Courts Legislation Amendment Act 2023 (ACT)

Case

Courts Legislation Amendment Act 2023

A2023-37

Contents

Page

Part 1      Preliminary

1            Name of Act  2

2            Commencement  2

3            Legislation amended  2

4            Legislation repealed  2

Part 2Court Procedures Act 2004

5            Sections 7 (2) and 8 (3)  3

6            Rule‑making committeeSection 9 (2)  3

7           Advisory committeeSection 11 (2) (a) and (b)  3

8            Section 11 (2), new note  3

9            Section 11 (6) to (8)  4

10          Reviewable decisions—courtSection 18A (5) (a) (i)  4

11          Definitions—pt 5Section 40, definition of judge  4

12          JurisdictionSchedule 1, item 1 (3)  4

13          CostsSchedule 1, new item 26 (ca)  4

14          Dictionary, note 2  5

Part 3Magistrates Court Act 1930

15          Sections 17A and 17C  6

16          Sections 17E to 17K  6

Part 4Supreme Court Act 1933

17          Acting judgesSection 4B (2)  7

18          Seniority of judgesSection 5 (4)  7

19          Exercise of jurisdictionSection 8 (1) (a)  7

20          Exercise of jurisdiction by associate judgeSection 9  7

21          Section 14  7

22          Appellate jurisdictionSection 37E (4)  8

23          The masterPart 3  8

24          Power to complete part‑heard proceedingsSection 60A  8

25          New part 13  8

26          Schedule 1, part 1.1 heading  9

27          Schedule 1, part 1.1  9

28          Schedule 1, part 1.2 heading  10

29          Schedule 1, part 1.2  10

30          Dictionary, definitions of associate judge and master  10

Schedule 1 Consequential amendments  11

Part 1.1    Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment Act 1993        11

Part 1.2    Confiscation of Criminal Assets Act 2003  12

Part 1.3    Crimes Act 1900  12

Part 1.4    Crimes (Surveillance Devices) Act 2010  12

Part 1.5    Criminal Code 2002  13

Part 1.6    Drugs of Dependence Act 1989  13

Part 1.7    Integrity Commission Act 2018  14

Part 1.8    Judicial Commissions Act 1994  14

Part 1.9    Juries Regulation 2018  15

Part 1.10   Legislation Act 2001  15

Part 1.11   Ombudsman Act 1989  15

Part 1.12   Public Sector Management Act 1994  16

Part 1.13   Remuneration Tribunal Act 1995  16

Part 1.14   Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Regulation 2000        17

Part 1.15   Victims of Crime Act 1994  17

Courts Legislation Amendment Act 2023

A2023-37

An Act to amend legislation about courts, and for other purposes

The Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory enacts as follows:

Part 1Preliminary

  1. Name of Act

    This Act is the Courts Legislation Amendment Act 2023.

  2. Commencement

    This Act commences on the day after its notification day.

    NoteThe naming and commencement provisions automatically commence on the notification day (see Legislation Act, s 75 (1)).

  3. Legislation amended

    This Act amends the following legislation:

    ·     Court Procedures Act 2004

    ·     Magistrates Court Act 1930

    ·     Supreme Court Act 1933.

    NoteThis Act also amends other legislation (see sch 1).

  4. Legislation repealed

    All statutory instruments made under the Supreme Court Act 1933, part 3 are repealed, including the following instruments:

    ·     Supreme Court (Master Appointment Requirements) Determination 2010 (NI2010‑13)

    ·     Supreme Court (Master) Conditions of Appointment 2017 (No 1) (NI2017‑242).

Part 2Court Procedures Act 2004

  1. Sections 7 (2) and 8 (3)

    omit

    section 9 (2) (d) or (e)

    substitute

    section 9 (2) (c) or (d)

  2. Rule‑making committee
    Section 9 (2)

    substitute

    (2)The rule‑making committee consists of the following members:

    (a)the Chief Justice;

    (b)2 other resident judges appointed by the Chief Justice;

    (c)the Chief Magistrate;

    (d)another magistrate appointed by the Chief Magistrate.

    NoteFor laws about appointments, see the Legislation Act, pt 19.3.

  3. Advisory committee
    Section 11 (2) (a) and (b)

    substitute

    (a)a resident judge appointed by the Chief Justice as the chairperson of the advisory committee;

    (b)another resident judge appointed by the Chief Justice;

  4. Section 11 (2), new note

    insert

    NoteFor laws about appointments, see the Legislation Act, pt 19.3.

  5. Section 11 (6) to (8)

    substitute

    (6)If the chairperson of the advisory committee is not present at a meeting of the committee—

    (a)if the resident judge mentioned in subsection (2) (b) is present—that resident judge is to chair the meeting; or

    (b)in any other case—the member present chosen by the committee is to chair the meeting.

  6. Reviewable decisions—court
    Section 18A (5) (a) (i)

    omit

    or the associate judge

  7. Definitions—pt 5
    Section 40, definition of judge

    substitute

    judge includes a person prescribed by regulation for this definition.

  8. Jurisdiction
    Schedule 1, item 1 (3)

    omit

    the associate judge,

  9. Costs
    Schedule 1, new item 26 (ca)

    insert

    (ca)costs against non‑parties to proceedings;

  10. Dictionary, note 2

    omit

    ·     associate judge

    substitute

    ·     judge

    ·     magistrate

Part 3Magistrates Court Act 1930

  1. Sections 17A and 17C

    substitute

17AProtection and immunity of magistrates

(1)A magistrate, when exercising the functions of a magistrate, has the same protection and immunity as a judge when exercising the functions of a judge.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1), a magistrate, when exercising an administrative function of the magistrate under a law in force in the Territory, has the same protection and immunity as a magistrate in a judicial proceeding.

NoteIf a function of a magistrate is exercisable by a registrar, magistrate includes a registrar exercising the function (see dict).

  1. Sections 17E to 17K

    omit

Part 4Supreme Court Act 1933

  1. Acting judges
    Section 4B (2)

    omit

    12 months

    substitute

    2 years

  2. Seniority of judges
    Section 5 (4)

    omit

  3. Exercise of jurisdiction
    Section 8 (1) (a)

    omit

  4. Exercise of jurisdiction by associate judge
    Section 9

    omit

  5. Section 14

    substitute

  6. Full Court decisions—equal division of opinion

    If the Full Court is divided in opinion as to the decision to be given on any question, the question is to be decided according to—

    (a)if there is a majority—the opinion of the majority; or

    (b)if the judges are equally divided in opinion—the opinion of the most senior judge sitting.

  7. Appellate jurisdiction
    Section 37E (4)

    omit

    , or the associate judge,

  8. The master
    Part 3

    omit

  9. Power to complete part‑heard proceedings
    Section 60A

    omit

    or associate judge

  10. New part 13

    insert

Part 13Transitional—Courts Legislation Amendment Act 2023

  1. Meaning of associate judge—pt 13

    In this part:

    associate judge means the Master of the court under this Act, as in force at any time before the day the Courts Legislation Amendment Act 2023, section 23 commences.

    NoteThe Courts Legislation Amendment Act 2023, s 23 omitted this Act, pt 3, which provided for the Master of the court (known as the Associate Judge).

  2. Equally divided opinion relating to order of associate judge

    Despite section 14 (b), if an order of the associate judge is called into question and the Full Court is equally divided in opinion as to the decision to be given, the order is confirmed.

  3. Appeals against interlocutory orders of associate judge

    For section 37E (2), an appeal may be brought against an interlocutory order of the court that was constituted solely by the associate judge only with leave of the Court of Appeal.

  4. Power to complete part-heard proceedings of associate judge

    For section 60A, a judge includes the associate judge.

  5. Expiry—pt 13

    This part expires 4 years after the day it commences.

    NoteA transitional provision is repealed on its expiry but continues to have effect after its repeal (see Legislation Act, s 88).

  6. Schedule 1, part 1.1 heading

    substitute

Part 1.1Chief justice and judges

  1. Schedule 1, part 1.1

    omit

    [*Chief Justice/*judge/*master]

    substitute

    [*Chief Justice/*judge]

  2. Schedule 1, part 1.2 heading

    substitute

Part 1.2Chief justice and judges

  1. Schedule 1, part 1.2

    omit

    [*Chief Justice/*judge/*master]

    substitute

    [*Chief Justice/*judge]

  2. Dictionary, definitions of associate judge and master

    omit


Schedule 1Consequential amendments

(see s 3)

Part 1.1Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment Act 1993

[1.1]Section 12 (2) (a)

omit

of the Supreme Court

[1.2]New section 12 (3)

insert

(3)In this section:

associate judge means the Master of the Supreme Court under the Supreme Court Act 1933, as in force at any time before the day the Courts Legislation Amendment Act 2023, section 23 commences.

NoteThe Courts Legislation Amendment Act 2023, s 23 omitted the Supreme Court Act 1933, pt 3, which provided for the Master of the Supreme Court (known as the Associate Judge).

[1.3]Dictionary, note 2

insert

·     coroner

·     judge

·     magistrate

·     ombudsman

Part 1.2Confiscation of Criminal Assets Act 2003

[1.4]Section 195, definition of issuing officer, paragraph (a)

omit

the associate judge,

Part 1.3Crimes Act 1900

[1.5]Section 185, definition of issuing officer, paragraph (a)

omit

the associate judge,

Part 1.4Crimes (Surveillance Devices) Act 2010

[1.6]Section 10 (1), note

omit

[1.7]Dictionary, definition of judge

omit

Part 1.5Criminal Code 2002

[1.8]Section 300, definition of territory public official, paragraph (e)

omit

[1.9]New section 359 (4) and (5)

insert

(4)For subsection (2), a public official includes the associate judge.

(5)In this section:

associate judge means the Master of the Supreme Court under the Supreme Court Act 1933, as in force at any time before the day the Courts Legislation Amendment Act 2023, section 23 commences.

NoteThe Courts Legislation Amendment Act 2023, s 23 omitted the Supreme Court Act 1933, pt 3, which provided for the Master of the Supreme Court (known as the Associate Judge).

Part 1.6Drugs of Dependence Act 1989

[1.10]Section 187 (1), definition of issuing officer, paragraph (a)

omit

the associate judge,

Part 1.7Integrity Commission Act 2018

[1.11]New section 13 (2)

insert

(2)In this section:

associate judge means the Master of the Supreme Court under the Supreme Court Act 1933, as in force at any time before the day the Courts Legislation Amendment Act 2023, section 23 commences.

NoteThe Courts Legislation Amendment Act 2023, s 23 omitted the Supreme Court Act 1933, pt 3, which provided for the Master of the Supreme Court (known as the Associate Judge).

[1.12]Section 102 (2), new definition of associate judge

insert

associate judge—see section 13 (2).

Part 1.8Judicial Commissions Act 1994

[1.13]Dictionary, definition of head of jurisdiction, paragraph (a)

omit

or the associate judge

[1.14]Dictionary, definition of judicial officer, paragraph (b)

omit

Part 1.9Juries Regulation 2018

[1.15]Schedule 1, table 1.3, item 10

substitute

10 a judge 2 years after the appointment as judge ends

Part 1.10Legislation Act 2001

[1.16]Dictionary, part 1, definition of associate judge

omit

Part 1.11Ombudsman Act 1989

[1.17]Section 5 (2) (b) (i)

omit

of the Supreme Court

[1.18]Section 5 (8), new definition of associate judge

insert

associate judge means the Master of the Supreme Court under the Supreme Court Act 1933, as in force at any time before the day the Courts Legislation Amendment Act 2023, section 23 commences.

NoteThe Courts Legislation Amendment Act 2023, s 23 omitted the Supreme Court Act 1933, pt 3, which provided for the Master of the Supreme Court (known as the Associate Judge).

[1.19]Dictionary, note 2

insert

·     coroner

·     judge

·     magistrate

Part 1.12Public Sector Management Act 1994

[1.20]Section 150 (1), definition of public sector member, paragraph (b) (i)

substitute

(i)the Chief Justice or a judge;

[1.21]Section 150 (1), definition of public sector member, paragraph (b), note 1

omit

associate judge,

Part 1.13Remuneration Tribunal Act 1995

[1.22]Schedule 1, part 1.1

omit

·     associate judge of the Supreme Court

Part 1.14Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Regulation 2000

[1.23]Section 12 (10), definition of judicial officer

omit

the associate judge,

[1.24]Dictionary, note 2

omit

·     associate judge

Part 1.15Victims of Crime Act 1994

[1.25]Section 8 (1), definition of justice agency, paragraph (b) (i)

substitute

(i)the Chief Justice or a judge;

[1.26]Dictionary, note 2

omit

·     associate judge

Endnotes

  1. Presentation speech

    Presentation speech made in the Legislative Assembly on 27 June 2023.

  2. Notification

    Notified under the Legislation Act on 29 September 2023.

  3. Republications of amended laws

    For the latest republication of amended laws, see certify that the above is a true copy of the Courts Legislation Amendment Bill 2023, which was passed by the Legislative Assembly on 20 September 2023.

    Acting Clerk of the Legislative Assembly

    © Australian Capital Territory 2023

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