NT

In 2016, the federal government made it legal to grow cannabis for medicinal use in Australia, when a person has a licence to do so and does so under tight controls. Since then, a number of companies have commenced commercial operations in Australia producing cannabis for medicinal purposes. Despite this development, it remains a criminal…

Sexual offences such as indecent assault in the Northern Territory are governed by the Criminal Code Act and the Sentencing Act. The Criminal Code Act sets out the different offences and the maximum penalties that attach to them, while the Sentencing Act sets a mandatory sequencing regime that applies to all sexual offences in the…

The ‘age of consent’ refers to the age at which a person can legally consent to sex. The age of consent varies between different states and territories. In the Northern Territory it is 16. The law does not prohibit young people below 16 from having sex but rather, it prohibits other people from having sex…

Aboriginal people have long been over-represented in Australian prisons. While the incarceration rate has increased across the board in the last 20 years, the Aboriginal incarceration rate has skyrocketed.  The number of Aboriginal Australians in custody has increased by 88% since 2004, while the non-Aboriginal incarceration rate has risen by 28%. In the Northern Territory…

Domestic Violence Orders in the Northern Territory are governed by the Domestic and Family Violence Act (NT). This Act gives the NT courts the power to make orders restraining a person from engaging in domestic and family violence. It sets out the procedure on how to apply for a Domestic Violence Order (DVO) in the…

Personal searches in the Northern Territory can only be generally conducted after police obtain a search warrant.  There are, however, certain situations where the law allows police to conduct a personal search without a search warrant. The powers of police to conduct personal searches are outlined in the Police Administration Act (NT). When can police…

A certain etiquette in the Northern Territory (NT) applies to courts as would be expected in any other formal situation such as a workplace or educational institution. All court attendees are expected to follow court etiquette in the NT to show respect for the legal system. You can be asked to leave the courtroom if…

Drug offences in the Northern Territory are covered under the Misuse of Drugs Act. The legislation relating to drug offences in the NT was amended recently by the Justice Legislation amendment (Drug Offences) Act 2016. The new provisions came into effect on 8 June 2016 although it will take some time for them to show…

Firearms offences in the NT (Northern Territory) are treated very seriously. Under the Firearms Act if you want a firearms licence you must have a genuine reason, and in some cases a genuine need also. Even when licensed, your licence, permit or certificate of registration may be suspended by the Commissioner for Police for up…

Tenant rights and obligations in the NT (Northern Territory) are set out in the Residential Tenancies Act, supplemented by the Regulations. Starting the tenancy Before entering into a residential rental or tenancy agreement, the prospective tenant should read it through carefully and ensure they understand all of the conditions. The tenant will be provided with…

Leasing out a property in the Northern Territory (NT) comes with a number of obligations on the landlord, but also carries a number of rights. For residential properties, landlord rights and obligations in the NT are found in the Residential Tenancies Act. Starting a tenancy A residential tenancy can be established through a written tenancy…

Landlord and tenant rights and obligations in the NT (Northern Territory) in relation to residential properties are set out in the Residential Tenancies Act. A landlord is a person who owns a property and gives another person the right to live in that property, or part of the property, for a specified period. A tenant…

Drug diversion programs in the NT (Northern Territory) are designed to divert those charged with more minor drug offences away from the courts. They are available to adults through an Infringement Notice system; for young people, there is a warning or cautioning system which can be offered through the police or the court. All of…

Offences involving assault in the NT (Northern Territory) are governed by the Criminal Code. Assault-based offences are divided into categories based on the nature of the assault, who the victim is, and the degree of injury suffered. Assault itself is: the direct or indirect application of unlawful force to a person without their consent the…

The sex offenders register in the NT (Northern Territory) is known as the Child Protection Offender Register. The purpose of this Register is to reduce the chances that convicted sex offenders will be able to re-offend and to help the police in their investigation of, and prosecution for, any future offences that those persons might…

If you think that the Northern Territory (NT) Police have treated you unfairly, that they have broken the law or their own conduct rules, or they have behaved inappropriately, you can make a complaint about them. This may include instances where they have intimidated you, hurt or assaulted you, damaged your property, treated you unreasonably, discriminated…