Victoria Law Foundation Act 2009

i Victoria Law Foundation Act 2009 No. 10 of 2009 TABLE OF PROVISIONS Section Page PART 1—PRELIMINARY 1 1 Purposes 1 2 Commencement 2 3 Definitions 2 PART 2—VICTORIA LAW FOUNDATION 4 4 Continuation of the Victoria Law Foundation 4 5 Functions of the Foundation 4 6 General powers of the Foundation 5 7 Constitution and membership of the Foundation 7 8 Terms and conditions of office of members 8 9 Meetings 8 10 Conflicts of interest 9 11 Validity of decisions 10 12 Executive Director and employees 10 PART 3—TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS AND REPEAL 11 13 Transitional provisions 11 14 Repeal of Victoria Law Foundation Act 1978 11 ═══════════════ ENDNOTES 12 -- 1 of 13 -- 1 Victoria Law Foundation Act 2009 † No. 10 of 2009 [Assented to 24 March 2009] The Parliament of Victoria enacts: PART 1—PRELIMINARY 1 Purposes The main purposes of this Act are— (a) to provide for the continuation of the Victoria Law Foundation and the re-enactment with amendments of the laws relating to the governance of the Foundation; (b) to repeal the Victoria Law Foundation Act 1978. Victoria -- 2 of 13 -- Part 1—Preliminary Victoria Law Foundation Act 2009 No. 10 of 2009 2 2 Commencement (1) Subject to subsection (2), this Act comes into operation on a day to be proclaimed. (2) If this Act does not come into operation before 1 July 2009, it comes into operation on that day. 3 Definitions In this Act— Foundation means the Victoria Law Foundation; judicial office means the office of any of the following— (a) Judge of the Supreme Court; (b) Master or Associate Judge of the Supreme Court; (c) judge of the County Court; (d) master or associate judge of the County Court; (e) magistrate; (f) judge, master, associate judge or magistrate of— (i) the High Court of Australia or of a court created by the Parliament of the Commonwealth; or (ii) a court of a State other than Victoria or of the Northern Territory or the Australian Capital Territory; Law Institute means Law Institute of Victoria Limited A.C.N. 075 475 731; lawyer means— (a) an Australian lawyer (within the meaning of the Legal Profession Act 2004); or s. 2 -- 3 of 13 -- Part 1—Preliminary Victoria Law Foundation Act 2009 No. 10 of 2009 3 (b) an Australian legal practitioner (within the meaning of the Legal Profession Act 2004); or (c) a person who holds or has held judicial office; member means a member of the Victoria Law Foundation; Victorian Bar means Victorian Bar Inc, an association incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 1981. __________________ s. 3 -- 4 of 13 -- Part 2—Victoria Law Foundation Victoria Law Foundation Act 2009 No. 10 of 2009 4 PART 2—VICTORIA LAW FOUNDATION 4 Continuation of the Victoria Law Foundation (1) There continues to be a body corporate called the Victoria Law Foundation. (2) The Foundation— (a) has perpetual succession; (b) must have an official seal; (c) may sue and be sued in its corporate name; (d) is capable of taking, purchasing, leasing, holding, selling, exchanging and disposing of real and personal property for the purposes of this Act; (e) may do and suffer all acts and things which a body corporate may by law do and suffer. (3) The official seal of the Foundation must be kept in such custody as the Foundation directs and must not be used except as authorised by the Foundation. (4) All courts must take judicial notice of the imprint of the official seal on a document and, until the contrary is proved, must presume that the document was properly sealed. 5 Functions of the Foundation The functions of the Foundation are— (a) to promote or undertake community education within Victoria, including school programs, in relation to the law and the legal system; s. 4 -- 5 of 13 -- Part 2—Victoria Law Foundation Victoria Law Foundation Act 2009 No. 10 of 2009 5 (b) to disseminate knowledge relating to the law to assist persons in accessing the law and to educate lawyers in matters relating to the administration of justice and access to the law; (c) to commission research, and disseminate such research, in relation to— (i) access to the law; (ii) identifying the needs of persons who are unable to access, or face barriers in accessing, the law effectively; (iii) community and professional education about the law and the legal system; (iv) the administration of justice; (d) to make grants to organisations to fund projects and programs in relation to the law that in the opinion of the Foundation are likely to benefit the people of Victoria; (e) to inform the people of Victoria about matters in relation to the law that are in the public interest; (f) to publish or subsidise the publication of material relating to, resulting from or connected with, carrying out the functions of the Foundation. 6 General powers of the Foundation (1) Subject to this Act, the Foundation has power to do all things necessary or convenient to be done for or in connection with, or incidental to, the performance of its functions. (2) Without limiting or derogating from the generality of the powers of the Foundation under this Act, the powers of the Foundation include— (a) creating and administering a trust fund; s. 6 -- 6 of 13 -- Part 2—Victoria Law Foundation Victoria Law Foundation Act 2009 No. 10 of 2009 6 (b) administering the Endowment and Reserve Fund created by the Foundation; (c) obtaining a financial benefit or assistance to obtain a financial benefit by way of overdraft of account at any authorised deposit-taking institution (within the meaning of the Banking Act 1959 of the Commonwealth) or other financial institution in Australia; (d) investing money of the Foundation; (e) exercising any power in relation to investments that a natural person may exercise and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing— (i) selling, bartering, exchanging or otherwise disposing of or getting in any of its investments; and (ii) varying its investments or transposing any of its investments for other investments; (f) defraying any expenses incurred by the Foundation for the purposes of this Act; (g) charging fees for lectures, seminars, courses or other activities conducted by the Foundation; (h) reimbursing to members reasonable travelling and other expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Foundation or otherwise in connection with carrying out its business. (3) The Foundation may delegate by instrument its powers under subsection (2)(b), (2)(d) and (2)(e) to— (a) the Executive Director employed under section 12; s. 6 -- 7 of 13 -- Part 2—Victoria Law Foundation Victoria Law Foundation Act 2009 No. 10 of 2009 7 (b) an employee employed under section 12; (c) a consultant engaged under section 12. 7 Constitution and membership of the Foundation (1) The Foundation consists of not less than 6 and not more than 8 members (of whom 4 must be lawyers) appointed by the Minister of whom— (a) one is to be appointed on the nomination of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; and (b) one is to be appointed on the nomination of the Law Institute of Victoria; and (c) one is to be appointed on the nomination of the Victorian Bar; and (d) one is to be appointed on the nomination of the Federation of Community Legal Centres (Vic.) Inc; and (e) up to 4 are to be appointed by the Minister having regard to the need for the Foundation collectively to have experience and skills in, and knowledge of, the following areas— (i) the law, legal research or community legal education; (ii) management of community organisations, not-for-profit organisations or bodies corporate; (iii) financial management; (iv) grants administration; (v) marketing, communications and publishing. (2) The nominee of the Chief Justice is the Chairperson of the Foundation. s. 7 -- 8 of 13 -- Part 2—Victoria Law Foundation Victoria Law Foundation Act 2009 No. 10 of 2009 8 8 Terms and conditions of office of members (1) Subject to this section, a member holds office for a term of 3 years from the date of the member's appointment. (2) A member is eligible for re-appointment. (3) The Minister may at any time remove a member from office on the ground that the member— (a) in the opinion of the Minister, is mentally or physically incapable of carrying out the duties of the office; or (b) is absent from 3 consecutive meetings of the Foundation without the consent of the Foundation; or (c) is an insolvent under administration; or (d) is disqualified from managing corporations under the Corporations Act; or (e) is found guilty of an indictable offence or an offence that, if committed in Victoria, would be an indictable offence. (4) A member may resign by writing delivered to the Chairperson. (5) The Minister must as soon as practicable after a nominated member referred to in section 7(1)(a), (b), (c) or (d) resigns or is removed from office appoint a replacement member on the nomination of the person or body who nominated the former member. 9 Meetings (1) Meetings of the Foundation must be held at such times and places as the Foundation may from time to time determine or as the Chairperson may direct. s. 8 -- 9 of 13 -- Part 2—Victoria Law Foundation Victoria Law Foundation Act 2009 No. 10 of 2009 9 (2) The Chairperson must preside at any meeting of the Foundation at which he or she is present. (3) If the Chairperson is absent from a meeting of the Foundation, the members present at the meeting must elect one of those present to preside at the meeting. (4) The quorum of the Foundation is 4 members. (5) A question arising at a meeting is determined by a majority of votes of members present and the person presiding has a deliberative vote and, in the case of an equality of votes, a second or casting vote. (6) The person presiding at a meeting must ensure that accurate minutes of the meeting are kept. (7) Subject to this Act, the Foundation may regulate its own proceedings. 10 Conflicts of interest (1) If— (a) a member has a personal interest (whether pecuniary or otherwise) in a matter being considered or about to be considered by the Foundation; and (b) the interest appears to raise a conflict of interest with the proper performance of the member's duties in relation to the consideration of the matter— the member, as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the relevant facts, must declare the nature of the interest at a meeting of the Foundation. Penalty: 5 penalty units. s. 10 -- 10 of 13 -- Part 2—Victoria Law Foundation Victoria Law Foundation Act 2009 No. 10 of 2009 10 (2) The person presiding at a meeting at which a declaration is made must cause a record of the declaration to be made in the minutes of the meeting. (3) After becoming aware of the conflict of interest in a matter— (a) unless the Foundation directs otherwise, the member must not be present during any deliberations on the matter; and (b) the member is not entitled to vote on the matter; and (c) if the member does vote, the vote must be disallowed. 11 Validity of decisions An act or decision of the Foundation is not invalid merely because of— (a) a defect or irregularity in, or in connection with, the appointment of a member; or (b) a vacancy in the office of a member. 12 Executive Director and employees (1) The Foundation may appoint an Executive Director and any other employees that are necessary for the performance by the Foundation of its functions. (2) The Foundation may engage any person as a consultant on any terms and conditions that it thinks fit. __________________ s. 11 -- 11 of 13 -- Part 3—Transitional Provisions and Repeal Victoria Law Foundation Act 2009 No. 10 of 2009 11 PART 3—TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS AND REPEAL 13 Transitional provisions (1) On the day this Act commences— (a) a person holding office as a member of the Foundation immediately before that day ceases to hold that office; and (b) the person holding office as the President of the Foundation immediately before that day ceases to hold that office. (2) Despite the repeal of the Victoria Law Foundation Act 1978, section 6 of that Act continues to apply in respect to any thing done or omitted to be done before that repeal in the exercise or purported exercise of any power or duty conferred or imposed upon the Foundation or on any member or members of the Foundation. (3) The Foundation is the same body as the body corporate under the Victoria Law Foundation Act 1978 despite the repeal of that Act and the change to its membership by this Act. 14 Repeal of Victoria Law Foundation Act 1978 The Victoria Law Foundation Act 1978 is repealed. ═══════════════ s. 13 See: Act No. 9174. Reprint No. 1 as at 1 January 1997 and amending Act No. 18/2005. LawToday: www. legislation. vic.gov.au -- 12 of 13 -- Victoria Law Foundation Act 2009 No. 10 of 2009 12 ENDNOTES † Minister's second reading speech— Legislative Assembly: 26 June 2008 Legislative Council: 21 August 2008 The long title for the Bill for this Act was "A Bill for an Act to provide for the continuation of the Victoria Law Foundation and to repeal the Victoria Law Foundation Act 1978 and for other purposes." Endnotes -- 13 of 13 --