An Act to provide for the Government of the Australian Antarctic Territory

Preamble

WHEREAS the Australian Antarctic Territory was, by the Australian Antarctic Territory Acceptance Act 1933, accepted by the Commonwealth as a Territory under the authority of the Commonwealth:

AND WHEREAS the Australian Antarctic Territory has been governed by the Commonwealth under the provisions of that Act:

AND WHEREAS it is desirable to make other provision for the government of the Australian Antarctic Territory:

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:

1 Short title [see Note 1]

This Act may be cited as the Australian Antarctic Territory Act 1954.

2 Commencement [see Note 1]

This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

4 Definitions

In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

Act does not include an enactment.

criminal laws means any laws (whether written, unwritten, substantive or procedural) relating to offences, whether indictable or not, including laws about:

(a) the investigation of offences; and

(b) the punishment of offenders, including the penalties or loss of benefits to which offenders are liable; and

and any laws providing for the interpretation of such laws.

enactment has the same meaning as in the Australian Capital Territory (Self‑Government) Act 1988.

Ordinance means an Ordinance made under this Act.

the Territory means the Australian Antarctic Territory which was accepted by the Commonwealth by the Australian Antarctic Territory Acceptance Act 1933, that is to say, that part of the territory in the Antarctic seas which comprises all the islands and territories, other than Adelie Land, situated south of the sixtieth degree south latitude and lying between the one hundred and sixtieth degree east longitude and the forty‑fifth degree east longitude.

5 Existing laws to cease to be in force

The laws in force in the Territory immediately before the commencement of this Act (not being laws of the Commonwealth in force in the Territory) shall, upon the commencement of this Act, cease to be in force.

6 Laws of Australian Capital Territory to be in force

(1) Subject to this Act, the laws (other than the criminal laws) in force from time to time in the Australian Capital Territory (including the principles and rules of common law and equity so in force) are, by virtue of this section, so far as they are applicable to the Territory and are not inconsistent with an Ordinance, in force in the Territory as if the Territory formed part of the Australian Capital Territory.

(2) Subject to this Act, the criminal laws in force from time to time in the Jervis Bay Territory are, by virtue of this section (so far as they are applicable to the Territory and are not inconsistent with an Ordinance) in force in the Territory as if the Territory formed part of the Jervis Bay Territory.

(2A) 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 under subsection (1) or (2).

(3) Subsection (1) does not extend to a law in force in the Australian Capital Territory, if that law is an Act or a provision of an Act other than:

(a) section 6 of the Seat of Government Acceptance Act 1909; and

(b) sections 3, 4 and 12C of the Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1910 and the Schedule to that Act.

(4) Subsection (2) does not extend to a criminal law in force in the Jervis Bay Territory if that law is an Act or a provision of an Act.

7 Powers and functions under applied laws

(1) Subject to subsection (2), where a power or function is vested in a person or authority (other than a court) by a law in force in the Territory under section 6, the power or function is, in relation to the Territory, vested in, and may be exercised or performed by, that person or authority.

(2) The Governor‑General may direct that a power or function of the kind mentioned in subsection (1) be vested in a different specified person or authority and, where such a direction is in force:

(a) subsection (1) does not apply to the relevant power or function; and

(b) the power or function is vested in, and may be exercised or performed by, the specified person or authority.

8 Application of Commonwealth Acts

(1) An Act or a provision of an Act (whether passed before or after the commencement of this Act) is not, except as otherwise provided by that Act or by another Act, in force as such in the Territory, unless expressed to extend to the Territory.

(2) An Ordinance shall not be made so as to affect the application of its own force in, or in relation to, the Territory of an Act or a provision of an Act.

9 Ordinance may amend or repeal adopted laws

A law in force in the Territory by virtue of section six of this Act may be amended or repealed by an Ordinance or by a law made under an Ordinance.

10 A.C.T. courts to have jurisdiction in the Territory

(1) The courts of the Australian Capital Territory have jurisdiction in and in relation to the Territory.

(2) The Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court Act 1933 and the practice and procedure of each court of the Australian Capital Territory in force from time to time apply in the Territory as if:

(a) where the court is exercising its jurisdiction in relation to criminal laws in force in the Territory under section 6—the Territory formed part of the Jervis Bay Territory; and

(b) in any other case—the Territory formed part of the Australian Capital Territory.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), a reference in the Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court Act 1933 to an Ordinance or enactment is a reference to an Ordinance or enactment, as the case may be, in force under this Act.

11 Ordinances

(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.

12 Tabling of Ordinances in Parliament

(1) An Ordinance shall be laid before each House of the Parliament within fifteen 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 fifteen 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 fifteen 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 fifteen 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 fifteen 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 the last two preceding subsections, 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 ceased 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.

12A 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 12(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 12(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.

12B 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 12(3);

(d) subsection 12(3A) has applied in relation to the Ordinance.

(2) Where:

(a) because of subsection 12(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:

(d) the Ordinance is deemed to have been disallowed under subsection 12(3);

(e) the motion has been withdrawn or otherwise disposed of; or

(f) subsection 12(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 12A or 12C.

(5) In this section:

Ordinance includes a part of an Ordinance.

12C 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 12, 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.

12D 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.

(2) Subsections 12(2) to (4B), inclusive, and sections 12A, 12B and 12C apply in relation to regulations laid before a House of the Parliament as if, in those provisions, references to an Ordinance were references to regulations and references to a provision of an Ordinance were references to a regulation.

(3) In this section, regulations includes rules and by‑laws.

13 Grant of pardon, remission etc

(1) The Governor‑General, acting with the advice of the Minister, by warrant under the Governor‑General’s hand, may grant to a person convicted by a court exercising criminal jurisdiction in the Territory a pardon, either free or conditional, or a remission or commutation of sentence, or a respite, for such period as the Governor‑General 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, by warrant under the Governor‑General’s hand, may grant a pardon to any accomplice who gives evidence that leads to the conviction of the principal offender or any of the principal offenders.

Notes to the Australian Antarctic Territory Act 1954

Note 1

The Australian Antarctic Territory Act 1954 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 42, 1954 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

All relevant information pertaining to application, saving or transitional provisions prior to 1 October 2001 is not included in this compilation. For subsequent information see Table A.

Table of Acts

Act	Number and year	Date of Assent	Date of commencement	Application, saving or transitional provisions
Australian Antarctic Territory Act 1954	42, 1954	1 Nov 1954	1 Nov 1954
Australian Antarctic Territory Act 1957	35, 1957	7 June 1957	5 July 1957	—
Australian Antarctic Territory Act 1963	20, 1963	28 May 1963	25 June 1963	S. 3
Statute Law Revision Act 1973	216, 1973	19 Dec 1973	31 Dec 1973	Ss. 9(1) and 10
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 1) 1982	26, 1982	7 May 1982	Part VII (ss. 57, 58): 4 June 1982 (a)	—
as amended by
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 1982	80, 1982	22 Sept 1982	Part LXXI (ss. 262, 263): 4 June 1982 (b)	—
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1983	39, 1983	20 June 1983	S. 3: 18 July 1983 (c)	S. 7(1)
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 2) 1986	168, 1986	18 Dec 1986	S. 3: Royal Assent (d)	S. 5(1), and (3)
Statutory Instruments (Tabling and Disallowance) Legislation Amendment Act 1988	99, 1988	2 Dec 1988	2 Dec 1988	—
A.C.T. Self‑Government (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988	109, 1988	6 Dec 1988	S. 32: 11 May 1989 (see Gazette 1989, No. S164) (e)	—
Crimes Legislation Amendment Act 1991	28, 1991	4 Mar 1991	S. 74(1): Royal Assent (f)	—
Transport and Regional Services Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001	143, 2001	1 Oct 2001	2 Oct 2001	S. 4 [see Table A]
Statute Law Revision Act 2008	73, 2008	3 July 2008	Schedule 4 (items 77–79): 4 July 2008	—
Statute Law Revision Act 2012	136, 2012	22 Sept 2012	Schedule 6 (item 8): Royal Assent	—

ad. = added or inserted am. = amended rep. = repealed rs. = repealed and substituted
Provision affected	How affected
S. 3....................	rep. No. 136, 2012
S. 4....................	am. No. 109, 1988; No. 28, 1991
S. 6....................	am. No. 28, 1991; No. 143, 2001
S. 7....................	rs. No. 28, 1991
S. 10...................	am. No. 35, 1957; No. 109, 1988
	rs. No. 28, 1991
S. 12...................	am. No. 20, 1963; No. 26, 1982 (as am. by No. 80, 1982); No. 39, 1983; No. 168, 1986; No. 99, 1988
S. 12A..................	ad. No. 99, 1988
S. 12B..................	ad. No. 99, 1988
S. 12C..................	ad. No. 99, 1988
S. 12D..................	ad. No. 99, 1988
S. 13...................	ad. No. 35, 1957
	am. No. 216, 1973; No. 73, 2008