{"id":"tas:act-1962-049","name":"Parliament House Act 1962","slug":"parliament-house-act-1962","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"tas","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"49 of 1962","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":110418,"registerId":"tas-act-1962-049-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Short title","content":"### 1 Short title\n\n> This Act may be cited as the [Parliament House Act 1962](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1962-049) .","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Legal position of Parliament House","content":"### 2 Legal position of Parliament House\n\n> > (1)  Parliament House at Hobart and its grounds are domain lands of the Crown set apart for the use of the Parliament of Tasmania.\n> \n> > (2)  [*\\[Section 2 Subsection (2) substituted by No. 38 of 2009, Sched. 2, Applied:21 Jul 2009\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2009-07-21/act-2009-038#JS2@Ja1@GC1@EN) The grounds of Parliament House comprise all that land, surrounding but not including Parliament House, shown as Lot 3 and bounded by a heavy black line on Plan 8497 in the Central Plan Register.\n> \n> > (3)  [*\\[Section 2 Subsection (3) inserted by No. 38 of 2009, Sched. 2, Applied:21 Jul 2009\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2009-07-21/act-2009-038#JS2@Ja1@GC1@EN) A reduced copy of the plan referred to in [subsection (2)](#GS2@Gs2@EN) is set out, by way of illustration only, in [Schedule 1](#JS1@EN) .","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Control of grounds","content":"### 3 Control of grounds\n\n> > (1)  Control of the grounds of Parliament House is vested in the House Committee created by the Standing Orders of the Houses of Parliament.\n> \n> > (2)  Without prejudice to the generality of [subsection (1)](#GS3@Gs1@EN) , in the exercise of such control the House Committee may –\n> > \n> > > > (a) appoint a person as controlling officer; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) make rules for the conduct of persons in the grounds of Parliament House and for the exclusion therefrom of specified classes of persons and of all or any specified classes of vehicles; and\n> > > \n> > > > (c) give orders for –\n> > > > \n> > > > > > (i) the conduct of persons in those grounds; and\n> > > > > \n> > > > > > (ii) the exclusion therefrom of specified persons or classes of person and of all or any specified vehicles or classes of vehicles –\n> > > > \n> > > > on any particular occasion; and\n> > > \n> > > > (d) delegate by rule or order control of those grounds, including the power to give orders under [paragraph (c)](#GS3@Gs2@Hpc@EN) , to the controlling officer.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Grounds not public streets","content":"### 4 Grounds not public streets\n\n> [*\\[Section 4 Substituted by No. 38 of 2009, Sched. 2, Applied:21 Jul 2009\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2009-07-21/act-2009-038#JS2@Ja1@GC2@EN) No part of the grounds of Parliament House is –\n> \n> > > (a) a highway; or\n> > \n> > > (b) capable of dedication as a highway by leaving open for public passage or otherwise; or\n> > \n> > > (c) a public street as defined by and for the purposes of the [Traffic Act 1925](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1925-038) .","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Power of controlling officer to impound","content":"### 5 Power of controlling officer to impound\n\n> > (1)  The controlling officer may on behalf of the Crown exercise in respect of the grounds of Parliament House all the rights of an occupier of land to impound chattels wrongfully on his or her land.\n> \n> > (2)  Without limiting the generality of [subsection (1)](#GS5@Gs1@EN) , the controlling officer may immobilize any motor vehicle wrongfully left in the grounds of Parliament House until 10.30 a.m. of the next day on which the offices of the Houses of Parliament are open by –\n> > \n> > > > (a) removing some part whereby no permanent damage is done to the vehicle; or\n> > > \n> > > > (b) chains and padlocks; or\n> > > \n> > > > (c) a barrier of vehicles or other things –\n> > \n> > and may if no claim is made for the vehicle by that time cause it to be towed away to some safe place and there kept till the cost of its towing and keeping are paid to the controlling officer.\n> \n> > (3)  [*\\[Section 5 Subsection (3) amended by No. 4 of 2017, Sched. 1, Applied:01 Jul 2019\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2019-07-01/act-2017-004#JS1@Ja80@GC1@EN) *\\[Section 5 Subsection (3) amended by No. 47 of 1988, s. 4 \\]*If a vehicle impounded by the controlling officer is deemed by 2 justices in petty sessions to be of no use except for wrecking or scrap, they may, by warrant under their hands, authorize the controlling officer to sell it as they think fit and pay the proceeds of sale, less such amount as they award the controlling officer for his or her expenses, into the Public Account, out of which they may be paid to the owner of the vehicle.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Offences","content":"### 6 Offences\n\n> *\\[Section 6 Subsection (1) amended by No. 47 of 1988, s. 5 \\]**\\[Section 6 Subsection (2) amended by No. 47 of 1988, s. 5 \\]**\\[Section 6 Subsection (3) amended by No. 75 of 1973, s. 2 and Sched. 1 \\]**\\[Section 6 Subsection (3) amended by No. 47 of 1988, s. 5 \\]**\\[Section 6 Subsection (4) amended by No. 75 of 1973, s. 2 and Sched. 1 \\]**\\[Section 6 Subsection (4) amended by No. 47 of 1988, s. 5 \\]*\n> \n> > (1)  *\\[Section 6 Subsection (1) amended by No. 55 of 1965, s. 5 \\]*A person who knowingly contravenes a rule or order made or given under [section 3](#GS3@EN) is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding 1·5 penalty units.\n> \n> > (2)  *\\[Section 6 Subsection (2) amended by No. 55 of 1965, s. 5 \\]*A person who without just cause or reasonable excuse remains in the grounds of Parliament House after being asked to leave by the controlling officer or a person acting under his or her orders is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding 2 penalty units.\n> \n> > (3)  *\\[Section 6 Subsection (3) amended by No. 55 of 1965, s. 5 \\]*A person who without just cause or reasonable excuse –\n> > \n> > > > (a) parks a vehicle in the grounds of Parliament House; or\n> > > \n> > > > (b) uses the drive of Parliament House as a thoroughfare between Murray Street and Salamanca Place; or\n> > > \n> > > > (c) drives a motor vehicle in the grounds of Parliament House dangerously or at more than 20 kilometres per hour –\n> > \n> > is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding 2·5 penalty units.\n> \n> > (4)  *\\[Section 6 Subsection (4) amended by No. 55 of 1965, s. 5 \\]*A person who –\n> > \n> > > > (a) having unlawfully parked a vehicle in the grounds of Parliament House fails to remove it when asked so to do by the controlling officer or a person acting under his or her orders; or\n> > > \n> > > > (b) [*\\[Section 6 Subsection (4) amended by No. 38 of 2009, Sched. 2, Applied:21 Jul 2009\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2009-07-21/act-2009-038#JS2@Ja1@GC3@Hpa@EN) having been asked within the previous 3 months by the controlling officer or a person acting under his or her orders not to park a vehicle in the grounds of Parliament House, does so park a vehicle –\n> > > \n> > > > (c) [*\\[Section 6 Subsection (4) amended by No. 38 of 2009, Sched. 2, Applied:21 Jul 2009\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2009-07-21/act-2009-038#JS2@Ja1@GC3@Hpb@EN) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  \n> > \n> > is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding 5 penalty units.","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Legal proceedings","content":"### 7 Legal proceedings\n\n> > (1)  *\\[Section 7 Subsection (1) amended by No. 47 of 1988, s. 6 \\]*Complaints under the [Justices Act 1959](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1959-077) for offences under this Act shall be made only by the controlling officer.\n> \n> > (2)  If after proceedings are commenced under this section a person ceases to be the controlling officer the name of the controlling officer succeeding him or her shall be substituted for his or her name therein, and the proceedings shall be continued in the name of that successor.","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"8","sectionType":"section","heading":"Arrest in certain cases","content":"### 8 Arrest in certain cases\n\n> *\\[Section 8 Subsection (2) amended by No. 47 of 1988, s. 7 \\]*\n> \n> > (1)  *\\[Section 8 Subsection (1) amended by No. 47 of 1988, s. 7 \\]*A person whom the controlling officer or a person acting under his or her orders believes or suspects to have committed an offence under this Act and who refuses to state his or her name and place of abode when required so to do, or in the opinion of the controlling officer or a person acting under his or her orders states a false name or place of abode, may without any other warrant than this Act be apprehended by the controlling officer or the person acting under his or her orders and taken before a justice to be dealt with according to law.\n> \n> > (2)  *\\[Section 8 Subsection (2) amended by No. 55 of 1965, s. 5 \\]*A person who when so required refuses to state his or her name and place of abode is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding 2 penalty units.","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"9","sectionType":"section","heading":"Evidence","content":"### 9 Evidence\n\n> *\\[Section 9 Subsection (2) amended by No. 5 of 1990, s. 3 and Sched. 1 \\]*\n> \n> > (1)  *\\[Section 9 Subsection (1) amended by No. 47 of 1988, s. 8 \\]*In proceedings in respect of an offence under this Act or on the exercise of a power conferred by [section 5](#GS5@EN) –\n> > \n> > > > (a) an allegation in a complaint or other pleading that a specified person is the controlling officer shall be *prima facie* evidence that he or she is so; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) a statement in writing purporting to be signed by the controlling officer shall be *prima facie* evidence that a specified person was at a specified time acting under the orders of the controlling officer.\n> \n> > (2)  *\\[Section 9 Subsection (2) amended by No. 47 of 1988, s. 8 \\]*The Minister administering the [Public Works Construction Act 1880](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1880-032) may at the request of the House Committee mark out by pillars, posts or painted lines any portion of the boundaries of the grounds of Parliament House and such marks shall be *prima facie* evidence of those boundaries.","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"SCHEDULE 1 - Plan of Parliamen","sectionType":"part","heading":"SCHEDULE 1 - Plan of Parliament Grounds","content":"# SCHEDULE 1 - Plan of Parliamen SCHEDULE 1 - Plan of Parliament Grounds\n\n[*\\[Schedule 1 Inserted by No. 38 of 2009, Sched. 2, Applied:21 Jul 2009\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2009-07-21/act-2009-038#JS2@Ja1@GC4@EN)\n\n[Section 2(3)](#GS2@Gs3@EN)\n\n[![graphic image](/image/cpr8497.gif)](/image/cpr8497.gif)","sortOrder":9}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: establishing the legal status and management of Parliament House grounds. The 2009 amendments clarified boundaries using a registered plan, and 2017 amendments updated procedural details, but these are refinements rather than scope expansion. The Act has not grown beyond its core function of governing parliamentary precinct management."},"complexity_factors":["Short statute with only 9 substantive sections plus a schedule","Minimal defined terms (only 'controlling officer', 'grounds', 'House Committee' used contextually rather than formally defined in an interpretation section)","Straightforward conditional logic with clear subsections and paragraphs","Some historical amendment tracking visible in editorial notes but these don't affect operative complexity","Simple cross-references limited to internal Act references (sections 2, 3, 5) and one external reference to Traffic Act 1925","No nested exceptions or complex provisos","Practical, operational focus rather than abstract legal concepts"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does:**\n\nThis Act governs the Parliament House in Hobart, Tasmania — specifically who owns it, who controls the grounds, and what rules apply to people visiting or using the area.\n\n**Key points:**\n\n- **Ownership:** Parliament House and its surrounding grounds are Crown land (government-owned land) set aside specifically for Tasmania's Parliament to use.\n\n- **Defined boundaries:** The \"grounds\" are clearly mapped out (shown on Plan 8497 and included in Schedule 1 of the Act). This prevents arguments about exactly where Parliament's property begins and ends.\n\n- **Who's in charge:** A \"House Committee\" (created by Parliament's internal rules) controls the grounds. They can:\n  - Appoint a \"controlling officer\" to manage day-to-day operations\n  - Make rules about behaviour on the grounds\n  - Ban specific people or vehicles\n  - Delegate powers to the controlling officer\n\n- **Not public roads:** The grounds are explicitly **not** public streets or highways. This means normal road rules don't automatically apply, and the public can't claim a right to pass through.\n\n- **Parking and enforcement:** The controlling officer has serious powers over wrongly parked vehicles:\n  - Can immobilise cars (by removing parts, using chains, or blocking them in)\n  - Can tow vehicles away\n  - Can sell abandoned vehicles deemed worthless (with approval from two justices)\n\n- **Offences and penalties:** Breaking the rules can result in fines (expressed in \"penalty units\" — a standard way of setting fines that adjusts with inflation). Offences include:\n  - Ignoring rules or orders\n  - Refusing to leave when asked\n  - Illegal parking\n  - Using the drive as a shortcut between Murray Street and Salamanca Place\n  - Dangerous driving or speeding (over 20 km/h)\n  - Giving a false name when asked\n\n- **Arrest powers:** The controlling officer can arrest someone without a warrant if they suspect an offence and the person refuses to give their real name and address.\n\n- **Who can prosecute:** Only the controlling officer can bring legal proceedings for offences under this Act.\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThis law protects the security and functioning of Tasmania's Parliament by keeping control of the surrounding land in parliamentary hands rather than treating it as public space. It gives clear legal backing for removing troublemakers, managing parking, and preventing the grounds from becoming a public thoroughfare."},"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":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available information, there is no indication that the scope of this Act has changed materially from its original intent. It appears to remain focused on its original narrow purpose of governing Parliament House in Tasmania. However, the limited text provided makes a definitive assessment difficult."},"complexity_factors":["Very narrow and specific subject matter — a single building","Acts of this type typically have limited operative provisions","No complex legal concepts appear to be involved based on available text","Limited text was provided — mostly metadata rather than substantive provisions, preventing deeper analysis","Legislation has been in force since 1962 with minimal apparent amendment activity"],"plain_english_summary":"The Parliament House Act 1962 (Tas.) provides the legal framework for the management, use and governance of Parliament House — Tasmania’s seat of state parliament. It sets out who is responsible for the building’s care, access and administrative arrangements.\n\nIt affects MPs, parliamentary staff, visitors and the government agencies that manage the facility, and matters because it establishes clear authority over access, maintenance and operation of a key public building."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Yes. The in‑text amendment notes show the Act's scope has been altered since 1962: boundaries were defined by reference to Plan 8497 and Schedule 1 (2009); section 4 was substituted (2009); impound/sale, offence and penalty provisions were amended (1965, 1973, 1988, 2017); and evidentiary provisions were updated (1990, 1988). Those amendments clarify the geographic limits and refine enforcement and evidentiary procedures compared with the original text."},"complexity_factors":["Statutory designation of land and plan reference (s2(2)–(3), Schedule 1) increases factual/legal boundary precision","Delegation and administrative control vested in House Committee with further delegation to a controlling officer (s3)","Operational enforcement powers over vehicles and chattels (impound, immobilise, tow, sell) with attendant procedures (s5)","Criminalisation by summary conviction with tiered penalty units and repeat/offender provisions (s6)","Procedural limits on prosecutions (only the controlling officer may bring complaints) and substitution of parties in proceedings (s7)","Powers to arrest for refusal to identify and an offence for refusal to provide name/address (s8)","Evidentiary presumptions (prima facie statements, marked boundaries) and cross‑references to other Acts (s9; Traffic Act, Justices Act, Public Works Construction Act)","Multiple amendment annotations in the text (1965, 1973, 1988, 1990, 2009, 2017) indicating iterative legal changes"],"plain_english_summary":"This Act makes the Hobart Parliament House grounds Crown domain land for the Parliament of Tasmania, vests control in the House Committee and authorises that committee to appoint a controlling officer who makes and enforces rules (s2–3).\nIt removes public‑street status (s4), empowers the controlling officer to immobilise, impound, tow or sell vehicles (s5), creates summary offences with penalties and arrest powers, sets evidentiary rules, and requires prosecutions to be brought by the controlling officer; vehicle owners bear towing/holding costs and fines (ss5–9)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/parliament-house-act-1962","history":"/api/acts/parliament-house-act-1962/history","analysis":"/api/acts/parliament-house-act-1962/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/parliament-house-act-1962/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/parliament-house-act-1962/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/parliament-house-act-1962/documents"}}