{"id":"menzies-school-of-health-research-act-1985","name":"Menzies School of Health Research Act 1985","slug":"menzies-school-of-health-research-act-1985","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":30260,"registerId":"nt-menzies-school-of-health-research-act-1985-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Menzies School of Health Research Act 1985","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nMENZIES SCHOOL OF HEALTH RESEARCH ACT 1985\nAs in force at 1 January 2022\nTable of provisions\nPart I Preliminary\n1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1\n2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1\n3 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1\nPart II Menzies School of Health Research\n4 Establishment of School .................................................................. 2\n5 Functions of School ......................................................................... 2\n6 Powers of School............................................................................. 3\n7 Members ......................................................................................... 4\n8 Annual general meeting................................................................... 4\nPart III Board\n10 School to be controlled by Board..................................................... 5\n11 Composition of Board ...................................................................... 5\n12 Term of office .................................................................................. 6\n13 Chairperson ..................................................................................... 6\n14 Resignation of Board member ......................................................... 6\n15 Vacation of office ............................................................................. 6\n16 Disclosure of interest ....................................................................... 7\n17 Meetings of Board ........................................................................... 8\n18 Presiding at meetings ...................................................................... 9\n19 Academic Standing Committee ....................................................... 9\n20 Finance Committee ......................................................................... 9\n21 Committees generally ...................................................................... 9\n22 Annual report to be submitted to annual general meeting ............. 10\nPart IV Finance\n23 School not to be specified as agency for purposes of Financial\nManagement Act 1995 .................................................................. 10\n25 School accounts ............................................................................ 10\n26 Proper accounts to be kept............................................................ 10\n27 Gifts etc. and trust funds ............................................................... 11\n28 Investment ..................................................................................... 11\n29 Variation of terms of trust or gift .................................................... 12\n30 Financial accommodation .............................................................. 14\n31 Budget and business plan ............................................................. 14\n\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 ii\n32 Financial report .............................................................................. 15\nPart V Appointments, &c.\n33 Appointments of Director and staff ................................................ 15\n34 Consultants may be engaged ........................................................ 16\nPart VI Miscellaneous\n35 Trading, &c., corporations ............................................................. 16\n36 Delegation ..................................................................................... 16\n37 Terms of contract and execution of documents............................. 16\n38 Protection of members, Board members etc. ................................ 17\n39 Re-election or re-appointment ....................................................... 17\n40 Validity of proceedings .................................................................. 17\n41 No discrimination ........................................................................... 18\n42 Rules ............................................................................................. 18\nPart VII Transitional matters\n43 Transitional matters for Menzies School of Health Research\nAct 1985 ........................................................................................ 19\n44 Transitional matters for Menzies School of Health Research\nAmendment Act 2016 .................................................................... 20\nENDNOTES\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 1 January 2022\n____________________\nMENZIES SCHOOL OF HEALTH RESEARCH ACT 1985\nAn Act to establish as a body corporate the Menzies School of Health\nResearch, and for related purposes\nPart I Preliminary\n1 Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Menzies School of Health Research\nAct 1985.\n2 Commencement\nThis Act shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by the\nAdministrator by notice in the Gazette.\n3 Definitions\nIn this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:\nBoard means the Board of the School.\nBoard member means a person holding office as a member of the\nBoard under section 11.\nChairperson means the Chairperson of the Board and includes the\nDeputy Chairperson while he or she is acting as the Chairperson.\nCharles Darwin University means the university of that name\nestablished by the Charles Darwin University Act 2003.\nCouncil means the Council of Charles Darwin University as\ndefined in section 3 of the Charles Darwin University Act 2003.\nDeputy Chairperson means the Deputy Chairperson of the Board.\nDirector means the Director of the School and includes a person\nfor the time being acting in or performing the duties of the office of\nthe Director.\n\nPart II Menzies School of Health Research\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 2\nmember means a Board member or a person appointed under\nsection 7 as a member of the School.\nSchool means the Menzies School of Health Research established\nby section 4(1).\nSecretary means the person employed under section 33(5) as the\nSecretary of the School.\nPart II Menzies School of Health Research\n4 Establishment of School\n(1) There is hereby established a School by the name of the Menzies\nSchool of Health Research.\n(2) The School:\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 acquiring, holding and\ndisposing of real and personal property and of suing and\nbeing sued.\n(3) All courts, judges and persons acting judicially shall take judicial\nnotice of the common seal of the School affixed to a document and\nshall assume that it was duly affixed.\n5 Functions of School\nThe functions of the School are:\n(a) to promote improvement in the health of all people in tropical\nand central Australia by establishing and developing a centre\nof scientific excellence in health research and health\neducation;\n(b) to advance knowledge in the fields of health research and\nhealth education, particularly in relation to human health, and\nto seek and discover the origins and causes of diseases and\nill health;\n(c) to use the knowledge so gained to improve methods of\nprevention, diagnosis and the treatment of disease and ill\nhealth in both humans and animals;\n\nPart II Menzies School of Health Research\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 3\n(d) to serve as a centre for learning and training in health\nresearch and health education;\n(e) to promote and encourage post graduate research into\nmatters relating to the functions of the School within Charles\nDarwin University as a research school of that University or in\nco-operation with other medical or educational institutions;\nand\n(f) such other functions as the Board thinks fit.\n6 Powers of School\n(1) Subject to this Act, the School has power to do all things that are\nnecessary or convenient to be done for or in connection with, or\nincidental to, the performance of its functions and the exercise of its\npowers.\n(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the School may, for\nthe purpose of carrying out its functions or exercising its powers,\nincluding a power conferred on it elsewhere in this Act:\n(a) enter into contracts;\n(b) purchase, take on lease or otherwise acquire and sell, grant\nleases of or otherwise dispose of, real or personal property;\n(c) erect buildings;\n(d) occupy, use and control any land or building owned or held\nunder lease and made available for the purposes of the\nSchool;\n(e) act in association with an organization, society or other body\nhaving similar functions or objectives to those of the School;\n(f) obtain or raise money from any source by means of grants,\nsubsidies, subscriptions, gifts, bequests, public appeals or\nother means;\n(g) subject to section 30, borrow money either without security or\non the security of the whole or any part of the property of the\nSchool;\n(h) impose fees and other charges for services provided by the\nSchool, including fees in relation to awards of the School and\ntuition and examination fees;\n(j) create, develop, apply for, obtain and hold intellectual and\nindustrial property and rights and enter into agreements or\n\nPart II Menzies School of Health Research\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 4\narrangements for the commercial exploitation of any such\nproperty and rights on such terms as to royalties, lump sum\npayments or otherwise as the Board thinks fit;\n(k) acquire property by way of gift inter vivos, bequest or devise\nand agree to any condition, not inconsistent with the functions\nof the School, attaching to any such gift, bequest or devise\nand act as trustee; and\n(m) except as provided by a condition agreed to by the Board on\nits acquisition of property or the terms of a trust subject to\nwhich property is held, invest the moneys of the School in\nsuch investments, and in such manner, as the Board thinks fit.\n7 Members\n(1) The School shall consist of the Board members and the persons\nappointed under this section as members.\n(2) The Board may invite such persons as it thinks fit to be members of\nthe School.\n(3) On the acceptance in writing of an invitation under subsection (2),\nthe Board shall appoint a person to be a member.\n(4) A member who is not a Board member may resign his office as a\nmember by writing signed by him and delivered to the Secretary but\nsuch resignation is not effective until accepted by the Board.\n8 Annual general meeting\n(1) An annual general meeting of members shall be held as soon as\npracticable after the end of each financial year at such time and\nplace as the Board thinks fit.\n(2) The business of the annual general meeting shall be to receive and\nconsider the statement of receipts and expenditure of the School,\nthe auditor's report on that statement and a report by the Board on\nthe work of the School.\n(3) The manner of calling an annual general meeting and the\nprocedures relating to the conduct of the meeting shall be as\nprescribed.\n\nPart III Board\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 5\nPart III Board\n10 School to be controlled by Board\n(1) The affairs of the School shall be conducted and controlled by the\nBoard.\n(2) All acts and things done in the name or on behalf of the School by\nor with the authority, express or implied, of the Board shall be\ndeemed to have been done by the School.\n11 Composition of Board\n(1) The Board consists of:\n(a) the Director; and\n(b) the Vice Chancellor of Charles Darwin University; and\n(c) at least 5 Board members, but no more than 9 Board\nmembers, appointed by the Council.\n(2) The Council may appoint a person to be a Board member under\nsubsection (1)(c) only if:\n(a) the Council is satisfied that the person has skills, knowledge\nand experience in one or more of the following areas:\n(i) commerce;\n(ii) financial management or accounting;\n(iii) law;\n(iv) marketing;\n(v) philanthropy;\n(vi) scientific, biomedical or clinical health research; and\n(b) the Council is satisfied that the person holds suitable\nqualifications, or has suitable knowledge or experience\nrelating to the functions of the School.\n(3) Each of the areas mentioned in subsection (2)(a) must be\nrepresented at all times by the Board members appointed under\nsubsection (1)(c).\n\nPart III Board\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 6\n12 Term of office\n(1) Subject to this Act, a Board member appointed under\nsection 11(1)(c) holds office for a term not exceeding 3 years, as\nthe Council thinks fit and specifies in the instrument of\nappointment.\n(3) Subject to this Act, a person appointed as a Board member under\nsection 11(1)(c) may be reappointed when the term of appointment\nexpires.\n13 Chairperson\n(1) The Board must nominate a Board member appointed under\nsection 11(1)(c) to be the Chairperson of the Board.\n(2) The Board may nominate a Board member appointed under\nsection 11(1)(c) to be the Deputy Chairperson of the Board.\n(3) The Council may confirm or refuse to confirm an appointment\nmade under subsection (1) or (2).\n(4) No appointment made under subsection (1) or (2), or a term or\ncondition in respect of any such appointment, is in force or has\neffect unless and until confirmed by the Council.\n14 Resignation of Board member\nA Board member appointed under section 11(1)(c) may resign as a\nBoard member by giving written notice to the Secretary.\n15 Vacation of office\nA Board member appointed under section 11(1)(c) vacates office:\n(a) if the Board member becomes bankrupt, applies to take the\nbenefit of a law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors,\ncompounds with the Board member's creditors or makes an\nassignment of the Board member's remuneration for the\nBoard member's benefit; or\n(b) if the Board member is convicted in the Territory of an offence\npunishable by imprisonment for 12 months or more, or is\nconvicted elsewhere than in the Territory of an offence which\nif committed in the Territory would be an offence so\npunishable; or\n(c) if the Council receives a report from the Chief Health Officer,\nbased on advice from 2 medical practitioners, that as a result\nof the member's mental illness, as defined in the Mental\n\nPart III Board\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 7\nHealth and Related Services Act 1998, the Board member\nhas become incapable of performing the duties of a Board\nmember and is unlikely to be able to perform the duties for the\nremainder of the Board member's term of appointment; or\n(d) if the Board member is absent for reasons other than illness\nor other unavoidable cause from 2 consecutive ordinary\nmeetings of the Board of which reasonable notice has been\ngiven to the Board member personally or by post and the\nBoard member is not, before the expiration of 6 weeks after\nthe last of those meetings, excused by the Board for being\nabsent from those meetings; or\n(e) if the Board member resigns from office; or\n(f) if the Board member knowingly contravenes or fails to comply\nwith section 16.\n16 Disclosure of interest\n(1) A Board member who has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in:\n(a) a matter being considered or about to be considered at a\nmeeting of the Board; or\n(b) a thing being done or about to be done by the Board,\notherwise than as a member of, and in common with the other\nmembers of, an incorporated company consisting of not less than\n25 members and of which he is not a director shall, as soon as\npossible after the relevant facts have come to his knowledge,\ndisclose the nature of the interest at a meeting of the Board.\n(2) A disclosure by a Board member at a meeting of the Board that he:\n(a) is a member, or is in the employment, of a specified company\nor other body;\n(b) is a partner, or is in the employment, of a specified person; or\n(c) has some other specified interest relating to a specified\ncompany or other body or a specified person,\nshall be deemed to be a sufficient disclosure of the nature of the\ninterest in any matter or thing relating to that company or other\nbody, or to that person, which may arise after the date of the\ndisclosure.\n(3) The Board shall cause particulars of all disclosures made under\nthis section to be recorded in a book kept for the purpose and that\n\nPart III Board\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 8\nbook shall be open at all reasonable times to inspection by any\nperson on payment of such fee, if any, as is determined from time\nto time by the Board.\n(4) After a Board member has, or shall be deemed to have, disclosed\nthe nature of an interest in a matter or thing pursuant to this\nsection, he shall not, unless the Board (in the absence of that\nBoard member) otherwise determines:\n(a) be present during any deliberation of the Board, or take part in\na decision of the Board, in relation to that matter; or\n(b) exercise a function under this Act in relation to that thing.\n(5) A contravention of or non-compliance with this section does not\ninvalidate a decision of the Board or the exercise of a power or\nperformance of a function under this Act.\n(6) Nothing in this section applies to or in relation to an interest of a\nBoard member in a matter or thing which arises by reason only of\nhis being a medical practitioner.\n(7) A reference in this section to the Board includes a reference to a\ncommittee of the Board and a reference to a Board member\nincludes a reference to a member of a committee of the Board who\nis not a Board member.\n17 Meetings of Board\n(1) The Chairperson shall 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 number of meetings held in a financial\nyear is not less than 2.\n(2) The Chairperson shall call a meeting of the Board if requested to\ndo so by not less than 50% of the Board members for the time\nbeing holding office.\n(3) At a meeting of the Board:\n(a) 50% of the Board members for the time being holding office\nconstitute a quorum;\n(b) questions arising shall be determined by a majority of the\nvotes of the Board members present and voting and, in the\nevent of an equality of votes, the matter shall be deferred for\nconsideration at the next meeting of the Board to be held on a\nsubsequent day and, in the event of an equality of votes at\nthat next meeting, the matter shall be taken to have been\ndefeated; and\n\nPart III Board\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 9\n(c) subject to this Act and the Rules made under section 42, the\nBoard shall determine the procedure to be followed at or in\nconnection with the meeting.\n18 Presiding at meetings\n(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Chairperson or, in his absence, the\nDeputy Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Board at\nwhich he is present.\n(2) In the absence of the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson, the\nBoard members present at a meeting of the Board shall elect an\nacting chairperson and that person may exercise the powers and\nshall perform the functions of the Chairperson for that meeting.\n19 Academic Standing Committee\n(1) The Board shall establish an Academic Standing Committee\nconsisting of the Director, one other Board member and such other\npersons as the Vice-Chancellor of Charles Darwin University\nrecommends should be appointed to the Committee.\n(2) The Academic Standing Committee shall advise the Board on all\nacademic appointments and promotions and on such matters\nrelating to the academic activities of the School as the Committee\nthinks fit or on which the Board requests advice.\n(3) The Academic Standing Committee shall advise the Board on\narrangements for an external review of the academic and scientific\nactivities of the School which review shall be conducted at intervals\nnot exceeding 5 years.\n20 Finance Committee\n(1) The Board must establish a Finance Committee.\n(2) Subject to the direction and control of the Board, the Finance\nCommittee shall report to the Board on the financial position of the\nSchool, and on the management of the School's funds, at such\nintervals as the Board requires.\n21 Committees generally\n(1) The Board may establish such other committees as it thinks fit.\n(2) A person may be appointed as a member of a committee\nestablished under this section or sections 19 or 20 whether or not\nhe is a Board member.\n\nPart IV Finance\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 10\n(3) Unless the Board otherwise directs, the Director shall be a member\nof each committee established by the Board.\n22 Annual report to be submitted to annual general meeting\nAs soon as practicable after the end of each financial year, the\nBoard shall submit an annual report on the work, and the audited\nstatement of receipts and expenditure, of the School for the\nfinancial year to the annual general meeting referred to in\nsection 8(1) and to the Council.\nPart IV Finance\n23 School not to be specified as agency for purposes of Financial\nManagement Act 1995\nThe School is not, and is not capable of being, an Agency within\nthe meaning and for the purposes of the Financial Management\nAct 1995.\n25 School accounts\n(1) Subject to this Part, the Board must open and maintain the account\nor accounts with an ADI or ADIs as it thinks fit.\n(2) There shall be paid to the credit of the account or accounts referred\nto in subsection (1) all moneys received by the School.\n(3) Subject to the terms of a trust, money in an account referred to in\nsubsection (1) shall be applied by or with the authority of the Board\nonly for the purposes of the School.\n26 Proper accounts to be kept\n(1) The Board shall cause to be kept proper accounts and records of\nthe transactions and affairs of the School and shall do all things\nnecessary to ensure that all payments out of the moneys of the\nSchool are correctly made and properly authorized and that\nadequate control is maintained over the assets of, or in the custody\nof, the School and over the incurring of liabilities by the School.\n(2) The Board must provide the Council with quarterly accounts of the\noperations of the School.\n\nPart IV Finance\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 11\n27 Gifts etc. and trust funds\n(1) In exercising its powers to acquire, hold, deal with or dispose of real\nor personal property, the School may agree to and carry out the\nconditions of a gift, grant, bequest, devise, purchase, lease or other\nmeans whereby it acquires or holds property.\n(2) The Board may create and administer trust funds or other funds:\n(a) in connection with real or personal property held by it in\naccordance with subsection (1); or\n(b) for any other purpose,\nas it thinks fit.\n(3) If money is received by the School in accordance with\nsubsection (1), it must be paid into a fund established by the Board\nunder subsection (2) for that purpose.\n(4) If:\n(a) a fund referred to in subsection (3) is wound up; or\n(b) the School ceases to be endorsed as a deductible gift\nrecipient under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 of the\nCommonwealth,\nthe Board must transfer the balance of the fund (after paying the\nfund's liabilities, if any) to a fund, authority or institution that is\nendorsed as a deductible gift recipient under the Income Tax\nAssessment Act 1997 of the Commonwealth.\n28 Investment\n(1) The Board may establish such investment common funds for the\ncollective investment of trust or other moneys of or in the custody of\nthe School as it thinks fit.\n(2) The Board may from time to time, without liability for breach of\ntrust, bring into or withdraw from the investment common fund the\nwhole or any part of moneys of the School trust moneys or other\nmoneys held by or in the custody of the School.\n(3) Subject to subsections (4) and (5), the Board shall periodically\ndistribute the income of each investment common fund among the\nfunds participating in the common fund, having regard to the extent\nof the participation of each fund in the common fund during the\nrelevant accounting period.\n\nPart IV Finance\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 12\n(4) Where moneys received by the Board to be expended for a stated\npurpose have been brought into an investment account but cannot,\nor will not immediately, be expended for that purpose, the Board\nmay pay into the general funds of the School the whole or any part\nof that part of the income of that investment common fund that is\nattributed to the participation of those moneys in that fund and\nwhich are not required for that stated purpose.\n(5) The Board may, as it thinks fit, add such portion of the income of\nan investment account as it thinks fit to the capital of the common\nfund or use such portion of that income as it thinks fit to establish or\naugment a fund or funds as a provision against capital depreciation\nor reduction of income.\n(6) Moneys of the School (whether forming part of a common fund or\nnot), including moneys held on trust or subject to a condition, may\nbe invested by the Board in an investment that the Treasurer is\npermitted to invest in under section 29 of the Financial\nManagement Act 1995.\n(7) A power conferred on the Board by this section, or by a rule relating\nto investment of property, shall not be exercised by the Board in\nrelation to a trust fund or other moneys where:\n(a) the investment creating the trust expressly directs to the\ncontrary; or\n(b) the exercise of the power would constitute a breach of a\ncondition under which the fund or moneys in question was or\nwere acquired.\n29 Variation of terms of trust or gift\n(1) In this section approved scheme means a scheme, with or without\nmodification, approved under subsection (3) by the Council.\n(2) Where property is held by the School on terms requiring it or the\nincome from the property to be applied for a purpose or purposes\nand:\n(a) the purpose or all or any of the purposes has or have been\neffected;\n(b) the purpose or all or any of the purposes has or have ceased\nto exist;\n(c) the purpose or all or any of the purposes has or have been\nadequately provided for by other means;\n\nPart IV Finance\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 13\n(d) the purpose or all or any of the purposes is or are uncertain or\ncannot be identified or is or are not sufficiently defined;\n(e) it becomes impossible, impracticable or inexpedient to carry\nout the purpose or all or any of the purposes; or\n(f) the property or income from the property proves inadequate to\ncarry out the purpose or all or any of the purposes,\nthe Board may, subject to this section, cause to be prepared a\nscheme by which that property or any part or residue of that\nproperty shall be held on terms requiring the property or the income\nfrom the property to be applied for the purpose or purposes\ndesignated in the scheme.\n(3) A scheme under subsection (1) shall be submitted by the Board to\nthe Council and on receipt of the scheme the Council may:\n(a) by notice in the Gazette:\n(i) approve the scheme; or\n(ii) approve the scheme with such modifications as he\nthinks fit; or\n(b) by notice in writing to the Board, refuse to approve the\nscheme.\n(4) Where, in relation to property or a part or residue of property held\nby the School there is in existence an approved scheme, the\nproperty, part or residue shall, in accordance with the approved\nscheme, be diverted from the purpose or purposes for which it was\nheld and shall be held for the purpose or purposes as designated in\nthe approved scheme.\n(5) In selecting a purpose for an approved scheme or for an\namendment of an approved scheme, the School shall have a\npreference for a purpose which, in its opinion, is as nearly similar to\nthe purpose or purposes for which the property concerned is, for\nthe time being, held by the School as is consistent with useful and\nconvenient achievement but such a scheme or amendment shall\nnot be invalidated or otherwise prejudiced by reason only that\nanother purpose may have more properly been selected by the\nBoard in accordance with this subsection.\n(6) On its publication in the Gazette judicial notice shall be taken of an\napproved scheme and of all amendments of the scheme.\n\nPart IV Finance\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 14\n(7) The powers conferred by this section are in addition to any other\npower or right exercisable in law in relation to property held by the\nSchool on trust.\n30 Financial accommodation\n(1) Subject to subsection (2), for the purpose of providing financial\naccommodation for enabling the School to perform its functions,\nthe Board may, with the prior approval of the Council and the\nTreasurer, obtain advances by way of loan:\n(a) from the Treasurer;\n(aa) from Charles Darwin University;\n(b) on overdraft from an ADI; or\n(c) from any other person, on such security at such rate of\ninterest and subject to such other terms and conditions as the\nBoard, with the approval of the Council and the Treasurer,\nthinks fit.\n(2) The Board may, without the prior approval of the Council and the\nTreasurer, obtain an advance by way of loan on overdraft from an\nADI where the aggregate of that advance and all other such\nadvances on overdraft from that or any other ADI obtained without\nthe prior approval of the Council and the Treasurer does not\nexceed $50,000.\n31 Budget and business plan\nThe Board shall:\n(a) within 3 months of the commencement of each financial\nyear – adopt a budget for the financial year for all funds of the\nSchool, other than those to which paragraph (b) relates, and\nshall approve all amendments to the budget, and shall control\nthe expenditure of the School so that it conforms as nearly as\npracticable to the approved budget;\n(aa) within 3 months of the commencement of each financial\nyear – approve a business plan for the financial year; and\n(b) review annually funds available to the School by way of\nbequest, donation or special grant and the expenditure\nthereof, and shall, subject to the terms of a trust and before\nany such expenditure is made, approve the proposed\ndisposition of those funds.\n\nPart V Appointments, &c.\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 15\n32 Financial report\n(1) The Director must, within 3 months after the end of a financial year:\n(a) prepare a report of the operations of the School during the\nfinancial year; and\n(b) forward the report to the Auditor-General.\n(2) The Auditor-General must:\n(a) audit the report forwarded under subsection (1)(b); and\n(b) forward the report and the report of the audit to the Minister\nand the Council.\n(3) The report of the Auditor-General under subsection (2) must\naccompany the report that he or she prepares under section 39(6)\nof the Charles Darwin University Act 2003.\nPart V Appointments, &c.\n33 Appointments of Director and staff\n(1) Subject to subsection (4) and section 43(4), the Board must, on\nsuch terms and conditions as it thinks fit, appoint a Director who\nmust, subject to the directions of the Board, be responsible to the\nBoard for the financial and administrative management of the\nSchool, including the direction of all clinical, medical and scientific\nresearch and the teaching programmes of the School.\n(2) The Council may confirm or refuse to confirm an appointment\nmade under subsection (1) or a term or condition in respect of such\nappointment.\n(3) No appointment made under subsection (1), or a term or condition\nin respect of any such appointment, is in force or has effect unless\nand until confirmed by the Council.\n(4) The appointment of the Director must not be terminated except by\na resolution at a meeting of the Board passed by a majority of not\nless than two-thirds of the Board members entitled to be present at\nthe meeting and to vote on the resolution.\n(5) The Board may employ, on such terms and conditions as it thinks\nfit, such other persons as it thinks necessary for the purposes of\nthe School.\n\nPart VI Miscellaneous\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 16\n34 Consultants may be engaged\nThe Board may engage consultants to the School and make such\narrangements to be provided with advice as it thinks fit.\nPart VI Miscellaneous\n35 Trading, &c., corporations\nThe Board may establish by registration in the Territory or\nelsewhere, or participate in the establishment of, such trading,\nresearch or other corporation as it thinks fit for the purpose of\npromoting or assisting, or in connection with the functions of, the\nSchool.\n36 Delegation\n(1) The Board and, subject to the directions of the Board, the Director\nmay, by instrument in writing, delegate to a person any of its or his\npowers and functions under this Act, other than this power of\ndelegation and, in the case of the Board, the power to make Rules\nunder section 42.\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 or the\nDirector, as the case may be.\n(3) A delegation under this section does not prevent the exercise of a\npower or the performance of a function by the Board or the\nDirector.\n(4) Where a power or function is delegated under this section by the\nBoard to a member of the staff of the School, that power or function\nshall be deemed to have been delegated to the Director also.\n37 Terms of contract and execution of documents\n(1) A deed, instrument, contract or agreement relating to any property\nor matter which, if made or executed by an individual, would by law\nbe required to be in writing under seal may be made on behalf of\nthe School in writing under the common seal of the School.\n(2) An instrument, contract or agreement relating to any property or\nmatter which, if made by or between individuals would be required\nto be in writing signed by the parties to be charged therewith, may\nbe made on behalf of the School in writing by a person acting under\nthe authority, express or implied, of the Board.\n\nPart VI Miscellaneous\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 17\n(3) A contract relating to any property or matter which, if made\nbetween individuals, would by law be valid although made by parol\nonly (and not reduced to writing) may be made on behalf of the\nSchool by a person acting under the authority, expressed or\nimplied, of the Board.\n(4) A contract entered into or an instrument, contract or agreement\nsigned in relation to any property or obligation of the School shall\nbe deemed to have been entered into or signed with the express\nauthority of the Board if it is entered into or signed in accordance\nwith a resolution of the Board for the time being in force.\n38 Protection of members, Board members etc.\nNo action or proceeding, civil or criminal, shall be commenced or lie\nagainst a member or Board member for or in respect of an act or\nthing done or omitted to be done in good faith:\n(a) by him in his capacity as a member or Board member; or\n(b) the School or the Board,\nin the exercise or purported exercise of a power, or the\nperformance or purported performance of a function, under this\nAct.\n39 Re-election or re-appointment\nNothing in this Act shall prevent a person from being, at any time,\nre-appointed to an office or place under this Act if he is otherwise\nqualified or capable of holding that office or place.\n40 Validity of proceedings\nNo proceedings of the Board or of a committee of the Board, and\nno act done by the Director or a delegate of the Board or the\nDirector, shall be invalidated by reason only of:\n(a) a defect in the appointment or nomination of, or of a\ndisqualification of, a member or such a person;\n(b) a defect in the convening or conduct of a meeting of the\nBoard or a committee of the Board;\n(c) there being a vacancy in the membership of the Board or a\ncommittee of the Board;\n(d) the fact that a person purporting to be a member of the Board\nor a committee of the Board by virtue of an office held by him\ndid not hold that office;\n\nPart VI Miscellaneous\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 18\n(e) the fact that a person purporting to be a member of the Board\nor a committee of the Board was not such a member; or\n(f) a contravention of or noncompliance with section 16 by a\nmember of the Board or a committee of the Board.\n41 No discrimination\nThe School shall not discriminate against or in favour of a person\non the grounds of that person's sex, religion, race, physical\ndisability or political beliefs.\n42 Rules\n(1) The Board may make rules, not inconsistent with this Act,\nprescribing matters:\n(a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or\n(b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or\ngiving effect to this Act,\nand in particular in relation to:\n(c) the meetings of the Board and the members;\n(d) the qualifications of the Director;\n(e) the functions of the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and\nSecretary;\n(f) the committees of the School and of the Board;\n(g) the meetings of committees established under section 21 or\nthe Rules;\n(h) annual and other periodic reports;\n(j) the control of access to and use of land and buildings\noccupied by the School, including the control of vehicular and\nother traffic on such land and the parking of vehicles; and\n(k) the imposing of penalties, not exceeding $50, for a\ncontravention of or failure to comply with the Rules.\n(2) Sections 63A to 63C of the Interpretation Act 1978 do not apply to\nRules under this section.\n\nPart VII Transitional matters\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 19\n(3) The Board shall, as soon as practicable publish in the Gazette a\nnotice of the making of Rules under this section and of the place\nwhere copies of the Rules may be purchased or otherwise\nobtained.\n(4) Rules made under this section take effect from the date of\npublication of the notice under subsection (3) or, where a date later\nthan the date of publication of that notice is provided for in the\nRules, from the date so provided.\nPart VII Transitional matters\n43 Transitional matters for Menzies School of Health Research\nAct 1985\n(1) In this section:\nAuthority means the University Planning Authority established by\nthe University (Interim Arrangements) Act 1980.\nexisting School means the Menzies School of Health Research\ndeclared under the University (Interim Arrangements) Act 1980, by\ninstrument dated 17 January 1983 made under that Act by the\nAuthority, to be established.\n(2) The persons who, immediately before the commencement of this\nAct, constituted the Board of the existing School shall, on that\ncommencement and until the expiration of 6 months after that\ncommencement, but subject to this Act, constitute the Board of the\nSchool and shall be Governors for the purposes of this Act.\n(3) The persons who, immediately before the commencement of this\nAct, were the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Board of the\nexisting School shall, on and after that commencement until the\nelection of the first Chairman and Deputy Chairman under\nsection 13 of this Act, but subject to this Act, be the Chairman and\nDeputy Chairman respectively of the Board of the School.\n(4) The person who was, immediately before the commencement of\nthis Act, the Director of the existing School shall, on and after that\ncommencement, but subject to this Act, be the Director and shall\nbe employed by the School on the same terms and conditions as\napplied to and in relation to him immediately before that\ncommencement.\n\nPart VII Transitional matters\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 20\n(5) Subject to subsection (6), all property and rights held on behalf and\nfor the use of the existing School immediately before the\ncommencement of this Act shall, on that commencement, by virtue\nof this section and without further assurance, be vested in the\nSchool.\n(6) All property and rights held in trust for or for a purpose of the\nexisting School immediately before the commencement of this Act\nshall, on and after that commencement, by virtue of this section\nand without further assurance, be vested in and may be used and\napplied by the School for or for a purpose of the School subject to\nthe same terms and conditions on which it or they were held in trust\nfor the existing School and all documents relating to such property\nor rights shall be construed, with the necessary changes, as if the\nSchool were the existing School and the trust property had vested.\n(7) All agreements (including contracts of employment) entered into by\nor on behalf or for the benefit or purposes of the existing School\nand in force immediately before the commencement of this Act,\nand whether or not the rights, liabilities and obligations under those\nagreements could be assigned, shall have effect as if the School\nwere a party to or affected by the agreement instead of the\nAuthority or the existing School and as if, in relation to anything to\nbe done on or after that commencement, for every reference\n(however worded and whether expressed or implied) in such an\nagreement to:\n(a) the Authority or the existing School, there were substituted a\nreference to the School; and\n(b) a member or officer or employee of the Authority or the\nexisting School, there were substituted a reference to a\ncorresponding member or officer or employee of the School.\n(8) No person shall be liable for a duty, fee or other charge in relation\nto the transfer or vesting of property effected by subsection (5)\nor (6) or an agreement affected by subsection (7).\n44 Transitional matters for Menzies School of Health Research\nAmendment Act 2016\n(1) The person who was, immediately before the commencement of\nthe amending Act, the Director, continues to be the Director after\nthe commencement.\n\nPart VII Transitional matters\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 21\n(2) In this section:\namending Act means the Menzies School of Health Research\nAmendment Act 2016.\ncommencement means the commencement of the amending Act.\n\nENDNOTES\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 22\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\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 (Act No. 60, 1985)\nAssent date 12 December 1985\nCommenced 16 December 1985 (Gaz S77, 16 December 1985)\nStatute Law Revision Act 1988 (Act No. 66, 1988)\nAssent date 22 December 1988\nCommenced 22 December 1988\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)\nTrustee (Consequential Amendments) Act 1996 (Act No. 8, 1996)\nAssent date 20 March 1996\nCommenced 26 February 1996 (s 2, s 2 Trustee Amendment Act (No. 2)\n1995 (Act No. 60, 1995) and Gaz G7, 14 February 1996, p 2)\nFinancial Institutions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1997 (Act No. 23, 1997)\nAssent date 2 June 1997\nCommenced 2 June 1997\nTerritory Insurance Office (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1998 (Act No. 37, 1998)\nAssent date 27 May 1998\nCommenced 27 May 1998\nMental Health and Related Services (Consequential Amendments) Act 1999 (Act No. 11,\n1999)\nAssent date 25 March 1999\nCommenced 1 February 2000 (Gaz G3, 26 January 2000, p 2)\n\nENDNOTES\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 23\nCorporations Reform (Consequential Amendments NT) Act 2001 (Act No. 17, 2001)\nAssent date 29 June 2001\nCommenced 15 July 2001 (s 2, s 2 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth Act No. 50,\n2001) and Cth Gaz S285, 13 July 2001)\nStatute Law Revision (Financial Provisions) Act 2002 (Act No. 38, 2002)\nAssent date 13 September 2002\nCommenced 30 October 2002 (Gaz G43, 30 October 2002, p 3)\nMenzies School of Health Research Amendment Act 2003 (Act No. 46, 2003)\nAssent date 29 August 2003\nCommenced 1 January 2004 (s 2)\nStatute Law Revision Act 2007 (Act No. 4, 2007)\nAssent date 8 March 2007\nCommenced 8 March 2007\nMenzies School of Health Research Amendment Act 2016 (Act No. 18, 2016)\nAssent date 8 June 2016\nCommenced 17 October 2016 (Gaz S107, 17 October 2016, p 1)\nStatute Law Revision Act 2017 (Act No. 4, 2017)\nAssent date 10 March 2017\nCommenced 12 April 2017 (Gaz G15, 12 April 2017, p 3)\nInterpretation Amendment Act 2021 (Act No. 28, 2021)\nAssent date 15 December 2021\nCommenced 1 January 2022 (s 2)\n3 SAVINGS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS\ns 23 Menzies School of Health Research Amendment Act 2003 (Act No. 64,\n2003)\n4 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, 3, 15, 23, 28, 32, 42 and 43.\n5 LIST OF AMENDMENTS\ns 3 amd No. 66, 1988, s 8; No. 46, 2003, s 4; No. 18, 2016, s 4\ns 5 amd No. 66, 1988, s 8; No. 46, 2003, s 5\ns 6 amd No. 66, 1988, s 8; No. 46, 2003, s 6\ns 7 amd No. 46, 2003, s 7\ns 9 rep No. 46, 2003, s 8\ns 11 sub No. 46, 2003, s 9; No. 18, 2016, s 5\ns 12 amd No. 46, 2003, ss 10 and 22; No. 18, 2016, s 6\ns 13 sub No. 46, 2003, s 11\namd No. 18, 2016, s 7\ns 14 amd No. 46, 2003, s 22\nsub No. 18, 2016, s 8\ns 15 amd No. 11, 1999, s 4; No. 46, 2003, s 22; No. 18, 2016, s 9\n\nENDNOTES\nMenzies School of Health Research Act 1985 24\nss 16 – 18 amd No. 46, 2003, s 22\ns 19 amd No. 46, 2003, s 12\ns 20 amd No. 46, 2003, s 13\ns 21 amd No. 46, 2003, s 22\ns 22 amd No. 46, 2003, s 14; No. 18, 2016, s 15\ns 23 sub No. 5, 1995, s 19\ns 24 rep No. 46, 2003, s 15\ns 25 amd No. 23, 1997, s 6; No. 37, 1998, s 4; No. 38, 2002, s 6; No. 4, 2017, s 34\ns 26 amd No. 46, 2003, s 16; No. 18, 2016, s 15\ns 27 amd No. 46, 2003, s 17\ns 28 amd No. 8, 1996, s 3; No. 46, 2003, s 18\ns 29 amd No. 18, 2016, s 10\ns 30 amd No. 38, 2002, s 6; No. 46, 2003, s 19; No. 18, 2016, s 15\ns 31 amd No. 46, 2003, s 20\ns 32 sub No. 5, 1995, s 19; No. 46, 2003, s 21; No. 18, 2016, s 15\ns 33 amd No. 46, 2003, s 22; No. 18, 2016, s 11\ns 35 amd No. 17, 2001, s 21\ns 38 amd No. 46, 2003, s 22\ns 42 amd No. 46, 2003, s 22; No. 4, 2007, s 7; No. 28, 2021, s 20\npt VII hdg ins No. 18, 2016, s 12\ns 43 amd No. 18, 2016, s 13\ns 44 ins No. 18, 2016, s 14","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act has broadened and formalised the School’s governance and financial regime compared with its original, simple establishment purpose. Key scope changes include: (a) stronger institutional linkage to Charles Darwin University (definitions and Council confirmation powers for appointments — s3, s11, s13, s33); (b) expanded and specified financial powers and controls including explicit investment powers, ability to form investment common funds, and commercialisation of IP (s28, s6(j)); (c) clearer borrowing rules with required approvals from the Council and the Treasurer (s30); and (d) increased external accountability via mandatory Auditor‑General audits and quarterly reporting to the Council (s32, s26(2)). These amendments (notably those introduced in 2003 and 2016, recorded in the endnotes) move the Act from a basic body‑corporate creation toward a more structured, university-integrated research institute with commercial and trust-management capabilities."},"complexity_factors":["Clear structure with 7 Parts and ~44 substantive sections, but overall moderate length","Defined terms list in s3 (around 8 key definitions: Board, Director, Council, Charles Darwin University, member, Secretary)","Cross-references to external legislation: Charles Darwin University Act 2003 (appointments & Council role), Financial Management Act 1995 (investment and agency status), Auditor-General functions, Interpretation Act — increases interpretive complexity (s3, s23, s28, s32)","Conditional governance approvals: Council confirmation required for Board Chair and Director appointments (s13, s33)","Nested financial controls: borrowing requires Council and Treasurer approval with a small overdraft exception (s30); budgets, business plans and quarterly accounts required (s31, s26)","Trust variation mechanism requiring an approved scheme and Gazette publication (s29)","Conflict-of-interest regime with disclosure, record-keeping and exclusion from decisions (s16)","Delegation powers to Board and Director with exceptions (s36)","Multiple committees (Academic Standing, Finance, other committees) and delegated functions (ss19–21)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does (mechanics first)**\n\n- Establishes a statutory body called the Menzies School of Health Research (the School) as a corporate entity with its own common seal and the capacity to own property, sue and be sued (s4).\n- Sets out the School’s core functions: health research and education focused on tropical and central Australia, discovery of causes of disease, prevention/diagnosis/treatment, training and postgraduate research (s5). The Board may add other functions it considers fit (s5(f)).\n- Gives the School broad operational powers necessary to carry out its functions, including entering contracts, acquiring and disposing of real and personal property, erecting buildings, raising money (grants, gifts, fees), borrowing (subject to limits and approvals), creating and commercialising intellectual property, and investing funds (s6, s28, s30, s6(j)).\n- Creates a governing Board responsible for the control and conduct of the School (s10). Board composition is specified: the Director, the Vice‑Chancellor of Charles Darwin University, and between 5 and 9 members appointed by the University Council (s11). The Board runs meetings, establishes committees (including Academic Standing and Finance Committees), and makes Rules (s17–21, s42).\n- Provides for appointment, confirmation and removal mechanics for the Director and Board officers: the Board appoints the Director and nominates a Chairperson/Deputy Chairperson from appointed Board members, but the University Council must confirm those nominations and many appointments do not take effect without Council confirmation (s13, s33(1)–(3)). Some decisions (for example, terminating the Director) require a supermajority of the Board (s33(4)).\n- Requires financial controls and reporting: the Board must keep proper accounts, produce budgets and business plans, operate bank accounts, manage trust funds and investments, provide quarterly accounts to the University Council, and submit annual audited financial statements and reports for Ministerial and University review; the Auditor‑General audits annual reports (s25–26, s31–32).\n- Permits the School to accept gifts, create and administer trust funds, and (where original purposes become impracticable) seek an approved scheme from the Council to vary trust terms (s27, s29).\n- Provides standard corporate‑style ancillary provisions: delegation powers, contract execution, protection for members acting in good faith, anti‑discrimination rule, and transitional provisions tying the School into Charles Darwin University structures (s36–41, s43–44).\n\n**Who is affected**\n\n- The School itself and its employees (s4, s33).\n- The Board and its appointed members; the University Council (which appoints members and confirms some appointments) and the Vice‑Chancellor (s11, s13).\n- Donors, grantors and external commercial partners who contract with or fund the School (s6, s27, s35).\n- Students and postgraduate researchers who use the School for training and research (s5(d)–(e)).\n- The Auditor‑General and the Minister because of mandatory reporting and audit obligations (s32).\n- Potential lenders including the Treasurer and Charles Darwin University when the Board seeks loans (s30).\n\n**Why it matters (purpose claims and practical tests)**\n\n- Official purpose claim: to create and sustain a centre of scientific excellence in health research and education focused on tropical and central Australia, and to translate research into prevention, diagnosis and treatment (s5). The Act structures governance, finance and institutional links to support that aim.\n\n- Who pays and who decides: the Board decides operationally (s10). Funding can come from public grants, donations, fees, commercial income and loans (s6(f), s6(h), s6(g), s30). Where borrowing involves government money (Treasurer) or the University, prior approvals are required (s30(1)). The University Council has a gatekeeping role for governance appointments and approved schemes to vary trust purposes (s11, s13, s29(3)).\n\n- Incentives and trade‑offs:\n  - The School is authorised to commercialise intellectual property and set fees (s6(j), s6(h)), which creates incentives to pursue revenue‑generating research and services. That can supplement grants and donations but may shift focus toward commercially viable projects.\n  - The ability to form trading or research corporations (s35) and to accept gifts with conditions (s27) allows flexibility in structuring commercial activity, but creates an administrative need to manage conflicts and contractual obligations.\n  - Borrowing powers (s30) expand financial flexibility but impose checks (Council and Treasurer approval) to limit fiscal risk to the Territory and the University.\n\n- Compliance burden and governance oversight:\n  - Quarterly accounts to the University Council (s26(2)), mandatory annual audit by the Auditor‑General (s32) and Rules subject to publication obligations (s42) create regular reporting obligations and external scrutiny.\n  - Conflict‑of‑interest disclosure rules require members to disclose pecuniary interests, and absent the Board’s permission such members must not participate in related Board decisions (s16). These rules are recorded and available for inspection (s16(3)).\n\n- Opportunity costs and concentrated benefits:\n  - The Board and University receive concentrated decision rights (appointment/confirmation powers, approval of trust variation schemes) (s11, s13, s29). Donors can secure directed uses of funds by gifting with conditions (s27), concentrating benefits for particular research lines or programs.\n  - Diffuse costs include administrative overheads of oversight and audit, and potential contingent fiscal exposure if government loans are used (s30).\n\n- Implementation risks and unintended consequences to monitor:\n  - Council confirmation requirements for key appointments (s13, s33(2)–(3)) create the potential for stalemate between the Board and the University over leadership choices.\n  - The Act allows broad delegation (s36) and horse‑trading of trust funds via approved schemes (s29); both expand operational flexibility but increase demands on governance to manage delegation, conflicts and consistency with original donor intent.\n  - Commercialisation powers and permission to establish trading corporations (s6(j), s35) can create new revenue but require capacity to manage IP, contracts and business entities.\n\n**Bottom line (practical effects)**\n\n- The Act creates an autonomous, university‑linked research institute with broad powers to raise and manage funds, engage commercially, and govern its own academic and financial affairs, while embedding oversight via the University Council, the Auditor‑General and prescribed reporting requirements (see s4, s5, s6, s11, s26, s32)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains focused on its original purpose of establishing and governing the Menzies School of Health Research. While amendments have updated governance structures (particularly the relationship with Charles Darwin University in 2003 and Board composition requirements in 2016), these changes reflect evolutionary adjustments to the School's operating environment rather than scope creep. The core functions—health research, education, and community service in tropical Australia—remain unchanged from the 1985 original intent."},"complexity_factors":["Moderate length (44 sections plus endnotes) but relatively straightforward structure","14 defined terms in the interpretation section (section 3), including nested definitions (e.g., 'Chairperson' includes 'Deputy Chairperson' while acting)","Cross-references to external legislation: Charles Darwin University Act 2003, Financial Management Act 1995, Mental Health and Related Services Act 1998, Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth), Interpretation Act 1978","Conditional logic in Board composition requirements (section 11(2)-(3)) requiring specific skill areas to be represented","Detailed procedural rules for Board meetings including quorum requirements (50%), voting deadlock procedures (deferral then defeat), and disclosure of interests (section 16)","Trust and gift variation scheme (section 29) with six specific triggering conditions and Council approval requirements","Transitional provisions preserving pre-existing arrangements from 1985 and 2016","Non-standard numbering (missing section 9, 24; section 23 followed by 25) indicating amendments over time"],"plain_english_summary":"This legislation creates the **Menzies School of Health Research** as an independent body corporate (a legal entity that can own property, sue, and be sued) in the Northern Territory.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Establishes** a research school focused on improving health in tropical and central Australia through scientific research and education.\n- **Sets up governance** through a Board that controls the School's affairs. The Board includes the School's Director, the Vice-Chancellor of Charles Darwin University, and 5-9 appointed members with expertise in areas like commerce, law, medicine, and research.\n- **Grants powers** to conduct research, employ staff, buy property, accept donations and bequests, invest funds, borrow money (with approval), and commercialise intellectual property.\n- **Manages finances** separately from standard government agency rules—the School maintains its own accounts, can hold trust funds, and must prepare annual budgets and financial reports audited by the Auditor-General.\n- **Protects members** from personal liability when acting in good faith for the School.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Researchers and staff employed by the School\n- Patients and communities in tropical/central Australia who benefit from the health research\n- Charles Darwin University (the School operates as a research school of the University)\n- Donors and philanthropists who contribute funds\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThe Act gives the Menzies School legal independence to pursue health research while maintaining accountability through its Board structure. It allows the School to accept charitable gifts, manage investments, and enter commercial arrangements—flexibility essential for a modern research institution—while ensuring oversight through auditing and reporting requirements."},"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"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/menzies-school-of-health-research-act-1985","history":"/api/acts/menzies-school-of-health-research-act-1985/history","analysis":"/api/acts/menzies-school-of-health-research-act-1985/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/menzies-school-of-health-research-act-1985/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/menzies-school-of-health-research-act-1985/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/menzies-school-of-health-research-act-1985/documents"}}