3Definitions

3 Definitions (1) In this Act— S. 3(1) def. of *Authority* substituted by No. 52/1998 s. 140(a). ***Authority*** means the Business Licensing Authority established under the **Business Licensing Authority Act 1998**; S. 3(1) def. of *Chairperson* inserted by No. 6/1989 s. 12(a), substituted by Nos 52/1998 s. 140(b), 12/2015 s. 11. ***Chairperson*** means the Chairperson of the Committee and includes the Deputy Chairperson when exercising the powers and performing the functions of the Chairperson pursuant to section 61(5); ***collateral credit agreement*** means an agreement— (a) for the provision of finance for the purposes of the sale of a motor car; and (b) that is arranged or procured by the vendor, or a motor car trader who acted on behalf of the vendor in the making of the sale; S. 3(1) def. of *commercial vehicle* substituted by No. 74/1996 s. 3(1)(a). ***commercial vehicle*** means— (a) in relation to a motor car that was manufactured in, or imported into, Australia on or after 1 July 1988, a car— (i) that is of a type that is classified as a goods carrying vehicle by the Department of Transport of the Commonwealth (or by any successor of that Department); and (ii) that has a vehicle category code of MD, ME, NA, NB or NC (or any other code specified by the regulations for the purposes of this definition) stamped on its compliance plate (regardless of whether that code appears by itself or in combination with one or more numbers); (b) in relation to a motor car that was manufactured in, or imported into, Australia before 1 July 1988, a car constructed or adapted solely or mainly for— (i) the carriage of goods; or (ii) the carriage of more than 10 passengers; or (iii) industrial or agricultural use— and includes a car with a carrying capacity of 1200 kg or more, but does not include a car of a type commonly called a panel van, a station wagon or a utility; S. 3(1) def. of *Committee* amended by No. 4/2008 s. 5(1). ***Committee*** means the Motor Car Traders Claims Committee established under section 57; S. 3(1) def. of *Consumer Act* inserted by No. 35/2000 s. 47(a), amended by No. 21/2012 s. 239(Sch. 6 item 28.1). ***Consumer Act*** has the same meaning as it has in the **Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012**; S. 3(1) def. of *Credit Tribunal* inserted by No. 4/1989 s. 8(4)(a), repealed by No. 52/1998 s. 140(c). S. 3(1) def. of *Deputy Chairperson* inserted by No. 6/1989 s. 12(b), repealed by No. 52/1998 s. 140(d). S. 3(1) def. of *determination* inserted by No. 6/1989 s. 12(b). ***determination*** in relation to the Authority or the Committee includes order, direction, decision or declaration; S. 3(1) def. of *director* inserted by No. 74/1996 s. 3(1)(b), amended by No. 44/2001 s. 3(Sch. item 84.1(a)). ***director***, in relation to a body corporate, has the same meaning as in section 9 of the Corporations Act; S. 3(1) def. of *Director* substituted by Nos 52/1998 s. 140(e), 17/1999 s. 10(a), amended by No. 21/2012 s. 239(Sch. 6 item 28.2). ***Director*** means the Director within the meaning of the **Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012**; S. 3(1) def. of *domestic partner* inserted by No. 27/2001 s. 8(Sch. 6 item 3.1), substituted by No. 12/2008 s. 73(1)(Sch. 1 item 41.1). ***domestic partner*** of a person means— (a) a person who is in a registered relationship with the person; or (b) an adult person to whom the person is not married but with whom the person is in a relationship as a couple where one or each of them provides personal or financial commitment and support of a domestic nature for the material benefit of the other, irrespective of their genders and whether or not they are living under the same roof, but does not include a person who provides domestic support and personal care to the person— (i) for fee or reward; or (ii) on behalf of another person or an organisation (including a government or government agency, a body corporate or a charitable or benevolent organisation); ***exempt vehicle*** means a vehicle of a kind for the time being declared by proclamation of the Governor in Council under subsection (2) to be an exempt vehicle for the purposes of this Act; S. 3(1) def. of *externally-administered body corporate* inserted by No. 101/1998 s. 8(1)(a) (as amended by No. 74/2000 s. 3(Sch. 1 item 70)), amended by No. 44/2001 s. 3(Sch. item 84.1(a)). ***externally-administered body corporate*** has the same meaning as in the Corporations Act; ***finance lease*** means a finance lease within the meaning of subsection (4); S. 3(1) def. of *financial institution* inserted by No. 17/1999 s. 10(b). ***financial institution*** means— (a) an authorised deposit-taking institution within the meaning of the Banking Act 1959 of the Commonwealth; or (b) a body approved by the Governor in Council by order published in the Government Gazette; ***financier*** means a person whose ordinary business is not that of buying selling or exchanging motor cars, but who carries on that business for one or more of the following purposes— (a) selling motor cars on instalment terms; (b) letting or hiring motor cars under hire-purchase agreements; (c) taking or enforcing securities over motor cars; (d) letting or hiring motor cars with or without granting any right to purchase them; (e) disposing of motor cars acquired by the person in connection with any of the purposes referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d); ***Fund*** means the Motor Car Traders' Guarantee Fund established under section 74; ***hire-purchase agreement*** in relation to a motor car, includes a letting of the motor car with an option to purchase and an agreement for the purchase of a motor car by instalments (whether the agreement describes the instalments as rent or hire or otherwise), but does not include an agreement under which the property in the motor car passes at the time of the agreement or at any time before delivery of the motor car; S. 3(1) def. of *insolvent under administration* inserted by No. 74/1996 s. 3(1)(c), substituted by No. 101/1998 s. 8(1)(b) (as amended by No. 74/2000 s. 3(Sch. 1 item 70)), repealed by No. 4/2008 s. 5(2). S. 3(1) def. of *inspector* inserted by No. 17/1999 s. 10(b), amended by No. 21/2012 s. 239(Sch. 6 item 28.3). ***inspector*** means an inspector appointed under the **Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012**; S. 3(1) def. of *licence* inserted by No. 74/1996 s. 3(1)(c). ***licence*** means a motor car trader's licence; S. 3(1) def. of *licensed auctioneer* inserted by No. 74/1996 s. 3(1)(c), repealed by No. 84/2001 s. 9(1). ***licensed motor car trader*** or ***licensee*** means a person holding a licence under this Act; ***manufacturer*** means a person who carries on the business of manufacturing or assembling motor cars; ***motor car*** means a motor vehicle within the meaning of the **Road Safety Act 1986** (whether or not in working condition or complete) but does not include— (a) an engine constructed for use as a motor tractor; or (b) a motor vehicle so constructed that its engine is used to drive or operate an agricultural implement forming an integral part of the motor vehicle; or (c) an exempt vehicle; or (d) a vehicle that is not, and is not intended to be, used on a highway; ***motor car trader*** means a person who otherwise than in the capacity of an employee carries on the business (whether or not that person carries on any other business) of trading in motor cars or holds out in any way as carrying on the business of trading in motor cars; S. 3(1) def. of *occupier* inserted by No. 17/1999 s. 10(b). ***occupier*** in relation to a premises, means a person who appears to be of or over 16 years of age and who appears to be in control of the premises; S. 3(1) def. of *OFTBA Act* inserted by No. 17/1999 s. 10(b), repealed by No. 35/2000 s. 47(b). S. 3(1) def. of *owner* amended by No. 63/2010 s. 76(1). ***owner*** (except in the definition of ***security interest***) in relation to a motor car, includes any person who is the sole owner joint owner or part owner thereof and any person who has the possession and use thereof under or subject to a hire-purchase agreement or a goods mortgage or like instrument, but does not include any person in whom the property in the motor car or any absolute or conditional right or licence to take possession of the motor car is vested under or subject to a hire-purchase agreement or a goods mortgage or like instrument but who has not for the time being the possession and use thereof; S. 3(1) def. of *police officer* inserted by No. 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. 114.1). ***police officer*** has the same meaning as in the **Victoria Police Act 2013**; S. 3(1) def. of *prescribed* inserted by No. 74/1996 s. 3(1)(d). ***prescribed*** means prescribed by this Act or the regulations; S. 3(1) def. of *public auction* inserted by No. 74/1996 s. 3(1)(d). ***public auction*** means an auction at which people other than licensed motor car traders may attend and bid; S. 3(1) def. of *record* inserted by No. 6/1989 s. 12(c). ***record*** includes any book, account, document, paper or other source of information compiled, recorded, stored in written form, or on microfilm, or by electronic process, or in any other manner or by any other means; S. 3(1) def. of *Registrar* substituted by No. 52/1998 s. 140(f). ***Registrar*** means the Registrar of the Authority appointed under the **Business Licensing Authority Act 1998**; S. 3(1) def. of *related company* substituted by No. 44/2001 s. 3(Sch. item 84.1(b)). ***related company***, in relation to a body corporate, means a body corporate that is a related body corporate (within the meaning of the Corporations Act) of that body corporate; ***security interest*** in relation to a motor car means an interest in or a power over the motor car (whether arising by or pursuant to an instrument or transaction) which secures payment of a debt or other pecuniary obligation or the performance of any other obligation and includes any interest in or power over goods of a lessor, owner or other supplier of goods, but does not include a possessory lien or a pledge; S. 3(1) def. of *serious offence* inserted by No. 74/1996 s. 3(1)(e). ***serious offence*** means an offence involving fraud, dishonesty, drug trafficking or violence punishable by imprisonment for 3 months or more; ***special trader*** means a financier or manufacturer or a related company of a financier or manufacturer being a body corporate; S. 3(1) def. of *spouse* inserted by No. 27/2001 s. 8(Sch. 6 item 3.1). ***spouse*** of a person means a person to whom the person is married; ***trading in motor cars*** means buying selling or exchanging motor cars, whether as principal or agent, and offering to buy sell or exchange motor cars, whether as principal or agent, and includes an advertisement or invitation to treat but does not include an exempt transaction under subsection (3); ***this Act*** includes the regulations; S. 3(1) def. of *Tribunal* inserted by No. 52/1998 s. 140(g). ***Tribunal*** means Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal established by the **Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998**; ***used motor car*** includes a motor car that has, at any time before being offered or displayed for sale, been registered under the **Road Safety Act 1986** or the **Motor Car Act 1958** or under any Act or law of a place outside Victoria which contains provisions corresponding to the provisions of the **Road Safety Act 1986** for registration of motor cars. (2) The Governor in Council may by proclamation published in the Government Gazette declare any kind of motor car to be an exempt vehicle for the purposes of this Act. (3) For the purposes of the definition of ***trading in motor cars*** the following are exempt transactions— (a) buying, selling or exchanging motor cars or offering to buy sell or exchange motor cars by any person from to or with— (i) licensed motor car traders; (ii) special traders; or (iii) employees of the person or, where the person is a body corporate, of a related company of the person; or (b) selling or offering to sell by a financier by public auction or public tender motor cars— (i) that are returned to the financier by persons (not being motor car traders) who have entered into any contracts or agreements with the financier relating to them; or (ii) of which the financier has taken possession in the exercise of any rights conferred by contracts or agreements made between the financier and the persons (not being motor car traders) formerly in possession of them; or (c) selling or offering to sell motor cars by a financier by private treaty to purchasers introduced to the financier by persons from whom the motor cars have been repossessed; or (d) selling or offering to sell motor cars by any person to persons to whom the motor cars have been let or hired by the person for a continuous period of at least three months immediately before the sale or offer to sell in each case; or (e) buying or selling or offering to buy or sell at a public auction motor cars— S. 3(3)(e)(i) substituted by No. 74/1996 s. 3(2). (i) whose last owner or user was a government department or a public statutory authority; or S. 3(3)(e)(ii) amended by Nos 74/1996 s. 55(1)(a), 44/2001 s. 3(Sch. item 84.2). (ii) owned by a company (not being a licensed motor car trader) which has been wound up, where the sale or offer to sell is effected by a liquidator pursuant to a power conferred on her or him by the Corporations Act or by an Order of the Supreme Court of Victoria. (4) For the purposes of this Act, a reference to a finance lease is a reference to a contract for the hiring of a motor car where, before the contract is made, the owner acts in such a manner that the hirer ought reasonably to infer that the owner is willing, whether during or within a reasonable time after the period during which the contract is in force, to sell the motor car to the hirer. S. 3(5) inserted by No. 74/1996 s. 3(3). (5) A reference to a person who is disqualified from holding a licence includes a reference to a person who is disqualified from holding a licence to act, or from acting, as a motor car trader in any State or Territory (regardless of whether or not motor car traders are referred to by that name in the relevant jurisdiction). S. 3(6) inserted by No. 74/1996 s. 3(3). (6) A reference to a conviction for an offence includes a reference to— (a) a finding of guilt in relation to the offence; and (b) a conviction or finding of guilt in Australia or elsewhere. S. 3(7) inserted by No. 74/1996 s. 3(3). (7) A reference to a date, code or other marking on a compliance plate, metal plate or metal component only refers to a date, code or marking stamped, engraved or otherwise placed on the plate or component in accordance with a law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory. S. 3(8) inserted by No. 74/1996 s. 3(3). (8) A reference to a claim being admitted against the Fund includes a reference to a claim being admitted against the Motor Car Traders' Guarantee Fund established under the **Motor Car Traders Act 1973**. S. 3(9) inserted by No. 74/1996 s. 3(3). (9) A reference to a person includes a reference to a partnership, unless a contrary intention appears. S. 3(10) inserted by No. 27/2001 s. 8(Sch. 6 item 3.2), substituted by No. 12/2008 s. 73(1)(Sch. 1 item 41.2). (10) For the purposes of the definition of ***domestic partner*** in subsection (1)— (a) ***registered relationship*** has the same meaning as in the **Relationships Act 2008**; and (b) in determining whether persons who are not in a registered relationship are domestic partners of each other, all the circumstances of their relationship are to be taken into account, including any one or more of the matters referred to in section 35(2) of the **Relationships Act 2008** as may be relevant in a particular case; and (c) a person is not a domestic partner of another person only because they are co-tenants.