LAND ACT 1958 - SECT 31 Duties of authorised officers

LAND ACT 1958 - SECT 31

S. 31(1) amended by No. 41/1987 s. 103(Sch. 4 item 39.5).

    (1)     Every authorised officer shall—

S. 31(1)(a) amended by No. 40/2020 s. 39(2).

        (a)     prevent intrusion encroachment or trespass on any Crown land;

S. 31(1)(b) amended by No. 40/2020 s. 39(2).

        (b)     levy or recover rent or licence fees payable in respect of Crown land;

        (c)     take and recover possession of any allotment or lands forfeited under this or any other Act;

        (d)     carry out any other duties imposed under this Act;

S. 31(1)(e) amended by No. 10011 s. 7(1).

        (e)     enforce any regulation made under this Act or under section 13 of the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978 ;

S. 31(1)(f) amended by Nos 10087 s. 3(1)(Sch. 1 item 125), 46/1998 s. 7(Sch. 1).

        (f)     carry out such other duties as may be directed by the Minister.

S. 31(2) amended by Nos 41/1987 s. 103(Sch. 4 items 39.4, 39.6, 39.7), 57/1989 s. 3(Sch. item 109.1), 68/2009 s. 97(Sch. item 74).

    (2)     An authorised officer shall have the like power and authority to do all such acts as any authorised officer lawfully appointed may by law do in respect of any lands tenements or hereditaments of his employer; and every such authorised officer may file a charge-sheet charging an offence against any person who is in unauthorized occupation whether under colour of any licence or lease or otherwise of any Crown lands, or whose right to occupy such lands has ceased, and may sue for and recover any penalty from any person liable to forfeit the same.

S. 31(3) amended by Nos 41/1987 s. 103(Sch. 4 items 39.4, 39.7), 10/2004 s. 15(Sch. 1 item 14.1 (a)(b)).

    (3)     Any person who obstructs or assaults or incites or encourages any person to obstruct resist or assault an authorised officer in the execution of his duty under this Act or who threatens or abuses any such authorised officer shall be guilty of an offence against this Act and liable to a penalty not exceeding 2·5 penalty units or imprisonment not exceeding 3 months.

S. 31(4) inserted by No. 10011 s. 7(2), amended by No. 41/1987 s. 103(Sch. 4 item 39.4).

    (4)     An authorised officer may seize and remove any vehicle or vessel parked or left without lawful authority on any Crown land and may retain the vehicle or vessel (either in a garage or elsewhere) until the owner reimburses the Crown for the cost of the removal, retention and release of the vehicle or vessel.

S. 31(5) inserted by No. 10011 s. 7(2), amended by No. 41/1987 s. 103(Sch. 4 items 39.4, 39.8).

    (5)     Where an authorised officer reasonably believes that a person has contravened or is contravening any provision of this Act or the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978 or any regulation made under either Act, the authorised officer may ask the person to state the person's name and address.

S. 31(6) inserted by No. 10011 s. 7(2).

    (6)     A person who is asked pursuant to subsection (5) to state the person's name and address and fails to do so or states a false name or address shall be guilty of an offence.

Penalty:     5 penalty units.

No. 3709 s. 32.

S. 32 amended by No. 7228 s. 7(Sch. 4 Pt 19(g)).