AB, paragraph 8J(2)(ga) and subsections 8W(1B), 13K(11), 15(4) and 15A(11) of the Taxation Administration Act 1953 and item 105 in the table in subsection 250-10(1) of Schedule 1 and item 3 in the table in subsection 355-65(5) of Schedule 1 to the Taxation Administration Act 1953 and the whole of the Housing Loans Insurance Corporation (Transfer of Assets and Abolition) Act 1996 Items 10, 11 and 17, the whole of the DA Act and ICCT Act and 3.12 Division 16L of the ITAA 1936 Item 34, Division 11B of the ITAA 1936 3.16 Items 43 to 47 3.28 Subitems 33(1) and (2) 3.25 Subitem 33(1) 3.23 Subitem 41(2) 3.27 Subitem 41 3.26 31