Commonwealth: Compensation (Japanese Internment) Act 2001 (Cth)

Compensation (Japanese Internment) Act 2001 No. 41, 2001 Compilation No. 2 Compilation date: 14 October 2024 Includes amendments: Act No. 38, 2024 About this compilation This compilation This is a compilation of the Compensation (Japanese Internment) Act 2001 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 14 October 2024 (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 Self-repealing provisions If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.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 2 Commencement 3 Definitions 4 Eligibility for compensation payment 5 Amount of compensation payment 6 Claims 7 Determination of claims 8 Death of eligible person 9 Application of certain provisions of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 10 Recovery of overpayments 11 Exemption from income tax 12 Assets test 13 Appropriation of Consolidated Revenue Fund Endnotes Endnote 1—About the endnotes Endnote 2—Abbreviation key Endnote 3—Legislation history Endnote 4—Amendment history An Act to provide for compensation payments in respect of certain persons interned by Japanese military forces, and for other purposes 1 Short title This Act may be cited as the Compensation (Japanese Internment) Act 2001. 2 Commencement This Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent. 3 Definitions In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears: civilian means a person who is not a veteran. Commission means the Repatriation Commission referred to in the Veterans' Entitlements Act. compensation payment means a payment under this Act. designated war period means the period beginning on 7 December 1941 and ending at the end of 29 October 1945. eligible person means a person who is eligible for a compensation payment. interned means: (a) confined in a camp, building, prison or other place (including a vehicle); or (b) restricted to residing within specified limits. Japanese military forces means air forces, naval forces, land forces or other military forces of Japan (however described). partner, in relation to a veteran or civilian, means: (a) a person who is legally married to the veteran or civilian; or (b) a person who is a partner (within the meaning of the Veterans' Entitlements Act) of the veteran or civilian. Regulations payment means a payment under the Veterans' Entitlements (Compensation—Japanese Internment) Regulations 2001, including a payment made before the commencement of this Act. Note: These regulations are made for the purposes of section 106 of the Veterans' Entitlements Act. Secretary means the Secretary of the Department. social security law means: (a) the Social Security Act 1991; and (b) the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999; and (c) any other Act that is expressed to form part of the social security law. Tribunal means the Administrative Review Tribunal. veteran means a person covered by subsection 6A(1) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act. Veterans' Entitlements Act means the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986. 4 Eligibility for compensation payment Partner of deceased veteran (1) A person is eligible for a compensation payment in respect of a deceased veteran if the following conditions are satisfied: (a) the person was alive at the beginning of 1 January 2001; (b) the veteran died before 1 January 2001; (c) the person was a partner of the veteran immediately before the veteran's death; (d) the veteran was interned by Japanese military forces at any time during the designated war period. Civilian (in own right) (2) A person is eligible for a compensation payment in the person's own right as a civilian if the following conditions are satisfied: (a) the person was alive at the beginning of 1 January 2001; (b) the person was interned by Japanese military forces at any time during the designated war period; (c) the person was domiciled in Australia immediately before the commencement of that internment. Partner of deceased civilian (3) A person is eligible for a compensation payment in respect of a deceased civilian if the following conditions are satisfied: (a) the person was alive at the beginning of 1 January 2001; (b) the civilian died before 1 January 2001; (c) the person was a partner of the civilian immediately before the civilian's death; (d) the civilian was interned by Japanese military forces at any time during the designated war period; (e) the civilian was domiciled in Australia immediately before the commencement of that internment. One payment only (4) A person is not eligible for a compensation payment if the person is eligible for a Regulations payment. (5) A person is not entitled to more than one compensation payment. 5 Amount of compensation payment A compensation payment is a one‑off payment of $25,000. 6 Claims (1) Claims for compensation payments must be made in accordance with procedures determined by the Secretary under subsection (2). (2) The Secretary may, in writing, determine the procedures for making claims. 7 Determination of claims (1) Claims are to be decided by the Commission. (2) A person who is dissatisfied with the Commission's decision on a claim may apply to the Tribunal for review of the decision. 8 Death of eligible person If an eligible person dies or died before receiving a compensation payment, then the payment is to be made to the person's estate. Note: A claim will still be required under section 6. 9 Application of certain provisions of the Veterans' Entitlements Act The following provisions of the Veterans' Entitlements Act apply as if this Act were part of the Veterans' Entitlements Act: (a) subsection 119(1) and sections 128, 208, 213 and 214; (b) any other provisions of that Act that are incidental to the provisions mentioned in paragraph (a). 10 Recovery of overpayments Any overpayment under this Act may be recovered by the Commonwealth as a debt in a court of competent jurisdiction. 11 Exemption from income tax Compensation payments are exempt from income tax. 12 Assets test Veterans' Entitlements Act (1) The value of a person's assets for the purposes of the Veterans' Entitlements Act is reduced by any compensation payment or Regulations payment received by the person. Social security law (2) The value of a person's assets for the purposes of the social security law is reduced by any compensation payment or Regulations payment received by the person. 13 Appropriation of Consolidated Revenue Fund The Consolidated Revenue Fund is appropriated for the purposes of compensation payments, to the extent of $133,975,000. Endnotes Endnote 1—About the endnotes The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law. The following endnotes are included in every compilation: Endnote 1—About the endnotes Endnote 2—Abbreviation key Endnote 3—Legislation history Endnote 4—Amendment history Abbreviation key—Endnote 2 The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes. Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4 Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history. The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation. The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law. Editorial changes The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date. If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel. Misdescribed amendments A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003. If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and "(md not incorp)" is added to the amendment history. Endnote 2—Abbreviation key ad = added or inserted o = order(s) am = amended Ord = Ordinance amdt = amendment orig = original c = clause(s) par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s) C[x] = Compilation No. x /sub‑subparagraph(s) Ch = Chapter(s) pres = present def = definition(s) prev = previous Dict = Dictionary (prev…) = previously disallowed = disallowed by Parliament Pt = Part(s) Div = Division(s) r = regulation(s)/rule(s) ed = editorial change reloc = relocated exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have renum = renumbered effect rep = repealed F = Federal Register of Legislation rs = repealed and substituted gaz = gazette s = section(s)/subsection(s) LA = Legislation Act 2003 Sch = Schedule(s) LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003 Sdiv = Subdivision(s) (md) = misdescribed amendment can be given SLI = Select Legislative Instrument effect SR = Statutory Rules (md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment Sub‑Ch = Sub‑Chapter(s) cannot be given effect SubPt = Subpart(s) mod = modified/modification underlining = whole or part not No. = Number(s) commenced or to be commenced Endnote 3—Legislation history Act Number and year Assent Commencement Application, saving and transitional provisions Compensation (Japanese Internment) Act 2001 41, 2001 25 May 2001 25 May 2001 (s 2) Statute Update (Winter 2017) Act 2017 93, 2017 23 Aug 2017 Sch 1 (item 7): 20 Sept 2017 (s 2(1) item 2) — Administrative Review Tribunal (Consequential and Transitional Provisions No. 1) Act 2024 38, 2024 31 May 2024 Sch 15 (items 2–4): 14 Oct 2024 (s 2(1) item 2) — Endnote 4—Amendment history Provision affected How affected s 3..................... am No 93, 2017; No 38, 2024 s 7..................... am No 38, 2024