Source: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2016C00384
Timestamp: 2019-03-19 03:27:19
Document Index: 740675089

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2', 'art 3', 'art 7', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 6', 'art 7', 'art 8', 'art 3']

Details: C2016C00384
- C2016C00384
Act No. 81 of 1997 as amended, taking into account amendments up to Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2015
An Act relating to hearing services
sch 3 (items 209-218)
sch 1 (item 257)
C2016C00384
5 Eligible persons
7 Continuity of partnerships
8 General criteria for administration of this Act
Part 2—Issue of vouchers to participants in the voucher system
Part 3—Service providers
Part 7—Vicarious liability
No. 81, 1997
This is a compilation of the Hearing Services Administration Act 1997 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 5 March 2016 (the compilation date).
5............ Eligible persons................................................................................... 3
7............ Continuity of partnerships................................................................... 5
8............ General criteria for administration of this Act..................................... 5
Part 2—Issue of vouchers to participants in the voucher system 6
9............ Simplified outline................................................................................ 6
Division 2—Issue of vouchers by the Minister 7
10.......... Issue of vouchers by the Minister....................................................... 7
11.......... Voucher rules...................................................................................... 7
12.......... Vouchers do not have effect before 1 July 1997................................. 7
Division 3—Participants in the voucher system 8
13.......... Participants in the voucher system...................................................... 8
Part 3—Service providers 9
Division 1—Simplified outline 9
14.......... Simplified outline................................................................................ 9
Division 2—Accreditation 10
15.......... Accreditation of service providers..................................................... 10
16.......... Conditions of accreditation................................................................ 11
17.......... Rules of conduct............................................................................... 11
18.......... Compliance with rules of conduct..................................................... 12
19.......... Disqualification for fraud, dishonesty etc.......................................... 13
Division 3—Contracted service providers 16
20.......... Contracted service providers............................................................. 16
21.......... Payments to contracted service providers.......................................... 16
23.......... Repayments by contracted service providers..................................... 17
24.......... Recovery of overpayments etc.......................................................... 18
25.......... Simplified outline.............................................................................. 19
26.......... Arrangements for dealing with complaints........................................ 19
27.......... Delegation......................................................................................... 19
28.......... Simplified outline.............................................................................. 21
29.......... Decisions that may be subject to reconsideration by the Minister..... 21
30.......... Statements to accompany notification of decisions............................ 21
31.......... Applications for reconsideration of decisions................................... 22
32.......... Reconsideration by the Minister........................................................ 22
33.......... Deadlines for reconsiderations.......................................................... 23
34.......... Statements to accompany notification of decisions on reconsideration 23
35.......... Review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal............................... 24
Part 6—Injunctions 25
37.......... Injunctions........................................................................................ 25
38.......... Interim injunctions............................................................................ 26
39.......... Discharge etc. of injunctions............................................................. 26
40.......... Certain limits on granting injunctions not to apply............................ 27
41.......... Other powers of the court unaffected................................................ 27
Part 7—Vicarious liability 28
42.......... Simplified outline.............................................................................. 28
43.......... Liability of corporations.................................................................... 28
44.......... Liability of persons other than corporations...................................... 29
Part 8—Miscellaneous 31
46.......... Application of Criminal Code........................................................... 31
47.......... Treatment of partnerships.................................................................. 31
48.......... Giving of documents to partnerships................................................ 31
49.......... Nomination of address for service of documents.............................. 32
50.......... Regulations....................................................................................... 32
This Act may be cited as the Hearing Services Administration Act 1997.
• This Act sets up a scheme under which hearing services are provided to voucher‑holders by contracted service providers.
• The Minister may determine that specified persons are participants in the voucher system.
• Vouchers may be issued to participants in the voucher system.
• The Minister may accredit service providers and engage accredited service providers to provide hearing services to voucher‑holders.
accreditation scheme means the scheme in force under section 15.
accredited service provider means an entity accredited under the accreditation scheme.
AHS means Australian Hearing Services.
available, in relation to a hearing service, has the meaning given by section 13.
Australian permanent resident means a person in Australia whose presence in Australia is not subject to any limitation as to time imposed by law.
contracted service provider means an accredited service provider engaged under section 20.
eligible person has the meaning given by clause 5.
(d) an authority of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory; or
(e) a Department of the Government of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.
hearing services means:
(a) services for purposes in connection with:
(i) hearing rehabilitation; or
(ii) assessment of hearing; or
(iii) hearing loss prevention; or
(b) goods for purposes in connection with:
(iii) hearing loss prevention.
participant in the voucher system has the meaning given by section 13.
rules of conduct means rules of conduct formulated under section 17.
voucher means a voucher issued under section 10.
voucher‑holder means a participant in the voucher system who holds a voucher.
voucher rules means rules formulated under section 11.
(1) For the purposes of this Act, a person is an eligible person if the person:
(b) is an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident; and
(c) is covered by one of the categories specified in subsection (2).
(2) The following categories are specified for the purposes of paragraph (1)(c):
(a) a person who holds a card issued by the Commonwealth and known as a Pensioner Concession Card;
(i) holds a card issued by the Commonwealth and known as a Health Care Card; and
(ii) holds that card because the person is in receipt of sickness allowance under the Social Security Act 1991;
(c) a person who holds a card issued by the Commonwealth and known as a Repatriation Health Card, where the card is expressed to be issued for all conditions;
(d) a person who, for purposes connected with obtaining treatment for an injury, disease or condition that involves hearing loss, holds a card issued by the Commonwealth and known as a Repatriation Health Card, where the card is expressed to be issued for specific conditions;
(g) a person referred to the Minister in connection with the provision of a service under a rehabilitation program under Part III of the Disability Services Act 1986.
(3) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, determine that a specified person is an eligible person for the purposes of this Act. The determination has effect accordingly.
(1) In administering this Act, due regard must be had to:
(a) the voucher rules; and
(b) the accreditation scheme; and
(c) the rules of conduct.
• The Minister may make rules relating to vouchers. The rules are to be known as the voucher rules.
• The Minister may determine that specified hearing services are available to a voucher‑holder under a voucher.
Division 2—Issue of vouchers by the Minister
10 Issue of vouchers by the Minister
The Minister has the function of issuing vouchers to participants in the voucher system.
Note: Participant in the voucher system is defined by section 13.
11 Voucher rules
(1) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, formulate rules relating to vouchers. The rules are to be known as the voucher rules.
(2) The voucher rules may make provision for the following:
(a) the duration of vouchers;
(b) the replacement of vouchers.
(3) The voucher rules may make provision for or in relation to a matter by conferring a power on the Minister.
(4) Subsections (2) and (3) do not, by implication, limit subsection (1).
12 Vouchers do not have effect before 1 July 1997
A voucher does not have effect before 1 July 1997.
Division 3—Participants in the voucher system
13 Participants in the voucher system
(a) each eligible person included in a specified class of eligible persons is a participant in the voucher system for the purposes of this Act; and
(b) in the event that the Minister issues a voucher to such a person during a specified period, one or more specified hearing services are available to the person under the voucher.
(2) The specification of a hearing service may be expressed to be subject to such conditions as are specified in the determination.
(3) A determination under this section has effect accordingly.
• The Minister must formulate an accreditation scheme for the accreditation of entities as service providers.
• The Minister may accredit entities as service providers under the accreditation scheme. The accreditation may be subject to conditions. An entity accredited by the Minister is to be known as an accredited service provider.
• The Minister may engage an accredited service provider to provide available hearing services to voucher‑holders. A service provider engaged by the Minister is to be known as a contracted service provider.
• The Minister must formulate rules of conduct that apply to contracted service providers in relation to the provision of hearing services to voucher‑holders.
Division 2—Accreditation
15 Accreditation of service providers
(1) The Minister must, by legislative instrument, formulate a scheme for the accreditation of entities as service providers. The scheme is to be known as the accreditation scheme.
Note 1: Entity is defined by section 4.
Note 2: Accreditation means that the entity is eligible to be engaged as a contracted service provider under section 20.
(2) The accreditation scheme must empower the Minister to make decisions:
(a) accrediting entities; and
(b) cancelling the accreditation of entities.
(3) The accreditation scheme may make provision for fees to be charged in respect of the making of applications under the scheme.
(4) The accreditation scheme may make provision for an entity to surrender its accreditation to the Minister.
(5) The accreditation scheme must make provision for and in relation to the keeping of a register by the Minister of entities accredited under the accreditation scheme. In particular, the accreditation scheme may make provision for the following:
(a) the register to be kept in such form and manner as the Minister directs;
(d) fees to be charged for such an inspection or providing such information.
(6) Subsections (2), (3), (4) and (5) do not, by implication, limit subsection (1).
(7) The Minister must give a free copy of the accreditation scheme to any person who requests a copy.
16 Conditions of accreditation
(1) The accreditation scheme must empower the Minister to accredit an entity subject to one or more conditions specified in the instrument of accreditation. The accreditation scheme may also empower the Minister to:
(a) impose one or more further conditions to which the accreditation is subject; and
(i) specified in the instrument of accreditation; or
(ii) imposed under paragraph (a).
(2) A condition may be expressed to have effect only if the entity is engaged under section 20.
(3) A condition of an accreditation may make provision for or in relation to a matter by conferring a power on the Minister.
(4) The accreditation scheme may empower the Minister to make a decision cancelling the accreditation of an entity if the entity contravenes a condition of the accreditation. This subsection does not, by implication, limit paragraph 15(2)(b).
(5) The accreditation scheme may empower the Minister to issue a formal warning if an entity contravenes a condition of its accreditation.
(1) The Minister must, by legislative instrument, formulate rules of conduct relating to the provision of hearing services to voucher‑holders.
(2) Rules of conduct have effect only for the purposes of section 18.
Note: Section 18 provides that compliance with rules of conduct is a condition of an entity’s accreditation.
(3) Rules of conduct may make provision for or in relation to a matter by conferring a power on the Minister.
(4) Rules of conduct may prohibit or regulate the charging of fees or other consideration payable by a voucher‑holder, where the fee or consideration is in respect of the provision by an accredited service provider of a hearing service that is available to the holder under the voucher.
(5) Rules of conduct may require an accredited service provider to:
(a) take all reasonable steps to ensure that each individual who (whether in the capacity of employee or otherwise) works, or is to work, for the service provider in the provision of specified hearing services to voucher‑holders holds such qualifications as are ascertained in accordance with the rules; and
(b) inform the Minister of the names and qualifications of those individuals.
(6) Subsections (3), (4) and (5) do not, by implication, limit subsection (1).
18 Compliance with rules of conduct
(1) In addition to the conditions to which an entity’s accreditation is subject under the accreditation scheme, the accreditation is subject to the condition mentioned in subsection (2).
(2) It is a condition of the accreditation of an entity that the entity must comply with the rules of conduct.
(3) The condition mentioned in subsection (2) has effect only if the entity is a contracted service provider.
(4) This section does not, by implication, limit the generality of section 16 (which deals with conditions under the accreditation scheme).
19 Disqualification for fraud, dishonesty etc.
(1) The Minister must not accredit an individual or a body corporate under the accreditation scheme at a particular time if the individual or body corporate is a disqualified person at that time.
Note: Disqualified person is defined by subsection (5).
(2) The Minister must not accredit a body corporate under the accreditation scheme at a particular time if any of the following individuals is a disqualified person at that time:
(3) The Minister must not accredit a partnership under the accreditation scheme at a particular time if:
(a) in a case where a partner is an individual—the partner is a disqualified person at that time; or
(b) in a case where a partner is a body corporate—any of the following individuals is a disqualified person at that time:
(ii) a secretary of the body corporate;
(4) The Minister must cancel the accreditation of an entity under the accreditation scheme at a particular time if, assuming that the entity had not been accredited at that time, the Minister would have been prevented by this section from accrediting the entity at that time.
(5) For the purposes of this section, a person is a disqualified person at a particular time if:
(a) the person has been convicted (whether before or after the commencement of this section) of a disqualifying offence (as defined by subsection (6)); and
(b) if the person was sentenced to imprisonment—the time occurs during the period:
(i) beginning when the person was convicted; and
(ii) ending 5 years after the person’s release from prison; and
(c) if the person was not sentenced to imprisonment—the time occurs during the period:
(ii) ending 5 years after the conviction.
(6) For the purposes of this section, each of the following offences is a disqualifying offence:
(a) an offence against section 136.1, 137.1 or 137.2 of the Criminal Code in respect of a statement that is made to a person who is exercising powers or performing functions under, or in connection with, subsection 21(2) of this Act;
(i) is an offence against a law of the Commonwealth, a State, a Territory or a foreign country; and
(ii) involves fraud or dishonesty; and
(iii) is punishable by imprisonment for life or for a period, or maximum period, of at least 2 years.
(7) A reference in this section to a conviction of a person of an offence includes a reference to the making of an order under section 19B of the Crimes Act 1914, or under a corresponding provision of a law of a State, a Territory or a foreign country, in relation to a person in respect of an offence.
(8) This section does not, by implication, limit the generality of sections 15 and 16 (which deal with the accreditation scheme).
(9) This section does not affect the operation of Part VIIC of the Crimes Act 1914 (which includes provisions relieving persons from requirements to disclose convictions).
Division 3—Contracted service providers
20 Contracted service providers
(1) The Minister may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, engage an accredited service provider to provide hearing services to voucher‑holders, where each hearing service is available to the holder under the voucher. An accredited service provider engaged under this section is to be known as a contracted service provider.
(2) The terms and conditions of the engagement are to be set out in a written agreement between the Minister (on behalf of the Commonwealth) and the contracted service provider. The terms and conditions must be consistent with the accreditation scheme and the rules of conduct.
(3) Each condition of the accreditation of the contracted service provider is taken to be a condition of the engagement. This subsection does not limit subsection (2).
(4) The cancellation or surrender of the accreditation of the contracted service provider terminates the engagement without giving the service provider any entitlement to compensation or damages. This subsection does not limit subsection (2).
(5) AHS may enter into an agreement under this section at any time after the commencement of this section.
21 Payments to contracted service providers
(1) An agreement under section 20 may provide for amounts to be paid by the Commonwealth to a contracted service provider. This subsection does not limit subsection 20(2).
(2) A payment referred to in subsection (1) must not be paid unless:
(a) a claim for the payment is given to the claims acceptance body; and
(b) the claims acceptance body accepts the claim on behalf of the Commonwealth.
(3) The claims acceptance body may authorise a claim for payment to be given to the claims acceptance body in accordance with specified software requirements:
(4) A payment referred to in subsection (1) may be made by the claims payment body on behalf of the Commonwealth.
(6) The Minister may, by writing, declare that a specified body is the claims acceptance body for the purposes of this section. The declaration has effect accordingly.
(7) The Minister may, by writing, declare that a specified body is the claims payment body for the purposes of this section. The declaration has effect accordingly.
(8) This section does not prevent the claims acceptance body from being the same body as the claims payment body.
(9) The Minister must not make a determination under subsection (6) or (7) in relation to an incorporated company unless the company consents to the making of the determination.
(d) the Chief Executive Medicare.
23 Repayments by contracted service providers
(a) an amount is paid to an entity as mentioned in subsection 21(1); and
(b) the amount is paid subject to a condition (whether a condition precedent or a condition subsequent); and
(c) the condition was contravened;
the entity is liable to repay the amount to the Commonwealth.
(2) A payment to an entity as mentioned in subsection 21(1) is taken to be made subject to a condition that a false or misleading statement has not been made by or on behalf of the entity in connection with a claim for the payment.
(3) This section does not, by implication, limit the generality of subsection 20(2) (which deals with the terms and conditions of the engagement of contracted service providers).
24 Recovery of overpayments etc.
(1) For the purposes of this section, each of the following amounts is a service provider debt:
(a) so much of an amount paid, or purportedly paid, to an entity as mentioned in subsection 21(1) as represents an overpayment;
(b) an amount that is repayable as mentioned in section 23 (which deals with conditional payments).
(2) A service provider debt is a debt due to the Commonwealth.
(3) A service provider debt may be recovered by the Commonwealth by action in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(4) If an entity is liable to pay a service provider debt, the service provider debt may be deducted from one or more other amounts that are payable to the entity as mentioned in subsection 21(1), and if it is so deducted, the other amounts are taken to have been paid to the entity to the extent of the deduction.
• The Minister must establish a complaints‑handling mechanism.
• The Minister may delegate powers conferred on the Minister by this Act.
26 Arrangements for dealing with complaints
The Minister must take all reasonable steps to ensure that there are at all times in force arrangements under which:
(a) a participant in the voucher system has the right to make a complaint about the provision to the participant of hearing services in accordance with an agreement under Part 3; and
(b) a complaint so made will be properly considered and dealt with within 90 days after it was made.
(1) The Minister may, by writing, delegate all or any of the Minister’s functions and powers under this Act to:
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the Minister’s powers to make an instrument under subsection 5(3), 11(1), 13(1), 15(1) or 17(1).
• Certain decisions of the Minister may be reviewed by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal following a process of reconsideration by the Minister.
29 Decisions that may be subject to reconsideration by the Minister
An application may be made to the Minister for reconsideration of any of the following decisions:
(a) a decision by the Minister refusing to issue a voucher to a participant in the voucher system;
(b) a decision made by the Minister under the voucher rules;
(c) a decision made by the Minister under the accreditation scheme;
(d) a decision made by the Minister under a condition of accreditation;
(e) a decision made by the Minister under the rules of conduct;
(f) a decision of the Minister made under section 19 (which deals with disqualification for fraud, dishonesty etc.).
30 Statements to accompany notification of decisions
(1) If the Minister makes a decision of a kind referred to in section 29 and gives written notice of the decision to a person whose interests are affected by the decision, the notice must include:
(a) a statement to the effect that a person affected by the decision may, if he or she is dissatisfied with the decision, seek a reconsideration of the decision by the Minister under subsection 31(1); and
(b) a statement to the effect that, if a person who has applied for a reconsideration is dissatisfied with the Minister’s decision on the reconsideration:
(i) subject to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975, application may be made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of the decision on that reconsideration; and
(ii) the person may request a statement under section 28 of that Act in relation to the decision on that reconsideration.
(2) Failure to comply with this section does not affect the validity of a decision.
31 Applications for reconsideration of decisions
(1) A person affected by a decision of a kind referred to in section 29 who is dissatisfied with the decision may apply to the Minister for the Minister to reconsider the decision.
(a) be in a form approved in writing by the Minister; and
(b) if, either before or after the end of that period of 28 days, the Minister extends the period within which the application may be made—the extended period for making the application.
32 Reconsideration by the Minister
(1) Upon receiving such an application, the Minister must:
(2) The Minister’s decision on reconsideration of a decision has effect as if it had been made under the provision under which the original decision was made.
(3) The Minister must give to the applicant a notice stating the Minister’s decision on the reconsideration together with a statement of the Minister’s reasons for the Minister’s decision.
33 Deadlines for reconsiderations
(1) The Minister must make his or her decision on reconsideration of a decision within 90 days after receiving an application for reconsideration.
(2) The Minister is taken, for the purposes of this Part, to have made a decision affirming the original decision if the Minister has not informed the applicant of the Minister’s decision on the reconsideration before the end of the period of 90 days.
34 Statements to accompany notification of decisions on reconsideration
(1) A notice under subsection 32(3) notifying the applicant that a decision has been affirmed or varied must include:
(a) a statement to the effect that a person whose interests are affected by the decision so affirmed or varied may, subject to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975, if he or she is dissatisfied with the decision so affirmed or varied, apply to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of the decision; and
(b) a statement to the effect that the person may request a statement under section 28 of that Act in relation to the decision so affirmed or varied.
Applications may be made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to review a decision of a kind referred to in section 29 if the Minister has affirmed or varied the decision under section 32.
· The Federal Court may grant injunctions in relation to contraventions of:
(b) the voucher rules; and
(c) a condition of an accreditation; or
(d) an agreement under section 20.
(1) If an entity has engaged, is engaging or is proposing to engage, in any conduct in contravention of:
(b) the voucher rules; or
(c) if the entity is accredited under the accreditation scheme—a condition of that accreditation; or
(d) if the entity is engaged under section 20—an agreement under that section;
the Federal Court may, on the application of the Minister, grant an injunction:
(e) restraining the entity from engaging in the conduct; and
(f) if, in the court’s opinion, it is desirable to do so—requiring the entity to do something.
(a) an entity has refused or failed, or is refusing or failing, or is proposing to refuse or fail, to do an act or thing; and
(b) the refusal or failure was, is or would be a contravention of:
(ii) the voucher rules; or
(iii) if the entity is accredited under the accreditation scheme—a condition of that accreditation; or
(iv) if the entity is engaged under section 20—an agreement under that section;
the Federal Court may, on the application of the Minister, grant an injunction requiring the entity to do that act or thing.
38 Interim injunctions
(1) If an application is made to the court for an injunction under section 37, the court may, before considering the application, grant an interim injunction restraining an entity from engaging in conduct of a kind referred to in that section.
(2) The court is not to require an applicant for an injunction under section 37, as a condition of granting an interim injunction, to give any undertakings as to damages.
39 Discharge etc. of injunctions
40 Certain limits on granting injunctions not to apply
(1) The power of the court under this Part to grant an injunction restraining an entity from engaging in conduct of a particular kind may be exercised:
(b) if it appears to the court that, if an injunction is not granted, it is likely that the entity will engage in conduct of that kind—whether or not the entity has previously engaged in conduct of that kind and whether or not there is an imminent danger of substantial damage to any entity if the entity engages in conduct of that kind.
(2) The power of the court to grant an injunction requiring an entity to do an act or thing may be exercised:
(b) if it appears to the court that, if an injunction is not granted, it is likely that the entity will refuse or fail to do that act or thing—whether or not the entity has previously refused or failed to do that act or thing and whether or not there is an imminent danger of substantial damage to any entity if the entity refuses or fails to do that act or thing.
41 Other powers of the court unaffected
• This Part deals with proof in civil proceedings of matters that involve employees, agents etc.
43 Liability of corporations
44 Liability of persons other than corporations
(1) If, in civil proceedings under this Act in respect of conduct engaged in by a person other than a corporation, it is necessary to establish the state of mind of the person, it is sufficient to show that:
• The Criminal Code applies to offences against this Act.
• Partnerships are to be treated as persons for the purposes of this Act.
• Provision is made in relation to the service of documents.
• The Governor‑General may make regulations for the purposes of this Act.
46 Application of Criminal Code
47 Treatment of partnerships
This Act applies to a partnership as if the partnership were a person. However, obligations that would be imposed on the partnership are imposed instead on each partner, but may be discharged by any of the partners.
48 Giving of documents to partnerships
49 Nomination of address for service of documents
(a) an application made by the person under this Act; or
(b) any other document given by the person to the Minister.
The address must be in Australia.
81, 1997
18 June 1997 (s 2)
Sch 1 (items 35–37): 11 Nov 1997 (s 2(1))
s 4 and Sch 1 (items 95–98): 17 Sept 2001 (s 2)
Sch 2 (items 396, 397): 1 Oct 2005 (s 2(1) item 7)
Sch 2 (item 51): 1 Apr 2007 (s 2(1) item 7)
Sch 7 (item 71): 19 Apr 2011 (s 2(1) item 18)
Sch 4 (items 276, 277): 1 July 2011 (s 2(1) item 3)
Sch 2 (item 684) and Sch 3 (items 10, 11): 27 Dec 2011 (s 2(1) items 5, 12)
Sch 3 (items 209–218, 348, 349): 5 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 2)
Sch 1 (item 257): 5 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 2)
am No 32, 2007; No 46, 2011; No 10, 2015; No 126, 2015
am No 159, 1997; No 111, 2005; No 32, 2011
rep No 111, 2001