COURTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNALS (IMMUNITIES) ACT 2008
NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
COURTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNALS (IMMUNITIES) ACT 2008
As in force at 1 May 2016
Table of provisions
1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1
2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1
3 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1
4 Immunities for persons exercising judicial powers, powers as
members of administrative tribunals or ancillary powers ................. 2
5 Immunities for witnesses and representatives ................................. 2
6 Non-derogation from other Acts and the common law..................... 2
7 Regulations...................................................................................... 3
ENDNOTES
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NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
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As in force at 1 May 2016
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COURTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNALS (IMMUNITIES) ACT 2008
An Act to confer immunities from civil and criminal liability on members
and officers of courts and administrative tribunals and on persons who
participate in proceedings before courts and administrative tribunals
1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Courts and Administrative Tribunals
(Immunities) Act 2008.
2 Commencement
This Act commences on the date fixed by the Administrator by
Gazette notice.
3 Definitions
In this Act:
act includes an omission.
administrative tribunal means a body or person (other than a
court) vested under the law of the Territory with power to conduct a
hearing to resolve, or to make recommendations on the resolution
of, any administrative, quasi-judicial or other question and includes
a body or person classified by regulation as an administrative
tribunal but does not include a body or person excluded by
regulation from the ambit of this definition.
ancillary officer, of a court or administrative tribunal, means a
person (other than a member) who carries out ancillary functions for
the court or administrative tribunal.
court means a body or person vested with judicial powers under
the law of the Territory.
judicial office means the office of judge or some other office or
position under the law of the Territory that carries with it the power
to act judicially.
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Courts and Administrative Tribunals (Immunities) Act 2008 2
member, of a court or administrative tribunal, means a person who
either alone or together with others decides cases that are brought
before the court or tribunal for decision.
representative means counsel or other representative for a party,
intervenor or other person in proceedings before a court or
administrative tribunal and includes a person appointed to assist
the court or tribunal itself (i.e. as amicus curiae).
4 Immunities for persons exercising judicial powers, powers as
members of administrative tribunals or ancillary powers
(1) A member of a court incurs no civil or criminal liability for an honest
act in the exercise, or purported exercise, of:
(a) judicial powers; or
(b) administrative powers assigned to the member in the
member's judicial capacity or as the holder of a judicial office.
(2) A member of an administrative tribunal incurs no civil or criminal
liability for an honest act in the exercise, or purported exercise, of
powers conferred by law on the administrative tribunal or the
member.
(3) An ancillary officer of a court or administrative tribunal incurs no
civil or criminal liability for an honest act in the exercise, or
purported exercise, of powers conferred on the officer.
5 Immunities for witnesses and representatives
(1) A person who participates in proceedings before a court or
administrative tribunal as a witness or representative incurs no civil
or criminal liability for an honest and temperate statement or act in
the course of that participation.
(2) This section does not affect:
(a) a liability to be punished for a contempt; or
(b) a liability to disciplinary proceedings and any consequent
penalty.
6 Non-derogation from other Acts and the common law
This Act is in addition to, and does not derogate from,
corresponding protections and immunities under other Acts and at
common law.
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Courts and Administrative Tribunals (Immunities) Act 2008 3
7 Regulations
The Administrator may make regulations under this Act.
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ENDNOTES
Courts and Administrative Tribunals (Immunities) Act 2008 4
ENDNOTES
1 KEY
Key to abbreviations
amd = amended od = order
app = appendix om = omitted
bl = by-law pt = Part
ch = Chapter r = regulation/rule
cl = clause rem = remainder
div = Division renum = renumbered
exp = expires/expired rep = repealed
f = forms s = section
Gaz = Gazette sch = Schedule
hdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision
ins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation
lt = long title sub = substituted
nc = not commenced
2 LIST OF LEGISLATION
Courts and Administrative Tribunals (Immunities) Act 2008 (Act No. 17, 2008)
Assent date 24 June 2008
Commenced 16 July 2008 (Gaz G28, 16 July 2008, p 3
Local Court (Related Amendments) Act 2016 (Act No. 8, 2016)
Assent date 6 April 2016
Commenced 1 May 2016 (s 2, s 2 Local Court (Repeals and Related
Amendments) Act 2016 (Act No. 9, 2016) and Gaz S34,
29 April 2016)
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, 2018) to: s 1.
4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS
s 3 amd No. 8, 2016, s 45
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