Northern Territory Consolidated Acts

INTERPRETATION ACT - NOTES

NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA

INTERPRETATION ACT

As in force at 27 January 2012

Table of provisions

NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA

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This reprint shows the Act as in force at 27 January 2012. Any amendments that commence after that date are not included.

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INTERPRETATION ACT

An Act for the interpretation of acts and for the shortening of their language and for other purposes

ENDNOTES

1     KEY

Key to abbreviations

amd = amended                 od = order
app = appendix                 om = omitted
bl = by-law                     pt = Part
ch = Chapter                     r = regulation/rule
cl = clause                     rem = remainder
div = Division                     renum = renumbered
exp = expires/expired                 rep = repealed
f = forms                     s = section
Gaz = Gazette                     sch = Schedule
hdg = heading                     sdiv = Subdivision
ins = inserted                     SL = Subordinate Legislation
lt = long title                     sub = substituted
nc = not commenced                

2     LIST OF LEGISLATION

Interpretation Ordinance 1978 (Act No. 59, 1978)
Assent date	1 July 1978
Commenced	1 July 1978
Interpretation Act (No. 2) 1978 (Act No. 78, 1978)
Assent date	23 August 1978
Commenced	23 August 1978
Interpretation Act (No. 3) 1978 (Act No. 1, 1979)
Assent date	3 January 1979
Commenced	3 January 1979
Interpretation Act 1979 (Act No. 112, 1979)
Assent date	24 September 1979
Commenced	1 October 1979 (s 3, s 2 Supreme Court Act 1979 (Act No. 109, 1979) and Gaz S18, 28 September 1979, p 1)
Interpretation Act (No. 2) 1979 (Act No. 122, 1979)
Assent date	15 October 1979
Commenced	15 October 1979
Interpretation Act 1980 (Act No. 21, 1980)
Assent date	14 March 1980
Commenced	14 March 1980
Statute Law Revision Act (No. 4) 1981 (Act No. 4, 1982)
Assent date	12 February 1982
Commenced	12 February 1982
Statute Law Revision Act 1982 (Act No. 21, 1982)
Assent date	27 April 1982
Commenced	27 April 1982
Statute Law Revision Act (No. 2) 1982 (Act No. 54, 1982)
Assent date	8 October 1982
Commenced	8 October 1982
Interpretation (Criminal Code) Amendment Act 1983 (Act No. 62, 1983)
Assent date	28 November 1983
Commenced	1 January 1984 (s 2, s 2 Criminal Code Act 1983 (Act No. 47, 1983), Gaz G46, 18 November 1983, p 11 and Gaz G8, 26 February 1986, p 5)
Interpretation Amendment Act 1985 (Act No. 44, 1985)
Assent date	18 September 1985
Commenced	18 September 1985
Statute Law Revision Act 1985 (Act No. 49, 1985)
Assent date	1 October 1985
Commenced	1 October 1985
Statute Law Revision Act 1986 (Act No. 64, 1986)
Assent date	19 December 1986
Commenced	19 December 1986
Interpretation Amendment Act 1988 (Act No. 1, 1988)
Assent date	21 March 1988
Commenced	21 March 1988
Interpretation Amendment Act (No. 2) 1988 (Act No. 27, 1988)
Assent date	1 September 1988
Commenced	1 September 1988
Interpretation Amendment Act (No. 3) 1988 (Act No. 28, 1988)
Assent date	1 September 1988
Commenced	1 September 1988
Local Court (Consequential Amendments) Act 1989 (Act No. 14, 1989)
Assent date	5 June 1989
Commenced	1 January 1991 (s 2, s 2 Local Court Act 1989 (Act No. 31, 1990) and Gaz G49, 12 December 1990, p 2)
Statute Law Revision Act 1989 (Act No. 60, 1989)
Assent date	2 October 1989
Commenced	2 October 1989
Statute Law Revision Act 1990 (Act No. 33, 1990)
Assent date	11 June 1990
Commenced	11 June 1990
Corporations (Consequential Amendments) Act 1990 (Act No. 59, 1990)
Assent date	14 December 1990
Commenced	1 January 1991 (s 2, s 2 Corporations (NT) Act 1990 (Act No. 56, 1990) and Gaz S76, 21 December 1990)
Interpretation Amendment Act 1992 (Act No. 25, 1992)
Assent date	2 June 1992
Commenced	1 July 1992 (s 2, s 2 Financial Institutions (NT) Act 1992 (Act No. 22, 1992) and Gaz S35, 30 June 1992)
Interpretation Amendment Act 1993 (Act No. 73, 1993)
Assent date	18 November 1993
Commenced	1 January 1994 (Gaz G50, 15 December 1993, p 3)
Local Government (Consequential Amendments) Act 1993 (Act No. 84, 1993)
Assent date	31 December 1993
Commenced	1 June 1994 (s 2, s 2 Local Government Act 1993 (Act No. 83, 1993) and Gaz S35, 20 May 1994)
Financial Management (Consequential Amendments) Act 1995 (Act No. 5, 1995)
Assent date	21 March 1995
Commenced	1 April 1995 (s 2, s 2 Financial Management 1995 (Act No. 4, 1995) and Gaz S13, 31 March 1995)
Medical (Consequential Amendments) Act 1995 (Act No. 8, 1995)
Assent date	10 April 1995
Commenced	1 June 1995 (s 2, s 2 Medical Act 1995 (Act No. 7, 1995) and Gaz S21, 1 June 1995)
Sentencing (Consequential Amendments) Act 1996 (Act No. 17, 1996)
Assent date	19 April 1996
Commenced	1 July 1996 (s 2, s 2 Sentencing Act 1995 (Act No. 39, 1995) and Gaz S15, 13 June 1996)
Financial Institutions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1997 (Act No. 23, 1997)
Assent date	2 June 1997
Commenced	2 June 1997
Interpretation Amendment Act 1998 (Act No. 27, 1998)
Assent date	30 March 1998
Commenced	30 March 1998
Statute Law Revision Act (No. 2) 1998 (Act No. 92, 1998)
Assent date	11 December 1998
Commenced	11 December 1998
Interpretation Amendment Act 1999 (Act No. 3, 1999)
Assent date	26 February 1999
Commenced	1 April 1999 (s 2, s 2 Penalties Act 1999 (Act No. 2, 1999) and Gaz G11, 24 March 1999, p 3)
Interpretation Amendment Act (No. 2) 1999 (Act No. 37, 1999)
Assent date	31 August 1999
Commenced	31 August 1999
Miscellaneous (Interpretation Act and Penalties Act) Amendment Act 2000 (Act No. 28, 2000)
Assent date	27 June 2000
Commenced	s 4: 1 April 1999; rem: 27 June 2000
Corporations Reform (Consequential Amendments NT) Act 2001 (Act No. 17, 2001)
Assent date	29 June 2001
Commenced	15 July 2001 (s 2 and s 2 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth Act No. 50, 2001) and Cth Gaz S285, 13 July 2001)
Interpretation Amendment Act 2002 (Act No. 14, 2002)
Assent date	7 June 2002
Commenced	5 August 2002 (s 2, s 2(2) Penalties Amendment Act 2002 (Act No. 15, 2002) and Gaz G25, 26 June 2002, p 2)
Statute Law Revision (Financial Provisions) Act 2002 (Act No. 38, 2002)
Assent date	13 September 2002
Commenced	30 October 2002 (Gaz G43, 30 October 2002, p 3)
Law Reform (Gender, Sexuality and De Facto Relationships Act 2003 (Act No. 1, 2004)
Assent date	7 January 2004
Commenced	17 March 2004 (Gaz G11, 17 March 2004, p 8)
Electoral (Consequential Amendments) Act 2004 (Act No. 12, 2004)
Assent date	1 March 2004
Commenced	15 March 2004 (s 2, s 2 Electoral Act 2004 (Act No. 11, 2004) and Gaz S6, 15 March 2004)
Standard Time Act 2005 (Act No. 19, 2005)
Assent date	5 May 2005
Commenced	1 September 2005 (s 2)
Justice Portfolio (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2005 (Act No. 20, 2005)
Assent date	6 May 2005
Commenced	6 May 2005 (s 2(2))
Statute Law Revision Act 2005 (Act No. 44, 2005)
Assent date	14 December 2005
Commenced	14 December 2005
Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2006 (Act No. 13, 2006)
Assent date	18 May 2006
Commenced	1 July 2006 (s 2(3))
Justice Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 2006 (Act No. 35, 2006)
Assent date	3 November 2006
Commenced	3 November 2006
Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2007 (Act No. 5, 2007)
Assent date	24 April 2007
Commenced	s 37 (except amd of Criminal Code and Legal Profession Act 2006): 1 May 2007 (s 2(1), s 2 Victims of Crime Assistance Act 2006 (Act No. 15, 2006) and Gaz G17, 26 April 2007, p 7); rem: 24 April 2007
Legal Profession (Consequential Amendments) Act 2007 (Act No. 7, 2007)
Assent date	17 May 2007
Commenced	s 10: 1 July 2007 (Gaz G26, 27 June 2007, p 3); rem: 17 May 2007
Local Government (Consequential Amendments) Act 2008 (Act No. 28, 2008)
Assent date	14 November 2008
Commenced	1 July 2008 (s 2)
Financial Management Amendment Act 2009 (Act No. 15, 2009)
Assent date	18 June 2009
Commenced	18 June 2009
Health Practitioner (National Uniform Legislation) Implementation Act 2010 (Act No. 18, 2010)
Assent date	20 May 2010
Commenced	1 July 2010 (s 2)
Statute Law Revision Act 2010 (Act No. 29, 2010)
Assent date	9 September 2010
Commenced	13 October 2010 (Gaz G41, 13 October 2010, p 2)
Oaths, Affidavits and Declarations (Consequential Amendments) Act 2010 (Act No. 40, 2010)
Assent date	18 November 2010
Commenced	1 March 2011 (s 2, s 2 Oaths, Affidavits and Declarations Act 2010 (Act No. 39, 2010) and Gaz G7, 16 February 2011, p 4)
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011 (Act No. 44, 2011)
Assent date	21 December 2011
Commenced	27 January 2012 ((other than amdts to Darwin Port Corporation Act and Marine Act listed in the Sch to Act) Gaz S3, 27 January 2012))

3     SAVINGS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
s 2(2) and (3) Interpretation Amendment Act (No. 3) 1988 (Act No. 28, 1988)

s 39 Law Reform (Gender, Sexuality and De Facto Relationships Act 2003 (Act No. 1, 2004)

4     LIST OF AMENDMENTS
lt     amd No. 73, 1993, s 14
ss 1 – 2     amd No. 73, 1993, s 14
s 3     amd No. 73, 1993, ss 4 and 14
s 4     amd No. 73, 1993, s 14; No. 13, 2006, s 44; No. 35, 2006, s 21
s 5     amd No. 78, 1978, s 3
    sub No. 13, 2006, s 18
s 6     amd No. 78, 1978, s 4; No. 1, 1988, s 2; No. 13, 2006, ss 19 and 44; No. 35, 2006, s 21; No. 29, 2010, s 7
s 6A     ins No. 13, 2006, s 20
s 6B     ins No. 13, 2006, s 20
    sub No. 35, 2006, s 13
s 7     amd No. 13, 2006, s 44; No. 35, 2006, s 21; No. 29, 2010, s 7
s 8     amd No. 13, 2006, ss 21 and 44; No. 35, 2006, s 21
s 9     amd No. 122, 1979, s 3; No. 35, 2006, s 21; No. 29, 2010, s 7
s 10     rep No. 13, 2006, s 22
s 11     amd No. 78, 1978, s 12
s 14     amd No. 13, 2006, s 44; No. 35, 2006, s 21
s 15     amd No. 78, 1978, s 5; No. 13, 2006, s 44
s 17     amd No. 78, 1978, s 12; No. 122, 1979, s 4; No. 14, 1989, s 7; No. 73, 1993, s 5; No. 50, 1994, s 9
    sub No. 13, 2006, s 23
    amd No. 35, 2006, s 14; No. 5, 2007, s 18; No. 7, 2007, s 6; No. 15, 2009, s 16; No. 18, 2010, s 48; No. 40, 2010, s 48; No. 44, 2011, s 15
s 18     amd No. 122, 1979, s 5; No. 62, 1983, s 4; No. 60, 1989, s 2; No. 33, 1990, s 4; No. 73, 1993, ss 6 and 14; No. 84, 1993, s 6; No. 5, 1995, s 19; No. 8, 1995, s 3; No. 38, 2002, s 5; No. 12, 2004, s 3; No. 20, 2005, s 29
    sub No. 13, 2006, s 23
s 18A     ins No. 13, 2006, s 23
s 19     amd No. 64, 1986, s 2; No. 59, 1990, s 3; No. 25, 1992, s 3; No. 73, 1993, s 7; No. 23, 1997, s 2; No. 17, 2001, s 9; No. 14, 2002, s 3; No. 38, 2002, s 5; No. 1, 2004, s 37; No. 20, 2005, s 30
    sub No. 13, 2006, s 23
s 19A     ins No. 1, 2004, s 38
s 20     sub No. 13, 2006, s 24
s 21     sub No. 20, 2005, s 31
    amd No. 13, 2006, s 44
s 23A     ins No. 44, 2011, s 16
s 24     amd No. 4, 1982, s 3
    sub No. 20, 2005, s 32
s 24A     ins No. 20, 2005, s 32
s 24AA     ins No. 13, 2006, s 25
s 25     sub No. 13, 2006, s 26
s 28     amd No. 60, 1989, s 6; No. 20, 2005, s 33; No. 19, 2005, s 8
s 31     amd No. 112, 1979, s 4
    rep No. 13, 2006, s 27
s 32     rep No. 73, 1993, s 8
s 33     amd No. 35, 2006, s 21
    rep No. 40, 2010, s 49
s 34     sub No. 78, 1978, s 6
    amd No. 122, 1979, s 6; No. 13, 2006, s 44
s 34A     ins No. 1, 1979, s 3
s 34B     ins No. 8, 1995, s 3
    amd No. 44, 2005, s 22
    rep No. 13, 2006, s 28
s 35     amd No. 5, 1995, s 19; No. 13, 2006, s 29
s 36     amd No. 1, 1979, s 4; No. 5, 1995, s 19; No. 92, 1998, s 12
    rep No. 13, 2006, s 30
s 37     amd No. 5, 1995, s 19
s 38     amd No. 73, 1993, s 14; No. 35, 2006, s 21
s 38A     ins No. 78, 1978, s 7
    amd No. 35, 2006, s 21
pt VIA hdg     ins No. 62, 1983, s 5
s 38B     ins No. 62, 1983, s 5
s 38C     ins No. 62, 1983, s 5
    amd No. 17, 1996, s 6; No. 20, 2005, s 34; No. 13, 2006, s 31
s 38D     ins No. 62, 1983, s 5
    amd No. 17, 1996, s 6
s 38DA     ins No. 13, 2006, s 32
s 38DB     ins No. 13, 2006, s 32
    amd No. 35, 2006, s 21
s 38DC     ins No. 13, 2006, s 32
s 38E     ins No. 62, 1983, s 5
    sub No. 73, 1993, s 9
s 38F     ins No. 73, 1993, s 9
    amd No. 3, 1999, s 3
    sub No. 13, 2006, s 33
s 38G     ins No. 28, 2000, s 3
ss 40 – 41     amd No. 35, 2006, s 21
s 42     sub No. 20, 2005, s 35
    amd No. 13, 2006, s 44
s 43     amd No. 13, 2006, s 44
s 44     amd No. 78, 1978, s 8; No. 54, 1982, s 2; No. 13, 2006, s 34
s 45     amd No. 13, 2006, s 44
s 46     amd No. 78, 1978, s 9; No. 1, 1979, s 5; No. 20, 2005, s 36; No. 13, 2006, s 44
s 46A     ins No. 37, 1999, s 2
s 47     rep No. 13, 2006, s 35
s 48A     ins No. 73, 1993, s 10
    amd No. 35, 2006, s 21
s 48B     ins No. 73, 1993, s 10
s 49     amd No. 78, 1978, s 10
s 50     amd No. 78, 1978, s 12
s 51     rep No. 78, 1978, s 11
    ins No. 35, 2006, s 15
s 55     amd No. 21, 1980, s 2
    sub No. 20, 2005, s 37; No. 13, 2006, s 36
s 57     amd No. 73, 1993, s 11
    sub No. 13, 2006, s 37
    amd No. 35, 2006, s 16
s 57A     ins No. 20, 2005, s 38
    amd No. 13, 2006, s 44
s 59     amd No. 27, 1988, s 2; No. 73, 1993, s 14
s 59A     ins No. 28, 1988, s 2
    amd No. 35, 2006, s 21
s 60     rep No. 44, 1985, s 2
s 61     amd No. 13, 2006, s 38; No. 35, 2006, s 21
s 62     amd No. 73, 1993, s 14
ss 62A – 62B     ins No. 27, 1998, s 2
ss 62C – 62D     ins No. 20, 2005, s 39
pt VII
div 2 hdg     sub No. 13, 2006, s 39
    amd No. 35, 2006, s 17
s 63     amd No. 78, 1978, s 12; No. 21, 1982, s 2; No. 49, 1985, s 4; No. 73, 1993, s 14; No. 92, 1998, s 12; No. 13, 2006, s 40; No. 35, 2006, s 21; No. 28, 2008, s 3
s 64     amd No. 78, 1978, s 12
    sub No. 13, 2006, s 41
s 65     rep No. 73, 1993, s 12
    ins No. 13, 2006, s 41
ss 65A – 65B     ins No. 13, 2006, s 41
ss 65C – 65D     ins No. 35, 2006, s 18
s 66     amd No. 13, 2006, s 44
s 67     amd No. 73, 1993, s 14
    rep No. 35, 2006, s 19
pt VII
div 4 hdg     sub No. 60, 1989, s 6
s 67     ins No. 35, 2006, s 20
s 70     amd No. 40, 2010, s 50
s 71     rep No. 73, 1993, s 12
    ins No. 13, 2006, s 42
s 72     ins No. 73, 1992, s 13
pt VIII hdg     ins No. 13, 2006, s 43
ss 73 – 74     ins No. 13, 2006, s 43