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Parliamentary Library BILLS DIGEST
Information analysis and advice for the Parliament
12 March 2008, no. 81, 2007-08, ISSN 1328-8091
Screen Australia and the National Film and Sound Archive (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2008
PaoYi Tan Law and Bills Digest Section
Contents
Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Financial implications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Main provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Concluding comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2 Screen Australia and the National Film and Sound Archive (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2008
Screen Australia and the National Film and Sound Archive (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2008
Date introduced: 20 February 2008
House: House of Representatives
Portfolio: Environment, Heritage and the Arts
Commencement: Sections 1 to 4, and Schedule 2, commence on Royal Assent. Schedule 1 commences at the same time as subsection 5(1) of the Screen Australia Act 2008 commences.
Links: The relevant links to the Bill, Explanatory Memorandum and second reading speech can be accessed via BillsNet, which is at http://www.aph.gov.au/bills/. When Bills have been passed they can be found at ComLaw, which is at http://www.comlaw.gov.au/.
Purpose
To make a number of consequential and transitional amendments to legislation, to complement the recently introduced Screen Australia Bill 2008 (‘the Screen Australia Bill’), and National Film and Sound Archive Bill 2008 (‘the Film and Sound Bill’).
Background
The amendments in this Bill are related to the proposed establishment of two new bodies: Screen Australia, by the Screen Australia Bill, and the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) by the Film and Sound Bill.1
Screen Australia will be an amalgamation of a number of Commonwealth-funded film agencies and bodies. The NFSA is a newly established body whose functions currently sit within the Australian Film Commission (AFC).
The Bills Digests for the Screen Australia Bill, and the Film and Sound Bill, should be consulted for information about the policy background of the creation of these new bodies.
1. Explanatory Memorandum, Screen Australia and the National Film and Sound Archive (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2008, p. 1.
Warning:
This Digest was prepared for debate. It reflects the legislation as introduced and does not canvass subsequent amendments.
This Digest does not have any official legal status. Other sources should be consulted to determine the subsequent official status of the Bill.
Screen Australia and the National Film and Sound Archive (Consequential 3
and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2008
Financial implications
The Explanatory Memorandum states that the Bill is not expected to have a significant impact on Commonwealth expenditure.2
Main provisions
The provisions of this Bill make consequential amendments to the Australian Film, Television and Radio School Act 1973, the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. The amendments ensure that certain long service leave and tax provisions will continue to
apply after the transfer of functions away from the AFC.
The Bill also makes transitional provisions dealing with the annual reporting; transfer of assets and liabilities; and transfer of employees of the AFC, Film Australia Limited (FAL), and Film Finance Corporation Australia Limited (FFC), to the new Screen Australia, the
NFSA, or the Australian Film, Radio and Television School (AFTRS).
Of note are the following amendments:
⢠Schedule 1 repeals the Australian Film Commission Act 1975, which will become redundant under the new system
⢠Schedule 2, Part 2 deals with the automatic transfer of assets and liabilities of the AFC, FAL or FFC to Screen Australia. The amendments also provide that any transfer of AFC assets to the NFSA or AFTRS may be done by Ministerial determination
⢠Schedule 2, Part 4 deals with transitional provisions relating to transfer of staff from the old to the new agencies
⢠Schedule 2, Part 7 allows the Minister to appoint the first CEO(s) of Screen Australia and NFSA, and
⢠Schedule 2, Part 8, item 39 enables the Governor-General to make regulations in relation to the Act.
Concluding comments
The amendments in this bill are minor and technical in nature, and are purely consequential to the Screen Australia Bill and the Film and Sound Bill. The Bills Digests for those Bills should be consulted for a fuller discussion of the policy issues.
2. Explanatory Memorandum, p. 1.
Warning:
This Digest was prepared for debate. It reflects the legislation as introduced and does not canvass subsequent amendments.
This Digest does not have any official legal status. Other sources should be consulted to determine the subsequent official status of the Bill.
4 Screen Australia and the National Film and Sound Archive (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2008
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Warning:
This Digest was prepared for debate. It reflects the legislation as introduced and does not canvass subsequent amendments.
This Digest does not have any official legal status. Other sources should be consulted to determine the subsequent official status of the Bill.