{"id":"F2021L01028","name":"Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Levy) Regulations 2021","slug":"civil-aviation-unmanned-aircraft-levy-regulations-2021","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":101983,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2021L01028-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Levy) Regulations 2021","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 22.10.0\ntitle: Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Levy) Regulations 2021\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.png)\n\nCivil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Levy) Regulations 2021\n\nmade under the\n\nCivil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Levy) Act 2020\n\nCompilation No. 1\n\nCompilation date: 26 May 2023\n\nIncludes amendments up to: F2023L00606\n\nRegistered: 7 June 2023\n\nAbout this compilation\n\nThis compilation\n\nThis is a compilation of the Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Levy) Regulations 2021 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 26 May 2023 (the compilation date).\n\nThe notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.\n\nUncommenced amendments\n\nThe effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.\n\nApplication, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments\n\nIf the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.\n\nEditorial changes\n\nFor more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.\n\nModifications\n\nIf the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.\n\nSelf‑repealing provisions\n\nIf a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nContents\n\nPart 1—Preliminary\n\n1 Name\n\n3 Authority\n\n4 Definitions\n\nPart 2—Amount of unmanned aircraft levy\n\n5 Amount of unmanned aircraft levy\n\nEndnotes\n\nEndnote 1—About the endnotes\n\nEndnote 2—Abbreviation key\n\nEndnote 3—Legislation history\n\nEndnote 4—Amendment history\n\nPart 1—Preliminary\n\n \n\n1  Name\n\n  This instrument is the Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Levy) Regulations 2021.\n\n3  Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under the Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Levy) Act 2020.\n\n4  Definitions\n\n  In this instrument:\n\nAct means the Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Levy) Act 2020.\n\nPart 2—Amount of unmanned aircraft levy\n\n \n\n5  Amount of unmanned aircraft levy\n\n  For the purposes of subsection 6(1) of the Act, the amount prescribed is:\n\n (a) for levy payable in relation to an RPA that weighs more than 500 grams—$40; and\n\n (b) for levy payable in relation to an RPA that weighs 500 gram or less—nil.\n\nEndnotes\n\nEndnote 1—About the endnotes\n\nThe endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.\n\nThe following endnotes are included in every compilation:\n\nEndnote 1—About the endnotes\n\nEndnote 2—Abbreviation key\n\nEndnote 3—Legislation history\n\nEndnote 4—Amendment history\n\nAbbreviation key—Endnote 2\n\nThe abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.\n\nLegislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4\n\nAmending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.\n\nThe legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.\n\nThe amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.\n\nEditorial changes\n\nThe Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.\n\nIf the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.\n\nMisdescribed amendments\n\nA misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.\n\nIf a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and “(md not incorp)” is added to the amendment history.\n\n \n\nEndnote 2—Abbreviation key\n\n| ad = added or inserted | o = order(s) |\n| --- | --- |\n| am = amended | Ord = Ordinance |\n| amdt = amendment | orig = original |\n| c = clause(s) | par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s) |\n| C[x] = Compilation No. x | /sub‑subparagraph(s) |\n| Ch = Chapter(s) | pres = present |\n| def = definition(s) | prev = previous |\n| Dict = Dictionary | (prev…) = previously |\n| disallowed = disallowed by Parliament | Pt = Part(s) |\n| Div = Division(s) | r = regulation(s)/rule(s) |\n| ed = editorial change | reloc = relocated |\n| exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have | renum = renumbered |\n| effect | rep = repealed |\n| F = Federal Register of Legislation | rs = repealed and substituted |\n| gaz = gazette | s = section(s)/subsection(s) |\n| LA = Legislation Act 2003 | Sch = Schedule(s) |\n| LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003 | Sdiv = Subdivision(s) |\n| (md) = misdescribed amendment can be given | SLI = Select Legislative Instrument |\n| effect | SR = Statutory Rules |\n| (md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment | Sub‑Ch = Sub‑Chapter(s) |\n| cannot be given effect | SubPt = Subpart(s) |\n| mod = modified/modification | underlining = whole or part not |\n| No. = Number(s) | commenced or to be commenced |\n\n\n \n\nEndnote 3—Legislation history\n\n \n\n| Name | Registration | Commencement | Application, saving and transitional provisions |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Levy) Regulations 2021 | 27 July 2021 (F2021L01028) | 28 July 2021 (s 2(1) item 1) |  |\n| Civil Aviation Legislation Amendment (2023 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2023 | 25 May 2023 (F2023L00606) | Sch 1 (items 73, 74): 26 May 2023 (s 2(1) item 1) | — |\n\n\n \n\nEndnote 4—Amendment history\n\n \n\n| Provision affected | How affected |\n| --- | --- |\n| Part 1 |  |\n| s 2..................... | rep LA s 48D |\n| Part 2 |  |\n| s 5..................... | am F2023L00606 |\n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"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"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Regulation 5 (the prescribed levy amount) was amended by the Civil Aviation Legislation Amendment (2023 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2023 (F2023L00606) with effect 26 May 2023; the instrument as compiled now prescribes $40 for RPAs over 500 g and nil for RPAs of 500 g or less (see reg 5 and Endnotes 3–4)."},"complexity_factors":["Single substantive rule: only regulation 5 prescribes levy amounts (low textual complexity).","Clear numeric threshold and amounts: >500 g = $40; ≤500 g = nil (straightforward compliance test) (reg 5).","Minimal local definitions: this instrument defines only the Act; ‘RPA’ and collection/enforcement mechanisms are not defined here and are therefore cross‑referenced to the parent Act (regs 3–4), increasing reliance on external text.","Low administrative discretion within the regulations themselves: no procedural, exemption or enforcement detail is included (reg 5), so practical implementation depends on the Act and administrative instruments.","Amendment history: regulation 5 was amended (F2023L00606), so users must check amendment notes to track changes (Endnotes 3–4)."],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set the dollar amount of the unmanned‑aircraft levy under the Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Levy) Act 2020. They require a $40 levy for a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) that weighs more than 500 grams and no levy for RPAs 500 grams or less. This creates a clear weight threshold and a fixed fee that owners or operators of affected RPAs must meet."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: setting the specific dollar amounts for the unmanned aircraft levy. It has not expanded beyond this narrow technical function. The 2023 amendment (F2023L00606) appears to have been a minor technical update to section 5 rather than a substantive expansion of scope."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short: only 5 sections, with section 2 repealed (removed), leaving just 4 operative provisions","Only 1 defined term ('Act') in the interpretation section","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the parent Act citation","Simple binary calculation: weight threshold of 500 grams determines liability ($40 vs nil)","No exceptions, exemptions, or conditional logic beyond the weight test","No administrative machinery (collection, enforcement, or penalty provisions) contained in this instrument"],"plain_english_summary":"This regulation sets the dollar amounts for Australia’s unmanned aircraft levy: owners/operators of remotely piloted aircraft (drones) weighing over 500 g must pay a $40 levy; drones 500 g or less are exempt (nil).  \n\nIt gives the levy from the parent Act a concrete price, affecting drone users and funding ongoing airspace safety and regulatory costs."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-unmanned-aircraft-levy-regulations-2021","history":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-unmanned-aircraft-levy-regulations-2021/history","analysis":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-unmanned-aircraft-levy-regulations-2021/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-unmanned-aircraft-levy-regulations-2021/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-unmanned-aircraft-levy-regulations-2021/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-unmanned-aircraft-levy-regulations-2021/documents"}}