MENTAL HEALTH ACT 1986

Victorian Consolidated Legislation

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MENTAL HEALTH ACT 1986 - NOTES

No. 59 of 1986
Version incorporating amendments as at 31 March 2009

ENDNOTES

1. General Information
Minister's second reading speech-
Legislative Assembly: 28 November 1985
Legislative Council: 26 March 1986
The long title for the Bill for this Act was "A Bill to provide for the care, treatment and protection of persons who are mentally ill, to establish a Mental Health Review Board, to define the role of the Department of Health with respect to mental health, to repeal the Mental Health Act 1959 and for other purposes.".
The Mental Health Act 1986 was assented to on 3 June 1986 and came into operation as follows:
Sections 1-3, 21, 23, Schedule 1 on 19 June 1987: Government Gazette 17 June 1987 page 1538; rest of Act on 1 October 1987: Government Gazette 30 September 1987 page 2585.
2. Table of Amendments
This Version incorporates amendments made to the Mental Health Act 1986 by Acts and subordinate instruments.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Supreme Court Act 1986, No. 110/1986
Assent Date:
16.12.86
Commencement Date:
1.1.87: s. 2
Current State:
All of Act in operation
State Concessions (Amendment) Act 1987, No. 48/1987
Assent Date:
15.9.87
Commencement Date:
1.12.87: Government Gazette 18.11.87 p. 3072
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Intellectually Disabled Persons' Services (Amendment) Act 1987, No. 74/1987
Assent Date:
24.11.87
Commencement Date:
24.11.87: Special Gazette (No. 50) 24.11.87 p. 1
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Mental Health (Amendment) Act 1988, No. 42/1988 (as amended by No. 1/1989)
Assent Date:
24.5.88
Commencement Date:
S. 15(1) on 1.10.87: s. 2(1); s. 17(1) on 1.10.87: s. 2(1A); rest of Act on 3.10.88: Government Gazette 28.9.88 p. 2898
Current State:
All of Act in operation
State Superannuation Act 1988, No. 50/1988
Assent Date:
24.5.88
Commencement Date:
S. 93(3) on 1.7.87: s. 2(1); s. 93(4) on 27.11.87: s. 2(2); Pt 1, Pt 6 Div. 2, s. 91 on 1.1.88: s. 2(3); rest of Act on 1.7.88: Government Gazette 1.6.88 p. 1487
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Guardianship and Administration Board (Amendment) Act 1989, No. 33/1989
Assent Date:
6.6.89
Commencement Date:
6.6.89
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Mental Health (General Amendment) Act 1990, No. 32/1990
Assent Date:
13.6.90
Commencement Date:
Ss 1-3, 22, 31 on 9.8.90: Government Gazette 8.8.90 p. 2416; rest of Act on 1.1.91: Special Gazette (No. 68) 20.12.90 p. 1
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Sentencing Act 1991, No. 49/1991
Assent Date:
25.6.91
Commencement Date:
22.4.92: Government Gazette 15.4.92 p. 898
Current State:
All of Act in operation

Public Sector Management Act 1992, No. 68/1992
Assent Date:
19.11.92
Commencement Date:
S. 114(Sch. 7 items 2.1-2.9) on 24.11.92: Special Gazette (No. 62) 24.11.92 p. 1
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Children and Young Persons (Amendment) Act 1992, No. 69/1992
Assent Date:
24.11.92
Commencement Date:
S. 36 on 22.2.93: Government Gazette 28.1.93 p. 174
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Employee Relations Act 1992, No. 83/1992
Assent Date:
24.11.92
Commencement Date:
S. 184(Sch. 6 item 13) on 1.3.93: Special Gazette (No. 63) 27.11.92 p. 1
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Health and Community Services (General Amendment) Act 1993, No. 42/1993
Assent Date:
1.6.93
Commencement Date:
Pt 4 (ss 24-32) on 1.10.93: Government Gazette 16.9.93 p. 2548
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Health and Community Services (Further Amendment) Act 1993, No. 124/1993
Assent Date:
7.12.93
Commencement Date:
All of Act (except Pt 3 (ss 4-8)) on 7.12.93: s. 2(1); Pt 3 on 18.12.94: Government Gazette 15.12.94 p. 3308
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Medical Practice Act 1994, No. 23/1994 (as amended by No. 74/2000)
Assent Date:
17.5.94
Commencement Date:
Ss 1, 2 on 17.5.94: s. 2(1); rest of Act on 1.7.94: Government Gazette 23.6.94 p. 1672
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Financial Management (Consequential Amendments) Act 1994, No. 31/1994
Assent Date:
31.5.94
Commencement Date:
S. 3(Sch. 1 items 42.1-42.3) on 7.7.94: Government Gazette 7.7.94 p. 1878-see Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984; s. 4(Sch. 2 item 55) on 1.1.95: Government Gazette 28.7.94 p. 2055
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986


Legal Aid Commission (Amendment) Act 1995, No. 48/1995
Assent Date:
14.6.95
Commencement Date:
Pt 1 (ss 1-3) on 14.6.95: s. 2(1); rest of Act on 14.12.95: s. 2(3) 
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Mental Health (Amendment) Act 1995, No. 98/1995
Assent Date:
5.12.95
Commencement Date:
Ss 1, 2 on 5.12.95: s. 2(1); s. 60 on 26.5.96: Government Gazette 9.5.96 p. 1099; rest of Act on 1.7.96: Government Gazette 27.6.96 p. 1593
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Trustee and Trustee Companies (Amendment) Act 1995, No. 104/1995
Assent Date:
5.12.95
Commencement Date:
1.1.96: s. 2
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Health Acts (Amendment) Act 1996, No. 19/1996
Assent Date:
2.7.96
Commencement Date:
Pt 2 (ss 3, 4) on 1.7.96: s. 2(2)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Legal Practice Act 1996, No. 35/1996
Assent Date:
6.11.96
Commencement Date:
S. 453(Sch. 1 item 58) on 1.1.97: s. 2(3)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Corrections (Amendment) Act 1996, No. 45/1996
Assent Date:
26.11.96
Commencement Date:
S. 18(Sch. 2 items 10.1-10.16) on 6.2.97: Government Gazette 6.2.97 p. 257
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Mental Health (Interstate Provisions) Act 1996, No. 55/1996
Assent Date:
10.12.96
Commencement Date:
10.12.96: s. 2
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Commonwealth Powers (Industrial Relations) Act 1996, No. 59/1996
Assent Date:
12.12.96
Commencement Date:
S. 10(Sch. 2 item 14) on 1.1.97: Special Gazette (No. 146) 23.12.96 p. 15
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986



Health Acts (Further Amendment) Act 1996, No. 68/1996
Assent Date:
17.12.96
Commencement Date:
Pt 5 (s. 17) on 16.5.95: s. 2(2); Pts 1 (ss 1, 2), 3 
(ss 8-15), 4 (s. 16), 6 (ss 18-36), 7 (s. 37) on 17.12.96: s. 2(1); Pt 2 (ss 3-7) on 31.12.96: s. 2(3)
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997, No. 65/1997
Assent Date:
18.11.97
Commencement Date:
Ss 86-88 on 18.4.98: s. 2(3)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Mental Health (Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health ) Act 1997, No. 77/1997
Assent Date:
25.11.97
Commencement Date:
Ss 3-5 on 1.1.98: s. 2(3)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Miscellaneous Acts (Omnibus No. 1) Act 1998, No. 43/1998
Assent Date:
26.5.98
Commencement Date:
S. 41 on 18.4.98: s. 2(3)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Public Sector Reform (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1998, No. 46/1998 (as amended by No. 12/1999)
Assent Date:
26.5.98
Commencement Date:
S. 7(Sch. 1) on 1.7.98: s. 2(2)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Tribunals and Licensing Authorities (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1998, No. 52/1998
Assent Date:
2.6.98
Commencement Date:
S. 311(Sch. 1 item 61) on 1.7.98: Government Gazette 18.6.98 p. 1512
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
International Transfer of Prisoners (Victoria) Act 1998, No. 67/1998
Assent Date:
4.11.98
Commencement Date:
S. 16 on 8.8.02: Government Gazette 8.8.02 p. 2162
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Public Sector Reform (Further Amendments) Act 1999, No. 12/1999
Assent Date:
11.5.99
Commencement Date:
S. 4(Sch. 2 item 9) on 11.5.99: s. 2(1)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986

Mental Health (Amendment) Act 1999, No. 29/1999
Assent Date:
1.6.99
Commencement Date:
Ss 1-3 on 1.6.99: s. 2(1); rest of Act on 1.6.00: s. 2(3)
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Guardianship and Administration (Amendment) Act 1999, No. 40/1999
Assent Date:
8.6.99
Commencement Date:
S. 26 on 1.1.00: s. 2(3)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Health Services (Governance) Act 2000, No. 39/2000
Assent Date:
6.6.00
Commencement Date:
S. 13 on 30.6.00: Special Gazette (No. 88) 23.6.00 p. 11
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Health Records Act 2001, No. 2/2001
Assent Date:
10.4.01
Commencement Date:
S. 111(2)(a)(3)(5) on 16.11.01: Government Gazette 15.11.01 p. 2839; s. 111(1) on 1.3.02: Government Gazette 28.2.02 p. 318; ss 111(2)(b)(4), 112 on 1.7.02: s. 2(2)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Statute Law Amendment (Authorised Deposit-taking Institutions) Act 2001, No. 11/2001
Assent Date:
8.5.01
Commencement Date:
S. 3(Sch. item 50) on 1.6.01: s. 2(2)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Statute Law Amendment (Relationships) Act 2001, No. 27/2001
Assent Date:
12.6.01
Commencement Date:
S. 6(Sch. 4 item 6) on 28.6.01: Government Gazette 28.6.01 p. 1428
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Corporations (Consequential Amendments) Act 2001, No. 44/2001
Assent Date:
27.6.01
Commencement Date:
S. 3(Sch. item 81) on 15.7.01: s. 2
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Corrections (Custody) Act 2001, No. 45/2001
Assent Date:
27.6.01
Commencement Date:
S. 44 on 1.3.02: s. 2(2)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986

Community Visitors Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2001, No. 51/2001
Assent Date:
25.9.01
Commencement Date:
Ss 12-15 on 1.2.02: s. 2(2)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Forensic Health Legislation (Amendment) Act 2002, No. 7/2002
Assent Date:
9.4.02
Commencement Date:
S. 51 on 10.4.02: s. 2(1); ss 36-48 on 1.7.02: s. 2(3)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Guardianship and Administration (Amendment) Act 2002, No. 41/2002
Assent Date:
17.9.02
Commencement Date:
Ss 29-42 on 1.1.03: s. 2(2)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Health Legislation (Amendment) Act 2003, No. 67/2003
Assent Date:
14.10.03
Commencement Date:
Ss 10, 11 on 15.10.03: s. 2(1)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Mental Health (Amendment) Act 2003, No. 76/2003
Assent Date:
21.10.03
Commencement Date:
Ss 29-37 on 22.10.03: s. 2(1); ss 4-28 on 6.12.04: Government Gazette 2.12.04 p. 3221
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Mental Health Legislation (Commonwealth Detainees) Act 2004, No. 44/2004
Assent Date:
16.6.04
Commencement Date:
Ss 3-5 on 17.6.04: s. 2
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Public Administration Act 2004, No. 108/2004
Assent Date:
21.12.04
Commencement Date:
S. 117(1)(Sch. 3 item 132) on 5.4.05: Government Gazette 31.3.05 p. 602
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Legal Profession (Consequential Amendments) Act 2005, No. 18/2005
Assent Date:
24.5.05
Commencement Date:
S. 18(Sch. 1 item 67) on 12.12.05: Government Gazette 1.12.05 p. 2781
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986

Health Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2005, No. 42/2005
Assent Date:
2.8.05
Commencement Date:
Ss 15-19 on 3.8.05: s. 2
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Sentencing and Mental Health Acts (Amendment) Act 2005, No. 69/2005
Assent Date:
11.10.05
Commencement Date:
S. 8 on 12.10.05: s. 2(1); ss 7, 9-25 on 1.10.06: s. 2(3)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Health Professions Registration Act 2005, No. 97/2005
Assent Date:
7.12.05
Commencement Date:
S. 182(Sch. 4 item 37) on 1.7.07: s. 2(3)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Guardianship and Administration (Further Amendment) Act 2006, No. 3/2006
Assent Date:
7.3.06
Commencement Date:
S. 12 on 15.7.06: Government Gazette 6.7.06 p. 1391
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Children, Youth and Families (Consequential and Other Amendments) Act 2006, No. 48/2006
Assent Date:
15.8.06
Commencement Date:
S. 42(Sch. item 27) on 23.4.07: s. 2(3)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Public Sector Acts (Further Workplace Protection and Other Matters) Act 2006, No. 80/2006
Assent Date:
10.10.06
Commencement Date:
S. 26(Sch. item 69) on 11.10.06: s. 2(1)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986
Motor Car Traders Amendment Act 2008, No. 4/2008
Assent Date:
4.3.08
Commencement Date:
S. 32(Sch. item 21) on 1.12.08: s. 2(2)
Current State:
The information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986 
Health Services Legislation Amendment Act 2008, No. 79/2008
Assent Date:
11.12.08
Commencement Date:
S. 19 on 31.3.09: Government Gazette 19.2.09 p. 328
Current State:
The information relates only to the provision/s amending the Mental Health Act 1986 
-------------------------------------------------------------
3. Explanatory Details

1 Pt 5 Div. 6: Section 49 of the Mental Health (Amendment) Act 1995, 
No. 98/1995 reads as follows:
	49.	Transitional provision-amenities accounts
	(1)	As soon as practicable after the commencement of this section, the senior officer of a psychiatric in-patient service (within the meaning of the Principal Act as in force immediately before the commencement of section 4 of this Act) or an approved mental health service must pay any amount held in the patients amenities account established in the Patients Trust Account of that service to the Trust Fund.
	(2)	In this section, Trust Fund means the trust fund known as the Psychiatric Illness and Intellectual Disabilities Donations Trust Fund, which was established as the Mental Health Donations Trust Fund by declaration of trust dated 11 July 1956.

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Part 1-Preliminary


Mental Health Act 1986
No. 59 of 1986