12Damage to property

12 Damage to property

(1) Where, immediately before the commencing day, proceedings to which Australia or the Postmaster‑General is a party were pending in any court for the recovery of damages in respect of damage done before the commencing day to property vested in a Commission by this Act, that Commission is, by force of this section, substituted for Australia or the Postmaster‑General, as the case may be, as a party to the proceedings and has the same rights in the proceedings as the party for which it is substituted. (2) Where property vested in a Commission by this Act was damaged before the commencing day, that Commission may institute proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction for the recovery of any damages that would, but for this section, be recoverable by Australia or the Postmaster‑General in respect of that damage.