Contents

Part I--Preliminary                                                                                                                 2

1............ Short title [see Note 1] ....................................................................... 2

2............ Commencement [see Note 1] .............................................................. 2

4............ Interpretation ...................................................................................... 2

4A......... Application of the Criminal Code ...................................................... 4

Part II--Acceptance of the Islands                                                                                5

5............ Acceptance of Cocos or Keeling Islands ............................................ 5

6............ Transfer of rights, liabilities etc. to Commonwealth .......................... 5

7............ Extinguishment of certain rights and restrictions under the 1886 Indenture             6

Part III--Laws and legislative powers                                                                         7

Division 1--Laws of the Territory                                                                          7

7A......... The laws of the Territory ................................................................... 7

8............ Operation of existing laws etc. ........................................................... 7

8A......... Application of Western Australian laws ............................................ 8

8B......... Minister must table lists of applied Western Australian Acts ........... 8

8C......... House may terminate application of Western Australian Acts in the Territory      9

8D......... Extension of period for giving notice of motion to terminate WA Act 11

8E.......... Application of Commonwealth Acts ............................................... 12

8G......... Powers and functions under the applied Western Australian laws .. 12

8H......... Arrangements with the Government of Western Australia .............. 14

8I........... Savings .............................................................................................. 15

Division 2--Legislative powers of the Governor‑General                      16

12.......... Legislative powers of Governor‑General .......................................... 16

13.......... Laying of Ordinances before the Parliament ..................................... 16

13A....... Ordinance not to be re‑made while required to be tabled ................. 17

13B....... Ordinance not to be re‑made while subject to disallowance ............. 18

13C....... Disallowed Ordinance not to be re‑made unless resolution rescinded or House approves      19

13D....... Regulations, rules and by‑laws ......................................................... 20

Part IVA--Trials on indictment                                                                                     21

15AA.... Trials on indictment to be by judge and jury .................................... 21

15AB.... Minister may make arrangements with States .................................. 21

15AC.... Indictment court may sit in a State ................................................... 21

15AD.... Juries outside the Territory .............................................................. 23

15AE..... Offences in relation to jurors ............................................................ 24

15AF..... Removal of accused to State to stand trial ........................................ 25

15AG.... Accused to be conveyed to court ..................................................... 26

15AH.... Return of accused to Territory ......................................................... 26

15AI...... Person deemed to be prisoner under Removal of Prisoners (Territories) Act 1923                 27

15AJ..... Person deemed to be criminal lunatic under Removal of Prisoners (Territories) Act 1923      27

15AK.... Repatriation of person tried in a State .............................................. 28

Part IVAA--Conferral of Territory jurisdiction on Western Australian courts etc.              29

15AAA. Definitions ........................................................................................ 29

15AAB. Conferral of jurisdiction on Western Australian courts and court officers               29

15AAC. Transfer of Supreme Court jurisdiction ............................................ 29

15AAD. Transfer of pending proceedings ...................................................... 30

15AAE.. Application of provisions of this Act to courts of Western Australia 31

15AAF.. Savings--jurisdiction of Supreme Court of the Territory on and after transfer day                32

15AAG. Abolition of Supreme Court of the Territory ................................... 32

15AAH. Transitional provisions after abolition of Supreme Court ................ 32

15AAI... References to courts of Territory--transitional ............................... 33

Part V--Miscellaneous                                                                                                       34

15A....... Appointment of officers ................................................................... 34

16.......... Sittings of courts etc. ........................................................................ 34

17.......... Grant of pardon, remission etc. ........................................................ 34

18.......... Continuation of Malay customs ....................................................... 35

18A....... Exemption from customs duty of goods produced in the Territory 35

18B....... Disposal of land ................................................................................ 35

19.......... Audit ................................................................................................. 36

20.......... Regulations ....................................................................................... 36

Schedule--Laws continuing in force in the Territory on and after 1 July 1992        37

Notes                                                                                                                                             39

 

 

Preamble

                   WHEREAS the islands named the Cocos or Keeling Islands (being the islands referred to in section 4) are governed and administered as part of the Colony of Singapore, in pursuance of the Singapore Colony Order in Council, 1955, being an Order in Council dated 1 February 1955, made by Her Majesty by virtue and in exercise of the powers vested in Her Majesty by the Imperial Acts entitled the British Settlements Acts, 1887 and 1945, and the Straits Settlements (Repeal) Act, 1946:

      AND WHEREAS by the Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Request and Consent) Act 1954 the Parliament of the Commonwealth requested, and consented to, the enactment by the Parliament of the United Kingdom of an Act enabling the Queen to place the Cocos or Keeling Islands under the authority of the Commonwealth and making provision for matters incidental to the placing of those Islands under that authority:

      AND WHEREAS the Government of the Commonwealth has also requested, and consented to, the enactment by the Parliament of the United Kingdom of such an Act:

      AND WHEREAS by the Imperial Act entitled the Cocos Islands Act, 1955, it is provided that Her Majesty may, by Order in Council, direct that the Cocos or Keeling Islands shall, on such date as may be specified in the Order, cease to form part of the Colony of Singapore and be placed under the authority of the Commonwealth:

      AND WHEREAS by the Constitution it is provided that the Parliament may make laws for the government of any territory placed by the Queen under the authority of and accepted by the Commonwealth:

      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:

  

Notes to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955

Notes 1

The Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 34, 1955 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

The Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955 was amended by the Workplace Relations Amendment (Work Choices) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2006 (No. 1) (SLI 2006 No. 50). The amendment is incorporated in this compilation.

All relevant information pertaining to application, saving or transitional provisions prior to 7 July 1997 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
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955	34, 1955	16 June 1955	23 Nov 1955 (see Gazette 1955, p. 3665)
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1956	89, 1956	8 Nov 1956	23 Nov 1955	--
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1958	67, 1958	8 Oct 1958	8 Oct 1958	S. 5(2)
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1963	22, 1963	28 May 1963	25 June 1963	S. 3
Statute Law Revision (Decimal Currency) Act 1966	93, 1966	29 Oct 1966	1 Dec 1966	--
Statute Law Revision Act 1973	216, 1973	19 Dec 1973	31 Dec 1973	Ss. 9(1) and 10
Postal and Telecommunications Commissions (Transitional Provisions) Act 1975	56, 1975	12 June 1975	Ss. 4 and 38: 1 July 1975 (see s. 2(1) and Gazette 1975, No. S122) Remainder: Royal Assent	--
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Amendment Act 1979	6, 1979	5 Mar 1979	21 Mar 1979 (see Gazette 1979, No. S48)	--
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 1) 1982	26, 1982	7 May 1982	Part XIII (ss. 78, 79): 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. 1) 1985	65, 1985	5 June 1985	S. 3: 3 July 1985 (d)	--
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 2) 1986	168, 1986	18 Dec 1986	S. 3: Royal Assent (e)	S. 5(3)
Statutory Instruments (Tabling and Disallowance) Legislation Amendment Act 1988	99, 1988	2 Dec 1988	2 Dec 1988	--
Arts, Territories and Environment Legislation Amendment Act 1989	60, 1989	19 June 1989	Ss. 11 and 13: 7 Dec 1988 Part 5 (ss. 14, 15): 11 May 1989 (see s. 2(3) and Gazette 1989, No. S164) Remainder: Royal Assent	--
Territories Law Reform Act 1992	104, 1992	30 June 1992	Ss. 1, 2, 25 and 26: Royal Assent Ss. 9, 10, 19, 21 and 22: 29 June 1993 (see Gazette 1993, S196) Remainder: 1 July 1992	--
Territories Legislation Amendment Act 1992	211, 1992	24 Dec 1992	S. 4: (f) Remainder: Royal Assent	--
Environment, Sport and Territories Legislation Amendment Act 1994	113, 1994	16 Sept 1994	16 Sept 1994	--
Workplace Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Act 1996	60, 1996	25 Nov 1996	Schedule 19 (item 13): Royal Assent (g)	S. 2(2) and (6) (am. by 77, 1996, Sch. 3 [items 1, 2])
as amended by
Workplace Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 1996	77, 1996	19 Dec 1996	Schedule 3 (items 1, 2): (h)	--
Environment, Sport and Territories Legislation Amendment Act 1997	118, 1997	7 July 1997	Schedule 1 (items 14-19): Royal Assent (i)	Sch. 1 (item 15) [see Table A]
Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999	146, 1999	11 Nov 1999	Schedule 1 (items 297, 298): 5 Dec 1999 (see Gazette 1999, No. S584) (j)	--
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 157-159): 4 July 2008	--

(a)     The Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955 was amended by Part XIII (sections 78 and 79) only of the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 1) 1982, subsection 2(12) of which provides as follows:

               (12)   The remaining provisions of this Act shall come into operation on the twenty‑eighth day after the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

(b)    The Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 1) 1982 was amended by Part LXXI (sections 262 and 263) only of the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 1982, subsection 2(11) of which provides as follows:

               (11)   Parts XLIX and LXXI shall be deemed to have come into operation on 4 June 1982.

(c)     The Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955 was amended by section 3 only of the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1983, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act shall come into operation on the twenty‑eighth day after the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(d)     The Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955 was amended by section 3 only of the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1985, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act shall come into operation on the twenty‑eighth day after the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(e)     The Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955 was amended by section 3 only of the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 2) 1986, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(f)      Subsection 2(2) of the Territories Legislation Amendment Act 1992 provides as follows:

                 (2)   Section 4 and Schedule 2 commence immediately after the commencement of sections 10 and 19 of the Territories Law Reform Act 1992.

         Sections 10 and 19 commenced on 29 June 1993 (see Gazette 1993, No. S196).

(g)     The Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955 was amended by Schedule 19 (item 13) only of the Workplace Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Act 1996, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(h)     The Workplace Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Act 1996 was amended by Schedule 3 (items 1 and 2) of the Workplace Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 1996, subsection 2(4) of which provides as follows:

                 (4)   The items of Schedule 3 are taken to have commenced immediately after the Workplace Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Act 1996 received the Royal Assent.

The Workplace Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Act 1996 received the Royal Assent on 25 November 1996.

(i)      The Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955 was amended by Schedule 1 (items 14-19) only of the Environment, Sport and Territories Legislation Amendment Act 1997, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to subsections (2), (3) and (4), this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(j)      The Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955 was amended by Schedule 1 (items 297 and 298) only of the Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999, subsections 2(1) and (2) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   In this Act, commencing time means the time when the Public Service Act 1999 commences.

                 (2)   Subject to this section, this Act commences at the commencing time.

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted      am. = amended      rep. = repealed     rs. = repealed and substituted
Provision affected	How affected
Preamble ............................	am. No. 6, 1979
Part I
S. 3 .....................................	am. No. 67, 1958
	rep. No. 216, 1973
S. 4 .....................................	am. No. 6, 1979; No. 60, 1989; Nos. 104 and 211, 1992
S. 4A ..................................	ad. No. 143, 2001
Part II
S. 6 .....................................	am. No. 6, 1979; No. 65, 1985
S. 7 .....................................	am. No. 6, 1979
	rs. No. 104, 1992
Part III
Division 1
Heading to Part III ................	rs. No. 104, 1992
Div. 1 of Part III ...................	rs. No. 104, 1992
S. 7A ..................................	ad. No. 104, 1992
S. 8 .....................................	am. No. 6, 1979
	rs. No. 104, 1992
S. 8A ..................................	ad. No. 104, 1992
	am. No. 211, 1992
Ss. 8B-8E ..........................	ad. No. 104, 1992
Heading to s. 8F .................	am. No. 60, 1996
	rep. SLI 2006 No. 50
S. 8F ...................................	ad. No. 104, 1992
	am. No. 60, 1996
	rep. SLI 2006 No. 50
S. 8G ..................................	ad. No. 104, 1992
	am. No. 211, 1992; No. 113, 1994; No. 146, 1999
Ss. 8H, 8I ............................	ad. No. 104, 1992
Ss. 9, 10 .............................	am. No. 6, 1979
	rep. No. 104, 1992
S. 11 ...................................	am. No. 216, 1973
	rep. No. 56, 1975
Division  2
S. 13 ...................................	am. No. 22, 1963; No. 6, 1979; No. 26, 1982 (as am. by No. 80, 1982); No. 39, 1983; No. 168, 1986; No. 99, 1988
Ss. 13A-13C ......................	ad. No. 99, 1988
S. 13D ................................	ad. No. 99, 1988
	am. No. 104, 1992
Part IV ................................	rep. No. 118, 1997
S. 14 ...................................	am. No. 67, 1958; No. 6, 1979
	rep. No. 65, 1985
S. 14A ................................	ad. No. 6, 1979
	am. No. 104, 1992
	rep. No. 118, 1997
S. 15 ...................................	rs. No. 6, 1979
	am. No. 65, 1985; No. 104, 1992
	rep. No. 118, 1997
Part IVA
Part IVA ..............................	ad. No. 60, 1989
Ss. 15AA-15AD ................	ad. No. 60, 1989
S. 15AE ..............................	ad. No. 60, 1989
	am. No. 143, 2001
Ss. 15AF-15AK .................	ad. No. 60, 1989
Part IVAA
Part IVAA ...........................	rs. No. 104, 1992
Ss. 15AAA, 15AAB ...........	ad. No. 104, 1992
	am. No. 211, 1992
	rs. No. 104, 1992
	am. No. 211, 1992
Ss. 15AAC, 15AAD ...........	ad. No. 104, 1992
	am. No. 211, 1992
	rs. No. 104, 1992
S. 15AAE ...........................	ad. No. 104, 1992
	am. No. 118, 1997
Ss. 15AAF-15AAH ............	ad. No. 104, 1992
S. 15AAI .............................	ad. No. 104, 1992
	am. No. 211, 1992
Part V
S. 15A ................................	ad. No. 67, 1958
	am. No. 216, 1973; No. 65, 1985; No. 104, 1992; No. 146, 1999
S. 16 ...................................	rs. No. 65, 1985
	am. No. 60, 1989
S. 17 ...................................	am. No. 67, 1958; No. 60, 1989; No. 73, 2008
S. 18A ................................	ad. No. 89, 1956
S. 18B ................................	ad. No. 104, 1992
S. 20 ...................................	am. No. 93, 1966; No. 6, 1979; No. 104, 1992
Schedule
Schedule ............................	ad. No. 104, 1992
	am. No. 118, 1997

Table A

Application, saving or transitional provisions

Environment, Sport and Territories Legislation Amendment Act 1997 (No. 118, 1997)

Schedule 1 

15  Citizenship already acquired under Part IV continues despite repeal of Part

People who have become Australian citizens under Part IV of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955 continue to be Australian citizens despite the repeal of that Part (subject to other Commonwealth laws relating to citizenship).

Transport and Regional Services Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001 (No. 143, 2001)

4  Application of Amendments

             (1)  Each amendment made by this Act applies to acts and omissions that take place after the amendment commences.

             (2)  For the purposes of this section, if an act or omission is alleged to have taken place between 2 dates, one before and one on or after the day on which a particular amendment commences, the act or omission is alleged to have taken place before the amendment commences.