{"id":"licensed-surveyors-act-1983","name":"Licensed Surveyors Act 1983","slug":"licensed-surveyors-act-1983","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":30278,"registerId":"nt-licensed-surveyors-act-1983-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Licensed Surveyors Act 1983","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nLICENSED SURVEYORS ACT 1983\nAs in force at 13 September 2025\nTable of provisions\nPart I Preliminary\n1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1\n2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1\n3 Repeal ............................................................................................. 1\n4 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1\nPart II Surveyor-General\n5 Surveyor-General ............................................................................ 3\n6 Delegation ....................................................................................... 3\n7 Acting appointment .......................................................................... 3\nPart III Surveyors Board\n8 Surveyors Board .............................................................................. 4\n9 Composition of Board and appointment of members....................... 5\n11 Period of appointment ..................................................................... 5\n12 Chairperson ..................................................................................... 5\n13 Resignation of members .................................................................. 5\n14 Dismissal of members ..................................................................... 5\n15 Acting appointment .......................................................................... 6\n16 Powers and functions of Board ........................................................ 6\n17 Meeting of Board ............................................................................. 6\n18 Delegation by Board ........................................................................ 7\n19 Liability for acts of Board, &c. .......................................................... 7\n20 Setting of fees.................................................................................. 8\n21 Annual report ................................................................................... 8\nPart IV Registration and qualifications\n22 Register ........................................................................................... 8\n23 Application for registration ............................................................... 8\n24 Registration ..................................................................................... 8\n25 Qualification for registration ............................................................. 9\n26 Examinations ................................................................................. 10\n27 Reciprocal arrangements............................................................... 10\n28 Payment of annual registration fee ................................................ 10\n29 Notice of decision to refuse registration ......................................... 11\n30 Proof of registration ....................................................................... 11\n31 Fraudulent registration ................................................................... 11\n32 Alteration of Register ..................................................................... 11\n\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 ii\n33 Cancellation or suspension of registration ..................................... 12\n34 Inquiry to be held ........................................................................... 13\n35 Notice of decision to reprimand, &c. .............................................. 13\n36 Effect of suspension of registration................................................ 14\n37 Surrender of certificate .................................................................. 14\n38 Application for re-registration ......................................................... 14\nPart V Appeals\n40 Licensed Surveyors Appeal Tribunal ............................................. 15\n41 Secretary of Tribunal ..................................................................... 15\n42 Powers and procedures of Tribunal ............................................... 15\n43 Appeals.......................................................................................... 16\n44 Removal of suspension pending determination of appeal ............. 17\n45 Action consequent on allowance of appeal ................................... 17\n46 Decision of Tribunal final ............................................................... 17\nPart VI Practice of land boundary surveying\n46A Coordinated survey areas.............................................................. 17\n47 Board may give directions ............................................................. 18\n48 Unauthorized surveys etc. ............................................................. 18\nPart VII Survey plans\n49 Submission and approval of plan................................................... 19\n50 No acceptance of survey unless plan approved etc. ..................... 20\n51 Correction of survey ...................................................................... 20\nPart VIII Miscellaneous\n52 Legal assistance ............................................................................ 21\n53 Power to summon witnesses ......................................................... 21\n54 Power to examine on oath ............................................................. 21\n56 Failure to attend or produce documents ........................................ 21\n57 Refusal to take oath or give evidence ............................................ 21\n58 Protection of witnesses .................................................................. 22\n59 Fees and expenses to witnesses................................................... 22\n60 Board may inspect books, &c. ....................................................... 22\n61 Power of entry upon land, &c......................................................... 22\n62 Destruction of survey marks .......................................................... 24\n63 Evidence of certified map, &c. ....................................................... 24\n64 Judicial notice ................................................................................ 24\n65 Service of summons or notice ....................................................... 24\n66 Regulations.................................................................................... 25\n\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 iii\nSchedule Ordinances repealed\nENDNOTES\n\n\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 13 September 2025\n____________________\nLICENSED SURVEYORS ACT 1983\nAn Act to provide for the registration of land boundary surveyors and for\nthe regulation of the practice of land boundary surveying, and for other\npurposes\nPart I Preliminary\n1 Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Licensed Surveyors Act 1983.\n2 Commencement\nThis Act shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by the\nAdministrator by notice in the Gazette.\n3 Repeal\nThe Ordinances specified in the Schedule are repealed.\n4 Definitions\nIn this Act:\napplicant means a person who applies under section 23 for\nregistration.\napproved means approved by the Board.\nBoard means the Surveyors Board of the Northern Territory of\nAustralia established by section 8.\ncertificate of registration means a certificate of registration issued\nunder section 24(3).\nChairperson means the Chairperson of the Board.\ncoordinated survey area means an area of land in the Territory\ndeclared under section 46A to be a coordinated survey area.\nDeputy Chairperson means the Deputy Chairperson of the Board\nappointed under section 12(2).\n\nPart I Preliminary\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 2\ngraduate surveyor means a person who possesses the approved\neducational qualifications for registration as a licensed surveyor but\nhas not satisfied the Board that the person has the additional\nqualifications for registration referred to in section 25(1)(a).\nland includes land covered by water.\nlicensed surveyor means:\n(a) a person whose name was immediately before the\ncommencement of this Act entered in the Register kept under\nthe repealed Act; or\n(b) a person whose name is, for the time being, entered in the\nRegister.\nmember means a member of the Board appointed under\nsection 9(2) and includes a person appointed to act as a member.\nreciprocating board means the surveyors board or other\ncompetent authority of a reciprocating State.\nreciprocating State means a part of the Commonwealth or another\ncountry with the surveyors board or other competent authority of\nwhich the Board has entered into a reciprocal arrangement under\nsection 27.\nRegister means the Register of Licensed Surveyors kept under\nsection 22.\nrepealed Act means the Ordinances repealed by section 3, as in\nforce immediately before the commencement of this Act.\nsurvey means a measurement or delimitation of land boundaries\nauthorized or required:\n(a) under an Act dealing with the alienation, leasing or occupation\nof Crown land or land of the Crown, or affecting titles to land;\n(b) by the Crown or the proprietor, lessee or mortgagee of the\nland or a prospective proprietor, lessee or mortgagee; or\n(c) in connection with the dedication, reservation, resumption or\ndisposal of land for any purpose under the authority of an Act,\nand includes all matters incidental to or consequent upon such\nmeasurement or delimitation.\n\nPart II Surveyor-General\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 3\nsurvey mark includes a beacon, concrete block, metal pin or\nplaque, peg, post, stone cairn or any other approved marker placed\non land for the purposes of a survey or indicating a boundary.\nSurveyor-General means the person appointed under section 5,\nand includes a person appointed under section 7 to act as the\nSurveyor-General while so acting.\nTribunal means the Licensed Surveyors Appeal Tribunal\nestablished by section 40.\nNote for section 4\nThe Interpretation Act 1978 contains definitions and other provisions that may be\nrelevant to this Act.\nPart II Surveyor-General\n5 Surveyor-General\nThe Minister may, by instrument in writing, appoint a person who is\na licensed surveyor to be the Surveyor-General for the Territory.\n6 Delegation\n(1) The Surveyor-General may, by instrument in writing, delegate to a\nlicensed surveyor any of his or her powers and functions under this\nor any other Act, other than the Electoral Act 2004, except this\npower of delegation.\n(2) A power or function delegated in pursuance of this section, when\nexercised or performed by the delegate, shall be deemed to have\nbeen exercised or performed by the Surveyor-General.\n(3) A delegation under this section does not prevent the exercise of a\npower or the performance of a function by the Surveyor-General.\n7 Acting appointment\n(1) The Minister may appoint a licensed surveyor to act as the\nSurveyor-General:\n(a) during a vacancy in the office of Surveyor-General, whether or\nnot an appointment has previously been made to the office; or\n(b) during a period, or during all periods, when the\nSurveyor-General is absent from duty or from the Territory or\nis, for any reason, unable to perform the functions of his or her\noffice,\n\nPart III Surveyors Board\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 4\nbut a person appointed to act during a vacancy shall not continue\nso to act for a period in excess of 12 months.\n(2) The appointment of a person under subsection (1) may be\nexpressed to have effect only in such circumstances as are\nspecified in the instrument of appointment.\n(3) Where a person is acting as the Surveyor-General in accordance\nwith this section and the office of Surveyor-General becomes\nvacant while that person is so acting then, subject to subsection (2),\nthat person may continue so to act until the Minister otherwise\ndirects, the vacancy is filled or a period of 12 months from the date\non which the vacancy occurred expires, whichever first occurs.\n(4) The Minister may, at any time, terminate the appointment of a\nperson appointed to act in accordance with this section.\n(5) The appointment of a person under this section ceases to have\neffect if he or she resigns his or her appointment by writing signed\nby him or her and delivered to the Minister.\n(6) The validity of anything done by a person purporting to act under\nsubsection (1) shall not be called in question on the ground that the\noccasion for his or her appointment had not arisen, that there is a\ndefect or irregularity in or in connection with his or her appointment,\nthat the appointment had ceased to have effect or that the occasion\nfor him or her to act had not arisen or had ceased.\nPart III Surveyors Board\n8 Surveyors Board\n(1) There is established by this Act a board by the name of the\nSurveyors Board of the Northern Territory of Australia.\n(2) The Board:\n(a) is a body corporate with perpetual succession;\n(b) shall have a common seal; and\n(c) is capable, in its corporate name, of suing and being sued.\n(3) All courts, judges and persons acting judicially shall take judicial\nnotice of the common seal of the Board affixed to a document and\nshall presume that it was duly affixed.\n\nPart III Surveyors Board\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 5\n9 Composition of Board and appointment of members\n(1) The Board consists of the Surveyor-General and 4 members.\n(2) The Minister must, by Gazette notice, appoint the following to be\nthe members of the Board:\n(a) 2 persons from a panel of 3 licensed surveyors nominated by\na recognised professional surveying body representing land\nboundary surveyors in the Territory;\n(b) 2 other licensed surveyors.\n(3) The exercise of a power or the performance of a function of the\nBoard is not affected by reason only of there being a vacancy in the\nmembership of the Board.\n11 Period of appointment\nA member:\n(a) holds office for the period, not exceeding 4 years, specified in\nthe instrument of appointment; and\n(b) is eligible for re-appointment.\n12 Chairperson\n(1) The Surveyor-General is to be the Chairperson of the Board.\n(2) The Board must appoint one of its members to be the Deputy\nChairperson of the Board.\n13 Resignation of members\nA member may resign his or her office by writing signed by him or\nher and delivered to the Minister.\n14 Dismissal of members\n(1) The Minister may terminate the appointment of a member for\ninability, inefficiency, misbehaviour or physical or mental incapacity.\n(2) Where a member:\n(a) is absent, except on leave granted by the Board, from\n2 consecutive meetings of the Board;\n\nPart III Surveyors Board\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 6\n(b) becomes bankrupt, applies to take the benefit of a law for the\nrelief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors, compounds with his or\nher creditors or makes an assignment of his or her\nremuneration for their benefit; or\n(c) is convicted, whether in the Territory or elsewhere, of an\noffence punishable by imprisonment for 12 months or longer\nor of any offence which, in the opinion of the Board, renders\nhim or her unfit to practise as a licensed surveyor,\nthe Minister shall terminate the appointment of the member.\n15 Acting appointment\n(1) Where a member is or is expected to be absent from duty as a\nmember (including where he or she is or is expected to be acting as\nthe Surveyor-General) or from the Territory or is for any reason\ntemporarily unable to perform the duties of his or her office, the\nMinister may appoint a licensed surveyor to act as a member during\nthe absence or temporary inability.\n(2) The Minister may, at any time, terminate an appointment made\nunder this section.\n(3) The validity of a decision of the Board shall not be questioned in\nany proceedings on a ground arising from the fact that the occasion\nfor the appointment of a person purporting to be appointed under\nthis section had not arisen or that an appointment under this section\nhad ceased to have effect.\n16 Powers and functions of Board\nThe Board has such powers and functions as are given to or\nimposed on it by or under this or any other Act of the Territory.\n17 Meeting of Board\n(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Chairperson shall, by reasonable\nnotice given to all members, call such meetings of the Board as are\nnecessary for the exercise of its powers and the performance of its\nfunctions, but so that the interval between one meeting and the next\ndoes not exceed 12 months.\n(2) At any time:\n(a) the Minister may direct; or\n(b) a majority of the members may request,\n\nPart III Surveyors Board\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 7\nthe Chairperson to convene a meeting of the Board and the\nChairperson shall convene a meeting in accordance with the\ndirection of the Minister or may convene a meeting in accordance\nwith the request of the members.\n(3) At a meeting of the Board:\n(a) the Chairperson or, in the absence of the Chairperson, the\nDeputy Chairperson and 2 members constitute a quorum;\n(b) questions arising shall be determined by a majority of the\nvotes of the Chairperson and members present and voting;\n(c) the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson presiding has a\ndeliberative vote and, in the event of an equality of votes, also\nhas a casting vote; and\n(d) subject to this Act, the Board shall determine the procedure to\nbe followed at or in connection with the meeting.\n(4) The Board shall keep records of its meetings.\n18 Delegation by Board\n(1) The Board may, by instrument in writing, delegate to the\nChairperson or a member any of its powers and functions under\nthis Act, other than this power of delegation.\n(2) A power or function delegated under this section, when exercised\nor performed by the delegate, shall, for the purposes of this Act, be\ndeemed to have been exercised or performed by the Board.\n(3) A delegation under this section does not prevent the exercise of a\npower or the performance of a function by the Board.\n19 Liability for acts of Board, &c.\nWhere the Board, the Chairperson or a member commits an act or\nmakes an omission in good faith:\n(a) in the exercise or purported exercise of a power; or\n(b) in the performance or purported performance of a function,\nunder this Act for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions or\nobjects of this Act, or for discharging an obligation placed on the\nBoard, the Chairperson or a member by this Act, no action, claim or\ndemand, either civil or criminal, in respect of that act or omission\nlies, or shall be commenced or allowed, against the Territory, the\nBoard, the Chairperson or a member.\n\nPart IV Registration and qualifications\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 8\n20 Setting of fees\nSubject to sections 26 and 28 and the Regulations, the Board may,\nby notice in the Gazette, prescribe the fees payable in respect of\nany application to, or matter or thing required by or under this Act to\nbe done by or in relation to, the Board or the Tribunal, and a fee so\nset shall be payable accordingly.\n21 Annual report\n(1) At the end of each financial year, the Board must prepare a report\non its operations during that financial year.\n(2) The Board must give the report to the Minister within 6 months after\nthe end of that financial year or another period specified by the\nMinister.\n(3) The Minister must table a copy of the report in the Legislative\nAssembly within 6 sitting days after the Minister receives the report.\nPart IV Registration and qualifications\n22 Register\n(1) The Board shall keep a register to be known as the Register of\nLicensed Surveyors.\n(2) The Board shall, as soon as practicable after 1 January in each\nyear, publish in the Gazette the name, and address referred to in\nsection 24(1)(a) and (b), of each licensed surveyor, as at that date.\n23 Application for registration\n(1) A person may apply in the approved form to be registered as a\nlicensed surveyor.\n(2) An application under subsection (1) shall be accompanied by the\nprescribed fee.\n24 Registration\n(1) Where the Board has received an application for registration and\nthe prescribed fee, and has authorized the registration of the\napplicant as a licensed surveyor, it shall, subject to section 39,\ncause to be entered in the Register:\n(a) the applicant's name;\n\nPart IV Registration and qualifications\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 9\n(b) his or her professional address or addresses, if any, in the\nTerritory or, if he or she has no such professional address, his\nor her place of residence, whether in the Territory or\nelsewhere;\n(c) particulars of his or her qualifications;\n(d) the registration number allotted to him or her;\n(e) the date of his or her registration; and\n(f) such other particulars, if any, as are prescribed.\n(2) An entry in the Register shall be signed by the Chairperson or the\nDeputy Chairperson.\n(3) Where a person is registered as a licensed surveyor the Board shall\ncause to be issued to him or her a certificate of registration, under\nthe hand of the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson.\n25 Qualification for registration\n(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Board shall authorize the registration\nof a person as a licensed surveyor if he or she satisfies the Board\nthat he or she is a fit and proper person to be so registered and:\n(a) he or she has approved educational qualifications and:\n(i) has completed, in accordance with the directions of the\nBoard, approved training and field service with a\nlicensed surveyor; or\n(ii) has completed training and field service outside the\nTerritory which, by itself or together with further training\nor field service in the Territory, is, in the opinion of the\nBoard, equivalent to the training and field service\nreferred to in subparagraph (i),\nand has passed such examinations, if any, as are required by\nthe Board;\n(b) he or she is registered, licensed or authorized to practise as a\nsurveyor of land boundaries by a reciprocating board; or\n(c) he or she holds a letter of accreditation issued by a\nreciprocating board certifying that he or she is qualified, under\nthe relevant law, to be registered, licensed or authorized to\npractise as a surveyor of land boundaries.\n\nPart IV Registration and qualifications\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 10\n(2) The Board may require an applicant for registration to attend\npersonally before it and, if he or she fails to attend as required, may\nrefuse to authorize his or her registration.\n26 Examinations\n(1) For the purpose of determining whether an applicant for registration\nis qualified to be registered as a licensed surveyor, the Board may\nconduct such examinations, either written or oral, as it thinks fit and\nfor that purpose may appoint examiners and supervisors of\nexaminations and pay to them such fees as are approved.\n(2) An application to sit for an examination referred to in subsection (1)\nshall be in the approved form and be accompanied by the approved\nfee.\n27 Reciprocal arrangements\nThe Board may enter into a reciprocal arrangement with a\nsurveyors board or other competent authority in any part of the\nCommonwealth or another country, for the recognition of the status\nof a person registered, licensed or authorized by the surveyors\nboard or other competent authority to practise as a surveyor of land\nboundaries in that part of the Commonwealth or other country, and\nfor his or her registration as a licensed surveyor under this Act.\n28 Payment of annual registration fee\n(1) A licensed surveyor shall, before 1 December in each year, pay to\nthe Board the prescribed annual registration fee for the ensuing\nyear of registration commencing 1 January and ending\n31 December.\n(2) If a licensed surveyor fails to pay the prescribed annual registration\nfee for the ensuing year of registration before the commencement\nof that year of registration the Board may remove his or her name\nfrom the Register.\n(3) A person whose name has been removed under subsection (2)\nfrom the Register may apply to the Board to have his or her name\nrestored to the Register and, on payment of the prescribed fee and\nany prescribed annual registration fee remaining unpaid by him or\nher as the Board thinks fit, the Board may restore his or her name\naccordingly.\n(4) Subject to the Regulations, the Minister may, by notice in the\nGazette, prescribe fees for the purposes of this section.\n\nPart IV Registration and qualifications\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 11\n29 Notice of decision to refuse registration\nWhere the Board refuses to authorize the registration of a person\nas a licensed surveyor, it shall:\n(a) record the reasons for its decision;\n(b) serve on the applicant personally or by posting it by prepaid\nletter addressed to him or her at the address shown as his or\nher address in the application, within 7 days after so deciding,\nnotice of its decision; and\n(c) if the applicant so requests, supply him or her with a copy of\nits reasons.\n30 Proof of registration\n(1) A certificate of registration is evidence that the person specified in\nthe certificate was registered under this Act on the date specified in\nthe certificate.\n(2) A document purporting to be a certificate under the hand of the\nChairperson or Deputy Chairperson and stating that a person was\nor was not registered on the date or dates or during the period\nmentioned in the document is, in all courts and before all persons\nand bodies authorized to receive evidence, evidence of the matter\nso stated.\n31 Fraudulent registration\nA person shall not, in connection with an application for registration\nunder this Act, make a false or misleading statement or produce a\nfalse certificate, testimonial or other document.\nMaximum penalty: 100 penalty units or imprisonment for\n6 months.\n32 Alteration of Register\nThe Board shall cause to be removed from the Register the name\nof a licensed surveyor who dies or who requests his or her name to\nbe removed and may cause to be made such alterations to the\nparticulars recorded in the Register as are necessary.\n\nPart IV Registration and qualifications\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 12\n33 Cancellation or suspension of registration\n(1) Subject to section 34, the Board may order the removal from the\nRegister of the name of a licensed surveyor:\n(a) whose registration has been obtained by fraud or\nmisrepresentation;\n(b) who is found guilty, whether in the Territory or elsewhere, of\nan offence which, in the opinion of the Board, renders him or\nher unfit to practise as a licensed surveyor;\n(c) who is found guilty of an offence against this Act;\n(d) who is found guilty of an offence against any other law in force\nin the Territory relating to the duties and functions of licensed\nsurveyors or matters incidental to surveys;\n(e) whose name is, otherwise than for non-payment of fees or at\nhis or her own request, removed from a register of surveyors,\nor like records, kept by a reciprocating board;\n(f) who becomes of unsound mind;\n(g) who in the opinion of the Board is guilty of:\n(i) habitual drunkenness or addiction to a narcotic drug;\n(ii) allowing a person, other than a licensed surveyor or a\nperson employed under his or her direct supervision, to\npractise in his or her name as a licensed surveyor; or\n(iii) directly or indirectly giving or offering or agreeing to give\nor offer to a person a valuable consideration for securing\nor attempting to secure for the licensed surveyor\nemployment or work as a licensed surveyor;\n(h) who certifies to the accuracy of a survey knowing it to be\ninaccurate;\n(j) who wilfully or by culpable negligence or through\nincompetence makes, or causes to be made under his or her\nsupervision, a survey that is so inaccurate or defective as to\nbe unreliable; or\n(k) who contravenes, or fails to comply with, a direction given\nunder section 47 by the Board.\n\nPart IV Registration and qualifications\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 13\n(2) The Board may, instead of ordering the removal of the name of a\nlicensed surveyor from the Register on a ground referred to in\nsubsection (1)(c), (d), (g), (h), (j) or (k), reprimand him or her or\nsuspend his or her registration for a period, not exceeding 3 years,\nas it thinks fit.\n(3) Where the entitlement of a licensed surveyor to practise in a\nreciprocating State or another Territory of the Commonwealth is\nsuspended, the Board may suspend his or her registration for a\nperiod not extending beyond the period of suspension imposed by\nthe reciprocating board.\n34 Inquiry to be held\n(1) Before taking action under section 33(1)(a), (b), (f), (g), (h), (j) or (k)\nin relation to a licensed surveyor, the Board shall, as soon as\npracticable, hold an inquiry after giving not less than 10 days notice\nto the licensed surveyor of the matters to be inquired into and of the\ntime and place at which the inquiry is to be held.\n(2) At an inquiry under subsection (1) the licensed surveyor may be\nrepresented by a legal practitioner or an agent, who may examine\nwitnesses and address the Board on the licensed surveyor's behalf.\n(3) In conducting an inquiry under subsection (1) the Board is not\nbound by rules of evidence or legal procedure, but may inform itself\nin such manner as it thinks fit.\n(4) Pending the holding of an inquiry under subsection (1), the Board\nmay, if it appears to it that the circumstances justify it in so doing,\nsuspend the registration of the licensed surveyor.\n35 Notice of decision to reprimand, &c.\nWhere the Board reprimands a licensed surveyor, suspends his or\nher registration or orders the removal from the Register of his or her\nname, the Board shall:\n(a) record the reasons for its decision;\n(b) serve on the licensed surveyor, within 7 days after so\ndeciding, notice of its decision; and\n(c) supply him or her with a copy of those reasons.\n\nPart IV Registration and qualifications\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 14\n36 Effect of suspension of registration\n(1) A person whose registration as a licensed surveyor is suspended\nshall, during the period for which the registration is suspended, be\ndeemed to be a person who is not registered as a licensed surveyor\nunder this Act.\n(2) The Board may, by notice in writing, remove a suspension referred\nto in subsection (1) from a date specified in the notice.\n(3) Where the Board removes under subsection (2) a suspension, the\nBoard shall forthwith return the certificate of registration\nsurrendered under section 37.\n37 Surrender of certificate\n(1) Where the Board orders the removal from the Register of the name\nof a licensed surveyor or the suspension of his or her registration, it\nmay, by notice in writing, require him or her, within 14 days after the\nservice on him or her of the notice, to deliver his or her certificate of\nregistration to the Board.\n(2) A person referred to in subsection (1) shall not fail to comply with a\nnotice served on him or her under that subsection.\nMaximum penalty: 20 penalty units and 2 penalty units for each\nday during which the offence continues.\n(3) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against\nsubsection (2) if the defendant satisfies the court that:\n(a) the certificate has been destroyed; or\n(b) after diligent search, he or she has been unable to find the\ncertificate.\n38 Application for re-registration\n(1) A person whose name has been removed from the Register in\npursuance of section 33 may again apply for registration as a\nlicensed surveyor.\n(2) The Board may, in its discretion, authorize the registration of an\napplicant referred to in subsection (1) or refuse to authorize the\nregistration.\n\nPart V Appeals\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 15\nPart V Appeals\n40 Licensed Surveyors Appeal Tribunal\n(1) There is hereby established a tribunal by the name of the Licensed\nSurveyors Appeal Tribunal.\n(2) The Tribunal consists of:\n(a) a lawyer who has been admitted to the legal profession for at\nleast 7 years, appointed by the Attorney-General, to be the\nChairperson; and\n(b) 2 licensed surveyors, appointed by the Minister, neither of\nwhom are members of the Board and one of whom is to be\nappointed on the nomination of a recognised professional\nsurveying body representing land boundary surveyors in the\nTerritory.\n(4) A member of the Tribunal is not civilly or criminally liable in respect\nof an act done or omission made by the member in good faith in\ncarrying out a function imposed or exercising a power conferred\nunder this Act on the member or the Tribunal.\n41 Secretary of Tribunal\nThe Minister shall appoint a person to be the secretary of the\nTribunal.\n42 Powers and procedures of Tribunal\n(1) In and in relation to an appeal under this Part the Tribunal has such\npowers and shall comply with such practices and procedures as are\nprescribed and, in the absence of a practice or procedure in relation\nto a particular matter or thing being prescribed, shall adopt such\nprocedures as it thinks fit.\n(2) The Judges appointed under section 32(1) of the Supreme Court\nAct 1979 who are not additional Judges, or a majority of those\nJudges, may make rules, not inconsistent with this Act:\n(a) for regulating the practice and procedure of the Tribunal;\n(b) conferring on the Tribunal additional powers necessary or\nconvenient for carrying out its functions, including the power to\nimpose a maximum penalty of 100 penalty units for a breach\nof the rules; and\n(c) making such other provisions as are necessary or convenient\nfor carrying into effect the provisions of this Part.\n\nPart V Appeals\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 16\n43 Appeals\n(1) Where the Board:\n(a) refuses an application for the registration of a person;\n(b) orders the removal from the Register of the name of a\nlicensed surveyor;\n(c) reprimands a licensed surveyor; or\n(d) suspends, otherwise than under section 33(3), the registration\nof a licensed surveyor,\nthe person or licensed surveyor may, within 21 days after the notice\nof the decision is served on him or her, appeal to the Tribunal\nagainst the decision of the Board by lodging with the secretary of\nthe Tribunal an application in the prescribed form.\n(2) Jurisdiction to hear and determine appeals under this Part is vested\nin the Tribunal.\n(3) An appeal under this Part is in the nature of a rehearing.\n(4) In an appeal under this Part the Tribunal shall be bound by the\nrules of evidence.\n(5) The Board shall be the respondent in an appeal under this Part.\n(6) A party to an appeal under this Part may appear before the Tribunal\nin person or may be represented at the hearing of the appeal by a\nlegal practitioner or an agent.\n(7) In an appeal under this Part the Tribunal may:\n(a) affirm, set aside or vary a decision appealed against;\n(b) give such judgment as it thinks fit; and\n(c) make such other order, as to costs or otherwise, as it thinks fit.\n(8) Where, in an appeal under this section, the Tribunal sets aside or\nvaries a decision of the Board, the Tribunal shall set out in its\ndecision its reasons.\n\nPart VI Practice of land boundary surveying\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 17\n44 Removal of suspension pending determination of appeal\nWhere a person appeals under section 43(1) against the\nsuspension of his or her registration he or she shall, from the time\nthat the appeal is lodged with the Tribunal until the determination of\nthe appeal, be deemed to continue to be registered as a licensed\nsurveyor.\n45 Action consequent on allowance of appeal\nWhere the Tribunal allows an appeal under section 43, the Board\nshall, subject to any order of the Tribunal:\n(a) in a matter referred to in section 43(1)(a) – forthwith cause the\nappellant to be registered;\n(b) in a matter referred to in section 43(1)(b) – forthwith cause the\nname of the appellant to be restored to the Register and return\nhis or her certificate of registration to him or her;\n(c) in a matter referred to in section 43(1)(c) – cause a record of\nthe decision to be entered in the prescribed register; and\n(d) in a matter referred to in section 43(1)(d) – forthwith remove\nthe suspension and return the appellant's certificate of\nregistration to him or her,\nand do such other things as are necessary to give effect to the\ndecision or the order of the Tribunal.\n46 Decision of Tribunal final\nThe decision of the Tribunal in an appeal under this Part is final and\nshall not be challenged in a court by prerogative writ or otherwise.\nPart VI Practice of land boundary surveying\n46A Coordinated survey areas\n(1) The Surveyor-General may declare an area of land in the Territory\nto be a coordinated survey area.\n(2) A declaration under subsection (1) is to be notified in the Gazette\nand takes effect on the date specified in the notice.\n(3) A survey within a coordinated survey area is to be in accordance\nwith an approved methodology to delimit land boundaries by\ngeodetic coordinates or with another approved system of\ndelimitation.\n\nPart VI Practice of land boundary surveying\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 18\n47 Board may give directions\n(1) The Board may give directions with respect to the practice to be\nfollowed by licensed surveyors in making land boundary surveys\nand preparing plans showing the results of such surveys.\n(2) Directions given under subsection (1) shall:\n(a) be notified in the Gazette; and\n(b) take effect on the date on which they are notified or, if another\ndate being a date after the first-mentioned date is specified in\nthe direction, on the date so specified.\n(3) A notice referred to in subsection (2)(a) shall indicate the place\nwhere copies of the directions to which it relates may be purchased\nor otherwise obtained.\n48 Unauthorized surveys etc.\n(1) A person other than a licensed surveyor or a person employed\nunder the supervision of a licensed surveyor shall not, for fee or\nreward, survey land boundaries in the Territory.\nMaximum penalty: 500 penalty units.\n(2) Where, by an Act or other law in force in the Territory, provision is\nmade requiring a certificate or other document to be made or given\nby a licensed surveyor, a person other than a licensed surveyor\nshall not give or purport to give such a certificate or document.\nMaximum penalty: 500 penalty units.\n(3) A person other than a licensed surveyor shall not take, or use,\neither alone or in combination with any other words or letters:\n(a) the title of \"licensed surveyor\"; or\n(b) a name, title, addition or description (including initials or letters\nplaced after his or her name) indicating or implying that he or\nshe is a licensed surveyor or that he or she is authorized\nunder this Act to survey land boundaries in the Territory.\nMaximum penalty: 500 penalty units.\n(4) Nothing in this section prevents a corporation from:\n(a) providing surveys of land boundaries in the Territory, or\nservices incidental to such surveys, by an officer or employee\nof the corporation who is a licensed surveyor; or\n\nPart VII Survey plans\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 19\n(b) using a name, title, addition or description referred to in\nsubsection (3)(b) if the corporation is providing surveys of land\nboundaries in the Territory, or services incidental to such\nsurveys, by an officer or employee of the corporation who is a\nlicensed surveyor.\nPart VII Survey plans\n49 Submission and approval of plan\n(1) A licensed surveyor must submit to the Surveyor-General, in the\nprescribed manner and accompanied by the prescribed fee:\n(a) any plan of survey certified by the licensed surveyor that is or\nmay be required in relation to the legal title to land or legal\nrights and obligations in respect of land; and\n(b) the data from which the plan was prepared.\n(2) A plan submitted under this section is to be in the prescribed format\nrelevant to the area of land, or the coordinated survey area, within\nwhich the land boundaries delineated in the plan are situated.\n(3) The Surveyor-General may approve a plan submitted under this\nsection if:\n(a) the plan is certified by a licensed surveyor in accordance with\nthe practice directions given by the Board under section 47\nand in force immediately before the date of approval; and\n(b) the Surveyor-General is satisfied in respect of the matters\nreferred to in section 62 of the Planning Act 1999 (if\napplicable); and\n(c) the Registrar-General has given notice that the land to which\nthe plan relates is in order for dealings under the Land Title\nAct 2000 (if applicable); and\n(d) any other requirements in respect of a particular subdivision\nspecified under a law in force in the Territory have been\ncomplied with; and\n(e) any other requirements specified by the Surveyor-General in a\nparticular case have been complied with.\n(3A) For subsection (3)(e), the Surveyor-General may require a licensed\nsurveyor to submit further information or documents relevant to the\nSurveyor-General's consideration of approval of a plan.\n\nPart VII Survey plans\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 20\n(4) If a plan of a survey does not comply with the requirements in\nsubsection (3), the Surveyor-General may:\n(a) on receipt of the prescribed fee, examine the plan; and\n(b) if satisfied that the plan is correct, approve it.\n(5) The Surveyor-General may, by notice in the Gazette, prescribe the\nformat, manner of submitting and number of copies of plans of land\nboundary surveys required to be submitted under this section.\n(6) The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, prescribe fees for the\npurposes of this section.\n50 No acceptance of survey unless plan approved etc.\n(1) The Territory is not to accept or adopt a survey unless a plan of the\nsurvey has been approved by the Surveyor-General.\n(2) A plan approved by the Surveyor-General, or a copy of a plan\ncertified by the Surveyor-General to be a true copy of a plan\napproved by him or her, is to be accepted as correct in all questions\nrelating to the land boundaries delineated in the plan.\n51 Correction of survey\n(1) The Surveyor-General may give a licensed surveyor a written\nnotice requiring the licensed surveyor to correct, at his or her own\nexpense and within a specified time, an error or omission made in a\nsurvey certified by the licensed surveyor.\n(2) If a licensed surveyor given a notice under subsection (1) fails to\ncorrect the error or omission within the specified time:\n(a) the Surveyor-General may instruct another licensed surveyor\nto make the required correction; and\n(b) the costs incurred by the Surveyor-General in having the\ncorrection made is a debt owed to the Territory by the licensed\nsurveyor given the notice.\n(3) Despite subsections (1) and (2), the Surveyor-General may, without\ngiving notice to the licensed surveyor who certified a survey in\nwhich there is an error or omission, instruct another licensed\nsurveyor to make the required correction.\n(4) The costs incurred by the Surveyor-General under subsection (3)\nare to be borne by the Territory.\n\nPart VIII Miscellaneous\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 21\nPart VIII Miscellaneous\n52 Legal assistance\nThe Attorney-General may appoint a legal practitioner to assist the\nBoard at an inquiry under section 34 or in any matters before the\nTribunal.\n53 Power to summon witnesses\nThe Chairperson or Chairperson of the Tribunal may, by writing\nunder his or her hand, summon a person to attend before the Board\nor the Tribunal, as the case may be, at a time and place specified in\nthe summons and then and there to give evidence and produce\nsuch books, documents or writings in his or her custody or control\nas he or she is required by the summons to produce.\n54 Power to examine on oath\nA Board or the Tribunal may require a person appearing before it to\ngive evidence on oath.\n56 Failure to attend or produce documents\n(1) A person served with a summons to attend before the Board or the\nTribunal shall not refuse or fail, without reasonable excuse, to\nattend in accordance with the summons or to produce books,\ndocuments or writings in his or her custody or control that he or she\nis required by the summons to produce.\nMaximum penalty: 100 penalty units.\n(2) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against\nsubsection (1) if the defendant proves that the book, document or\nwriting to which the summons relates was not relevant to the matter\nthe subject of the proceedings of the Board or the Tribunal, as the\ncase may be.\n57 Refusal to take oath or give evidence\n(1) A person appearing as a witness before the Board or the Tribunal\nshall not refuse to take an oath when required by the Board or\nTribunal to do so or to answer a question relevant to the\nproceedings put to him or her by a member of the Board or the\nTribunal.\nMaximum penalty: 100 penalty units.\n\nPart VIII Miscellaneous\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 22\n(2) A statement or disclosure made before the Board or the Tribunal by\na witness is not, except in an appeal under Part V to the Tribunal, in\nthe case of a statement or disclosure made before the Board or in\nproceedings for giving false testimony before the Board or the\nTribunal, admissible in evidence against him or her in civil or\ncriminal proceedings in a court.\n58 Protection of witnesses\nA witness before the Board or the Tribunal has the same protection\nas a witness in a matter before the Supreme Court.\n59 Fees and expenses to witnesses\n(1) A person who attends for the purpose of giving evidence before the\nBoard or the Tribunal is entitled to receive such fees and travelling\nexpenses in accordance with the scale in the High Court Rules as\nthe Chairperson or Chairperson of the Tribunal, as the case may\nbe, determines.\n(2) Fees and expenses payable under subsection (1) are payable:\n(a) if the person attended before the Board or the Tribunal,\nwhether on summons or not, by reason of a request by a\nperson other than the Chairperson or the Chairperson of the\nTribunal or an officer of the Agency – by the person at whose\nrequest the first-mentioned person attended; or\n(b) in any other case – by the Territory.\n60 Board may inspect books, &c.\nThe Board may inspect books, documents or writings before it and\nmay retain them for such reasonable period as it thinks fit and may\nmake copies of such portions of them as are relevant to a matter\nbefore the Board.\n61 Power of entry upon land, &c.\n(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other Act, a licensed\nsurveyor and such assistants as he or she considers necessary\nmay, at all reasonable times, after giving notice of his or her\nintention so to do, enter upon land, whether the land is the land to\nbe surveyed or other land, for the purpose of making a survey and\nmay, for that purpose, open a fence, place a survey mark on the\nland and enter a building on the land to determine the position of a\nwall or to define a boundary.\n\nPart VIII Miscellaneous\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 23\n(2) In addition to the powers conferred by subsection (1), a licensed\nsurveyor and his or her assistants may, with as little damage as\npossible, trim, lop or cut down trees or bushes that may obstruct a\nsurvey.\n(3) A person shall not, without reasonable cause, hinder or obstruct a\nlicensed surveyor or his or her assistants in exercising the powers\nconferred by this section.\nMaximum penalty: 100 penalty units.\n(4) A licensed surveyor shall be liable to pay compensation to the\nowner of land entered for damage caused in the exercise of the\npowers conferred by this section.\n(5) Where, under subsection (4), the damage so caused is necessary\nfor the purposes of the survey, the person who engaged or\nemployed the licensed surveyor shall reimburse the licensed\nsurveyor the amount he or she is required to pay as compensation\nfor the damage.\n(6) A notice of intention to enter land under this section may be given:\n(a) in writing or orally to the owner personally;\n(b) in writing by posting it by prepaid letter addressed to the\nowner at his or her usual or last-known place of residence or\nbusiness; or\n(c) in writing to a person apparently living or employed at that\nplace of residence or business and who has apparently\nattained the age of 16 years.\n(7) In this section, owner includes:\n(a) in the case of land held under lease from the Territory – the\nperson who is the lessee of the land;\n(b) in the case of land which is held in fee simple – the person in\nwhom the fee simple is vested or a lessee or tenant of the\nland; and\n(c) in the case of land occupied under a tenancy from the\nTerritory – the person who occupies the land.\n\nPart VIII Miscellaneous\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 24\n62 Destruction of survey marks\n(1) A person shall not, without lawful authority, destroy, obliterate,\nremove, injure or deface a survey mark.\nMaximum penalty: 100 penalty units.\n(2) Where a person is found guilty of an offence against subsection (1),\nthe court may, in addition to any penalty imposed under that\nsubsection, order him or her to pay the costs of re-establishing the\nsurvey mark so destroyed, obliterated, removed, injured or defaced.\n63 Evidence of certified map, &c.\nIn any legal proceedings under a law in force in the Territory a map,\nplan or copy of a map or plan relating to the Territory or a part of\nthe Territory or a certificate relating to a location in the Territory\npurporting to be certified by the Surveyor-General as correct shall\nbe accepted as evidence of the matters to which they relate without\nthe production of original records and without the personal\nattendance of the Surveyor-General or proof of his or her signature.\n64 Judicial notice\nJudicial notice shall be taken of the signature of the Chairperson or\nDeputy Chairperson appearing on a certificate issued under this Act\nor the Regulations by the Board and of the fact that the person by\nwhom the certificate purports to have been signed was, at the time\nthe certificate was signed, the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson.\n65 Service of summons or notice\nThe service on a person by the Board or the Tribunal of a summons\nor notice under this Act shall be deemed to have been duly effected\nif the summons or notice is:\n(a) delivered to the person personally;\n(b) posted by prepaid letter addressed to him or her at his or her\nplace of residence, or at his or her professional address or\none of his or her professional addresses, last known to the\nChairperson or Chairperson of the Tribunal, as the case may\nbe; or\n(c) delivered to his or her place of residence or left at his or her\nprofessional address with a person apparently living or\nemployed at that place and who has apparently attained the\nage of 16 years.\n\nPart VIII Miscellaneous\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 25\n66 Regulations\nThe Administrator may make regulations, not inconsistent with this\nAct, prescribing all matters required or permitted by this Act to be\nprescribed, or necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying\nout or giving effect to this Act and, in particular, providing for and in\nrelation to:\n(a) the fees, if any, payable in respect of an application,\nregistration, certificate or other proceeding, act or thing\nprovided for or required under this Act or the Regulations;\n(d) the certification of, and manner of certifying, plans of survey;\n(e) the registration of and manner of registering graduate\nsurveyors and the qualifications and experience of such\ngraduates;\n(f) particulars relating to a licensed surveyor which may be\nentered in the Register; and\n(g) the imposition of maximum penalties of 100 penalty units for\noffences against the Regulations.\n\nSchedule Ordinances repealed\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 26\nSchedule Ordinances repealed\nsection 3\nLicensed Surveyors Ordinance 1933 (No. 6 of 1933)\nLicensed Surveyors Ordinance 1937 (No. 6 of 1937)\n\nENDNOTES\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 27\nENDNOTES\n1 KEY Key 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\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 (Act No. 49, 1983)\nAssent date 12 October 1983\nCommenced 1 January 1984 (Gaz S41, 22 December 1983)\nStatute Law Revision Act (No. 2) 1987 (Act No. 59, 1987)\nAssent date 31 December 1987\nCommenced 31 December 1987\nFinancial Management (Consequential Amendments) Act 1995 (Act No. 5, 1995)\nAssent date 21 March 1995\nCommenced 1 April 1995 (s 2, s 2 Financial Management 1995 (Act No. 4,\n1995) and Gaz S13, 31 March 1995)\nSentencing (Consequential Amendments) Act 1996 (Act No. 17, 1996)\nAssent date 19 April 1996\nCommenced 1 July 1996 (s 2, s 2 Sentencing Act 1995 (Act No. 39, 1995)\nand Gaz S15, 13 June 1996)\nLicensed Surveyors Amendment Act 2001 (Act No. 9, 2001)\nAssent date 22 June 2001\nCommenced 26 September 2001 (Gaz G38, 26 September 2001, p 3)\nStatute Law Revision Act 2002 (Act No. 18, 2002)\nAssent date 7 June 2002\nCommenced 7 June 2002\nStatute Law Revision Act (No. 2) 2003 (Act No. 44, 2003)\nAssent date 7 July 2003\nCommenced 7 July 2003\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)\n\nENDNOTES\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 28\nLegal Profession (Consequential Amendments) Act 2007 (Act No. 7, 2007)\nAssent date 17 May 2007\nCommenced s 10: 1 July 2007 (Gaz G26, 27 June 2007, p 3);\nrem 17 May 2007\nOaths, Affidavits and Declarations (Consequential Amendments) Act 2010 (Act No. 40,\n2010)\nAssent date 18 November 2010\nCommenced 1 March 2011 (s 2, s 2 Oaths, Affidavits and Declarations\nAct 2010 (Act No. 39, 2010) and Gaz G7, 16 February 2011,\np 4)\nPenalties Amendment (Miscellaneous) Act 2013 (Act No. 23, 2013)\nAssent date 12 July 2013\nCommenced 28 August 2013 (Gaz G35, 28 August 2013, p 2)\nStatute Law Revision Act 2018 (Act No. 10, 2018)\nAssent date 23 May 2018\nCommenced 20 June 2018 (Gaz S41, 20 June 2018)\nLicensed Surveyors Amendment Act 2019 (Act No. 13, 2019)\nAssent date 9 April 2019\nCommenced 8 May 2019 (Gaz G19, 8 May 2019, p 4))\nLands, Planning and Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (Act No. 25, 2025)\nAssent date 12 September 2025\nCommenced pt 6: nc; rem: 13 September 2025 (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: ss 1, 6, 4, 21, 42 and 49.\n4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS\ns 4 amd No. 9, 2001, s 4; No. 10, 2018, s 6; No. 25, 2025, s 20\ns 6 amd No. 9, 2001, s 11; No. 44, 2003, s 5; No. 12, 2004, s 6\ns 7 amd No. 9, 2001, s 11\ns 9 amd No. 10, 2018, s 6; No. 25, 2025, s 21\ns 10 amd No. 10, 2018, s 6\nrep No. 25, 2025, s 22\ns 11 amd No. 9, 2001, s 11; No. 10, 2018, s 6\nsub No. 25, 2025, s 22\ns 12 sub No. 9, 2001, s 5\nss 13 – 15 amd No. 9, 2001, s 11\nss 17 – 19 amd No. 9, 2001, s 11\ns 21 sub No. 5, 1995, s 19; No. 13, 2019, s 4\nss 24 – 25 amd No. 9, 2001, s 11\nss 27 – 32 amd No. 9, 2001, s 11\ns 31 amd No. 23, 2013, s 12\ns 33 amd No. 17, 1996, s 6; No. 9, 2001, s 11\ns 35 amd No. 9, 2001, s 11\ns 37 amd No. 9, 2001, s 11; No. 23, 2013, s 12\ns 39 rep No. 9, 2001, s 6\n\nENDNOTES\nLicensed Surveyors Act 1983 29\ns 40 amd No. 9, 2001, s 11; No. 7, 2007, s 16; No. 10, 2018, s 6; No. 25, 2025,\ns 24\ns 42 amd No. 9, 2001, s 11; No. 23, 2013, s 12\nss 43 – 45 amd No. 9, 2001, s 11\ns 46A ins No. 9, 2001, s 7\ns 48 amd No. 9, 2001, s 8; No. 18, 2002, s 6; No. 23, 2013, s 12\npt VII hdg sub No. 9, 2001, s 9\ns 49 amd No. 59, 1987, s 5\nsub No. 9, 2001, s 9\namd No. , 2025, s 23\nss 50 – 51 sub No. 9, 2001, s 9\ns 53 amd No. 9, 2001, s 11\ns 54 sub No. 40, 2010, s 69\ns 55 amd No. 9, 2001, s 11\nrep No. 40, 2010, s 69\ns 56 amd No. 9, 2001, s 11; No. 23, 2013, s 12\ns 57 amd No. 9, 2001, s 11; No. 40, 2010, s 70; No. 23, 2013, s 12\ns 59 amd No. 9, 2001, s 11; No. 25, 2025, s 24\ns 61 amd No. 9, 2001, s 11; No. 23, 2013, s 12\ns 62 amd No. 17, 1996, s 6; No. 9, 2001, s 11; No. 23, 2013, s 12\nss 63 – 65 amd No. 9, 2001, s 11\ns 66 amd No. 9, 2001, s 11; No. 23, 2013, s 12\ns 67 rep No. 9, 2001, s 10","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Act remains focused on its original statutory purpose: licensing and regulating land boundary surveyors and the practice of land boundary surveying. Amendments over time (creation of the Appeal Tribunal, insertion of coordinated survey areas, updated penalties, and cross‑links to newer land and planning Acts) add procedural detail and technical regimes, but do not broaden the core subject matter beyond regulating who may lawfully perform and certify land boundary surveys, how plans are approved, and how discipline is administered (compare long title and ss 22–25). These additions refine implementation rather than change the fundamental scope."},"complexity_factors":["Length of Act: approximately 66 sections plus Schedule and endnotes","Defined and cross‑referenced terms in s 4 with 15+ defined entries (e.g. Board, Surveyor‑General, licensed surveyor, survey, coordinated survey area)","Multiple administrative bodies with intersecting powers: Surveyor‑General, Board, Appeal Tribunal (ss 5, 8, 40)","Disciplinary framework with many conditional grounds and alternatives (removal, suspension, reprimand) in s 33 and related inquiry procedure in s 34","Rehearing appeal model with procedural detail and time limits (ss 42–46, s 43(1) 21‑day window)","Delegation and delegation limits in ss 6 and 18 (delegation to licensed surveyors and members)","Numerous cross‑references to external statutes and administrative processes (Planning Act 1999, Land Title Act 2000, Interpretation Act) in s 49(3) and the Note to s 4","Regulatory discretion: practice directions (s 47), plan approval and additional requirements (s 49(3)(e), (3A)), and broad regulation‑making power (s 66)","Penalty structure with variable maxima across sections (e.g. 20, 100, 500 penalty units)","Recent substantive insertions and amendments (e.g. coordinated survey areas s 46A; multiple amendments listed in endnotes)"],"plain_english_summary":"This law creates a licensing and regulatory regime for land boundary surveyors in the Northern Territory: it establishes a Surveyor‑General, a Surveyors Board and an appeal tribunal, sets registration, qualification and disciplinary rules, and makes plan approval and use of the “licensed surveyor” title conditional on registration.  \n\nIt affects individual surveyors, employers and corporations offering surveying services, landowners (because of entry and marking powers), and the land‑title system — reshaping who may perform surveys, how surveys are certified, and the administrative oversight that governs land dealings."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains focused on its original purpose: registration and regulation of land boundary surveyors. While it has been amended multiple times since 1983 (as shown in the Endnotes), these amendments appear to be modernising updates (updating penalties, changing appointment processes, adding coordinated survey areas) rather than scope creep. The core structure covering registration, discipline, appeals, and plan approval has remained consistent."},"complexity_factors":["Moderate length (66 sections plus Schedule) but structured in clear thematic Parts","15 defined terms in section 4, including technical concepts like 'coordinated survey area' and 'reciprocating board'","Multiple cross-references between Parts (e.g., registration appeals in Part V reference disciplinary actions in Part IV)","Conditional logic in registration qualifications (section 25) with multiple alternative pathways (local training, interstate recognition, or reciprocal accreditation)","Nested procedural requirements for disciplinary action (section 33 grounds → section 34 inquiry requirements → section 35 notice requirements)","Specific evidentiary provisions (sections 30, 63, 64) creating statutory presumptions","Interaction with other NT legislation (Planning Act 1999, Land Title Act 2000, Electoral Act 2004) though these are referenced rather than fully integrated"],"plain_english_summary":"This is the **Northern Territory's Licensed Surveyors Act 1983**, which sets up the rules for who can legally survey land boundaries and how they must do it.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Creates a registration system**: Only people registered as \"licensed surveyors\" can legally conduct land boundary surveys for money in the NT. The Surveyors Board maintains a public register of these professionals.\n- **Sets up two key bodies**:\n  - The **Surveyor-General** (a senior government surveyor appointed by the Minister) who approves survey plans and can declare \"coordinated survey areas\" (special zones where surveys must use precise coordinate systems).\n  - The **Surveyors Board** (a corporate body with 5 members, mostly licensed surveyors) which decides who gets registered, sets professional standards, and can discipline surveyors.\n- **Controls quality**: Surveyors must submit their plans to the Surveyor-General for approval before the government will recognise the survey. The Board can issue practice directions telling surveyors how to do their work.\n- **Protects the public**: It is illegal for unregistered people to call themselves licensed surveyors, certify surveys, or do boundary surveys for payment. There are heavy fines (up to 500 penalty units) for breaches.\n- **Provides appeals**: A **Licensed Surveyors Appeal Tribunal** (with a lawyer chair and two surveyors) hears appeals from people refused registration or disciplined by the Board.\n- **Gives surveyors access rights**: Licensed surveyors can enter private land (with notice) to conduct surveys, trim obstructing vegetation, and place survey marks. It is an offence to damage survey marks or obstruct a surveyor.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Anyone wanting to become a land surveyor in the NT (must meet education and training requirements, or come from a \"reciprocating State\" with mutual recognition).\n- Property owners and developers (surveys affecting land titles must be done by licensed surveyors and approved by the Surveyor-General).\n- Licensed surveyors themselves (subject to ongoing registration fees, professional standards, and disciplinary action for misconduct or incompetence).\n\n**Why it matters:**\nLand boundaries are fundamental to property ownership. This Act ensures that the people marking those boundaries are qualified, that their work meets consistent standards, and that there is a clear process to fix errors or punish misconduct. Without it, there would be no guarantee that the fence line on your title deed actually matches the ground."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/licensed-surveyors-act-1983","history":"/api/acts/licensed-surveyors-act-1983/history","analysis":"/api/acts/licensed-surveyors-act-1983/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/licensed-surveyors-act-1983/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/licensed-surveyors-act-1983/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/licensed-surveyors-act-1983/documents"}}