5(2)

98(7)

Maximum fine which may be imposed for a breach of the rules.

The CNR and WA Reg 5(2) both provide for a maximum fine of $1000, but the CNR includes an additional section which limits the fine to $500 where the primary activities of the co-operative are charitable.

7

115

Determining primary activities

WA Reg 7 describes the factors to be considered to determine whether an activity of a co-operative is a primary activity for the purposes of s115 of the WA Act.  The provision in the CNR is identical, except it includes as a relevant factor for consideration in the case of a new co-operative, whether it is likely to carry out the activity within two years.  This allows additional flexibility for newly formed co-operatives in developing their activities.

8

130

Register of cancelled memberships

WA Reg 8 refers to Schedule 4 clause 5, which describes the particulars that must be included in the register of cancelled memberships maintained by a co-operative.  CNR 2.6 contains a similar provision, but there is no equivalent in the WA Regulations to CNR 2.6(2) which specifies the particulars must be retained for the period during which rights subsist in respect of the person.

9

149

Certificate of valuation of assets

WA Reg 9 describes the professional qualifications that must be held by a valuer for the purposes of section 149(c) of the Act.  The equivalent provision in the CNR is more comprehensive, allowing for equivalent qualifications in other jurisdictions (which will be required with the participating co-operatives arrangements in the amended Act) and including a requirement of independence.

N/A

151(8)

Fee payable to a person acting on direction of the board with regard to disclosure of interests

CNR 2.4 provides for the payment of a fee of $50.00 to a person providing a valuation to the Board pursuant to CNL 92(8).  There is no equivalent in the current WA Regulations as there is currently no equivalent to 92(8) in the WA Act.

10

200

Certificate with regard to conviction/imprisonment

WA Reg 10 provides a list of authorities who can provide a certificate about a person’s release from prison for the purposes of section 200 of the WA Act (disqualification from acting as a director or taking part in the management of a co-operative). The WA regulation is equivalent to CNR 3.1(2) but the CNR contains an additional provision at 3.1(1) providing for the case of a conviction of an offence under the co-operatives law. 

N/A

N/A to be added by amendment Bill

Responsibility of secretary for contravention of specified provisions

CNR 3.2 specifies a list of offences which pursuant to CNL191, if contravened by the co-operative, also result in a contravention by the Secretary. The maximum penalty is a fine of $500.00. It is a defence if the Secretary has taken reasonable steps to comply. There is no equivalent in the current WA Regulations as there is currently no equivalent to CNL 191 in the WA Act.

A list of 12 offences are nominated, they relate to obligations of the co-operative to maintain records and registers and lodge documents and notifications with the Registrar, reflecting the responsibility of the Secretary for undertaking these functions.

11

225

Criteria for a determining whether a co-operative is a small  co-operative

Criteria in the CNL for a distributing co-operative are the same as the current WA Reg 11 in relation to assets, revenue and number of employees  except, under the WA Regulation, all three criteria must be satisfied.  Under the CNR, only two of the three criteria are required.  Non-distributing co-operatives are subject to much lower thresholds under the current WA Regulation than the CNR which applies the same test to both distributing and non-distributing co-operatives.

The CNR also includes additional provisions relating to calculation of gross revenue and assets and number of employees, but these do not represent any change in practice in Western Australia, they accord with our current interpretation of the Regulation.

13

230

Registers to be kept by a co-operative

WA Reg 13 describes the form in which registers may be kept, and the particulars they must contain – the particulars are set out in schedule 4 to the Regulations, which is referenced by the regulations.

CNR 3.3 is the equivalent provision in the CNR, and contains one additional subclause at 3.3(b)(ii) which allows information to be kept in the form of a recording and has no equivalent in the WA regulation.

CNR 3.3 also refers to a schedule which describes the particulars registers must contain.  It is slightly different to schedule 4 to the WA regulations.

14

232

Inspection of registers

WA Reg 14 describes the registers maintained by a co-operative which must be available for inspection by members, and the fees that a co-operative may charge for copies.  CNR 3.4 is similar, but sets the fee with reference to the fee charged by the Registrar for the same document rather than specifying a dollar amount, and includes an additional list of documents that must be available for inspection.

15

234

Notice of appointment or cessation of appointment of directors and officers

WA Reg 15 describes the particulars which must be provided in a notice of appointment or cessation of appointment of directors.  It is equivalent to CNR 3.5(2)(a)-(d) but the CNR includes additional subclauses (e) and (f) which impose an obligation to notify the Registrar of changes of name or address of directors should these details change whilst the individual occupies that role.

It is noted the amendments are proposed to the WA Act that would remove any reporting requirements in relation to the directors and officers of subsidiaries of WA co-operatives.

N/A

Report to be lodged with the Registrar – prescribed particulars

CNL 281 provides that regulations may provide for a report to the Registrar of ‘prescribed particulars’ in the case of a co-operative with quoted securities. CNR 3.6 provides for those particulars, and requires a report in relation to an issue of securities.  There is no equivalent in the WA Regulations, as there is currently no equivalent to CNL 281 in the WA Act.

16

235

Annual report to the Registrar

The sections of the WA Act relating to financial reporting and annual reporting to the Registrar are different to those in the CNL, as the WA Act reads in financial accounting and reporting requirements from the Commonwealth Corporations Law, while the CNL sets out equivalent requirements within the CNL itself.

For that reason, the CNL sets out separate reporting requirements for large and small co-operatives, and as part of those provisions, a requirement for ‘an annual return’ for small co-operatives.  Section 235 of the WA Act requires an ‘annual report’ including prescribed particulars from all co-operatives, with large co-operatives required to include additional financial information.

In both cases, the particulars that must be included in the annual ‘return’ or ‘report’ are prescribed by the regulations.  CNR 3.14 describes the contents of the annual return of a small co-operative (and allows for additional matters to be prescribed by local regulations).  WA R 16 lists the particulars that are to be included in an annual report to the Registrar.

Both the CNR 3.14 and WA R16 require the following particulars:

• Name
• Registered Office
• Details of the AGM
• Number of Members

In addition, CNR 3.14 requires:

• Details of directors and secretary
• A statement that the co-operative is a small co-operative
• A solvency statement
• A statement as to whether members have required additional financial reports;
• Any additional information required under local regulations (none currently apply in NSW)

Additional details required by WA R16 are:

• Number of employees
• Shares forfeited
• Shares repurchased
• Memberships cancelled
• Shares issued

It is intended the reporting requirements for WA co-operatives will be aligned as closely as possible with those in the co-operatives national law.

It is noted the current WA requirements in relation to the timing of the reporting obligation (28 days after the AGM) will be retained.

N/A

185

Conduct of postal ballots

CNR 3.9 describes how a postal ballot is to be conducted.  The WA regulations do not currently contain any provision in relation to conduct of postal ballots.  The WA model rules contain provisions which are a bit different to, but not inconsistent with, CNR 3.9.

The following requirements are common to the CNR and the WA Model Rules:

• Subject to the other requirements of the regulations (model rules) the postal ballot is to be conducted as determined by the board
• A returning officer is to be appointed
• Electronic voting methods may be used
• If a secret ballot is required, the ballot must be conducted in a way which allows the votes to be counted without identifying the member

The CNR and the WA Model Rules have the following differences:

• The CNR requires a ‘reasonable time’ for members to return a vote, while the Model Rules require 21 days
• The CNR specifically requires the ballot to be secure, transparent and independent
• The CNR requires, if electronic methods are used, members must not be prejudiced in their ability to participate

Comment is sought from co-operatives in Western Australia as to whether alignment with the CNR would adversely impact their ability to conduct effective postal ballots.  It is noted a requirement for a ballot to be ‘independent’ would not preclude a co-operative from conducting its own ballot, but would require the co-operative to ensure any individual with a direct personal interest in the outcome (other than a common interest shared with other members arising from membership) is not involved in supervision of the ballot.

N/A

225

Small co-operatives -financial statements

CNR 3.10 lists the requirements of a financial report to members by a small co-operative where there has been no direction by members or the Registrar for the provision of full financial reports.  There is currently no equivalent in the WA Regulations.

N/A

225

Small co-operative - reports where members require audit or review

CNR 3.11 provides, where members require audit or review, the co-operative must comply with the standards set by the Australian Auditing and Assurance Standards Board.   There is currently no equivalent provision in the WA Regulations.

N/A

225

Small co-operative – disclosures required by notes

CNR 3.12 describes the disclosures that must be made in the notes to financial statements of a co-operative reporting as a consolidated entity.  There is currently no equivalent provision in the WA Regulations.

N/A

225

Small co-operative – annual report to members

CNR 3.13 provides that the annual financial report to members must contain the financial statements described in Regulation 3.10.  There is currently no equivalent provision in the WA Regulations.

20

255(2)

Compulsory Loan

CNL provides a loan may be for a period of seven years, or a lesser period prescribed by the CNR.  No period has been prescribed.  WA Reg 20 provides for a maximum loan period of 10 years.  Comment is sought from WA co-operatives as to whether alignment with the Co-operatives National Law is appropriate.

N/A

271(3)

Application of surplus distribution as a loan to the co-operative

CNR 3.18 provides, where a distribution of surplus to a member is applied as a loan to the co-operative under the rules of the co-operative, a minimum rate of interest will apply being the cash rate published by the RBA.  There is currently no equivalent in the WA Regulations.

It is intended the provisions in the WA Act and Regulations with regard to application of a surplus distribution as a loan to the co-operative will be aligned with those in the CNL and CNR.

25

273

Acquisition and disposal of assets that require special postal ballots

WA Reg 25 clauses (1) and (3) prescribe a percentage of 50%.  A co-operative must not dispose of or acquire assets that represent greater than that percentage of the total value of the undertaking without holding a special postal ballot of members.

The equivalent regulations in the CNR 3.20(1) and (3) prescribe a default percentage of 25%, but provide the rules of a co-operative may increase the percentage up to a maximum of 50%.

In the course of previous consultation, WA co-operatives have expressed a preference for retaining the current WA provision.  It is intended the agreement of other jurisdictions will be sought to retaining this difference.

N/A

Requirements to be satisfied before an offer can be made

CNL 374 provides certain share offers can only be made if approved by the Registrar and members, or in circumstances prescribed by the Regulations.  CNR 3.23 describes the circumstances in which an offer can be made without prior approval.  There is no equivalent in the WA Regulations.

35

355(1)

Notice to a dissenting shareholder

WA Reg 35 provides for notice in a form approved by the Registrar.  The equivalent provision in the CNR – CNR 4.3 prescribes a form.

36

357

Notice to remaining shareholders

WA Reg 36 provides for notice in a form approved by the Registrar.  The equivalent provision in the CNR – CNR 4.4 prescribes a form.

37

362

Out of jurisdiction compromise or arrangement

WA Reg 37 deals with recognition of the co-operatives laws of other jurisdictions for the purposes of section 338 of the WA Act.  The legislation referred to in the regulation is being replaced by the CNL, the regulation will need to be amended accordingly.

38

379

Application of the Act and regulations to foreign co-operatives

WA Reg 38 refers to schedule 8 which contains a list of the provisions in the Act and regulations which apply to participating and non-participating co-operatives.

The amendments to the Act, and specifically amendment to the provisions with regard to participating co-operatives, will include application of relevant parts of the Act to participating co-operatives, so the list of provisions at schedule 8 will no longer be required.

CNR 5.1 does apply one additional provision to participating co-operatives (requirement to provide particulars to the Registrar on request) and an equivalent provision will need to be added to the WA regulations for consistency.

N/A

Restrictions on advertising and publicity - shares (participating co-operatives)

CNR 5.2 provides, where advertising is likely to attract new members from a participating jurisdiction, information must be disclosed.  There is no equivalent in the WA Regulations as the provisions in relation to participating co-operatives are new.

N/A

Restrictions on advertising and publicity - debentures or CCUs (participating co-operatives)

CNR 5.3 provides, where advertising is likely to attract new investment from a participating jurisdiction, information must be disclosed. There is no equivalent in the WA Regulations as the provisions in relation to participating co-operatives are new.

N/A

Information to appear on the business and other documents of a participating co-operative

CNR 5.4 prescribes information that must appear on documents. There is no equivalent in the WA Regulations as the provisions in relation to participating co-operatives are new.

N?a

454

Contents of Register of co-operatives

CNR 8.1 prescribes the information that must be included in the register of co-operatives maintained by the Registrar.  There is no equivalent provision in the current WA regulations, as the current provision in the Act provides for the register to contain the particulars the Registrar thinks fit (s455)

The register must contain the following information:

• Co-operative name and number
• Registration date
• Type (distributing/non-distributing, with/without share capital)
• Purposes or primary activities
• Registered office
• Principal place of business
• Any external administration
• Names of Directors, CEO, Secretary
• Due date for lodgement of annual return
• Whether the latest annual return has been lodged
• Whether there are any enforceable undertakings
• Documents: application for registration; certificate of registration, rules and changes, registered disclosure statements, registered special resolutions; exemptions granted.

40

457

Documents available for inspection

WA Reg 40 contains a list of documents lodged with the Registrar that are not available for inspection/purchase.  CNR 8.2 is the equivalent provision and lists documents that are available for inspection.  The following documents are specified:

• Annual returns or annual financial statements
• Rules and any changes to the rules
• Registered disclosure statements
• Application for registration and any attachments
• Certificate of registration
• Registered special resolutions
• Any exemptions, orders in writing or other documents evidencing approvals by the Registrar
• Any enforceable undertaking (subject to any determined claim for confidentiality)

41

Sch9

4; Sch2

Exclusion of holders of prescribed offices

WA Reg 41 refers to Schedule 9, which includes a list of office holders who are not considered to hold a relevant interest in a share or right to vote for the purposes of Schedule 2 clause 13 to the Act.  The Regulation is identical to the equivalent CNR but the Schedule needs to be updated to accurately reflect office holders under the WA Act as amended and the CNL.