NORTHERN TERRITORY (ADMINISTRATION).

No. 71 of 1955.

An Act to amend the Northern Territory (Administration) Act 1910–1953, and for other purposes.

[Assented to 4th November, 1955.]

BE it enacted by the Queen’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 1955.

(2.) The Northern Territory (Administration) Act 1910–1953, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Northern Territory (Administration) Act 1910–1955.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by Proclamation.

3.—(1.) Section nine of the Northern Territory (Administration) Act 1910–1953 is repealed and the following section inserted in its stead:—

Application of Lands Acquisition Act 1955.

“9.—(1.) In the application of the Lands Acquisition Act 1955 in relation to land in the Territory, a reference in that Act to the Minister for the time being administering that Act shall be read as a reference to the Minister for the time being administering this Act.

“(2.) The application of the Lands Acquisition Act 1955 in relation to land in the Territory does not prevent or affect the making or operation of a provision of an Ordinance or other law of the Territory (including an Ordinance or other law made before the commencement of this section) for or in relation to the resumption of land held under leases granted by or on behalf of the Crown in accordance with the provisions of those leases or otherwise on just terms.”.

(2.) Notwithstanding the last preceding sub-section, the provisions of the Lands Acquisition Act 1906–1936, as applied by section nine of the Northern Territory (Administration) Act 1910–1953, continue to apply in relation to the acquisition of land acquired, or agreed to be acquired, before the commencement of this Act, in pursuance of the first-mentioned Act as so applied.

(3.) It is hereby declared that the reference to any public purpose in section nine of the Northern Territory (Administration) Act 1910, or of that Act as amended at any time before the commencement of this Act, included a reference to any purpose in relation to the Northern Territory.

4. Section eleven a of the Northern Territory (Administration) Act 1910–1953 is repealed and the following section inserted in its stead:—

Dealings with Crown lands.

“11a. The application of the Lands Acquisition Act 1955 in relation to land in the Territory does not prevent or affect the making or operation of a provision of an Ordinance or other law of the Territory (including an Ordinance or other law made before the commencement of this section) by virtue of which—

(a) lands in the Territory acquired by or vested in the Commonwealth may be disposed of or otherwise dealt with;

(b) instruments, receipts and other documents in relation to any such lands may be executed; or

Saving in relation to the Lands Acquisition Ordinance and the Darwin Lands Acquisition Act.

5. The repeal of the Lands Acquisition Act 1906–1936 by the Lands Acquisition Act 1955 shall not be deemed to affect the operation of the Lands Acquisition Ordinance 1911–1926 of the Northern Territory of Australia or the Darwin Lands Acquisition Act 1945 in relation to the acquisition of land acquired, or agreed to be acquired, before the commencement of this Act.

Validation of certain Ordinances.

6. The Lands Acquisition Ordinance 1911 of the Northern Territory of Australia, or that Ordinance as amended at any time, or an Ordinance of that Territory made before the commencement of this Act and containing provisions for or in relation to the resumption of land held under leases granted by or on behalf of the Crown, shall not be deemed to have been, at any time before the commencement of this Act, invalid in whole or in part by reason of the provisions made by any Act for the acquisition of land in that Territory.