{"id":"health-practitioner-regulation-national-uniform-legislation-act-2010","name":"Health Practitioner Regulation (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2010","slug":"health-practitioner-regulation-national-uniform-legislation-act-2010","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":30148,"registerId":"nt-health-practitioner-regulation-national-uniform-legislation-act-2010-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Health Practitioner Regulation (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2010","content":"1. The schedule to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009\n(Qld) sets out the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law.\nFor the current version of the National Law, use the following link:\nhttps://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2009-045\n2. Regulations may be made under section 245 of the National Law and are to\nbe published by the Victorian Government Printer. For the Regulations as\nmade, use the below link – Victorian Law Today – Statutory Rules\nhttp://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nHEALTH PRACTITIONER REGULATION (NATIONAL UNIFORM\nLEGISLATION) ACT 2010\nAs in force at 1 December 2018\nTable of provisions\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\n1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1\n2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1\n3 Interpretation ................................................................................... 1\nPart 2 Adoption of Health Practitioner Regulation\nNational Law\n4 Adoption of Health Practitioner Regulation National Law ................ 2\n4A Private midwifery ............................................................................. 2\n5 Meaning of generic terms in Health Practitioner Regulation\nNational Law for purposes of this jurisdiction................................... 3\n6 Responsible tribunal for Health Practitioner Regulation\nNational Law (NT)............................................................................ 4\n6A Application to end, shorten or amend prohibition order ................... 4\n6B Appellable decision under Health Practitioner Regulation\nNational Law (NT)............................................................................ 5\n7 Exclusion of legislation of this jurisdiction ........................................ 5\nPart 3 Miscellaneous matters\n8 Regulations...................................................................................... 6\nENDNOTES\n\n\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 1 December 2018\n____________________\nHEALTH PRACTITIONER REGULATION (NATIONAL UNIFORM\nLEGISLATION) ACT 2010\nAn Act to apply as a law of the Territory a national law relating to health\npractitioner regulation, and for related purposes\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\n1 Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Health Practitioner Regulation\n(National Uniform Legislation) Act 2010.\n2 Commencement\nThis Act commences on 1 July 2010.\n3 Interpretation\n(1) In this Act:\nHealth Practitioner Regulation National Law (NT) means the\nprovisions applying in this jurisdiction because of section 4.\nTribunal means the Civil and Administrative Tribunal.\n(2) Terms used in this Act and also in the Health Practitioner\nRegulation National Law set out in the Schedule to the Health\nPractitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 (Qld) have the same\nmeanings in this Act as they have in that Law.\n\nPart 2 Adoption of Health Practitioner Regulation National Law\nHealth Practitioner Regulation (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2010 2\nPart 2 Adoption of Health Practitioner Regulation\nNational Law\n4 Adoption of Health Practitioner Regulation National Law\nThe Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, as in force from\ntime to time, set out in the Schedule to the Health Practitioner\nRegulation National Law Act 2009 (Qld):\n(a) applies as a law of this jurisdiction; and\n(b) as so applying may be referred to as the Health Practitioner\nRegulation National Law (NT); and\n(c) so applies as if it were a part of this Act.\n4A Private midwifery\n(1) Despite section 284 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National\nLaw (NT), a midwife in the Territory does not, during the transition\nperiod, contravene section 129(1) of that Law merely because the\nmidwife practises private midwifery if:\n(a) the practise occurs in the Territory; and\n(b) the practise would not contravene section 129 of that Law if it\noccurred in a participating jurisdiction mentioned in\nsection 284(1)(a) of that Law.\n(2) Section 284 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NT)\n(other than section 284(1)(a)) applies in relation to the practise\nunder subsection (1).\n(3) A midwife who intends to practise, or practises, private midwifery\nmust notify the Chief Health Officer, in writing and in accordance\nwith any requirement prescribed by a law of the Territory:\n(a) before practising private midwifery for the first time, of the\nmidwife's intention to do so; and\n(b) on or before 31 May in every year, if the midwife intends to\ncontinue practising private midwifery at any time during the\nsubsequent financial year.\n(4) A midwife must give the Chief Health Officer a written report in\nrelation to a private midwifery case, prepared in accordance with\nany requirement prescribed by a law of the Territory and in any\nevent not later than 60 days after the end of the case.\n\nPart 2 Adoption of Health Practitioner Regulation National Law\nHealth Practitioner Regulation (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2010 3\n(5) In this section:\nChief Health Officer, see section 4 of the Public and\nEnvironmental Health Act 2011.\nmidwife, see section 284(5) of the Health Practitioner Regulation\nNational Law (NT).\nprivate midwifery, see section 284(5) of the Health Practitioner\nRegulation National Law (NT).\ntransition period, see section 284(5) of the Health Practitioner\nRegulation National Law (NT).\n5 Meaning of generic terms in Health Practitioner Regulation\nNational Law for purposes of this jurisdiction\n(1) In the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NT):\ncourt of summary jurisdiction, in relation to the Territory, means\nthe Local Court of the Northern Territory under the Local Court\nAct 2015.\ncriminal history law, in relation to the Territory, means:\n(a) the Criminal Records (Spent Convictions) Act 1992; or\n(b) the Anti-Discrimination Act 1992.\nhealth complaints entity, in relation to the Territory, means the\nHealth and Community Services Complaints Commission\nestablished by the Health and Community Services Complaints\nAct 1998.\nmagistrate, in relation to the Territory, means a Local Court Judge.\nthis jurisdiction means the Territory.\n(1A) In the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NT), a reference\nto any of the following is a reference to the Legislative Assembly:\n(a) the Legislature of this jurisdiction;\n(b) the Parliament of this jurisdiction;\n(c) a House of the Parliament or each House of the Parliament of\nthis jurisdiction.\n\nPart 2 Adoption of Health Practitioner Regulation National Law\nHealth Practitioner Regulation (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2010 4\n(2) A reference in the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NT)\nto the State includes a reference to the Territory.\nExample for section 5(2)\nSee sections 23(3) and 31(3) of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law\n(NT).\n6 Responsible tribunal for Health Practitioner Regulation\nNational Law (NT)\nThe Tribunal is declared to be a responsible tribunal for the Health\nPractitioner Regulation National Law (NT).\n6A Application to end, shorten or amend prohibition order\n(1) A person who is subject to a prohibition order made by the Tribunal\nmay apply to the Tribunal for one or more orders under\nsubsection (3)(b).\n(2) An application under subsection (1) may not be made:\n(a) earlier than 5 years after the date of the prohibition order; or\n(b) while the terms of an order under subsection (4) provide that\nan application under this section may not be made in relation\nto a prohibition order.\n(3) The Tribunal may decide to do any of the following:\n(a) dismiss the application;\n(b) make any of the following orders:\n(i) an order ending the prohibition order;\n(ii) an order shortening the period of the prohibition order;\n(iii) an order amending the prohibition order.\n(4) In addition, the Tribunal may order that the applicant must not make\na further application under this section until after a specified time.\n(5) In making a decision under subsection (3) or (4), the Tribunal must\nconsider the following:\n(a) the time elapsed since the prohibition order was made;\n(b) any material change in the circumstances of the applicant\nsince the prohibition order was made;\n\nPart 2 Adoption of Health Practitioner Regulation National Law\nHealth Practitioner Regulation (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2010 5\n(c) any complaint made or notified to a National Board under\nPart 8 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NT)\nabout the applicant, whether the complaint was made or\nnotified before or after the prohibition order was made;\n(d) any other matter the Tribunal considers appropriate.\n(6) A National Board that was a party to the proceedings which led to\nthe making of the prohibition order is a party to the proceedings\narising from an application under this section.\n(7) An application under this section is not an application to review the\ndecision of the Tribunal to make the prohibition order, or any\nfindings made in connection with the making of that decision.\n(8) Section 131 of the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative\nTribunal Act 2014 does not apply in relation to a proceeding under\nthis section.\n(9) Section 140 of the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative\nTribunal Act 2014 does not apply in relation to a decision of the\nTribunal under this section.\n(10) In this section:\nprohibition order, see section 5 of the Health Practitioner\nRegulation National Law (NT).\n6B Appellable decision under Health Practitioner Regulation\nNational Law (NT)\n(1) A person who appeals against an appellable decision under\nsection 199 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NT)\nmust commence the appeal by making an application to the\nTribunal.\n(2) In this section:\nappellable decision means an appellable decision as defined in\nsection 199(1) of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law\n(NT).\n7 Exclusion of legislation of this jurisdiction\nThe following Acts of this jurisdiction do not apply to the Health\nPractitioner Regulation National Law (NT) or to the instruments\nmade under that Law:\n(a) section 9 and Parts 3 to 8 of the Information Act 2002;\n\nPart 3 Miscellaneous matters\nHealth Practitioner Regulation (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2010 6\n(b) the Interpretation Act 1978;\n(c) the Ombudsman Act 2009;\n(d) the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993.\nPart 3 Miscellaneous matters\n8 Regulations\nThe Administrator may make regulations under this Act.\n\nENDNOTES\nHealth Practitioner Regulation (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2010 7\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\nHealth Practitioner Regulation (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2010 (Act No. 2, 2010)\nAssent date 17 March 2010\nCommenced 1 July 2010 (s 2)\nHealth Practitioner (National Uniform Legislation) Implementation Act 2012 (Act No. 17,\n2012)\nAssent date 22 May 2012\nCommenced 1 July 2012 (s 2)\nHealth Practitioner Regulation (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2014 (Act No. 10,\n2014)\nAssent date 16 April 2014\nCommenced 16 April 2014\nNorthern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Conferral of Jurisdiction\nAmendments) (No. 2) Act 2014 (Act No. 35, 2014)\nAssent date 13 November 2014\nCommenced pts 4, 9, 10 and 19: 1 June 2015 (Gaz S53, 29 May 2015,\np 2); rem: 1 January 2015 (Gaz G51, 24 December 2014, p 7)\nLocal Court (Related Amendments) Act 2016 (Act No. 8, 2016)\nAssent date 6 April 2016\nCommenced 1 May 2016 (s 2, s 2 Local Court (Repeals and Related\nAmendments) Act 2016 (Act No. 9, 2016) and Gaz S34,\n29 April 2016)\nHealth Practitioner Regulation (National Uniform Legislation) and Other Legislation\nAmendment Act 2018 (Act No. 28, 2018)\nAssent date 30 November 2018\nCommenced 1 December 2018 (s 2)\n\nENDNOTES\nHealth Practitioner Regulation (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2010 8\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, 2018) to: ss 1, 4A, 5, 6A and 7.\n4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS\ns 3 amd No. 28, 2018, s 4\ns 4A ins No. 10, 2014, s 3\ns 5 amd No. 8, 2016, s 45; No. 28, 2018, s 5\ns 6 amd No. 17, 2012, s 51; No. 35, 2014, s 47\nsub No. 28, 2018, s 6\nss 6A – 6B ins No. 28, 2018, s 6\npt 4 hdg exp No. 2, 2010, s 12\nss 9 – 12 exp No. 2, 2010, s 12","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act's scope has been altered since original enactment by later amendments that added Territory-specific provisions and procedural rules. Notably, s 4A (private midwifery) was inserted (see List of Amendments: \"s 4A ins No. 10, 2014, s 3\") and ss 6A–6B (applications to vary prohibition orders and appeals procedure) were inserted (\"ss 6A – 6B ins No. 28, 2018, s 6\"). Other amendments updated definitions and mappings (s 5 and s 6 amendments listed in the endnotes). Those insertions expand the Act from a straightforward adoption of the National Law to include specific transitional arrangements, practitioner notification/reporting obligations, and Tribunal procedural mechanisms in the Territory."},"complexity_factors":["Adoption of an external \"National Law\" by reference and \"as in force from time to time\" (s 4) — creates dependency on external text and future amendments","Territory-specific transitional exception and administrative rules for private midwifery (s 4A) with notification and reporting timing requirements","Mapping of generic National Law terms to Territory institutions and statutes (s 5) — multiple cross-references","Tribunal procedural rules, including new application pathway, time limits and discretionary barriers (s 6A) and exclusion of certain local Tribunal Act provisions (s 6A(8)–(9))","Concentration of appeals and review within the Civil and Administrative Tribunal (s 6, s 6B) rather than general courts","Explicit exclusions of Territory Acts from applying to the National Law (s 7) — affects oversight and administrative regimes","Regulation-making power retained by the Administrator (s 8) — adds delegated law complexity","Amendment history and inserted sections (noted in endnotes) indicate the Act’s scope has been changed by later legislative amendments"],"plain_english_summary":"This Act adopts the national Health Practitioner Regulation Law into Northern Territory law, making the Territory subject to that national framework while mapping national terms to Territory institutions and excluding certain Territory Acts. It designates the NT Civil and Administrative Tribunal as the decision-maker and allows the Administrator to make regulations.\n\nNotable Territory adjustments: a transitional private‑midwifery regime requiring notification and case reports, and a structured process (including a five‑year wait) for varying Tribunal prohibition orders and appeals."},"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"source":"grok-batch-everything"},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains squarely within its original 2010 purpose of applying the national uniform scheme in the Northern Territory with necessary local adaptations for tribunals, courts and midwifery. Amendments have added procedural detail and updated references but have not expanded the Act beyond regulating health practitioners under the adopted National Law."},"complexity_factors":["Heavy reliance on adoption of an external, voluminous National Law set out in a Queensland Schedule with ongoing 'as in force from time to time' updates","Multiple jurisdiction-specific definitions that override or adapt generic terms in the National Law (s 5)","Detailed procedural rules for Tribunal applications to end, shorten or amend prohibition orders, including time bars, mandatory considerations and disapplication of two sections of the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act (ss 6A–6B)","Layered exceptions for private midwifery practice during a transition period that cross-reference both the National Law and Territory public health legislation (s 4A)","Express exclusion of five major Northern Territory statutes from the adopted National Law (s 7)"],"plain_english_summary":"**This Act makes the national rules for registering and regulating health practitioners (such as doctors, nurses, midwives, and other professionals) apply as law in the Northern Territory.** \n\nIt adopts the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (originally set out in Queensland legislation) so that one consistent system covers the whole country. The NT version includes local tweaks: it names the **Civil and Administrative Tribunal** as the body that hears disciplinary cases, defines NT-specific meanings for terms like 'court of summary jurisdiction' (the Local Court) and 'health complaints entity' (the Health and Community Services Complaints Commission), and sets out extra rules for midwives who want to practise independently during a transition period. \n\nThe law also explains how practitioners can ask the Tribunal to lift or shorten a ban (prohibition order) on them working, lists which NT laws do *not* apply to the national scheme, and allows regulations to be made. It matters because it ensures patient safety standards are the same everywhere in Australia while letting the Territory handle its own tribunal processes and a few local issues like private midwifery notifications."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/health-practitioner-regulation-national-uniform-legislation-act-2010","history":"/api/acts/health-practitioner-regulation-national-uniform-legislation-act-2010/history","analysis":"/api/acts/health-practitioner-regulation-national-uniform-legislation-act-2010/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/health-practitioner-regulation-national-uniform-legislation-act-2010/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/health-practitioner-regulation-national-uniform-legislation-act-2010/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/health-practitioner-regulation-national-uniform-legislation-act-2010/documents"}}