Northern Territory Consolidated Acts

PRIVATE SECURITY ACT - SECT 27

(1) If the licensing authority believes that reasonable grounds exist to suspend, cancel or refuse to renew a licence (the "action"), the licensing authority shall give the licensee a written notice (a "show cause notice") that -

(a) states the action proposed;

(b) states the grounds for proposing to take the action;

(c) outlines the facts and circumstances that form the basis for the licensing authority's belief;

(d) if the licensing authority proposes to suspend the licence - states the suspension period the licensing authority proposes to impose; and

(e) invites the licensee to show cause within a specified time, of not less than 28 days, why the action proposed should not be taken, and the licensee may make submissions to the licensing authority accordingly.

(2) If, after considering all submissions, if any, made by the licensee, the licensing authority still believes that grounds to take the action exist, it may -

(a) if the show cause notice was a notice of intention to suspend the licence for a specified period -

(i) suspend the licence for a period not longer than the specified period; or

(ii) impose a penalty of not more than $10,000;

(b) if the show cause notice was a notice of intention to cancel the licence -

(i) cancel the licence;

(ii) suspend the licence for a period; or

(iii) impose a penalty of not more than $10,000; or

(c) if the show cause notice was a notice of intention not to renew the licence -

(i) refuse to renew the licence;

(ii) refuse to renew the licence for a period; or

(iii) impose a penalty of not more than $10,000.

(3) The licensing authority shall inform the licensee of the decision by written notice.

(4) If the licensing authority decides to -

(a) cancel, suspend or refuse to renew the licence; or

(b) impose a penalty,

under subsection (2) the notice shall state -

(c) the reasons for the decision; and

(d) that the licensee may within 28 days appeal to the Local Court against the decision.

(5) A decision under subsection (2) takes effect on -

(a) the day on which the notice is given to the licensee; or

(b) the day specified in the notice,

whichever is later.

(6) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2), the licensing authority may, where it considers immediate suspension of a licence on one or more of the grounds specified in section 26 is, in all the circumstances, justifiable, suspend the licence immediately by serving on the licensee notice of the suspension, stating -

(a) the reasons for the decision; and

(b) that the licensee may within 28 days appeal to the Local Court against the decision.