Church of England Act 1981 (NI)

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NORFOLK  ISLAND

 

 

CHURCH OF ENGLAND ACT 1981

 

[Consolidated as at 1 March 1985

on the authority of the Administrator

and in accordance with

the Enactments Reprinting Act 1980]

________

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

 

 1. Short title

 2. Interpretation

 3. Application of the 1902 Act

 4. Application of the 1961 Act

 5. Power to change name, etc

 6. Notice of resolution to be published

 7. Application, etc

 

NORFOLK  ISLAND

 

 

Church of England Act 1981

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

An Act relating to the  Church of England in Norfolk Island

 

Short title

 1. This Act may be cited as the Church of England Act 1981.

Interpretation

 2. In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears —

“the 1902 Act” means the Church of England Constitutions Act Amendment Act of 1902 of the State of New South Wales as from time to time in force;

“the 1961 Act” means the Church of England in Australia Constitution Act, 1961 of the State of New South Wales as from time to time in force;

“the Trust” means the Trust constituted by section 1B of the Church of England Land Act 1937.

Application of the 1902 Act

 3. (1) Subject to this section and to section 5, the provisions of —

(a) sections 4 and 5 of the 1902 Act; and

(b) all ordinances and rules made under or by virtue or in pursuance of the Constitutions contained in the Schedule to the 1902 Act now in force and from time to time in force in so far as they affect or relate to the Diocese of Sydney,

shall apply mutatis mutandis to and in respect of Norfolk Island as if references in that Act or in those ordinances and rules to the State of New South Wales included reference to Norfolk Island.

  (2) An ordinance or rule referred to in paragraph 3(1)(b) which contravenes any law in force for the time being in Norfolk Island, shall to the extent of such contravention be incapable of having any force or effect.

 

  (3) An ordinance or rule referred to in paragraph 3(1)(b) shall not have force or effect or shall cease to have force or effect to such extent as —

(a) the Norfolk Island Parish Council; and

(b) the Trust,

by resolutions so direct.

  (4) Subsections 3(1), 3(2) and 3(3) shall not have effect until such time as the Norfolk Island Parish Council so resolves.

Application of the 1961 Act

 4. (1) Subject to this section and to section 5 the provisions of 

(a) sections 2 and 8 of the 1961 Act; and

(b) all canons and rules made under or by virtue or in pursuance of the Constitution contained in the Schedule to the 1961 Act now in force and from time to time in force in so far as they affect or relate to the Diocese of Sydney,

shall apply mutatis mutandis to and in respect of Norfolk Island as if references in that Act or in those canons and rules to the State of New South Wales included reference to Norfolk Island.

  (2) A canon or rule referred to in paragraph 4(1)(b) shall not have force or effect or shall cease to have force or effect to such extent as 

(a) the Norfolk Island Parish Council; and

(b) the Trust,

by resolutions so direct.

  (3) A canon or rule referred to in paragraph 4(1)(b) which contravenes any law in force for the time being in Norfolk Island shall, to the extent of such contravention be incapable of having any force or effect.

Power to change name, etc

 5. (1) Subject to subsection 5(2), the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney may by ordinance change the name of the Church of England on Norfolk Island.

  (2) An ordinance made for the purpose of subsection 5(1) shall not have effect unless —

(a) the ordinance is made after the date appointed and notified under subsection 2(2) of the Anglican Church of Australia Act 1976 of the State of New South Wales; and

(b) the —

(i) Norfolk Island Parish Council; and

(ii) the Trust,

have each, by resolution, approved the name specified in the Ordinance.

  (3) In an enactment, regulation, bylaw, canon, ordinance, rule, grant, deed, will or other instrument having effect on or after the date an ordinance made for the purpose of subsection 5(1) has effect, a reference to the Church of England in Norfolk Island, whether by that or any other name, shall be construed as a reference to the body having the name specified in the ordinance made for the purposes of subsection 5(1).

Notice of resolution to be published

 6. (1) This section applies to resolutions of the Norfolk Island Parish Council and the Trust for the purposes of subsections 3(3) and 3(4), subsection 4(2) and paragraph 5(2)(b), as the case may be.

  (2) Notice of the passing of a resolution to which this section applies shall be published in the Gazette and, subject to subsection 6(3) unless the contrary intention appears in the resolution, the resolution shall have effect for the purposes of this Act on the date of the publication of the notice.

  (3) A resolution to which this section applies shall not have effect for the purposes of this Act on a date before the date of publication of the notice of the passing of the resolution where, if the resolution so took effect —

(a) the rights of a person existing at the date of publication would be affected in a manner prejudicial to that person; or

(b) liabilities would be imposed on a person in respect of anything done or omitted to be done before the date of notification.

  (4) Where, in a resolution to which this section applies, a provision is made in contravention of subsection 6(3), that provision is of no effect for the purposes of this Act.

Application, etc

 7. Subject to section 5, this Act shall not repeal or in any way cut down or abridge the provisions of the Church of England Land Act 1937.

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NOTES

The Church of England Act 1981 as shown in this consolidation comprises Act No. 17 of 1981 and amendments as indicated in the Tables below.

Enactment

Number and year

Date of commencement

Application saving or transitional provision

 

 

 

 

Church of England Act 1981

17, 1981

10.11.81

5

 

 

 

 

Church of England (Amendment) Act 1981

18, 1981

10.11.81

 

________

 

Table of Amendments

 

ad = added or inserted

am = amended

rep = repealed

rs = repealed and substituted

Provisions affected

How affected

 

 

 

3

am

 18, 1981

4(1)

am

 18, 1981

4(3)

ad

 18, 1981

5

rs

 18, 1981

6, 7

ad

 18, 1981

 

 

 

 

© Norfolk Island Government 2002

The Copyright Act 1968 of the Commonwealth of Australia permits certain reproduction and publication of this legislation. For reproduction or publication beyond that permitted by the Act, written permission must be sought from the Legislative Draftsperson, Administration of Norfolk Island, Norfolk Island, South Pacific 2899.

Overview

The Norfolk Island Church of England Act 1981 was enacted by the Norfolk Island Government to establish the legal framework governing the Church of England on Norfolk Island. This Act consolidates the legislative provisions related to the Church of England on the island, ensuring consistency and applicability of relevant New South Wales Acts and rules to Norfolk Island. The Norfolk Island Church of England Act 1981 applies provisions of the Church of England Constitutions Act Amendment Act 1902 and the Church of England in Australia Constitution Act 1961 to Norfolk Island, with certain modifications and subject to resolutions by the Norfolk Island Parish Council and the Trust. The Act also allows for the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney to change the Church's name on Norfolk Island, provided that specific conditions are met. The policy objective of the Act is to maintain the alignment and governance of the Church of England on Norfolk Island with that of the Diocese of Sydney while allowing for local adaptations as necessary.

Scope and Application

The Church of England Act 1981 applies specifically to the Church of England on Norfolk Island and governs how certain provisions of the Church of England Constitutions Act Amendment Act of 1902 and the Church of England in Australia Constitution Act, 1961, both of the State of New South Wales, apply to Norfolk Island. These provisions include sections 4 and 5 of the 1902 Act and sections 2 and 8 of the 1961 Act, as well as related ordinances, rules, canons, and any other instruments, all of which are applicable to Norfolk Island as if references to New South Wales included Norfolk Island. The application of these provisions is subject to the approval of the Norfolk Island Parish Council and the Trust, which can direct that an ordinance or rule cease to have force or effect. Furthermore, the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney has the power to change the name of the Church of England on Norfolk Island, subject to the approval of the Norfolk Island Parish Council and the Trust. This Act does not affect the provisions of the Church of England Land Act 1937.

Key Provisions

The Norfolk Island Church of England Act 1981 provides several key provisions that outline the legal framework for the Church of England on Norfolk Island. Section 3 applies sections 4 and 5 of the Church of England Constitutions Act Amendment Act 1902 and other ordinances and rules to Norfolk Island, subject to certain conditions and the resolution of the Norfolk Island Parish Council and the Trust. Section 4 similarly applies sections 2 and 8 of the Church of England in Australia Constitution Act 1961, along with canons and rules, to Norfolk Island. Section 5 allows the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney to change the name of the Church of England on Norfolk Island by ordinance, provided that the Norfolk Island Parish Council and the Trust approve the new name by resolution. Section 6 mandates that resolutions by the Norfolk Island Parish Council and the Trust, which affect the application of the 1902 and 1961 Acts, must be published in the Gazette before they take effect. The Act imposes certain obligations on the Norfolk Island Parish Council and the Trust. These bodies must approve any changes to the name of the Church of England on Norfolk Island, as outlined in Section 5. Furthermore, any ordinances or rules that contradict existing Norfolk Island laws will be void to the extent of the contradiction, as stipulated in Sections 3(2) and 4(3). Additionally, the Norfolk Island Parish Council and the Trust have the authority to direct that specific ordinances or rules cease to have effect, as mentioned in Sections 3(3) and 4(2). There are no explicit offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences mentioned in the Act. However, the failure to comply with the requirements for publishing resolutions in the Gazette, as stated in Section 6, will render those resolutions ineffective for the purposes of the Act. This ineffectiveness could potentially lead to legal disputes or challenges if the unresolved matters affect the rights or liabilities of individuals or entities.

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Act
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Repeal & Amendment
Civil Penalty Provisions
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Application of the 1902 Act
Application of the 1961 Act

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.