NORTHERN TERRITORY (ADMINISTRATION).

No. 85 of 1939.

An Act to amend the Northern Territory (Administration) Act 1910–1933, and for other purposes.

[Assented to 15th December, 1939.]

[Date of commencement, 12th January, 1940.]

BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title and citation

1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the Northern Territory (Administration) Act 1939.

(2.) The Northern Territory (Administration) Act 1910–1933 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Northern Territory (Administration) Act 1910–1939.

Vesting of land and other property.

2. Section eleven of the Principal Act is amended by omitting the words “this Act” and inserting in their stead the words “the Northern Territory (Administration) Act 1931”.

3. After section eleven of the Principal Act the following section is inserted:—

Disposal of Crown lands.

“11a. Notwithstanding anything contained in any other Act, all lands in the Territory acquired by or vested in the Commonwealth may be disposed of, and instruments, receipts and other documents in relation to those lands may be executed, in accordance with any Ordinance or other law for the time being in force in relation to such disposal or execution.”.

Ordinances.

4. Section twenty-one of the Principal Act is amended by omitting paragraph (b) of sub-section (2.) and inserting in its stead the following paragraph:—

“(b) take effect—

(i) from the date of notification;

(ii) where another date (whether before or after the date of notification) is specified in the Ordinance, from the date specified; or

(iii) where the Ordinance so provides, from such date as is fixed by the Minister or by the Administrator (as the case may be) by notice in the Gazette; and”

Validation of grants, leases, &c.

5. Where, prior to the commencement of this Act, the Governor-General, any Minister, the North Australia Commission constituted under the Northern Australia Act 1926, or the Administrator or the Land Board of the Northern Territory of Australia, purported, in pursuance of any provision of any Ordinance or other law for the time being in force in relation to land in the Territory, to grant an estate in fee-simple, or a lease, licence or permit of, or in respect of, any such land, or to execute any instrument, receipt or other document in relation to such land, the estate in fee-simple, lease, licence or permit shall be deemed to have been duly granted, and every such instrument, receipt or other document shall be deemed to have been duly executed, if granted or executed in accordance with such Ordinance or other law, and shall be deemed to be and at all times to have been as valid and effectual for all purposes as if this Act had been in force at the date of the grant or of the execution.

Validation of commencement dates of Ordinances.

6. Where in any Ordinance made under the Northern Territory (Administration) Act 1910, under that Act as subsequently amended, or under the Northern Australia Act 1926, it is provided that the Ordinance shall commence on a date to be fixed by notice in the Gazette, that Ordinance shall be deemed to have taken effect from the date so fixed.