International Organisations (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1963 (Cth)

International Organisations (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1963 No. 50, 1963 Compilation No. 19 Compilation date: 20 September 2023 Includes amendments up to: Act No. 78, 2023 Registered: 30 September 2023 About this compilation This compilation This is a compilation of the International Organisations (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1963 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 20 September 2023 (the compilation date). The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law. Uncommenced amendments The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the Register for the compiled law. Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes. Editorial changes For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes. Modifications If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the Register for the compiled law. Self‑repealing provisions If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes. Contents 1 Short title 3 Interpretation 4 Extension of Act to Territories 4A Application of the Criminal Code 5 International organisations to which Act applies 5A Overseas organisations to which Act applies 6 Privileges and immunities of certain international organisations and persons connected therewith 7 Privileges and immunities of representatives attending certain international conferences or engaged on missions in Australia or a Territory 8 Withdrawal of privileges and immunities of representatives of countries not according reciprocal treatment 9 Privileges and immunities of judges and officials of, and persons engaged in business before, the International Court of Justice 9A Privileges and immunities in respect of certain proceedings under the Investment Convention 9B Privileges and immunities of members of other international tribunals 9C Privileges and immunities in respect of the International Criminal Court 9D Privileges and immunities in respect of the International Committee of the Red Cross 10 Waiver 11 Certificates by Minister 11B Preservation of exemption from duties on importations 11C Indirect tax concession scheme 12 Protection of names etc. of international organisations 12A Conferral of juridical personality and legal capacities 12B No registration under the GST Act 12C Organisations that are bodies corporate are not Commonwealth entities 13 Regulations First Schedule Second Schedule Third Schedule Fourth Schedule Fifth Schedule Endnotes Endnote 1—About the endnotes Endnote 2—Abbreviation key Endnote 3—Legislation history Endnote 4—Amendment history An Act relating to the Privileges and Immunities of certain International Organisations and of persons connected therewith, and for other purposes 1 Short title This Act may be cited as the International Organisations (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1963. 3 Interpretation (1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears: acquisition has the meaning given by section 195‑1 of the GST Act. approved form has the meaning given by section 995‑1 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. association means an association or other body or group of persons, whether incorporated or not. Commissioner means the Commissioner of Taxation. diplomatic agent and diplomatic mission have the same respective meanings as in the Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Act 1967. enterprise has the meaning given by section 195‑1 of the GST Act. GST Act means the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999. ICRC Arrangement means the Arrangement Between The Government of Australia and The International Committee of the Red Cross ("ICRC") On a Regional Headquarters in Australia, done at Canberra on 24 November 2005 (a copy of the text of which is set out in the regulations). indirect tax means: (a) GST within the meaning of section 195‑1 of the GST Act; or (b) luxury car tax within the meaning of section 27‑1 of the Luxury Car Tax Act; or (c) wine equalisation tax within the meaning of section 33‑1 of the Wine Equalisation Tax Act. international conference means a conference that is attended by a person representing Australia and: (a) a person representing a country other than Australia; or (b) a person representing an international organisation to which this Act applies or an overseas organisation to which this Act applies; or (c) a person representing an organisation (other than an organisation referred to in paragraph (b)) upon which privileges and immunities have been conferred by regulations made for the purposes of this Act; whether or not it is also attended by another person or other persons. International Criminal Court means the International Criminal Court established under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, done at Rome on 17 July 1998. Note: The text of the Rome Statute is set out in Australian Treaty Series 2002 No. 15 ([2002] ATS 15). In 2013, the text of a Statute in the Australian Treaty Series was accessible through the Australian Treaties Library on the AustLII website (www.austlii.edu.au). international organisation to which this Act applies means: (a) an organisation that is the subject of a declaration under subsection 5(1); or (b) an organ specified for the purposes of subsection 5(5); or (c) an organ that is taken, by force of subsection 5(6), to be an international organisation to which this Act applies. Note: Specification of an organ for the purposes of subsection 5(5) does not affect subsection 5(6). Investment Convention means the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States signed by Australia on 24 March 1975, the English text of which is set out in Schedule 3 to the International Arbitration Act 1974. Luxury Car Tax Act means the A New Tax System (Luxury Car Tax) Act 1999. member of the administrative and technical staff, in relation to a diplomatic mission, has the same meaning as in the Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Act 1967. overseas organisation to which this Act applies means an organisation that: (a) is the subject of a declaration under subsection 5A(1); and (b) is not an international organisation to which this Act applies. Wine Equalisation Tax Act means the A New Tax System (Wine Equalisation Tax) Act 1999. (2) The privileges and immunities conferred by this Act or the regulations are privileges and immunities in relation to the operation of the laws of the Commonwealth (including Acts of the Commonwealth other than this Act) and of the States and Territories of the Commonwealth. (2A) For the purposes of this Act, and subject to subsection 5(5): (a) an office within an international organisation to which this Act applies or an overseas organisation to which this Act applies; or (b) an organ of such an organisation; or (c) a commission, council or other body established by such an organisation or organ; or (d) a committee, or sub‑committee of a committee, of such an organisation, organ, commission, council or other body; is taken to be part of the organisation. (3) For the purposes of this Act, a person who is, or has been during any period, a member of an organ of an international organisation to which this Act applies but is not, or has not been during that period, accredited to that organ as a representative of: (a) a country; (b) an international organisation to which this Act applies; or (c) an overseas organisation to which this Act applies; shall be deemed to be, or to have been during that period, as the case may be, so accredited as a representative of the country of which he or she is a national. (4) For the purposes of this Act: (a) an alternate or deputy of, or substitute for, a representative of a country, of an international organisation to which this Act applies or of an overseas organisation to which this Act applies; and (b) an adviser to, or expert assisting, such a representative; shall each be deemed to be a member of the official staff of the representative. (5) References in this Act to countries shall be read as including references to the governments of countries. (6) A reference in this Act to a Schedule by number shall be read as a reference to the Schedule to this Act so numbered. 4 Extension of Act to Territories This Act extends to every Territory of the Commonwealth. 4A Application of the Criminal Code Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code applies to all offences against this Act. Note: Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the general principles of criminal responsibility. 5 International organisations to which Act applies (1) The regulations may declare an organisation: (a) of which Australia and a country or countries other than Australia are members; or (b) that is constituted by a person or persons representing Australia and a person or persons representing a country or countries other than Australia; or (c) of which 2 or more countries other than Australia are members; or (d) that is constituted by 2 or more persons representing countries other than Australia; to be an international organisation to which this Act applies. (2) In determining whether a designated organisation is covered by paragraph (1)(b) or (d), a person is taken to represent a particular country if, and only if: (a) the person has been nominated by an officer of the government of that country to be a member of that organisation; and (b) the person is subject to direction by an officer of the government of that country as to how the person's rights in relation to the person's membership of the organisation are to be exercised (whether or not any such directions have been given). (3) For the purposes of subsection (2), an organisation is a designated organisation unless: (a) both: (i) the organisation is established by an agreement to which Australia and one or more other countries are parties; and (ii) the advancement of the interests of Australia and that other country or those other countries is, under the agreement, a function (whether express or implied) of the organisation; or (b) both: (i) the organisation is established by an agreement to which 2 or more countries other than Australia are parties; and (ii) the advancement of the interests of those countries is, under the agreement, a function (whether express or implied) of the organisation. (4) Subsections (2) and (3) are to be disregarded in determining the validity of regulations made before the commencement of this subsection. (5) The regulations may provide that this Act (other than subsection (6)) has effect as if a specified organ of an international organisation to which this Act applies were, in the organ's own right, an international organisation to which this Act applies. Note: As a result of this subsection, the organ will not be treated as part of the first‑mentioned organisation. (6) If: (a) an organ of an international organisation to which this Act applies (the parent organisation): (i) ceases to be an organ of the parent organisation; and (ii) becomes a new organisation in its own right; and (b) the new organisation is covered by paragraph (1)(a), (b), (c) or (d); and (c) the new organisation is not the subject of a declaration under subsection (1); and (d) the parent organisation is not declared by the regulations to be exempt from this subsection; the new organisation is taken, by force of this subsection, to be an international organisation to which this Act applies throughout the period: (e) beginning when it became a new organisation in its own right; and (f) ending at whichever is the earlier of the following: (i) the end of 12 months after the time when it became a new organisation in its own right; (ii) the time when it became the subject of a declaration under subsection (1). 5A Overseas organisations to which Act applies (1) Subject to subsection (2), the regulations may declare: (a) an organisation the members of which are overseas countries in a particular geographical region; (b) an organisation that is constituted by persons representing overseas countries in a particular geographical region; or (c) an organisation established, or a group of organisations constituted, by: (i) organisations the members of which are overseas countries in a particular geographical region; or (ii) organisations that are constituted by persons representing overseas countries in a particular geographical region; to be an overseas organisation to which this Act applies. (2) An organisation shall not be declared by the regulations to be an overseas organisation to which this Act applies if: (a) Australia is a member of the organisation; or (b) the organisation is constituted by a person or persons representing Australia and a person or persons representing a country or countries other than Australia. 6 Privileges and immunities of certain international organisations and persons connected therewith (1) Subject to this section, the regulations may, either without restriction or to the extent or subject to the conditions prescribed by the regulations: (a) confer upon an international organisation to which this Act applies: (i) juridical personality and such legal capacities as are necessary for the exercise of the powers and the performance of the functions of the organisation; and (ii) all or any of the privileges and immunities specified in the First Schedule; or (b) confer: (i) upon a person who holds, or is performing the duties of, an office prescribed by the regulations to be a high office in an international organisation to which this Act applies all or any of the privileges and immunities specified in Part I of the Second Schedule; and (ii) upon a person who has ceased to hold, or perform the duties of, such an office the immunities specified in Part II of the Second Schedule; or (c) confer: (i) upon a person who is accredited to, or is in attendance at an international conference convened by, an international organisation to which this Act applies as a representative of: (A) a country other than Australia; (B) another international organisation to which this Act applies; or (C) an overseas organisation to which this Act applies; all or any of the privileges and immunities specified in Part I of the Third Schedule; and (ii) upon a person who has ceased to be accredited to such an organisation, or has attended such a conference, as such a representative the immunities specified in Part II of the Third Schedule; or (d) confer: (i) upon a person who holds an office in an international organisation to which this Act applies (not being an office prescribed by the regulations to be a high office) all or any of the privileges and immunities specified in Part I of the Fourth Schedule; and (ii) upon a person who has ceased to hold such an office the immunities specified in Part II of the Fourth Schedule; or (e) confer: (i) upon a person who is serving on a committee, or is participating in the work, of an international organisation to which this Act applies or is performing, whether alone or jointly with other persons, a mission on behalf of such an organisation all or any of the privileges and immunities specified in Part I of the Fifth Schedule; and (ii) upon a person who has served on such a committee or participated in such work or has performed such a mission the immunities specified in Part II of the Fifth Schedule; or (f) confer: (i) upon a person connected in a specified way with an international organisation to which this Act applies all or any of the privileges and immunities specified in Part I of the Second Schedule, Part I of the Third Schedule, Part I of the Fourth Schedule or Part I of the Fifth Schedule; and (ii) upon a person who has ceased to be connected with such an organisation in that way the immunities specified in Part II of the Second Schedule, Part II of the Third Schedule, Part II of the Fourth Schedule or Part II of the Fifth Schedule. (2) Regulations made for the purposes of this section may be of general application or may relate to: (a) particular international organisations to which this Act applies; or (b) particular offices or classes of offices; or (c) particular conferences, committees or missions or classes of conferences, committees or missions; or (d) representatives of particular countries, of particular international organisations to which this Act applies or of particular overseas organisations to which this Act applies; or (e) particular classes of persons. (2A) Without limiting this section, regulations made for the purposes of this section may prescribe a matter by reference to: (a) a legislative instrument made by the Minister; or (b) Australia's international obligations; or (c) an agreement to which Australia and one or more other countries, or 2 or more countries other than Australia, are parties (including by reference to kinds of persons referred to in such an agreement). (3) Where by the regulations any privileges or immunities are conferred upon a person who is accredited to, or is in attendance at an international conference convened by, an international organisation to which this Act applies as a representative of: (a) a country other than Australia; (b) another international organisation to which this Act applies; or (c) an overseas organisation to which this Act applies; that person is entitled to the same privileges and immunities while travelling to a place for the purpose of presenting his or her credentials or of attending the conference or while returning from a place after ceasing to be so accredited or after attending the conference. (4) Where by the regulations any privileges or immunities are conferred upon a person who is serving on a committee, or participating in the work, of an international organisation to which this Act applies or is performing, whether alone or jointly with other persons, a mission on behalf of such an organisation, that person is entitled to the same privileges and immunities while travelling to a place for the purpose of serving on the committee or participating in that work or performing the mission or while returning from a place after serving on the committee or participating in that work or performing the mission. (5) Subject to subsection (6), where by the regulations or by subsection (3) any privileges or immunities are conferred upon a person who is, or has been, a person accredited to, or in attendance at an international conference convened by, an international organisation to which this Act applies as a representative of: (a) a country other than Australia; (b) another international organisation to which this Act applies; or (c) an overseas organisation to which this Act applies; a person who is, or has been during any period, a member of the official staff of the first‑mentioned person is entitled, in respect of that period, to the same privileges and immunities. (6) A person who is, or has been, a representative of: (a) a country other than Australia; (b) another international organisation to which this Act applies; or (c) an overseas organisation to which this Act applies; or a member of the official staff of such a representative during the period when he or she is or was an Australian citizen is not entitled under this section or the regulations to any privileges or immunities in respect of that period, except in respect of acts and things done in his or her capacity as such a representative or member. 7 Privileges and immunities of representatives attending certain international conferences or engaged on missions in Australia or a Territory (1) Where: (a) an international conference is, or is to be, held in Australia or in a Territory of the Commonwealth; or (b) a mission is, or is to be, sent by: (i) a country other than Australia; or (ii) an international organisation to which this Act applies or an overseas organisation to which this Act applies; or (iii) an organisation (other than an organisation referred to in subparagraph (ii)) upon which privileges and immunities have been conferred by regulations made for the purposes of this Act; to Australia or to a Territory of the Commonwealth; and it appears to the Governor‑General that the provisions of this Act other than this section do not, or may not, apply in relation to that conference or mission but it is desirable that diplomatic privileges and immunities should be applicable in relation to that conference or mission, the regulations may declare the conference or mission, as the case may be, to be a conference or mission to which this section applies. (2) Subject to subsection (3), where a conference or mission has been declared by the regulations to be a conference or mission to which this section applies: (a) a person who is, or has been, a representative of: (i) a country other than Australia; or (ii) an international organisation to which this Act applies or an overseas organisation to which this Act applies; or (iii) an organisation (other than an organisation referred to in subparagraph (ii)) upon which privileges and immunities have been conferred by regulations made for the purposes of this Act; at the conference or on the mission is, in respect of the period in which he or she is, or has been, such a representative, entitled to the privileges and immunities accorded to a diplomatic agent; (b) a person who is, or has been, a member of the official staff of a person referred to in paragraph (a) during the whole or any part of the period referred to in that paragraph is entitled to the privileges and immunities accorded to a member of the administrative and technical staff of a diplomatic mission in respect of that period or that part of that period, as the case may be; and (c) in the case of an international conference—a person who is, or has been, a member of the secretariat established for the purposes of the conference is entitled to immunity from suit and from other legal process in respect of acts and things done in his or her capacity as such a member. (3) A person who is, or has been, in attendance at an international conference, or engaged on a mission, to which this section applies as a representative, or as a member of the official staff of a representative, of: (a) a country other than Australia; or (b) an international organisation to which this Act applies or an overseas organisation to which this Act applies; or (c) an organisation (other than an organisation referred to in paragraph (b)) upon which privileges and immunities have been conferred by regulations made for the purposes of this Act; during a period when he or she is or was an Australian citizen, is not entitled under subsection (2) to any privileges or immunities in respect of that period, except in respect of acts and things done in his or her capacity as such a representative or member. (4) If: (a) regulations are made for the purposes of subsection (1) after the commencement of this subsection; and (b) those regulations are in force immediately before the end of the period of 12 months after they came into effect; those regulations cease to be in force at the end of that 12‑month period. (5) If: (a) regulations were made for the purposes of subsection (1) before the commencement of this subsection; and (b) those regulations are in force immediately before the end of the period of 12 months after the commencement of this subsection; those regulations cease to be in force at the end of that 12‑month period. 8 Withdrawal of privileges and immunities of representatives of countries not according reciprocal treatment (1) Where the Minister is satisfied that persons, or members of the official staffs of persons, representing Australia at an international conference in a country would not receive in that country privileges and immunities corresponding to those conferred in Australia by this Act or the regulations upon persons, or upon members of the official staffs of persons, representing that country, the Minister may, by instrument in writing, withdraw from the representatives, or from the members of the official staffs of the representatives, of that country all or any of those privileges and immunities. (2) The Minister shall cause any such instrument to be published in the Gazette. 9 Privileges and immunities of judges and officials of, and persons engaged in business before, the International Court of Justice The regulations may confer upon: (a) the judges, assessors and officials of the International Court of Justice established by the Charter of the United Nations; (b) persons engaged on missions by order of that Court; (c) the agents, advocates and counsel of countries that are parties in cases before that Court; and (d) witnesses in cases before that Court; such privileges and immunities as are required to give effect to the Statute of that Court and such privileges and immunities in respect of acts and things done in the course of the performance of their functions in connexion with the business of that Court as are required to give effect to any resolution of, or convention or agreement approved by, the General Assembly of the United Nations. 9A Privileges and immunities in respect of certain proceedings under the Investment Convention (1) The regulations may confer upon: (a) conciliators appointed to a Conciliation Commission; and (b) arbitrators appointed to an Arbitral Tribunal; and (c) arbitrators appointed to an ad hoc Committee of 3 persons under Article 52; the privileges and immunities required to give effect to Article 21 and paragraph (3) of Article 24. (2) The regulations may confer upon parties, agents, counsel, advocates, witnesses and experts in proceedings under the Investment Convention the privileges and immunities required to give effect to Article 22. (3) This section is not to be read as limiting any other provision of this Act, including the power to prescribe an organisation as an international organisation to which this Act applies. (4) A word or expression used in this section and in the Investment Convention (whether or not a particular meaning is given to it by the Investment Convention) has, in this section, the same meaning as it has in the Investment Convention. (5) A reference in this section to a numbered Article is a reference to the Article so numbered in the Investment Convention. 9B Privileges and immunities of members of other international tribunals (1) The regulations may confer upon: (a) a specified international tribunal; and (b) the members and officials of a specified international tribunal; and (c) experts and other persons engaged on missions by order of a specified international tribunal; and (d) the agents, advocates and counsel of parties in cases before a specified international tribunal; and (e) witnesses in cases before a specified international tribunal; such privileges and immunities as are required to give effect to: (f) if the instrument by which the international tribunal is established relates to the privileges and immunities at the international tribunal—that instrument; or (g) if an agreement to which Australia and one or more other countries are parties relates to the privileges and immunities of the international tribunal—that agreement. (2) This section and section 6 do not limit each other. (3) In this section: international tribunal means an international tribunal (however described) that: (a) has a judicial or quasi‑judicial character; and (b) is established by or under an agreement to which Australia and one or more other countries are parties; but does not include: (c) the International Court of Justice established by the Charter of the United Nations; or (d) the International Criminal Court. 9C Privileges and immunities in respect of the International Criminal Court (1) The regulations may confer upon: (a) the International Criminal Court; and (b) persons of a kind referred to in the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Criminal Court, done at New York on 9 September 2002; such privileges and immunities as are required to give effect to that Agreement. Note 1: In 2013, the text of the Agreement was accessible through the website of the International Criminal Court (www.icc‑cpi.int). Note 2: The regulations may also confer upon the International Criminal Court juridical personality and such legal capacities as are necessary for the exercise of the Court's functions and the fulfilment of its purposes (see section 12A). (2) This section and section 6 do not limit each other. 9D Privileges and immunities in respect of the International Committee of the Red Cross (1) The regulations may confer upon: (a) the International Committee of the Red Cross; and (b) persons of a kind referred to in the ICRC Arrangement; such privileges and immunities as are required to give effect to that Arrangement. (2) The regulations may confer upon the International Committee of the Red Cross juridical personality and such legal capacities as are necessary for the exercise of its powers and the performance of its functions. 10 Waiver The regulations may make provision for or in relation to the waiver of any privileges or immunities to which an international organisation or a person is entitled by virtue of this Act or the regulations. 11 Certificates by Minister (1) The Minister may give a certificate in writing certifying any fact relating to the question whether a person is, or was at any time or in respect of any period, entitled, by virtue of this Act or the regulations, to any privileges or immunities. (2) In any proceedings, a certificate given under this section is prima facie evidence of the facts certified. 11B Preservation of exemption from duties on importations Despite: (a) section 177‑5 of the GST Act; and (b) section 21‑5 of the Luxury Car Tax Act; and (c) section 27‑25 of the Wine Equalisation Tax Act; indirect tax that would be payable on an importation under one of those Acts is not payable on an importation covered by an immunity from taxation (including customs duties) conferred by the regulations. 11C Indirect tax concession scheme (1) If: (a) an acquisition covered by regulations made for the purposes of this section is made: (i) by or on behalf of an organisation upon which the regulations have conferred an exemption (to some extent) from taxation; or (ii) by or on behalf of a person (the person) upon whom the regulations have conferred an exemption (to some extent) from taxation; and (b) at the time of the acquisition, it was intended for: (i) the official use of the organisation or the person; or (ii) a use covered by regulations made for the purposes of this section; the Commissioner must, on behalf of the Commonwealth and subject to subsection (3), pay to the organisation (or a person in a class of persons determined by the Minister), or the person, an amount equal to the amount of indirect tax payable (if any) in respect of the supply of that acquisition. (2) A claim for an amount covered by subsection (1) must be in the approved form. (3) The amount is payable: (a) in accordance with the conditions and limitations; and (b) within the period and in the manner; set out in regulations made for the purposes of this section. (4) Regulations made for the purposes of subsection (3) may permit the Commissioner to determine the period within which, and the manner in which, the amount is payable. (5) A determination under subsection (1) is a legislative instrument. 12 Protection of names etc. of international organisations (1) Except with the consent in writing of the Minister, a person (including a body corporate) shall not: (a) use th