# Liability to pay amounts

> act-s140S — as in force on 2026-06-04 — C2026C00232 · Compilation No. 171 — https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2026C00232/latest/text

140S Liability to pay amounts
          (1) This section applies if a person who is or was an approved sponsor
              is required to pay an amount of a kind prescribed in the regulations
              to the Commonwealth, a State or Territory or another person (the
              payee) in relation to a sponsorship obligation.
          (2) The payee may recover the amount as a debt due to the payee in an
              eligible court.
          (3) To avoid doubt, an amount may be recovered under this section if
              proceedings for a civil penalty order are brought under Part 8D and
              discontinued or completed without the court making an order of a
              kind referred to in subsection 486S(4) in relation to the amount.
          (4) For the purpose of paragraph (e) of the definition of eligible court,
              the regulations may prescribe a court of a State or Territory in
              which an amount may be recovered under this section.