Airports Act 1996

Act No. 42 of 1996 as amended

This compilation was prepared on 13 May 2007
taking into account amendments up to Act No. 59 of 2007

The text of any of those amendments not in force
on that date is appended in the Notes section

The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be
affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section

Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
Attorney‑General’s Department,
Canberra

  

  

  


Contents

Part 1—Introduction                                                                                                              1

1............ Short title [see Note 1]....................................................................... 1

2............ Commencement [see Note 1].............................................................. 1

3............ Objects................................................................................................ 1

4............ Simplified outline................................................................................ 2

5............ Definitions.......................................................................................... 4

6............ Sydney West Airport......................................................................... 8

7............ Meaning of core regulated airport..................................................... 8

7A......... Transfers and acquisitions by way of the enforcement of a loan security              9

7B......... Meaning of joint‑user airport............................................................. 9

7C......... Giving information and the Electronic Transactions Act................. 10

8............ Crown to be bound........................................................................... 10

9............ External Territories........................................................................... 10

10.......... Extra‑territorial operation................................................................. 10

10A....... Application of the Criminal Code.................................................... 10

Part 2—Leasing and management of airports                                                      11

Division 1—Simplified outline                                                                                11

11.......... Simplified outline.............................................................................. 11

Division 2—Scope of Part                                                                                         13

12.......... Airports to which Part applies......................................................... 13

Division 3—Grant of airport leases                                                                     14

13.......... Commonwealth may grant airport lease........................................... 14

14.......... Rules about airport leases................................................................. 14

15.......... Termination of airport lease if lessee ceases to be a qualified company  15

16.......... Person may acquire airport leases for only one airport site............. 15

17.......... Simultaneous grant of leases to the same person must relate to the same airport   15

18.......... Sydney (Kingsford‑Smith) Airport and Sydney West Airport to be under common ownership           16

19.......... Only one person to hold airport leases for an airport site............... 17

20.......... Simultaneous grant of leases relating to the same airport site to be to the same person         18

20A....... Airport leases for an airport site to expire on the same day............ 18

21.......... No grant of lease if Part 3 contravened............................................. 18

22.......... Airport lease granted subject to existing interests in the land.......... 18

Division 4—Restrictions on acquisition and transfer of airport leases  20

23.......... Restriction on acquisition of airport lease........................................ 20

24.......... No transfer of airport lease without approval of Minister.............. 20

25.......... No transfer of lease if Part 3 contravened........................................ 20

26.......... No declaration of trust in respect of airport lease............................ 21

27.......... Beneficial interest in airport lease must not be transferred independently of legal interest    21

28.......... Notification of acquisition of lease or of entry into possession—enforcement of loan security            21

29.......... Re‑transfer of lease—enforcement of loan security......................... 22

30.......... Termination of airport lease otherwise than under this Act............. 23

Division 5—Obligation to use airport site as an airport                          24

31.......... Obligation to use airport site as an airport....................................... 24

Division 6—Restrictions on lessees                                                                  25

Subdivision A—Airport‑operator company must not carry on non‑airport business         25

32.......... Airport‑operator company must not carry on non‑airport business 25

Subdivision B—Airport‑management agreements                                             26

33.......... Airport‑management agreements...................................................... 26

Subdivision C—Subleases and licences                                                                29

34.......... Regulations may prohibit subleases of airport leases....................... 29

34A....... Regulations may prohibit terms from being included in sublease of airport lease   29

34B....... Regulations may require terms to be included in sublease of airport lease              30

34C....... Regulations may prohibit declaration of trust in respect of sublease of airport lease             31

34D....... Regulations may provide that a beneficial interest in a sublease of airport lease must not be transferred independently of the legal interest............................................................................ 31

35.......... Regulations may prohibit licences relating to airport leases............. 31

35A....... Regulations may prohibit terms from being included in licence relating to airport lease         32

35B....... Regulations may require terms to be included in licence relating to airport lease    32

35C....... Regulations may prohibit declaration of trust in respect of licence relating to airport lease   33

35D....... Regulations may provide that a beneficial interest in a licence relating to an airport lease must not be transferred independently of the legal interest.................................................... 33

35E........ Termination of sublease or licence otherwise than under this Subdivision              34

35F........ Compensation—constitutional safety‑net....................................... 34

Division 7—Lands Acquisition Act 1989 not to apply to anything done under this Part              35

36.......... Lands Acquisition Act 1989 not to apply to anything done under this Part            35

Division 8—Entries in title registers                                                                 36

37.......... Entries in title registers..................................................................... 36

Part 3—Restrictions on ownership of airport‑operator companies          37

Division 1—Simplified outline                                                                                37

38.......... Simplified outline.............................................................................. 37

Division 2—Definitions in Schedule                                                                   39

39.......... Definitions in Schedule..................................................................... 39

Division 3—49% limit on foreign ownership                                                 40

40.......... Meaning of unacceptable foreign‑ownership situation..................... 40

41.......... Acquisitions of shares...................................................................... 40

42.......... Compliance by airport‑operator company....................................... 40

43.......... Remedial orders................................................................................ 41

Division 4—5% limit on ownership by airlines of airport‑operator companies for certain airports       42

44.......... Meaning of unacceptable airline‑ownership situation...................... 42

45.......... Acquisitions of shares...................................................................... 42

46.......... Compliance by airport‑operator company....................................... 43

47.......... Remedial orders................................................................................ 43

Division 5—Limits on cross‑ownership of pairs of airport‑operator companies               45

Subdivision A—Simplified outline                                                                         45

48.......... Simplified outline.............................................................................. 45

Subdivision B—Pairs of airport‑operator companies                                         46

49.......... Pairs of airport‑operator companies................................................. 46

Subdivision C—15% limit on cross‑ownership                                                  47

50.......... Meaning of unacceptable cross‑ownership situation........................ 47

51.......... Acquisitions of shares...................................................................... 48

52.......... Compliance by airport‑operator companies..................................... 48

53.......... Remedial orders................................................................................ 49

Subdivision D—Practical control                                                                           50

54.......... Meaning of control........................................................................... 50

55.......... Minister may declare person to have practical control of an airport‑operator company        50

56.......... Requirement to relinquish practical control or reduce stake............. 51

57.......... Remedial orders................................................................................ 52

Division 6—Head office of airport‑operator company and citizenship/residency of directors of airport‑operator company                                                               54

58.......... Head office to be in Australia........................................................... 54

59.......... Majority of directors must be Australian citizens or Australian residents             54

Division 7—Record‑keeping and giving of information                           55

60.......... Record‑keeping and giving of information........................................ 55

Division 8—Concurrent operation of State/Territory laws                     57

61.......... Concurrent operation of State/Territory laws.................................. 57

Division 9—Validity of acts done in contravention of this Part            58

62.......... Validity of acts done in contravention of this Part........................... 58

Division 10—Acquisition of property                                                                 59

63.......... Acquisition of property................................................................... 59

Part 4—Anti‑avoidance                                                                                                      60

64.......... Simplified outline.............................................................................. 60

65.......... Anti‑avoidance—assets etc.............................................................. 60

66.......... Anti‑avoidance—airport‑management agreements........................... 61

Part 5—Land use, planning and building controls                                              63

Division 1—Simplified outline                                                                                63

67.......... Simplified outline.............................................................................. 63

Division 2—Scope of Part                                                                                         64

68.......... Airports to which Part applies......................................................... 64

Division 3—Airport master plans                                                                        65

69.......... Simplified outline.............................................................................. 65

70.......... Final master plans............................................................................. 65

71.......... Contents of draft or final master plan.............................................. 66

72.......... Planning period................................................................................. 69

73.......... Assumption of continuity of lease................................................... 69

74.......... Plan does not lapse when lease transferred...................................... 69

75.......... Draft master plan to be given to Minister after acquisition or grant of airport lease              69

76.......... New draft master plan to be submitted before expiry of old plan... 70

77.......... Duration of final master plan............................................................ 70

78.......... Replacement of final master plan..................................................... 71

79.......... Public comment and advice to State or Territory etc....................... 72

80.......... Consultations.................................................................................... 73

80A....... Minister may request more material for making decision................. 74

81.......... Approval of draft by Minister......................................................... 74

82.......... Transfer of airport lease during approval process............................ 76

83.......... Effect of approval............................................................................. 76

84.......... Minor variation of final master plan................................................. 76

84A....... Public comment and advice to State or Territory etc.—minor variation 77

85.......... Notification of matters that may affect the achievement of final master plan         79

86.......... Publication of final master plan or variation of final master plan..... 80

87.......... Transitional—adoption of FAC documents..................................... 81

Division 4—Major development plans                                                              82

88.......... Simplified outline.............................................................................. 82

89.......... Meaning of major airport development............................................ 82

90.......... Major airport development must not be carried out except in accordance with an approved major development plan.......................................................................................................... 84

91.......... Contents of major development plan............................................... 86

92.......... Public comment and advice to State or Territory etc....................... 88

93.......... Consultations.................................................................................... 89

93A....... Minister may request more material for making decision................. 90

94.......... Approval of major development plan by Minister.......................... 90

94A....... Examples of conditions..................................................................... 92

95.......... Minor variation of major development plan..................................... 93

95A....... Public comment and advice to State or Territory etc.—minor variation 94

96.......... Publication of major development plan or variation of major development plan    96

Division 5—Building control                                                                                  98

Subdivision A—Simplified outline                                                                         98

97.......... Simplified outline.............................................................................. 98

Subdivision B—Interpretation                                                                                98

98.......... Interpretation.................................................................................... 98

Subdivision C—Building approvals                                                                       99

99.......... Building activities not to be carried out without approval............... 99

100........ Regulations about building approvals............................................. 101

101........ Building approval to be consistent with final master plan and major development plan        102

102........ Offence of contravening conditions................................................ 102

103........ Remedial directions......................................................................... 103

Subdivision D—Certificates of compliance                                                        104

104........ Certificates of compliance.............................................................. 104

105........ Eligible alterations........................................................................... 104

106........ Requirement for certificate of compliance...................................... 104

107........ Regulations about certificates of compliance.................................. 106

108........ Offence of contravening conditions................................................ 107

109........ Remedial directions......................................................................... 108

110........ Transitional—buildings and structures in existence when airport lease first granted              109

Division 6—Miscellaneous                                                                                    110

111........ Infringement notices....................................................................... 110

112........ Exclusion of State/Territory laws................................................... 110

112A..... Exclusion of Part III of Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 110

Part 6—Environmental management                                                                       111

Division 1—Simplified outline                                                                              111

113........ Simplified outline............................................................................ 111

Division 2—Environment strategies                                                                112

114........ Airports to which Division applies................................................ 112

115........ Final environment strategies........................................................... 112

116........ Contents of draft or final environment strategy............................. 112

117........ Strategy period............................................................................... 114

118........ Assumption of continuity of lease................................................. 114

119........ Strategy does not lapse when lease transferred.............................. 115

120........ Draft environment strategy to be given to Minister after acquisition or grant of airport lease               115

121........ New draft environment strategy to be submitted before expiry of old strategy     115

122........ Duration of final environment strategy.......................................... 116

123........ Replacement of final environment strategy.................................... 116

124........ Public comment and advice to State or Territory etc..................... 117

125........ Consultations.................................................................................. 119

125A..... Minister may request more material for making decision............... 119

126........ Approval of draft by Minister....................................................... 120

127........ Transfer of airport lease during approval process.......................... 121

128........ Effect of approval........................................................................... 122

129........ Minor variation of final environment strategy............................... 122

130........ Compliance with final environment strategy.................................. 123

131........ Publication of final environment strategy or variation of final environment strategy             123

Division 3—Environmental standards at airports                                     125

131A..... Airports to which Division applies................................................ 125

131B..... Offence resulting in serious environmental harm............................ 125

131C..... Offence resulting in material environmental harm.......................... 126

131D..... Offence resulting in environmental nuisance.................................. 126

131E...... Alternative verdicts—offence against section 131B or 131C......... 127

132........ Regulations about environmental standards at airports.................. 127

133........ Regulations about monitoring, and remedying breaches of, environmental standards at airports           128

134........ Remedying breaches of environmental standards—recovery of expenses by airport‑operator company              130

135........ Remedying breaches of environmental standards—recovery of expenses by the Commonwealth         130

136........ Operation of State/Territory laws.................................................. 131

137........ Severability..................................................................................... 131

Division 4—Infringement notices                                                                      132

138........ Infringement notices....................................................................... 132

Part 7—Accounts and reports of airport‑operator companies                   133

Division 1—Simplified outline                                                                              133

139........ Simplified outline............................................................................ 133

Division 2—Scope of Part                                                                                       134

140........ Airports to which Part applies....................................................... 134

Division 3—Accounts                                                                                               135

141........ Preparation and retention of accounts............................................ 135

142........ Audit of accounts........................................................................... 136

143........ Lodgment of accounts with the ACCC.......................................... 137

143A..... Publication of accounts and statements.......................................... 138

144........ Approved auditor........................................................................... 138

Division 4—Airport reports                                                                                  139

145........ Airport reports............................................................................... 139

145A..... Publication of airport reports......................................................... 139

Division 5—Record‑keeping                                                                                140

146........ Record‑keeping............................................................................... 140

Division 6—Protection of documents given to the ACCC                   141

147........ Protection of documents given to the ACCC................................. 141

Division 7—Part supplements the Trade Practices Act 1974            142

148........ Part supplements the Trade Practices Act 1974............................ 142

Division 8—Concurrent operation of State/Territory laws                   143

149........ Concurrent operation of State/Territory laws................................ 143

Part 8—Quality of service monitoring and reporting                                      144

Division 1—Simplified outline                                                                              144

150........ Simplified outline............................................................................ 144

Division 2—Scope of Part                                                                                       145

151........ Airports to which Part applies....................................................... 145

152........ Airport services and facilities......................................................... 145

Division 4—ACCC to monitor quality of services and facilities        146

155........ ACCC to monitor quality of services and facilities........................ 146

Division 5—Record‑keeping and giving of information                         147

156........ Record‑keeping and giving of information...................................... 147

Division 6—ACCC may publish quality of service information         149

157........ Publication of quality of service information................................. 149

Division 7—Protection of information given to the ACCC                  150

158........ Protection of information given to the ACCC................................ 150

Division 8—Part supplements the Trade Practices Act 1974            151

159........ Part supplements the Trade Practices Act 1974............................ 151

Part 9—Variation and closure of airport sites                                                    152

160........ Simplified outline............................................................................ 152

161........ Variation of airport sites—consent of lessee.................................. 152

162........ Closure of airport sites................................................................... 152

163........ Surrender of airport leases.............................................................. 153

163A..... Variation of airport lease—reducing leased area............................. 153

Part 10—Implementation of international agreements relating to airports               154

164........ Simplified outline............................................................................ 154

165........ Designated international agreements............................................... 154

166........ Regulations may give effect to designated international agreements 155

167........ Compliance by airport operators with regulations......................... 155

Part 11—Control of certain on‑airport activities                                               156

168........ Simplified outline............................................................................ 156

169........ Airports to which Part applies....................................................... 156

170........ Control of liquor............................................................................. 156

171........ Control of commercial trading........................................................ 157

172........ Control of vehicle movements........................................................ 157

173........ Control of gambling........................................................................ 158

174........ Control of smoking......................................................................... 158

175........ Enforcement.................................................................................... 158

176........ Infringement notices....................................................................... 158

177........ Operation of State/Territory laws.................................................. 159

178........ Submissions.................................................................................... 159

Part 12—Protection of airspace around airports                                               160

Division 1—Simplified outline                                                                              160

179........ Simplified outline............................................................................ 160

Division 2—Scope of Part                                                                                       161

180........ Airports to which Part applies....................................................... 161

Division 3—Prescribed airspace                                                                        162

181........ Prescribed airspace......................................................................... 162

Division 4—Protection of prescribed airspace                                           163

182........ Controlled activities........................................................................ 163

183........ Controlled activities not to be carried out without approval......... 164

184........ Regulations about approvals.......................................................... 165

185........ Offence of contravening conditions................................................ 165

186........ Notification of proposals to carry out controlled activities........... 166

187........ Remedial orders.............................................................................. 167

188........ Compensation—constitutional safety‑net..................................... 168

189........ Severability..................................................................................... 169

Division 5—Part supplements regulations under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 170

190........ Part supplements regulations under the Civil Aviation Act 1988... 170

Part 13—Access to airports and demand management at airports        171

Division 1—Simplified outline                                                                              171

191........ Simplified outline............................................................................ 171

Division 2—Application of the access regime in Part IIIA of the Trade Practices Act 1974    173

193........ Part IIIA of the Trade Practices Act 1974 to be subject to the demand management provisions of this Part        173

Division 3—Scope of demand management provisions                          174

194........ Scope of demand management provisions...................................... 174

Division 4—Airport capacity declarations                                                     175

195........ Airport capacity declarations......................................................... 175

196........ Public comment.............................................................................. 175

197........ Submissions.................................................................................... 176

Division 5—Declarations subjecting airports to statutory demand management             177

198........ Declarations subjecting airports to statutory demand management 177

199........ Criteria for making declaration........................................................ 177

200........ Submissions.................................................................................... 178

Division 6—Demand management schemes                                                179

201........ Demand management schemes........................................................ 179

202........ Submissions.................................................................................... 179

203........ Types of schemes........................................................................... 180

204........ Category exclusion schemes........................................................... 180

205........ Slot allocation schemes................................................................... 180

206........ Movement limitation schemes........................................................ 181

207........ Concurrent schemes........................................................................ 181

Division 7—Compliance with demand management schemes            182

208........ Compliance with demand management schemes............................ 182

209........ Infringement notices....................................................................... 182

Division 8—Part supplements Sydney Airport Curfew Act and Air Navigation Regulations    183

210........ Part supplements Sydney Airport Curfew Act............................. 183

211........ Part supplements Air Navigation Regulations............................... 183

Division 9—Intervals of time                                                                               184

212........ Recurring intervals of time.............................................................. 184

213........ Specification of 2 or more intervals of time.................................... 184

Division 10—Severability                                                                                       185

214........ Severability..................................................................................... 185

Part 14—Air traffic services and rescue and fire fighting services        186

215........ Simplified outline............................................................................ 186

216........ Air traffic services, and rescue and fire fighting services, not to be provided without approval             186

Part 15—Injunctions                                                                                                          188

217........ Simplified outline............................................................................ 188

218........ Injunctions...................................................................................... 188

219........ Interim injunctions.......................................................................... 189

220........ Discharge etc. of injunctions........................................................... <