Which is the competent authority for Australian invention patent applications

yes. It is allowed to include multiple designs in one design application.

Designs with a filing date after March 10, 2022, where the first disclosure occurs after that date due to:

• Inadvertently making a design public
• Didn't know the design needed to apply for protection before it was disclosed

A design patent application can enjoy a novelty grace period of 12 months.

Acceptance of restoration of priority on grounds of "due care" and "unintentional/due care"

via Paris Convention : 6 months from earliest priority date.

• Grant fee: should be paid within 3 months after receiving the granted notice
• Annuity: From the 5th year from the filing date, the annual fee should be paid before the filing date of each year. If the annual fee is overdue, the payment can be postponed to a grace period of 6 months, but a penalty of AUD 100.00 is required every month

IP Australia conducts formal and substantive examinations of patent applications for inventions. Patent applicants are required to submit a substantive examination request within 5 years from the filing date, or within 2 months after the official notification of submitting a request for examination (whichever expires earlier). If there are any problems in the examination, the patent applicant has 12 months to solve them. If the defects cannot be overcome, the patent application will be invalid. If no opposition occurs within the 3-month opposition period, the patent application will be granted.

IP Australia

English: Australian Patent Office, abbreviation: IP Australia

Website: IP Australia | Protect The Value Of Your Ideas

Australian invention patent search: IP Australia: AusPat Quick Search

no

• via Paris Convention : 12 months from earliest priority date.
• via Nationalization of PCT : 31 months from earliest priority date.

• Registration: 2 weeks.
• Certification: 4 months.