Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION ACT 1974 - NOTES

No. 136, 1974

Compilation No. 14

Compilation date: 18 February 2022

Includes amendments up to: Act No. 3, 2022

Registered: 2 March 2022

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the International Arbitration Act 1974 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 18 February 2022 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Editorial changes

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Self-repealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

Contents

Part I--Preliminary

1 Short title of Principal Act

2 Commencement

2A Territories

2B Act binds the Crown

2C Carriage of goods by sea

2D Objects of this Act

Part II--Enforcement of foreign arbitration agreements and awards

3 Interpretation

7 Enforcement of foreign arbitration agreements

8 Recognition of foreign awards

9 Evidence of awards and arbitration agreements

10 Evidence relating to Convention

10A Delegation by Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Department

12 Effect of this Part on other laws

13 Judiciary Act

14 Application of Part

Part III--International Commercial Arbitration

Division 1--Preliminary

15 Interpretation

Division 2--Model Law

16 Model Law to have force of law

17 Interpretation of Model Law--use of extrinsic material

18 Courts and authorities in the Model Law

18A Article 12--justifiable doubts as to the impartiality or independence of an arbitrator

18B Article 17B--preliminary orders

18C Article 18--reasonable opportunity to present case

19 Articles 17I, 34 and 36 of Model Law--public policy

20 Chapter VIII of Model Law not to apply in certain cases

21 Model Law covers the field

Division 3--Additional provisions

22 Application of additional provisions

22A Interpretation

23 Parties may obtain subpoenas

23A Failure to assist arbitral tribunal

23B Default by party to an arbitration agreement

23C Disclosure of confidential information

23D Circumstances in which confidential information may be disclosed

23E Arbitral tribunal may allow disclosure in certain circumstances

23F Court may prohibit disclosure in certain circumstances

23G Court may allow disclosure in certain circumstances

23H Death of a party to an arbitration agreement

23J Evidence

23K Security for costs

24 Consolidation of arbitral proceedings

25 Interest up to making of award

26 Interest on debt under award

27 Costs

Division 4--Miscellaneous

28 Immunity

29 Representation in proceedings

30A Severability

Part IV--Application of the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States

Division 1--Preliminary

31 Interpretation

Division 2--Investment Convention

32 Application of Investment Convention to Australia

33 Award is binding

34 Investment Convention awards to prevail over other laws

35 Recognition of awards

Division 3--Miscellaneous

36 Evidence relating to Investment Convention

37 Representation in proceedings

38 Judiciary Act

Part V--General matters

39 Matters to which court must have regard

40 Regulations

Schedule 1--United Nations Conference on International Commercial Arbitration Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards

Schedule 2--UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration (As adopted by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on 21 June 1985, and as amended by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on 7  July 2006)

Schedule 3--Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes Between States and Nationals of Other States

Endnotes

Endnote 1--About the endnotes

Endnote 2--Abbreviation key

Endnote 3--Legislation history

Endnote 4--Amendment history

Endnote 5--Editorial changes

Endnotes

Endnote 1--About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1--About the endnotes

Endnote 2--Abbreviation key

Endnote 3--Legislation history

Endnote 4--Amendment history

Abbreviation key--Endnote 2

The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history--Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.

If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe the amendment to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, the amendment is incorporated into the compiled law and the abbreviation "(md)" added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the abbreviation "(md not incorp)" is added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

Endnote 2--Abbreviation key

 

ad = added or inserted	o = order(s)
am = amended	Ord = Ordinance
amdt = amendment	orig = original
c = clause(s)	par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)
C[x] = Compilation No. x	/sub-subparagraph(s)
Ch = Chapter(s)	pres = present
def = definition(s)	prev = previous
Dict = Dictionary	(prev ... ) = previously
disallowed = disallowed by Parliament	Pt = Part(s)
Div = Division(s)	r = regulation(s)/rule(s)
ed = editorial change	reloc = relocated
exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have	renum = renumbered
effect	rep = repealed
F = Federal Register of Legislation	rs = repealed and substituted
gaz = gazette	s = section(s)/subsection(s)
LA = Legislation Act 2003	Sch = Schedule(s)
LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003	Sdiv = Subdivision(s)
(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given	SLI = Select Legislative Instrument
effect	SR = Statutory Rules
(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment	Sub-Ch = Sub-Chapter(s)
cannot be given effect	SubPt = Subpart(s)
mod = modified/modification	underlining = whole or part not
No. = Number(s)	commenced or to be commenced

Endnote 3--Legislation history

 

Act	Number and year	Assent	Commencement	Application, saving and transitional provisions
Arbitration (Foreign Awards and Agreements) Act 1974	136, 1974	9 Dec 1974	s 1-3: 9 Dec 1974 (s 2(1)) Remainder: 24 June 1975 (s 2(2) and gaz 1975, No G24, p 2)
Jurisdiction of Courts (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1979	19, 1979	28 Mar 1979	Parts II-XVII (s 3-123): 15 May 1979 (s 2(2), (3) and gaz 1979, No S86) Remainder: 28 Mar 1979 (s 2(1))	s 124
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1987	141, 1987	18 Dec 1987	s 3 and 5(1): 18 Dec 1987 (s 2(1))	s 5(1)
International Arbitration Amendment Act 1989	25, 1989	15 May 1989	12 June 1989	--
ICSID Implementation Act 1990	107, 1990	18 Dec 1990	Parts 2 and 3 (s 3-8): 1 June 1991 (s 2(2) and gaz 1991, No S98) Remainder: 18 Dec 1990 (s 2(1))	--
Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1991	160, 1991	31 Oct 1991	s 21: 31 Oct 1991 (s  2(1))	--
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2004	62, 2004	26 May 2004	Sch 1 (items 40-42): 27 May 2004 (s 2(1) item 11)	--
Statute Law Revision Act 2008	73, 2008	3 July 2008	Sch 4 (items 348-350): 4 July 2008 (s 2(1) item 64)	--
Federal Justice System Amendment (Efficiency Measures) Act (No. 1) 2009	122, 2009	7 Dec 2009	Sch 2: 7 Dec 2009 (s 2(1) item 2)	--
International Arbitration Amendment Act 2010	97, 2010	6 July 2010	Sch 1 (items 6, 8, 25): 7 Dec 2009 (s 2(1) items 3, 5, 9) Remainder: 6 July 2010 (s 2(1) items 1, 2, 4, 6-8, 10)	Sch 1 (items 28-35)
Statute Law Revision Act 2011	5, 2011	22 Mar 2011	Sch 6 (items 67, 68) and Sch 7 (items 77-79): 19 Apr 2011 (s 2(1) items 17, 18)	--
Civil Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2015	113, 2015	17 Aug 2015	Sch 2: 18 Aug 2015 (s 2(1) item 2)	--
Civil Law and Justice (Omnibus Amendments) Act 2015	132, 2015	13 Oct 2015	Sch 1 (items 56-64): 14 Oct 2015 (s 2(1) item 2)	Sch 1 (items 58, 63)
Statute Law Revision Act (No. 2) 2015	145, 2015	12 Nov 2015	Sch 3 (item 23): 10 Dec 2015 (s 2(1) item 7)	--
Statute Law Revision (Spring 2016) Act 2016	67, 2016	20 Oct 2016	Sch 1 (item 29): 17 Nov 2016 (s 2(1) item 2)	--
Civil Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2018	130, 2018	25 Oct 2018	Sch 7: 26 Oct 2018 (s 2(1) item 11)	Sch 7 (items 5, 8, 12 and 17)
Courts and Tribunals Legislation Amendment (2021 Measures No. 1) Act 2022	3, 2022	17 Feb 2022	Sch 1 (items 96, 97): 18 Feb 2022 (s 2(1) item 3)	--

Endnote 4--Amendment history

 

Provision affected	How affected
Title....................	rs No 25, 1989
Part I
Part I heading..............	ad No 25, 1989
s 1.....................	am No 25, 1989
s 2.....................	am No 62, 2004
s 2A....................	ad No 25, 1989
s 2B....................	ad No 25, 1989
	rs No 145, 2015
s 2C....................	ad No 25, 1989
	rs No 160, 1991
s 2D....................	ad No 97, 2010
Part II
Part II heading.............	ad No 25, 1989
	rs No 132, 2015
s 3.....................	am No 25, 1989; No 122, 2009; No 97, 2010; No 5, 2011; No  130, 2018
s 4.....................	rep No 62, 2004
s 5.....................	rep No 25, 1989
s 6.....................	rep No 25, 1989
s 7.....................	am No 25, 1989
s 8.....................	am No 19, 1979; No 25, 1989; No 73, 2008; No 122, 2009; No 97, 2010 ; No 132, 2015; No 130, 2018; No 3, 2022
s 9.....................	am No 25, 1989; No 73, 2008
	ed C14
s 10....................	am No 25, 1989; No 62, 2004; No 5, 2011
	ed C14
s 10A...................	ad No 141, 1987
	am No 5, 2011
s 11....................	rep No 25, 1989
s 12....................	am No 25, 1989
s 13....................	am No 25, 1989
s 14....................	am No 25, 1989
Part III
Part III ..................	ad No 25, 1989
Division 1
s 15....................	ad No 25, 1989
	am No 97, 2010
Division 2
s 16....................	ad No 25, 1989
	am No 97, 2010
s 17....................	ad No 25, 1989
s 18....................	ad No 25, 1989
	am No 122, 2009
	rs No 97, 2010
	am No 130, 2018
s 18A...................	ad No 97, 2010
s 18B...................	ad No 97, 2010
s 18C...................	ad No 97, 2010
s 19....................	ad No 25, 1989
	rs No 97, 2010
s 20....................	ad No 25, 1989
s 21....................	ad No 25, 1989
	rs No 97, 2010
	am No 113, 2015; No 130, 2018
Division 3
Division 3 heading..........	rs No 97, 2010
s 22....................	ad No 25, 1989
	rs No 97, 2010
	am No 132, 2015; No 130, 2018
s 22A...................	ad No 97, 2010
s 23....................	ad No 25, 1989
	rs No 97, 2010
ss. 23A-23H..............	ad. No. 97, 2010
s 23J....................	ad No 97, 2010
s 23K...................	ad No 97, 2010
s 24....................	ad No 25, 1989
s 25....................	ad No 25, 1989
	am No 97, 2010
s 26....................	ad No 25, 1989
	rs No 97, 2010
s 27....................	ad No 25, 1989
	am No 97, 2010; No 130, 2018
Division 4
s 28....................	ad No 25, 1989
	rs No 97, 2010
s 29....................	ad No 25, 1989
s 30....................	ad No 25, 1989
	rep No 132, 2015
s 30A...................	ad No 97, 2010
Part IV
Part IV ..................	ad No 107, 1990
Division 1
s 31....................	ad No 107, 1990
	am No 5, 2011
Division 2
s 32....................	ad No 107, 1990
s 33....................	ad No 107, 1990
s 34....................	ad No 107, 1990
s 35....................	ad No 107, 1990
	am No 122, 2009; No 97, 2010; No 3, 2022
Division 3
s 36....................	ad No 107, 1990
	ed C14
s 37....................	ad No 107, 1990
s 38....................	ad No 107, 1990
Part V
Part V...................	ad No 97, 2010
s 39....................	ad No 97, 2010
s 40....................	ad No 97, 2010
Schedule 1
Schedule 1................	am No 25, 1989
Schedule 2
Schedule 2................	ad No 25, 1989
	rs No 97, 2010
	am No 67, 2016
Schedule 3
Schedule 3................	ad No 107, 1990

Endnote 5--Editorial changes

In preparing this compilation for registration, the following kinds of editorial change(s) were made under the Legislation Act 2003.

Subsections 9(5), 10(1), (2) and 36(1)

Kind of editorial change

Change to typeface

Details of editorial change

This compilation was editorially changed to update four occurrences of the italicised words prima facie to regular font.