An Act to provide for the acceptance of the Cocos or Keeling Islands as a Territory under the Authority of the Commonwealth and to provide for the Government of that Territory
Preamble
WHEREAS the islands named the Cocos or Keeling Islands (being the islands referred to in section 4) are governed and administered as part of the Colony of Singapore, in pursuance of the Singapore Colony Order in Council, 1955, being an Order in Council dated 1 February 1955, made by Her Majesty by virtue and in exercise of the powers vested in Her Majesty by the Imperial Acts entitled the British Settlements Acts, 1887 and 1945, and the Straits Settlements (Repeal) Act, 1946:
AND WHEREAS by the Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Request and Consent) Act 1954 the Parliament of the Commonwealth requested, and consented to, the enactment by the Parliament of the United Kingdom of an Act enabling the Queen to place the Cocos or Keeling Islands under the authority of the Commonwealth and making provision for matters incidental to the placing of those Islands under that authority:
AND WHEREAS the Government of the Commonwealth has also requested, and consented to, the enactment by the Parliament of the United Kingdom of such an Act:
AND WHEREAS by the Imperial Act entitled the Cocos Islands Act, 1955, it is provided that Her Majesty may, by Order in Council, direct that the Cocos or Keeling Islands shall, on such date as may be specified in the Order, cease to form part of the Colony of Singapore and be placed under the authority of the Commonwealth:
AND WHEREAS by the Constitution it is provided that the Parliament may make laws for the government of any territory placed by the Queen under the authority of and accepted by the Commonwealth:
BE it therefore enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:
Part I—Preliminary
1 Short title [see Note 1]
This Act may be cited as the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955.
2 Commencement [see Note 1]
(1) This Act shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by Proclamation.
(2) The date so fixed shall be the date on which the Cocos or Keeling Islands cease to form part of the Colony of Singapore and are placed under the authority of the Commonwealth.
4 Interpretation
(1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:
constable means:
(a) a member or special member of the Australian Federal Police; or
(b) an officer or special officer of the police force of the Territory.
court officer of Western Australia means a person holding, or performing the functions or duties of, any of the following offices:
(a) any of the following offices in a court of Western Australia:
(i) Judge;
(ii) Magistrate (however described);
(iii) Master;
(iv) Registrar (however described);
(v) Clerk (however described);
(vi) Sheriff (however described);
(vii) Bailiff (however described); or
(b) any of the following offices in the Family Court of Western Australia:
(i) Marshal;
(ii) Director of Court Counselling;
(iii) Collector of Maintenance; or
(c) the office of Chairman, Deputy Chairman or nominee member of the Workers’ Compensation Board of Western Australia; or
(d) any other office in respect of a court of Western Australia, being an office specified in the regulations.
court of Western Australia means any of the following courts or tribunals:
(a) the Supreme Court of Western Australia;
(b) the District Court of Western Australia;
(c) the Family Court of Western Australia;
(d) a Court of Petty Sessions of Western Australia;
(e) a Local Court of Western Australia;
(f) a coroners’ court of Western Australia;
(g) the Children’s Court of Western Australia;
(h) the Workers’ Compensation Board of Western Australia;
(i) any other court or tribunal specified in the regulations.
indictment court means a court established by a law of the Territory (whether before or after the commencement of this definition) in which trials on indictment of offences against laws in force in the Territory may be conducted.
jurisdiction includes powers or functions.
laws of the Territory or laws in force in the Territory means the laws in force in the Territory as mentioned in section 7A.
Ordinance means an Ordinance made under this Act.
prison includes a lock‑up or other place of lawful detention.
Registrar, in relation to an indictment court, means the registrar, or a deputy registrar, of that court.
Sheriff means the Sheriff, or a Deputy Sheriff, of the Territory.
State includes a Territory other than the Territory.
Supreme Court of the Territory means the Supreme Court established by the Supreme Court Ordinance 1955 of the Territory.
the Islands means the Cocos or Keeling Islands situated in the Indian Ocean in or about latitude 12°5´ south and longitude 96°53´ east, including the Northern Island otherwise called North Keeling Island.
the police force of the Territory includes any police force empowered to provide police services under a law in force in the Territory.
the proclaimed date means the date fixed by Proclamation under section 2.
the Territory means the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
(2) In this Act, a reference to an Act is a reference to the whole or a part of that Act, or to the whole or a part of a law made under that Act.
4A Application of the Criminal Code
(1) Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code applies to all offences created by this Act.
Note: Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the general principles of criminal responsibility.
(2) Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code does not apply in relation to, or in relation to matters arising under, a law in force in the Territory because of section 8A.
Part II—Acceptance of the Islands
5 Acceptance of Cocos or Keeling Islands
The Islands are declared to be accepted by the Commonwealth as a Territory under the authority of the Commonwealth and shall be known as the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
6 Transfer of rights, liabilities etc. to Commonwealth
(1) Subject to subsection (3), all property, rights and powers in or in connexion with the Islands, being property, rights and powers which, immediately before the proclaimed date, were held or enjoyed by or on behalf of the Queen in right of the United Kingdom or of the Colony of Singapore, or by or on behalf of the Government of the United Kingdom or of the Colony of Singapore, shall, from and including that date, be deemed to be held or enjoyed by or on behalf of the Commonwealth.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), all liabilities and obligations incurred before the proclaimed date by or on behalf of the Government of the United Kingdom or the Government of the Colony of Singapore, in or in connexion with the Islands and subsisting immediately before that date shall, from and including that date, be deemed to have been incurred by or on behalf of the Commonwealth.
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to or in relation to:
(a) property, rights or powers in, or in connexion with, that part of the Islands known as Direction Island, or liabilities or obligations in respect of property in that part of the Islands;
(b) liabilities of the Colony of Singapore in respect of the payment of pensions or retiring allowances; or
(c) liabilities relating to public loans.
(4) In this section, property includes immovable property.
7 Extinguishment of certain rights and restrictions under the 1886 Indenture
(1) The restrictions under the 1886 Indenture relating to dealings in land in the Islands are extinguished.
(2) All rights and powers reserved to and exercisable by or on behalf of the Queen under the 1886 Indenture are extinguished.
(3) In this section:
the 1886 Indenture means the Indenture dated 7 July 1886 that was made between Her late Majesty Queen Victoria, the Governor of the Straits Settlements and George Clunies Ross in relation to the Islands.
Part III—Laws and legislative powers
Division 1—Laws of the Territory
7A The laws of the Territory
On and after 1 July 1992, the laws in force in the Territory from time to time are:
(a) Acts as in force from time to time in or in relation to the Territory on and after that day; and
(b) Ordinances made on or after that day as in force from time to time; and
(c) laws as in force in the Territory in accordance with section 8; and
(d) Western Australian laws as in force in the Territory in accordance with section 8A.
8 Operation of existing laws etc.
(1) A law in force in the Territory immediately before 1 July 1992 is repealed unless it is specified in the Schedule.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), a law that is specified in the Schedule (including any instruments made under that law) as in force in the Territory immediately before 1 July 1992 continues to be in force in the Territory on and after that day.
(3) A law specified in the Schedule may be amended or repealed by an Ordinance.
(4) In this section:
instruments includes regulations, rules and by‑laws.
law:
(a) includes a principle or rule of common law or equity; and
(b) does not include an Act.
8A Application of Western Australian laws
(1) Subject to this section, section 8G and Part IVAA, the provisions of the law of Western Australia (whether made before or after this section’s commencement) as in force in Western Australia from time to time are in force in the Territory.
(2) To the extent that a law is in force in the Territory under subsection (1), it may be incorporated, amended or repealed by an Ordinance or a law made under an Ordinance.
(3) An Ordinance may suspend the operation in the Territory of a law in force in the Territory under subsection (1) for such period as is specified in the Ordinance.
(4) To the extent that a law is in force in the Territory under subsection (1), it has no effect so far as it is inconsistent with the Constitution or an Act or Ordinance.
(5) For the purpose of subsection (4), a law is consistent with the Constitution or an Act or Ordinance if the law is capable of operating concurrently with it.
(6) In this section:
provision of the law of Western Australia:
(a) includes a principle or rule of common law or equity that is part of the law of Western Australia; and
(b) does not include an Act or a provision of an Act.
8B Minister must table lists of applied Western Australian Acts
(1) The Minister must cause a list of Acts of the Western Australian Parliament (WA Acts) to be prepared and tabled in each House of the Parliament for the following periods:
(a) the period of 3 months beginning on 1 July 1992; and
(b) each subsequent period of 6 months.
(2) The list must specify the names of all WA Acts that are wholly or partly in force in the Territory under section 8A on the day specified in the list, and have not been specified in a previous list under this section. The specified day must be not more than 14 days before the day on which the list is to be tabled.
(3) The list must include WA Acts whose operation has been suspended in accordance with subsection 8A(3).
(4) The list must be tabled in each House of the Parliament before the end of the period to which the list relates. However, if the House concerned does not sit during any day in the last month of the period, the list may be tabled in that House within the next 15 sitting days of that House.
8C House may terminate application of Western Australian Acts in the Territory
(1) In this section:
terminate means terminate the operation of a WA Act in the Territory.
WA Act means an Act of the Western Australian Parliament that is specified in a list tabled under section 8B, or part of such an Act.
WA Acts list means a list prepared and tabled in a House of the Parliament under section 8B.
(2) If:
(a) a notice of a motion to terminate a WA Act has been given in a House of the Parliament:
(i) within 15 sitting days after the tabling in that House of the WA Acts list specifying that WA Act; or
(ii) if section 8D applies to that WA Act—within 3 months after that list was tabled; and
(b) that House passes a resolution to terminate the WA Act;
then the WA Act is terminated from the time when the resolution was passed.
(3) If:
(a) a notice of a motion to terminate a WA Act has been given in a House of the Parliament:
(i) within 15 sitting days after the tabling in that House of the WA Acts list specifying that WA Act; or
(ii) if section 8D applies to that WA Act—within 3 months after that list was tabled; and
(b) at the expiration of 15 sitting days after the notice was given:
(i) the notice has not been withdrawn and the motion has not been called on; or
(ii) the motion has been called on, moved and seconded and has not been withdrawn or otherwise disposed of;
then the WA Act is terminated from the expiration of that period of 15 sitting days.
(4) If, before the expiration of 15 sitting days after notice of a motion to terminate a WA Act specified in a WA Acts list has been given in a House of the Parliament (the notice House):
(a) the House of Representatives is dissolved or expires, or the Parliament is prorogued; and
(b) at the time of the dissolution, expiry or prorogation:
(i) the notice has not been withdrawn and the motion has not been called on; or
(ii) the motion has been called on, moved and seconded and has not been withdrawn or otherwise disposed of;
subsections (2) and (3) apply as if the WA Acts list had been tabled in the notice House on the first sitting day of that House after the dissolution, expiry or prorogation.
(5) The termination of a WA Act under subsection (2) or (3) has the same effect as the repeal of that WA Act, as a law of the Territory, by an Ordinance.
(6) If:
(a) a WA Act (the terminated Act) is terminated under subsection (2) or (3); and
(b) the terminated Act repealed, in whole or in part, another WA Act or any other law that was in force in the Territory immediately before the terminated Act came into force in the Territory under section 8A;
the termination of the terminated Act has the effect of reviving that other WA Act or law from and including the date of the termination, as if the terminated Act had not come into force in the Territory.
(7) A notice of a motion, or a resolution, for the purposes of this section may relate to the termination of more than one WA Act.
8D Extension of period for giving notice of motion to terminate WA Act
(1) This section provides for an extension of time for giving a notice of a motion (the termination notice) in a House of the Parliament to terminate one or more WA Acts that are specified in the first WA Acts list that is required by section 8A to be tabled in that House.
(2) If:
(a) within 15 sitting days after tabling of the WA Acts list in a House of the Parliament, a notice of a motion is given in that House to extend the period for giving the termination notice in relation to one or more WA Acts specified in the extension notice; and
(b) that House passes a resolution to extend the period;
the termination notice may be given in that House within 3 months after the tabling of the WA Acts list in that House.
(3) If:
(a) within 15 sitting days after tabling of the WA Acts list in a House of the Parliament, a notice of a motion (the extension notice) is given in that House to extend the period for giving the termination notice in relation to one or more WA Acts specified in the extension notice; and
(b) at the expiration of 15 sitting days after the extension notice has been given in that House:
(i) the notice has not been withdrawn and the motion has not been called on; or
(ii) the motion has been called on, moved and seconded and has not been withdrawn or otherwise disposed of;
the termination notice may be given in that House within 3 months after the tabling of the WA Acts list in that House.
(4) If a notice of a motion (the extension notice) is given in a House of the Parliament (the notice House) for the purpose of obtaining an extension under subsection (2) or (3) but, before the expiration of 15 sitting days after the extension notice is given:
(a) the House of Representatives is dissolved or expires, or the Parliament is prorogued; and
(b) at the time of the dissolution, expiry or prorogation:
(i) the extension notice has not been withdrawn and the motion has not been called on; or
(ii) the motion has been called on, moved and seconded and has not been withdrawn or otherwise disposed of;
the following provisions apply:
(c) the extension notice is taken to have been given in the notice House on the first sitting day of that House after the dissolution, expiry or prorogation;
(d) the termination notice may be given in that House within the first 15 sitting days of that House after the dissolution, expiry or prorogation.
(5) In this section, terminate, WA Act and WA Acts list have the same meanings as in section 8C.
8E Application of Commonwealth Acts
(1) An Act (whether passed before or after this section’s commencement) extends to the Territory of its own force except so far as the Act or another Act expressly provides otherwise.
(2) Except as provided by this Act, an Ordinance has no effect so far as it purports to affect the application of an Act in or in relation to the Territory.
8G Powers and functions under the applied Western Australian laws
(1) If a power is vested in a person (other than a court officer of Western Australia) or an authority (other than a court of Western Australia) by a Western Australian law in force in the Territory under section 8A, that power is, in relation to the Territory:
(a) vested in the Minister; and
(b) only exercisable in accordance with this section.
Note: Under section 19 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 a power vested in a Minister may be exercised on his or her behalf by another Minister or member of the Executive Council.
(2) In subsection (1), a power vested in a person or authority by a Western Australian law includes a power vested in the Governor or Governor‑in‑Council of Western Australia by such a law.
(3) The Minister may, in writing:
(a) direct that a power vested in the Minister under subsection (1) is also to be vested in a specified person or authority, being a person or authority to whom subsection (7) applies; or
(b) delegate the power to a specified person, being a person to whom subsection (7) applies.
(4) A person or an authority in whom a power is vested under paragraph (3)(a) may, if the person is so empowered by the Minister in the direction, delegate the power, in writing, to a person to whom subsection (7) applies.
(5) If a power under a Western Australian law as in force in the Territory is a power to delegate a power (prescribed power), the Minister or a person or an authority exercising that power under this section may delegate that prescribed power only to a person to whom subsection (7) applies.
(6) The Minister may appoint, on such terms and conditions as are determined by the Minister, such persons as the Minister considers necessary to exercise a power under this section.
(7) This subsection applies to the following persons and authorities:
(a) a person holding or exercising the powers of the office of Administrator or Deputy Administrator of the Territory under the Administration Ordinance 1975 of the Territory;
(b) a person holding or exercising the powers of an office established by an Act;
(c) a person holding or exercising the powers of an office established by a Western Australian law, or a Western Australian law as in force in the Territory under section 8A;
(d) a person holding or exercising the powers of an office established by an Ordinance or a law made under an Ordinance;
(e) an authority (whether incorporated or not) established by an Act;
(f) an authority (whether incorporated or not) established by a Western Australian law, or a Western Australian law as in force in the Territory under section 8A;
(g) an authority (whether incorporated or not) established by an Ordinance or a law made under an Ordinance;
(h) a person appointed or engaged under the Public Service Act 1999;
(i) a person employed under a Western Australian law, or a Western Australia law as in force in the Territory under section 8A;
(j) a person employed under the Administration Ordinance 1975 of the Territory;
(k) a person employed by an authority mentioned in paragraph (e), (f) or (g);
(l) a member of the Defence Force;
(m) a member or special member of the Australian Federal Police;
(n) a person appointed by the Minister under subsection (6).
(8) The validity of the exercise of a power under a law by a person or authority under this section is unaffected by the failure of the person or authority to hold a qualification required of a person exercising that power under the law as in force in Western Australia.
(9) This section does not affect the operation of section 8A in relation to the application in or in relation to the Territory of a law (subordinate law) made under a Western Australian law, whether the subordinate law is made after this section’s commencement or not.
(10) In this section:
power includes function or duty, and in that context, exercise means perform.
8H Arrangements with the Government of Western Australia
(1) The Commonwealth may enter into arrangements with Western Australia for the effective application and administration of the laws in force in the Territory.
(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), such an arrangement may provide for the exercise of powers or performance of functions or duties by an officer or authority of Western Australia in or in relation to the Territory.
8I Savings
(1) The repeal of a law of the Territory by subsection 8(1) does not:
(a) revive anything not in force or existing at the time of the repeal; or
(b) affect the previous operation of the law, or anything duly done under or permitted by the law; or
(c) affect any right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired, accrued or incurred under the law; or
(d) affect any penalty, forfeiture or punishment incurred in respect of any offence committed against the law; or
(e) affect any investigation, legal proceeding or remedy in respect of any such right, privilege, obligation, liability, penalty, forfeiture or punishment.
(2) In spite of the repeal, the law continues in force for the purposes of:
(a) the institution or continuation of any investigation or legal proceeding mentioned in paragraph (1)(e); or
(b) the enforcement of any remedy mentioned in paragraph (1)(e); or
(c) the imposition of any penalty, forfeiture or punishment mentioned in paragraph (1)(e).
Division 2—Legislative powers of the Governor‑General
12 Legislative powers of Governor‑General
(1) The Governor‑General may make Ordinances for the peace, order and good government of the Territory.
(2) Notice of the making of an Ordinance shall be published in the Gazette, and an Ordinance shall, unless the contrary intention appears in the Ordinance, come into operation on the date of publication of the notice.
13 Laying of Ordinances before the Parliament
(1) An Ordinance shall be laid before each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the making of the Ordinance, and, if it is not so laid before each House of the Parliament, ceases to have effect.
(2) If either House of the Parliament, in pursuance of a motion of which notice has been given within 15 sitting days after an Ordinance has been laid before that House, passes a resolution disallowing the Ordinance or a part of the Ordinance, the Ordinance or part so disallowed thereupon ceases to have effect.
(3) If, at the expiration of 15 sitting days after notice of a motion to disallow an Ordinance or part of an Ordinance has been given in a House of the Parliament, being notice given within 15 sitting days after the Ordinance has been laid before that House:
(a) the notice has not been withdrawn and the motion has not been called on; or
(b) the motion has been called on, moved and seconded and has not been withdrawn or otherwise disposed of;
the Ordinance or part, as the case may be, specified in the motion shall thereupon be deemed to have been disallowed.
(3A) If, before the expiration of 15 sitting days after notice of a motion to disallow an Ordinance or part of an Ordinance has been given in a House of the Parliament:
(a) the House of Representatives is dissolved or expires, or the Parliament is prorogued; and
(b) at the time of the dissolution, expiry or prorogation, as the case may be:
(i) the notice has not been withdrawn and the motion has not been called on; or
(ii) the motion has been called on, moved and seconded and has not been withdrawn or otherwise disposed of;
the Ordinance shall, for the purposes of subsections (2) and (3), be deemed to have been laid before that first‑mentioned House on the first sitting day of that first‑mentioned House after the dissolution, expiry or prorogation, as the case may be.
(4) Where an Ordinance is disallowed, or is deemed to have been disallowed, under this section or ceases to have effect by virtue of the operation of subsection (1), the disallowance of the Ordinance or the operation of subsection (1) in relation to the Ordinance, as the case may be, has the same effect as a repeal of the Ordinance.
(4A) Where:
(a) an Ordinance (in this subsection referred to as the relevant Ordinance) is disallowed, or is deemed to have been disallowed, under this section or ceases to have effect by virtue of the operation of subsection (1); and
(b) the relevant Ordinance repealed, in whole or in part, another Ordinance or any other law that was in force immediately before the relevant Ordinance came into operation;
the disallowance of the relevant Ordinance or the operation of subsection (1) in relation to the relevant Ordinance, as the case may be, has the effect of reviving that other Ordinance or law, as the case may be, from and including the date of the disallowance or the date on which the relevant Ordinance ceased to have effect by virtue of that operation of subsection (1), as the case may be, as if the relevant Ordinance had not been made.
(4B) A reference in subsection (4) or (4A) to an Ordinance shall be read as including a reference to a part of an Ordinance, and a reference in subsection (4A) to a law has a corresponding meaning.
13A Ordinance not to be re‑made while required to be tabled
(1) Where an Ordinance (in this section called the original Ordinance) has been made, no Ordinance containing a provision being the same in substance as a provision of the original Ordinance shall be made during the period defined by subsection (2) unless both Houses of the Parliament by resolution approve the making of an Ordinance containing a provision the same in substance as that provision of the original Ordinance.
(2) The period referred to in subsection (1) is the period starting on the day on which the original Ordinance was made and ending at the end of 7 days after:
(a) if the original Ordinance has been laid, in accordance with subsection 13(1), before both Houses of the Parliament on the same day—that day;
(b) if the original Ordinance has been so laid before both Houses on different days—the later of those days; or
(c) if the original Ordinance has not been so laid before both Houses—the last day on which subsection 13(1) could have been complied with.
(3) If a provision of an Ordinance is made in contravention of this section, the provision has no effect.
13B Ordinance not to be re‑made while subject to disallowance
(1) Where notice of a motion to disallow an Ordinance has been given in a House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days after the Ordinance has been laid before that House, no Ordinance containing a provision being the same in substance as a provision of the first‑mentioned Ordinance shall be made unless:
(a) the notice has been withdrawn;
(b) the Ordinance is deemed to have been disallowed under subsection 13(3);
(c) the motion has been withdrawn or otherwise disposed of; or
(d) subsection 13(3A) has applied in relation to the Ordinance.
(2) Where:
(a) because of subsection 13(3A), an Ordinance is deemed to have been laid before a House of the Parliament on a particular day; and
(b) notice of a motion to disallow the Ordinance has been given in that House within 15 sitting days after that day;
no Ordinance containing a provision being the same in substance as a provision of the first‑mentioned Ordinance shall be made unless:
(c) the notice has been withdrawn;
(d) the Ordinance is deemed to have been disallowed under subsection 13(3);
(e) the motion has been withdrawn or otherwise disposed of; or
(f) subsection 13(3A) has applied again in relation to the Ordinance.
(3) If a provision of an Ordinance is made in contravention of this section, the provision has no effect.
(4) This section does not limit the operation of section 13A or 13C.
(5) In this section:
Ordinance includes a part of an Ordinance.
13C Disallowed Ordinance not to be re‑made unless resolution rescinded or House approves
If an Ordinance or a part of an Ordinance is disallowed, or is deemed to have been disallowed, under section 13, and an Ordinance containing a provision being the same in substance as a provision so disallowed, or deemed to have been disallowed, is made within 6 months after the date of the disallowance, that provision has no effect, unless:
(a) in the case of an Ordinance, or a part of an Ordinance, disallowed by resolution—the resolution has been rescinded by the House of the Parliament by which it was passed; or
(b) in the case of an Ordinance, or a part of an Ordinance, deemed to have been disallowed—the House of the Parliament in which notice of the motion to disallow the Ordinance or part was given has approved, by resolution, the making of a provision the same in substance as the provision deemed to have been disallowed.
13D Regulations, rules and by‑laws
(1) All regulations made under an Ordinance shall be laid before each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the day on which the regulations are made and, if they are not so laid before each House of the Parliament, have no effect.
(1A) In subsection (1), a regulation made under a law in force in the Territory:
(a) does not include a regulation of Western Australia as in force in the Territory under section 8A; and
(b) includes a regulation made by a person or an authority empowered, under section 8G, to make the regulation under a Western Australian law as in force in the Territory under section 8A.
(2) Subsections 13(2) to (4B), inclusive, and sections 13A, 13B and 13C apply in relation to regulations laid before a House of the Parliament as if, in those provisions:
(a) references to subsection 13(1) were references to subsection (1) of this section; and
(b) references to an Ordinance were references to regulations; and
(c) references to a provision of an Ordinance were references to a regulation.
(3) In this section, regulations includes rules and by‑laws.
Part IVA—Trials on indictment
15AA Trials on indictment to be by judge and jury
The trial on indictment of an offence against a law in force in the Territory shall be by judge and jury.
15AB Minister may make arrangements with States
The Minister may make arrangements with the government or an authority of a State for the purposes of the effective application of the provisions of this Part relating to sittings of an indictment court in that State in the exercise of its criminal jurisdiction.
15AC Indictment court may sit in a State
(1) Subject to this section, an indictment court, in the exercise of its criminal jurisdiction, may sit in a State if to do so would not be contrary to the interests of justice.
(2) An indictment court may, at any time after the presentation of an indictment for an offence against a law in force in the Territory and before the jury has returned its verdict, if it is satisfied that the interests of justice require it, order:
(a) if the trial of the offence has not begun—that the trial be held in a State, and at a time and place, specified in the order; and
(b) if the trial of the offence has begun—that the trial be discontinued, the jury be discharged and a new trial be held in a State, and at a time and place, specified in the order.
(3) An indictment court may make an order under subsection (2) at a sittings of the court in the Territory or in a State.
(4) An indictment court may make an order under subsection (2) at a sittings of the court in a State whether or not the accused is present but, if the accused is not present, the court shall only make the order if:
(a) the accused is represented; and
(b) the court is satisfied that the accused understands the effect of the order.
(5) Where an indictment court makes an order under subsection (2), the court may order that:
(a) on the warrant of the Registrar, a magistrate of the Territory or such other person as the court directs (being a person who holds an office in relation to the court), the accused be removed to the place specified in the order, and held there, for the purposes of the trial of that person and for any related proceedings; and
(b) on the summons of the Registrar, all persons required to attend to give evidence in the trial or proceedings attend at the place specified in the order.
(6) When exercising its criminal jurisdiction in a State, an indictment court has, and may exercise, all the powers that it would have if it were exercising its criminal jurisdiction in the Territory.
(7) A power exercised by an indictment court under subsection (6) shall be deemed to have been exercised by the court at a sittings of the court in the Territory.
(8) Where an indictment court is sitting in a State for the purpose of a trial in that State, the court may, if it is satisfied that the interests of justice require it, order that, for the purpose of viewing a place, or taking evidence from a person, in the Territory, or for a prescribed purpose:
(a) the trial be adjourned for such time as the court considers reasonable and necessary, and be continued in the Territory for so long as is necessary for that purpose;
(b) on the warrant of the Registrar, a magistrate of the Territory or such other person as the court directs (being a person who holds an office in relation to the court), the accused be returned to the Territory for the purposes of the continuation of the trial and any related proceedings; and
(c) the jurors empanelled for the trial go to the Territory and remain there for such time as the court directs for the purpose of continuing to attend as jurors in the trial.
(9) A person who appears as a witness in an indictment court in a trial, or in related proceedings, held wholly or partly in a State, shall be paid by the Commonwealth such fees and allowances as would be payable to the person if the person had appeared as a witness in a trial held in the Territory.
(10) Where:
(a) an indictment court, when exercising its criminal jurisdiction in a State, makes an order, issues a warrant or summons or gives a judgment;
(b) a person fails to comply with that order, warrant, summons or judgment; and
(c) that failure would have constituted an offence against a law in force in the Territory if it had occurred there;
the person is guilty of an offence against this Act punishable by a penalty that is the same as the penalty for the offence referred to in paragraph (c).
15AD Juries outside the Territory
(1) In this section:
jury list means the roll, list or book, on or in which the names of persons liable to serve as jurors appear.
(2) Subject to this section and the regulations, the laws in force in a State relating to:
(a) the qualification of jurors;
(b) the preparation of jury lists and jury panels;
(c) the summoning, attendance and empanelling of juries;
(d) the number of jurors;
(e) the right of challenge;
(f) the discharge of juries;
(g) the disagreement of jurors;
(h) the remuneration of jurors; and
(j) other matters concerning jurors (other than matters dealt with under section 15AE) after they have been summoned, appointed or sworn;
that apply for the purposes of the trial of a criminal matter in the Supreme Court of that State sitting at a place in that State, extend and shall be applied, with such changes as are necessary, for the purposes of the trial of a criminal matter in an indictment court when sitting at that place.
(3) For the purposes of a trial in an indictment court held wholly or partly at a place in a State, the jury list that would be used for the purposes of a criminal trial in the Supreme Court of that State sitting in the same place shall be used as well for the purposes of the trial in the indictment court.
(4) The precept for a jury shall be issued by the Registrar, or such other person holding an office in relation to the indictment court as the court directs, and the Sheriff or such other person as the court directs shall prepare the jury panels and summon jurors.
(5) The person who has custody of the jury list referred to in subsection (3) in the State where the indictment court is holding a trial shall:
(a) give a copy of that list to the person directed by the court to prepare a jury panel; and
(b) indicate on that copy the names of the persons who, to his or her knowledge, would not, if summoned at the time the copy is given, be liable to serve as jurors under the law in force in that State.
(6) The Commonwealth shall pay such reasonable fee as may be demanded for a copy of a list referred to in paragraph (5)(a).
(7) Any remuneration required to be paid to a person who serves, or is summoned to serve, on a jury in a trial in an indictment court held wholly or partly in a State shall be paid by the Commonwealth.
(8) Where a law applied by this Act for the purposes of a trial in an indictment court requires an act or thing to be done by a person specified in that law, the court may, if it is necessary to do so for the purpose of the effective application of the law, order that a person who holds a specified office in relation to the court do that act or thing, and the law shall be deemed to apply to that person accordingly.
(9) The regulations may provide that such provisions of a law referred to in subsection (2) as are specified in the regulations do not apply or apply subject to such modifications as are specified in the regulations.
15AE Offences in relation to jurors
(1) In this section:
juror includes a person whose name is on a jury panel.
(2) A person who is served with a summons to attend as a juror in a trial in an indictment court held wholly or partly in a State shall not:
(a) fail to attend in accordance with the summons; or
(b) having so attended, withdraw from the presence of the court, without the permission of the Sheriff, before being discharged or excused by a judge of the court or the Sheriff.
Penalty: $200 or imprisonment for 1 month.
(2A) Subsection (2) does not apply if the person has a reasonable excuse.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (2A) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code).
(3) A person shall not personate a person who is a juror with the intention of sitting on a jury.
Penalty: $1,000 or imprisonment for 6 months.
(4) A person shall not:
(a) engage in conduct that results in the corruption of a juror;
(b) make or promise a payment to a juror, or confer or promise to confer any other benefit on a juror in relation to the person’s service as a juror, other than a payment of the ordinary remuneration of the juror’s employment; or
(c) being a juror, accept such a payment or benefit.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
(5) In this section:
engage in conduct means:
(a) do an act; or
(b) omit to perform an act.
15AF Removal of accused to State to stand trial
(1) Where an indictment court makes an order under paragraph 15AC(5)(a) in relation to an accused, the Registrar, a magistrate of the Territory or a person directed by the court under that paragraph, may:
(a) by warrant directed to all constables, require them to convey the accused in custody from the Territory to the prison specified in the warrant and to deliver the accused into the custody of the officer for the time being in charge of that prison; and
(b) by warrant directed to that officer, require that officer to detain the accused in that prison pursuant to this section.
(2) A warrant referred to in subsection (1) may be executed by any constable.
(3) An accused delivered into custody at a prison in a State under a warrant under subsection (1) may, subject to any order of the indictment court, be detained in that prison or any other prison in that State for so long as the accused’s detention is necessary for the execution of the order.
(4) An accused may, while so in custody, be dealt with in the same manner, and is subject to the same laws, as if the warrant issued under subsection (1) had been issued under a law in force in the relevant State relating to holding persons in custody pending the trial of those persons.
(5) The Commonwealth shall pay to the relevant State the reasonable expenses of maintaining an accused detained in a prison under a warrant under subsection (1).
15AG Accused to be conveyed to court
(1) Where an accused has been removed to a State under this Act, a judge of an indictment court may order that the accused be conveyed to the court for the purposes of trial in that State, and any related proceedings.
(2) Where a judge of an indictment court makes an order under subsection (1), the person who has the custody of the accused shall release the accused to a constable to enable the accused to be conveyed to the court in accordance with that order.
15AH Return of accused to Territory
(1) Where an indictment court makes an order under paragraph 15AC(8)(b), the Registrar, a magistrate of the Territory or a person directed by the Court under that paragraph may, by warrant directed to all constables, require them to convey the accused in custody from the State in which the court made the order to the prison in the Territory specified in the warrant and to deliver the accused into the custody of the officer for the time being in charge of that prison.
(2) A warrant referred to in subsection (1) may be executed by any constable.
15AI Person deemed to be prisoner under Removal of Prisoners (Territories) Act 1923
Where:
(a) a person has been tried in relation to an indictable offence against a law in force in the Territory by an indictment court sitting in a State; and
(b) the person is convicted of that offence and sentenced to imprisonment;
the person shall be deemed:
(c) to be a prisoner within the meaning of the Removal of Prisoners (Territories) Act 1923; and
(d) to have been removed to that State under that Act;
and the provisions of that Act apply (so far as they are capable of applying) in relation to the person accordingly.
15AJ Person deemed to be criminal lunatic under Removal of Prisoners (Territories) Act 1923
Where a person who has been removed to a State under this Act:
(a) is found to have been insane at the time of the commission of the offence;
(b) is found or certified, or otherwise lawfully proved, to be unfit, on the ground of insanity, to be tried for the offence; or
(c) is convicted of an offence and afterwards certified, or otherwise lawfully proved, to be insane;
the person shall be deemed:
(d) to be a criminal lunatic within the meaning of the Removal of Prisoners (Territories) Act 1923; and
(e) to have been removed to that State under that Act;
and sections 9 and 10A of that Act apply (so far as they are capable of applying) in relation to the person accordingly.
15AK Repatriation of person tried in a State
Where:
(a) a person has been removed to a State under this Act;
(b) the trial of the person in an indictment court sitting in that State has concluded; and
(c) the person is acquitted (other than on the ground of insanity) or is not, after the date on which the trial concludes, required to serve a sentence of imprisonment;
the Commonwealth shall, on application by the person to the Secretary, provide the person with means to enable the person to return to the Territory.
Part IVAA—Conferral of Territory jurisdiction on Western Australian courts etc.
15AAA Definitions
In this Part:
Family Court of Western Australia means the Court established by the Family Court Act 1975 of Western Australia.
transfer day means the day on which this Part commences.
15AAB Conferral of jurisdiction on Western Australian courts and court officers
(1) Subject to this Part and any law in force in the Territory, the courts and court officers of Western Australia have jurisdiction (including appellate jurisdiction) in and in relation to the Territory as if the Territory were part of Western Australia.
(2) Subject to any law in force in the Territory, a court or court officer of Western Australia may, in exercising jurisdiction under this section, sit in the Territory or Western Australia.
(3) Subject to any law in force in the Territory, the practice and procedure applicable to a court or court officer exercising jurisdiction under this section are to be the practice and procedure as in force from time to time in relation to that court or court officer in Western Australia.
15AAC Transfer of Supreme Court jurisdiction
(1) This section applies to the jurisdiction vested in or exercisable by the Supreme Court of the Territory or a judge of that Court immediately before the transfer day, except in relation to matters for which:
(a) proceedings were pending in that Court immediately before that day; or
(b) proceedings had been completed in that Court before that day.
(2) On and after the transfer day, the jurisdiction:
(a) ceases to be vested in the Supreme Court of the Territory or a Judge of that Court; and
(b) is vested in:
(i) if the Family Court of Western Australia or a Judge of that Court would, apart from this section, have the jurisdiction under subsection 15AAB(1)—the Family Court of Western Australia or a Judge of that Court (as the case requires); or
(ii) if the District Court of Western Australia or a Judge of that Court would, apart from this section, have the jurisdiction under subsection 15AAB(1)—the District Court of Western Australia or a Judge of that Court (as the case requires); or
(iii) if the Children’s Court of Western Australia or a Judge of that Court would, apart from this section, have the jurisdiction under subsection 15AAB(1)—the Children’s Court of Western Australia or a Judge of that Court (as the case requires); or
(iv) in any other case—the Supreme Court of Western Australia or a Judge of that Court (as the case requires).
15AAD Transfer of pending proceedings
(1) On and after the transfer day, the parties to proceedings in a matter pending in the Supreme Court of the Territory (Territory Court) may apply to that Court to transfer the proceedings to:
(a) if the proceedings relate only to a matter of a kind that is within the jurisdiction of the Family Court of Western Australia—the Family Court of Western Australia; or
(b) if the proceedings relate only to a matter of a kind that is within the jurisdiction of the District Court of Western Australia—the District Court of Western Australia; or
(c) if the proceedings relate only to a matter of a kind that is within the jurisdiction of the Children’s Court of Western Australia—the Children’s Court of Western Australia; or
(d) in any other case—the Supreme Court of Western Australia.
(2) If the Territory Court decides that it is not contrary to the interests of justice to grant the application, the Court is to transfer the proceedings to the relevant Court (State Court) and:
(a) the State Court may hear and determine the proceedings; and
(b) all documents filed of record in the Territory Court in the proceedings are to be transmitted to the State Court; and
(c) any money lodged with the Territory Court in relation to the proceedings is to be transferred to the State Court and is taken to be money lodged with the State Court in relation to the proceedings; and
(d) everything done in or in relation to the proceedings in the Territory Court is taken to have been done in the State Court.
15AAE Application of provisions of this Act to courts of Western Australia
In relation to the exercise of jurisdiction by a court of Western Australia or a Judge or an officer mentioned in this Part, this Act has effect as if:
(a) a reference in this Act to an indictment court included a reference to the Supreme Court of Western Australia or the District Court of Western Australia; and
(b) a reference in this Act to a Judge of an indictment court included a reference to a Judge of the Supreme Court of Western Australia or of the District Court of Western Australia; and
(c) a reference in this Act to the Registrar of an indictment court included a reference to:
(i) a person who has the powers and functions of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Western Australia in the application of the Supreme Court Act 1935 of Western Australia in the Territory; or
(ii) a person who has the powers and functions of a judge of the District Court of Western Australia in the application of the District Court of Western Australia Act 1969 of Western Australia in the Territory; and
(d) a reference in this Act to the Sheriff of an indictment court included a reference to:
(i) a person who has the powers and functions of the sheriff of the Supreme Court of Western Australia in the application of the Supreme Court Act 1935 of Western Australia in the Territory; or
(ii) a person who has the powers and functions of the sheriff of the District Court of Western Australia in the application of the District Court of Western Australia Act 1969 of Western Australia in the Territory; and
(e) a reference in section 16 to a Territory court included a reference to a Western Australian court exercising jurisdiction in or in relation to the Territory under a law of the Territory; and
(f) a reference in paragraph 16(c) to a person who holds an office in relation to a Territory court included a reference to a person who has the powers or duties mentioned in that paragraph in relation to the Territory under a law of the Territory.
15AAF Savings—jurisdiction of Supreme Court of the Territory on and after transfer day
Part IVAA of this Act as in force immediately before the transfer day continues in force in relation to any matter in respect of which the Supreme Court of the Territory or a Judge of that Court continues to have jurisdiction on or after that day.
15AAG Abolition of Supreme Court of the Territory
The Supreme Court of the Territory is abolished on a day to be fixed by Proclamation, being a day on which no person holds office as a judge of that Court.
15AAH Transitional provisions after abolition of Supreme Court
(1) In this section:
proclaimed day means the day to be fixed by Proclamation under section 15AAG.
State Court means the Court to which proceedings are transferred under subsection (2).
Territory Court means the Supreme Court of the Territory.
(2) As soon as practicable after no person holds office as a Judge of the Territory Court, the Registrar of the Court must transfer all proceedings in the Court (including completed proceedings) to:
(a) if the proceedings relate only to a matter of a kind that is within the jurisdiction of the Family Court of Western Australia—the Family Court of Western Australia; or
(b) if the proceedings relate only to a matter of a kind that is within the jurisdiction of the District Court of Western Australia—the District Court of Western Australia; or
(c) if the proceedings relate only to a matter of a kind that is within the jurisdiction of the Children’s Court of Western Australia—the Children’s Court of Western Australia; or
(d) in any other case—the Supreme Court of Western Australia.
(3) If proceedings are transferred under subsection (2):
(a) all documents filed of record in the Territory Court in the proceedings are to be transmitted to the State Court; and
(b) any money lodged with the Territory Court in relation to the proceedings is to be transferred to the State Court and is taken to be money lodged with the State Court in relation to the proceedings; and
(c) everything done in or in relation to the proceedings in the Territory Court is taken to have been done in the State Court.
(4) If proceedings transferred under subsection (2) were not completed before the proclaimed day, the State Court may:
(a) hear, or further hear, the proceedings; and
(b) determine the proceedings; and
(c) have regard to any evidence or argument in the proceedings in the Territory Court.
15AAI References to courts of Territory—transitional
(1) Unless the contrary intention appears:
(a) a reference in any Act to the Supreme Court of the Territory is taken to include a reference to the Supreme Court of Western Australia exercising jurisdiction in or in relation to the Territory under this Act; and
(b) a reference in any Act to courts of the Territory is taken to include a reference to courts of Western Australia exercising jurisdiction in or in relation to the Territory under this Act.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a reference in the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976.
Part V—Miscellaneous
15A Appointment of officers
(1) In spite of the Public Service Act 1999, a law of the Territory may make provision for and in relation to the appointment and employment of persons for the purposes of the government of the Territory.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent the appointment or employment of persons under the Public Service Act 1999 in its application to the Territory.
16 Sittings of courts etc.
(1) Provision may be made by Ordinance for and in relation to:
(a) sittings in Australia outside the Territory of a Territory court for the purpose of hearing and determining a matter if the court is satisfied that the hearing of the matter outside the Territory is not contrary to the interests of justice;
(b) the establishment and operation at places in Australia outside the Territory of registries of Territory courts; and
(c) where a power or duty is conferred or imposed by law on a person who holds an office in relation to a Territory court—the exercise of the power, or the performance of the duty, at places in Australia outside the Territory.
(2) A reference in subsection (1) to a Territory court is a reference to a court having jurisdiction in the Territory.
17 Grant of pardon, remission etc.
(1) The Governor‑General, acting with the advice of the Minister, may, by warrant under his hand, grant to a person convicted by a court of the Territory exercising criminal jurisdiction a pardon, either free or conditional, or a remission or commutation of sentence, or a respite, for such period as he thinks fit, of the execution of sentence, and may remit any fine, penalty or forfeiture imposed or incurred under a law in force in the Territory.
(2) Where an offence has been committed in the Territory, or where an offence has been committed outside the Territory for which the offender may be tried in the Territory, the Governor‑General, acting with the advice of the Minister, may, by warrant under his hand, grant a pardon to an accomplice who gives evidence that leads to the conviction of the principal offender, or of any of the principal offenders.
18 Continuation of Malay customs
The institutions, customs and usages of the Malay residents of the Territory shall, subject to any law in force in the Territory from time to time, be permitted to continue in existence.
18A Exemption from customs duty of goods produced in the Territory
Duties of Customs are not chargeable on goods imported into Australia from the Territory if the goods:
(a) are the produce or manufacture of the Territory;
(b) have been shipped in the Territory for export to Australia; and
(c) are not goods which, if manufactured or produced in Australia, would be subject to a Duty of Excise.
18B Disposal of land
(1) The application of the Lands Acquisition Act 1989 in relation to land in the Territory does not prevent or affect the making or operation of a provision of a law of the Territory (including a law made before this section’s commencement) under which:
(a) lands in the Territory acquired by or vested in the Commonwealth may be disposed of or otherwise dealt with; or
(b) instruments, receipts and other documents in relation to any such lands may be executed; or
(c) rights, duties and liabilities in relation to any such lands are or may be acquired, conferred or imposed.
(2) A law of the Territory mentioned in subsection (1) which provides for the acquisition of land must provide that land is not to be acquired otherwise than on just terms.
19 Audit
The accounts of the Territory are subject to inspection and audit by the Auditor‑General for the Commonwealth.
20 Regulations
The Governor‑General may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all matters which by this Act are required or permitted to be prescribed, or which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act, and, in particular:
(a) prescribing penalties, not exceeding a fine of $1,500 or imprisonment for 3 months, for offences against the regulations; and
(b) making saving or transitional provisions in relation to the abolition of any court established by a law of the Territory.
