NT

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…

The scheme relating to demerit points in the NT (Northern Territory) allocates points as penalties for certain traffic offences with the aim of improving driver behaviour. The relevant laws are in the Traffic Act and Traffic Regulations. Schedule 1 of the Regulations sets out the list of offences and the demerit points that apply to…

The Northern Territory treats any failure to comply with a police direction very seriously. In fact, failing to stop for police after being directed to do so is considered an offence in three separate pieces of legislation: the Traffic Act the Motor Vehicles Act, and the Criminal Code. You may be charged under any one…

The Traffic Act in the Northern Territory sets out the rules that drivers must adhere to when driving on public roads. The Act makes it an offence to drive whilst unlicensed, suspended or whilst disqualified. This means that if your licence has been taken away from you for a certain period of time or you…