{"id":"court-security-regulations-1998","name":"COURT SECURITY REGULATIONS 1998","slug":"court-security-regulations-1998","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":174608,"registerId":"nt-court-security-regulations-1998-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"COURT SECURITY REGULATIONS 1998","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nCOURT SECURITY REGULATIONS 1998\nAs in force at 27 November 2023\nTable of provisions\n1 Citation ............................................................................................ 1\n2 Prescribed Courts and Tribunals ..................................................... 1\nENDNOTES\n\n\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 27 November 2023\n____________________\nCOURT SECURITY REGULATIONS 1998\nRegulations under the Court Security Act 1998\n1 Citation\nThese Regulations may be cited as the Court Security\nRegulations 1998.\n2 Prescribed Courts and Tribunals\n(1) For the purposes of paragraph (h) of the definition of court in\nsection 4 of the Act, the following courts are prescribed:\n(a) the Court of Appeal of the Northern Territory of Australia under\nsection 51 of the Supreme Court Act 1979;\n(b) the Court of Criminal Appeal established by section 407 of the\nCriminal Code;\n(c) the Court of Disputed Returns established by section 232 of\nthe Electoral Act 2004.\n(2) For the purposes of paragraph (j) of the definition of court in\nsection 4 of the Act, the following tribunals are prescribed:\n(c) the Firearms Appeal Tribunal established by section 50 of the\nFirearms Act 1997;\n(d) the Land and Valuation Review Tribunal established by\nsection 21 of the Valuation of Land Act 1963;\n(f) the Motor Accidents (Compensation) Appeal Tribunal\nestablished by section 28 of the Motor Accidents\n(Compensation) Act 1979;\n(g) the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal\nestablished by section 7 of the Northern Territory Civil and\nAdministrative Tribunal Act 2014.\n(3) For the purposes of paragraph (j) of the definition of court in\nsection 4 of the Act, a coroner or deputy coroner is, while\nconducting an inquest under the Coroners Act 1993, prescribed.\n\nCourt Security Regulations 1998 2\n(4) For the purposes of paragraph (j) of the definition of court in\nsection 4 of the Act, the ICAC, while conducting an examination\nunder the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Act 2017,\nis prescribed.\n\nENDNOTES\nCourt Security Regulations 1998 3\nENDNOTES\n1 KEY\nKey to abbreviations\namd = amended od = order\napp = appendix om = omitted\nbl = by-law pt = Part\nch = Chapter r = regulation/rule\ncl = clause rem = remainder\ndiv = Division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired rep = repealed\nf = forms s = section\nGaz = Gazette sch = Schedule\nhdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision\nins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation\nlt = long title sub = substituted\nnc = not commenced\n2 LIST OF LEGISLATION\nCourt Security Regulations (SL No. 16, 1998)\nNotified 1 July 1998\nCommenced 1 July 1998\nElectoral (Consequential Amendments) Act 2004 (Act No. 12, 2004)\nAssent date 1 March 2004\nCommenced 15 March 2004 (s 2, s 2 Electoral Act 2004 (Act No. 11, 2004)\nand Gaz S6, 15 March 2004)\nAntisocial Behaviour (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2006 (Act No. 2, 2006)\nAssent date 8 March 2006\nCommenced 14 June 2006 (Gaz G24, 14 June 2006, p 3)\nCare and Protection of Children Act 2007 (Act No. 37, 2007)\nAssent date 12 December 2007\nCommenced Ch 1 and pts 3.3 and 5.1: 7 May 2008 (Gaz G18, 7 May 2008,\np 4); Ch 2 (exc pt 2.1, div 6 and s 127), Ch 3, pts 3.1 and 3.2\n(exc s 187) and Ch 5, pts 5.2 to 5.6: 8 December 2008 (Gaz\nG47, 26 November 2008, p 6); Ch 4: 9 June 2009 (Gaz S27,\n1 June 2009); Ch 2, pt 2.1, div 6: 18 August 2010 (Gaz S43,\n18 August 2010); s 187: 1 July 2011 (Gaz S32,\n20 June 2011); s 127: nc\nLocal Government (Consequential Amendments) Act (Act No. 28, 2008)\nAssent date 19 November 2008\nCommenced 1 July 2008 (s 2)\nAlcohol Reform (Substance Misuse Assessment and Referral for Treatment Court)\nAct 2011 (Act No. 19, 2011)\nAssent date 20 May 2011\nCommenced 1 July 2011 (Gaz G23, 8 June 2011, p 6)\n\nENDNOTES\nCourt Security Regulations 1998 4\nAlcohol Mandatory Treatment Act 2013 (Act No. 17, 2013)\nAssent date 28 June 2013\nCommenced 1 July 2013 (s 2)\nCourt Security Amendment Regulations 2014 (No. 34, 2014)\nNotified 19 November 2014\nCommenced 19 November 2014\nLicensing (Repeals and Consequential Amendments) Act 2014 (Act No. 44, 2014)\nAssent date 5 December 2014\nCommenced 1 January 2015 (Gaz S130, 19 December 2014, p 2)\nLocal Government Legislation Amendment Act 2015 (Act No. 8, 2015)\nAssent date 23 April 2015\nCommenced pt 4, div 3: 17 February 2016 (Gaz G7, 17 February 2016,\np 2); rem: 23 April 2015 (s 2)\nStatute Law Amendment (NTCAT Conferral of Jurisdiction) Act 2023 (Act No. 24, 2023)\nAssent date 21 September 2023\nCommenced 27 November 2023 (Gaz G24, 23 November 2023, p 2)\nIndependent Commissioner Against Corruption Amendment Act 2023 (Act No. 29,\n2023)\nAssent date 13 November 2023\nCommenced s 45: 2 January 2024 (s 2(2)); rem: 14 November 2023\n(s 2(1))\n3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS\nGeneral amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table\nof amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation\nAmendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22 of 2018) to: rr 1 and 2.\n4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS\nr 2 amd Act No. 12, 2004, s 7; Act No. 2, 2006, s 26; Act No. 37, 2007, s 342;\nAct No. 28, 2008, s 4; Act No. 19, 2011, s 46; Act No. 17, 2013, s 153;\nNo. 34, 2014, r 3; Act No. 44, 2014, s 145; Act No. 8, 2015, s 84; Act No. 29,\n2023, s 54; Act No. 24, 2023, 147","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Regulations have been expanded since their original 1998 form by subsequent amendments to cover additional bodies and contexts. Originally the regulations were short and addressed a limited set of courts; successive amendments have added specialist appellate courts, several administrative tribunals (including NTCAT), coronial inquests (limited to when a coroner is conducting an inquest) and ICAC examinations. Mechanically, this broadens the Court Security Act's operational footprint beyond traditional courts to include administrative tribunals and certain investigative proceedings, increasing the number of forums required to operate under the Act's security regime and therefore expanding administrative and financial implementation responsibilities."},"complexity_factors":["Very short instrument (two regulations: citation and a single scheduling regulation)","One main substantive provision (regulation 2) with 4 subparagraph groupings","Multiple cross-references to other Northern Territory Acts and specific sections (Supreme Court Act s 51; Criminal Code s 407; Electoral Act s 232; Firearms Act s 50; Valuation of Land Act s 21; Motor Accidents (Compensation) Act s 28; NTCAT Act s 7; Coroners Act 1993; Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Act 2017)","Conditional prescriptions: coroners and ICAC are prescribed only while conducting specific functions (adds a small conditional layer)","Historical amendments listed in endnotes but not extensive internal exceptions or nested conditions"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanically)\n\n- These Regulations identify which courts and tribunals are treated as a \"court\" for the purposes of the Court Security Act 1998 (see regulation 2).  In short, they say exactly which additional judicial bodies the Court Security Act applies to.\n\n- The Regulations do this by listing specific courts and tribunals (with references to the Acts and sections that create them).  The lists are in two parts: one list corresponds to paragraph (h) of the Act's definition of \"court\" (regulation 2(1)); the other corresponds to paragraph (j) of that definition (regulations 2(2)–(4)).\n\n- The named bodies are:  \n  - Courts (reg 2(1)):  \n    - Court of Appeal of the Northern Territory (Supreme Court Act s 51);  \n    - Court of Criminal Appeal (Criminal Code s 407);  \n    - Court of Disputed Returns (Electoral Act s 232).\n  - Tribunals and similar bodies (reg 2(2)–(4)):  \n    - Firearms Appeal Tribunal (Firearms Act s 50);  \n    - Land and Valuation Review Tribunal (Valuation of Land Act s 21);  \n    - Motor Accidents (Compensation) Appeal Tribunal (Motor Accidents (Compensation) Act s 28);  \n    - Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NTCAT) (NTCAT Act s 7);  \n    - a coroner or deputy coroner, but only while conducting an inquest under the Coroners Act 1993;  \n    - the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC), but only while conducting an examination under the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Act 2017.\n\nWho is affected and how it matters\n\n- Which organisations: The named courts, tribunals, coronial inquests and ICAC examinations are treated as \"courts\" for the narrow legal purpose of the Court Security Act.  That means the security provisions in the Act (for example: powers, duties or procedures set out in the Act) apply to proceedings and places associated with those bodies when the listed conditions are met (see reg 2).\n\n- Who pays / who implements: Operational responsibility — and the costs of putting security measures in place (staffing, equipment, administrative arrangements, possible contracting of security personnel) — will fall on the agencies and court/tribunal administrators responsible for those venues (and, ultimately, the Northern Territory Government budget that funds them).  The Regulations themselves do not create new security powers; they extend the existing Act's reach to the listed bodies.\n\n- Who experiences a change in behaviour: Court and tribunal administrators must comply with the Court Security Act's requirements in the named forums; people who attend or participate in those proceedings may be subject to security measures that the Act authorises (searches, directions about access, exclusion from court precincts, or other Act-based measures), but only to the extent set out in the Act.\n\nOfficial rationale and practical trade-offs\n\n- The Regulations' stated effect is to ensure the Court Security Act covers those specific appellate courts, tribunals and certain investigative proceedings.  That is a narrowly technical change: it maps the Act's machinery onto particular bodies.\n\n- Practical trade-offs and implementation risks:  \n  - Benefits: A consistent legal basis to apply court-security measures across a broader set of legal forums (appellate courts, specialist tribunals, coronial inquests and ICAC examinations).  \n  - Costs: Additional administrative and financial burden to implement and operate security arrangements at the newly prescribed venues (training, staffing, equipment, possible delays to hearings if security checks are required).  \n  - Discretion and compliance risk: The Act delegates operational choices to court/tribunal administrators and security personnel; how uniformly or strictly measures are applied may vary between venues.  \n  - Effects on private choice and business: Minimal direct effect on market competition or contract freedom. Effects are mainly on access and the experience of participants and observers (e.g. media, witnesses), who may face additional screening or restrictions where the Act's powers are exercised.\n\nHow this fits with other laws\n\n- The Regulations rely on cross-references to the Acts that create the listed bodies (for example, the Criminal Code, Electoral Act, Firearms Act, NTCAT Act and ICAC Act).  They do not alter those bodies' substantive jurisdiction — they only determine that the Court Security Act's provisions apply to them in the specified circumstances (see reg 2(1)–(4)).\n\nKey technical references: the prescription lists are in regulation 2 (subparagraphs (1)–(4))."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available information, these regulations appear to remain within their original intended scope — providing operational and procedural rules to support court security functions under the parent Act. No significant scope expansion or contraction is evident from the metadata provided."},"complexity_factors":["Limited metadata available — key details such as the making authority, gazette date, and specific regulation numbers are absent, making full analysis difficult","Regulations sit beneath a parent Act, requiring cross-referencing with the Court Security Act to fully understand the scope and effect of individual provisions","Security-related regulations can involve layered powers for officers that interact with broader criminal law and civil liberties considerations","Multiple reprints suggest the regulations have been amended over time, adding interpretive complexity around which version applies when"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations implement the Court Security Act’s practical rules for screening, prohibited items, and the powers and conduct of court security officers in federal court buildings. They affect anyone who visits or works in a federal court — staff, legal practitioners, witnesses, parties and the public — because they govern what you can bring in, how you’ll be screened, and penalties for breaches (commenced 27 Nov 2023)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original 1998 regulations appear to have been a simple mechanism to prescribe courts under the parent Act. Over 25 years, the scope has expanded significantly through amendments to include: new tribunals created by later legislation (NTCAT in 2014, ICAC examinations in 2023), specialist appeal tribunals, and even individual office-holders like coroners and the ICAC during specific proceedings. What began as a court-focused security measure now covers diverse administrative and investigative proceedings, reflecting the expansion of the Northern Territory's tribunal system and integrity institutions."},"complexity_factors":["Only 2 substantive regulations (r 1 and r 2), with r 1 being purely the citation","Single operative provision (r 2) containing straightforward prescription lists","No defined terms within the regulations themselves—all definitions reference the parent Act (Court Security Act 1998)","No conditional logic, exceptions, or nested provisions","Simple structural format: citation followed by enumerated lists of prescribed bodies","Cross-references are limited to external Acts for establishing the identity of prescribed courts/tribunals, not for operational complexity"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this legislation does:**\n\nThese regulations list which specific courts and tribunals in the Northern Territory are covered by the **Court Security Act 1998**. The main Act gives security officers powers to maintain order and safety in court buildings, but it needs this separate list to know exactly which courts and hearings those powers apply to.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n- **Courts covered:** The Court of Appeal, Court of Criminal Appeal, and Court of Disputed Returns\n- **Tribunals covered:** Various specialist tribunals including the Firearms Appeal Tribunal, Land and Valuation Review Tribunal, Motor Accidents Appeal Tribunal, and the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NTCAT)\n- **Special situations:** Coroners conducting inquests and the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) during examinations\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nWithout this list, security officers wouldn't know which hearings they have legal authority to protect. It ensures that everyone—from Supreme Court judges to people appearing before the firearms tribunal—can expect the same safety standards and security presence. The regulations have been updated over time to add new tribunals as they've been created (like NTCAT in 2014 and ICAC examinations in 2023)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/court-security-regulations-1998","history":"/api/acts/court-security-regulations-1998/history","analysis":"/api/acts/court-security-regulations-1998/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/court-security-regulations-1998/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/court-security-regulations-1998/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/court-security-regulations-1998/documents"}}