Act-2025-14 Powers of Secretary NSW STRATA SCHEME ACT 2015 POWERS OF SECRETARY
Act-2025-14 Powers of Secretary NSW STRATA SCHEME ACT 2015 POWERS OF SECRETARY
1 Name of Act 2
2 Commencement 2
Schedule 1 Amendment of Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 No 50 3
Schedule 2 Amendment of Community Land Management Act 2021 No 7 25
Schedule 3 Amendment of other legislation 46
New South Wales
An Act to amend the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 to implement various
recommendations arising from the statutory review of the Act; to make related amendments to the
Community Land Management Act 2021 and other legislation; and for other purposes. [Assented
to 2 March 2025]
Strata Schemes Legislation Amendment Act 2025 No 14 [NSW]
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[3] Section 14 First AGM must be held within 2 months after initial period
Omit section 14(1), penalty. Insert instead—
Maximum penalty—
(a) 100 penalty units, and
(b) for a continuing offence—a further 2 penalty units for each day the
offence continues.
[4] Section 15 Agenda for first AGM
Insert “(2)” before “The agenda”.
[5] Section 15(1)
Insert before section 15(2), as amended by item [4]—
(1) The agenda for the first annual general meeting of an owners corporation must
be set by—
(a) for a leasehold strata scheme for which there is no original owner—the
lessor of the leasehold strata scheme, or
(b) otherwise—the original owner.
[6] Section 16 Documents and records to be provided to owners corporation at first
AGM
Omit section 16(1), penalty. Insert instead—
Maximum penalty—
(a) 100 penalty units, and
(b) for a continuing offence—a further 2 penalty units for each day the
offence continues.
[7] Section 16(1A)
Insert after section 16(1)—
(1A) An original owner of a multi-storey scheme who is required to convene a
meeting under this division must deliver evidence of the following matters
required under section 115(2A) to the owners corporation at least 14 days
before the first annual general meeting of the owners corporation—
(a) that the initial maintenance schedule has been prepared in accordance
with the prescribed form,
(b) that the estimates of contributions to the administrative fund and capital
works fund meet the expected expenditure for the year ahead, based on
the expenses provided by the original owner,
(c) that the person who reviewed and certified the initial maintenance
schedule is an independent surveyor,
(d) that the person who reviewed and certified the estimates of
contributions to the administrative fund and capital works fund is an
independent surveyor or a person of a prescribed class.
Maximum penalty—
(a) for an individual—100 penalty units, or
(b) otherwise—500 penalty units.
[8] Section 37
Omit the section. Insert instead—
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(b) the terms, conditions and other provisions that building manager
agreements must or must not contain.
(4) The Secretary may approve 1 or more standard form of building manager
agreements.
[20] Section 70A
Insert after section 70—
70A Duties of building managers
(1) A building manager must not, without reasonable excuse—
(a) fail to act in the best interests of the owners corporation, or
(b) breach a duty prescribed by the regulations.
Maximum penalty—
(a) for an individual—100 penalty units, or
(b) otherwise—200 penalty units.
(2) A building manager is not required to act in the owners corporation’s best
interests if it would be—
(a) contrary to this Act or the regulations, or
(b) otherwise unlawful.
(3) The regulations may prescribe additional duties of building managers.
[21] Section 72 Strata managing agent and building manager agreements may be
terminated or varied by Tribunal
Omit “unreasonable.” from section 72(3)(f). Insert instead—
unreasonable,
(g) that the strata managing agent or building manager is carrying on a
business involving the supply of services to the owners corporation,
owners or occupiers of lots if carrying on the business is contrary to law.
[22] Section 79 Estimates to be prepared of contributions to administrative and capital
works funds
Insert after section 79(2)(e)—
(e1) to install, replace or repair infrastructure, fixtures and fittings that are
part of the common property for the purpose of the sustainable use of
the scheme, and
Examples— electricity meters, solar panels and sustainable building materials
[23] Section 80 Owners corporation to prepare 10-year capital works fund plan
Insert after section 80(1)—
(1A) An owners corporation must consider the initial maintenance schedule
prepared by the original owner when preparing the first 10-year plan.
[24] Section 80(4)
Omit “is to include”.
Insert instead “must be in the form prescribed by the regulations and include”.
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[36] Section 106 Duty of owners corporation to maintain and repair property
Omit section 106(4). Insert instead—
(4) An owners corporation may defer compliance with subsection (1) or (2) in
relation to damage to common property until after the taking of action if—
(a) the action is taken by the owners corporation against an owner or
another person in relation to the damage, and
(b) the deferment will not affect—
(i) the safety of buildings, structures or common property in the
strata scheme, or
(ii) a person’s access to or use of the common property or a lot in the
strata scheme.
[37] Section 106(6)
Omit “2 years”. Insert instead “6 years”.
[38] Section 108 Changes to common property
Insert “or accessibility infrastructure” after “sustainability infrastructure” in section 108(2),
note.
[39] Section 108(3)
Omit “may”. Insert instead “must”.
[40] Section 110 Minor renovations by owners
Insert after section 110(6)—
(6A) A strata committee that, in exercising the functions of the owners corporation
delegated under subsection (6)(b), refuses to give an approval under this
section must give reasons for the refusal—
(a) by written notice to the owner of the lot, and
(b) within 3 months after receiving the request.
(6B) An approval is taken to be given by a strata committee if—
(a) an owner of a lot requests an approval under this section, and
(b) the strata committee has not, within 3 months after receiving the
request—
(i) refused to give the approval, and
(ii) given the owner reasons for the refusal.
(6C) The owners corporation must keep a record of a minor renovation approved
under this section for 10 years.
[41] Section 115 Initial maintenance schedule must be prepared
Omit section 115(2). Insert instead—
(2) The initial maintenance schedule must be in the form prescribed by the
regulations.
Maximum penalty—
(a) for an individual—100 penalty units, or
(b) otherwise—500 penalty units.
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(2A) For a multi-storey scheme—the original owner must, before the first annual
general meeting of the owners corporation, engage—
(a) an independent surveyor to—
(i) review the initial maintenance schedule, and
(ii) certify that the initial maintenance schedule has been prepared in
accordance with the prescribed form, and
(b) an independent surveyor or a person of a class prescribed by the
regulations to—
(i) review the estimates of contributions to the administrative fund
and capital works fund, and
(ii) certify that the estimates meet the expected expenditure for the
year ahead, based on the expenses provided by the original
owner.
(2B) The original owner must not engage a person under subsection (2A) who is
connected with the original owner.
Maximum penalty—
(a) for an individual—100 penalty units, or
(b) otherwise—500 penalty units.
[42] Section 132A, heading
Omit “electricity, gas or other”.
[43] Section 132A(1)–(3)
Omit “electricity, gas or any other utility” wherever occurring. Insert instead “a utility”.
[44] Section 132A(4)
Omit the subsection. Insert instead—
(4) In this section—
utility includes—
(a) communication services, and
Examples of communication services— the installation and supply of
telephone, intercom, computer data and television services
(b) domestic services.
Examples of domestic services— electricity, gas, water, waste removal, air
conditioning and heating, stormwater retention and filtration, hot water,
recycling, sewerage and electric vehicle charging
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(d) the extent to which not installing the accessibility infrastructure will
cause or be likely to cause detriment to be suffered by—
(i) the person requesting the installation of the accessibility
infrastructure, or
(ii) a person on behalf of whom the installation of the accessibility
infrastructure is requested,
(e) whether the building can support the type of infrastructure required to
provide access,
(f) other matters prescribed by the regulations.
[46] Section 139A Restrictions on by-laws—assistance animals
Omit section 139A(2). Insert instead—
(2) A by-law may require a person who keeps an assistance animal on a lot to
provide evidence to the owners corporation to show the animal is an assistance
animal.
(3) A person who keeps an assistance animal on a lot satisfies the evidentiary
requirement of a by-law under subsection (2) if they provide any 1 of the
following to the owners corporation—
(a) evidence the animal holds an accreditation referred to in the Disability
Discrimination Act 1992 of the Commonwealth, section 9(2)(a) or (b),
or
(b) a statutory declaration verifying the animal has received the training
referred to in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 of the
Commonwealth, section 9(2)(c), or
(c) any 1 form of evidence prescribed by the regulations.
[47] Section 139B
Insert after section 139A—
139B Restrictions on by-laws—sustainability infrastructure
(1) A by-law has no force or effect to the extent it would prevent the installation
of sustainability infrastructure solely for the purpose of preserving the external
appearance of a lot or the common property.
(2) This section does not apply to common property that is—
(a) heritage-listed, or
(b) within a heritage conservation area.
[48] Section 143 Requirements and effect of common property rights by-laws
Insert “, amend or repeal” after “make” in section 143(1).
[49] Section 143(1), note
Omit “addition”. Insert instead “changes”.
[50] Section 143(1A)
Insert after section 143(1)—
(1A) An owner must not unreasonably fail to give consent under subsection (1) to
the amendment or repeal of a by-law.
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(b) otherwise—
(i) 100 penalty units, and
(ii) for a continuing offence—10 penalty units for each day the
offence continues.
188E Power of Secretary to require answers
(1) The Secretary may direct a person to answer questions about a matter if the
Secretary—
(a) reasonably suspects the person to have knowledge of the matter, and
(b) reasonably requires information about the matter for an authorised
purpose.
(2) The direction may require the answers to be—
(a) written, or
(b) given verbally—
(i) in person, or
(ii) by audio link or audio visual link.
(3) The Secretary may direct an owners corporation to nominate an individual to
answer questions on behalf of the owners corporation.
(4) The nomination must be—
(a) in writing, and
(b) given to the Secretary within the time required in the direction.
(5) The individual must be a director or other officer of the owners corporation.
(6) Answers given by the individual bind the owners corporation.
(7) The Secretary may direct the person or nominated individual to attend at a
specified place and time to answer questions if—
(a) the answers must be given verbally, and
(b) attendance at the place is reasonably required for the questions to be
properly put and answered.
(8) The place and time must be reasonable in the circumstances.
(9) A direction under this section must be in writing.
(10) A person must not fail to comply with a direction under this section.
Maximum penalty for subsection (10)—
(a) for an individual—
(i) 20 penalty units, and
(ii) for a continuing offence—2 penalty units for each day the
offence continues, or
(b) otherwise—
(i) 100 penalty units, and
(ii) for a continuing offence—10 penalty units for each day the
offence continues.
188F Recording of evidence
(1) The Secretary may record a person answering questions under this division if
the Secretary—
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(a) informs the person that the record will be made, and
(b) gives a copy of the record to the person as soon as practicable after the
record is made.
(2) The record may be made using—
(a) sound recording apparatus, or
(b) audio visual apparatus, or
(c) another method decided by the Secretary.
(3) The record may be made despite the provisions of another law.
Subdivision 1 Entry
188G Power of Secretary to enter premises
(1) The Secretary may enter premises, other than a part of premises used only for
residential purposes, at a reasonable hour in the daytime.
(2) The entry may occur with or without a search warrant.
(3) The Secretary may enter a part of premises used only for residential
purposes—
(a) with the permission of the occupier, or
(b) under the authority of a search warrant.
(4) Common property is taken not to be a part of premises used only for residential
purposes.
(5) When exercising a power of entry under this division, the Secretary may be
accompanied by persons (assistants) the Secretary considers necessary.
(6) An assistant may accompany the Secretary and take all reasonable steps to
assist the Secretary in the exercise of the Secretary’s functions.
188H Search warrants
(1) The Secretary may apply to an issuing officer for a search warrant.
(2) The Secretary may make the application if the Secretary believes on
reasonable grounds that—
(a) a duty under section 106 has been or is being breached at premises, or
(b) a matter or thing connected with a breach of a duty under section 106 is
in or on premises.
(3) The issuing officer may issue the search warrant if satisfied there are
reasonable grounds to do so.
(4) The search warrant may authorise the Secretary to—
(a) enter the premises, and
(b) exercise functions under this division.
(5) The Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002, Part 5,
Division 4 applies to the search warrant.
(6) Without limiting the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act
2002, section 71, a police officer may—
(a) accompany the Secretary when executing the search warrant, and
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(b) take all reasonable steps to assist the Secretary in the exercise of the
Secretary’s functions.
(7) In this section—
issuing officer means an authorised officer under the Law Enforcement
(Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002.
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(b) move a seized thing from the place where it is seized or leave it at the
place where it is seized and take reasonable action to restrict access to
the thing, and
(c) direct the occupier of the premises where a thing is seized to keep the
thing—
(i) at the premises, or
(ii) at another place under the control of the occupier.
(2) The power to seize a thing connected with an offence includes a power to
seize—
(a) a thing in relation to which the offence has been committed, and
(b) a thing that will afford evidence of the commission of the offence, and
(c) a thing that was used for the purpose of committing the offence.
(3) In this section, a reference to an offence includes a reference to an offence that
there are reasonable grounds to believe has been committed.
188N Powers of Secretary—other powers
The Secretary may do anything that, in the Secretary’s opinion, is reasonably
necessary to be done for an authorised purpose.
Subdivision 3 Miscellaneous
188O Provision of assistance to Secretary
(1) The Secretary may direct a person to provide reasonable assistance, as
specified by the Secretary, if the direction—
(a) is for the purposes of the Secretary exercising functions under this
division in relation to premises, and
(b) is given to—
(i) the owner or occupier of the premises, or
(ii) if the premises are not a public place—a person on the premises.
(2) The direction may be given—
(a) orally to the person, or
(b) by written notice given to the person.
(3) A person must not fail to comply with a direction under this section.
Maximum penalty for subsection (3)—
(a) for an individual—
(i) 20 penalty units, and
(ii) for a continuing offence—2 penalty units for each day the
offence continues, or
(b) otherwise—
(i) 100 penalty units, and
(ii) for a continuing offence—10 penalty units for each day the
offence continues.
188P Obstruction of Secretary
A person must not, without reasonable excuse, obstruct, hinder or interfere
with the Secretary in the exercise of the Secretary’s functions under this part.
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Maximum penalty—
(a) for an individual—20 penalty units, or
(b) otherwise—100 penalty units.
188Q Failure to comply with direction
A person must not, without reasonable excuse, fail to comply with a direction
of the Secretary under this part.
Maximum penalty—
(a) for an individual—
(i) 20 penalty units, and
(ii) for a continuing offence—2 penalty units for each day the
offence continues, or
(b) otherwise—
(i) 100 penalty units, and
(ii) for a continuing offence—10 penalty units for each day the
offence continues.
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(b) for a continuing offence—20 penalty units for each day the offence
continues.
188ZC Administrative review of decision to give compliance notice
(1) An owners corporation may apply to the Tribunal for an administrative review
under the Administrative Decisions Review Act 1997 of the decision to give the
owners corporation a compliance notice.
(2) The application must be made no later than 28 days after the owners
corporation receives the notice.
(3) The Administrative Decisions Review Act 1997, Chapter 3, Part 2 does not
apply to the application.
(4) In determining the application, the Tribunal must take into account any matter
that was required to be taken into account in making the decision to give the
compliance notice.
[56] Section 256 Functions of Secretary
Omit “Act.” from section 256(e). Insert instead—
Act,
(f) investigating, monitoring and enforcing compliance with section 106.
[57] Section 271 Regulations
Omit “way.” from section 271(2)(o). Insert instead—
way,
(p) the procedures for entering into an undertaking under section 188T,
(q) the procedures for giving a compliance notice under section 188X,
(r) information that must be included in a compliance notice under section
188Y.
[58] Schedule 1 Meeting procedures of owners corporation
Omit “electricity, gas or any other utility relevant to the scheme.” from clause 6(e).
Insert instead—
a utility relevant to the scheme,
(f) an item to consider environmental sustainability within the scheme,
including consideration of the common property annual energy and
water consumption and expenditure.
[59] Schedule 1, clause 25A, heading
Omit “company nominees and”.
[60] Schedule 1, clause 25A(1)
Omit the subclause. Insert instead—
(1) A person acting under a power of attorney may, if authorised by the power of
attorney, exercise voting rights at a general meeting of the owners corporation
on behalf of the owner of a lot.
[61] Schedule 1, clause 25A(2)
Omit “company nominee, or a person acting under a power of attorney,”.
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(1A) The written notice must be accompanied by the information approved by the
Secretary.
[23] Section 90 Interest, discounts on contributions and payment plans
Omit section 90(5). Insert instead—
(5) An association and a member of the association may agree to enter into a
payment plan for the payment of overdue contributions.
(5AA) A payment plan is limited to a period of 12 months but a further plan may be
agreed to.
(5AB) An association must not, by resolution, refuse to enter into payment plans for
the payment of overdue contributions.
(5AC) Despite subsection (5AB) an association may refuse to enter into payment
plans for the payment of overdue contributions in particular cases.
[24] Section 90(5A) and (5B)
Insert after section 90(5)—
(5A) A request by an owner to enter into a payment plan (the request) may be
reasonably refused by the association.
(5B) The regulations may prescribe what constitutes a reasonable refusal in relation
to payment plans.
[25] Section 90(7)
Omit the subsection. Insert instead—
(7) The regulations may prescribe requirements for payment plans, including the
following—
(a) eligibility,
(b) the form of the request,
(c) evidence that must or must not be included in the request,
(d) how information supporting the request must be stored, secured, used,
disclosed or disposed of,
Example of information— financial records relating to the owner
(e) maintaining the confidentiality of the owner’s information given in
support of the request,
(f) the form of the payment plan or minimum requirements,
(g) requirements for the association committee to report on payment plans
to the association,
(h) requirements for the association to give written reasons to the owner if
the owner’s request is refused,
(i) the termination of a payment plan.
[26] Section 90(8)
Omit the subsection.
[27] Section 90(10)
Insert after section 90(9)—
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(10) The Tribunal may, on application by the owner, order that the association
agree to the owner’s request if the Tribunal is satisfied that the refusal by the
association of the request was not reasonable.
[28] Section 91 Recovery of unpaid contributions and interest
Insert after section 91(3)—
(3A) An association may only take action to recover the reasonable expenses of the
association incurred in recovering unpaid contributions and any interest
payable on unpaid contributions—
(a) if the association has offered the member of the association the option
of entering into a payment plan for the payment of the unpaid
contributions, and
(b) pursuant to an order of the Tribunal or a court under this section.
[29] Section 91 Recovery of unpaid contributions and interest
Omit “21 days” from section 91(5). Insert instead “30 days”.
[30] Section 91(7)–(9)
Insert after section 91(6)—
(7) An association must not take action to recover an amount under this section
from an owner if—
(a) the amount is being dealt with under a payment plan, and
(b) the payment plan is being complied with by the owner.
(8) Payments by an owner in arrears must be applied in the following order—
(a) to contributions, in order of due date,
(b) to interest,
(c) to expenses of the association in recovering contributions ordered to be
paid under this section.
(9) Subsection (8) does not apply to the extent that—
(a) a court or the Tribunal has made an order specifying how payments
must be applied, or
(b) the owner in arrears specifies how payments must be applied.
[31] Section 106 Legal services to be approved by general meeting
Omit section 106(1). Insert instead—
(1) An association or association committee must not obtain legal services
requiring payment unless a resolution passed at a general meeting of the
association approves the obtaining of the services—
(a) with unlimited costs for the services, or
(b) up to a maximum amount of costs for the services.
[32] Section 106(3)(c)
Omit the paragraph. Insert instead—
(c) to obtain legal services prescribed by the regulations.
[33] Section 109 Duty of association to maintain and repair property
Omit section 109(4). Insert instead—
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(4) An association may defer compliance with this section in relation to damage
to association property until after the taking of action if—
(a) the action is taken by the association against an owner or another person
in relation to the damage, and
(b) the deferment will not affect—
(i) the safety of buildings, structures or association property in the
association scheme, or
(ii) a person’s access to or use of the association property or a lot in
the association scheme.
[34] Section 109(6)
Omit “2 years”. Insert instead “6 years”.
[35] Section 115 Initial maintenance schedule must be prepared
Omit section 115(2). Insert instead—
(2) The initial maintenance schedule must be in the form prescribed by the
regulations.
Maximum penalty—
(a) for an individual—100 penalty units, or
(b) otherwise—500 penalty units.
(2A) For a multi-storey scheme—the original owner must, before the first annual
general meeting of the association, engage—
(a) an independent surveyor to—
(i) review the initial maintenance schedule, and
(ii) certify that the initial maintenance schedule has been prepared in
accordance with the prescribed form, and
(b) an independent surveyor or a person of a class prescribed by the
regulations to—
(i) review the estimates of contributions to the administrative fund
and capital works fund, and
(ii) certify that the estimates meet the expected expenditure for the
year ahead, based on the expenses provided by the original
owner.
(2B) The original owner must not engage a person under subsection (2A) who is
connected with the original owner.
Maximum penalty—
(a) for an individual—100 penalty units, or
(b) otherwise—500 penalty units.
[36] Section 124, heading
Omit “electricity, gas or other”.
[37] Section 124(1)–(3)
Omit “electricity, gas or any other utility” wherever occurring. Insert instead “a utility”.
[38] Section 124(1)
Omit “neighbourhood association”.
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Subdivision 1 Entry
177G Power of Secretary to enter premises
(1) The Secretary may enter premises, other than a part of premises used only for
residential purposes, at a reasonable hour in the daytime.
(2) The entry may occur with or without a search warrant.
(3) The Secretary may enter a part of premises used only for residential
purposes—
(a) with the permission of the occupier, or
(b) under the authority of a search warrant.
(4) Association property is taken not to be a part of premises used only for
residential purposes.
(5) When exercising a power of entry under this division, the Secretary may be
accompanied by persons (assistants) the Secretary considers necessary.
(6) An assistant may accompany the Secretary and take all reasonable steps to
assist the Secretary in the exercise of the Secretary’s functions.
177H Search warrants
(1) The Secretary may apply to an issuing officer for a search warrant.
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(2) The Secretary may make the application if the Secretary believes on
reasonable grounds that—
(a) a duty under section 109 has been or is being breached at premises, or
(b) a matter or thing connected with a breach of a duty under section 109 is
in or on premises.
(3) The issuing officer may issue the search warrant if satisfied there are
reasonable grounds to do so.
(4) The search warrant may authorise the Secretary to—
(a) enter the premises, and
(b) exercise functions under this division.
(5) The Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002, Part 5,
Division 4 applies to the search warrant.
(6) Without limiting the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act
2002, section 71, a police officer may—
(a) accompany the Secretary when executing the search warrant, and
(b) take all reasonable steps to assist the Secretary in the exercise of the
Secretary’s functions.
(7) In this section—
issuing officer means an authorised officer under the Law Enforcement
(Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002.
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(2) The power to examine and inspect a thing includes a power to use reasonable
force to break open or otherwise access a thing, including a floor or wall
containing the thing.
(3) The power to test a thing includes a power to destructively test a thing, or a
sample of a thing, if that is a reasonable test in the circumstances.
177L Powers of Secretary—opening or demolishing building work
(1) The Secretary may open up, cut open or demolish building work if the
Secretary reasonably believes it is necessary because there is, or there is likely
to be, a contravention of section 109.
(2) The power to open up, cut open or demolish building work may be exercised
by an appropriately qualified person at the direction of the Secretary.
177M Powers of Secretary—seizure
(1) The Secretary may—
(a) seize a thing the Secretary has reasonable grounds to believe is
connected with a contravention of section 109, and
(b) move a seized thing from the place where it is seized or leave it at the
place where it is seized and take reasonable action to restrict access to
the thing, and
(c) direct the occupier of the premises where a thing is seized to keep the
thing—
(i) at the premises, or
(ii) at another place under the control of the occupier.
(2) The power to seize a thing connected with an offence includes a power to
seize—
(a) a thing in relation to which the offence has been committed, and
(b) a thing that will afford evidence of the commission of the offence, and
(c) a thing that was used for the purpose of committing the offence.
(3) In this section, a reference to an offence includes a reference to an offence that
there are reasonable grounds to believe has been committed.
177N Powers of Secretary—other powers
The Secretary may do anything that, in the Secretary’s opinion, is reasonably
necessary to be done for an authorised purpose.
Subdivision 3 Miscellaneous
177O Provision of assistance to Secretary
(1) The Secretary may direct a person to provide reasonable assistance, as
specified by the Secretary, if the direction—
(a) is for the purposes of the Secretary exercising functions under this
division in relation to premises, and
(b) is given to—
(i) the owner or occupier of the premises, or
(ii) if the premises are not a public place—a person on the premises.
(2) The direction may be given—
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(b) the Secretary certifies that the copy is a true copy, and
(c) the person from whom the record was seized is given the certified copy.
(4) The certified copy is, as evidence, of equal validity to the record.
177S Power to destroy seized things
(1) The Secretary may destroy or dispose of a thing if—
(a) the thing was seized under this division, and
(b) the thing is no longer required as evidence in proceedings.
(2) The Secretary must not destroy a thing under this division unless—
(a) before destroying the thing, the Secretary gives written notice of the
proposed destruction to the owner or person in charge of the thing, or
(b) the Secretary is satisfied that the owner or person in charge of the thing
has already been given written notice of the proposed destruction.
(3) Notice must be given at least 7 days before the thing is destroyed.
(4) A requirement to give notice does not apply to the destruction of a thing if—
(a) there does not appear to be an individual immediately in control of the
thing, and the owner or person in charge cannot be located after making
reasonable inquiries, and
(b) the Secretary considers that, in the circumstances, the thing must be
destroyed without notice to the owner or person in charge.
(5) This section does not apply to the destruction of a thing that has been forfeited
to the Secretary.
(6) If the Secretary decides to destroy or dispose of a thing—
(a) the thing immediately becomes the property of the State, and
(b) compensation is not payable for—
(i) the transfer of ownership, or
(ii) the destruction or disposal of the thing, and
(c) duty is not payable for the transfer, and
(d) the Secretary must, as soon as practicable, tell the person who owned
the thing immediately before its seizure about the destruction or
disposal, unless—
(i) the Secretary is not able to find the person after making
reasonable inquiries, or
(ii) it is otherwise impracticable or unreasonable to tell the person.
(7) This section does not limit the Secretary’s power to destroy a thing in the
exercise of another power for an authorised purpose.
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(3) The Secretary may accept a written undertaking given by an association that
the association will take action to do the following in relation to a breach of a
duty under section 109(1) or (2)—
(a) carry out maintenance and repair work,
(b) renew or replace fixtures or fittings.
(4) A person who contravenes an undertaking accepted by the Secretary commits
an offence.
Maximum penalty for subsection (4)—
(a) 200 penalty units, and
(b) for a continuing offence—20 penalty units for each day the offence
continues.
177U Variation or withdrawal of undertaking
(1) An association that enters into an undertaking may, with the written agreement
of the Secretary—
(a) vary the undertaking, or
(b) withdraw the undertaking.
(2) Before varying or withdrawing an undertaking under subsection (1), the
association must approve the variation or withdrawal by special resolution.
(3) The Secretary may—
(a) vary an undertaking, with the written agreement of the association, or
(b) withdraw the Secretary’s acceptance of an undertaking, by written
notice served on the association.
(4) Before agreeing to vary an undertaking under subsection (3)(a), the
association must approve the variation by special resolution.
(5) The provisions of an undertaking may not be varied to provide for a different
subject matter.
(6) An undertaking ceases to have effect if—
(a) the undertaking is withdrawn by the association, or
(b) the acceptance of the undertaking is withdrawn by the Secretary.
(7) In this section—
undertaking means an undertaking under section 177T.
177V Applying for orders to restrain or remedy breaches of duty
(1) The Secretary may apply to the Tribunal for an order to remedy or restrain a
breach of a duty under section 109(1) or (2).
(2) An order may be made without the Secretary being required to show a
likelihood of damage.
(3) The Tribunal may grant an interim order pending the determination of the
application if, in the Tribunal’s opinion, it is desirable to grant the order.
(4) The Tribunal must not require the Secretary or another person, as a condition
of granting an interim order, to give an undertaking as to damages.
(5) The Tribunal may make the orders the Tribunal thinks fit to remedy or restrain
a breach if satisfied a breach—
(a) has been committed, or
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(2) The Secretary must, when a compliance notice has been complied with, give
a written notice to the association given the compliance notice confirming the
revocation of the compliance notice.
(3) The failure of the Secretary to give the written notice does not affect the
revocation of the compliance notice.
177ZB Offence for failure to comply with compliance notice
An association given a compliance notice must not fail to comply with the
notice.
Maximum penalty—
(a) 200 penalty units, and
(b) for a continuing offence—20 penalty units for each day the offence
continues.
177ZC Administrative review of decision to give compliance notice
(1) An association may apply to the Tribunal for an administrative review under
the Administrative Decisions Review Act 1997 of the decision to give the
association a compliance notice.
(2) The application must be made no later than 28 days after the association
receives the notice.
(3) The Administrative Decisions Review Act 1997, Chapter 3, Part 2 does not
apply to the application.
(4) In determining the application, the Tribunal must take into account any matter
that was required to be taken into account in making the decision to give the
compliance notice.
[50] Section 217 Functions of Secretary
Omit “Act.” from section 217(e). Insert instead—
Act,
(f) investigating, monitoring and enforcing compliance with section 109.
[51] Section 233 Regulations
Omit “way.” from section 233(2)(j). Insert instead—
way,
(k) the procedures for entering into an undertaking under section 177T,
(l) the procedures for giving a compliance notice under section 177X,
(m) information that must be included in a compliance notice under section
177Y.
[52] Schedule 1 Meeting procedures of associations
Omit “electricity, gas or any other utility relevant to the scheme.” from clause 5(b).
Insert instead—
utilities relevant to the scheme,
(c) an item to consider environmental sustainability within the scheme,
including consideration of the association property annual energy and
water consumption and expenditure.
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disability has the same meaning as in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992
of the Commonwealth, section 4(1).
independent surveyor means a person who is not connected to the original
owner and who—
(a) is a member of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and holds
the designation Certified Quantity Surveyor, or
(b) is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and a
Chartered Quantity Surveyor.
multi-storey scheme—
(a) means an association scheme—
(i) that comprises at least 1 building with more than 2 storeys above
ground level, and
(ii) where the whole or a part of at least 1 lot in that building is
located above the whole or a part of another lot, and
(b) includes a scheme of a type prescribed by the regulations.
storey, of a building, includes the following—
(a) the ground level,
(b) a level of a split level.
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