{"id":"commonwealth-arrangements-act-1958","name":"Commonwealth Arrangements Act 1958","slug":"commonwealth-arrangements-act-1958","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"vic","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":176271,"registerId":"vic-commonwealth-arrangements-act-1958-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commonwealth Arrangements Act 1958","content":"Version No. 026\n\n**Commonwealth Arrangements Act 1958**\n\n**No. 6223 of 1958**\n\nVersion incorporating amendments as at  \n1 July 2014\n\n**table of provisions**\n\n*Section Page*\n\n1 Short title, commencement and division 1\n\n2 Repeal 1\n\nPart I—General 3\n\n3 Power to permit use of Government House and public  \nbuildings 3\n\n4 Temporary assistance by public service 3\n\n5 Service in Commonwealth not to disqualify for Victorian  \nservice 4\n\n5A Arrangements where officer performs duties for the Commonwealth 4\n\n6 Arrangements where any work or service to be performed for the Commonwealth 4\n\n6A Arrangements for services etc. of Commonwealth officer 5\n\nPart II—Taxation of Salaries of State Officers 6\n\n7 Definition 6\n\n8 Taxation by Commonwealth of salaries of State officers and Members of Parliament etc. 6\n\n9 Salary of Governor 6\n\n__________________\n\nSCHEDULE—Repeals 7\n\nENDNOTES 8\n\n1. General Information 8\n\n2. Table of Amendments 9\n\n3. Explanatory Details 10\n\n**Version No.** **026**\n\n**Commonwealth Arrangements Act 1958**\n\n**No. 6223 of 1958**\n\nVersion incorporating amendments as at  \n1 July 2014\n\nAn Act to consolidate the Law providing for certain matters in Victoria in connexion with the Commonwealth.\n\n**BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly of Victoria in this present Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same as follows (that is to say):**\n\n\t1 Short title, commencement and division\n\nThis Act may be cited as the **Commonwealth Arrangements Act 1958**, and shall come into operation on a day to be fixed by proclamation of the Governor in Council published in the Government Gazette, and is divided into Parts as follows—\n\nPart I—General ss 3–6\n\nPart II—Taxation of Salaries of State Officers ss 7–9.\n\n\t2 Repeal\n\n(1) The Acts mentioned in the Schedule to the extent hereby expressed to be repealed are hereby repealed accordingly.\n\n(2) Except as in this Act expressly or by necessary implication provided—\n\n(a) all persons things and circumstances appointed or created by or under any of the repealed Acts or existing or continuing under any of such Acts immediately before the commencement of this Act shall under and subject to this Act continue to have the same status operation and effect as they respectively would have had if such Acts had not been so repealed;\n\ns. 2\n\n(b) in particular and without affecting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, such repeal shall not disturb the continuity of status operation or effect arrangement order consent liability or right made effected issued granted given accrued incurred or acquired or existing or continuing by or under any of such Acts before the commencement of this Act.\n\n_______________\n\nPart I—General\n\nNo. 3658 s. 3.\n\n\t3 Power to permit use of Government House and public buildings\n\ns. 3\n\nSubject to such terms and conditions as may be deemed expedient and notwithstanding anything contained in any Act it shall be lawful for the Governor in Council from time to time by agreement with the Governor-General or otherwise to make arrangements—\n\n(a) for the use and occupation of the Government House St. Kilda-road, Melbourne by the Governor-General; or\n\n(b) for the use and occupation by officers of the Commonwealth and the public for the purpose of transacting Commonwealth business of any part of any public building not used exclusively in connexion with any department of the public service transferred to the Commonwealth.\n\nThe Governor in Council may make such orders and give such directions as may be necessary or desirable for the purpose of carrying out or giving effect to all or any arrangements made as aforesaid.\n\nNo. 3658 s. 4.\n\nS. 4  \namended by No. 46/1998  \ns. 7(Sch. 1).\n\n\t4 Temporary assistance by public service\n\nNotwithstanding anything contained in any Act, it shall be lawful for any employee in the public service of Victoria with the consent of the Governor in Council to temporarily act in any office or capacity in which he may be required to act for or on behalf of the Federal Government in addition to carrying out or executing his duties as an employee in the public service of Victoria.\n\nNo. 3658 s. 5.\n\nS. 5  \namended by No. 46/1998  \ns. 7(Sch. 1).\n\n\t5 Service in Commonwealth not to disqualify for Victorian service\n\ns. 5\n\nThe fact that any person is an officer of the Commonwealth shall not disqualify him from also executing the duties of any employee in the public service of Victoria.\n\nS. 5A  \ninserted by No. 8656  \ns. 2(1)(Sch. 1 Pt B item 1).\n\n\t5A Arrangements where officer performs duties for the Commonwealth\n\nWhere an officer performs duties for the Commonwealth the Governor in Council may, by agreement with the Governor-General of the Commonwealth or otherwise, make arrangements for determining—\n\n(a) the rate of payment to be made to Victoria for the performance of those duties; and\n\n(b) any matters which may require to be adjusted with regard to the performance of such duties by such Officer.\n\nNo. 3658 s. 6.\n\nS. 6 substituted by No. 8656  \ns. 2(1)(Sch. 1 Pt B item 1).\n\n\t6 Arrangements where any work or service to be performed for the Commonwealth\n\nThe Governor in Council may, at the request of the Governor-General of the Commonwealth, authorize and cause any work or service to be performed for the Commonwealth and the Governor in Council, by agreement with the Governor-General or otherwise, may make arrangements for determining—\n\n(a) the rate of payment to be made by the Commonwealth for the performance of that work or service; and\n\n(b) any matters which may require to be adjusted with regard to the performance of that work or service.\n\nS. 6A  \ninserted by No. 7809 s. 13.\n\n\t6A Arrangements for services etc. of Commonwealth officer\n\ns. 6A\n\nS. 6A(1) amended by No. 46/1998  \ns. 7(Sch. 1).\n\n(1) The Governor in Council may make arrangements with the Governor-General for the performance or execution by an officer of the public service of the Commonwealth for the Government of Victoria of any work or services or for the performance of the duties of any employee in the public service of Victoria.\n\n(2) In any such case the Governor in Council may pursuant to an agreement with the Governor-General make arrangements for determining—\n\nS. 6A(2)(a) amended by No. 46/1998  \ns. 7(Sch. 1).\n\n(a) the rate of payment to be made by the Government of Victoria for the work or services to be performed or the duties to be executed for it by the officer or employee; and\n\nS. 6A(2)(b) amended by No. 46/1998  \ns. 7(Sch. 1).\n\n(b) any matters which may require to be adjusted with regard to the performance of the work or services or the execution of the duties by the officer or employee.\n\n_______________\n\nPart II—Taxation of Salaries of State Officers\n\nNo. 3658 s. 7.\n\nS. 7 amended by Nos 29/2006 s. 3(Sch. 1 item 7), 6/2010 s. 203(1)  \n(Sch. 6 item 8) (as amended by No. 45/2010 s. 22), 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 24).\n\n\t7 Definition\n\ns. 7\n\nIn this Part unless inconsistent with the context or subject-matter ***Officers of the State of Victoria*** includes all persons in any office or employment under the Crown or the Government of Victoria (including the public service, service with Victoria Police or employment in any office of Parliament and service or employment under the **Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983** or the **Transport Integration Act 2010**) or in any office or employment for which payment is provided out of the Consolidated Revenue.\n\nNo. 3658 s. 8.\n\n\t8 Taxation by Commonwealth of salaries of State officers and Members of Parliament etc.\n\nThe taxation by the Commonwealth in common with other salaries earned within the Commonwealth of—\n\n(a) the official salaries of officers of the State of Victoria residing in the said State; and\n\n1. the parliamentary salaries and allowances of responsible Ministers of the Crown and other Members of either House of Parliament—\n\n\nshall not, if the taxation is not at a higher rate or to a greater extent than is imposed on other salaries of the same amount earned within the Commonwealth, be deemed to be an interference with the exercise of any power of the State.\n\nNos 3658 s. 9, 3943 s. 2.\n\n\t9 Salary of Governor\n\nThis Part shall not apply to the salary of the Governor.\n\n__________________\n\nSCHEDULE\n\nSch.\n\n| *Number of Act* | *Title of Act* | *Extent of Repeal* |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| 3658 | **Commonwealth Arrangements Act 1928** | So much as is not already repealed. |\n| 3822 | **Sessional Acts Revision Act 1929** | Section 6(3). |\n| 3943 | **Statute Law Revision Act 1930** | Item in Schedule referring to **Commonwealth Arrangements Act 1928**. |\n\n\n\n\nENDNOTES\n\nEndnotes\n\n1. General Information\n\n\nThe **Commonwealth Arrangements Act 1958** was assented to on 30 September 1958 and came into operation on 1 April 1959: Government Gazette 18 March 1959 page 892.\n\n1. Table of Amendments\n\n\nEndnotes\n\nThis Version incorporates amendments made to the **Commonwealth Arrangements Act 1958** by Acts and subordinate instruments.\n\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\n\n**The Constitution Act Amendment (Electoral) Act 1969, No. 7809/1969**\n\n| Assent Date: | 6.5.69 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | 1.7.69: Government Gazette 25.6.69 p. 1846 |\n| Current State: | All of Act in operation |\n\n\n**Public Service Act 1974, No. 8656/1974**\n\n| Assent Date: | 20.12.74 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | 1.8.75: s. 1(2) |\n| Current State: | All of Act in operation |\n\n\n**Public Sector Reform (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1998, No. 46/1998**\n\n| Assent Date: | 26.5.98 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 7(Sch. 1) on 1.7.98: s. 2(2) |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Commonwealth Arrangements Act 1958** |\n\n\n**Statute Law (Further Revision) Act 2006, No. 29/2006**\n\n| Assent Date: | 6.6.06 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 3(Sch. 1 item 7) on 7.6.06: s. 2(1) |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Commonwealth Arrangements Act 1958** |\n\n\n**Transport Integration Act 2010, No. 6/2010** (as amended by No. 45/2010)\n\n| Assent Date: | 2.3.10 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 203(1)(Sch. 6 item 8) on 1.7.10: Special Gazette (No. 256) 30.6.10 p. 1 |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Commonwealth Arrangements Act 1958** |\n\n\n**Victoria Police Amendment (Consequential and Other Matters) Act 2014, No. 37/2014**\n\n| *Assent Date:* | 3.6.14 |\n| --- | --- |\n| *Commencement Date:* | S. 10(Sch. item 24) on 1.7.14: Special Gazette (No. 200) 24.6.14 p. 2 |\n| *Current State:* | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Commonwealth Arrangements Act 1958** |\n\n\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\n\n1. Explanatory Details\n\n\nEndnotes\n\nNo entries at date of publication.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act consolidates earlier Victorian–Commonwealth arrangements and has been amended to broaden coverage and add mechanisms. Later inserts (notably ss 5A and 6A) create express provisions for payment and adjustment when officers or services cross jurisdictions, and the definition of 'Officers of the State of Victoria' was expanded to include roles under modern transport and police statutes (see s 7 and endnotes). These amendments extend the Act’s practical reach beyond the original 1958 drafting by explicitly accommodating contemporary public sector arrangements and payment rules."},"complexity_factors":["Executive discretion concentrated in the Governor in Council to make agreements and issue directions (ss 3–6A).","Cross‑jurisdictional arrangements require agreement with the Governor‑General or otherwise, creating bilateral negotiation points (ss 3, 5A, 6, 6A).","Payment allocation can flow either way—Victoria may be paid for work for the Commonwealth or vice versa—requiring financial adjustment clauses (ss 5A, 6, 6A).","Broad statutory definition of 'Officers of the State of Victoria' incorporating multiple public sectors (s 7) increases coverage and interpretation scope.","Taxation provision ties state officers to Commonwealth tax treatment but carves out the Governor’s salary (ss 8–9), requiring coordination between revenue regimes.","Statutory history and incorporated amendments (listed in endnotes and Schedule) mean rights and duties have changed over time, complicating historical interpretation."],"plain_english_summary":"This Act lets the Victorian Governor in Council make formal agreements with the Commonwealth (often via the Governor‑General) to allow use of Government House and other public buildings, to second or share public servants, and to set payment rates and related terms for work performed across jurisdictions (ss 3–6A). It also confirms that the Commonwealth may tax Victorian officers’ official salaries on the same basis as other Commonwealth salaries, except the Governor’s salary (ss 8–9). The law thus determines who decides, who pays, and what approvals are required for intergovernmental staffing and property use."},"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"It is not possible to assess whether the scope changed from original intent, as no substantive legislative content was provided. The version history indicates the Act exists in both 'as made' and consolidated forms, suggesting some amendments have occurred over its 65+ year history, but the nature of those changes cannot be determined from the supplied text."},"complexity_factors":["Insufficient legislative content was provided to assess true legal complexity","Only metadata and version history shell was supplied — no operative provisions, definitions, or schedules were included","The age of the Act (1958) suggests it may use older drafting conventions, which can add interpretive complexity","The word 'Arrangements' in Commonwealth legislation often involves intergovernmental agreements, which can be complex in constitutional terms — but this cannot be confirmed from the text provided"],"plain_english_summary":"The Commonwealth Arrangements Act 1958 is a federal Australian Act, in force since 1958 and not repealed, that—by its title—governs arrangements involving the Commonwealth and other parties (likely States, Territories, or external governments). It applies across Australia and may affect intergovernmental relationships and governance, but the supplied document contains only metadata and no operative text, so specific rights, duties or impacts cannot be determined without the full legislation."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"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"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original 1958 Act was a consolidation of earlier 1920s legislation. While the core purpose (facilitating state-Commonwealth cooperation) remains, the scope has expanded slightly through amendments. Section 7's definition of 'Officers of the State of Victoria' has been repeatedly expanded to include Victoria Police (2006) and employees under modern transport legislation (2010, 2014), broadening the taxation provisions beyond traditional public servants. Additionally, sections 5A and 6A were inserted in 1974 and 1969 respectively to provide more detailed machinery for payment arrangements, adding specificity to the original framework."},"complexity_factors":["Short statute with only 9 operative sections plus a schedule of repeals","Minimal defined terms (only one formal definition in section 7, though 'officer' and 'employee' are used throughout)","Straightforward conditional logic (mostly 'may' permissions rather than mandatory duties)","Some cross-referencing to other Victorian Acts (Transport Integration Act 2010, Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983) in the definition section","Historical amendment history visible in endnotes but does not complicate the current text significantly","Simple two-part structure (General arrangements; Taxation)"],"plain_english_summary":"This Victorian law sets up the rules for how the State of Victoria works with the Australian Commonwealth (federal) government on practical, day-to-day matters.\n\n**What it does:**\n\n*   **Sharing buildings and resources:** It lets the Victorian government lend Government House in Melbourne and other public buildings to the Commonwealth for federal use. It also allows Victorian public servants to temporarily work for the federal government (and vice versa), and sets up how the two governments pay each other for this shared work.\n*   **Taxation agreement:** It confirms that the federal government can tax the salaries of Victorian state employees and Members of Parliament, as long as the tax rate isn't higher than what other Australians pay. This is essentially Victoria agreeing not to treat federal income tax on state salaries as an interference with state powers. The Governor's salary is specifically excluded from this rule.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n*   Victorian public servants who might work temporarily for federal agencies.\n*   State officers and MPs whose salaries are taxed by the Commonwealth.\n*   The Governors of Victoria and the Governor-General, who negotiate these arrangements.\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThis Act is essentially the 'machinery' that allows Victoria and the Commonwealth to cooperate smoothly. Without it, simple things like a state employee helping out on a federal project, or the federal government using a state building, would lack clear legal authority and payment mechanisms. It reflects the practical reality of Australia's federal system, where state and federal governments frequently need to share resources and personnel."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/commonwealth-arrangements-act-1958","history":"/api/acts/commonwealth-arrangements-act-1958/history","analysis":"/api/acts/commonwealth-arrangements-act-1958/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/commonwealth-arrangements-act-1958/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/commonwealth-arrangements-act-1958/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/commonwealth-arrangements-act-1958/documents"}}