Version No. 001
Parliamentary Precincts Act 2001
Act No. 4/2001
Version as at 11 April 2001
table of provisions
SectionPage
1
SectionPage
Part 1—Preliminary
1.Purpose
2.Commencement
3.Definitions
4.Act does not affect privileges etc.
part 2—the parliamentary PRECINCTS
5.Application of Part
6.Governor in Council may make order
7.Governor in Council may revoke order
8.Presiding officers control and manage Parliamentary precincts
9.Powers of presiding officers over Parliamentary precincts
10.Delegation of powers to certain Parliamentary officers
11.Memorandum of understanding with police
12.Police to comply with memorandum of understanding
13.Certificates are evidence
part 3—SECURITY of the parliamentary
PRECINCTS
14.Application of Part
15.Directions of presiding officers
16.Powers to give directions
17.When do directions apply?
18.How are directions given?
19.Powers to remove persons
20.Power to require name and address
21.Power to arrest and detain without warrant
22.Refusal to leave Parliamentary precincts
23.Entering or re-entering Parliamentary precincts contrary to direction
24.Refusal to give name and address
25.Hindering or obstructing authorised officer
26.Who may prosecute?
27.Certificates are evidence
part 4—general
28.Amendment of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1968
29.Amendment of the Road Safety Act 1986
30.Repeal of sections 3 and 4 of Unlawful Assemblies and Processions Act 1958
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SCHEDULE—Parliamentary reserve
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ENDNOTES
1. General Information
2. Table of Amendments
3. Explanatory Details
1
Version No. 001
Parliamentary Precincts Act 2001
Act No. 4/2001
Version as at 11 April 2001
1
Parliamentary Precincts Act 2001
Act No. 4/2001
The Parliament of Victoria enacts as follows:
Part 1—Preliminary
1.Purpose
The main purpose of this Act is to provide for the control, management and security of the Parliamentary precincts.
2.Commencement
This Act comes into operation on the day after the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
3.Definitions
In this Act—
"authorised officer" means—
(a)the President of the Legislative Council;
(b)the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly;
(c)the Usher of the Black Rod of the Legislative Council;
(d)the Serjeant-at-Arms of the Legislative Assembly;
(e)the Clerk of the Legislative Council;
(f)the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly;
(g)the Deputy Clerk of the Legislative Council;
(h)the Deputy Clerk of the Legislative Assembly;
(i)a member of the police force;
(j)a protective services officer;
"House" means a House of the Parliament;
"memorandum of understanding" means a memorandum of understanding entered into in accordance with section 11;
"Parliamentary precincts" means—
(a)the Parliamentary reserve; and
s. 3
(b)any other land or premises for the time being declared to be part of the Parliamentary precincts under section6;
"Parliamentary reserve" means the land shown in the plan in the Schedule, being the land—
(a)contained in certified plan No. 107128 lodged in the Central Plan Office of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment; and
(b)permanently reserved under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978 by Order in Council dated 13 October 1984 and published in the Government Gazette on 7 November 1984 at page 4002;
"presiding officer" has the same meaning as it has in the Constitution Act 1975;
"protective services officer" means a person appointed as a protective services officer under the Police Regulation Act 1958.
4.Act does not affect privileges etc.
s. 4
Nothing in this Act derogates from the privileges, immunities and powers held, possessed or enjoyed by custom, statute or other law or otherwise of—
(a)the Parliament; and
(b)each House; and
(c)the President of the Legislative Council; and
(d)the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly; and
(e)the members and Committees of each House; and
(f)the joint Committees of the Parliament; and
(g)the Usher of the Black Rod of the Legislative Council; and
(h)the Serjeant-at-Arms of the Legislative Assembly; and
(i)the staff, employees, agents or delegates of the Parliament or of the presiding officers.
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Part 2—The Parliamentary Precincts
5.Application of Part
s. 5
(1)This Part has effect despite anything to the contrary in the Land Act 1958 and the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978.
(2)Nothing in this Part affects the duties or functions of the House Committee within the meaning of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1968, whether or not those duties or functions are given under that Act or any other law or custom.
6.Governor in Council may make order
(1)The Governor in Council, on the recommendation of either or both of the presiding officers, may, by order published in the Government Gazette, declare land or premises to be part of the Parliamentary precincts.
(2)A presiding officer may make a recommendation referred to in sub-section (1) if satisfied that—
(a)the land or premises is required for the purposes of the Parliament; and
(b)it is appropriate to treat the land or premises as part of the Parliamentary precincts.
(3)An order made under sub-section (1) remains in force—
(a)until the revocation date specified in the order; or
(b)if no revocation date is specified in the order, until it is revoked under section 7.
(4)An order under sub-section (1) must not be made in respect of land or premises which is an electorate office of a member of Parliament.
7.Governor in Council may revoke order
s. 7
(1)The Governor in Council, on the recommendation of either or both the presiding officers, may, by order published in the Government Gazette, revoke an order made under section 6.
(2)A presiding officer may make a recommendation referred to in sub-section (1) if satisfied that—
(a)the land or premises is no longer required for the purposes of the Parliament; and
(b)it is no longer appropriate to treat the land or premises as part of the Parliamentary precincts.
8.Presiding officers control and manage Parliamentary precincts
(1)The presiding officers are jointly and severally responsible for the control and management of the Parliamentary precincts.
(2)This section does not affect—
(a)the powers of each House to control and manage its own affairs and proceedings; and
(b)the orders of each House in relation to its own affairs and proceedings; and
(c)the powers of each House in relation to the control and management of the parts of the Parliamentary precincts which—
(i)constitute the chamber of the House concerned; or
(ii)are used exclusively or principally for the purposes of the House concerned.
9.Powers of presiding officers over Parliamentary precincts
s. 9
(1)The presiding officers have all the powers necessary and expedient for the control and management of the Parliamentary precincts.
(2)Without limiting the generality of sub-section (1), the presiding officers—
(a)may grant leases or licences in respect of any part of the Parliamentary precincts;
(b)may enter into agreements or arrangements in respect of—
(i)works to be performed in the Parliamentary precincts; or
(ii)any other matter in respect of any part of the Parliamentary precincts.
(3)A lease, licence or other agreement granted or entered into under this section is subject to the terms, conditions and covenants determined by the presiding officers.
(4)Subject to sub-section (2), nothing in this section permits the mortgage, sale or disposal of any part of the Parliamentary reserve.
10.Delegation of powers to certain Parliamentary officers
A presiding officer, by instrument, may delegate any of his or her powers or functions under this Act other than—
(a)a power under section 9(2) and (3); or
(b)a power under section 15; or
(c)a power under section 16(5); or
(d)this power of delegation—
to any of the following—
(e)the Usher of the Black Rod of the Legislative Council;
(f)the Serjeant-at-Arms of the Legislative Assembly;
(g)the Clerk of the Legislative Council;
(h)the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly;
(i)the Deputy Clerk of the Legislative Council;
(j)the Deputy Clerk of the Legislative Assembly.
11.Memorandum of understanding with police
s. 11
(1)The presiding officers may enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Chief Commissioner of Police relating to the exercise of police functions within the Parliamentary precincts.
(2)Without limiting sub-section (1), a memorandum of understanding may—
(a)empower members of the police force or protective services officers to carry out specified functions within the Parliamentary precincts relating to the security of the Parliamentary precincts in addition to any other functions given under this Act, without the specific authorisation or directions of the presiding officers on every occasion;
(b)impose conditions on the exercise of functions which are the subject of a memorandum of understanding;
(c)provide directions as to the manner of the exercise of functions which are the subject of a memorandum of understanding.
(3)The functions given to members of the police force under a memorandum of understanding are in addition to and not in derogation of any power or function a member of the police force has as an authorised officer or as a member of the police force.
(4)A memorandum of understanding continues in force—
(a)despite the expiration or dissolution of either House; and
(b)until it is revoked by the presiding officers or the Chief Commissioner of Police, whether during the same or a subsequent session of the Parliament.
(5)A memorandum of understanding may be amended at any time by agreement of the presiding officers and the Chief Commissioner of Police.
12.Police to comply with memorandum of understanding
s. 12
(1)A member of the police force or a protective services officer must comply with the conditions and directions applying to a function which is the subject of a memorandum of understanding.
(2)A failure by a member of the police force or a protective services officer to comply with a condition or direction applying to a function which is the subject of a memorandum of understanding does not invalidate any action taken by that member or officer in the purported exercise of that function.
13.Certificates are evidence
(1)In a prosecution for an offence under this Act or any other Act or law, a certificate which purports to be signed by a presiding officer, the Usher of the Black Rod of the Legislative Council, the Serjeant-at-Arms of the Legislative Assembly, the Clerk of the Legislative Council, the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, the Deputy Clerk of the Legislative Council or the Deputy Clerk of the Legislative Assembly stating that a member of the police force or a protective services officer—
(a)in performing any function which is the subject of a memorandum of understanding, was authorised to perform that function by the memorandum; and
(b)that the function which is the subject of a memorandum of understanding was or was not subject to a condition or direction applying to the exercise of that function—
is evidence, and, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, is proof, that the member or officer was so authorised and that the function was or was not subject to that condition or direction.
s. 13
(2)All courts must take judicial notice of the signature of the presiding officer, the Usher of the Black Rod of the Legislative Council, the Serjeant-at-Arms of the Legislative Assembly, the Clerk of the Legislative Council, the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, the Deputy Clerk of the Legislative Council or the Deputy Clerk of the Legislative Assembly (as the case requires) on a certificate referred to in sub-section (1).
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Part 3—Security of the Parliamentary Precincts
14.Application of Part
s. 14
(1)Nothing in this Part authorises—
(a)the giving of a direction to a member of either House to leave or not to enter the Parliamentary precincts; or
(b)the giving of a direction that a member of either House be removed from or prevented from entering the Parliamentary precincts; or
(c)the removal of a member of either House from the Parliamentary precincts; or
(d)the preventing of a member of either House from entering the Parliamentary precincts.
(2)Nothing in this Part affects any power which exists otherwise than by virtue of this Act—
(a)by which members of either House can be removed from or prevented from entering a Parliamentary chamber or the Parliamentary precincts; or
(b)to give directions for the purposes specified in paragraph (a).
15.Directions of presiding officers
(1)In the exercise of any power or function under this Part, an authorised officer (including a member of the police force or a protective services officer) is subject to any direction of a presiding officer—
(a)not to exercise that power or function; or
(b)to cease the exercise of that power or function.
(2)Nothing in this section empowers a presiding officer to direct a member of the police force or a protective services officer to exercise a power or function under this Act or any other Act or law.
(3)A direction under this section to cease the exercise of a power or function does not invalidate anything done in the exercise of that power or function before the direction is given.
16.Powers to give directions
s. 16
(1)An authorised officer may direct a person to leave or not to enter the Parliamentary precincts if the authorised officer believes on reasonable grounds that the direction is necessary for the good order and security of the Parliamentary precincts.
(2)A direction to leave or not to enter the Parliamentary precincts may apply to—
(a)the whole of the Parliamentary precincts; or
(b)any part of the Parliamentary precincts.
(3)A direction to leave or not to enter the Parliamentary precincts may specify a period, not exceeding 7 days, for which the direction applies.
(4)If a direction does not specify a period, the direction applies for 24 hours.
(5)During the period that a direction under sub-section (1) applies, a presiding officer may, by written notice to the person to whom that direction applies, further direct the person not to enter the Parliamentary precincts during the period specified in that written notice, without the leave of the presiding officer.
(6)A notice under sub-section (5) must be served on the person to whom it applies either personally or by post.
17.When do directions apply?
s. 17
A direction under section 16(1) or (5) to leave or not to enter the Parliamentary precincts applies at any time, whether or not either or both Houses are sitting.
18.How are directions given?
(1)An authorised officer may give a direction under section 16(1) to leave or not to enter the Parliamentary precincts in either or both of the following ways—
(a)orally;
(b)by notice in writing displayed in a conspicuous place in the Parliamentary precincts.
(2)If an oral direction to leave or not to enter the Parliamentary precincts is given to a group or assembly of persons, it is deemed to have been given to each member of the group or assembly if the oral direction is made in a manner which is likely to be audible to all the members of the group or assembly or as many of them as is reasonably practicable.
(3)Before giving an oral direction to leave or not to enter the Parliamentary precincts, an authorised officer who is not in uniform or ceremonial dress, must state his or her name and position.
19.Powers to remove persons
(1)An authorised officer may—
(a)remove a person or cause a person to be removed from the Parliamentary precincts; or
(b)prevent a person or cause a person to be prevented from entering or re-entering the Parliamentary precincts.
(2)It is lawful for an authorised officer, using no more force than is reasonably necessary—
(a)to remove a person from the Parliamentary precincts; or
(b)to prevent a person from entering or re-entering the Parliamentary precincts; or
(c)to cause a person to be removed or prevented from entering or re-entering the Parliamentary precincts.
(3)An authorised officer may only exercise powers under this section if he or she believes on reasonable grounds that the person—
(a)has failed to comply with a direction under section 16(1) or (5); or
(b)has committed or has attempted to commit an offence under this Act or any other Act or law.
20.Power to require name and address
s. 20
(1)An authorised officer may require a person to give his or her name and address to the authorised officer if the authorised officer reasonably believes that the person has failed or refused to leave the Parliamentary precincts when directed to do so by an authorised officer under section 16(1).
(2)Before requiring a person to state his or her name and address, an authorised officer must—
(a)state his or her own name and position, unless the authorised officer is in uniform or ceremonial dress; and
(b)inform the person that the authorised officer believes that the person has committed an offence against this Act by failing or refusing to leave the Parliamentary precincts when directed to do so by an authorised officer; and
(c)inform the person that it is an offence against this Act—
(i)to fail or refuse to give his or her name and address to an authorised officer when directed to do so; or
(ii)to give a false or misleading name and address to an authorised officer.
21.Power to arrest and detain without warrant
s. 21
(1)An authorised officer may, without warrant, arrest a person who is in the Parliamentary precincts if the authorised officer reasonably believes that the person has committed an offence against section 22 or 23.
(2)If a person is arrested under sub-section (1) by an authorised officer who is a member of the police force or a protective services officer, the authorised officer must as soon as practicable bring the person, or cause him or her to be brought, before the Magistrates' Court to be dealt with according to law.
(3)If a person is arrested under sub-section (1) by an authorised officer who is not a member of the police force or a protective services officer, the authorised officer, using no more force than is reasonably necessary, may detain the person arrested in a suitable place in or near the Parliamentary precincts until the person is delivered into the custody of a member of the police force under sub-section (4).
(4)An authorised officer who detains a person under sub-section (3) must as soon as practicable deliver the person into the custody of a member of the police force to be dealt with according to law.
(5)A person may not be detained under this section unless—
(a)the person detained is informed of the reasons for the detention; and
(b)the authorised officer effecting the detention—
(i)as soon as practicable notifies a member of the police force of the detention and the reasons for the detention; and
(ii)requests the assistance of a member of the police force.
(6)Nothing in this section prevents the arrest of a person in accordance with any other law.
22.Refusal to leave Parliamentary precincts
s. 22
A person must not fail or refuse to leave the Parliamentary precincts or any part of the Parliamentary precincts when directed to leave by an authorised officer under section 16(1).
Penalty:10 penalty units.
23.Entering or re-entering Parliamentary precincts contrary to direction
A person must not, contrary to a direction of an authorised officer under section 16(1) or a further direction of a presiding officer under section 16(5)—
(a)enter or re-enter the Parliamentary precincts or any part of the Parliamentary precincts; or
(b)attempt to enter or re-enter the Parliamentary precincts or any part of the Parliamentary precincts.