Local Court Act 2015 (NT)
NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
LOCAL COURT ACT 2015
As in force at 21 April 2023
NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
____________________As in force at 21 April 2023
____________________lOCAL COURT ACT 2015
An Act to establish the Local Court of the Northern Territory, and for related purposes
This Act may be cited as the
This Act commences on the day fixed by the Administrator by
In this Act:
Note for definition
JP does not include a Judge, registrar or other person who is a justice of the peace by reason of holding an office mentioned in Schedule 1 to the Justices of the Peace Act 1991.
Note for section 3
The Interpretation Act 1978 contains definitions and other provisions that may be relevant to this Act.
A court called the Local Court of the Northern Territory is established.
(1) The Court is a court of record.
(2) When exercising its civil jurisdiction, the Court is a court of law and equity.
(3) When exercising its criminal jurisdiction, the Court is a court of summary jurisdiction.
(1) Subject to this section, the Court is to be constituted by a Judge.
(2) The Court may be constituted by a judicial registrar for the purpose of dealing with civil proceedings.
(3) However, the Court constituted by a judicial registrar cannot:
(a) hear and determine a claim; or
(b) conduct the hearing of an appeal.
(4) The Court may be constituted by 2 or more JPs, or by one JP, for a purpose prescribed by regulation.
(5) Despite subsections (2) to (4), the Court must be constituted by a Judge for any of the following:
(a) to hear and determine a charge of an indictable offence summarily under section 18(1)(a)(ii);
(b) to deal with proceedings that another Act provides must be dealt with by the Court constituted by a Judge.
7 Changes in constitution of Court during proceedings (1) In particular proceedings, the Court need not be constituted by the same person or persons for the whole of the proceedings, until the taking of evidence commences.
Example for subsection (1)
In criminal proceedings, a person who is arrested may initially be brought before the Court constituted by Judge A. When the person appears to plead the Court may be constituted by Judge B. An application under section 105G of the Local Court (Criminal Procedure) Act 1928 for leave to cross‑examine a witness may be dealt with by Judge C. The preliminary examination may then be conducted by the Court constituted by Judge D. However, under subsection (2), Judge D must then complete the proceedings.
(2) Once the taking of evidence commences, the Court must be constituted by the same person or persons until the proceedings are determined.
(3) However, if the defendant in criminal proceedings pleads guilty and the proceedings are adjourned before the making of sentencing submissions commences, after that adjournment:
(a) the Court need not be constituted by the same person or persons as when the plea was entered; but
(b) the Court must then be constituted by the same person or persons until the proceedings are determined.
Example for subsection (3)
Criminal proceedings may be adjourned after a defendant pleads guilty if a pre‑sentence report is required. If the adjournment occurs before sentencing submissions commence, when the defendant re-appears for sentencing, the Court may be constituted by a different Judge from the one who constituted the Court when the plea was taken.
(4) Further, if:
(a) after the taking of evidence commences; or
(b) after the making of sentencing submissions commences;
the person or one of the persons who constitutes the Court is unable to continue, the Court constituted by a different person or persons may continue to deal with the proceedings.
(5) The question whether a person is unable to continue is decided by the Chief Judge and the Chief Judge’s decision is not liable to be challenged on any ground.
(6) In this section, a person is
unable to continue if the person:(a) dies; or
(b) vacates office and is unable to finish dealing with the proceedings under section 58(2) or 64(2); or
(c) is, by reason of illness, injury or other cause, unable to continue dealing with the proceedings without unreasonable delay.
8 Independence of Court In the exercise of the Court’s judicial functions the person or persons who constitute the Court are not subject to the direction or control of any person.
The Court has:
(a) the civil jurisdiction set out in Division 2; and
(b) the criminal jurisdiction set out in Division 3.
The Court may exercise more than one aspect of its jurisdiction, whether conferred by this or another Act, in one sitting without adjourning or interrupting the sitting.
The conferral of jurisdiction on the Local Court by this or another Act does not limit the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
The
(1) The Court has jurisdiction to deal with a claim for an amount of money if:
(a) the amount is claimed as damages, a debt or a liquidated demand; and
(b) either:
(i) the amount claimed is not more than the jurisdictional limit; or
(ii) the parties have given written consent to the Court dealing with the claim.
(2) The Court has jurisdiction to deal with a claim for equitable relief if:
(a) the value of the relief sought is not more than the jurisdictional limit; or
(b) the parties have given written consent to the Court dealing with the claim.
(3) The Court has jurisdiction to deal with a claim concerning a right to the ownership or possession of property if:
(a) the value of the right is not more than the jurisdictional limit; or
(b) the parties have given written consent to the Court dealing with the claim.
(4) However, the Court does not have jurisdiction to deal with a claim within the jurisdiction of another court or a tribunal conferred by another Act, except to the extent permitted by section 13A or another Act.
Note for subsection (4)
Section 99A(9) of the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2014 confers jurisdiction on the Court in relation to proceedings transferred to the Court under that section.
(1) The Court has jurisdiction to deal with a claim of a type mentioned in section 6 of the
Small Claims Act 2016 as follows:(a) if the whole claim is of that type – only if the Tribunal has made an order under section 99A of the
Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2014 to transfer the proceeding relating to the claim to the Court;(b) if part of the claim is of that type – if the Court is dealing with the other part of the claim.
(2) If a proceeding is transferred to the Court as mentioned in subsection (1)(a), the Act under which the cause of action or claim arises applies:
(a) as if references in it to the Tribunal were references to the Court; and
(b) with any other necessary changes.
14 Civil jurisdiction under other laws The Court’s civil jurisdiction also includes any other jurisdiction that:
(a) is conferred on the Court by another Act; and
(b) is not part of the Court’s criminal jurisdiction under section 19.
15 Remedies that may be granted (1) When exercising the jurisdiction conferred on the Court by section 13 or 13A, the Court may do either or both of the following:
(a) grant any remedy or relief that may be claimed under that section;
(b) make a declaratory order of the rights of a party or parties to the proceedings.
(2) When exercising the jurisdiction mentioned in section 14, the Court may grant any remedy or relief that is provided for by the Act that confers the jurisdiction on the Court.
(3) However, the Court cannot issue a writ of certiorari, mandamus, prohibition or quo warranto.
(4) Proceedings in the Court are not open to objection on the ground that a party is seeking a declaratory order of rights.
The Court has jurisdiction to deal with a claim if either or both of the following apply:
(a) a material part of the claim arose in the Territory;
(b) the defendant resided in the Territory at the time of being served with the claim.
In all proceedings in the Court, both law and equity must be administered in the manner provided in Part IV of the
(1) The Court has jurisdiction to deal with offences as follows:
(a) to hear and determine a charge of:
(i) a summary offence; or
(ii) an indictable offence that, under another Act, may be heard and determined summarily;
(b) to conduct a preliminary examination for an indictable offence.
(2) However, the Court does not have jurisdiction to deal with a charge of an offence if another Act confers that jurisdiction on another court or a tribunal.
(3) In this section:
conduct a preliminary examination means to conduct a preliminary examination in accordance with theLocal Court (Criminal Procedure) Act 1928 and do one of the following:(a) order that the defendant be discharged;
(b) commit the defendant to the Supreme Court for trial;
(c) commit the defendant to the Supreme Court for sentence.
indictable offence , see section 3(2) of the Criminal Code.summary offence , see section 3(3) of the Criminal Code.
(1) The Court also has jurisdiction to deal with any other proceedings that another Act provides are to be dealt with by a court of summary jurisdiction.
(2) The Court also has any other jurisdiction that:
(a) is conferred on the Court by another Act; and
(b) is expressed to be part of the Court’s criminal or summary jurisdiction (however described).
Part 4 Administration of the Court
(1) The Chief Judge is the principal judicial officer of the Court.
(2) The Chief Judge is responsible for ensuring the orderly and expeditious exercise by the Court of its jurisdiction and powers.
(3) The Chief Judge must take reasonable steps to consult the other Judges on matters relating to the administration of the Court.
(4) For subsection (3), the
administration of the Court does not include the exercise by a judicial officer of the officer’s judicial discretion.
(1) For administrative purposes, the Court is divided into the following divisions:
(a) a Civil Division – to deal with all civil proceedings that are not within a class of proceedings for which a division is established as mentioned in paragraph (c);
(b) a Criminal Division – to deal with all criminal proceedings that are not within a class of proceedings for which a division is established as mentioned in paragraph (c);
(c) such other divisions as are established by the Rules or another Act to deal with a specific class or classes of proceedings.
(2) The Chief Judge must assign one or more Judges to deal with matters in each division.
(3) In assigning a Judge to deal with matters in a particular division the Chief Judge must have regard to the Judge’s expertise in relation to matters dealt with in that division.
(1) The Chief Judge must assign duties to judicial officers.
(2) The Chief Judge may do either or both of the following:
(a) direct each judicial officer where in the Territory the officer is to perform duties assigned to the officer;
(b) give any other directions incidental to the performance of those duties as the Chief Judge considers appropriate.
(3) Further, the Chief Judge cannot give a direction that affects the exercise by a judicial officer of the officer’s judicial discretion.
(4) A judicial officer must carry out the duties assigned to the officer and comply with directions given under subsection (2).
(5) In this section:
judicial officer means:(a) a Judge; or
(b) a JP or judicial registrar, when constituting the Court; or
(c) a registrar when exercising a power delegated under section 74.
23 Hours of work (1) If a Judge is appointed on a full‑time basis, the Judge and Chief Judge may agree that the Judge is to work on a part‑time basis.
(2) If a Judge is appointed on a part‑time basis:
(a) the Judge and Chief Judge may agree that the Judge is to work on a lesser time basis than that for which the Judge was appointed; but
(b) the Chief Judge cannot require or permit the Judge to work on a greater time basis than that for which the Judge was appointed.
24 Where and when Court may sit (1) The Court may sit at the places, and in the buildings, approved by the Minister.
(2) The Minister must ensure that the approved buildings have suitable facilities to enable the Court to properly exercise its jurisdiction.
(3) The Chief Judge must decide:
(a) at which of the approved places and in which of the approved buildings, the Court is to sit; and
(b) when the Court is to sit.
(4) Despite subsections (1) and (3), if in particular proceedings the Court is satisfied that it is expedient to do so, the Court may sit at another place or time to deal with the proceedings.
(5) The Court may do so on its own initiative or on application by a party to the proceedings.
(6) The Court may sit:
(a) at any place, whether in the Territory or elsewhere; and
(b) at any time on any day.
25 Registries (1) Registries of the Court are to be maintained:
(a) at each place approved by the Minister under section 24; and
(b) at any other places approved by the Minister.
(2) The principal registrar is responsible for the day-to-day management of the registries.
(1) The Court is to have:
(a) a seal; and
(b) as many stamps, of a design as near as practicable to that of the seal, as are necessary for the transaction of the Court’s business.
(2) The seal and stamps are to be of designs approved by the Chief Judge.
(3) At least one of the stamps is to be kept at each registry of the Court.
(4) The seal and stamps are to be kept and used in accordance with the Rules or as otherwise directed by the Chief Judge.
(5) A document marked with a stamp mentioned in subsection (1)(b) is taken to have been sealed with the Court seal.
(6) The seal and stamps may be applied to a document manually or electronically.
(1) Any order, judgment, process or other document that the Court, a Judge or a registrar may issue or transmit under any law of the Territory may be issued or transmitted by electronic communication.
(2) If any law of the Territory permits or requires any order, judgment, process or other document to be issued or transmitted by manual means, that requirement is taken to be met if the issuing or transmission occurs by electronic communication.
Example for subsection (2)
If an Act requires or permits the Court to sign or seal a document, the Court could use an electronic signature or electronic seal and the requirement is met in the same way as if the document had been signed or sealed by hand.
(3) This section does not limit or affect:
(a) the Court, a Judge or a registrar from issuing or providing any order, judgment, process or other document manually or in paper form; or
(b) any practice, procedure or Rules that provide for electronic processes in the Court; or
(c) the power to make Rules; or
(d) any other power of the Court, a Judge or a registrar.
Division 2 Court records and exhibits
(1) The principal registrar must ensure that proper records are kept in relation to proceedings in the Court.
(2) The records must include case files for all proceedings commenced in the Court.
The case file for proceedings must include the following in relation to the proceedings:
(a) all documents filed with the Court;
(b) all process issued by the Court;
(c) if there is an audio or audiovisual recording of any part of the proceedings:
(i) the recording; and
(ii) if a transcript is made of the recording – the transcript;
(d) for any part of the proceedings for which there is not an audio or audiovisual recording – a formal written record of the proceedings;
(e) details of directions given by the Court;
(f) all judgments given and orders made by the Court;
(g) details of any reasons for decisions, including sentencing remarks, given by the Court (if not included in the judgment or order);
(h) all information that is reasonably necessary for the proper management of the proceedings;
(i) anything else prescribed by regulation or the Rules.
Examples for paragraph (h)
Reasonably necessary information would include the following:
(a) names and details of the parties;
(b) dates and times of court appearances and hearings;
(c) where, when and by whom:
(i) documents were filed with the Court; or
(ii) process was issued by the Court; or
(iii) judgment was given or orders were made.
(1) A party to proceedings:
(a) is entitled, on request, to access to a document or other information mentioned in section 28(a) to (h), other than section 28(c)(i); and
(b) may, with the leave of the Court, have access to a recording mentioned in section 28(c)(i) or anything else in the case file for the proceedings.
(2) The Court may, on application, give any other person, or class of persons, access to all or part of the case file for proceedings other than judgments given or orders made by the Court.
Note for subsection (2)
For access to judgments and orders see section 30.
(3) The Court may grant access under subsection (2) on any conditions the Court thinks fit.
(4) If a person, or class of persons, is entitled to, or is given,
access to a thing under this section, the person, or class of persons, may:(a) if the thing is a document – inspect and obtain a copy of it; or
(b) if the thing is an audio or audiovisual recording:
(i) listen to or view it; and
(ii) with the leave of the Court, obtain a copy of it.
30 Access to judgments and order
(1) Any person may inspect or obtain a copy of a judgment given or order made by the Court.
(2) Subsection (1) is subject to any order made by the Court restricting access to the judgment or order.
(3) Further, if the judgment was given or order was made when the Court was not open to the public, subsection (1) applies only if the Court grants access to the judgment or order.
(4) The Court may grant access under subsection (3):
(a) to a person or class of persons; and
(b) on any conditions the Court thinks fit.
31 Access to exhibits (1) A party to proceedings is entitled, on request, to access to an exhibit admitted into evidence in the proceedings.
(2) The Court may, on application, give a person who is not a party to proceedings, or class of persons who are not parties to proceedings, access to an exhibit admitted into evidence in the proceedings.
(3) The Court may grant access under subsection (2) on any conditions the Court thinks fit.
(4) If a person, or class of persons, is entitled to, or is given,
access to an exhibit under this section, the person, or class of persons, may do the following:(a) inspect the exhibit;
(b) if the exhibit is a document, recording or something else able to be easily copied – obtain a copy of the exhibit;
(c) if paragraph (b) does not apply – obtain a photograph, audiovisual recording or other record of the exhibit.
31A Access to any other Court records (1) This section applies in relation to any document, information, recording or thing that is a Court record or part of a Court record and is not part of a case file, judgment, order or exhibit.
(2) The Court may, on application, grant access to the document, information, recording or thing to a person or class of persons.
(3) The Court may grant the access on any conditions the Court thinks fit.
(1) This section applies in relation to an application to the Court for access under section 29(2), 30(3), 31(2) or 31A(2).
(2) Without limiting the sections mentioned in subsection (1), the Court may grant access:
(a) to a person or class of persons representing an Agency who requires access for the purpose of carrying out the functions of the Agency; or
(b) to a person who requires access to case files, judgments, orders, exhibits or other Court records for multiple proceedings in the Court; or
(c) to a person who requires regular access to a case file, judgment, order, exhibit or other Court records for a specified proceeding in the Court.
32 Fees The regulations may provide for fees that must be paid before a person may inspect, listen to, view or obtain a copy of a thing or obtain information under this Division.
(1) This section applies if a person is entitled to obtain a copy of a thing under section 29, 30, 31 or 31A.
(2) On request by the person, the principal registrar must arrange for a copy of the thing to be made and provided to the person.
(1) The principal registrar must arrange for a transcript to be made for proceedings if:
(a) a party to the proceedings appeals to the Supreme Court under section 163 of the
Local Court (Criminal Procedure) Act 1928 ; or(b) the Court commits a defendant to the Supreme Court for trial or sentence; or
(c) the Court reserves a question of law for the consideration of the Supreme Court under section 162 of the
Local Court (Criminal Procedure) Act 1928 .
(2) The principal registrar must provide a copy of a transcript made under subsection (1)(b) to the defendant on the defendant’s request.
(3) A transcript made under subsection (1)(c) must include a summary of the question of law.
This Division is subject to another Act that prohibits or regulates:
(a) access to documents or other things mentioned in this Division; or
(b) publication of documents or other information.
(1) The Court must conduct civil proceedings in accordance with the following:
(a) the
Local Court (Civil Procedure) Act 1989 ;(b) this Act and the Rules;
(c) another Act that makes provision for the practice and procedure of the Court in civil proceedings to which that Act applies.
(2) The Court must conduct criminal proceedings in accordance with the following:
(a) the
Local Court (Criminal Procedure) Act 1928 ;(b) the Criminal Code;
(c) this Act and the Rules;
(d) another Act that makes provision for the practice and procedure of the Court in criminal proceedings to which that Act applies.
(3) Subject to subsections (1) and (2), the Court is to determine its own practice and procedure.
(1) Proceedings in the Court must be open to the public unless this Act or another Act provides otherwise.
(2) The Rules may prescribe other circumstances in which proceedings need not be open to the public.
(1) The Court may order either or both of the following:
(a) that all witnesses leave the courtroom and remain out of hearing of the courtroom until called to give evidence;
(b) that a person, a class of persons or all persons be excluded from the courtroom during the whole or any part of proceedings.
(2) The Court may make the order if it appears to the Court that justice will be best served by doing so.
(3) The Court may make the order on its own initiative or on application by a party to the proceedings.
(4) An order under this section does not apply to a party to the proceedings or a representative (as defined in section 38).
(1) A party to proceedings in the Court, and any representative of the party, is entitled to be present in the courtroom throughout the proceedings.
(2) However, the Court may order that a party or representative be excluded from the courtroom during the whole or any part of the proceedings if it appears to the Court that the person’s conduct makes it impracticable to continue the proceedings in the person’s presence.
(3) The Court may make the order on its own initiative or on application by a party to the proceedings.
(4) Subsection (1) is subject to another Act that limits a person’s entitlement to be present.
(5) In this section:
representative , of a party, means the a legal practitioner or other person who is entitled to appear in the proceedings on behalf of the party.
(1) If it appears to a registrar that a document delivered to the Court for filing is an abuse of the Court’s process or is frivolous or vexatious, the registrar may refuse to accept it unless a Judge has given leave for it to be filed.
(2) A person aggrieved by a refusal to accept a document may apply to a Judge for leave to file the document.
(3) If a registrar refuses to accept a document that is filed within a time limit that applies to the filing of the document and a Judge subsequently gives leave for it to be filed, it may be filed even if the time limit has by then expired.
(1) All judgments given and orders made by the Court must be:
(a) issued under the seal of the Court; and
(b) signed by a Judge or registrar.
(2) A judgment or order does not need to be signed by the person or persons who constituted the Court when the judgment was given or order was made.
(1) All process issued by the Court must be issued under the seal of the Court.
(2) The Court may cancel process issued by the Court if satisfied there is a good reason to do so.
(3) The Court may do so on its own initiative or on application by a party to proceedings or any other person affected by the process.
(4) If process issued for a particular purpose is cancelled, fresh process may be issued for the same purpose.
(5) When cancelling process, or issuing fresh process, the Court need not be constituted by the same person or persons as when the process was issued.
(1) The Court may correct a judgment given, order made or process issued by the Court if it contains any of the following:
(a) a clerical error;
(b) an accidental slip or omission;
(c) a material arithmetic error.
(2) The Court may do so on its own initiative or on application by a party or any other person affected by the document.
(3) When making the correction, the Court need not be constituted by the same person or persons as when the judgment was given, order was made or process was issued.
(1) The Court may enter any place to make an inspection that the Court considers is relevant to exercising its jurisdiction.
(2) The Court may authorise a Judge, JP, registrar or other person to exercise the power under subsection (1).
(1) A party to proceedings has a right to appear before the Court in order to present and conduct the party’s case and to call, examine, cross‑examine, and re‑examine witnesses.
(2) The party may exercise this right:
(a) by appearing in person; or
(b) unless another Act expressly provides otherwise, by a legal practitioner appearing on the party’s behalf.
(3) This section does not prevent another person appearing on behalf of a party if permitted to do so by the Rules or any other law of the Territory.
(1) The Court may make an order (a
transfer order ) that one or more claims that would otherwise be dealt with in a proceeding before the Court be transferred to the Tribunal.(2) The Court may make a transfer order only if satisfied that the claim is within the Tribunal’s jurisdiction.
(3) The Court may make a transfer order on application by a party or on its own initiative.
(4) The Court may make a transfer order even though the proceeding is not within the Court’s jurisdiction.
(5) The Court, when making a transfer order, and the Tribunal, when dealing with the transferred claim, may make any orders the Court or Tribunal thinks appropriate for facilitating the orderly transfer of the claim to the Tribunal.
(1) A person who has been served with a summons to attend before the Court to give evidence or to produce documents or other things commits a contempt of the Court if, without reasonable excuse, the person:
(a) does not attend as required by the summons; or
(b) does not continue to attend until released by the Court from further attendance.
(2) A person appearing before the Court as a witness commits a contempt of the Court if, without reasonable excuse, the person does not do any of the following when required by the Court to do so:
(a) take an oath;
(b) answer a question;
(c) produce a document or other thing.
(3) A person commits a contempt of the Court if:
(a) the Court has made an order requiring the person to do or not do something; and
(b) the order:
(i) was made orally to the person while the person was in the courtroom; or
(ii) has been served on the person; and
(c) the person does not comply with the order; and
(d) no other law of the Territory provides a means for punishing non‑compliance with or enforcing the order.
(4) A person commits a contempt of the Court if, without reasonable excuse, the person fails to comply with an undertaking the person has given to the Court.
(5) A person commits a contempt of the Court if the person:
(a) wilfully prevaricates in the face of the Court; or
(b) engages in any other conduct that, under a law of the Territory, constitutes a contempt in the face of the Court.
46 Dealing with contempt of Court (1) If it appears to the Court that a person has committed a contempt of the Court, the Court may:
(a) for a contempt in the face of the Court – orally order that the person be arrested and brought before the Court; or
(b) for any contempt:
(i) issue a warrant to have the person arrested and brought before the Court; or
(ii) issue a summons requiring the person to appear before the Court.
(2) When the person is brought or appears before the Court, the Court:
(a) must inform the person of the contempt with which the person is charged; and
(b) may deal with the person in accordance with any procedure the Court thinks fit.
(3) The
Bail Act 1982 applies in relation to the person as if the person were accused of an offence and were being held in custody for that offence.(4) The Court constituted by a person or persons other than a Judge:
(a) cannot exercise the Court’s powers under this section and section 47; but
(b) may refer the alleged contempt to the Court constituted by a Judge.
(5) The Court constituted by a Judge may exercise those powers in relation to the alleged contempt.
(1) If the Court finds a person guilty of a contempt of the Court, it may order that the person be imprisoned for not more than 6 months or be fined not more than an amount equal to 100 penalty units.
(2) A person cannot be punished, in respect of the same conduct, for a contempt and for an offence against another Act.
(3) If the Court orders that the person be imprisoned, the Court may order that the person be discharged before the end of the term of imprisonment that was ordered.
(4) If a person who has been found guilty of a contempt apologises to the Court for the contempt, the Court may amend or cancel any order imposing punishment for the contempt, and if it does so may order the refund of all or part of any fine that has been paid.
(1) The Chief Judge and at least 4 other Judges may make rules of court under this Act.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), rules of court may provide for the following:
(a) the practice and procedure of the Court in the exercise of any of its jurisdiction, whether conferred by this or another Act;
(b) resolution of proceedings by mediation, arbitration or other methods of dispute resolution;
(c) matters relating to orders of the Court and their enforcement (including, for example, examination of judgment debtors, payment of interested on judgment debts and the seizure and sale of property);
(d) the practice and procedure of the Court’s registries and other offices;
(e) any matters relating to the conduct of any business of the Court.
49 Practice directions (1) The Chief Judge may issue directions (to be called practice directions) about the following:
(a) the practice and procedure of the Court in the exercise of any of its jurisdiction, whether conferred by this or another Act;
(b) the practice and procedure of the Court’s registries and other offices.
(2) If a practice direction is inconsistent with the Rules, the Rules prevail to the extent of the inconsistency.
(1) There is to be:
(a) a Chief Judge of the Local Court; and
(b) the number of Deputy Chief Judges of the Local Court determined by the Minister; and
(c) the number of other Judges of the Local Court determined by the Minister.
(2) A person appointed as Chief Judge or a Deputy Chief Judge also holds office as a Judge of the Local Court.
(1) The Chief Judge, a Deputy Chief Judge or any other Judge has the functions conferred by this or another Act.
(2) A Judge may also exercise the functions of a JP or registrar.
A Judge has the powers necessary to perform the Judge’s functions.
(1) The Administrator may, by instrument, appoint a person to be one of the following:
(a) the Chief Judge;
(b) a Deputy Chief Judge;
(c) a Judge mentioned in section 50(1)(c).
(2) A person is eligible to be appointed if the person:
(a) is under 72 years of age; and
(b) is a lawyer and has been for at least 5 years.
54 Full‑time or part‑time appointment (1) A Judge may be appointed on a full‑time or part‑time basis.
(2) Unless the appointment provides otherwise, a Judge is appointed on a full‑time basis.
(1) A Judge is entitled to receive salary, allowances and other benefits as determined by the Remuneration Tribunal under section 7 of the
Assembly Members and Statutory Officers (Remuneration and Other Entitlements) Act 2006 .(2) The salary, allowances and other benefits to which a Judge is entitled must not be altered to the Judge’s detriment during the Judge’s term of office.
(3) Salaries, allowances and other benefits payable under this section are to be paid from the Central Holding Authority, which is appropriated accordingly.
A Judge holds office until one of the following occurs:
(a) the Judge turns 72 years of age;
(b) the Judge resigns by written notice to the Minister;
(c) the Judge’s appointment is terminated under section 57.
(1) The Administrator may, in writing, terminate the appointment of a Judge on the address of the Legislative Assembly seeking the removal of the Judge on the grounds of incapacity or misbehaviour.
(2) However, the appointment of a Judge must not be terminated under subsection (1) unless:
(a) a report from an investigation panel is received by the Administrator under section 57 of the
Judicial Commission Act 2020 ; and(b) the investigation panel states in the report its opinion that the matter could justify termination of the Judge’s appointment on the grounds of incapacity or misbehaviour.
58 Completion of pending proceedings (1) This section applies if a person vacates office as a Judge other than as a result of the person’s appointment being terminated.
(2) The person may finish dealing with any proceedings that are then in progress before the person, and for that purpose is taken to be an acting Judge until those proceedings are determined.
(1) This section applies if:
(a) the office of Chief Judge is vacant; or
(b) the Chief Judge is unable, because of illness, absence or other cause, to perform the functions of the office.
(2) The following person is to act in the office of the Chief Judge:
(a) if a person has been appointed under subsection (3) – that person; or
(b) otherwise:
(i) if there is one Deputy Chief Judge – the Deputy Chief Judge; or
(ii) if there are 2 or more Deputy Chief Judges – the one who was first appointed as a Deputy Chief Judge.
(3) The Administrator may appoint a Judge to act in the office of the Chief Judge:
(a) during a vacancy in the office; or
(b) during a period or all periods when the person holding the office is unable to perform the functions of the office.
(4) A person appointed under subsection (3) holds office until:
(a) the expiry of the period (not exceeding 12 months) specified in the appointment; or
(b) the person ceases to be a Judge.
59A Acting Deputy Chief Judge (1) The Administrator or Minister may, in writing, appoint a Judge to act in the office of Deputy Chief Judge if:
(a) there is a vacancy in the office; or
(b) a Deputy Chief Judge is unable, because of illness, absence or other cause, to perform the functions of the office.
(2) A Judge may be appointed under subsection (1) for a term, specified in the appointment, not exceeding:
(a) if the appointment is made by the Administrator – 12 months; or
(b) if the appointment is made by the Minister – 3 months.
(3) An acting Deputy Chief Judge may be reappointed.
(4) An acting Deputy Chief Judge has all the functions and powers of a Deputy Chief Judge.
(1) The Administrator or Minister may, by instrument, appoint a person to be an acting Judge.
(2) An acting Judge may be appointed:
(a) for a specified period of time; or
(b) to work on an as needed basis when required by the Chief Judge.
(3) A person is eligible to be appointed if the person:
(a) is under 75 years of age; and
(b) is a lawyer and has been for at least 5 years.
(4) A person may be appointed for a term, specified in the appointment, not exceeding:
(a) if the appointment is made by the Administrator – 12 months; or
(b) if the appointment is made by the Minister – 3 months.
(5) An acting Judge may be reappointed.
An acting Judge has all of the functions and powers of a Judge mentioned in 50(1)(c).
An acting Judge holds office on the conditions (including salary, allowances and other benefits) determined by the appointer.
An acting Judge holds office until one of the following occurs:
(a) the acting Judge’s term of appointment expires;
(b) the acting Judge turns 75 years of age;
(c) the acting Judge resigns by written notice to the Minister;
(d) the acting Judge’s appointment is terminated by the appointer.
(1) This section applies if a person vacates office as an acting Judge other than as a result of the person’s appointment being terminated.
(2) The person may finish dealing with any proceedings that are then in progress before the person, and for that purpose is taken to continue to hold office as an acting Judge until those proceedings are determined.
(1) A Judge or acting Judge must take an oath of office before performing any of the functions of the office.
(2) The oath must be in the form set out in the Schedule.
(3) The oath must be administered by:
(a) a Supreme Court Judge; or
(b) if it is administered outside the Territory – a person authorised by the Administrator.
(4) However, a person need not take an oath under subsection (1) if the person has previously taken an oath under this section.
(1) A Judge or acting Judge must not:
(a) engage in legal practice (whether for reward or not); or
(b) accept appointment to another statutory office (whether for reward or not) without the consent of the Minister; or
(c) engage in any other paid work outside the person’s duties as a Judge or acting Judge without the consent of the Minister.
(2) The Minister must consult with the Chief Judge before giving consent under subsection (1), unless the consent relates to the Chief Judge.
(3) In this section:
statutory office means an office or position under an Act of the Territory or any other jurisdiction.
(1) An act done by a Judge or acting Judge outside the Territory for the purpose of authenticating the signature of a person to an instrument intended to take effect in the Territory is effective for the purposes of any law of the Territory.
(2) An oath administered by a Judge or acting Judge outside the Territory in any case in which an oath may be administered by a Judge is effective for the purposes of any law of the Territory.
(3) This section applies unless another law requires the act to be done, or oath to be administered, in the Territory.
The Court’s exercise of its jurisdiction is not affected only by reason of a defect in the appointment of a Judge or an acting Judge.
(1) The Minister may appoint a person to be a judicial registrar of the Court.
(2) A person is eligible to be appointed if the person:
(a) is, or is qualified to be, admitted to the legal profession; and
(b) is a public sector employee.
(3) A person ceases to be a judicial registrar if the person ceases to be eligible under subsection (2).
The functions of a judicial registrar are as follows:
(a) to exercise the jurisdiction of the Court as mentioned in section 6(2) and (3);
(b) to perform functions conferred by the Rules;
(c) to perform any other functions conferred by this or another Act.
Note for section 69
Under section 71(2) a judicial registrar is also a registrar, and in that capacity has functions under section 72.
A judicial registrar has the powers necessary to perform the judicial registrar’s functions.
(1) This section applies if a judicial registrar makes a decision in proceedings in the exercise of the jurisdiction of the Court.
(2) A party to the proceedings may appeal against the decision to the Court constituted by a Judge.
(3) The appeal must be commenced within 14 days after the judicial registrar’s decision was made.
(4) The Court may extend the period mentioned in subsection (3), and may do so even if that period has expired.
(5) Unless the Court orders otherwise, an appeal does not operate as a stay of the judicial registrar’s decision.
(6) The appeal is to be by way of a new hearing of the issue that was before the judicial registrar.
(1) The Chief Executive Officer may assign a public sector employee to be:
(a) the principal registrar of the Court; or
(b) a registrar of the Court.
(2) A judicial registrar or the principal registrar is also a registrar of the Court.
The functions of the principal registrar and other registrars are as follows:
(a) to exercise powers delegated under section 74;
(b) to perform administrative functions conferred by the Rules;
(c) to perform any other functions conferred by this or another Act;
(d) to perform any other administrative functions as directed by the Chief Judge.
A registrar has the powers necessary to perform the registrar’s functions.
(1) Subject to this section, the Rules may delegate to the principal registrar or other registrars any of the Court’s powers in the exercise of its jurisdiction.
(2) The Rules cannot delegate the power, in the exercise of the Court’s civil jurisdiction, to:
(a) hear and determine a claim; or
(b) conduct the hearing of an appeal.
(3) The Rules cannot delegate the power, in the exercise of the Court’s criminal jurisdiction, to:
(a) conduct a preliminary examination (as defined in section 18(3)); or
(b) hear and determine a charge of an offence.
(4) The Rules cannot delegate the power to punish a person for a contempt of the Court.
(1) This section applies if a registrar makes a decision in proceedings in the exercise of a power delegated under section 74.
(2) A party to the proceedings may appeal against the decision to the Court.
(3) For hearing the appeal, the Court must be constituted by a Judge.
(4) The appeal must be commenced within 14 days after the registrar’s decision was made.
(5) The Court may extend the period mentioned in subsection (4), and may do so even if that period has expired.
(6) Unless the Court orders otherwise, an appeal does not operate as a stay of the registrar’s decision.
(7) The appeal is to be by way of a new hearing of the issue that was before the registrar.
Note for Division 3
Private bailiffs may be employed under Part 7 of the Commercial and Private Agents Licensing Act 1979.
(1) The Chief Judge may appoint a person to be a bailiff of the Court.
(2) A police officer may perform the functions of a bailiff of the Court:
The functions of a bailiff are as follows:
(a) to serve and execute any process issued by the Court;
(b) to perform functions conferred by the Rules;
(c) to perform any other functions conferred by this or another Act;
(d) to perform any other functions as directed by a Judge.
A bailiff has the powers necessary to perform the bailiff’s functions.
(1) If the Court is required to perform its functions at a place outside the Territory, the Minister may appoint a person as an out‑of‑Territory registrar for that place.
(2) A person is eligible to be appointed if:
(a) the person is a registrar or deputy registrar of a court of the jurisdiction in which the place is located; or
(b) the Minister is satisfied that the person is otherwise appropriately qualified.
(3) An out‑of‑Territory registrar holds office on the conditions (including remuneration, expenses and allowances) to which the registrar is entitled under the law of the other jurisdiction.
(4) A person who was eligible under subsection (2)(a) ceases to be an out‑of‑Territory registrar if the person ceases to hold the office mentioned in that paragraph.
(5) A person may resign as an out‑of‑Territory registrar by giving written notice to the Minister.
With the approval of the Minister, a registrar of the Court may concurrently hold office as a registrar or deputy registrar of a court of another jurisdiction.
(1) The Administrator may make regulations under this Act.
(2) Without limiting section 65 of the
Interpretation Act 1978 , regulations may be made in respect of any matter that is necessary or convenient to be prescribed for the exercise by the Court of any of its jurisdiction, whether conferred by this or another Act.(3) Without limiting subsection (1), regulations may provide for fees payable in relation to any proceedings in the Court.
(1) Elizabeth Jane Morris is taken to have been appointed under section 53(1)(b) as a Deputy Chief Judge on and from 29 July 2017.
(2) Sarah Jane McNamara is taken to have been appointed under section 53(1)(c) as a Judge on and from 13 March 2017.
(3) Gregory John Macdonald is taken to have been appointed under section 53(1)(c) as a Judge on and from 31 July 2017.
(4) Richard Johnston Wallace is taken to have been appointed under section 60(1) as an acting Judge for the following periods:
(a) from 1 August 2016 to 31 October 2016;
(b) for a period of 3 months on and from 30 January 2017;
(c) from 2 May 2017 to 1 May 2018;
(d) from 2 May 2018 to 1 May 2019.
(5) Sarah Jane McNamara is taken to have been appointed under section 60(1) as an acting Judge for the period from 5 September 2016 to 18 October 2016.
(6) Richard James Coates is taken to have been appointed under section 60(1) as an acting Judge for the following periods:
(a) for a period of 3 months on and from 30 January 2017;
(b) from 2 May 2017 to 1 May 2018.
(7) The Administrator may make regulations under this Part prescribing:
(a) a person who is taken to have been appointed to a specified position under this Act; and
(b) the period, or the date from which, that appointment is taken to have had effect.
(8) A regulation made under subsection (7) may have retrospective effect for a period:
(a) beginning on, or on and from a date on or after, the day on which section 53 commenced; and
(b) ending immediately before the day on which section 7 of the
Local Court Amendment (Judicial Appointments) Act 2018 commenced.
81B Validation of certain judicial appointments An appointment specified by or under section 81A is a valid appointment and is taken to have always been a valid appointment despite the failure to publish a
Gazette notice of appointment on or before the day on which the appointment was purported to take effect.
(1) If a person appointed under an appointment specified by or under section 81A performed or purported to perform, or performs or purports to perform, any act under this Act or any other Act, that act is not invalid, and is taken never to have been invalid, by reason only of a defect in the appointment of the person under this Act.
(2) Any act performed or purported to have been performed under this Act or any other Act by a person under an appointment specified by or under section 81A is taken to have, and always to have had, the same force and effect as it would have had if the person had been validly appointed under this Act before the act was performed or purported to have been performed.
(3) Without limiting subsections (1) and (2), the performance of an act under this Act or any other Act includes the following:
(a) the exercise or purported exercise of any power;
(b) the making or purported making of any decision;
(c) the granting or purported granting or issuing or purported issuing of any order or any other document;
(d) the performance or purported performance of any function.
Part 8 Repeals and transitional matters for Local Court Act 2015
The laws specified in Schedule 2 are repealed.
In this Part:
(a) the court of summary jurisdiction under the
Justices Act ; or(b) a magistrate, justice of the peace, or 2 or more justices of the peace, exercising a function under the
Justices Act 1928 .
Note for definition
The Justices Act will be amended and renamed by the Local Court (Repeals and Related Amendments) Act 2016. It will then be known as the Local Court (Criminal Procedure) Act.
Note for definition
The old Local Court Act will be amended and renamed by the Local Court (Repeals and Related Amendments) Act 2016. It will then be known as the Local Court (Civil Procedure) Act.
(1) On the commencement, the old Local Court and the Court of Summary Jurisdiction:
(a) are amalgamated and become the new Local Court; and
(b) cease to exist as separate courts.
(2) A reference (in an Act or other document) to the new Local Court includes, in relation to a time before the commencement, a reference to the old Local Court or the Court of Summary Jurisdiction (as the case requires), unless the context otherwise requires.
Examples for subsection (2)
1 The reference in section 163 of the Local Court (Criminal Procedure) Act 1928 to "a party to proceedings before the Local Court" would include a person who was, before the commencement, a party to proceedings before the Court of Summary Jurisdiction.
2 A reference to "a warrant issued by the Local Court" would include a warrant issued by a magistrate under the Justices Act.
(3) A reference (in an Act or other document) that was made before the commencement to the old Local Court or the Court of Summary Jurisdiction includes a reference to the new Local Court, unless the context otherwise requires.
(1) For section 50(1)(b) and (c), until the Minister determines otherwise:
(a) the number of Deputy Chief Judges is 1; and
(b) the number of other Judges is 12.
(2) On the commencement, a person who held an office under a repealed provision listed in the Table to this section (an
old office ) immediately before the commencement, becomes the holder of the office under this Act listed in the Table for that old office (thenew office ).(3) The person:
(a) holds the new office on the same terms and conditions (including entitlements determined under the
Assembly Members and Statutory Officers (Remuneration and Other Entitlements) Act 2006 ) as applied in relation to the old office; and(b) is considered to have fulfilled any preconditions required to perform the functions of the new office; and
(c) if the person’s appointment to the old office was for a specified term – for the remainder of that term.
Example for subsection (3)(b)
For example, a Stipendiary Magistrate who holds the new office of Judge is considered to have taken the oath required to perform the functions of that new office.
(4) A reference (in an Act or other document) to a new office includes, in relation to a time before the commencement, a reference to the old office for which the new office is listed, unless the context otherwise requires.
(5) A reference (in an Act or other document) that was made before the commencement to an old office includes a reference to the new office listed for that old office, unless the context otherwise requires.
(6) A reference (in an Act or other document) that was made before the commencement to the clerk, or a clerk, of the Court of Summary Jurisdiction includes a reference to a registrar, unless the context otherwise requires.
Table of office holders
1 | Chief Magistrate under section 4(1)(a) of the Magistrates Act | Chief Judge |
2 | Deputy Chief Magistrate under section 4(1)(b) of the Magistrates Act | Deputy Chief Judge |
3 | Stipendiary Magistrate under section 4(1)(b) of the Magistrates Act | Judge as mentioned in section 50(1)(c) |
4 | Acting Chief Magistrate under section 9(1) of the Magistrates Act | acting Chief Judge under section 59(3) |
5 | Acting Stipendiary Magistrate under section 9(2) of the Magistrates Act | acting Judge |
6 | Relieving Magistrate under section 9A of the Magistrates Act | acting Judge |
7 | Special Magistrate under section 14 of the Magistrates Act | acting Judge |
8 | Cross‑border magistrate under section 13B of the Magistrates Act as modified by the | Cross‑border Judge under section 59A of the |
9 | Judicial Registrar under section 9(1) of the old Local Court Act | judicial registrar |
10 | Registrar under section 9(1) of the old Local Court Act | registrar under section 71(1)(b) |
11 | Deputy Registrar under section 9(1) of the old Local Court Act | registrar under section 71(1)(b) |
12 | Judicial Registrar, Registrar or Deputy Registrar under section 9(4) of the old Local Court Act | out-of-Territory registrar under section 79 |
13 | Bailiff under section 10A of the old Local Court Act | bailiff |
(1) On the commencement, proceedings currently before the old Local Court or Court of Summary Jurisdiction become proceedings before the new Local Court.
(2) Those proceedings continue uninterrupted and, subject to subsections (3) and (4), are not affected by the enactment of this Act or the
Local Court (Repeals and Related Amendments) Act 2016. (3) If, as a result of the enactment of this Act or the
Local Court (Repeals and Related Amendments) Act 2015 , the procedure applicable to the proceedings after the commencement (thenew procedure ) is different from that which would have applied had those Acts not been enacted (theold procedure ), the proceedings are to be conducted in accordance with the new procedure.(4) However, if the Court is satisfied that conducting the proceedings in accordance with the new procedure would be unfair on a party to the proceedings, the Court may conduct the proceedings in accordance with the old procedure to the extent the Court thinks fit.
On the commencement, all judgments given, orders made and process issued by the old Local Court or Court of Summary Jurisdiction before the commencement and having ongoing effect, become judgments, orders and process of the new Local Court.
Despite the repeal of the Magistrates Act,
(1) On the commencement, the following rules in force under the old Local Court Act immediately before the commencement, become rules of court under section 48:
(a) Local Court Rules 1998 ;(b) Local Court (Adoption of Children) Rules 1994 .
(2) On the commencement, the
Justices Regulations 1929 in force under the Justices Act immediately before the commencement, become rules of court under section 48.(3) On the commencement, all practice directions made under section 21 of the old Local Court Act or section 201A of the Justices Act that are in force immediately before the commencement become practice directions under section 49.
(4) To the extent those rules or practice directions relate to proceedings, they become rules or practice directions relating to:
(a) if they were made under the old Local Court Act – civil proceedings; or
(b) if they were made under the Justices Act – criminal proceedings.
90 Directions to judicial officers On the commencement, all directions made under section 13A of the Magistrates Act that are in force immediately before the commencement become directions under section 22.
On the commencement, all appointments of places under section 13 of the Magistrates Act that are in force immediately before the commencement become approvals under section 24(1).
(1) Part 4, Division 4 does not apply in relation to conduct engaged in before the commencement.
(2) Despite their repeal, sections 33 and 34 of the old Local Court Act and sections 26, 26A(2), 46 and 108A of the Justices Act continue to apply in relation to conduct engaged in before the commencement as if they had not been repealed.
Despite the repeal of section 35 of the old Local Court Act, the Supreme Court does not have jurisdiction to grant relief or a remedy in the nature of certiorari, mandamus, prohibition or quo warranto in relation to anything done or not done by the old Local Court or an officer of that Court before the commencement.
A reference (in an Act or other document) to this Act or a provision of this Act includes, in relation to a time before the commencement, a reference to the old Local Court Act, the Justices Act or the Magistrates Act, or the corresponding provision of any of those Acts (as the case requires), unless the context otherwise requires.
Example for section 94
The reference in section 65(4) to a person having previously taken an oath under section 65(1) includes a reference to a person having previously taken an oath under the corresponding provision (section 20) of the Magistrates Act.
Section 44A does not apply in relation to proceedings that were commenced in the old Local Court (as defined in section 83) before the commencement of section 9 of the
Note for section 95
Proceedings commenced in the old Local Court that are ongoing at the commencement of the Local Court Act 2015 are continued by section 86.
Section 70A applies only in relation to a decision made after the commencement of that section.
section 65
I, ___________________________
section 82
Act No. 4, 1977 | |
Act No. 14, 1978 | |
Act No. 152, 1979 | |
Act No. 12, 1981 | |
Act No. 35, 1988 | |
Act No. 5, 1998 | |
Act No. 45, 1998 | |
Act No. 49, 2004 | |
Act No. 36, 2005 |
1 KEY
Key to abbreviations
2 LIST OF LEGISLATION
Assent date | 22 May 2015 |
Commenced | 1 May 2016 ( |
Assent date | 2 March 2016 |
Commenced | pt 3: nc (rep by No. 33, 2019 before comm); rem: 1 May 2016 (s 2, s 2 |
Assent date | 6 April 2016 |
Commenced | 1 May 2016 (s 2, s 2 |
Assent date | 6 April 2016 |
Commenced | 1 May 2016 ( |
Assent date | 8 June 2016 |
Commenced | 1 July 2016 ( |
Assent date | 10 March 2017 |
Commenced | 12 April 2017 ( |
Assent date | 8 November 2018 |
Commenced | 8 November 2018 |
Assent date | 22 February 2019 |
Commenced | 23 February 2019 (s 2) |
Assent date | 9 March 2020 |
Commenced | 10 March 2020 (s 2) |
Assent date | 1 July 2020 |
Commenced | 10 November 2021 ( |
Assent date | 13 April 2021 |
Commenced | 14 April 2021 (s 2) |
Assent date | 1 March 2022 |
Commenced | 2 March 2022 (s 2) |
Assent date | 20 April 2023 |
Commenced | 21 April 2023 (s 2) |
3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS
General amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table of amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation Amendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22 of 2018) to: ss 1, 3, 7, 13, 13A, 17, 18, 33A, 35, 46, 55, 81, 83, 84, 85 and 88 and sch 1.
4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS
s 3 amd No. 3, 2016, s 14
s 7 amd No. 9, 2016, s 26
s 13 amd No. 3, 2016, s 15
s 13A ins No. 3, 2016, s 16
s 15 amd No. 3, 2016, s 17
s 26 amd No. 1, 2020, s 10
s 26A ins No. 1, 2020, s 11
s 29 amd No. 2, 2022, s 14
s 30 amd No. 2, 2022, s 15
s 31 amd No. 2, 2022, s 16
ss 31A – 31B ins No. 2, 2022, s 17
s 33 amd No. 2, 2022, s 18
s 33A ins No. 16, 2016, s 6
s 44A ins No. 3, 2016, s 18
s 53 amd No. 23, 2018, s 4; No. 1, 2019, s 10
s 56 amd No. 1, 2019, s 11
s 57 sub No. 17, 2020, s 87
s 59A ins No. 7, 2021, s 17
s 60 amd No. 23, 2018, s 5
s 67A ins No. 23, 2018, s 6
s 70A ins No. 7, 2021, s 18
pt 7A hdg ins No. 23, 2018, s 7
ss 81A – 81C ins No. 23, 2018, s 7
pt 8 hdg amd No. 3, 2016, s 19
pt 8
div 2 hdg amd No. 3, 2016, s 20
s 85 amd No. 9, 2016, s 27; No. 4, 2017, s 34
s 86 amd No. 8, 2016, s 45
pt 9 hdg ins No. 3, 2016, s 21
s 94 ins No. 3, 2016, s 21
pt 10 hdg ins No. 7, 2021, s 19
s 96 ins No. 7, 2021, s 19
sch 1 amd No. 10, 2023, s 5
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