{"id":"a-2026-10","name":"Fuel Legislation Amendment Act 2026","slug":"fuel-legislation-amendment-act-2026","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"act","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"10 of 2026","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":454073,"registerId":"act-a-2026-10-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-05-15","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name of Act","content":"1 Name of Act\nThis Act is the Fuel Legislation Amendment Act 2026.\n","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"2 Commencement\n(1) This Act (other than section 4) commences on the day after its\nnotification day.\nNote The naming and commencement provisions automatically commence on\nthe notification day (see Legislation Act, s 75 (1)).\n(2) Section 4 commences on this Act’s notification day.\n","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Legislation amended","content":"3 Legislation amended\nThis Act amends the legislation mentioned in parts 2 to 4.\n","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"New Magistrates Court (Fuels Rationing Infringement","content":"4 New Magistrates Court (Fuels Rationing Infringement\nNotices) Regulation—sch 1\n(1) The provisions set out in schedule 1 are taken to be a regulation made\nunder the Magistrates Court Act 1930, section 321.\n(2) The regulation—\n(a) is taken to be notified under the Legislation Act on the day this\nAct is notified; and\n(b) commences on the commencement of schedule 1; and\n(c) is not required to be presented to the Legislative Assembly under\nthe Legislation Act, section 64 (1); and\n(d) may be amended or repealed as if it had been made under the\nMagistrates Court Act 1930, section 321.\n\nPreliminary Part 1\nA2026-10 Fuel Legislation Amendment Act 2026 page 3\n(3) This Act is taken to be an amending law for the Legislation Act,\nsection 89 (Automatic repeal of certain laws and provisions) despite\nthis section not being a provision mentioned in section 89 (12),\ndefinition of amending law.\n\nPart 2 Fair Trading (Australian Consumer Law) Act 1992\nPart 2 Fair Trading (Australian\nConsumer Law) Act 1992\n5 Dictionary, definition of fair trading legislation, new\nparagraph (da)\ninsert\n(da) the Fair Trading (Fuel Prices) Act 1993; or\n\nFair Trading (Fuel Prices) Act 1993 Part 3\nA2026-10 Fuel Legislation Amendment Act 2026 page 5\nPart 3 Fair Trading (Fuel Prices)\nAct 1993\n6 Price display requirements\nSection 5A (1), penalty\n7 New section 5A (1A)\ninsert\n(1A) An offence against this section is a strict liability offence.\n\n","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"8","sectionType":"section","heading":"New section 16A","content":"8 New section 16A\nin part 2, insert\n","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"16A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Minister may require information from fuel sellers","content":"16A Minister may require information from fuel sellers\n(1) This section applies if the Minister reasonably requires information\nfrom a fuel seller to decide whether to—\n(a) approve a fuel restriction scheme under section 8; or\n(b) declare that a fuel restriction is in force under section 11; or\n(c) extend the period for which a fuel restriction is in force under\nsection 14.\n(2) The Minister may, by written notice, require the fuel seller to give the\nMinister information relating to the production, supply, use or\nconsumption of a fuel.\n(3) The notice must state—\n(a) the information that must be given; and\n(b) how the information must be given; and\n(c) the period of time (not less than 24 hours) within which the\ninformation must be given.\n(4) A person commits an offence if the person fails to comply with a\nnotice given to them under subsection (2).\n(5) An offence against this section is a strict liability offence.\n\nA2026-10 Fuel Legislation Amendment Act 2026 page 7\n9 Part 3 heading\nPart 2A Fuel restriction offences\n10 Fuel restriction offences\nDivision 3.1 heading\nomit\n11 Definitions—pt 3\nomit\n12 Section 19\n19 Inspector may require information\n(1) This section applies if an inspector reasonably requires information\nfrom a person who is subject to a fuel restriction.\n(2) An inspector may, by written notice, require the person to give the\ninspector the following information:\n(a) the kinds of fuel held by the person;\n(b) the quantity of a fuel held by the person;\n(c) the quantity of a fuel sold by the person during a stated period;\n(d) other information prescribed by regulation.\n(3) The notice must state—\n(a) the information that must be given; and\n(b) how the information must be given; and\n\n(c) the period of time (not less than 24 hours) within which the\ninformation must be given.\n(4) A person commits an offence if the person fails to comply with a\nnotice given to them under subsection (2).\n(5) An offence against this section is a strict liability offence.\n13 Division 3.2 heading\nPart 3 Enforcement\n14 Subdivision 3.2.1\nrenumber as division 3.1\n15 Section 23 heading\n23 Definitions—pt 3\n16 Section 23\nomit\ndivision\npart\n\nA2026-10 Fuel Legislation Amendment Act 2026 page 9\n","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"17","sectionType":"section","heading":"Section 23, definition of warrant","content":"17 Section 23, definition of warrant\nomit\nsubdivision 3.2.3\ndivision 3.3\n18 Subdivisions 3.2.2 to 3.2.5\nrenumber as divisions 3.2 to 3.5\n19 New sections 43A and 43B\nin part 4, insert\n43A Use and disclosure of protected information\n(1) A person commits an offence if—\n(a) the person exercises, or has exercised, a function under this Act;\nand\n(b) the person uses information; and\n(c) the information is protected information about someone else;\nand\n(d) the person is reckless about whether the information is protected\ninformation about someone else.\n(2) A person commits an offence if—\n(a) the person exercises, or has exercised, a function under this Act;\nand\n(b) the person does something that discloses information; and\n\n(c) the information is protected information about someone else;\nand\n(d) the person is reckless about whether—\n(i) the information is protected information about someone\nelse; and\n(ii) doing the thing would result in the information being\ndisclosed to someone else.\n(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply if the person uses or discloses\nprotected information about someone else (the protected person)—\n(a) under this Act or another law applying in the ACT; or\n(b) in relation to the exercise of a function under this Act or another\nlaw applying in the ACT; or\n(c) in a court proceeding; or\n(d) with the protected person’s consent.\nNote The defendant has an evidential burden in relation to the matters\nmentioned in s (3) (see Criminal Code, s 58).\n(4) A person need not disclose protected information to a court, or\nproduce a document containing protected information to a court,\nunless it is necessary to do so for this Act or another law applying in\nthe ACT.\n(5) In this section:\ncourt includes a tribunal, authority or person having power to require\nthe production of documents or the answering of questions.\ndisclose includes communicate or publish.\nproduce includes allow access to.\n\nA2026-10 Fuel Legislation Amendment Act 2026 page 11\nprotected information means information about a person that is\ndisclosed to, or obtained by, another person because of the exercise\nof a function under this Act by the other person or someone else.\nuse, in relation to information, includes make a record of the\ninformation.\n","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"43B","sectionType":"section","heading":"Information sharing","content":"43B Information sharing\n(1) The Minister or an inspector (an information sharing entity)\nmay give protected information to an entity of the Commonwealth or\na State if the information sharing entity is satisfied that—\n(a) the information is reasonably necessary for the other entity to\nexercise a function relating to managing a fuel shortage or likely\nfuel shortage; and\n(b) the disclosure of the protected information to the other entity is\nappropriate.\nNote State includes the Northern Territory (see Legislation Act, dict, pt 1).\nprotected information—see section 43A (5).\n","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"20","sectionType":"section","heading":"Dictionary, definition of connected","content":"20 Dictionary, definition of connected\nomit\ndivision 3.2 (Inspectors)\npart 3 (Enforcement)\n\n","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"21","sectionType":"section","heading":"Dictionary, definition of identity card etc","content":"21 Dictionary, definition of identity card etc\nidentity card, for an inspector who is an investigator under the\nFair Trading (Australian Consumer Law) Act 1992, means an\nidentity card issued under that Act, section 37.\ninspector means—\n(a) a police officer; or\n(b) an investigator under the Fair Trading (Australian Consumer\nLaw) Act 1992.\noccupier, of premises, includes—\n(a) a person believed on reasonable grounds to be an occupier of the\npremises; and\n(b) a person apparently in charge of the premises.\n","sortOrder":9},{"sectionNumber":"22","sectionType":"section","heading":"Dictionary, definitions of offence and warrant","content":"22 Dictionary, definitions of offence and warrant\nomit\ndivision 3.2 (Inspectors)\npart 3 (Enforcement)\n\nNew Magistrates Court (Fuels Rationing Infringement Notices) Regulation Schedule 1\nA2026-10 Fuel Legislation Amendment Act 2026 page 13\n","sortOrder":10},{"sectionNumber":"Sch 1","sectionType":"schedule","heading":"New Magistrates Court","content":"Schedule 1 New Magistrates Court\n(Fuels Rationing Infringement\nNotices) Regulation\n(see s 4)\nMagistrates Court (Fuels Rationing\nInfringement Notices) Regulation 2026\nSubordinate Law SL2026-\nmade under the\nMagistrates Court Act 1930\n1 Name of regulation\nThis regulation is the Magistrates Court (Fuels Rationing\nInfringement Notices) Regulation 2026.\n2 Notes\nA note included in this regulation is explanatory and is not part of this\nregulation.\n\nSchedule 1 New Magistrates Court (Fuels Rationing Infringement Notices) Regulation\n3 Purpose of regulation\nThe purpose of this regulation is to provide for infringement notices\nunder the Magistrates Court Act 1930, part 3.8 for an offence against\nthe Fuels Rationing Act 2019, section 16A.\nNote The Magistrates Court Act 1930, pt 3.8 provides a system of infringement\nnotices for offences against various territory laws. The infringement\nnotice system is intended to provide an alternative to prosecution.\n4 Administering authority\nThe administering authority for an infringement notice offence\nagainst the Fuels Rationing Act 2019 is the commissioner for fair\ntrading.\n","sortOrder":11},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Infringement notice offence","content":"5 Infringement notice offence\nThe Magistrates Court Act 1930, part 3.8 applies to an offence against\nthe Fuels Rationing Act 2019, section 16A.\n","sortOrder":12},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Infringement notice penalty","content":"6 Infringement notice penalty\n(1) The penalty payable by an individual for an offence against the\nFuels Rationing Act 2019, section 16A, under an infringement notice\nfor the offence, is $1 600.\n(2) The penalty payable by a corporation for an offence against the\nFuels Rationing Act 2019, section 16A, under an infringement notice\nfor the offence, is $8 000.\n(3) The cost of serving a reminder notice for an infringement notice\noffence against the Fuels Rationing Act 2019, section 16A is $34.\n\nNew Magistrates Court (Fuels Rationing Infringement Notices) Regulation Schedule 1\nA2026-10 Fuel Legislation Amendment Act 2026 page 15\n","sortOrder":13},{"sectionNumber":"7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Contents of infringement notices—identifying authorised","content":"7 Contents of infringement notices—identifying authorised\nperson\nAn infringement notice served on a person by an authorised person\nfor an infringement notice offence against the Fuels Rationing\nAct 2019, section 16A must identify the authorised person by—\n(a) the authorised person’s full name, or surname and initials; or\n(b) any unique number given, for this regulation, to the authorised\nperson by the administering authority.\n8 Contents of infringement notices—other information\n(1) An infringement notice served on a company by an authorised person\nfor an infringement notice offence against the Fuels Rationing\nAct 2019, section 16A must include the company’s ACN.\nNote This requirement under this section is additional to the requirement under\nthe Magistrates Court Act 1930, s 121 (1) (c).\ncompany means a company registered under the Corporations Act.\n","sortOrder":14},{"sectionNumber":"9","sectionType":"section","heading":"Contents of reminder notices—identifying authorised","content":"9 Contents of reminder notices—identifying authorised\nperson\nA reminder notice served on a person by an authorised person for an\ninfringement notice offence against the Fuels Rationing Act 2019,\nsection 16A must identify the authorised person by—\n(a) the authorised person’s full name, or surname and initials; or\n(b) any unique number given, for this regulation, to the authorised\nperson by the administering authority.\n\nSchedule 1 New Magistrates Court (Fuels Rationing Infringement Notices) Regulation\n","sortOrder":15},{"sectionNumber":"10","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authorised person for infringement notice offences","content":"10 Authorised person for infringement notice offences\n(1) An inspector may serve the following:\n(a) an infringement notice for an infringement notice offence\nagainst the Fuels Rationing Act 2019, section 16A;\n(b) a reminder notice for an infringement notice offence against the\nFuels Rationing Act 2019, section 16A.\ninspector—see the Fuels Rationing Act 2019, dictionary.\n\nA2026-10 Fuel Legislation Amendment Act 2026 page 17\nEndnotes\n1 Presentation speech\nPresentation speech made in the Legislative Assembly on 5 May 2026.\n2 Notification\nNotified under the Legislation Act on 15 May 2026.\n3 Republications of amended laws\nFor the latest republication of amended laws, see www.legislation.act.gov.au.\nI certify that the above is a true copy of the Fuel Legislation Amendment\nBill 2026, which was passed by the Legislative Assembly on 7 May 2026.\nClerk of the Legislative Assembly","sortOrder":16}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"_sourceCoverage":{"mode":"whole_source","sourceChars":16247,"sourceSha256":"6053ebc196b8cb423d78fdd9571f37147b42da8467fe7d1860244db2448344f8","suppliedChars":16247},"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The supplied text does not include the Act’s original purpose or an earlier version against which to assess whether its scope grew significantly. It describes amendments covering fuel-price display penalties, information-gathering, enforcement, protected information and infringement notices, but does not establish whether those changes exceed the original intent. This is general legal information, not legal advice; Zoe can make mistakes. Before acting on or relying on it, have a qualified Australian lawyer check it."},"complexity_factors":["Amends three existing ACT Acts and creates a new regulation.","Creates information-request powers with conditions, written-notice requirements, a minimum 24-hour response period and strict-liability offences (sections 16A and 19).","Protected-information rules include offence elements, exceptions, an evidential burden and separate information-sharing conditions (sections 43A and 43B).","The infringement-notice scheme depends on the Magistrates Court Act 1930, part 3.8, and sets different penalties for individuals and corporations.","Several provisions renumber parts, divisions and definitions, requiring readers to track changes to the Fuels Rationing Act 2019."],"plain_english_summary":"The Act changes ACT fuel laws. It increases the maximum penalty for breaching fuel-price display requirements and makes that offence strict liability. It also lets the Minister and inspectors require specified fuel-related information, creates penalties for non-compliance, sets rules for handling and sharing protected information, and provides infringement notices for failing to comply with a Minister’s notice. It affects fuel sellers, people subject to fuel restrictions, inspectors and relevant government entities."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/fuel-legislation-amendment-act-2026","history":"/api/acts/fuel-legislation-amendment-act-2026/history","analysis":"/api/acts/fuel-legislation-amendment-act-2026/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/fuel-legislation-amendment-act-2026/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/fuel-legislation-amendment-act-2026/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/fuel-legislation-amendment-act-2026/documents"}}