Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1996 - SECT 4

Definitions

4. Definitions



(1) In this Act-

adult means a person who-

   (a)  is 18 years of age or more; or

   (b)  although under 18 years of age, is or has been married;

birth includes still-birth;

birth registration statement means a statement required to be lodged with the
Registrar under section 14;

change, in relation to a name, includes an addition, omission or substitution;
child means a person under 18 years of age;

corresponding law means a law of another State that-

   (a)  provides for the registration of births, deaths and marriages; and

   (b)  has been declared to be a corresponding law for the purposes of this
        Act by an Order made under subsection (2); Council has the same
        meaning as in section 162B of the Health Act 1958;



Court means the County Court;

death does not include a 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 medical practitioner registered under the
Health Professions Registration Act 2005;

funeral director means a person who carries on the business of arranging for
the disposal of human remains; Institute has the same meaning as in
section 3(1) of the Coroners Act 1985;

interstate recognition certificate means a current certificate identifying a
person as being of a particular sex that is issued under the
Gender Reassignment Act 2000 of Western Australia, the
Sexual Reassignment Act 1988 of South Australia or any other law prescribed by
the regulations for the purposes of Part 4A of this Act; neonatal death means
the death of a live-born child within 28 days after the birth;



perinatal death means-

   (a)  the death of a live-born child within 28 days after the birth; or

   (b)  a still-birth;

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, marriage or adoption;

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

Register means the Register established under Part 7;

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; reviewable
death has the same meaning as in section 3(1) of the Coroners Act 1985;

sex affirmation surgery means a surgical procedure involving the alteration of
a person's reproductive organs carried out for the purpose of assisting the
person to be considered to be a member of the opposite sex; sibling has the
same meaning as in section 3(1) of the Coroners Act 1985;



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;

* * * * *





(2) The Governor in Council, by Order published in the Government Gazette, may
declare a law of another State to be a corresponding law for the purposes of
this Act.

(3) The Governor in Council, by Order published in the Government Gazette, may
revoke or vary an Order made under subsection (2).

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