7Limitations on Corporation's powers

### 7 Limitations on Corporation's powers > > (1)  The Corporation may only carry out functions for which a licence is required under the [Electricity Supply Industry Act 1995](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1995-058) in pursuance of a licence under that Act. > > > (2)  Despite anything to the contrary in the [Government Business Enterprises Act 1995](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1995-022) , the Corporation may only – > > > > > > (a) [*\[Section 7 Subsection (2) amended by No. 71 of 1997, s. 7, Applied:01 Jul 1998\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-07-01/act-1997-071#GS7@Hpa@EN) [*\[Section 7 Subsection (2) amended by No. 115 of 2001, s. 4, Applied:17 Dec 2001\]*](/view/html/inforce/2001-12-17/act-2001-115#GS4@Hpa@EN) deal with or dispose of a prescribed generating plant; or > > > > > > > (b) acquire, deal with or dispose of land – > > > > if the transaction is consented to in writing by the Minister or the Minister's delegate. > > > (2A)  [*\[Section 7 Subsection (2A) inserted by No. 18 of 2025, s. 26, Applied:01 Jan 2026\]*](/view/html/inforce/2026-01-01/act-2025-018#GS26@EN) For the avoidance of doubt, consent under [subsection (2)](#GS7@Gs2@EN) is in addition to a requirement or obligation under the [Government Business Enterprises Act 1995](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1995-022) including, but not limited to, a requirement or obligation imposed by – > > > > > > (a) Treasurer's Instructions issued under that Act; or > > > > > > > (b) directions given by the Minister and the Treasurer, jointly, under that Act. > > > (3)  A consent under [subsection (2)](#GS7@Gs2@EN) may relate to a particular transaction or to transactions of a particular class. > > > (4)  [*\[Section 7 Subsection (4) amended by No. 71 of 1997, s. 7, Applied:01 Jul 1998\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-07-01/act-1997-071#GS7@Hpb@EN) [*\[Section 7 Subsection (4) amended by No. 71 of 1997, s. 7, Applied:01 Jul 1998\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-07-01/act-1997-071#GS7@Hpc@EN) [*\[Section 7 Subsection (4) substituted by No. 115 of 2001, s. 4, Applied:17 Dec 2001\]*](/view/html/inforce/2001-12-17/act-2001-115#GS4@Hpb@EN) If a consent under [subsection (2)](#GS7@Gs2@EN) relates to a dealing with or disposal of the prescribed generating plant known as the Bell Bay Power Station or land on which that prescribed generating plant is situated, that consent is of no effect until it is approved by both Houses of Parliament. > > > (5)  [*\[Section 7 Subsection (5) amended by No. 115 of 2001, s. 4, Applied:17 Dec 2001\]*](/view/html/inforce/2001-12-17/act-2001-115#GS4@Hpc@EN) For the purposes of [subsection (4)](#GS7@Gs4@EN) , a consent is approved by a House of Parliament – > > > > > > (a) when the House passes a motion approving the consent; or > > > > > > > (b) at the end of 5 sitting days after the consent was laid before the House if no notice of a motion to disapprove the consent is before the House; or > > > > > > > (c) if such a notice is before the House at the end of that period, when the first of the following occurs: > > > > > > > > > > (i) the notice is withdrawn; > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) the motion is negatived; > > > > > > > > > > > (iii) a further period of 5 sitting days ends. > > > (6)  [*\[Section 7 Subsection (6) amended by No. 71 of 1997, s. 7, Applied:01 Jul 1998\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-07-01/act-1997-071#GS7@Hpd@EN) [*\[Section 7 Subsection (6) substituted by No. 115 of 2001, s. 4, Applied:17 Dec 2001\]*](/view/html/inforce/2001-12-17/act-2001-115#GS4@Hpd@EN) If a consent under [subsection (2)](#GS7@Gs2@EN) relates to a dealing with or disposal of any prescribed generating plant (other than that known as the Bell Bay Power Station) or land on which any prescribed generating plant (other than that known as the Bell Bay Power Station) is situated, that consent is of no effect unless a proposal for that consent has been approved by a majority of the electors voting in a referendum held under the [Referendum Procedures Act 1994](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1994-034) . > > > (7)  [*\[Section 7 Subsection (7) amended by No. 71 of 1997, s. 7, Applied:01 Jul 1998\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-07-01/act-1997-071#GS7@Hpe@EN) [*\[Section 7 Subsection (7) substituted by No. 115 of 2001, s. 4, Applied:17 Dec 2001\]*](/view/html/inforce/2001-12-17/act-2001-115#GS4@Hpd@EN) [Subsections (4)](#GS7@Gs4@EN) and [(6)](#GS7@Gs6@EN) do not apply in respect of the following dealings or disposals: > > > > > > (a) a dealing with or disposal of any prescribed generating plant, or land on which the plant is situated, that relates to or arises from the maintenance, repair, replacement or upgrading of the plant; > > > > > > > (b) a dealing with or disposal of any prescribed generating plant, or land on which any prescribed generating plant is situated, that does not result in any significant change to the capacity of the Corporation to generate electricity. > > > (7A)  [*\[Section 7 Subsection (7A) inserted by No. 115 of 2001, s. 4, Applied:17 Dec 2001\]*](/view/html/inforce/2001-12-17/act-2001-115#GS4@Hpd@EN) Even though any prescribed generating plant, or land on which any prescribed generating plant is situated, is a main undertaking within the meaning of the [Government Business Enterprises Act 1995](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1995-022) , [section 10(7)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1995-022#GS10@Gs7@EN) of that Act does not apply to that plant or land. > > > (8)  [*\[Section 7 Subsection (8) inserted by No. 36 of 2000, s. 6, Applied:29 Jun 2000\]*](/view/html/inforce/2000-06-29/act-2000-036#GS6@EN) If an agreement entered into under [section 5(2)(f)](#GS5@Gs2@Hpf@EN) in respect of Basslink provides to the effect that the Corporation may acquire the whole or a part of Basslink – > > > > > > (a) [subsection (2)](#GS7@Gs2@EN) does not apply in respect of – > > > > > > > > > > (i) the acquisition of land necessary for the acquisition of the whole or part of Basslink under that agreement; and > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) any subsequent dealing in or disposal of that land; and > > > > > > > (b) [section 10(7) of the](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1995-022#GS10@Gs7@EN) [Government Business Enterprises Act 1995](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1995-022) does not apply in respect of the disposal of that land or the whole or part of Basslink acquired under that agreement; and > > > > > > > (c) the Corporation may only acquire or dispose of the whole or a part of Basslink if – > > > > > > > > > > (i) both the Minister and the Minister to whom the administration of the [Government Business Enterprises Act 1995](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1995-022) is assigned have agreed, in writing, to that acquisition or disposal; and > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) the Minister has tabled in both Houses of Parliament a notice that specifies that the Corporation intends to acquire or dispose of the whole or a part of Basslink, that the Ministers referred to in [subparagraph (i)](#GS7@Gs8@Hpc@Hqi@EN) have agreed to the acquisition or disposal and the reasons for their agreement. > > > (9)  [*\[Section 7 Subsection (9) inserted by No. 36 of 2000, s. 6, Applied:29 Jun 2000\]*](/view/html/inforce/2000-06-29/act-2000-036#GS6@EN) Before agreeing to an acquisition of the whole or part of Basslink under [subsection (8)(c)(i)](#GS7@Gs8@Hpc@Hqi@EN) , the Minister and the Minister to whom the administration of the [Government Business Enterprises Act 1995](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1995-022) is assigned must be satisfied that the acquisition is consistent with the protection of the operational and financial interests of the Corporation. > > > (10)  [*\[Section 7 Subsection (10) inserted by No. 36 of 2000, s. 6, Applied:29 Jun 2000\]*](/view/html/inforce/2000-06-29/act-2000-036#GS6@EN) For the purposes of [subsection (8)](#GS7@Gs8@EN) , a notice is tabled in a House of Parliament if – > > > > > > (a) it is laid before that House; or > > > > > > > (b) if that House is not sitting at the relevant time – > > > > > > > > > > (i) it is provided to the Clerk of that House; and > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) it is published in the *Gazette*. > > > (11)  [*\[Section 7 Subsection (11) inserted by No. 115 of 2001, s. 4, Applied:17 Dec 2001\]*](/view/html/inforce/2001-12-17/act-2001-115#GS4@Hpe@EN) An Act that purports to repeal or amend [subsection (2)](#GS7@Gs2@EN) , [(4)](#GS7@Gs4@EN) , [(6)](#GS7@Gs6@EN) , [(7)](#GS7@Gs7@EN) , [(12)](#GS7@Gs12@EN) or [(13)](#GS7@Gs13@EN) , this subsection or the [definition of ***prescribed generating plant***](#GS7@Gs13@Nd37193637395833@EN) in [subsection (13)](#GS7@Gs13@EN) is of no effect unless the proposal for the repeal or amendment has been approved by a majority of the electors voting in a referendum held under the [Referendum Procedures Act 1994](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1994-034) . > > > (12)  [*\[Section 7 Subsection (12) inserted by No. 115 of 2001, s. 4, Applied:17 Dec 2001\]*](/view/html/inforce/2001-12-17/act-2001-115#GS4@Hpe@EN) [Subsection (11)](#GS7@Gs11@EN) does not apply to an Act that – > > > > > > (a) repeals [subsection (2)](#GS7@Gs2@EN) , [(4)](#GS7@Gs4@EN) , [(6)](#GS7@Gs6@EN) , [(7)](#GS7@Gs7@EN) , [(11)](#GS7@Gs11@EN) or [(13)](#GS7@Gs13@EN) or this subsection if the Act enacts a provision substantially similar to the subsection repealed; or > > > > > > > (b) amends [subsection (2)](#GS7@Gs2@EN) , [(4)](#GS7@Gs4@EN) , [(6)](#GS7@Gs6@EN) , [(7)](#GS7@Gs7@EN) , [(11)](#GS7@Gs11@EN) or [(13)](#GS7@Gs13@EN) or this subsection if the amendments enacted do not lessen a majority required by [subsection (11)](#GS7@Gs11@EN) or otherwise substantially alter the effect of the subsection amended. > > > (13)  [*\[Section 7 Subsection (13) inserted by No. 115 of 2001, s. 4, Applied:17 Dec 2001\]*](/view/html/inforce/2001-12-17/act-2001-115#GS4@Hpe@EN) In this section, > > > > > ***prescribed generating plant*** means – > > > > > > > > (a) an electricity generating plant (including the structures and equipment to hold water, or to direct, monitor or control the flow of water, for the purposes of hydro-electric generation), as it existed on 30 June 2001, that is specified in [Schedule 1](#JS1@EN) ; and > > > > > > > > > (b) a part of an electricity generating plant, as it existed on 30 June 2001, referred to in [paragraph (a)](#GS7@Gs13@Nd37193637395833@Hpa@EN) .