WORLD TRADE 
ORGANIZATION 
Council for Trade-Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights IPINIII AUSII/12 
4 October 1996 
(96-4004) 
Original: English 
MAIN DEDICATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAWS AND REGULATIONS 
NOTIFIED UNDER ARTICLE 63.2 OF THE AGREEMENT 
Australia 
The present document reproduces the text of the following laws and regulations I, as notified 
by Australia under Article 63.2 of the Agreement (see document IP/N/lIAUS/IlRev.l): 
Section 41 C of the Health Insurance Commission Act 1973 2 
Human Services and Health Legislation Amendment Act 1994 9 
Regulation 5 of the Health Insurance Commission Regulations 12 
1 English only IPINIl! AUS/I/12 
Page 2 
HEALTH INSURANCE COMMISSION ACT 1973 
Section Reprinted as at 31 March 1994 
TABLE OF PROVISIONS 
PART I-PRELIMINARY 
1 . Short title 
2. Commencement 
3. Interpretation 
PART II-ESTABlISHMENT OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE 
COMMISSION 
4. Establishment of Health Insurance Commission 
5. Medicare functions of Commission 
PART IlA-MEDIBANK PRIVATE 
BA. Medibank private functions 
BB. Application of National Health Act and Health Insurance Act 
PART IlAA-REBATES FOR CHILD CARE COSTS 
BBA. Child care costs rebate functions 
PART liB-ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION 
BC. Additional functions relating to health matters 
SE. Prescribed functions 
BF. Agreement with the Commission concerning certain administrative 
expenses 
PART IIC-POWERS OF THE COMMISSION 
aG. Powers of Commission 
SH. Delegation 
SJ. Directions by Minister 
PART Ill-CONSTITUTION AND MEETINGS OF THE HEALTH 
INSURANCE COMMISSION 
9. Incorporation of Commission 
10. Constitution of Commission 
11. Period of appointment Health Insurance Commission Act 1973 
TABLE OF PROVISIONS-continued lPINIl! AUSII/12 
Page 3 
Section 
12. 
13 .. 
14. 
15. 
16. 
17. 
18. 
19. Remuneration and allowances of part-time Commissioners 
Acting appointments of part-time Commissioners 
Decisions of Commission not to be questioned 
Disclosure of interests 
Leave of absence 
Termination of appointment of part-time Commissioner 
Resignation . 
Meetings of Commission 
PART IV-THE MANAGING DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF THE HEALTH 
INSURANCE COMMISSION 
20. Managing Director 
21. Appointment of Managing Director 
22. Remuneration and allowances of Managing Director 
23. Leave of absence 
25. Acting Managing Director 
26. Termination of appointment of Managing Director 
27. Resignation 
28. Staff of Commission 
28A. Industrial awards 
29. Services of certain officers etc. to be made available to Commission 
32. Long Service Leave 
PART V-FINANCE 
33. Moneys to be paid to the Commission for purposes of Part 11 or liB 
34. Estimates 
34A. Financial policy concerning medibank private functions 
348. Apportionment of assets of Commission 
34C. Apportionment of expenditure of Commission 
35. Bank accounts 
36. Borrowing and investment 
36A. Advances by the Commonwealth 
37. Application of moneys by Commission 
38. Contracts 
39. liability of Commission to pay rates, taxes and charges 
40. Proper accounts to be kept 
41. Audit 
PART VI-MISCELLANEOUS 
41 A. Delegation of powers by Minister 
41 B. Modification of provisions to accommodate additional functions 
41C. Protection of the "medicare" name and symbol 
41 D. Forieiture of articles etc. 
41 E. Sections 41 C and 410 not to limit other laws 
42. Annual report of Commission 
43. Report to Minister 
44. Regulations IP/N/1/AUSIII12 
Page 4 1ft, 
~~AUS TRALIA-~ ,i.t­--~/«!~ '/ ... '"'' 
HEALTH INSURANCE COMMISSION ACT 1973 
An Act to constitute a Health Insurance Commission and for purposes 
conne('~ed therewith 
PART I-PRELIMINARY 
Short title 
1. This Act may be cited as the Health Insurance Commission Act 
1973.1 
Commencement 
2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it 
receives the Royal Assent.l 
Interpretation 
3. (1) In this Act, uI11~.ss the contrary intention appears: 
"Australian Public Service" means the Public Service constituted by 
the Public Service Act 1922-1973; 
"Chairman" means the Chairman of the Commission and, where 
another part-time Commissioner is acting in the place of the Chairman 
in accordance with section 13, includes that Commissioner; 
"Commission" means the Health Insurance Commission established by 
this Act; 
"function", in relation to the Commission, means a function conferred 
on the Commission by or under this Act or by or under any other Act; 
. "Managing Director" means the Managing Director of the Commission 
and, if a person is acting in the place of, or in the vacant office of, the 
Managing Director, includes that person; IP/NI l/AUS/II 12 
Page 5 
Health Insurance Commission Act 1973 
(3) A delegation under this section does not prevent the exercise 
of a power by the Minister. 
Modification of provisions to accommodate additional functions 
41B. (1) Where functions are, after the commencement of this 
section, conferred upon the Commission under Pa~t lIB, the regula­
tions may make provision for modifications of the provisions of Part V 
and section 42 in or in connection with their application to the 
activities of the Commission in the performance of those functions. 
(2) In subsection (1), "modification" includes the alteration of a 
provision, the addition or omission of a provision or the substitlltion of 
a new provision for an existing provision. 
Protection of the "medicare" name and symbol 
41C. (1) A person who: 
(a) uses the name "medicare", or a prescribed symbol, in connec­
tion with a business, trade, profession or occupation; 
(b) sells, offers for sale, exposes for sale or lets for hire, or 
otherwise' has in his possession for sale or hire, goods to which 
the name "medicare" or a prescribed symbol has been applied; 
(c) uses the name "medicare" or a prescribed symbol in relation 
to goods or to the promotion, by any means, of the supply or 
use of goods; or 
(d) imports into Australia for sale, or for use for the purposes of 
any business, trade, profession or occupation, any article to 
which the name "medicare" or a prescribed symbol has been 
applied outside Australia; 
is guilty of an offence against this section. 
(2) Where the name "medicare" or a prescribed symbol: 
(a) is used as, or as part of, the name or emblem of an association; 
(b) is used as, or as part of, the name or emblem of a newspaper 
or magazine owned by, or published by or on behalf of, an 
association; or 
(c) is used by an association in connection with any activity of the 
association so as to imply that the association is in any way 
connected with the Commonwealth or the Commission; 
then: 
(d) if the association is a body corporate- the association; or 
(e) if the association is not °a body corporate-every member of 
the committee of management or other governing body of the 
association; 0 IP/N/1/ AUS/I/12 
Page 6 
Health Insurance Commission Act 1973 
is guilty of an offence against this section. 
(3) A person who is guilty of an offence against this section is 
punishable, upon conviction: 
(a) in the case of a person not being a body corporate- by a fine 
not exceeding $2,000; or 
(b) in the case of a person being a body corporate- by a fine not 
exceeding $4,000. 
(4) The conviction of a person of an offence against this section in 
respect of the use of a name or prescribed symbol does not prevent a 
further conviction of that person in respect of the use of that name or 
prescribed symbol at any time after the first-mentioned conviction. 
(5) For the purposes of this section: 
(a) a reference to the name "medicare" shall be read as including 
a reference to a name or expression that so nearly resembles 
the name "medicare" as to be capable of being mistaken for 
the name "medicare"· , 
(b) a reference to an official "medicare" symbol shall be read as a 
reference to a symbol declared by the regulations to be an 
official "medicare" symbol; 
(c) a reference to a prescribed symbol shall be read as a reference 
to an emblem, brand, design, symbol, logo or mark that: 
(i) is identical with an official "medicare" symbol; or 
(ii) so nearly resembles an official "medicare" symbol as to 
be capable of being mistaken for an official "medicare" 
symbol; 
(d) a name or a prescribed symbol shall be deemed to be applied 
to goods if it: 
(i) IS woven in, impressed on, worked into or affixed to 
the goods; or 
(ii) is applied to a covering, label, reel or thing in or with 
which the goods are supplied; 
(e) a name or a prescribed symbol shall be deemed to be used in 
relation to goods, or to the promotion of the supply or use of 
goods, if it is used in a sign, advertisement (whether printed, 
broadcast or televised), invoice, catalogue, price list or other 
document in relation to goods; and 
(f) the reference in paragraph (d) to a covering includes a refer­
ence to a stopper, glass, bottle, vessel, box, capsule, case, frame 
or wrapp.er and the reference in that paragraph to a label 
includes a reference to a band or ticket. . 
(6) Proceedings under this section shall not be instituted without 
the consent in writing of the Attorney-General. Health Insurance Commission Act 1973 lPINll! AUS/l/12 
Page 7 
(7) Subject to subsection (9), nothing in this section affects any 
rights conferred by law on a person in respect of: 
(a) a trade mark registered under the Trade Marks Act 1955, being 
a trade mark that was so registered before the date of com­
mencement of this section; or 
(b) a design registered under the Designs Act 1906, being a design 
that was so registered before the commencement of this sec­
tion. 
(8) Subject to subsection (9), nothing in this section affects the use, 
or any rights conferred by law relating to the use, of a name or a 
symbol on or after the date of commencement of this section if: 
(a) within the prescribed period before that date, the person used 
the name or symbol in good faith in a manner mentioned in 
subsection (1) or (2); or 
(b) immediately before that date the person would have been 
entitled to prevent another person from passing off, by means 
of the use of that name or symbol or of a similar name or 
symbol, goods or services as the goods or services of that 
first-mentioned person. 
(9) No action or proceeding, whether criminal or civil, lies against 
the Commonwealth or the Commission for or in relation to the use by 
the Commonwealth or the Commission of the name "medicare" or of 
an official "medicare" symbol. 
(10) To the extent that subsection (9) results in an acquisition of 
property from any person, the Commonwealth is liable to pay to that 
person such compensation as is agreed upon between them or, in 
default of agreement, as is determined by the Federal Court of Austra­
lia. 
(11) The Federal Court of Australia has jurisdiction with respect 
of matters arising under subsection (10). 
Forfeiture of articles etc. 
41D. All articles or goods by means of which, or in relation to 
which, an offence against subsection 41C (1) is committed are forfeited 
to the Commonwealth. 
Sections 41C and 41D not to limit other laws 
41E. The provisions of sections 41C and 41D are in addition to, 
and not in substitution fOf, the provisions of any other law (w~ether a 
law of the Commonwealth or a law of a State or Territory) that confers 
rights or powers on the Commonwealth or the Commission, including, IPINIl! AUSII/12 
Page 8 
Health Insurance Commission Act 1973 
but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, rights or powers to 
institute civil or criminal proceedings for the protection of the prop­
erty or interests of the Commonwealth or of the Commission. 
Ann ual report of Commission 
42. (1) The Commission shall, as soon as practicable after 30 June 
1979 and after 30 June in each subsequent year, prepare and furnish to 
the Minister a report of its operations during the year ended on that 
date, together \vith financial statements in respect of that year in such 
form as the Minister for Finance approves. 
(2) Before furnishing the financial statements to the Minister, the 
Commission shall submit them to the Auditor-General, who shall 
report to the Minister: 
(a) whether, in his opinion, the statements are based on proper 
accounts and records; 
(b) whether,.in his opinion, the statements are in agreement with 
the accounts and records and show fairly the financial transac­
tions, and tbe state of affairs, of the Commission; 
(d) whether, in his opinion, the receipt, expenditure and invest­
ment of moneys, and the acquisition and disposal of assets, by 
the Commission during the year have been in accordance with 
this Act and, to the extent to which the National Health Act 
1953 applied to and in relation to the receipt and expenditure 
of moneys by the Commission, the receipt and expenditure of 
moneys have also been in accordance with that Act; and 
(e) as to such other matters arising out of the statements as the 
Auditor-General considers should be reported to the Minister. 
(3) The Commission shall include in its report under subsection 
(1) in respect of the year ending on 30 June 1984 and in its report in 
respect of each subsequent year: 
(a) the principles that were applicable in accordance with sub­
sections 34B (2), 34C (1) and 36 (6B) during the year; and 
(b) a statement as to whether those principles differed from the 
principles that were applicable in the preceding year, and, if 
they differed, as to the manner in which they differed. 
(4) The Minister shall lay a copy of the report and financial 
statements of the Commission, together with a copy of the report of 
the Auditor-General, before each House of the Parliament within 15 
sitting days of that House after their receipt by the Minister. IPINIl! AUS/I/12 
Page 9 
HUlllan Services and Health Legislation 
Amendment Act 1994 
No. 80 of 1994 
An Act to amend legislation relating to human services and 
health, and for related purposes 
[Assented to 23 June 1994 ] 
The Parliament of Australia enacts: 
PART I-PRELIMINARY 
Short title 
1. This Act may be cited as the Human Services and Health Legislation 
AmendmentAct 1994. 
Commencement 
2.(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), this Act commences on the day 
on which it receives the Royal Assent. IP/N/lIAUS/I/12 
Page 10 
JilllJUlll Services alld liea/rh Legislation 
A IlZ CIlc!111 ell { No. 80, 1994 
(2) Part:1 is takcn to havc commenced on 9 June 1993, immediately after 
thc comnlcnccnlcnt of the Iiealth Insurance C0l1l111issioll A171elldlllent Act 
1993. 
(3) The amcndnlcnt of section 4 of the Childcarc Rebate Act 1993 in the 
Schedule is taken to h:lve conlIl1cnccd iJnnlediately after the commencement 
of that Act and for the purposes on ly of that anlcndnlcnt, section 13 is taken 
to have conlnlcnccJ at that time. 
P/\RT' 2-.. \.!\1ENOfvlENTS OF THE DISABILITY SER\'ICES 
ACT 1986 
Principal Act 
3. In this Part. "Principal Act" nlcans the Disability Services Act 19861• 
Recovery of costs of rehabilitation progranls borne by the 
Commonwealth 
4. Section 23 of the Principal Act is amended: 
(a) by inserting after subsection (5) the following subsection: 
"(SA) The Secretary may issue a notice under subsection (5): 
(a) 'vvhether or not a court or tribunal has made a determination 
about the entitlement to compensation of the person entitled 
to receive compensation; and 
(b) \vhether or not a person liable to pay compensation has made 
a payment (\vith or \vithout admission of liability) in 
settlement of a claim for damages. "; 
(b) by omitting fronl subsection (7) all the. words after "receive 
compensation ~~ and substituting: 
"until: 
(a) the Secretary has specified under subsection (6) the amount 
that the person liable to pay compensation is liable to pay to 
the Commonweal th; and 
(b) the person liable to pay compensation has paid that amount 
to the Common\veal th. "; 
(c) by inserting in subsection (13) ", (SA)" after "(5)". 
Revie\v of decisions under Part III 
5. Section 26 of the Principal Act is amended by adding at the end. of 
subsection (5) the following Note: 
"Note: Section 27 A of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 requires a 
decision-maker to notify persons whose interests are affected by the decision of the 
making of the decision and their right to have the decision reviewed. In so 
notifying, the decision-maker must have regard to the Code of Practice determined 
under section 27B of that Act.". IPINIl! AUS/I/12 
Page 11 
HUI1Ulll Services and Health Legislation 
AJJIC/1{iJncnl No. 80, 1994 
SCI-IEDULE-continued 
Resignation 
"27. The Managing Director nlay resign the offi~e of Managing Director 
by giving a signed notice of resignation to the Governor-GeneraL". 
Section 29: 
Omit "his"~ substitute "his or her". 
Subsection 36(4A): 
Onlit "he ", substitute" he or she", 
Subsection 36(6B): 
Om it" him", sub s tit u t e .. hi nl 0 r her", 
Subsection 41(1): 
Omit "his". 
Subsection 41(2): 
Omit" his", substitute "his or her", 
Subsection 41(4): 
Omit "him", substitute "hinl or her", 
Subsection 41(5): 
Omit" him", substitute" him or her" . 
Subsection 41(6): 
Omit" him" (wherever occurring), substitute" him or her". 
Subsection 41A(1): 
(a) Omit "him", substitute" him or her"; 
(b) Omit "his", substitute "his or her". 
Paragraph 41C(1)(b): 
Omit" his", substitute" his or her" , 
Paragraphs 42(2)(a), (b) and (d): 
Omit "his" (wherever occurring), substitute "his or her". 
Section 43: 
(a) Omit "him", substitute "him or her"; 
(b) Omit" he", substitute" he or she" . IPINIl! AUS/I/12 
Page 12 
& 
LLL __ 'r_ LTnRARY 
PROPERTY ORGANISATION 
HEALTH INSURANCE COMMISSION REGULATIONS 
In force under the Health Insurance Commission Act 7973 
Reprinted as at 30 November 7993 
TABLE OF PROVISIONS 
Regulation 
1. Citation 
2. Commencement 
2A. Interpretation 
3. Additional functions of the Commission: investigations relating to exces-
sive services 
3A. Additional functions of the Commission: pathology services 
38. Additional functions of t~e Commission: health program grants 
3C. Additional functions of the Commission: allocation of numbers 
3~. Additional functions of the Commission: provision of certain appliances 
3E. Additional functions of the Commission: provision of pharmaceutical 
benefits 
3F. Additional functions of the Commission: planning and preparation in 
. relation to legislative proposals 
3G. Additional functions of the Commission: Hib vaccinations 
3H. Additional functions of the Commission: payments on behalf of Australian 
Hearing Services 
4. Additional functions of the Commission 
4A. Modification of Part V of the Act 
48. Contractual limit 
5. Prescribed period for purposes of paragraph 41 C (8) (a) of Act 
6. Previous employment to be taken into account 
SCHEDULE 1 
SCHEDULE 2 IPINIl! AUS/I/12 
Page 13 
Health Insurance Commission Regulations 
(d) the Commission may \vithdraw those moneys 
from an account maintained by it under sub­
section (2A) but, if it does so, must as soon 
as practicable thereaftt:r make such \vithdraw­
als from, and such payments to, an account 
maintained under subsection (1) or (2) in 
relation to those functions as are necessary to 
ensure that expenditure that is to be treated, 
for the purposes of this Act, as expenditure 
wholly and exclusively related to the perfor­
mance of a function referred to in either of 
those subsections is debited to the ~ppro­
priate account or accounts"; 
(f) by amending section 36 by inserting after subsection (6A) the 
following subsection: 
"(6AA) Moneys held by the Commission for the perfor­
mance of a function referred to in regulation 3D or 3E of the 
Health Insurance Commission Regulations that are not imme­
diately required by the Commission for the performance of 
that function may be invested by. the Commission: 
(a) on deposit with an approved bank within the meaning 
of subsection 63E (2) of the Audit Act 1901; or 
(b) in Commonwealth securities; or 
(c) in any other manner approved by the Treasurer; 
and any income derived from investments so made is to be 
paid to the Commonwealth." 
Contractual limit 
4B. For the purposes of subsection 38 (1) of the Act, the. amount 
of $10,000,000 is prescribed. 
Prescribed period for purposes of paragraph 41C (8) (a) of Act 
s. For the purposes of paragraph 41C (8) (a) of the Act, the 
prescribed period is the period of 2 years that commenced on 1 
January 1981. 
Previous employment to be taken into account 
6. (1) Subregulation (2) applies to an officer who: 
(a) became an officer before 8 August 1975;