{"id":"members-of-parliament-financial-interests-act-1992","name":"Members of Parliament (Financial Interests) Act 1992","slug":"members-of-parliament-financial-interests-act-1992","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"wa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":90427,"registerId":"wa-members-of-parliament-financial-interests-act-1992-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Members of Parliament (Financial Interests) Act 1992","content":"![Crest]()Western Australia\n\nMembers of Parliament (Financial Interests) Act 1992\n\nWestern Australia\n\nMembers of Parliament (Financial Interests) Act 1992\n\nContents\n\nPart I — Preliminary\n\n1. Short title 2\n\n2. Commencement 2\n\n3. Interpretation 2\n\nPart II — Lodgement of returns by Members\n\n4. Members to lodge returns with Clerk 6\n\n5. Transitional provision as to primary returns by existing Members 6\n\nPart III — Financial interests to be disclosed\n\n6. Real property 8\n\n7. Sources of income 8\n\n8. Trusts 10\n\n9. Gifts 10\n\n10. Contributions to travel 11\n\n11. Interests and positions in corporations 12\n\n12. Positions in trade unions and professional or business associations 13\n\n13. Debts 13\n\n14. Dispositions of property 15\n\n15. Discretionary disclosures generally 16\n\nPart IV — Registers of interests\n\n16. Registers 17\n\n17. Inspection of registers 17\n\n18. Laying before Parliament 17\n\n19. Restrictions on publication by Member 18\n\nPart V — General\n\n20. Breach of section 4 by Member 20\n\n21. Punishments in this Act exhaustive 20\n\n22. Regulations 20\n\nDefined terms\n\n  \n\nWestern Australia\n\nMembers of Parliament (Financial Interests) Act 1992\n\nAn Act to require disclosure of certain financial interests by Members of Parliament, to establish a register of interests so disclosed, and for connected purposes.\n\n## Part I — Preliminary\n\n##### 1. Short title\n\nThis Act may be cited as the *Members of Parliament (Financial Interests) Act 1992* 1.\n\n##### 2. Commencement\n\nThis Act shall come into operation on a day to be fixed by proclamation 1.\n\n##### 3. Interpretation\n\n(1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears —\n\n  address means —\n\n(a) in relation to a person other than a corporation, the last residential or business address of the person known to the Member disclosing the address;\n\n(b) in relation to a corporation, the address of the registered office or principal place of business of the corporation in the State or, where there is no such office or place, the address of the principal office or place of business of the corporation in the place in which it is incorporated or taken to be registered; or\n\n(c) in relation to any real property, the postal address of the property or the particulars of title of the property;\n\n  annual return means a return required by section 4(1)(b);\n\n  Clerk means —\n\n(a) in relation to a Member of the Legislative Council, the Clerk of the Legislative Council; or\n\n(b) in relation to a Member of the Legislative Assembly, the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly;\n\n  corporation means any body corporate, whether formed or incorporated within or outside the State, and includes any “company” or “foreign company” (as those terms are defined in the *Corporations Act 2001* of the Commonwealth) but does not include —\n\n(a) a body corporate that is incorporated within Australia or an external Territory and is a public authority or an instrumentality or agency of the Crown;\n\n(b) a corporation sole;\n\n[(c) deleted]\n\n(d) a society registered under the *Co‑operative and Provident Societies Act 1903*; or\n\n(e) an association, society, institution or body incorporated, or taken to be incorporated, under the *Associations Incorporation Act 2015*;\n\n\tde facto partner has a meaning affected by subsection (5);\n\n  Member means a Member of either House of Parliament;\n\n  primary return means a return required by section 4(1)(a);\n\n  property includes money;\n\n  re‑elected Member means —\n\n(a) in the case of a Member of the Legislative Council, a person who was re‑elected thereto at the general election immediately preceding the expiration of his term of service; and\n\n(b) in the case of a Member of the Legislative Assembly, a person who was a member thereof when it was terminated, either by dissolution or expiry, and was re‑elected thereto at the next succeeding general election;\n\n  register means a register compiled and maintained under section 16;\n\n  relative, in relation to any Member, means any of the following —\n\n(a) a parent, grandparent, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, or lineal descendant of the Member or of the Member’s spouse or de facto partner; or\n\n(b) the spouse or de facto partner of the Member or of any relative specified in paragraph (a),\n\nand in deducing any relationship for the purposes of this definition —\n\n(c) an adopted person shall be treated as the legitimate child of his adopters; and\n\n(d) an illegitimate person shall be treated as the legitimate child of his parents;\n\n  return means a primary return or an annual return;\n\n  return period, in relation to an annual return required to be lodged by a Member in a particular year, means —\n\n(a) where the last return lodged by the Member was an annual return, the period of 12 months ending on 30 June in that year; or\n\n(b) where the last return lodged by the Member was a primary return, the period commencing on the first day after the day on which the Member was sworn in and ending on 30 June in that year.\n\n(2) A reference in this Act to the day on which a Member is sworn in is a reference to the day on which he takes and subscribes the oath, or makes the affirmation, required under section 22 of the *Constitution Act 1889*.\n\n(3) A reference in this Act to a disclosure concerning any real property, income, corporation or other thing, includes a reference to a disclosure concerning any real property situated, income derived, corporation incorporated (or taken to be registered), or other thing arising or received, outside this State.\n\n(4) For the purposes of this Act, gifts or contributions to travel given, loans made, or goods or services supplied, to a Member by 2 or more related bodies corporate (as defined in the *Corporations Act 2001* of the Commonwealth) shall be regarded as having been given, made or supplied by a single corporation.\n\n(5) For the purposes of sections 9(2)(b), 10(2)(b) and 13(3)(b), the reference in the definition of relative to the de facto partner of the Member or of any relative specified in paragraph (a) of that definition means a person who was, at the relevant time, living as a de facto partner of the Member or relative and has been so living during the whole of the 2 years immediately preceding that time, and for the purposes of this subsection the relevant time means the time when the Member received the gift or contribution or, in the case of the liability to pay a debt, the time to which the return relates or the time of the commencement of the period to which the return relates, as the case may be.\n\n[Section 3 amended: No. 26 of 1999 s. 93(2); No. 10 of 2001 s. 126; No. 3 of 2002 s. 88(1), (2), (3)(a) and (b); No. 28 of 2003 s. 134; No. 30 of 2015 s. 224.]\n\n## Part II — Lodgement of returns by Members\n\n##### 4. Members to lodge returns with Clerk\n\n(1) A Member shall —\n\n(a) within 30 days after the day on which he is sworn in lodge a primary return with the Clerk;\n\n(b) not later than 30 September in each year lodge an annual return with the Clerk.\n\n(2) Subsection (1)(a) does not apply to a re‑elected Member.\n\n(3) Nothing in this Act requires a Member to include in an annual return any information which has been disclosed in a previous return made by him.\n\n(4) Nothing in this Act requires the disclosure of the actual value, amount or extent of any asset, income, interest, gift, contribution, debt or disposition referred to in Part III.\n\n##### 5. Transitional provision as to primary returns by existing Members\n\n(1) The requirement in section 4(1)(a) that a Member lodge a primary return extends to a person who is a Member (in this section referred to as an existing Member) on the day on which this Act comes into operation.\n\n(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a reference in this Act —\n\n(a) to a primary return shall be read as a reference, in the case of an existing Member, to a return required by section 4(1)(a) when read with subsection (1) of this section; and\n\n(b) to the day on which a Member is sworn in shall be read as a reference to the day on which this Act comes into operation.\n\n(3) Subsection (2) does not apply in the case of an existing Member if he is subsequently again returned as a Member but is not at that time a re‑elected Member.\n\n(4) Subsection (1) of section 18 shall apply to the register comprising primary returns lodged by existing Members, and for that purpose the reference in that subsection to “annual returns under section 4(1)(b)” shall be read as a reference to “primary returns required to be lodged by existing Members”.\n\n(5) Section 20 shall apply to an existing Member, and for that purpose the reference in that subsection to “section 4(1)” shall be read as a reference to “section 4(1) as applied by section 5”.\n\n## Part III — Financial interests to be disclosed\n\n##### 6. Real property\n\n(1) A Member shall disclose in a primary return and an annual return —\n\n(a) the address of each parcel of real property in which the Member had an interest —\n\n(i) in the case of a primary return, on the day on which he is sworn in; and\n\n(ii) in the case of an annual return, at any time during the return period;\n\nand\n\n(b) the nature of the interest in each such parcel of real property.\n\n(2) An interest in a parcel of real property need not be disclosed by a Member in a primary return or an annual return if the Member had the interest only —\n\n(a) in his capacity as the executor or administrator of the estate of a deceased person and the Member was not a beneficiary under the will or intestacy;\n\n(b) in his capacity as a trustee and the Member acquired the interest in the ordinary course of any occupation of the Member which is not related to his duties as a Member; or\n\n(c) by way of security for a debt.\n\n(3) In this section interest means any estate, interest, right or power whatever, whether at law or in equity, in or over real property.\n\n##### 7. Sources of income\n\n(1) A Member shall disclose —\n\n(a) in a primary return, each source of income which the Member reasonably expects to receive in the period commencing on the first day after the day on which he is sworn in and ending on the next succeeding 30 June; and\n\n(b) in an annual return, each source of income received by the Member at any time during the return period.\n\n(2) A reference in subsection (1) to each source of income received, or reasonably expected to be received, by a Member is a reference to —\n\n(a) in relation to income from a trade, profession or vocation of the Member —\n\n(i) a description thereof;\n\n(ii) where the Member is employed or the holder of an office, the name and address of his employer or a description of the office; and\n\n(iii) where the Member has entered into a partnership with other persons, the name (if any) under which the partnership is conducted;\n\n(b) in relation to income from a trust, the name and address of the settlor and the trustee; and\n\n(c) in relation to any other income, a description sufficient to identify the person from whom, or the circumstances in which, the income was, or is reasonably expected to be, received.\n\n(3) The source of any income need not be disclosed by a Member in a primary return or an annual return if the amount of the income received, or reasonably expected to be received, by the Member from that source did not exceed $500, or is not reasonably expected to exceed $500, as the case may be.\n\n(4) In this section income means assessable income within the meaning of the *Income Tax Assessment Act 1936* of the Parliament of the Commonwealth, but does not include remuneration payable under the *Salaries and Allowances Act 1975*.\n\n##### 8. Trusts\n\nA Member shall disclose in a primary return and in an annual return the name and address of the settlor and the trustee of any trust in which the Member held a beneficial interest, or of any discretionary trust of which the Member was a trustee or object, other than a trust to which section 7(2)(b) applies, in the case of —\n\n(a) a primary return, on the day on which he is sworn in; and\n\n(b) an annual return, at any time during the return period.\n\n##### 9. Gifts\n\n(1) A Member shall disclose in an annual return —\n\n(a) the description of each gift received by the Member at any time during the return period; and\n\n(b) the name and address of the person who made each such gift.\n\n(2) A gift received by a Member need not be disclosed in an annual return if —\n\n(a) the amount of the gift did not exceed $500 unless —\n\n(i) the gift was one of 2 or more gifts made by one person at any time during the return period; and\n\n(ii) the amount of those 2 or more gifts exceeded in the aggregate $500;\n\nor\n\n(b) the donor was a relative of the Member.\n\n(3) For the purposes of this section, the amount of a gift comprising property, other than money, or the conferral of a financial benefit shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the value of the property or the financial benefit.\n\n(4) In this section gift means any disposition of property, or the conferral of any other financial benefit, made by one person in favour of another otherwise than by will (whether with or without an instrument in writing), without consideration in money or money’s worth passing from the person in whose favour it is made to the other, or with such consideration so passing if the consideration is not fully adequate, but does not include any financial or other contribution to travel.\n\n##### 10. Contributions to travel\n\n(1) A Member shall disclose in an annual return the name and address of each person who made any financial or other contribution to any travel undertaken by the Member at any time during the return period.\n\n(2) A financial or other contribution to any such travel undertaken by a Member need not be disclosed in an annual return if —\n\n(a) the contribution was made from public funds;\n\n(b) the contribution was made by a relative of the Member;\n\n(c) the contribution was made in the ordinary course of any trade, profession or vocation of the Member which is not related to his duties as a Member;\n\n(d) the amount of the contribution did not exceed $500 unless —\n\n(i) the contribution was one of 2 or more contributions made by one person at any time during the return period; and\n\n(ii) the amount of those 2 or more contributions exceeded in the aggregate $500,\n\nand for the purposes of this paragraph the amount of a contribution (other than a financial contribution) shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the value of the contribution; or\n\n(e) the contribution was made by a political party of which he was a member and the travel was undertaken for the purpose of political activity of the party, or to enable him to represent the party.\n\n(3) In this section —\n\n  political party means a body or organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, having as one of its objects or activities the promotion of the election to the Parliament of this State of a candidate or candidates endorsed by it or by a body or organization of which it forms part; and\n\n  travel includes accommodation incidental to a journey.\n\n##### 11. Interests and positions in corporations\n\n(1) A Member shall disclose in a primary return and in an annual return —\n\n(a) the name and address of each corporation of which he was a member or in which he otherwise had an interest or held any position (whether remunerated or not) on the day on which he is sworn in or at any time during the return period, as the case may be;\n\n(b) the nature of the interest, or the description of the position held, in each such corporation; and\n\n(c) except in the case of a corporation whose shares are quoted on a prescribed financial market in Australia, a description of the principal business of each such corporation.\n\n(2) In this section —\n\n\tinterest means a relevant interest (within the meaning given by section 9 of the *Corporations Act 2001* of the Commonwealth) in any securities (within the meaning given by section 92 of that Act) issued or made available by the corporation;\n\n\tprescribed financial market has the meaning given by section 9 of the *Corporations Act 2001* of the Commonwealth.\n\n[Section 11 amended: No. 10 of 2001 s. 127; No. 21 of 2003 s. 16.]\n\n##### 12. Positions in trade unions and professional or business associations\n\n(1) A Member shall disclose in a primary return and in an annual return —\n\n(a) the name of each trade union and each professional or business association in which he held any position (whether remunerated or not) on the day on which he is sworn in or at any time during the return period, as the case may be; and\n\n(b) the description of the position held in each such union or association.\n\n(2) In subsection (1), professional or business association means a body or organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, having as one of its objects or activities the promotion of the economic interests of its members in any occupation.\n\n##### 13. Debts\n\n(1) A Member shall disclose in a primary return and an annual return the name and address of each person to whom the Member was liable to pay any debt —\n\n(a) in the case of a primary return, on the day on which he is sworn in; or\n\n(b) in the case of an annual return, at any time during the return period.\n\n(2) A liability to pay a debt shall be disclosed by a Member in a primary return and an annual return whether or not the amount, or any part of the amount, to be paid was due and payable on the day on which he was sworn in or at any time during the return period, as the case may be.\n\n(3) A liability to pay a debt need not be disclosed by a Member in a primary return or an annual return if —\n\n(a) the amount to be paid did not exceed $500 on the day on which he was sworn in or at any time during the return period, as the case may be, unless —\n\n(i) the debt was one of 2 or more debts which the Member was liable to pay to one person on the day on which he was sworn in or at any time during the return period, as the case may be; and\n\n(ii) the amounts to be paid exceeded in the aggregate $500;\n\n(b) the Member was liable to pay the debt to a relative;\n\n(c) in the case of a debt arising from a loan of money, the Member was liable to pay the debt to an ADI (authorised deposit‑taking institution) as defined in section 5 of the *Banking Act 1959* of the Commonwealth or other person whose ordinary business includes the lending of money and the loan was made in the ordinary course of business of the lender; or\n\n(d) in the case of a debt arising from the supply of goods or services —\n\n(i) the goods or services were supplied in the period of 18 months immediately preceding the day on which he was sworn in or were supplied during the return period, as the case may be; or\n\n(ii) the goods or services were supplied in the ordinary course of any trade, profession or vocation of the Member which is not related to his duties as a Member.\n\n(4) In this section debt means a debt arising from —\n\n(a) a loan of money; or\n\n(b) the supply of goods or services.\n\n[Section 13 amended: No. 26 of 1999 s. 93(3).]\n\n##### 14. Dispositions of property\n\n(1) A Member shall disclose in an annual return particulars of each disposition of real property by the Member at any time during the return period whereby the Member retained, either wholly or in part, the use and benefit of the property or the right to re‑acquire the property at a later time.\n\n(2) A Member shall disclose in an annual return particulars of each disposition of property to a person by any other person under arrangements made by the Member, being a disposition made at any time during the return period, whereby the Member obtained, either wholly or in part, the use and benefit of the property.\n\n(3) In this section disposition of property means any conveyance, transfer, assignment, settlement, delivery, payment or other alienation of property, and includes —\n\n(a) the allotment of shares in a company;\n\n(b) the creation of a trust in respect of property;\n\n(c) the grant or creation of any lease, mortgage, charge, easement, licence, power, partnership or interest in respect of property;\n\n(d) the release, discharge, surrender, forfeiture or abandonment, at law or in equity, of any debt, contract or chose in action, or of any interest in respect of property;\n\n(e) the exercise by a person of a general power of appointment over property in favour of any other person; and\n\n(f) any transaction entered into by any person with intent thereby to diminish, directly or indirectly, the value of his own property and to increase the value of the property of any other person.\n\n##### 15. Discretionary disclosures generally\n\nA Member may, at his discretion, disclose in any return any direct or indirect benefits, advantages or liabilities, whether pecuniary or not —\n\n(a) which are not required to be disclosed by any other provision of this Part; and\n\n(b) which the Member considers might appear to raise a conflict between his private interests and his public duty as a Member or which he otherwise desires to disclose.\n\n## Part IV — Registers of interests\n\n##### 16. Registers\n\n(1) The Clerk of each House of Parliament shall compile and maintain a register to be called the “Register of Members’ Financial Interests”.\n\n(2) The register for each House of Parliament shall comprise the returns under this Act lodged by Members of that House.\n\n(3) A register shall be in loose‑leaf form.\n\n(4) A register may be divided into such parts as the Clerk may consider convenient.\n\n(5) The returns filed in any part of a register shall be filed in alphabetical order according to the surnames of the Members concerned.\n\n##### 17. Inspection of registers\n\n(1) The register for a House of Parliament shall be open to inspection by any person at the office of the Clerk of that House between the hours of 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. on any day except Saturday, Sunday or a day which is a public holiday.\n\n(2) A Member of either House of Parliament may also inspect the register for a House at the office of the Clerk of that House at any time when that House is sitting.\n\n(3) A person inspecting a register may take a copy of any part of a register or may, subject to payment of such charge as the Clerk may determine, require the Clerk to allow him to take a photocopy of any part.\n\n##### 18. Laying before Parliament\n\n(1) The Clerk of each House shall, within 14 sitting days of that House after the last day for the lodgement of annual returns under section 4(1)(b), furnish to the Speaker or the President of that House, as the case may be, a copy of so much of the register for that House as has not previously been laid before that House; and the Speaker or the President shall thereupon cause the same to be laid before that House.\n\n(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), sitting days shall be counted, whether or not they occur during the same session.\n\n(3) When a copy of a register or a copy of part of a register is laid before a House of Parliament the Clerk of that House shall cause it to be published as a parliamentary paper by the Government Printer.\n\n(4) The Clerk of a House of Parliament may, for the purpose of the laying or publication of a copy of a register, or of a part of a register, referred to in this section, delete —\n\n(a) any notes or directions concerning the completion of a return;\n\n(b) where no disclosures are made under a particular main heading in a return, any matter under that heading apart from the word “NIL”; and\n\n(c) any page number or other matter that is not relevant to any disclosure in a return.\n\n##### 19. Restrictions on publication by Member\n\n(1) Notwithstanding any other law, a Member shall not publish in the course of the proceedings of Parliament —\n\n(a) any information derived from a register unless that information —\n\n(i) constitutes a fair and accurate report or summary of information contained in the register; and\n\n(ii) is published in good faith;\n\nor\n\n(b) any comment on the facts set forth in a register unless that comment —\n\n(i) is fair; and\n\n(ii) is published in good faith.\n\n(2) A Member who publishes, in the course of the proceedings of Parliament, any information or a comment in contravention of subsection (1), is guilty of a contempt of Parliament and the House of which he is a Member may deal with him accordingly.\n\n(3) For the purposes of subsections (1) and (2) publish has the same meaning in relation to any information or comment referred to in those subsections as is assigned to it in sections 348 and 349 of *The Criminal Code* in relation to the publication of defamatory matter.\n\n## Part V — General\n\n##### 20. Breach of section 4 by Member\n\nA Member of either House who wilfully contravenes or fails to comply with section 4(1) is guilty of a contempt of the House of which he is a Member, and that House may deal with him accordingly.\n\n##### 21. Punishments in this Act exhaustive\n\nA Member who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of this Act shall not be punished except as provided in section 19 or 20.\n\n##### 22. Regulations\n\n(1) The Governor may make regulations prescribing all matters necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act and, in particular, prescribing the forms to be used for making returns.\n\n(2) Regulations shall not be made under subsection (1) so as to impose a greater obligation on the Members of one House than on the Members of the other House of Parliament.\n\nNotes\n\n1 This is a compilation of the *Members of Parliament (Financial Interests) Act 1992* and includes the amendments made by the other written laws referred to in the following table 1a. The table also contains information about any reprint.\n\nCompilation table\n\n| **Short title** | **Number and year** | **Assent** | **Commencement** |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| *Members of Parliament (Financial Interests) Act 1992* | 44 of 1992 | 20 Nov 1992 | 24 Nov 1992 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 24 Nov 1992 p. 5725) |\n| *Acts Amendment and Repeal (Financial Sector Reform) Act 1999* s. 93 | 26 of 1999 | 29 Jun 1999 | 1 Jul 1999 (see s. 2(1) and *Gazette* 30 Jun 1999 p. 2905) |\n| *Corporations (Consequential Amendments) Act 2001* Pt. 37 | 10 of 2001 | 28 Jun 2001 | 15 Jul 2001 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 29 Jun 2001 p. 3257 and Cwlth *Gazette* 13 Jul 2001 No. S285) |\n| *Acts Amendment (Lesbian and Gay Law Reform) Act 2002* s. 88 2 | 3 of 2002 (as amended by No. 8 of 2009 s. 17) | 17 Apr 2002 | S.88 other than s. 88(3)(c): 21 Sep 2002 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 20 Sep 2002 p. 4693); s. 88(3)(c) deleted by No. 8 of 2009 s. 17 |\n| *Corporations (Consequential Amendments) Act (No. 3) 2003* Pt. 83 | 21 of 2003 | 23 Apr 2003 | 11 Mar 2002 (see s. 2 and Cwlth *Gazette* 24 Oct 2001 No. GN42) |\n| *Acts Amendment (Equality of Status) Act 2003* Pt. 41 | 28 of 2003 | 22 May 2003 | 1 Jul 2003 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 30 Jun 2003 p. 2579) |\n| **Reprint 1: The *Members of Parliament (Financial Interests) Act 1992* as at 8 Aug 2003** (includes amendments listed above) | | | |\n| *Associations Incorporation Act 2015* s. 224 | 30 of 2015 | 2 Nov 2015 | 1 Jul 2016 (see s. 2(b) and *Gazette* 24 Jun 2016 p. 2291-2) |\n\n\n2 Section 88(3)(c) of this Act had not come into operation when it was deleted by the *Statutes (Repeals and Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2009* s. 17.\n\n3 The *Corporations (Consequential Amendments) Act (No. 3) 2003* s. 2‑4 read as follows:\n\n“\n\n2. Commencement\n\n(1) If this Act receives the Royal Assent before the day on which Schedule 1 to the Financial Services Reform Act comes into operation, this Act comes into operation at the same time as that Schedule comes into operation.\n\n(2) If this Act receives the Royal Assent on or after the day on which Schedule 1 to the Financial Services Reform Act comes into operation, this Act is deemed to have come into operation at the same time as that Schedule comes into operation.\n\n3. Interpretation\n\nIn this Part —\n\nFinancial Services Reform Act means the *Financial Services Reform Act 2001* of the Commonwealth;\n\nFSR commencement time means the time when Schedule 1 to the Financial Services Reform Act comes into operation;\n\nstatutory rule means a regulation, rule or by‑law.\n\n4. Validation\n\n(1) This section applies if this Act comes into operation under section 2(2).\n\n(2) Anything done or omitted to have been done after the FSR commencement time and before this Act receives the Royal Assent that could have been done if this Act had received the Royal Assent before the FSR commencement time is taken to be as valid and lawful, and to always have been as valid and lawful, as it would have been if this Act had received the Royal Assent before the FSR commencement time.\n\n(3) Anything done or omitted to have been done by a person after the FSR commencement time and before this Act received the Royal Assent that would have been valid and lawful if the Financial Services Reform Act had not commenced, is taken to be valid and lawful.\n\n(4) Anything done or omitted to have been done after the FSR commencement time and before this Act receives the Royal Assent —\n\n(a) that could only have been validly and lawfully done or omitted because this Act received the Royal Assent after the FSR commencement time; and\n\n(b) that could not have been validly and lawfully done or omitted if this Act had received the Royal Assent before the FSR commencement time,\n\nis taken not to be valid, and to never have been valid.\n\n”.\n\nDefined terms\n\n*[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]*\n\n**Defined term Provision(s)**\n\naddress 3(1)\n\nan existing Member 5(1)\n\nannual return 3(1)\n\nClerk 3(1)\n\ncorporation 3(1)\n\nde facto partner 3(1)\n\ndebt 13(4)\n\ndisposition of property 14(3)\n\ngift 9(4)\n\nincome 7(4)\n\ninterest 6(3), 11(2)\n\nMember 3(1)\n\npolitical party 10(3)\n\nprescribed financial market 11(2)\n\nprimary return 3(1)\n\nprofessional or business association 12(2)\n\nproperty 3(1)\n\npublish 19(3)\n\nre‑elected Member 3(1)\n\nregister 3(1)\n\nrelative 3(1), 3(5)\n\nreturn 3(1)\n\nreturn period 3(1)\n\nthe relevant time 3(5)\n\ntravel 10(3)\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains focused on its original purpose of financial disclosure by MPs. While amendments have updated terminology (e.g., adding de facto partners, updating Corporations Act references, adjusting association incorporation laws), the core scope of requiring disclosure of property, income, gifts, debts, and corporate interests has remained consistent since 1992. No significant mission creep detected."},"complexity_factors":["Moderate length (22 sections) with straightforward structure","15 defined terms in section 3(1), plus additional definitions scattered through other sections (interest, debt, gift, etc.)","Multiple cross-references to Commonwealth legislation (Corporations Act 2001, Income Tax Assessment Act 1936, Banking Act 1959, Criminal Code)","Nested exceptions throughout Part III (e.g., gifts over $500 must be disclosed UNLESS from relatives OR unless aggregated gifts exceed $500)","Conditional logic for 're-elected Members' vs new Members creating different obligations","Two-tier return system (primary vs annual) with different disclosure periods and requirements","De facto partner definition includes 2-year cohabitation requirement creating temporal conditions","Transitional provisions in section 5 creating parallel rules for existing Members at commencement"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does:**\n\nThis is Western Australia's \"anti-corruption\" transparency law for politicians. It forces Members of Parliament (MPs) to publicly declare their financial interests so the public can see if they have conflicts of interest.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- All Members of the WA Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly (State Parliament)\n- The Clerks of each House (who manage the paperwork)\n- The public (who can inspect these registers)\n\n**What MPs must disclose:**\n\nMPs must lodge two types of returns with the Clerk of their House:\n- **Primary return:** Within 30 days of being sworn in (except re-elected members)\n- **Annual return:** By 30 September each year\n\n**Specific things they must declare:**\n- **Real estate** they own (Section 6)\n- **Sources of income** over $500/year (Section 7)\n- **Trusts** they're involved in (Section 8)\n- **Gifts** over $500 (except from relatives) (Section 9)\n- **Travel contributions** paid by others (Section 10)\n- **Company interests** - shares, directorships, positions in corporations (Section 11)\n- **Union or professional association** positions (Section 12)\n- **Debts** over $500 (except bank loans, debts to relatives, or business debts) (Section 13)\n- **Property transfers** where they keep using the property (Section 14)\n\n**Important limits:**\n- MPs **don't** have to disclose the actual dollar amounts or values\n- There are various exemptions (e.g., gifts from family, bank mortgages, small amounts under $500)\n\n**How the public accesses this:**\n- Registers are kept at the Clerk's office\n- Open for inspection 10am-4pm weekdays (Section 17)\n- Must be tabled in Parliament and published as parliamentary papers (Section 18)\n- MPs can be punished for contempt if they misuse register information in Parliament (Section 19)\n\n**Penalties:**\n- Failing to lodge returns is a **contempt of Parliament** (Section 20)\n- The respective House decides punishment (not criminal courts)\n- No other punishments apply (Section 21)\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis prevents \"secret\" financial conflicts. If an MP votes on mining legislation while owning shares in a mining company, the public can see that connection. It maintains trust in the political system by forcing transparency about who might be influencing our politicians financially."},"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":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Act remains focused on its original purpose: requiring disclosure of specified financial interests by Members and establishing a register. Subsequent amendments reflected technical updates and alignment with other laws (for example, updating corporate definitions to match the Corporations Act and adding or removing references to particular forms of incorporated bodies). Those changes are primarily definitional and administrative rather than expansions of the Act's substantive reach. The core scope — categories of interests to be disclosed, public registers, and parliamentary enforcement — is unchanged."},"complexity_factors":["Approximately 30 defined terms in the interpretation section and elsewhere (e.g. address, corporation, relative, return, return period, gift, income, interest).","Two distinct return types with different timing and scope (primary return and annual return) and a re‑elected Member exception (ss.3, 4).","Multiple categories of disclosure with nested exemptions and aggregation rules across several sections (Part III: ss.6–15), producing conditional logic (e.g. $500 thresholds with aggregation rules).","Cross‑references to Commonwealth legislation for key definitions (Corporations Act, Income Tax Assessment Act, Banking Act) (ss.3, 7(4), 11(2), 13(3)(c)), tying interpretation to external amendments.","Administrative discretions (Clerk controls format, divisions, deletion for publication; Governor may make regulations; Houses enforce contempt) (ss.16–18, 22, 19–20), which create implementation variability.","Inspection, publication and publication‑restriction rules that interact with parliamentary privilege and contempt procedures (ss.17–20), creating a hybrid of administrative and parliamentary enforcement.","Transitional provisions for existing Members and detailed counting rules for return periods (s.5 and s.3 definitions) that add temporal complexity."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does (mechanically)**\n\n- Requires every Member of the Western Australian Parliament to file two types of written financial disclosures with the Clerk: a \"primary return\" soon after being sworn in (within 30 days) and an \"annual return\" each year (by 30 September) (section 4).  Re‑elected Members do not have to file a primary return (s.4(2)).\n\n- Specifies the categories of private financial interests that must be disclosed in those returns (Part III). Key categories are: real property, sources of income, trusts, gifts, contributions to travel, corporate interests and positions, positions in unions and professional/business associations, debts, and certain dispositions of property. There is also an express power for Members to disclose, at their discretion, any other interests they consider relevant (s.15).\n\n- Requires the Clerk of each House to compile and maintain a loose‑leaf \"Register of Members' Financial Interests\" made up of those returns, allows public inspection of the register during specified office hours, permits copying for a charge, and requires the Clerk to lay new material before the House and have it published as a parliamentary paper (ss.16–18).\n\n- Limits the form of enforcement to parliamentary discipline: failing to lodge returns or improperly publishing register material in Parliament is a contempt of the relevant House (ss.19–20). The Act does not create criminal or civil penalties outside parliamentary processes (s.21).\n\n- Gives the Governor power to make regulations (including forms) to implement the Act, with a non‑discrimination rule that regulations cannot impose a heavier obligation on Members of one House than the other (s.22).\n\n\n**Who it affects**\n\n- Primary duty-bearers: every Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council (defined \"Member\") (s.3).\n- Administrative actors: the Clerks of each House — they collect returns, maintain the registers, provide public access, and arrange parliamentary laying/publication (ss.4, 16–18).\n- Third parties named in returns: employers, trustees, settlors, donors, lenders, corporations and other persons whose names/addresses are required to be recorded.\n- The public: anyone may inspect the register (s.17).\n\n\n**Why it matters (official purpose and what that implies in practice)**\n\n- The Act's stated purpose is to require disclosure of certain financial interests by Members and to establish a register of those interests. In practice, it makes particular private financial connections (property holdings, sources of income, corporate and organisational roles, significant gifts/travel contributions and debts) visible to Parliament and the public, while not requiring disclosure of monetary values (s.4(4)).\n\n\n**How the main rules work (practical mechanics and limits)**\n\n- Timing and form: primary returns within 30 days of being sworn in; annual returns by 30 September each year (s.4). The Governor/Clerk may prescribe the form (s.22).\n- Thresholds and exemptions: small amounts (under $500) are typically exempt from disclosure for income, gifts, travel contributions and debts, subject to aggregation rules that prevent splitting to avoid disclosure (see ss.7(3), 9(2), 10(2)(d), 13(3)(a)). Gifts or travel from relatives are exempt (ss.9(2)(b), 10(2)(b)). Loans from authorised deposit‑taking institutions in the ordinary course of business are exempt from debt reporting (s.13(3)(c)).\n- No values required: Members do not have to state the monetary value of assets, income, debts or gifts (s.4(4)).\n- Scope across borders: disclosures include interests arising or received outside Western Australia (s.3(3)).\n- Publication controls: the Clerk can remove non‑substantive material before laying the register before Parliament (s.18(4)); Members who quote or comment on register information in parliamentary proceedings must publish fair, accurate, good‑faith summaries or risk contempt (s.19).\n\n\n**Who pays, who decides, and what behaviour changes**\n\n- Who pays: Members bear the direct compliance cost of collecting and lodging returns; Parliament (through the Clerk and Government Printer) bears administrative and publication costs.\n- Who decides: Members decide what to disclose within the statutory rules and exemptions; the Clerk decides register format, filing order and what non‑relevant material to delete for publication; the Governor (via regulations) decides prescribed forms and related details; each House decides and enforces contempt sanctions for non‑compliance.\n- Expected behavioural effects: the law makes certain private interests publicly visible, which can (a) incentivise Members to avoid or restructure arrangements that would be publicly disclosable, (b) incentivise use of statutory exemptions (for example using loans from ADIs, small gifts under $500, or relatives as donors) to reduce reporting, and (c) rely on Members' own judgement for discretionary disclosures, producing variation in what is reported (s.15).\n\n\n**Costs, incentives, trade‑offs and implementation risks**\n\n- Compliance burden: preparing returns requires identifying and naming many third parties (addresses, trustees, settlors, corporate details). The $500 thresholds and the rule that values need not be given reduce the reporting burden (ss.4(4), 7(3), 9(2), 13(3)).\n- Privacy vs transparency trade‑off: the register requires names and addresses of many private parties; values are withheld, which reduces some sensitivity but still creates privacy considerations for third parties named in returns (various Part III provisions).\n- Enforcement and deterrence: enforcement is internal to Parliament (contempt) rather than by courts or regulators; the Act provides no statutory fines or criminal penalties beyond parliamentary discipline (ss.19–21). That concentrates enforcement discretion in the Houses and may affect deterrence and consistency.\n- Administrative choices that matter: the Clerk controls register format, divisions and what to delete before public laying (ss.16, 18(4)), meaning transparency is partly shaped by administrative discretion. Public access hours are limited to office hours on weekdays (s.17(1)).\n- Cross‑statutory dependence: the Act borrows definitions from Commonwealth laws (e.g. Corporations Act definitions of \"relevant interest\" and \"prescribed financial market\") which creates reliance on external statutory changes (s.11(2), s.3(1) definitions).\n- Substitution effects: because some common commercial arrangements are exempt (ordinary business loans, small amounts, relatives), those seeking to minimise disclosure may shift to structures that fall within exemptions; the Act contains aggregation rules to partly blunt splitting tactics (see the aggregation rules in ss.7(3), 9(2)(a)(i)–(ii), 10(2)(d)(i)–(ii), 13(3)(a)(i)–(ii)).\n\n\n**Bottom line**\n\nMechanically, the Act creates a mandatory, structured, public register of specified financial interests of WA Members of Parliament, administered by the Clerks and enforced by parliamentary discipline. It balances transparency (naming parties and interests) with limits on detail (no monetary values, exemptions and thresholds) and places primary enforcement responsibility inside Parliament rather than in the courts or with regulators."},"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope cannot be assessed as the legislative text was not retrievable. The page returned only a system error message indicating the URL is no longer active due to website upgrades. No comparison between original intent and current provisions is possible."},"complexity_factors":["Legislative text was entirely unavailable — only a broken page error was retrieved","Cannot assess actual complexity of provisions, definitions, or obligations","Score reflects minimum meaningful rating given complete absence of analysable content","The 1992 vintage of the Act suggests it may have been amended multiple times, which could add complexity, but this cannot be confirmed"],"plain_english_summary":"The Members of Parliament (Financial Interests) Act 1992 (WA) requires Western Australian MPs to disclose financial interests that could create conflicts between private gain and public duty. It affects elected representatives and anyone following their decisions, promoting transparency so voters can see when personal assets might influence parliamentary action. Access to the actual text is needed for precise obligations or penalties."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/members-of-parliament-financial-interests-act-1992","history":"/api/acts/members-of-parliament-financial-interests-act-1992/history","analysis":"/api/acts/members-of-parliament-financial-interests-act-1992/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/members-of-parliament-financial-interests-act-1992/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/members-of-parliament-financial-interests-act-1992/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/members-of-parliament-financial-interests-act-1992/documents"}}