Business Registration Acts (Amendment) Act 2000
i
Business Registration Acts (Amendment) Act 2000
Act No. 35/2000
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Section Page
PART 1—PRELIMINARY 1
1. Purpose 1
2. Commencement 2
PART 2—ASSOCIATIONS INCORPORATION 3
3. Forms and particulars 3
4. Bringing companies etc under Act 3
5. Winding up 3
6. New section 38B inserted 4
38B. Delegation by Minister 4
7. New section 39A inserted 4
39A. Corrections of register 4
8. New sections 45B and 45C inserted 4
45B. Approval of special lodging arrangements 4
45C. Signatures 6
9. Resubmission of certain documents 6
10. New section 49A inserted 7
49A. Retention of documents 7
11. Regulations 7
12. Statute law revision 7
PART 3—BUSINESS NAMES 8
13. Definitions 8
14. Administration 8
15. New section 4BB inserted 8
4BB. Delegation by the Minister 8
16. Unregistered businesses 9
17. Restrictions on use 9
18. Registration of addresses 9
19. Restrictions on registration of business names 9
20. Renewals of registration 10
21. Notification of changes of particulars 10
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Section Page
ii
22. New section 15AB inserted 11
15AB. Approval of special lodging arrangements 12
23. Lodgement of statements 13
24. New sections 17 and 17A inserted 13
17. False and misleading statements 14
17A. Retention of records 15
25. Cancellation of registration 15
26. Invitations to public 15
27. Service of notices 15
28. Regulations 16
PART 4—CO-OPERATIVES 17
29. New sections 438A and 438B inserted 17
438A. Signing of documents 17
438B. Approval of special lodging arrangements 17
30. Method of lodgement 19
31. New section 409A inserted 19
409A. Retention of records 19
32. Correction of Register 19
33. Regulations 20
34. Statute law revision 20
PART 5—PARTNERSHIPS 22
35. Correction of Register 22
36. New section 79 substituted 22
79. False and misleading statements 22
37. New Part 4 (sections 79A to 79F) inserted 23
PART 4—GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 23
79A. Signing of documents 23
79B. Lodgment of documents 24
79C. Method of lodgment 24
79D. Approval of special lodging arrangements 24
79E. Retention of records 26
79F. Power of Commissioner to refuse to register or reject
documents 26
38. Regulations 27
PART 6—CHANGE OF REFERENCES TO DIRECTOR OF FAIR
TRADING 29
39. New section 98 substituted in Fair Trading Act 1999 29
98. Director of Consumer and Business Affairs 29
40. Consequential amendments to Fair Trading Act 1999 29
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41. New clauses 6 and 7 inserted in Schedule 3 of Fair Trading
Act 1999 30
6. Superseded references to Director of Fair Trading and
Office of Fair Trading and Business Affairs 30
7. Actions commenced by Director 30
42. Building Act 1993 31
43. Business Names Act 1962 31
44. Co-operative Housing Societies Act 1958 31
45. Credit (Administration) Act 1984 31
46. Estate Agents Act 1980 32
47. Motor Car Traders Act 1986 32
48. Petroleum Retail Selling Sites Act 1981 33
49. Prostitution Control Act 1994 33
50. Residential Tenancies Act 1997 34
51. Second-Hand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act 1989 35
52. Travel Agents Act 1986 35
53. Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998 36
═══════════════
NOTES 37
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1
Business Registration Acts
(Amendment) Act 2000 †
[Assented to 6 June 2000]
The Parliament of Victoria enacts as follows:
PART 1—PRELIMINARY
1. Purpose
The purpose of this Act is to amend the
Associations Incorporation Act 1981, the
Business Names Act 1962, the Co-operatives
Act 1996 and the Partnership Act 1958 to
facilitate electronic service delivery for
registration services provided under those Acts, to
make other miscellaneous amendments to those
Victoria
No. 35 of 2000
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Acts and to amend the Fair Trading Act 1999
and other Acts.
2. Commencement
(1) Subject to sub-section (2), this Act comes into
operation on a day or days to be proclaimed.
(2) If a provision of this Act does not come into
operation before 1 July 2002, it comes into
operation on that day.
______________
s. 2
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PART 2—ASSOCIATIONS INCORPORATION
3. Forms and particulars
In the Associations Incorporation Act 1981—
(a) in section 5(e), after "applicant" insert "in
the form approved by the Registrar";
(b) in sections 5, 10(3), 30(4), (where first
occurring) in section 31(3) and 46(h), for
"prescribed form" substitute "form approved
by the Registrar";
(c) in sections 7(1), 13(3), 28(1) and 31(3)(c),
for "prescribed form" substitute "form
approved by the Registrar and containing the
prescribed particulars";
(d) in section 30(4)(a), after "(3)" insert "and
any other prescribed particulars";
4. Bringing companies etc under Act
In section 10(4)(b)(i) of the Associations
Incorporation Act 1981, after "Securities" insert
"and Investments".
5. Winding up
In section 35(2) of the Associations
Incorporation Act 1981, after paragraph (i)
insert—
"(ia) that the incorporated association has failed to
become registered or incorporated as a
prescribed body corporate within 6 months
after the period specified in a notice under
section 31AB; or".
No. 9713.
Reprint No. 5
as at
1 September
1999.
s. 3
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6. New section 38B inserted
After section 38A of the Associations
Incorporation Act 1981 insert—
"38B. Delegation by Minister
The Minister may, by instrument, delegate to
the Registrar the power of the Minister to
give consent under section 12(1).".
7. New section 39A inserted
After section 39 of the Associations
Incorporation Act 1981 insert—
"39A. Corrections of register
(1) The Registrar may correct any error or
omission in the Register by—
(a) inserting an entry; or
(b) amending an entry; or
(c) omitting an entry—
if he or she decides that the correction is
necessary.
(2) The Registrar must not omit an entry in the
register unless satisfied that the whole of the
entry was included in error.".
8. New sections 45B and 45C inserted
After section 45A of the Associations
Incorporation Act 1981 insert—
"45B. Approval of special lodging arrangements
(1) Despite the requirements of this Act, the
Registrar, by written notice, may give
approval for a special arrangement for the
electronic transmission or lodging of copies
of documents under this Act to—
s. 6
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(a) the public officer; or
(b) a specified agent on behalf of a
specified person or persons or class of
persons.
(2) An approval may provide an exemption (or a
partial exemption) for the person or persons
for or on behalf of whom the documents are
lodged or the public officer or agent from
specified provisions of this Act relating to
the authentication or signature of documents
and the lodging of documents.
(3) The Registrar may grant or refuse an
approval to a person who applies in writing
for that approval.
(4) The Registrar may vary or cancel an
approval by written notice.
(5) The Registrar may impose any condition on
an approval under this section including a
condition that the Registrar will refuse to
accept a document for lodgement unless he
or she is satisfied that a majority of the
Committee for the time being of the
association proposed to be incorporated or
the incorporated association has given
written authorisation to the public officer or
other person specified in the approval—
(a) to sign copies of specified documents
for or on behalf of the person or
persons who would otherwise be
required by or under this Act to sign the
documents;
(b) to lodge with the Registrar copies of
specified documents for or on behalf of
the person who would otherwise be
s. 8
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required by or under this Act to lodge
the documents.
(6) The Registrar must note on the register kept
under section 39 details of any authorisations
required under sub-section (5).
(7) A document required to be lodged by a
person under this Act is deemed to be signed
by the person or persons required to sign the
document if a copy of the document is
signed on the person's or persons' behalf by a
person authorised in accordance with sub-
section (5) to so sign the copy of the
document.
(8) Sub-section (7) does not relieve any person
who would otherwise be required to sign the
document from signing the original
document.
45C. Signatures
(1) Despite any other provision of this Act if the
Registrar is satisfied that it is not practicable
to obtain the signature of a person required
by this Act to sign a document the Registrar
may accept the document without its being
signed by that person but the person is not
relieved of the requirement to sign the
document.
(2) If a document has been received by the
Registrar for the purposes of lodgement
under this Act or the regulations made under
this Act, it is sufficient compliance with a
requirement for the document to be signed if
the original document is signed.".
9. Resubmission of certain documents
In section 46 of the Associations Incorporation
Act 1981, after paragraph (ca) insert—
s. 9
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"(cb) if submitted in electronic form, is not readily
accessible by the Registrar so as to be
useable by the Registrar;".
10. New section 49A inserted
After section 49 of the Associations
Incorporation Act 1981 insert—
"49A. Retention of documents
If a public officer or other person has lodged
a copy of a document under this Act signed
by the public officer or other person in
accordance with an approval under section
45B, the public officer or person who lodged
the copy of the document must ensure that
the original document signed by any person
who is required to sign the document is kept
so that it is able to be produced readily to the
Registrar for not less than 7 years after the
document was lodged with the Registrar.
Penalty: 30 penalty units.".
11. Regulations
In section 54(2) of the Associations
Incorporation Act 1981, after paragraph (bb)
insert—
"(bc) make provision for the keeping of records of
documents required under this Act in any
form approved by the Registrar;".
12. Statute law revision
In section 36(1)(b) of the Associations
Incorporation Act 1981, for "direction"
substitute "certificate".
______________
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PART 3—BUSINESS NAMES
13. Definitions
In section 4(1) of the Business Names Act
1962—
(a) in the definition of "corporation" for "within
the meaning of the Companies (Victoria)
Code" substitute "or registrable Australian
body within the meaning of the Corporations
Law";
(b) for the definition of "secretary" substitute—
' "secretary", in relation to a corporation,
includes any person performing the
duties of the secretary of the
corporation and, in relation to a foreign
company registered under the
Corporations Law, means the agent of
that company appointed for the
purposes of the Corporations Law;'.
14. Administration
In section 4A of the Business Names Act 1962,
after "Securities" insert "and Investments".
15. New section 4BB inserted
After section 4A of the Business Names Act 1962
insert—
"4BB. Delegation by the Minister
The Minister may, by instrument, delegate to
the Director the power of the Minister to
give consent under section 9(1).".
No. 6853.
Reprint No. 5
as at 11
March 1999.
Further
amended by
No. 17/1999.
s. 13
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16. Unregistered businesses
In the penalty at the foot of section 5(1) of the
Business Names Act 1962, for "$200" substitute
"30 penalty units.".
17. Restrictions on use
In section 5A of the Business Names Act 1962—
(a) in sub-section (1)(c), after "Code" insert
"or section 229(3)(c) of the Corporations
Law";
(b) for the penalty at the foot of sub-section (2)
substitute—
Penalty: "120 penalty units. Default
penalty.".
18. Registration of addresses
(1) In section 7(1) of the Business Names Act
1962—
(a) for "prescribed form" substitute "form
approved by the Director";
(b) at the end of paragraph (e) omit "and";
(c) after paragraph (f) insert—
"(g) any other address nominated by the
applicant as a postal address or
electronic mailing address; and
(h) any other prescribed particulars.".
(2) In section 7(4) of the Business Names Act 1962,
for "prescribed form" substitute "form approved
by the Director containing the prescribed
particulars".
19. Restrictions on registration of business names
For section 9(2) of the Business Names Act 1962
substitute—
s. 16
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"(2) The Minister must ensure that a direction
under this section is published in the
Government Gazette and a copy of the
direction is sent to the Minister of each State
and self-governing Territory who is
responsible for administering a law
corresponding to this Act and to the Minister
administering the Corporations Act 1989 of
the Commonwealth.".
20. Renewals of registration
(1) In section 11(1) of the Business Names Act 1962,
for "prescribed form" substitute "form approved
by the Director and containing the prescribed
particulars".
(2) After section 11(4) of the Business Names Act
1962 insert—
"(5) A renewal of registration that is lodged with
the Director by electronic transmission is not
required to be signed in accordance with
sub-section (1).".
21. Notification of changes of particulars
(1) After section 12(1) of the Business Names Act
1962 insert—
"(1A) If a business name is registered under this
Act and a change occurs in—
(a) an address that has been nominated as
the postal address of the business; or
(b) an address that has been nominated as
the electronic mailing address of the
business—
a statement in the form approved by the
Director, containing the prescribed
particulars and signed by one of the persons
in relation to whom the business name is
s. 20
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registered must be lodged with the Director
specifying the new address.".
(2) In section 12 of the Business Names Act 1962—
(a) in sub-section (1C), for "prescribed form
signed by one of the persons in relation to
whom the name is registered may"
substitute "form approved by the Director
signed by one of the persons in relation to
whom the name is registered must";
(b) at the end of sub-section (1C), insert "and
any other prescribed particulars";
(c) in sub-sections (1) and (2), for "prescribed
form" substitute "form approved by the
Director";
(d) at the end of sub-sections (1) and (2), insert
"and of any other prescribed particulars";
(e) in sub-section (4), for "prescribed form"
substitute "form approved by the Director
containing the prescribed particulars,";
(f) in sub-sections (3) and (5)(a), for "in the
prescribed form" substitute "that is in the
form approved by the Director and contains
the prescribed particulars";
(g) in sub-section (6)—
(i) for "prescribed form" substitute "form
approved by the Director";
(ii) after paragraph (b) insert—
"(c) containing any other prescribed
particulars.";
(h) in sub-section (7), for "prescribed form"
substitute "form approved by the Director,
containing the prescribed particulars and".
22. New section 15AB inserted
s. 21 s. 22
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After section 15A of the Business Names Act
1962 insert—
"15AB. Approval of special lodging arrangements
(1) Despite the requirements of this Act, the
Director, by written notice, may give
approval for a special arrangement for the
electronic transmission or lodging of copies
of statements under this Act to a specified
person or agent on behalf of a specified
person or persons or class of persons.
(2) An approval may provide an exemption (or a
partial exemption) for the person or persons
for or on behalf of whom the statements are
lodged from specified provisions of this Act
relating to the authentication or signature of
statements and the lodging of statements.
(3) The Director may grant or refuse an approval
to a person who applies in writing for that
approval.
(4) The Director may vary or cancel an approval
by written notice.
(5) The Director may impose any condition on
an approval under this section including a
condition that the Director will refuse to
accept a statement for lodgement unless he
or she is satisfied that all the persons
carrying on or proposing to carry on the
business to which the statements relate have
given written authorisation to the agent or
other person specified in the approval—
(a) to sign copies of specified statements
for or on behalf of the person or
persons who would otherwise be
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required by or under this Act to sign the
statements;
(b) to lodge with the Director copies of
specified statements for or on behalf of
the person who would otherwise be
required by or under this Act to lodge
the statements.
(6) The Director must note on the register details
of any authorisations required under sub-
section (5).
(7) A statement required to be lodged by a
person under this Act is deemed to be signed
by the person or persons required to sign the
statement if a copy of the statement is signed
on the person's or persons' behalf by a person
authorised in accordance with sub-section
(5) to sign the copy of the statement.
(8) Sub-section (7) does not relieve any person
who would otherwise be required to sign the
statement from signing the original
statement.".
23. Lodgement of statements
(1) In section 15B(1) of the Business Names Act
1962, after paragraph (b) insert—
"(ba) if submitted in electronic form, is not readily
accessible by the Director so as to be useable
by the Director;".
(2) In section 15C(1) of the Business Names Act
1962, after "facsimile" insert "or electronic".
24. New sections 17 and 17A inserted
s. 23 s. 24
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For section 17 of the Business Names Act 1962
substitute—
"17. False and misleading statements
(1) A person who, in a statement required by or
for the purposes of this Act or lodged with or
submitted to the Director or in a declaration
made under this Act, makes or authorizes the
making of a statement that to his or her
knowledge is false or misleading in a
material particular or omits or authorizes the
omission of any matter or thing without
which the statement required, lodged or
submitted is to his or her knowledge
misleading in a material respect, is guilty of
an offence and liable to a penalty not
exceeding 60 penalty units.
(2) A person who, in a statement required by or
for the purposes of this Act or lodged with or
submitted to the Director or in a declaration
made under this Act—
(a) makes or authorizes the making of a
statement that is false or misleading in
a material particular; or
(b) omits or authorizes the omission of any
matter or thing without which the
statement required, lodged or submitted
would be misleading—
without having taken reasonable steps to
ensure that the statement was not false or
misleading or to ensure that the statement
did not omit any matter or thing without
which the statement required, lodged or
submitted would be misleading, as the case
may be, is guilty of an offence and liable to a
penalty not exceeding 60 penalty units.
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17A. Retention of records
If an agent or other person has lodged a copy
of a statement under this Act signed by
another person in accordance with an
approval under section 15AB, the agent or
person must ensure the original statement
signed by any person who is required to sign
the statement is kept so that it is able to be
produced readily to the Director for not less
than 7 years after the statement was lodged
with the Director.
Penalty: 30 penalty units.".
25. Cancellation of registration
In section 19(1)(d) of the Business Names Act
1962, for "struck off any register of corporations
kept under the Companies (Victoria) Code"
substitute "deregistered under the Corporations
Law".
26. Invitations to public
In section 26(2) of the Business Names Act 1962,
for "Companies Act 1961" substitute
"Corporations Law".
27. Service of notices
After section 31(1)(b) of the Business Names Act
1962 insert—
"; or
(c) if the Director and the person or persons in
respect of whom the business name is
registered have agreed to notices being sent
to a postal address that appears on the
register, at that postal address; or
s. 25
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(d) if the Director and the person or persons in
respect of whom the business name is
registered have agreed to notices being sent
to an electronic mailing address that appears
on the register, at that electronic mailing
address.".
28. Regulations
(1) In section 32(1) of the Business Names Act 1962,
after paragraph (dc) insert—
"(dd) provisions for the keeping of records of
statements required under this Act in any
form approved by the Director;".
(2) For section 32(1B) of the Business Names Act
1962 substitute—
"(1B) The regulations are subject to disallowance
by a House of the Parliament.".
_______________
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PART 4—CO-OPERATIVES
29. New sections 438A and 438B inserted
After section 438 of the Co-operatives Act 1996
insert—
"438A. Signing of documents
(1) Despite any other provision of this Act if the
Registrar is satisfied that it is not practicable
to obtain the signature of a person required
by this Act to sign a document the Registrar
may accept the document without its being
signed by that person but the person is not
relieved of the requirement to sign the
document.
(2) If a copy of a document has been received by
the Registrar for the purposes of lodgement
under this Act or the regulations made under
this Act, it is sufficient compliance with a
requirement for the document to be signed if
the original document is signed.
438B. Approval of special lodging arrangements
(1) Despite the requirements of this Act, the
Registrar, by written notice, may give
approval for a special arrangement for the
electronic transmission or lodging of copies
of documents under this Act to a specified
agent or person on behalf of a specified
person or persons or class of persons.
(2) An approval may provide an exemption (or a
partial exemption) for the person or persons
for or on behalf of whom the documents are
lodged from specified provisions of this Act
relating to the authentication or signature of
documents and the lodging of documents.
No. 84/1996.
Reprint No. 1
as at
1 December
1998. Further
amended by
Nos 37/1999
and 53/1999.
s. 29
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(3) The Registrar may grant or refuse an
approval to a person who applies in writing
for that approval.
(4) The Registrar may vary or cancel an
approval by written notice.
(5) The Registrar may impose any condition on
an approval under this section including a
condition that the Registrar will refuse to
accept a document for lodgement unless he
or she is satisfied that the board of the
co-operative or proposed co-operative has
given written authorisation to the agent or
other person specified in the approval—
(a) to sign copies of specified documents
for or on behalf of the person or
persons who would otherwise be
required by or under this Act to sign the
documents;
(b) to lodge with the Registrar copies of
specified documents for or on behalf of
the person who would otherwise be
required by or under this Act to lodge
the documents.
(6) The Registrar must note on the Register
details of any authorisations required under
sub-section (5).
(7) A document required to be lodged by a
person under this Act is deemed to be signed
by the person or persons required to sign the
document if a copy of the document is
signed on the person's or persons' behalf by a
person authorised in accordance with sub-
section (5) to so sign the copy of the
document.
s. 29
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(8) Sub-section (7) does not relieve any person
who would otherwise be required to sign the
document from signing the original
document.".
30. Method of lodgement
For section 439(1) of the Co-operatives Act
1996, after paragraph (e) insert—
"; or
(f) if submitted in electronic form, is not readily
accessible by the Registrar so as to be
useable by the Registrar.".
31. New section 409A inserted
After section 409 of the Co-operatives Act 1996,
insert—
"409A. Retention of records
If an agent or other person has lodged a copy
of a document under this Act signed by the
agent or other person in accordance with an
approval under section 438B, the agent or
person must ensure that the original
document signed by the person who is
required to sign the document is kept so that
it is able to be produced readily to the
Registrar for not less than 7 years after the
document was lodged with the Registrar.
Penalty: 30 penalty units.".
32. Correction of Register
After section 433(3) of the Co-operatives Act
1996 insert—
"(4) The Registrar may correct any error or
omission in the Register by—
s. 30
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(a) inserting an entry; or
(b) amending an entry; or
(c) omitting an entry—
if he or she decides that the correction is
necessary.
(5) The Registrar must not omit an entry in the
Register unless satisfied that the whole of the
entry was included in error.".
33. Regulations
In section 463(2) of the Co-operatives Act 1996,
after paragraph (c) insert—
"(d) the keeping of records of documents required
under this Act in any form approved by the
Registrar.".
34. Statute law revision
In the Co-operatives Act 1996—
(a) in section 4(1), in the definition of "deposit
taking co-operative", for "permitted to"
substitute "permitted";
(b) in section 5(1) omit ", the person, in respect
of that Act matter or thing";
(c) in section 17(3)(a), for "include in"
substitute "including";
(d) in section 143(3) for "an merger" substitute
"a merger";
(e) in section 186(2), for "of the matter"
substitute "the matter";
(f) in section 197(2), at the end of paragraph (b)
insert "and";
(g) in section 201, after "relation" insert "to";
s. 33
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(h) in section 263(2), at the end of paragraph (b)
insert "and";
(i) in section 263(4), before "to a person" insert
"(c)";
(j) in section 301(2)(a), for "the each"
substitute "each";
(k) in section 337(1) for "apply to an" substitute
"apply to and";
(l) in section 359(3) for "to deal" substitute
"deal";
(m) in section 382(3), for "will be" substitute
"will";
(n) in clause 19(3) of Schedule 3, after "within"
insert "which";
(o) in clause 22(2) of Schedule 3, before "20 or
21(1)" insert "clause";
(p) in clause 46(4) of Schedule 3, for "do not
affect" substitute "does not affect";
(q) in clause 15 of Schedule 4, before
"A controller" insert "(1)";
_______________
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PART 5—PARTNERSHIPS
35. Correction of Register
After section 57(3) of the Partnership Act 1958
insert—
"(4) The Commissioner may correct any error or
omission in the Register by—
(a) inserting an entry; or
(b) amending an entry; or
(c) omitting an entry—
if he or she decides that the correction is
necessary.
(5) The Commissioner must not omit an entry in
the Register unless satisfied that the whole of
the entry was included in error.".
36. New section 79 substituted
For section 79 of the Partnership Act 1958
substitute—
"79. False and misleading statements
(1) A person who, in a document required by or
for the purposes of this Act or lodged with or
submitted to the Commissioner or in a
declaration made under this Act, makes or
authorizes the making of a statement that to
his or her knowledge is false or misleading
in a material particular or omits or authorizes
the omission of any matter or thing without
which the statement is to his or her
knowledge misleading in a material respect,
is guilty of an offence and liable to a penalty
not exceeding 60 penalty units.
(2) A person who, in a document required by or
for the purposes of this Act or lodged with or
No. 6330.
Reprint No. 5
as at
4 February
1999.
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submitted to the Commissioner or in a
declaration made under this Act—
(a) makes or authorizes the making of a
statement that is false or misleading in
a material particular; or
(b) omits or authorizes the omission of any
matter or thing without which the
statement would be misleading—
without having taken reasonable steps to
ensure that the statement was not false or
misleading or to ensure that the statement
did not omit any matter or thing without
which the document would be misleading, as
the case may be, is guilty of an offence and
liable to a penalty not exceeding 60 penalty
units.".
37. New Part 4 (sections 79A to 79F) inserted
After section 79 of the Partnership Act 1958
insert—
"PART 4—GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
79A. Signing of documents
(1) Despite any other provision of this Act if the
Commissioner is satisfied that it is not
practicable to obtain the signature of a
person required by this Act to sign a
document the Commissioner may accept the
document without its being signed by that
person but the person is not relieved of the
requirement to sign the document.
(2) If a copy of a document has been received by
the Commissioner for the purposes of
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lodgement under this Act or the regulations
made under this Act, it is sufficient
compliance with a requirement for the
document to be signed if the original
document is signed.
79B. Lodgment of documents
A document is not to be taken to have been
lodged under this Act or the regulations
unless the prescribed fee (if any) has been
paid.
79C. Method of lodgment
(1) Subject to section 79B, it is sufficient
compliance with a requirement under this
Act or the regulations that a document be
lodged with the Commissioner if the
Commissioner receives a copy of the
document by facsimile or electronic
transmission.
(2) If the Commissioner receives from a person
a copy of a document under sub-section (1),
the Commissioner may require that person to
produce and lodge the original within the
time specified by the Commissioner.
(3) If the person does not comply with a
requirement of the Commissioner within the
specified time, the person is to be taken not
to have lodged the document.
79D. Approval of special lodging arrangements
(1) Despite the requirements of this Act, the
Commissioner, by written notice, may give
approval for a special arrangement for the
electronic transmission or lodging of copies
of documents under this Act to a specified
agent or person on behalf of a specified
person or persons or class of persons.
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(2) An approval may provide an exemption (or a
partial exemption) for the person or persons
for or on behalf of whom the documents are
lodged from specified provisions of this Act
relating to the authentication or signature of
documents and the lodging of documents.
(3) The Commissioner may grant or refuse an
approval to a person who applies in writing
for that approval.
(4) The Commissioner may vary or cancel an
approval by written notice.
(5) The Commissioner may impose any
condition on an approval under this section
including a condition that the Commissioner
will refuse to accept a document for
lodgement unless the Commissioner is
satisfied that all the partners in the
partnership have given written authorisation
to the agent or other person specified in the
approval—
(a) to sign copies of specified documents
for or on behalf of the person or
persons who would otherwise be
required by or under this Act to sign the
documents;
(b) to lodge with the Commissioner copies
of specified documents for or on behalf
of the person who would otherwise be
required by or under this Act to lodge
the documents.
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(6) The Commissioner must note on the Register
details of any authorisations required under
sub-section (5).
(7) A document required to be lodged by a
person under this Act is deemed to be signed
by the person or persons required to sign the
document if a copy of the document is
signed on the person's or persons' behalf by a
person authorised in accordance with sub-
section (5) to so sign the copy of the
document.
(8) Sub-section (7) does not relieve any person
who would otherwise be required to sign the
document from signing the original
document.
79E. Retention of records
If an agent or other person has lodged a copy
of a document under this Act signed by the
agent or other person in accordance with an
approval under section 79D, the agent or
person must ensure that the original
document signed by the person who is
required to sign the document is kept so that
it is able to be produced readily to the
Commissioner for not less than 7 years after
the document was lodged with the
Commissioner.
Penalty: 30 penalty units.
79F. Power of Commissioner to refuse to register
or reject documents
(1) The Commissioner may refuse to register or
may reject a document submitted to the
Commissioner if the Commissioner
considers that the document—
(a) contains matter contrary to law; or
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(b) contains matter, that in a material
particular, is false or misleading in the
form or context in which it is included;
or
(c) by reason of an omission or
misdescription, has not been duly
completed; or
(d) does not comply with the requirements
of this Act; or
(e) contains any error, alteration or erasure;
or
(f) if submitted in electronic form, is not
readily accessible by the Commissioner
so as to be useable by the
Commissioner.
(2) If the Commissioner refuses to register or
rejects a document under sub-section (1), the
Commissioner may request—
(a) that the document be appropriately
amended; or
(b) that a fresh document be submitted in
its place; or
(c) if the document has not been duly
completed, that a supplementary
document in the form approved by the
Commissioner be submitted.".
38. Regulations
In section 80(2) of the Partnership Act 1958,
after "respect to" insert—
"—
(a) the keeping of records of documents required
under this Act in any form approved by the
Commissioner; and
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(b) creating penalties for offences not exceeding
5 penalty units; and
(c) ".
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PART 6—CHANGE OF REFERENCES TO DIRECTOR OF
FAIR TRADING
39. New section 98 substituted in Fair Trading Act 1999
For section 98 of the Fair Trading Act 1999
substitute—
"98. Director of Consumer and Business Affairs
There is to be a Director of Consumer and
Business Affairs employed under Part 3 of
the Public Sector Management and
Employment Act 1998.".
40. Consequential amendments to Fair Trading Act 1999
(1) In section 1(f) of the Fair Trading Act 1999 for
"Director of Fair Trading" substitute "Director of
Consumer and Business Affairs".
(2) In section 3 of the Fair Trading Act 1999—
(a) in the definition of "Director" for "Director
of Fair Trading" substitute "Director of
Consumer and Business Affairs";
(b) insert the following definition—
' "Consumer Act" means an Act listed in
Schedule 1;';
(c) the definition of "OFTBA Act" is repealed.
(3) In sections 117, 125, 130 and 146 of the Fair
Trading Act 1999 for "OFTBA Act" (wherever
occurring) substitute "Consumer Act".
(4) In section 140(2) of the Fair Trading Act 1999
omit "at the Office of Fair Trading and Business
Affairs".
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(5) In Schedule 1 to the Fair Trading Act 1999—
(a) for "OFTBA ACTS" substitute
"CONSUMER ACTS";
(b) omit "Finance Brokers Act 1969".
41. New clauses 6 and 7 inserted in Schedule 3 of Fair
Trading Act 1999
After clause 5 of Schedule 3 to the Fair Trading
Act 1999 insert—
"6. Superseded references to Director of Fair
Trading and Office of Fair Trading and
Business Affairs
On the commencement of section 39 of the
Business Registration Acts (Amendment)
Act 2000, in any Act (other than this Act), or
in any instrument made under any Act or in
any other document of any kind—
(a) a reference to the Director of Fair
Trading is deemed to be a reference to
the Director of Consumer and Business
Affairs; and
(b) a reference to the Office of Fair
Trading or the Office of Fair Trading
and Business Affairs is deemed to be a
reference to Consumer and Business
Affairs Victoria in the Department of
Justice.
7. Actions commenced by Director
(1) Any act matter or thing of a continuing
nature commenced under any Act or
regulation by or against or in relation to the
Director of Fair Trading and existing
immediately before the commencement of
section 39 of the Business Registration
Acts (Amendment) Act 2000 may be
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continued and completed on and after that
commencement by or against or in relation
to the Director of Consumer and Business
Affairs.
(2) If, immediately before the commencement of
section 39 of the Business Registration
Acts (Amendment) Act 2000, proceedings
to which the Director of Fair Trading was a
party were pending or existing in any court
or tribunal, then, on and after that
commencement, the Director of Consumer
and Business Affairs is substituted for the
Director of Fair Trading as a party to the
proceedings and has the same rights and
obligations in the proceedings as the
Director of Fair Trading had.".
42. Building Act 1993
In sections 137B(4) and 137B(5) of the Building
Act 1993 for "Director of Fair Trading"
substitute "Director of Consumer and Business
Affairs".
43. Business Names Act 1962
In section 22(4) of the Business Names Act 1962
for "at the Office of Fair Trading and Business
Affairs" substitute "with the Director".
44. Co-operative Housing Societies Act 1958
In section 72B(2)(c) of the Co-operative Housing
Societies Act 1958 for sub-paragraph (iv)
substitute—
"(iv) the Director of Consumer and Business
Affairs; or".
45. Credit (Administration) Act 1984
In the Credit (Administration) Act 1984—
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(a) in section 4 insert the following definition—
' "Consumer Act" has the same meaning as
it has in the Fair Trading Act 1999;';
(b) in section 4 the definition of "OFTBA Act"
is repealed;
(c) in sections 24(1) and 31 for "OFTBA Act"
(wherever occurring) substitute "Consumer
Act";
(d) in section 24(2) for "the Office of Fair
Trading and Business Affairs" substitute "an
office of the Director".
(e) in section 41(2) omit "at the Office of Fair
Trading and Business Affairs".
46. Estate Agents Act 1980
In section 11(1) of the Estate Agents Act 1980
for paragraph (d) substitute—
"(d) any person or class of person employed
under Part 3 of the Public Sector
Management and Employment Act 1998
in the administration of this Act; or".
47. Motor Car Traders Act 1986
In the Motor Car Traders Act 1986—
(a) in section 3(1) insert the following
definition—
' "Consumer Act" has the same meaning as
it has in the Fair Trading Act 1999;';
(b) in section 3(1) the definition of "OFTBA
Act" is repealed;
(c) in sections 82AE(1) and 82AL for "OFTBA
Act" (wherever occurring) substitute
"Consumer Act";
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(d) in section 82AE(2) for "the Office of Fair
Trading and Business Affairs" substitute "an
office of the Director".
(e) in section 82AV(2) omit "at the Office of
Fair Trading and Business Affairs";
(f) in section 89A for paragraph (d)
substitute—
"(d) any person or class of person employed
under Part 3 of the Public Sector
Management and Employment
Act 1998 in the administration of this
Act—".
48. Petroleum Retail Selling Sites Act 1981
In section 4(9) of the Petroleum Retail Selling
Sites Act 1981 for "Director of Fair Trading"
substitute "Director of Consumer and Business
Affairs".
49. Prostitution Control Act 1994
In the Prostitution Control Act 1994—
(a) in section 3 insert the following definition—
' "the Director " means the Director within
the meaning of the Fair Trading Act
1999;';
(b) in section 3 the definition of "Director of
Fair Trading" is repealed;
(c) in section 24(3) for "Director of Fair
Trading" substitute "Director";
(d) in the heading to Division 2 of Part 3 for
"Director of Fair Trading" substitute
"Director";
(e) in sections 26, 27, 36, 40, 48, 52AA, 54, 55,
61F, 61G, 61I, 61J, 61K, 61L, 61P, 61U,
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61Z and 62 for "Director of Fair Trading"
(wherever occurring) substitute "Director";
(f) in section 27 for paragraph (d) substitute—
"(d) any person or class of person employed
under Part 3 of the Public Sector
Management and Employment
Act 1998 in the administration of this
Act—".
(g) in section 61A insert the following
definition—
' "Consumer Act" has the same meaning as
it has in the Fair Trading Act 1999;';
(h) in section 61A the definition of "OFTBA
Act" is repealed;
(i) in section 61H(2) for "the Office of Fair
Trading and Business Affairs" substitute "an
office of the Director";
(j) in sections 61H and 61O for "OFTBA Act"
(wherever occurring) substitute "Consumer
Act".
(k) in section 61Y omit "at the Office of Fair
Trading and Business Affairs".
50. Residential Tenancies Act 1997
In the Residential Tenancies Act 1997—
(a) for the heading to Division 1 of Part 12
substitute—
"Division 1—Director of Consumer and
Business Affairs";
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(b) in section 499(1) for paragraph (e)
substitute—
"(e) a person employed under Part 3 of the
Public Sector Management and
Employment Act 1998 in the
administration of this Act; or".
(c) in section 508(1) for paragraph (b)
substitute—
"(b) a person employed under Part 3 of the
Public Sector Management and
Employment Act 1998 in the
administration of this Act; or".
51. Second-Hand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act 1989
In section 28 of the Second-Hand Dealers and
Pawnbrokers Act 1989 for paragraph (b)
substitute—
"(b) any person or class of person employed
under Part 3 of the Public Sector
Management and Employment Act 1998
in the administration of this Act—".
52. Travel Agents Act 1986
In the Travel Agents Act 1986—
(a) in section 3(1) insert the following
definition—
' "Consumer Act" has the same meaning as
it has in the Fair Trading Act 1999;';
(b) in section 3(1) the definition of "OFTBA
Act" is repealed;
(c) in section 39G(2) for "the Office of Fair
Trading and Business Affairs" substitute "an
office of the Director";
(d) in section 39X omit "at the Office of Fair
Trading and Business Affairs";
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(e) in sections 39G and 39N for "OFTBA Act"
(wherever occurring) substitute "Consumer
Act";
(f) in section 47B for paragraph (d)
substitute—
"(d) any person or class of person employed
under Part 3 of the Public Sector
Management and Employment
Act 1998 in the administration of this
Act—".
53. Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998
In clause 8(1) of Schedule 1 to the Victorian
Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998 for
paragraph (b) substitute—
"(b) a person employed under Part 3 of the
Public Sector Management and
Employment Act 1998 in the administration
of the Credit Act 1984 or the Consumer
Credit (Victoria) Code; or".
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NOTES
† Minister's second reading speech—
Legislative Council: 2 May 2000
Legislative Assembly: 23 May 2000
The long title for the Bill for this Act was "to amend the Associations
Incorporation Act 1981, the Business Names Act 1962, the
Co-operatives Act 1996 and the Partnership Act 1958 to facilitate
electronic service delivery for registration services provided under those
Acts, to make other miscellaneous amendments to those Acts and to
amend the Fair Trading Act 1999 and other Acts and for other
purposes."
Notes
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