1   Short title

                   This Act may be cited as the A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1998 .

2   Commencement

                   This Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

3   Objects

             (1)  The main object of this Act is to make it easier for businesses to conduct their dealings with the Australian Government. This is done by establishing a system for registering businesses and issuing them with unique identifying numbers so that they can identify themselves reliably:

                     (a)  in all their dealings with the Australian Government; and

                     (b)  for all other Commonwealth purposes.

             (2)  Without limiting paragraph (1)(b), the main object of this Act includes allowing businesses to identify themselves reliably for the purposes of * taxation laws.

             (3)  The objects of this Act also include reducing the number of government registration and reporting requirements by making the system available to State, Territory and local government regulatory bodies.

Note:          Section 26 facilitates this object by allowing anybody to access the information on the Australian Business Register.

4   Crown bound by this Act

                   This Act binds the Crown in each of its capacities, but does not make the Crown liable to be prosecuted for an offence.

5   Application to government entities

                   This Act applies to a * government entity as if it were an * entity * carrying on an * enterprise in * Australia.

6   Application of Criminal Code

                   The Criminal Code applies to all offences against this Act.

7   Application to the external Territories

                   This Act extends to every external Territory.