Part 3
Provisions for the protection of Government revenue and fiscal responsibility

19 Restriction on reducing Crown’s asset holdings without consent

• (1) No Minister who is a shareholder in a mixed ownership model company may take any of the following actions prior to completing the requirements of section 20:

  • (a) sell or otherwise dispose of any shares in the company held in the Minister’s name:

  • (b) permit shares in, or other securities of, the company to be allotted or issued to any person.

  (2) A mixed ownership model company must not issue, acquire, or redeem shares in, or other securities of, the company, if the issue, acquisition, or redemption would reduce the Crown’s holding of the company, until the relevant Minister has completed the requirements of section 20.

  (3) Any sale, disposal, issue, acquisition, or redemption of shares or other securities that breaches subsection (1) or (2) is invalid and of no effect .

20 Requirements for sale of mixed ownership model company

• (1) Before a Crown holding in any mixed ownership model company may be reduced through any of the transactions mentioned in section 19, the relevant Minister responsible for the company must submit to the House of Representatives a report containing the following information:

  • (a) an independent valuation of the mixed ownership model company in which the Crown holding is to be reduced:

  • (b) the proposed sale price and amount of the Crown holding to be sold:

  • (c) the annual revenue lost to the Crown by the reduction in their holding of that company:

  • (d) an independent valuation of the effect on prices of any goods or services provided by that company as a result of the reduction in the Crown holding:

  • (e) an independent assessment of any likely environmental or social effects as a result of the reduction in the Crown holding:

  • (f) the Minister's recommendation of whether the transaction should be allowed:

  • (g) the Minister's justification for the transaction.

  (2) The House of Representatives, after considering the information provided under subsection (1) must hold a ballot.

  (3) The results of the ballot of the House of Representatives held under subsection (2) must be published as soon as practicable in the Gazette.

  (4) If more than half the votes cast are in favour of the transaction, upon publication by the House of Representatives of the notice required by subsection (3), the transaction may proceed.