{"id":"C2020A00142","name":"Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Levy) Act 2020","slug":"civil-aviation-unmanned-aircraft-levy-act-2020","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"142 of 2020","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":436339,"registerId":"C2020A00142-fast-fetch-1775953566726","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Levy) Act 2020","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.png)\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nCivil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Levy) Act 2020\n\n \n\nNo. 142, 2020\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nAn Act to impose unmanned aircraft levy, and for related purposes\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nContents\n\nPart 1—Preliminary\n\n1 Short title\n\n2 Commencement\n\n3 Crown to be bound\n\n4 Definitions\n\nPart 2—Unmanned aircraft levy\n\n5 Imposition of levy\n\n6 Amount of levy\n\nPart 3—Other matters\n\n7 Act does not impose levy on property of a State\n\n8 Regulations\n\n \n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.002.png)\n\n \n\n \n\nCivil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Levy) Act 2020\n\nNo. 142, 2020\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nAn Act to impose unmanned aircraft levy, and for related purposes\n\n[Assented to 17 December 2020]\n\nThe Parliament of Australia enacts:\n\nPart 1—Preliminary\n\n \n\n1  Short title\n\n  This Act is the Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Levy) Act 2020.\n\n2  Commencement\n\n (1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.\n\n \n\n- Commencement information\n- Column 1 Column 2 Column 3\n- Provisions Commencement Date/Details\n- 1. The whole of this Act The later of:(a) the start of the day after this Act receives the Royal Assent; and(b) the commencement of Schedules 1 and 2 to the Civil Aviation Safety Amendment (Remotely Piloted Aircraft and Model Aircraft—Registration and Accreditation) Regulations 2019. 18 December 2020(paragraph (a) applies)\n\n\nNote: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Act.\n\n (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this Act.\n\n3  Crown to be bound\n\n  This Act binds the Crown in each of its capacities.\n\n4  Definitions\n\n  In this Act:\n\nmodel aircraft has the same meaning as in the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998.\n\nRPA has the same meaning as in the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998.\n\nunmanned aircraft levy means unmanned aircraft levy payable:\n\n (a) on applying under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 for registration of an aircraft (within the meaning of the Civil Aviation Act 1988) as an RPA or as a model aircraft; or\n\n (b) on applying under the Part 101 Manual of Standards (within the meaning of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998) for permission to operate, or to conduct operations using, an RPA or model aircraft registered under a law of a foreign country.\n\nPart 2—Unmanned aircraft levy\n\n \n\n5  Imposition of levy\n\n  Unmanned aircraft levy is imposed.\n\n6  Amount of levy\n\n (1) The amount of the levy is the amount prescribed by the regulations.\n\n (2) The amount prescribed:\n\n (a) must not be more than $300; and\n\n (b) may be a nil amount.\n\nPart 3—Other matters\n\n \n\n7  Act does not impose levy on property of a State\n\n (1) This Act does not impose a tax on property of any kind belonging to a State.\n\n (2) In this section, property of any kind belonging to a State has the same meaning as in section 114 of the Constitution.\n\n (3) For the purposes of this section, assume that a reference in section 114 of the Constitution to a State includes a reference to the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.\n\n8  Regulations\n\n  The Governor‑General may make regulations prescribing matters:\n\n (a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed by the regulations; or\n\n (b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n[Minister’s second reading speech made in—\n\nHouse of Representatives on 27 August 2020\n\nSenate on 8 December 2020]\n\n(90/20)\n\n \n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: imposing a levy on drone and model aircraft registration. The scope has not expanded beyond this specific revenue-raising mechanism for unmanned aircraft regulation."},"complexity_factors":["Very short statute (only 8 sections)","Minimal defined terms (only 3: 'model aircraft', 'RPA', 'unmanned aircraft levy')","No nested exceptions or complex conditional logic","Simple structure: definitions, imposition, amount, constitutional safeguard, regulation-making power","Heavy reliance on external instruments (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, Part 101 Manual of Standards) for substantive details, but this is standard for levy acts","Single straightforward limitation on levy amount ($300 cap)","Standard constitutional provision (section 7) protecting state property from taxation"],"plain_english_summary":"This law creates a **registration fee (called a 'levy') for drones and remote-controlled aircraft** in Australia.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Imposes a charge** when you apply to register a drone (called an 'RPA' — Remotely Piloted Aircraft) or a model aircraft with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).\n- **Also applies** when you apply for permission to operate a foreign-registered drone in Australia.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Anyone who wants to **legally register a drone or model aircraft** in Australia.\n- People or businesses bringing **foreign-registered drones** to operate here.\n\n**How much it costs:**\n- The exact amount is set by **regulations** (rules made by the government), but this law caps it at **$300** and allows it to be **free ($0)** if the government chooses.\n\n**Key protections:**\n- **States and Territories** don't have to pay this levy on their own property (this protects state governments from federal taxes on their assets, as required by the Australian Constitution).\n- The **Crown** (Australian government) is bound by this law, meaning government agencies generally pay too unless exempted.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis law helps fund the safety regulation of drones in Australian airspace. By attaching a fee to registration, it ensures drone operators contribute to the cost of keeping skies safe."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Act is narrowly confined to creating a statutory basis for an unmanned aircraft levy payable when registering or seeking permission for RPAs and model aircraft and to giving the executive power to set the amount (up to $300) by regulation. It does not broaden the regulatory reach beyond those registration/permission events, nor add other regulatory controls or taxes beyond the levy. The main open question left by the Act is the detailed operation and amount of the levy, which are to be set by regulation; that delegation alters implementation but does not expand the Act's substantive scope beyond its original, narrow purpose (sections 4–8)."},"complexity_factors":["Very short Act (8 sections across 3 Parts).","Small number of defined terms in the Act itself (RPA, model aircraft, unmanned aircraft levy) (section 4).","Key operational detail (the dollar amount) is delegated to regulations rather than set in the Act (sections 6 and 8).","Cross-references to external instruments: Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 and the Part 101 Manual of Standards (section 4) — practical effect depends on those instruments.","Cap and exception logic in the Act is simple: cap of $300 and a permitted nil amount (section 6(2)).","Commencement is conditional on the commencement of related regulatory schedules, creating a dependency on external timing (section 2).","Constitutional reference for State property exemption (section 7 referencing section 114 of the Constitution) adds a legal cross-check."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does (mechanics)\n\n- It creates an \"unmanned aircraft levy\" — a fee payable when someone applies to register, or to obtain permission to operate, an unmanned aircraft (either a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) or a model aircraft). (See sections 4 and 5.)\n- The exact dollar amount of the levy is not in the Act itself; the Governor‑General makes regulations that set the amount. The regulations may set the levy to any amount up to $300, including nil (zero). (See section 6 and section 8.)\n- The Act binds the Crown (the Commonwealth) (section 3) but expressly says it does not impose a tax on property belonging to a State (section 7). The exemption references section 114 of the Constitution and treats the territories as included for this purpose (section 7(2)–(3)).\n- The Act only commences once this Act has received Royal Assent and certain related regulatory instruments have commenced. (See section 2.)\n\nWho is affected\n\n- People or organisations applying under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) to register an aircraft as an RPA or model aircraft — this includes hobbyists who register model aircraft and commercial or recreational RPA operators. (See definitions in section 4 and the levy triggers in section 4(a) and Part 2.)\n- People or organisations applying under the Part 101 Manual of Standards for permission to operate, or to conduct operations using, an RPA or model aircraft that is registered under a foreign law. (See section 4(b).)\n- The Commonwealth (the Crown) is bound by the Act, but property owned by States is not subject to the levy (section 7).\n\nWhy it matters (policy trade-offs and implementation mechanics)\n\n- Purpose-claim: The Act provides a statutory basis for charging a fee at the point of registration or permission for unmanned aircraft — a funding or cost‑recovery mechanism. That purpose is implemented by making the amount a matter for regulation (section 6), rather than fixed in the Act.\n\n- Who pays and who decides: The levy is paid by applicants seeking registration or permission (section 4). The executive (via regulations made under section 8) decides the dollar amount, up to the $300 cap (section 6).\n\n- Cost and incentives: A levy spreads some regulatory costs to those who apply to register or receive permission. Because the Act caps the levy at $300 but allows a nil fee, impacts on individual operators can range from immaterial to moderately significant depending on the regulated amount set by the regulations. A higher levy could discourage registration or permissions in some marginal cases; a nil levy imposes no direct charge.\n\n- Administrative and compliance burdens: Mechanically, the levy ties to existing application processes under CASR and the Part 101 Manual of Standards, so the additional compliance burden is mainly payment and any administrative collection by the regulator. The practical paperwork and collection method will depend on the regulations and regulator procedures.\n\n- Delegation and discretion risk: By leaving the amount to regulation (subject to the $300 cap), the Act gives administrative discretion to set fees. That concentrates decision‑making in the executive and regulatory apparatus and means the real economic effect will depend on how the regulations are framed and applied (sections 6 and 8).\n\n- Scope limits and legal protections: The Act is narrowly focused on fees connected to registration and permissions for RPAs and model aircraft; it includes a constitutional protection that excludes State property from being taxed (section 7). The commencement is linked to other regulatory instruments, which can affect when the levy actually starts to apply (section 2).\n\nConcrete sections to check when implementing or complying\n\n- Definitions and triggers: section 4 (what counts as RPA, model aircraft, and when the levy is payable).\n- Levy imposed: section 5.\n- Amount and cap: section 6.\n- State property exemption: section 7.\n- Regulation power and delegated detail: section 8.\n- Commencement linkage to related regulations: section 2.\n\nSummary in one sentence: The Act authorises a fee to be charged when people apply to register or obtain permission to operate remotely piloted or model aircraft, leaves the fee amount to regulation (up to $300, or nil), binds the Crown, and excludes State property from the levy (sections 4–8)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-unmanned-aircraft-levy-act-2020","history":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-unmanned-aircraft-levy-act-2020/history","analysis":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-unmanned-aircraft-levy-act-2020/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-unmanned-aircraft-levy-act-2020/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-unmanned-aircraft-levy-act-2020/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-unmanned-aircraft-levy-act-2020/documents"}}