Victorian Bills

[Index] [Search] [Download] [Related Items] [Help]


This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.


WATER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (WATER INFRASTRUCTURE CHARGES) BILL 2011

                 PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA

          Water Legislation Amendment (Water
           Infrastructure Charges) Bill 2011



                       TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Clause                                                                  Page

PART 1--PRELIMINARY                                                        1
  1      Purposes                                                          1
  2      Commencement                                                      2

PART 2--AMENDMENT OF THE WATER INDUSTRY ACT 1994                           3
  3      New section inserted after section 4                              3
         4AA Parts 1A and 1B to prevail                                    3
  4      New section inserted after section 4A                             3
         4AB      Non application to Basin water charges                   3
  5      Application of Essential Services Commission Act 2001             3
  6      Insertion of new Part after Part 1A                               4
         PART 1B--APPROVAL OR DETERMINATION OF
         BASIN WATER CHARGES                                               4
         4J       Interpretation                                           4
         4K       Application of Commonwealth provisions                   6
         4L       Commission is State Agency                               6
         4M       Powers of Commission                                     6
         4N       Cessation of effect of provisions                        6
         4O       Power of Commission to apply for accreditation           7
         4P       Notification of accreditation etc.                       7
         4Q       Recovery of Commission's costs                           8

PART 3--AMENDMENT OF THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES
COMMISSION ACT 2001 AND THE WATER ACT 1989                                10
  7      Functions of the Commission--Essential Services
         Commission Act 2001                                              10
  8      Insertion of new section after section 10--Essential
         Services Commission Act 2001                                     10
         10A      Commission's functions in relation to particular
                  Basin water charges                                     10
  9      Insertion of definition in Water Act 1989                        11
  10     Objections to tariffs or fees--Water Act 1989                    11
  11     Objections to required payments--Water Act 1989                  12


571077B.I-12/10/2011                   i      BILL LA INTRODUCTION 12/10/2011

 


 

Clause Page PART 4--REPEAL OF AMENDING ACT 13 12 Repeal of amending Act 13 ENDNOTES 14 571077B.I-12/10/2011 ii BILL LA INTRODUCTION 12/10/2011

 


 

PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA Introduced in the Assembly Water Legislation Amendment (Water Infrastructure Charges) Bill 2011 A Bill for an Act to amend the Water Industry Act 1994 to apply certain provisions of the Water Charge (Infrastructure) Rules 2010 of the Commonwealth as a law of Victoria to enable the Essential Services Commission to approve or determine charges for the provision of certain water services in the State and to make related and consequential amendments to that Act and other Acts and for other purposes. The Parliament of Victoria enacts: PART 1--PRELIMINARY 1 Purposes The main purposes of this Act are-- (a) to amend the Water Industry Act 1994-- 5 (i) to apply certain provisions of the Water Charge (Infrastructure) Rules 2010 of the Commonwealth as a law of the 571077B.I-12/10/2011 1 BILL LA INTRODUCTION 12/10/2011

 


 

Water Legislation Amendment (Water Infrastructure Charges) Bill 2011 Part 1--Preliminary s. 2 State to enable the Essential Services Commission, established under the Essential Services Commission Act 2001, to approve or determine charges 5 for the provision of certain water services in the State; and (ii) to enable the Essential Services Commission to apply for accreditation of those arrangements by the Australian 10 Competition and Consumer Commission; and (b) to make related and consequential amendments to that Act and other Acts. 2 Commencement 15 This Act comes into operation on the day after the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent. __________________ 571077B.I-12/10/2011 2 BILL LA INTRODUCTION 12/10/2011

 


 

Water Legislation Amendment (Water Infrastructure Charges) Bill 2011 Part 2--Amendment of the Water Industry Act 1994 s. 3 PART 2--AMENDMENT OF THE WATER INDUSTRY ACT 1994 3 New section inserted after section 4 After section 4 of the Water Industry Act 1994 See: Act No. 5 insert-- 121/1994. Reprint No. 6 "4AA Parts 1A and 1B to prevail as at 29 February If there is any inconsistency between a 2008 and provision of Part 1A or Part 1B and a amending provision of the Essential Services Act Nos 15/2008, 10 Commission Act 2001 or the Water Act 68/2009, 1989, the provision of Part 1A or Part 1B 69/2009, 6/2010 and prevails to the extent of that inconsistency.". 29/2010. LawToday: www. legislation. vic.gov.au 4 New section inserted after section 4A After section 4A of the Water Industry Act 1994 15 insert-- "4AB Non application to Basin water charges (1) This Part does not apply to any approving or determining of a Basin water charge. (2) In this section Basin water charge has the 20 same meaning as in Part 1B.". 5 Application of Essential Services Commission Act 2001 (1) In section 4B(1)(a) of the Water Industry Act 1994, for "this Act" substitute "Part 1A of this 25 Act". (2) Section 4B(3) of the Water Industry Act 1994 is repealed. 571077B.I-12/10/2011 3 BILL LA INTRODUCTION 12/10/2011

 


 

Water Legislation Amendment (Water Infrastructure Charges) Bill 2011 Part 2--Amendment of the Water Industry Act 1994 s. 6 6 Insertion of new Part after Part 1A After Part 1A of the Water Industry Act 1994 insert-- "PART 1B--APPROVAL OR DETERMINATION 5 OF BASIN WATER CHARGES 4J Interpretation (1) In this Act-- accredited arrangements has the same meaning as in the Commonwealth 10 Water Charge Rules; applied Victorian provisions means the Commonwealth provisions as applied under section 4K; Basin water charge means a regulated 15 charge for a service in relation to Basin water resources provided by a Part 6 operator or Part 7 operator; Basin water resources has the same meaning as State water resources has in the 20 Commonwealth Water Charge Rules in relation to Victoria; Commonwealth provisions has the same meaning as applied provisions has in rule 59(2) of the Commonwealth Water 25 Charge Rules; Commonwealth Water Charge Rules means the Water Charge (Infrastructure) Rules 2010 of the Commonwealth; Part 6 operator has the same meaning as in 30 the Commonwealth Water Charge Rules; 571077B.I-12/10/2011 4 BILL LA INTRODUCTION 12/10/2011

 


 

Water Legislation Amendment (Water Infrastructure Charges) Bill 2011 Part 2--Amendment of the Water Industry Act 1994 s. 6 Part 7 operator has the same meaning as in the Commonwealth Water Charge Rules; regulated charge has the same meaning as in 5 the Commonwealth Water Charge Rules; State Agency has the same meaning as in the Commonwealth Water Charge Rules. (2) Section 3(2) and (3) does not apply to this 10 Part. (3) The Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984 does not apply to the applied Victorian provisions. (4) The Acts Interpretation Act 1901 of the 15 Commonwealth applies to the applied Victorian provisions to the same extent that that Act applies to the Commonwealth Water Charge Rules, and as if-- (a) that Act, as so applied, were enacted as 20 a law of Victoria; and (b) the applied Victorian provisions were an Act and each rule of the applied Victorian provisions were a section of an Act. 25 Note See section 5 of the Water Act 2007 of the Commonwealth as to the application of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 of the Commonwealth. (5) The following provisions apply to the 30 applied Victorian provisions-- (a) any expressions used in the applied Victorian provisions have the same meaning as in the Water Act 2007 of the Commonwealth and the Water 571077B.I-12/10/2011 5 BILL LA INTRODUCTION 12/10/2011

 


 

Water Legislation Amendment (Water Infrastructure Charges) Bill 2011 Part 2--Amendment of the Water Industry Act 1994 s. 6 Regulations 2008 of the Commonwealth; and (b) the applied Victorian provisions must be read consistently with the Water Act 5 2007 of the Commonwealth and must be read so as not to exceed the rule making power in section 92 of that Act and any other ancillary rule making powers in that Act. 10 (6) If a provision of the applied Victorian provisions would, but for subsection (4) or (5), be construed as exceeding the rule making powers referred to in subsection (5)(b), the provision is taken to have effect to 15 the extent that it does not exceed that rule making power. 4K Application of Commonwealth provisions In respect of Basin water charges, the Commonwealth provisions apply as a law of 20 the State. 4L Commission is State Agency For the purposes of rule 59(1)(b) of the Commonwealth Water Charge Rules and the applied Victorian provisions, the 25 Commission is specified as the State Agency. 4M Powers of Commission The Commission has all the powers that are necessary to perform its functions as a State 30 Agency under the applied Victorian provisions. 4N Cessation of effect of provisions Sections 4K, 4L and 4M do not have effect if this Part is not accredited arrangements. 571077B.I-12/10/2011 6 BILL LA INTRODUCTION 12/10/2011

 


 

Water Legislation Amendment (Water Infrastructure Charges) Bill 2011 Part 2--Amendment of the Water Industry Act 1994 s. 6 4O Power of Commission to apply for accreditation (1) The Commission may apply to the Australian Competition and Consumer 5 Commission for this Part to be accredited as accredited arrangements. (2) In addition to subsection (1), the Commission has the power to do anything necessary for this Part to be accredited as 10 accredited arrangements. 4P Notification of accreditation etc. (1) If the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission approves this Part as accredited arrangements, within 7 days after that 15 approval, the Commission must publish notice of that approval in the Government Gazette. (2) A notice under subsection (1) must include-- 20 (a) publication of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's decision to approve the arrangements; and (b) the date on which the decision of the 25 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission came into effect. (3) If the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission revokes accreditation of this Part as accredited arrangements, within 30 7 days after that revocation, the Commission must publish notice of that revocation in the Government Gazette. 571077B.I-12/10/2011 7 BILL LA INTRODUCTION 12/10/2011

 


 

Water Legislation Amendment (Water Infrastructure Charges) Bill 2011 Part 2--Amendment of the Water Industry Act 1994 s. 6 (4) A notice under subsection (3) must include-- (a) publication of the Australian Competition and Consumer 5 Commission's decision to revoke accreditation of this Part as accredited arrangements; and (b) the date on which the decision of the Australian Competition and Consumer 10 Commission came into effect. (5) If accreditation of this Part as accredited arrangements ceases to have effect under the Commonwealth Water Charge Rules, within 7 days after that ceasing to have effect, the 15 Commission must publish notice of that ceasing to have effect in the Government Gazette. (6) A notice under subsection (5) must include the date on which the accredited 20 arrangements cease to have effect. 4Q Recovery of Commission's costs (1) The Minister administering the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 must determine the amount to be contributed by 25 each Part 6 operator or Part 7 operator towards the costs that are incurred or are likely to be incurred by the Commission in the exercise of its powers and the performance of its functions and duties under 30 the applied Victorian provisions. (2) The amount that a Part 6 operator or Part 7 operator is to contribute under subsection (1) is payable at the intervals and in the amounts determined by the Minister administering the 35 Essential Services Commission Act 2001. 571077B.I-12/10/2011 8 BILL LA INTRODUCTION 12/10/2011

 


 

Water Legislation Amendment (Water Infrastructure Charges) Bill 2011 Part 2--Amendment of the Water Industry Act 1994 s. 6 (3) The Minister administering the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 must give notice in writing of any determination made by the Minister under subsection (1) or (2) to 5 a Part 6 operator or Part 7 operator to whom the determination applies. (4) The Minister administering the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 must not make a determination under subsection (1) or 10 (2) unless the Minister has first consulted with the Minister administering this section. __________________". __________________ 571077B.I-12/10/2011 9 BILL LA INTRODUCTION 12/10/2011

 


 

Water Legislation Amendment (Water Infrastructure Charges) Bill 2011 Part 3--Amendment of the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 and the s. 7 Water Act 1989 PART 3--AMENDMENT OF THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES COMMISSION ACT 2001 AND THE WATER ACT 1989 See: 7 Functions of the Commission--Essential Services Act No. Commission Act 2001 62/2001. 5 Reprint No. 3 as at In section 10 of the Essential Services 1 July 2008 Commission Act 2001-- and amending (a) in paragraph (l), for "2007." substitute Act Nos 70/2007, "2007;"; 6/2010 and 40/2011. (b) after paragraph (l) insert-- LawToday: 10 www. "(m) if, under Part 1B of the Water legislation. Industry Act 1994, the vic.gov.au Commonwealth provisions (within the meaning of that Part) are applied as a law of the State, to perform the 15 functions conferred on the Commission as the State Agency under those provisions.". 8 Insertion of new section after section 10--Essential Services Commission Act 2001 20 After section 10 of the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 insert-- "10A Commission's functions in relation to particular Basin water charges The following provisions do not apply to the 25 functions of the Commission referred to in section 10(m)-- (a) sections 8, 8A and 26; and (b) Part 4 (other than sections 37 and 38 to the extent necessary for the operation of 30 Part 5); and 571077B.I-12/10/2011 10 BILL LA INTRODUCTION 12/10/2011

 


 

Water Legislation Amendment (Water Infrastructure Charges) Bill 2011 Part 3--Amendment of the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 and the s. 9 Water Act 1989 (c) Part 7 (other than sections 61 and 64). Note Parts 3, 3A and 6 do not apply to the Commission's function under section 10(m) 5 because that function does not relate to a regulated industry.". 9 Insertion of definition in Water Act 1989 See: Act No. 80/1989. Insert the following definition in section 3(1) of Reprint No. 10 the Water Act 1989-- as at 1 January 10 "Essential Services Commission means the 2011 and Essential Services Commission established amending under the Essential Services Commission Act Nos 50/2010 and Act 2001;". 29/2011. LawToday: www. legislation. vic.gov.au 10 Objections to tariffs or fees--Water Act 1989 15 After section 266(7) of the Water Act 1989 insert-- "(8) A person is not entitled to object under subsection (1) to a tariff or the imposing of a fee under a tariff set by an Authority, if the 20 tariff or the fee is a Basin water charge. (9) In this section-- Basin water charge means a regulated charge for a service in relation to Basin water resources provided by an 25 Authority; Basin water resources has the same meaning as State water resources has in the Water Charge (Infrastructure) Rules 2010 of the Commonwealth in relation 30 to Victoria; 571077B.I-12/10/2011 11 BILL LA INTRODUCTION 12/10/2011

 


 

Water Legislation Amendment (Water Infrastructure Charges) Bill 2011 Part 3--Amendment of the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 and the s. 11 Water Act 1989 regulated charge has the same meaning as in the Water Charge (Infrastructure) Rules 2010 of the Commonwealth.". 11 Objections to required payments--Water Act 1989 5 After section 271(4) of the Water Act 1989 insert-- "(5) A person is not entitled to object under subsection (1) to a payment the person is required to make under section 268, 269 or 10 270, if the payment is a Basin water charge. (6) In this section-- Basin water charge means a regulated charge for a service in relation to Basin water resources provided by an 15 Authority; Basin water resources has the same meaning as State water resources has in the Water Charge (Infrastructure) Rules 2010 of the Commonwealth in relation 20 to Victoria; regulated charge has the same meaning as in the Water Charge (Infrastructure) Rules 2010 of the Commonwealth.". __________________ 571077B.I-12/10/2011 12 BILL LA INTRODUCTION 12/10/2011

 


 

Water Legislation Amendment (Water Infrastructure Charges) Bill 2011 Part 4--Repeal of Amending Act s. 12 PART 4--REPEAL OF AMENDING ACT 12 Repeal of amending Act This Act is repealed on the first anniversary of its commencement. 5 Note The repeal of this Act does not affect the continuing operation of the amendments made by it (see section 15(1) of the Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984). 571077B.I-12/10/2011 13 BILL LA INTRODUCTION 12/10/2011

 


 

Water Legislation Amendment (Water Infrastructure Charges) Bill 2011 Endnotes ENDNOTES By Authority. Government Printer for the State of Victoria. 571077B.I-12/10/2011 14 BILL LA INTRODUCTION 12/10/2011

 


 

 


[Index] [Search] [Download] [Related Items] [Help]