(1) An institution becomes a participating institution if the Minister makes a declaration under subsection (2) in relation to the institution.
(2) The Minister may, by notifiable instrument, declare that an institution is a participating institution.
Note 1: An institution may be identified by name, by inclusion in a particular class, or in any other way.
Note 2: The Minister need not make a declaration under this subsection for a Commonwealth institution because all Commonwealth institutions are participating institutions automatically (see section 108).
(3) The Minister must not make a declaration under subsection (2) unless the Minister is satisfied that:
(a) for a State institution--the participating State has agreed, in a way provided for in the State's referral Act or adoption Act, to the institution participating in the scheme; and
(b) for a Territory institution--the participating Territory has agreed to the institution participating in the scheme; and
(c) for a non - government institution (other than a defunct institution or an unincorporated lone institution)--the institution has agreed to participate in the scheme; and
(d) for a non - government institution that is a defunct institution--a person has agreed:
(i) to the defunct institution participating in the scheme; and
(ii) to be the representative for the defunct institution; and
(e) for a non - government institution that is an unincorporated lone institution:
(i) the institution has agreed to participate in the scheme; and
(ii) the institution has agreed to a person being the representative for the institution; and
(iii) the person has agreed to being the representative for the institution; and
(f) in all cases--any requirements prescribed by the rules are satisfied.
Note 1: For how the agreement of a participating Territory, an institution or a person is given, see section 186.
Note 2: For representatives for defunct institutions and lone institutions, see Divisions 4 and 5.
(4) The Minister must not make a declaration under subsection (2) in relation to an institution after:
(a) the second anniversary of the scheme start day; or
(b) a later day prescribed by the rules;
unless the institution is a defunct institution.
(5) If:
(a) a State or Territory has agreed to a State institution or Territory institution participating in the scheme; and
(b) the institution is a body corporate;
then the institution is taken to have also agreed to participate in the scheme.