{"id":"government-domain-reserve-bylaws-1977","name":"Government Domain Reserve By-laws 1977","slug":"government-domain-reserve-by-laws-1977","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"wa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":176705,"registerId":"wa-government-domain-reserve-bylaws-1977-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Government Domain Reserve By-laws 1977","content":"![Crest]()Western Australia\n\nParks and Reserves Act 1895\n\nGovernment Domain Reserve By-laws 1977\n\nWestern Australia\n\nGovernment Domain Reserve By-laws 1977\n\nContents\n\n1. Citation 1\n\n2. Interpretation and application 1\n\n3. Entry 2\n\n4. Unauthorised person to leave 3\n\n5. Traffic 4\n\n6. Driving 4\n\n7. Application of road laws 4\n\n8. Parking 4\n\n9. Animals 5\n\n10. Grounds, lawns, works, etc. 5\n\n11. Removal of mulch, etc. 5\n\n12. Offensive conduct 6\n\n13. Camping 6\n\n14. Advertising 6\n\n15. Fires and shooting 6\n\n16. Trading 7\n\n17. Fetes, picnics, concerts, etc. 7\n\n18. Erection of structures 7\n\n19. Sanitary conveniences 8\n\n20. Noise 8\n\n21. Removal of offenders 8\n\n22. Removal of vehicles, animals, etc. 8\n\n23. Obstruction 9\n\n24. Offences and penalties 9\n\nNotes\n\nCompilation table 10\n\nDefined terms\n\n  \n\nWestern Australia\n\nParks and Reserves Act 1895\n\nGovernment Domain Reserve By‑laws 1977\n\n##### 1. Citation\n\nThese by‑laws may be cited as the *Government Domain Reserve By‑laws 1977* 1.\n\n##### 2. Interpretation and application\n\n(1) In these by‑laws unless the contrary intention appears —\n\n  authorised function means any function held with the permission of the Board or the Governor;\n\n  authorised person means —\n\n(a) any member of the Board;\n\n(b) any member of the Police Force or special constable;\n\n(c) any person appointed as an authorised person for the purposes of these by‑laws;\n\n  drive includes ride;\n\n  footpath means any thoroughfare of a width of less than 4 metres;\n\n  road means any thoroughfare surfaced with bitumen, gravel, concrete, wood, or other hard material, other than a footpath, and includes every part thereof;\n\n  the Board means the Government Domain Reserve Board constituted under the *Parks and Reserves Act 1895* to control and manage the Reserve;\n\n  the Reserve means the land comprised in Reserve A ↑ 1149;\n\nvehicle has the meaning given in the *Road Traffic (Administration) Act 2008* section 4.\n\n(2) The provisions of the *Interpretation Act 1984* section 60 do not apply to or in relation to these by‑laws.\n\n(3) Unless the context otherwise requires these by‑laws do not apply to or in relation to —\n\n(a) a member of the Governor’s household;\n\n(b) a member of the Governor’s staff acting in the course of his official duties; or\n\n(c) a person acting under the direction of the Board.\n\n(4) Where one of these by‑laws authorises an act or thing to be done if it is done with permission —\n\n(a) the permission referred to is that of the Board or a member of the Board or of any person authorised by the Board to give permission for the purposes of that by‑law or for the purposes of these by‑laws generally; and\n\n(b) that permission shall be obtained, in writing, before the act or thing is done.\n\n(5) These by‑laws are subject to any written law and any law of the Commonwealth about assistance animals as defined in the *Disability Discrimination Act 1992* (Commonwealth) section 9(2).\n\n[By-law 2 amended: Gazette 8 Jan 2015 p. 113‑14.]\n\n##### 3. Entry\n\n(1) A person shall not enter or remain on the Reserve unless —\n\n(a) he has permission to do so;\n\n(b) he does so for the purposes of engaging upon the legitimate business of the Government or Government House;\n\n(c) he does so for the purposes of attending an authorised function at Government House Ballroom and does so by authority of a ticket or invitation issued by or on behalf of the person or organization by whom or by which that function is being held; or\n\n(d) he does so during a time specified in a notice published pursuant to sub‑bylaw (2).\n\n(2) The Board may with the approval of the Governor publish a notice in a newspaper circulating throughout the State specifying a time during which the Reserve shall be open to the public.\n\n(3) Sub‑bylaw (1) does not apply to a person who enters or remains on the Reserve at the invitation of the Governor or of a member of the Governor’s household or staff.\n\n##### 4. Unauthorised person to leave\n\n(1) A person shall not enter or remain in any building or other structure on the Reserve unless —\n\n(a) he has permission to do so;\n\n(b) he does so for the purposes of engaging upon the legitimate business of the Government or Government House;\n\n(c) in the case of Government House Ballroom, he does so for the purposes of attending an authorised function at the Ballroom and does so by authority of a ticket or invitation issued by or on behalf of the person or organization by whom or by which that function is being held.\n\n(2) The Board shall not give permission for a person to enter Government House without the approval of the Governor.\n\n(3) Sub‑bylaw (1) does not apply to a person who enters or remains in a building or other structure on the Reserve at the invitation of the Governor or of a member of the Governor’s household or staff.\n\n##### 5. Traffic\n\nThe Board may by notice posted on a road, footpath, or other area in the Reserve close that road, footpath, or area —\n\n(a) to traffic generally;\n\n(b) to traffic of a class specified in the notice; or\n\n(c) to traffic other than traffic of a class specified in the notice.\n\n##### 6. Driving\n\nA person shall not without permission drive or ride upon or over the Reserve other than along a road or parking area.\n\n##### 7. Application of road laws\n\n(1) Every person driving or in charge of any vehicle shall, while in the Reserve, observe and conform in all respects with each road law as defined in the *Road Traffic (Administration) Act 2008* section 4.\n\n(2) A person shall not drive a vehicle on a road or in a parking area in the Reserve at a speed in excess of 25 kilometres per hour.\n\n[By-law 7 amended: Gazette 8 Jan 2015 p. 114.]\n\n##### 8. Parking\n\nA person in charge of a motor vehicle or any other class of vehicle shall not park that vehicle, or cause or permit it to be parked, within the Reserve —\n\n(a) in any place that is off a road, unless he is a visitor accredited by the Board and the place is within an area set apart by the Board for the parking of vehicles by visitors so accredited;\n\n(b) in any place that is on a road, if the parking of vehicles in that place is prohibited by the Board;\n\n(c) in any place for any period in excess of the time during which a vehicle is permitted by the Board to be parked in that place.\n\n##### 9. Animals\n\nA person shall not without permission ride, drive or lead any animal on the Reserve.\n\n##### 10. Grounds, lawns, works, etc.\n\n(1) A person shall not without permission —\n\n(a) destroy, injure or remove any tree, shrub, plant or flower or cut, burn or remove any dead or fallen wood;\n\n(b) break up, damage or disfigure the natural surface, any natural feature or any turf;\n\n(c) destroy, damage or interfere with any improvement, fitting or installation; or\n\n(d) break up or damage the surface of any road or footpath,\n\non the Reserve or cause any of those things to be done on the Reserve.\n\n(2) A person shall not deposit or leave any refuse or litter on the Reserve except in a receptacle provided by the Board for that purpose.\n\n##### 11. Removal of mulch, etc.\n\nA person shall not without permission remove from the Reserve or disturb or move —\n\n(a) any leaf mould or other decayed or decaying vegetable lying within the Reserve; or\n\n(b) any article or property which is lying or left within the Reserve and of which he is not —\n\n(i) the owner; or\n\n(ii) legally entitled to possession.\n\n##### 12. Offensive conduct\n\nA person shall not misconduct himself, on the Reserve —\n\n(a) by singing any obscene song;\n\n(b) by writing or drawing any indecent or obscene word, figure or representation;\n\n(c) by using any profane, indecent or obscene language;\n\n(d) by using or manifesting any threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, whether calculated to lead to a breach of the peace or not;\n\n(e) by molesting or annoying any other person lawfully on the Reserve;\n\n(f) by offending against decency in the nature of his apparel,\n\nor behave in such a manner as may reasonably give offence to other persons lawfully on the Reserve.\n\n##### 13. Camping\n\nA person shall not camp on the Reserve.\n\n##### 14. Advertising\n\nA person shall not without permission post, mark, paint or affix any placard, bill, notice, or sign or document of any kind whatever on or to any tree or other natural feature, or any fence, post, gate, wall, flagging, road, or footpath, on the Reserve.\n\n##### 15. Fires and shooting\n\nA person shall not without permission —\n\n(a) fire or discharge any firearm;\n\n(b) throw, dislodge or discharge any stone or other missile;\n\n(c) throw or set fire to any fireworks;\n\n(d) kindle, make, light, or maintain any fire other than in a part set aside for that purpose by the Board; or\n\n(e) use any explosive substance of any kind whatever,\n\non the Reserve.\n\n##### 16. Trading\n\n(1) A person shall not without permission sell or expose for sale or distribute for the purpose of promoting a sale any goods, wares, merchandise, or things, or solicit or gather money on the Reserve or place on the Reserve any chair, seat, or other thing of any kind whatever, for hire.\n\n(2) A person shall not without permission, within the Reserve, distribute, sell, carry for sale or distribution, or expose for sale or distribution any printed or written matter.\n\n##### 17. Fetes, picnics, concerts, etc.\n\nA person shall not without permission —\n\n(a) organize, hold, advertise or take part in any fete, picnic or concert;\n\n(b) engage in public worship, preaching or public speaking of any kind whatsoever;\n\n(c) hold or take part in any public meeting; or\n\n(d) collect money for any purpose,\n\nwithin the Reserve.\n\n##### 18. Erection of structures\n\n(1) A person shall not without permission erect, place, or maintain any booth, tent, shed, stand, wall, post, rail, fence, swing, chair, or seat or other erection or obstruction of any kind whatever on the Reserve, or make or maintain any enclosure of any part thereof.\n\n(2) A person shall not remain in or about any booth, tent, shed, stand, wall, post, rail, fence, swing, chair, or seat or other erection or obstruction that is erected, placed, or maintained, or in or about any enclosure that is made or maintained, contrary to the provisions of sub‑bylaw (1), after being requested to leave it by any authorised person.\n\n##### 19. Sanitary conveniences\n\nA person shall not improvise any sanitary convenience or ablution on the Reserve or use or maintain thereon any sanitary convenience or ablution other than such as has been established by the Board.\n\n##### 20. Noise\n\nA person shall not, by the use of any wireless, mechanical or other instrument or thing, make or cause to be made any offensive noise in the Reserve.\n\n##### 21. Removal of offenders\n\nAn authorised person may remove from the Reserve any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any of the provisions of these by‑laws.\n\n##### 22. Removal of vehicles, animals, etc.\n\n(1) An authorised person may remove or cause to be removed from the Reserve —\n\n(a) anything that is on, or is placed, erected, used, or maintained on, the Reserve;\n\n(b) a vehicle of any kind whatever that is on, or is parked, driven, ridden, or impelled, on the Reserve; or\n\n(c) any animal that is on, or is ridden, driven, or led on, the Reserve,\n\ncontrary to any of the provisions of these by‑laws.\n\n(2) Property removed from the Reserve pursuant to sub‑bylaw (1) shall be taken —\n\n(a) in the case of a vehicle or other property, not being an animal — to the nearest or most conveniently located police station;\n\n(b) In the case of an animal — to the nearest or most conveniently located dog management facility as defined in the *Dog Act 1976* section 3(1), cat management facility as defined in the *Cat Act 2011* section 3(1) or public pound established under the *Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1960* 3.\n\n[By-law 22 amended: Gazette 8 Jan 2015 p. 115.]\n\n##### 23. Obstruction\n\nA person shall not, on the Reserve, obstruct or interfere with any authorised person or refuse to give, upon request, his name and address to any authorised person.\n\n##### 24. Offences and penalties\n\nAny person who contravenes or fails to comply with any of the provisions of these by‑­laws is guilty of an offence and is liable to a penalty of $150.\n\nNotes\n\n1 This is a compilation of the *Government Domain Reserve By‑laws 1977*. The following table contains information about those by-laws and any reprint.\n\nCompilation table\n\n| **Citation** | **Gazettal** | **Commencement** |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| *Government Domain Reserve By‑laws 1977* | 12 Aug 1977 p. 2642‑5 | 12 Aug 1977 |\n| **Reprint 1: The *Government Domain Reserve By‑laws 1977* as at 8 Oct 2004** | | |\n| *Government Domain Reserve Amendment By-laws 2014* | 8 Jan 2015 p. 113‑15 | bl. 1 and 2: 8 Jan 2015 (see bl. 2(a));   By-laws other than bl. 1 and 2: 27 Apr 2015 (see bl. 2(b) and *Gazette* 17 Apr 2015 p. 1371) |\n\n\n2 Repealed by the *Interpretation Act 1984*.\n\n3 Formerly referred to the *Local Government Act 1960* the short title of which was changed to the *Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1960* by the *Local Government Act 1995* s. 9.70. The reference was changed under the *Reprints Act 1984* s. 7(3)(gb).\n\nDefined terms\n\n*[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]*\n\n**Defined term Provision(s)**\n\nauthorised function 2(1)\n\nauthorised person 2(1)\n\ndrive 2(1)\n\nfootpath 2(1)\n\nroad 2(1)\n\nthe Board 2(1)\n\nthe Reserve 2(1)\n\nthe Road Traffic Act 2(1)\n\nvehicle 2(1)\n","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"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope cannot be assessed — the full text of the legislation was not retrievable from the provided source. No comparison between original intent and current form is possible."},"complexity_factors":["No legislative content was available for analysis — the source URL returned a 'page not found' error","Unable to assess true complexity without access to the actual text of the by-laws","Score of 1 reflects absence of content, not simplicity of the law itself"],"plain_english_summary":"## Government Domain Reserve By-laws 1977 (WA)\n\n**⚠️ Content Unavailable**\n\nThis legislation could not be analysed because the source document is no longer accessible. The Western Australian legislation website returned an error page rather than the actual text of the Government Domain Reserve By-laws 1977.\n\nWhat we do know from the title:\n- This is a **Western Australian** instrument (a \"by-law\" is a secondary rule made under a parent Act, similar to a regulation)\n- It relates to a **Government Domain Reserve** — likely a designated public land reserve managed by the State government\n- It dates from **1977**, suggesting it may be quite old and possibly amended or repealed since\n\n**To find the actual content**, visit the Western Australian legislation website (legislation.wa.gov.au) and search for \"Government Domain Reserve By-laws 1977\" directly."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The by‑laws were amended (Gazette 8 Jan 2015) to add an express saving for assistance animals (by‑law 2(5)) and to amend the speed limit in the Reserve (by‑law 7). The compilation notes further technical updates to cross‑references and commencement dates. Those amendments narrow some application (assistance animals) and update operational details (speed, references), so the present scope differs from the 1977 original text."},"complexity_factors":["Frequent cross‑references to other statutes (Road Traffic (Administration) Act 2008 for vehicle/road laws; Disability Discrimination Act 1992 for assistance animals; Dog Act 1976/Cat Act 2011/Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1960 for animal impounding) increases interpretive steps","Wide discretion granted to the Board and the Governor to grant written permission, open/close areas, and set parking/time limits (requires users to seek approvals)","Multiple overlapping prohibitions (entry, conduct, trading, events, structures, noise, fires, animals) create compliance burden for organisers and visitors","Enforcement powers (authorised persons may remove people, vehicles, animals and property) create operational complexity about removal, custody and redelivery","Express statutory exemptions (Governor’s household/staff; persons acting under Board direction) require careful factual assessment in enforcement","Technical amendments in 2014/2015 (e.g. assistance‑animal provision, amended speed limit) mean historical versions may differ and require attention to current text","A single fixed penalty ($150) applies to all breaches regardless of severity, raising questions for proportionality and enforcement policy"],"plain_english_summary":"These by‑laws regulate who may enter and use the Government Domain Reserve and what they may do there. They require written permission from the Government Domain Reserve Board or the Governor for many activities (entry, events, trading, erecting structures, animals, driving off roads), impose traffic and conduct limits, and give authorised persons power to remove people, vehicles or property; breaches carry a $150 fine.\n\nWho decides: the Board and Governor control permissions and closures; who pays: visitors or operators who disobey the rules. The rules affect visitors, event organisers, traders and vehicle users who must obtain written permission and comply with cross‑referenced road and animal laws."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The by-laws remain focused on their original purpose: regulating conduct on the Government Domain Reserve. The 2015 amendments were technical updates to modernise statutory references (road traffic laws, animal management facilities) and add the disability discrimination exemption for assistance animals. The core regulatory scope — controlling entry, traffic, behaviour, and activities on the Reserve — has not expanded beyond the original 1977 intent."},"complexity_factors":["Short, standalone instrument with only 24 by-laws and 8 defined terms","Simple conditional structure: most prohibitions follow the pattern 'A person shall not [do X] without permission'","Limited cross-referencing — only references to the Parks and Reserves Act 1895, Road Traffic (Administration) Act 2008, Interpretation Act 1984, Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth), Dog Act 1976, Cat Act 2011, and Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1960","No nested exceptions beyond basic exemptions for the Governor's household/staff in by-laws 2(3), 3(3), and 4(3)","Straightforward penalty provision — single flat fine of $150 for any breach","Clear subject matter jurisdiction limited to a specific physical location (Reserve A ↑ 1149)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this legislation does:**\n\nThese by-laws set the rules for visiting and using the **Government Domain Reserve** in Western Australia — the land around Government House in Perth (Reserve A ↑ 1149). Think of it as the rulebook for a very important, restricted public park.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n*   **The general public** — most people can only enter during specific opening times announced by the Board, or if they have a ticket to an authorised function at the Government House Ballroom.\n*   **Visitors with special permission** — people accredited by the Board for official government business or specific purposes.\n*   **The Governor and household** — they and their staff are exempt from most restrictions when acting officially.\n*   **Anyone driving, parking, or bringing animals onto the Reserve**.\n\n**Key rules include:**\n\n*   **Entry:** You generally can't just wander in. You need permission, a ticket to a function, or to visit during advertised public opening hours.\n*   **Driving & parking:** Speed limit is 25 km/h. No driving on lawns. Parking only where allowed.\n*   **Behaviour:** No camping, fires (without permission), offensive language, obscene singing, or indecent clothing. No firearms, fireworks, or explosives.\n*   **Activities:** No trading, advertising, public meetings, preaching, or organising fetes without permission. No removing plants, mulch, or anything that isn't yours.\n*   **Animals:** No riding or leading animals without permission (subject to Commonwealth disability discrimination laws regarding assistance animals).\n*   **Enforcement:** Authorised people (Board members, police, specially appointed officers) can kick you out, remove your vehicle or animal, and take them to a police station or pound.\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThis protects the heritage and security of the Governor's official residence while allowing limited public access. It balances public use with the need to maintain the grounds and ensure safety and dignity around a key government institution. Breaking these rules can cost you **$150**.\n\n**Recent updates:** The by-laws were amended in 2015 to update references to modern road traffic laws and animal management facilities (dog/cat pounds)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/government-domain-reserve-by-laws-1977","history":"/api/acts/government-domain-reserve-by-laws-1977/history","analysis":"/api/acts/government-domain-reserve-by-laws-1977/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/government-domain-reserve-by-laws-1977/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/government-domain-reserve-by-laws-1977/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/government-domain-reserve-by-laws-1977/documents"}}