{"id":"administrators-pensions-act-1981","name":"Administrators Pensions Act 1981","slug":"administrators-pensions-act-1981","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":29825,"registerId":"nt-administrators-pensions-act-1981-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Administrators Pensions Act 1981","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nADMINISTRATORS PENSIONS ACT 1981\nAs in force at 1 July 2015\nTable of provisions\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\n1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1\n2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1\n3 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1\n3AA Application of Act ............................................................................. 2\n3AB Application of Criminal Code ........................................................... 2\nPart 2 Tax related arrangements\n3A Act to be administered so as to comply with superannuation\nsurcharge laws and agreements with Commonwealth .................... 2\n3B Surcharge debt accounts ................................................................. 3\n3C Advance payments to reduce superannuation contributions\nsurcharge......................................................................................... 3\n3D Pension may be commuted to repay surcharge paid....................... 4\n3E Commutation to pay deferred superannuation contributions\nsurcharge......................................................................................... 4\nPart 3 Pensions\n4 Pension payable .............................................................................. 4\n5 Pension of spouse or de facto partner ............................................. 5\n6 Variation of amount of pension ........................................................ 6\n7 Reduction of amount where other pension payable......................... 6\nPart 4 Review of decisions\n7A Meaning of decision......................................................................... 7\n7B Application for review by Tribunal .................................................... 7\n7C Time limit for application for review ................................................. 7\n7D Tribunal has jurisdiction ................................................................... 7\nPart 5 General matters\n8 Appropriation ................................................................................... 8\n9 Act to be administered so as to comply with Family Law Act\nprovisions in relation to superannuation .......................................... 8\n10 Treasurer may charge fees for additional services .......................... 9\n10A Confidentiality of information ........................................................... 9\n\nAdministrators Pensions Act 1981 ii\nPart 6 Transitional matters\n11 Judges and Administrators Pensions Legislation Amendment\nAct 2006 ........................................................................................ 10\n12 Superannuation Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2014..... 10\nENDNOTES\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 1 July 2015\n____________________\nADMINISTRATORS PENSIONS ACT 1981\nAn Act to provide for the payment of pensions to former Administrators\nand to their spouses\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\n1 Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Administrators Pensions Act 1981.\n2 Commencement\nThis Act shall be deemed to have come into operation on\n1 January 1981.\n3 Definitions\nIn this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:\ndecision, for Part 4, see section 7A.\nFamily Law Act means the Family Law Act 1975 of the\nCommonwealth and includes regulations made under that Act.\nmember spouse, in relation to a superannuation interest, means\nthe person who is the member spouse in relation to that interest\nunder Part VIIIB of the Family Law Act.\nnon-member spouse, in relation to a superannuation interest,\nmeans the person who is the non-member spouse in relation to that\ninterest under Part VIIIB of the Family Law Act.\nsplitting instrument means a superannuation agreement, a flag\nlifting agreement that provides for a payment split, or a splitting\norder, each within the meaning of Part VIIIB of the Family Law Act.\nsuperannuation contributions surcharge means the\nsuperannuation contributions surcharge imposed under the\nSurcharge Act.\n\nPart 2 Tax related arrangements\nAdministrators Pensions Act 1981 2\nsuperannuation interest means an interest that an Administrator\nor former Administrator has under this Act.\nSurcharge Act means the Superannuation Contributions Tax\nImposition Act 1997 of the Commonwealth and includes regulations\nunder that Act.\nSurcharge Collection Act means the Superannuation\nContributions Tax (Assessment and Collection) Act 1997 of the\nCommonwealth and includes regulations under that Act.\nTribunal, for Part 4, means the Civil and Administrative Tribunal.\n3AA Application of Act\n(1) This Act does not apply to an Acting Administrator or future\nAdministrator.\n(2) In this section:\ncurrent Administrator means the Administrator holding office on\nthe commencement of this section.\nfuture Administrator means an Administrator appointed after the\ncurrent Administrator ceases to hold office.\n3AB Application of Criminal Code\nPart IIAA of the Criminal Code applies to an offence against this\nAct.\nNote for section 3AB\nPart IIAA of the Criminal Code states the general principles of criminal\nresponsibility, establishes general defences, and deals with burden of proof. It\nalso defines, or elaborates on, certain concepts commonly used in the creation of\noffences.\nPart 2 Tax related arrangements\n3A Act to be administered so as to comply with superannuation\nsurcharge laws and agreements with Commonwealth\nThis Act is to be administered in accordance with:\n(a) the Surcharge Act and the Surcharge Collection Act; and\n\nPart 2 Tax related arrangements\nAdministrators Pensions Act 1981 3\n(b) a written agreement entered into by the Territory and the\nCommonwealth relating to exempt public sector\nsuperannuation schemes within the meaning of section 10 of\nthe Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 of the\nCommonwealth.\n3B Surcharge debt accounts\n(1) The Treasurer must establish and maintain for the purposes of\nsection 16 of the Surcharge Collection Act a surcharge debt\naccount for each Administrator in relation to whom superannuation\ncontributions surcharge is paid or payable by the Treasurer.\n(2) The Treasurer must debit to the surcharge debt account of an\nAdministrator:\n(a) superannuation contributions surcharge paid or payable by the\nTreasurer in respect of the Administrator; and\n(b) interest paid or payable under the Surcharge Collection Act on\nthe amount by which the account is in debit.\n(3) The Treasurer must credit to the surcharge debt account of an\nAdministrator an amount paid under section 3C by the\nAdministrator.\n3C Advance payments to reduce superannuation contributions\nsurcharge\n(1) An Administrator may, on lodging an approved election form with\nthe Treasurer, pay an amount to the Territory for the purpose of\nreducing the amount by which the Administrator's surcharge debt\naccount is in debit.\n(2) A payment under this section may be made on a periodic or single\npayment basis.\n(3) An election form lodged under subsection (1) is to specify the\namount to be paid and the manner of payment.\n(4) An Administrator may, on lodging an approved election form with\nthe Treasurer:\n(a) vary in accordance with the form the amount or manner of\npayment of periodic payments; or\n(b) revoke an election under this section.\n(5) In this section, approved election form means a form approved by\nthe Treasurer.\n\nPart 3 Pensions\nAdministrators Pensions Act 1981 4\n3D Pension may be commuted to repay surcharge paid\nThe Treasurer may commute part of a pension payable under this\nAct in relation to an Administrator to a lump sum for the purposes of\npaying to the Territory an amount equal to the balance of the\nAdministrator's surcharge debt account.\n3E Commutation to pay deferred superannuation contributions\nsurcharge\n(1) If:\n(a) a former Administrator, or the surviving spouse or de facto\npartner of an Administrator or former Administrator who has\ndied, is paid a pension under this Act; and\n(b) he or she has received from the Commissioner of Taxation\nnotice under section 15 of the Surcharge Collection Act that\nhe or she is liable to pay an amount of superannuation\ncontributions surcharge specified in the notice; and\n(c) the superannuation contributions surcharge relates to\nsurchargeable contributions, within the meaning of the\nSurcharge Collection Act, in relation to the former\nAdministrator, or to an Administrator, or former Administrator,\nwho has died,\nthe former Administrator or the surviving spouse may, within a\nreasonable period after the notice was given, request the Treasurer\nin writing to commute as much of the pension payable to him or her\nas is necessary to provide a lump sum equivalent to the amount.\n(2) The Treasurer must, if satisfied that the commuted amount will be\nused to pay the superannuation contributions surcharge, comply\nwith a request under subsection (1).\nPart 3 Pensions\n4 Pension payable\n(1) Subject to sections 6 and 7, there is payable to a person who\nbecame the Administrator at any time after the commencement of\nthe Administrators Pensions Amendment Act 1999 and who:\n(a) held that office for a period of not less than 5 years – an\nannual pension for life equal to 60% of the annual basic salary\npayable to him or her immediately before he or she ceased to\nhold that office; or\n\nPart 3 Pensions\nAdministrators Pensions Act 1981 5\n(b) held that office for a period of less than 5 years:\n(i) if the Commissioner within the meaning of the Public\nSector Employment and Management Act 1993 is\nsatisfied that his or her ceasing to hold the office arose\nfrom a mental or physical incapacity to perform the\nduties of that office; or\n(ii) if he or she ceased to hold that office for reasons other\nthan voluntary retirement or the expiration of the period\nof his or her appointment,\nan annual pension for life equal to 60% of the annual basic\nsalary payable to him or her immediately before he or she\nceased to hold that office; or\n(c) held that office for a period of less than 5 years due to\nvoluntary retirement or the expiration of the period of his or her\nappointment – an annual pension for life equal to A% of the\nannual basic salary payable to him or her immediately before\nhe or she ceased to hold that office, where:\n(years served as Administrator )\nA% = 60% x ( 5 ),\nand with a part year being taken into account as a fraction of a\nwhole year calculated on the basis of days.\n(2) Despite subsection (1) but subject to sections 6 and 7, the\nTreasurer may, before the appointment of an Administrator,\ndetermine that the annual pension for life payable under this Act to\nthat Administrator, if he or she becomes eligible for the pension\nunder this Act, is to be, in the place of the amount of pension he or\nshe would have been entitled to receive under subsection (1) if the\ndirection were not made, an amount per annum specified in the\ndirection.\n(3) If the Treasurer makes a determination under subsection (2), he or\nshe must table a copy of the direction in the Legislative Assembly\nwithin 3 sitting days of the Legislative Assembly after the day on\nwhich the direction was given.\n5 Pension of spouse or de facto partner\n(1) Subject to sections 6 and 7, where an Administrator in office, or a\nformer Administrator receiving or entitled to receive a pension\nunder this Act, dies leaving a surviving spouse or de facto partner\n(the surviving partner), there is payable to the surviving partner\nfor life a pension at two-thirds of the rate of pension:\n\nPart 3 Pensions\nAdministrators Pensions Act 1981 6\n(a) that would have been payable to the Administrator had he or\nshe retired immediately before the date of his or her death and\nbeen eligible to receive a pension under this Act; or\n(b) payable to the former Administrator (disregarding any amount\nof reduction of pension pursuant to section 7) immediately\nbefore the date of his or her death,\nas the case may be.\n(2) If the Administrator or former Administrator (the deceased) is\nsurvived by both a spouse and a de facto partner, the two-thirds\npension is payable under subsection (1) to:\n(a) the de facto partner if:\n(i) the de facto partner was the de facto partner of the\ndeceased for a continuous period of at least 2 years\nimmediately preceding the deceased's death; and\n(ii) the spouse had not lived with the deceased at any time\nduring that period; or\n(b) the spouse if paragraph (a) does not apply.\n6 Variation of amount of pension\nA pension payable under this Act shall be adjusted at such times\nand by the same percentage as the basic salary payable to the\nAdministrator for the time being.\n7 Reduction of amount where other pension payable\n(1) Subject to subsection (2), the amount of pension that, but for this\nsection, would be payable under this Act to a person in respect of a\nperiod shall be reduced by the amount of pension or retiring\nallowance payable to that person in respect of that period in respect\nof any remunerative activity undertaken by the former\nAdministrator.\n(2) For the purposes of calculating the amount of pension payable in\naccordance with subsection (1), the Treasurer shall determine, after\nconsidering such actuarial advice as he or she thinks fit, the\nappropriate rate at which any lump sum payment in respect of any\nremunerative activity undertaken by the former Administrator, and\npayable as a result of his or her retirement or death, shall be taken\ninto account, and it shall be taken into account accordingly as if it\nwere a pension or retiring allowance.\n\nPart 4 Review of decisions\nAdministrators Pensions Act 1981 7\nPart 4 Review of decisions\n7A Meaning of decision\nFor this Part, a person makes a decision if the person:\n(a) makes a decision; or\n(b) engages in any conduct in relation to making a decision.\n7B Application for review by Tribunal\n(1) A person, or the executor or administrator of a person's estate, who\nis aggrieved by a decision made under this Act in relation to the\nperson, may apply to the Tribunal for review of the decision.\n(2) The application must be made:\n(a) within the time mentioned in section 7C; and\n(b) in accordance with the Northern Territory Civil and\nAdministrative Tribunal Act 2014.\n7C Time limit for application for review\n(1) For section 7B(2)(a), the time within which an application for review\nof a decision must be made is:\n(a) if the decision relates to a benefit under section 5 – 30 days\nafter the decision was made; or\n(b) otherwise – 12 months after the decision was made.\n(2) The Tribunal may allow a longer period within which an application\nfor review may be made.\n(3) However, the Tribunal may do so for subsection (1)(a) only if\nsatisfied that the decision maker failed to comply with the\nrequirements under the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative\nTribunal Act 2014 to notify the aggrieved person of his or her right\nto apply for review.\n7D Tribunal has jurisdiction\nThe Tribunal has jurisdiction to deal with matters under this Part.\n\nPart 5 General matters\nAdministrators Pensions Act 1981 8\nPart 5 General matters\n8 Appropriation\nAn amount payable under this Act shall be paid monthly, or at such\nshorter intervals as the Treasurer directs, out of the public moneys\nof the Territory and the appropriation for that purpose is hereby\nestablished or increased to the extent necessary.\n9 Act to be administered so as to comply with Family Law Act\nprovisions in relation to superannuation\n(1) This section applies despite any other provision of this Act.\n(2) This Act is to be administered in accordance with the provisions of\nthe Family Law Act relating to superannuation.\n(3) Subject to the provisions of the Family Law Act relating to\nsuperannuation, this Act is to be administered in relation to a\nperson in accordance with the provisions of a splitting instrument, if\nany, that applies in relation to the person.\n(4) The Treasurer may prepare written administrative instructions that\nare necessary or convenient to give effect to:\n(a) the provisions of the Family Law Act relating to\nsuperannuation;\n(b) splitting instruments; and\n(c) Acts of the Commonwealth relating to superannuation and\nregulations under those Acts.\n(5) Without limiting the generality of subsection (4), administrative\ninstructions for the purposes of that subsection may include, but are\nnot limited to, the following:\n(a) the methods of calculating and paying a superannuation\ninterest to member spouses and non-member spouses,\nincluding calculations that may reduce the superannuation\ninterest of a member spouse;\n(b) the establishing of interests and accounts, including accounts\nunder the Superannuation Act 1986, for non-member\nspouses.\n(6) An administrative instruction prepared under subsection (4) takes\neffect on the date specified in the instruction.\n\nPart 5 General matters\nAdministrators Pensions Act 1981 9\n(7) If a provision of this Act or the administrative instructions made\nunder this section is inconsistent with:\n(a) a provision of the Family Law Act relating to superannuation;\nor\n(b) a splitting instrument,\nthe provision of this Act or the administrative instructions is taken to\nhave been complied with if the provision of the Family Law Act or a\nsplitting instrument, as the case may be, has been complied with.\n10 Treasurer may charge fees for additional services\nThe Treasurer may charge a person the reasonable cost of\nperforming on behalf of the person a service in relation to this Act\nthat the Treasurer undertakes at the request of the person.\n10A Confidentiality of information\n(1) A person commits an offence if the person:\n(a) obtains information in the course of performing functions\nconnected with the administration of this Act; and\n(b) engages in conduct that results in the disclosure of the\ninformation.\nMaximum penalty: 200 penalty units or imprisonment for\n2 years.\n(2) Strict liability applies in relation to subsection (1)(a).\n(3) Subsection (1) does not apply if:\n(a) the person discloses the information:\n(i) for the administration of this Act; or\n(ii) with the consent of the person to whom the information\nrelates; or\n(iii) for legal proceedings arising out of the operation of this\nAct; or\n\nPart 6 Transitional matters\nAdministrators Pensions Act 1981 10\n(b) the information is otherwise available to the public.\nNote for subsection (3)\nIn addition to the circumstances mentioned in subsection (3), a person who\ndiscloses confidential information will not be criminally responsible for an offence\nif the disclosure is justified or excused by or under a law (see section 43BE of the\nCriminal Code).\nPart 6 Transitional matters\n11 Judges and Administrators Pensions Legislation Amendment\nAct 2006\n(1) The amendments made to this Act by Part 3 of the Judges and\nAdministrators Pensions Legislation Amendment Act 2006 have\neffect in relation to:\n(a) the current Administrator within the meaning of section 3AA;\nand\n(b) anyone who held office as Administrator before the current\nAdministrator.\n(2) However, the amendments do not create an entitlement to an\namount of pension for a period before the commencement of this\nsection.\n12 Superannuation Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2014\nPart 4 does not apply in relation to a decision made before the\ncommencement of section 76 of the Superannuation Legislation\nAmendment and Repeal Act 2014.\n\nENDNOTES\nAdministrators Pensions Act 1981 11\nENDNOTES\n1 KEY\nKey to abbreviations\namd = amended od = order\napp = appendix om = omitted\nbl = by-law pt = Part\nch = Chapter r = regulation/rule\ncl = clause rem = remainder\ndiv = Division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired rep = repealed\nf = forms s = section\nGaz = Gazette sch = Schedule\nhdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision\nins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation\nlt = long title sub = substituted\nnc = not commenced\n2 LIST OF LEGISLATION\nAdministrators Pensions Act 1981 (Act No. 96, 1981)\nAssent date 12 November 1981\nCommenced 1 January 1981 (s 2)\nPublic Sector Employment and Management (Consequential Amendments) Act 1993\n(Act No. 28, 1993)\nAssent date 30 June 1993\nCommenced 1 July 1993 (s 2, s 2 Public Sector Employment and\nManagement Act 1993 (Act No. 11, 1993) and Gaz S53,\n29 June 1993)\nFinancial Management (Consequential Amendments) Act 1995 (Act No. 5, 1995)\nAssent date 21 March 1995\nCommenced 1 April 1995 (s 2, s 2 Financial Management Act 1995 (Act\nNo. 4, 1995) and Gaz S13, 31 March 1995)\nAdministrators Pensions Amendment Act 1998 (Act No. 66, 1998)\nAssent date 23 September 1998\nCommenced 20 October 1998 (Gaz S41 20 October 1998)\nAdministrators Pensions Amendment Act 1999 (Act No. 60, 1999)\nAssent date 14 December 1999\nCommenced 14 December 1999\nAdministrators Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (Act No. 11, 2003)\nAssent date 18 March 2003\nCommenced 28 May 2003 (Gaz G21, 28 May 2003, p 3)\nLaw Reform (Gender, Sexuality and De Facto Relationships) Act 2003 (Act No. 1, 2004)\nAssent date 7 January 2004\nCommenced 17 March 2004 (Gaz G11, 17 March 2004, p 8)\n\nENDNOTES\nAdministrators Pensions Act 1981 12\nAdministrators Pensions Amendment Act 2006 (Act No. 5, 2006)\nAssent date 26 April 2006\nCommenced 26 April 2006\nJudges and Administrators Pensions Legislation Amendment Act 2006 (Act No. 21,\n2006)\nAssent date 28 June 2006\nCommenced 28 June 2006\nFinancial Management Amendment Act 2009 (Act No. 15, 2009)\nAssent date 18 June 2009\nCommenced 18 June 2009\nSuperannuation Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2014 (Act No. 39, 2014)\nAssent date 13 November 2014\nCommenced pts 1 and 2: 13 November 2014 (s 2); pts 3 and 5: 1 July 2015\n(Gaz G21, 27 May 2015, p 2); pt 4: nc\n3 SAVINGS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS\ns 45 Law Reform (Gender, Sexuality and De Facto Relationships) Act 2003\n(Act No. 1, 2004)\n4 GENERAL AMENDMENTS\nGeneral amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table\nof amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation\nAmendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22, 2018) to: ss 1, 4, 7B, 7C and 9.\n5 LIST OF AMENDMENTS\npt 1 hdg ins No. 39, 2014, s 35\ns 3 sub No. 66, 1998, s 4\namd No. 11, 2003, s 4; No. 5, 2006, s 3; No. 39, 2014, s 75\ns 3AA ins No. 5, 2006, s 4\ns 3AB ins No. 39, 2014, s 36\npt 2 hdg ins No. 39, 2014, s 37\nss 3A – 3D ins No. 66, 1998, s 4\ns 3E ins No. 60, 1999, s 3\namd No. 1, 2004, s 43; No. 39, 2014, s 38\npt 3 hdg ins No. 39, 2014, s 39\ns 4 amd No. 28, 1993, s 3; No. 66, 1998, s 5\nsub No. 60, 1999, s 4\namd No. 39, 2014, s 40\ns 5 amd No. 66, 1998, s 5; No. 1, 2004, s 44; No. 21, 2006, s 8\ns 7 amd No. 66, 1998, s 5; No. 60, 1999, s 5\npt 4 hdg ins No. 39, 2014, s 76\nss 7A – 7D ins No. 39, 2014, s 76\npt 5 hdg ins No. 39, 2014, s 41\ns 8 amd No. 5, 1995, s 19; No. 15, 2009, s 16\ns 9 ins No. 11, 2003, s 5\namd No. 39, 2014, s 42\ns 10 ins No. 11, 2003, s 5\ns 10A ins No. 39, 2014, s 43\npt 6 hdg ins No. 39, 2014, s 77\n\nENDNOTES\nAdministrators Pensions Act 1981 13\ns 11 ins No. 21, 2006, s 9\namd No. 39, 2014, s 78\ns 12 ins No. 39, 2014, s 79","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The legislation has grown significantly beyond its original 1981 purpose of simply paying pensions to former Administrators. Major expansions include: (1) 1998-1999 amendments adding extensive Commonwealth tax compliance machinery for superannuation surcharges; (2) 2003 amendments incorporating Family Law Act superannuation splitting provisions (divorce/separation); (3) 2006 amendments closing the scheme to future Administrators while preserving transitional arrangements; and (4) 2014 amendments adding a complete administrative review framework (Part 4) and confidentiality offences. The original 4-part structure has expanded to 6 parts with substantial tax, family law, and administrative law overlays."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple amendments over 33 years (1981-2014) creating layered provisions, particularly the 1999 restructuring of pension calculations and 2006 closure to new entrants","Extensive cross-referencing to Commonwealth legislation (Family Law Act 1975, Superannuation Contributions Tax legislation, Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993)","Conditional pension calculations with multiple eligibility pathways (5+ years service vs. <5 years with different triggers for full vs. proportional benefits)","Complex interaction between Territory law and Commonwealth tax law regarding superannuation surcharges, requiring debt accounts and commutation mechanisms","Family law splitting provisions requiring administrative instructions and calculations for member/non-member spouses","Transitional provisions applying differently to 'current Administrator' vs. previous office-holders"],"plain_english_summary":"This Northern Territory law sets up a pension scheme for former Administrators of the Territory (the Administrator is the Queen's representative at the Territory level, similar to a Governor in a State).\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Pays retirement pensions** to former Administrators who served at least 5 years, or who left early due to ill health or other involuntary reasons. The pension is 60% of their final salary.\n- **Pays reduced pensions** to Administrators who served less than 5 years and retired voluntarily—the amount is calculated proportionally (e.g., 3 years service = 36% of final salary).\n- **Pays survivor pensions** to spouses or de facto partners when an Administrator dies. The survivor gets two-thirds of what the Administrator would have received.\n- **Handles tax obligations** by allowing the Treasurer to set up debt accounts for superannuation surcharge liabilities, and letting pensioners commute (convert) part of their pension to lump sums to pay these tax debts.\n- **Protects confidential information** about pensioners, making unauthorised disclosure a criminal offence.\n- **Allows review of decisions** by the Civil and Administrative Tribunal if someone disagrees with a decision about their pension.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Former Administrators of the Northern Territory appointed before the current Administrator (the law closed to new entrants in 2006).\n- Their spouses and de facto partners.\n- The Treasurer and public servants who administer the scheme.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis is a closed, defined benefit superannuation scheme for a very small, specific group of high-office holders. It ensures they have retirement income and that their partners are provided for after their death, while also integrating with Commonwealth tax laws and family law (allowing superannuation to be split in divorce settlements)."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act’s core purpose—providing pensions to former Administrators and their surviving partners—remains unchanged. However, subsequent amendments materially broadened the administrative scope. Key additions include: (a) explicit machinery to coordinate with Commonwealth superannuation surcharge law and to manage surcharge debt accounts and commutation for surcharge repayment (ss 3A–3E); (b) express rules to give effect to Family Law Act superannuation splitting and a power for the Treasurer to publish administrative instructions implementing splitting and payment methods (s 9); (c) a Tribunal review framework for administrative decisions (Part 4); and (d) a confidentiality offence and fee‑charging power (ss 10A, 10). These changes expand the Act from a straightforward pension formula into a statutory scheme that requires ongoing interjurisdictional compliance, administrative rule‑making, actuarial determinations and record‑keeping, thereby extending the Act beyond its original, narrowly framed pension entitlement function."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross‑references to Commonwealth legislation (Family Law Act; Superannuation Contributions Tax Imposition Act 1997; Surcharge Collection Act) requiring external legal alignment (ss 3, 3A, 9).","Around 10 defined or specifically used technical terms in the Interpretation section (eg. Family Law Act, member spouse, non‑member spouse, splitting instrument, superannuation contributions surcharge, Surcharge Act, Surcharge Collection Act, Tribunal, superannuation interest).","Conditional eligibility and tiered calculations for pensions (full 60% after 5 years; pro rata formula for <5 years with part‑year fraction) including exceptions for incapacity or non‑voluntary cessation (s 4).","Administrative discretion points: Treasurer may set pre‑appointment pension amounts (s 4(2)); issue administrative instructions for family law compliance (s 9(4)); determine actuarial treatment for lump sums (s 7(2)); charge fees (s 10).","Tax‑compliance machinery (surcharge debt accounts, advance payments, commutation of pensions) introduces operational and accounting steps across Part 2 (ss 3B–3E).","Tribunal review regime with differing time limits (30 days for s 5 benefit disputes; 12 months for others) and extension powers (ss 7B–7C).","Criminal disclosure offence with strict liability element for obtaining information (s 10A) and multiple exceptions—adds enforcement complexity.","Transitional and amendment history referenced throughout (multiple amendment Acts noted in endnotes) increases interpretive complexity for historical entitlements."],"plain_english_summary":"This law creates a statutory pension for former Administrators of the Northern Territory (and, in certain cases, their surviving spouse/de facto) — typically 60% of final basic salary after five years’ service (pro rata if less), indexed to the Administrator’s salary and paid from Territory funds. It requires the Treasurer to manage Commonwealth superannuation‑surcharge debts, allow advance payments or commutation to settle them, implement Family Law superannuation‑splitting rules, charge fees, protect confidentiality, and provides limited tribunal review of administrative decisions."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/administrators-pensions-act-1981","history":"/api/acts/administrators-pensions-act-1981/history","analysis":"/api/acts/administrators-pensions-act-1981/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/administrators-pensions-act-1981/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/administrators-pensions-act-1981/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/administrators-pensions-act-1981/documents"}}