Northern Territory Bills for March 2018: Overview

Friday 23 March 2018 @ 10.32 a.m. | Legal Research

In March so far, the NT Government has passed the Biological Control Amendment Bill 2017 (No 33 of 2017) on 20 March 2018, and introduced the following new Bills to the House of Assembly:

  • Expungement of Historical Homosexual Offence Records Bill 2018 (No 45 of 2018);
  • Statute Law Revision Bill 2018 (No 46 of 2018);
  • Liquor Amendment (Point of Sale Intervention) Bill 2018 (No 47 of 2018); and
  • Youth Justice Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 (No 48 of 2018).

The Biological Control Amendment Bill 2017 was introduced by the Minister for Primary Industry and Resources, Ken Vowles. The object of this Bill is to make legislative amendments that will ensure consistency with national biological control programs which followed recent changes to the Biological Control Act 1984 (Cth).

The main function of these Acts, including the Biological Control Act (NT), is to provide a legislative framework for the biological control of pests; to provide the opportunity for due consideration of proposed bio-control activities to ensure they are in the public interest; and to provide protection from litigation under all relevant laws as relevant to the release of a bio-control agent to control a target organism. This Bill passed the House of Assembly on 20 March 2018, where it is currently awaiting Assent.

The Expungement of Historical Homosexual Offence Records Bill 2018 was introduced by Attorney-General Natasha Fyles.  According to the Bill’s summary, it:

“… seeks to establish an administrative scheme for the expungement of charges and convictions in relation to expungable offences involving homosexual activity or behaviour … The effect of expungement will be that the person will no longer be required to disclose that charge or conviction, including under oath … Finally, the Bill makes consequential amendments to the Anti-Discrimination Act, the Care and Protection of Children Act, the Juries Act and the Legal Profession Act.”

The Statute Law Revision Bill 2018  was also introduced by the Attorney-General.  The object of this Bill is to make minor revisions and corrections to approximately 43 pieces of NT legislation.

In her second reading speech, Ms Fyles said:

“…None of the amendments will constitute a substantive change to the law or government policies or programs. This bill follows the general pattern of Statute Law Revision Bills by revising and correcting the law of the Northern Territory in minor respects.”

The Attorney-General also introduced the Liquor Amendment (Point of Sale Intervention) Bill 2018.  The purpose of this Bill is to make amendments to the Liquor Act (1979) to empower police officers and licensed inspectors to make Point of Sale Interventions, and to empower the Commissioner of Police to suspend a liquor licence in certain circumstances. The overarching objective of this Bill is to reduce alcohol alcohol-related harm to the community of the NT and is consistent with the recommendations made by the Alcohol Polices and Legislation Review Final Report (the Riley Review).  A substantive amendment is the insertion of a new Part VIIIC - Point of sale intervention (ss 101ZJ-101ZQ) to the principal Act.

The Youth Justice Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 was introduced by Minister for Territory Families, Dale Wakefield.  The Bill is proposed to make substantive amendments to the Youth Justice Act, Youth Justice Regulations and the Cross-border Justice Regulations.

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Sources:

Biological Control Amendment Bill 2017 (No 33 of 2017); Expungement of Historical Homosexual Offence Records Bill 2018 (No 45 of 2018); Statute Law Revision Bill 2018 (No 46 of 2018); Liquor Amendment (Point of Sale Intervention) Bill 2018 (No 47 of 2018); Youth Justice Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 (No 48 of 2018) – Bills and Supporting information available from TimeBase's LawOne Service

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