ROYAL COMMISSIONS ACT 1902 - NOTES
ROYAL COMMISSIONS ACT 1902 - NOTES
No. 12, 1902
Compilation No. 22
Compilation date: 29 September 2023
Includes amendments up to: Act No. 83, 2023
Registered: 7 October 2023
This compilation
This is a compilation of the Royal Commissions Act 1902 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 29 September 2023 (the compilation date).
The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.
Uncommenced amendments
The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the Register for the compiled law.
Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments
If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.
Editorial changes
For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.
Modifications
If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the Register for the compiled law.
Self-repealing provisions
If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.
Contents
Part 1--Preliminary
1 Short title
1A Power to issue Royal Commission
1B Definitions
1C Application of the Criminal Code
Part 2--Hearings and coercive and other powers of Royal Commissions
2 Power to summon witnesses and take evidence
3 Failure of witnesses to attend, produce documents or give information or statements
4 Search warrants
5 Application by telephone for search warrants
6 Penalty for refusing to be sworn or to give evidence
6AA Legal professional privilege
6AB Offences relating to claims for legal professional privilege
6A Self incrimination
6B Arrest of witness failing to appear
6C Acts or omissions on different days to constitute separate offences
6D Rights of witness
6DD Statements made by witness not admissible in evidence against the witness
6F Power of Commission in relation to documents and other things
6FA Examination of witnesses by counsel etc.
6G Witness to be paid expenses
Part 3--Offences
6H False or misleading evidence
6I Bribery of witness
6J Fraud on witness
6K Destroying documents or other things
6L Preventing witness from attending
6M Injury to witness
6N Dismissal by employers of witness
6O Contempt of Royal Commission
Part 4--Private sessions for certain Royal Commissions
Division 1--Preliminary
6OA Definitions
6OAB Royal Commissions to which this Part applies
Division 2--Private sessions
6OB Power to hold private sessions
6OC Status of private sessions etc.
6OE Certain statements made and documents produced etc. not admissible in evidence
6OEA Protection of Assistant Commissioners
6OF Protection of those who appear, or are authorised to be present, at a private session
Division 3--Privacy in relation to private sessions
6OG Privacy of private sessions
6OH Offence for unauthorised use or disclosure of information given at a private session etc.
6OJ Inclusion of information in reports and recommendations
6OK Defence for disclosure to person who provided the information
6OL No other exceptions under other laws
6OM Relationship with the Archives Act 1983
6ON Protection of certain information given to the Child Sexual Abuse Royal Commission
6OP Protection of certain information given to the Disability Royal Commission
6OQ Protection of certain information given to the Defence and Veteran Suicide Royal Commission
Part 5--Miscellaneous
6P Commission may communicate information
7 Protection to Commissioners etc.
7AA Commission may have concurrent functions and powers under State laws
7A Effect of Royal Commissioner having authority to inquire under foreign law
7B Commission may take evidence outside Australia
7C Statements made by witness not admissible in evidence against the witness
7D Certain evidence before a State Commission inadmissible in Commonwealth proceedings
8 Allowances to witnesses
9 Custody and use of records of Royal Commission
10 Institution of proceedings in respect of other offences
15 Costs
16 Evidence of issue of Commission etc.
17 Regulations
Endnotes
Endnote 1--About the endnotes
Endnote 2--Abbreviation key
Endnote 3--Legislation history
Endnote 4--Amendment history
The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.
The following endnotes are included in every compilation:
Endnote 1--About the endnotes
Endnote 2--Abbreviation key
Endnote 3--Legislation history
Endnote 4--Amendment history
Abbreviation key--Endnote 2
The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.
Legislation history and amendment history--Endnotes 3 and 4
Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.
The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.
The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.
Editorial changes
The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.
If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.
Misdescribed amendments
A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.
If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and "(md not incorp)" is added to the amendment history.
ad = added or inserted | o = order(s) |
am = amended | Ord = Ordinance |
amdt = amendment | orig = original |
c = clause(s) | par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s) |
C[x] = Compilation No. x | /sub-subparagraph(s) |
Ch = Chapter(s) | pres = present |
def = definition(s) | prev = previous |
Dict = Dictionary | (prev ... ) = previously |
disallowed = disallowed by Parliament | Pt = Part(s) |
Div = Division(s) | r = regulation(s)/rule(s) |
ed = editorial change | reloc = relocated |
exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have | renum = renumbered |
effect | rep = repealed |
F = Federal Register of Legislation | rs = repealed and substituted |
gaz = gazette | s = section(s)/subsection(s) |
LA = Legislation Act 2003 | Sch = Schedule(s) |
Sdiv = Subdivision(s) | |
(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given | SLI = Select Legislative Instrument |
effect | SR = Statutory Rules |
(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment | Sub-Ch = Sub-Chapter(s) |
cannot be given effect | SubPt = Subpart(s) |
mod = modified/modification | underlining = whole or part not |
No. = Number(s) | commenced or to be commenced |
Endnote 3--Legislation history
Act | Number and year | Assent | Commencement | Application, saving and transitional provisions |
12, 1902 | 8 Sept 1902 | 8 Sept 1902 |
| |
Royal Commissions Act 1912 | 4, 1912 | 19 Aug 1912 | 19 Aug 1912 | |
Royal Commissions Act 1933 | 1, 1933 | 27 May 1933 | 27 May 1933 | -- |
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 | |
36, 1978 | 12 June 1978 | 12 June 1978 | ||
19, 1979 | 28 Mar 1979 | Parts II-XVII (ss. 3-123): 15 May 1979 ( see Gazette 1979, No. S86) | s. 124 | |
26, 1982 | 7 May 1982 | -- | ||
139, 1982 | 24 Dec 1982 | 1 Feb 1983 (see Gazette 1983, No. S17) | s. 8(2) (ad. by No. 91, 1983) | |
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
91, 1983 | 22 Nov 1983 | s 2(14): 22 Nov 1983 (s 2(2)) | ||
91, 1983 | 22 Nov 1983 | |||
Director of Public Prosecutions (Consequential Amendments) Act 1983 | 114, 1983 | 14 Dec 1983 | -- | |
National Crime Authority (Consequential Amendments) Act 1984 | 42, 1984 | 15 June 1984 | 1 July 1984 (see s. 2 and Gazette 1984, No. S245) | -- |
120, 1987 | 16 Dec 1987 | -- | ||
Prime Minister and Cabinet (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1994 | 33, 1994 | 15 Mar 1994 | -- | |
Prime Minister and Cabinet Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001 | 49, 2001 | 21 June 2001 | 19 July 2001 | |
166, 2001 | 1 Oct 2001 | 1 Oct 2001 | -- | |
125, 2002 | 10 Dec 2002 | Sch. 2 (items 120-123): 1 Jan 2003 | -- | |
52, 2006 | 14 June 2006 | Sch 1: 15 June 2006 (s 2(1) item 2) | Sch 1 (item 9) | |
Law Enforcement Integrity Commissioner (Consequential Amendments) Act 2006 | 86, 2006 | 30 June 2006 | Sch 1 (items 57-59): 30 Dec 2006 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
167, 2006 | 12 Dec 2006 | 12 Dec 2006 (s 2(1) item 2) | Sch 1 (item 3) | |
73, 2008 | 3 July 2008 | Sch 4 (items 452-463): 4 July 2008 (s 2(1) item 64) | -- | |
5, 2011 | 22 Mar 2011 | Sch 5 (items 184-187): 19 Apr 2011 (s 2(1) item 13) | -- | |
24, 2013 | 28 Mar 2013 | Sch 1 (items 1-37): 28 Mar 2013 (s 2) | Sch 1 (item 37) | |
62, 2014 | 30 June 2014 | Sch 11 (item 142) and Sch 14: 1 July 2014 (s 2(1) items 6, 14) | Sch 14 | |
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
Public Governance and Resources Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2015 | 36, 2015 | 13 Apr 2015 | Sch 2 (items 7-9) and Sch 7: 14 Apr 2015 (s 2) | Sch 7 |
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2015 | 126, 2015 | 10 Sept 2015 | Sch 1 (item 486): 5 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2015 | 126, 2015 | 10 Sept 2015 | Sch 1 (item 495): 5 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
Statute Law Revision Act (No. 1) 2016 | 4, 2016 | 11 Feb 2016 | Sch 4 (items 1, 271-273, 413): 10 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 6) | -- |
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Northern Territory Local Court) Act 2016 | 26, 2016 | 23 Mar 2016 | Sch 1 (item 33): 1 May 2016 (s 2(1) item 2) | Sch 1 (items 34, 35) |
Prime Minister and Cabinet Legislation Amendment (2017 Measures No. 1) Act 2018 | 2, 2018 | 20 Feb 2018 | Sch 5: 21 Feb 2018 (s 2(1) item 1) | Sch 5 (item 47) |
64, 2019 | 13 Sept 2019 | Sch 1: 14 Sept 2019 (s 2(1) item 1) | Sch 1 (item 42) | |
Royal Commissions Amendment (Protection of Information) Act 2021 | 103, 2021 | 10 Sept 2021 | Sch 1 (items 1-8): 11 Sept 2021 (s 2(1) item 1) | Sch 1 (item 8) |
National Anti-Corruption Commission (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2022 | 89, 2022 | 12 Dec 2022 | Sch 1 (items 185-187): 1 July 2023 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
13, 2023 | 11 Apr 2023 | Sch 1 (items 1-5): 12 Apr 2023 (s 2(1) item 1) | Sch 1 (item 5) | |
83, 2023 | 28 Sept 2023 | 29 Sept 2023 (s 2(1) item 1) | Sch 1 (item 15) |
Provision affected | How affected |
Part 1 |
|
Part 1 heading............. | ad No 24, 2013 |
s 1A.................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| am No 73, 2008; No 24, 2013 |
s 1B.................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| am No 139, 1982; No 33, 1994; No 125, 2002; No 52, 2006; No 5, 2011; No 24, 2013; No 62, 2014; No 2, 2018; No 64, 2019 |
s 1C.................... | ad No 49, 2001 |
Part 2 |
|
Part 2 heading............. | ad No 24, 2013 |
s 2..................... | am No 4, 1912; No 216, 1973 |
| rs No 139, 1982 |
| am No 166, 2001; No 52, 2006; No 73, 2008; No 24, 2013; No 2, 2018 |
s 3..................... | rs No 139, 1982 |
| am No 49, 2001; No 166, 2001; No 24, 2013; No 2, 2018 |
s 4..................... | rs No 139, 1982 |
| am No 49, 2001; No 166, 2001; No 24, 2013; No 26, 2016 |
s 5..................... | am No 4, 1912; No 93, 1966 |
| rs No 139, 1982 |
| am No 49, 2001; No 166, 2001; No 64, 2019 |
s 6..................... | am No 4, 1912; No 93, 1966; No 139, 1982; No 49, 2001; No 4, 2016; No 2, 2018 |
s 6AA................... | ad No 52, 2006 |
s 6AB................... | ad No 52, 2006 |
| am No 24, 2013; No 2, 2018 |
s 6A.................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| rs No 139, 1982 |
| am No 49, 2001 |
| rs No 166, 2001 |
| am No 52, 2006; No 2, 2018 |
s 6B.................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| am No 139, 1982; No 49, 2001; No 73, 2008; No 24, 2013 |
s 6C.................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| am No 49, 2001; No 166, 2001; No 24, 2013 |
s 6D.................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| am No 1, 1933; No 93, 1966; No 139, 1982; No 49, 2001; No 166, 2001; No 24, 2013; No 4, 2016; No 2, 2018; No 103, 2021 |
s 6DD................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| rs No 26, 1982 |
| am No 49, 2001 |
| rs No 166, 2001 |
| am No 52, 2006; No 2, 2018 |
s 6E.................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| am No 93, 1966 |
| rep No 139, 1982 |
s 6F.................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| am No 1, 1933 |
| rs No 139, 1982 |
| am No 91, 1983; No 114, 1983; No 42, 1984; No 33, 1994; No 166, 2001; No 52, 2006; No 86, 2006; No 167, 2006; No 73, 2008; No 24, 2013; No 2, 2018 |
s 6FA................... | ad No 1, 1933 |
| am No 139, 1982; No 24, 2013 |
s 6G.................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| am No 49, 2001; No 73, 2008; No 24, 2013 |
Part 3 |
|
Part 3 heading............. | ad No 24, 2013 |
s 6H.................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| rs No 139, 1982 |
| am No 49, 2001; No 24, 2013; No 2, 2018 |
s 6I..................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| am No 49, 2001; No 166, 2001; No 73, 2008; No 4, 2016; No 2, 2018 |
s 6J.................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| am No 49, 2001; No 166, 2001; No 4, 2016; No 2, 2018 |
s 6K.................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| rs No 139, 1982 |
| am No 49, 2001; No 166, 2001; No 2, 2018 |
s 6L.................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| am No 49, 2001; No 166, 2001; No 4, 2016; No 2, 2018 |
s 6M.................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| am No 93, 1966; No 49, 2001 |
| rs No 166, 2001 |
| am No 4, 2016; No 2, 2018 |
s 6N.................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| am No 93, 1966; No 49, 2001; No 166, 2001; No 4, 2016; No 2, 2018 |
s 6O.................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| am No 93, 1966; No 19, 1979; No 49, 2001; No 73, 2008; No 4, 2016; No 2, 2018 |
Part 4 |
|
Part 4 heading............. | rs No 64, 2019 |
Part 4................... | ad No 24, 2013 |
Division 1 |
|
Division 1 heading.......... | rs No 64, 2019 |
s 6OA................... | ad No 24, 2013 |
| |
s 6OAB.................. | ad No 64, 2019 |
Division 2 |
|
s 6OB................... | ad No 24, 2013 |
| rs No 64, 2019 |
| am No 83, 2023 |
s 6OC................... | ad No 24, 2013 |
| am No 64, 2019; No 83, 2023 |
s 6OE................... | ad No 24, 2013 |
| am No 64, 2019; No 103, 2021 |
s 6OEA.................. | ad No 83, 2023 |
s 6OF................... | ad No 24, 2013 |
Division 3 |
|
Division 3 heading.......... | rs No 64, 2019 |
s 6OG................... | ad No 24, 2013 |
| am No 64, 2019; No 83, 2023 |
s 6OH................... | ad No 24, 2013 |
| am No 64, 2019 |
s 6OJ................... | ad No 24, 2013 |
| am No 64, 2019 |
s 6OK................... | ad No 24, 2013 |
| am No 64, 2019 |
s 6OL................... | ad No 24, 2013 |
| am No 64, 2019 |
s 6OM.................. | ad No 24, 2013 |
| am No 64, 2019 |
s 6ON................... | ad No 64, 2019 |
s 6OP................... | ad No 103, 2021 |
s 6OQ................... | ad No 13, 2023 |
Part 5 |
|
Part 5 heading............. | ad No 24, 2013 |
s 6P.................... | ad No 139, 1982 |
| am No 91, 1983; No 114, 1983; No 42, 1984; No 33, 1994; No 166, 2001; No 125, 2002; No 86, 2006; No 24, 2013; No 103, 2021; No 89, 2022 |
s 7..................... | am No 4, 1912; No 139, 1982; No 49, 2001 |
s 7AA................... | ad No 139, 1982 |
| am No 49, 2001 |
s 7A.................... | ad No 26, 1982 |
s 7B.................... | ad No 26, 1982 |
s 7C.................... | ad No 26, 1982 |
| am No 49, 2001 |
s 7D.................... | ad No 120, 1987 |
s 8..................... | am No 36, 1978; No 49, 2001; No 73, 2008; No 5, 2011 |
s 9..................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| rep No 13, 1982 |
| ad No 167, 2006 |
| am No 24, 2013; No 2, 2018; No 89, 2022 |
Heading preceding s 10....... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| rep No 24, 2013 |
s 10.................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| am No 19, 1979; No 114, 1983 |
| ed C17 |
s 11.................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| rep No 19, 1979 |
s 12.................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| rep No 139, 1982 |
s 13.................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| rep No 139, 1982 |
s 14.................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| rep No 139, 1982 |
s 15.................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
s 16.................... | ad No 4, 1912 |
| am No 26, 1982; No 49, 2001; No 73, 2008; No 5, 2011; No 24, 2013 |
s 17.................... | ad No 139, 1982 |