South Australian Consolidated Acts

BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES REGISTRATION ACT 1996 - SECT 4

4—Definitions

In this Act—

"adult" means a person who is 18 or above or, although under 18, is or has been married;

"authorised celebrant" means an authorised celebrant under the Marriage Act 1961 (Cwth);

"birth" means the expulsion or extraction of a child from its mother;

"change" of name includes an addition, omission or substitution;

"child" includes a still-born child;

"corresponding law" means a law of another State that provides for the registration of births, deaths and marriages;

"Court" means the Magistrates Court;

"death" includes still-birth;

"disposal" of human remains means—

            (a)         cremation of the remains; or

            (b)         burial of the remains (including burial at sea); or

            (c)         placing the remains in a mausoleum or other permanent resting place; or

            (d)         placing the remains in the custody of an educational or scientific institution for the purpose of medical education or research; or

            (e)         removal of the remains from the State (but not if the remains have been cremated or are taken from the State by sea and buried at sea in the course of the voyage);

"doctor" means a person registered as a medical practitioner under the Medical Practitioners Act 1983 ;

"funeral director" means a person who carries on the business of arranging for the disposal of human remains;

"human remains" includes the remains of a still-born child;

"prohibited name" means a name that—

            (a)         is obscene or offensive; or

            (b)         could not practicably be established by repute or usage—

                  (i)         because it is too long; or

                  (ii)         because it consists of or includes symbols without phonetic significance; or

                  (iii)         for some other reason; or

            (c)         is contrary to the public interest for some other reason;

"registrable event" means a birth, change of name, death or marriage;

"registrable information" means information that must or may be included in the Register ¹ ;

"Register"—See section 40;

"registering authority" means an authority responsible under a corresponding law for the registration of births, deaths and marriages;

"Registrar" means the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages;

"State" includes a Territory;

"still-birth" means the birth of a still-born child;

"still-born child" means a child of at least 20 weeks' gestation or, if it cannot be reliably established whether the period of gestation is more or less than 20 weeks, with a body mass of at least 400 grams at birth, that exhibits no sign of respiration or heartbeat, or other sign of life, after birth but does not include the product of a procedure for the termination of pregnancy.

Note—

1         See section 40(2).