Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002

This section applies if a corresponding State law purports to impose a duty on the following:

the NHMRC Licensing Committee;

a Commonwealth authority;

an officer of the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth authority.

The duty is taken not to be imposed by this Act (or any other law of the Commonwealth) to the extent to which:

imposing the duty is within the legislative powers of the State concerned; and

imposing the duty by the corresponding State law is consistent with the constitutional doctrines restricting the duties that may be imposed on a Commonwealth body, officer or authority.

If this subsection applies, the duty will be taken to be imposed by force of the corresponding State law (the Commonwealth having consented under section 43 to the imposition of the duty by the corresponding State law).

If, to ensure the validity of the purported imposition of the duty, it is necessary that the duty be imposed by a law of the Commonwealth (rather than by force of the corresponding State law), the duty is taken to be imposed by this Act to the extent necessary to ensure that validity.

If, because of subsection (3), this Act is taken to impose the duty, it is the intention of the Parliament to rely on all powers available to it under the Constitution to support the imposition of the duty by this Act.

The duty is taken to be imposed by this Act in accordance with subsection (3) only to the extent to which imposing the duty:

is within the legislative power of the Commonwealth; and

is consistent with the constitutional doctrines restricting the duties that may be imposed on a Commonwealth body, officer or authority.

To avoid doubt, neither this Act (nor any other law of the Commonwealth) imposes a duty on the NHMRC Licensing Committee, a Commonwealth officer or a Commonwealth authority to the extent to which imposing such a duty would:

contravene any constitutional doctrine restricting the duties that may be imposed on a Commonwealth body, officer or authority; or

otherwise exceed the legislative power of the Commonwealth.

Subsections (1) to (6) do not limit section 43.