{"id":"pounds-act-1930","name":"Pounds Act 1930","slug":"pounds-act-1930","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":30422,"registerId":"nt-pounds-act-1930-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Pounds Act 1930","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nPOUNDS ACT 1930\nAs in force at 1 July 2021\nTable of provisions\n1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1\n2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1\n3 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1\n4 Appointment of inspector or poundkeeper ....................................... 2\n5 Establishment of pounds ................................................................. 2\n6 Pound to be enclosed and kept in good order ................................. 2\n7 Diseased cattle to be kept in separate enclosure ............................ 2\n8 Destruction of diseased cattle.......................................................... 2\n9 Constant supply of water to be maintained ...................................... 3\n10 Taking cattle out of pound for grazing or watering ........................... 3\n11 Pound book ..................................................................................... 3\n12 Board setting out fees to be maintained at pound ........................... 3\n13 Accounting for money received by poundkeeper ............................. 3\n14 Powers of impounding cattle............................................................ 3\n14A Transport to pound .......................................................................... 4\n15 Impounding unlawfully or in an unauthorized place ......................... 4\n16 Fees to be paid to the poundkeeper ................................................ 4\n18 Person impounding not liable to fees............................................... 4\n19 Payment of fees on seizure for impounding..................................... 4\n20 Notice to be given by person impounding cattle .............................. 5\n21 Duty and responsibility of poundkeeper........................................... 5\n22 Posting of notice of cattle impounded .............................................. 5\n23 Notice of impounding to be given to owner ...................................... 5\n24 If cattle not claimed notice to be published in newspaper................ 6\n25 Cattle to be released on payment of fees, &c. ................................. 6\n26 Power of sale of cattle by poundkeeper........................................... 6\n27 Time of sale of impounded cattle ..................................................... 6\n28 Mode of sale of impounded cattle .................................................... 7\n29 Poundkeeper to act as auctioneer ................................................... 7\n30 Number of cattle to be put up for auction in one lot ......................... 7\n31 Persons forbidden to purchase impounded cattle............................ 7\n32 Powers of poundkeeper where no bid made at sale ........................ 8\n33 Disposal of proceeds of sale after deducting poundage fees .......... 8\n34 Pound rescues or breaches ............................................................. 9\n35 Owners of straying cattle liable to penalty ....................................... 9\n36 Compensation for trespass on enclosed land .................................. 9\n36A Certain fines paid to local government council .............................. 10\n36B Offences and penalties .................................................................. 10\n37 Regulations.................................................................................... 10\n\nPounds Act 1930 ii\nSchedule 1 Acts of the State of South Australia and\nOrdinances of the Northern Territory\nSchedule 2\nENDNOTES\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 1 July 2021\n____________________\nPOUNDS ACT 1930\nAn Act relating to the impounding of cattle\n1 Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Pounds Act 1930.\n2 Commencement\nThis Act shall commence on a date to be fixed by the Government\nResident by notice in the Gazette.\n3 Definitions\nIn this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:\ncattle includes any entire horse, mare, gelding, colt, filly or foal, a\nbull, cow, ox, steer, heifer or calf, and a sheep, camel, ass, mule,\ngoat, pig or buffalo.\ninspector means a person appointed under section 4(a) as an\ninspector for the purposes of this Act.\nowner includes the agent, overseer, bailiff or manager for the\nowner and, where used in reference to land, includes the occupier.\npound means a place established under section 5(a) as a pound or\nland in respect of which an arrangement has been made under\nsection 5(b) by the Minister or a local government council.\npoundkeeper means a person appointed under section 4 as a\npoundkeeper, and includes a person for the time being authorized\nto act as the poundkeeper of a pound.\nsheep includes any ram, ewe, wether or lamb.\n\nPounds Act 1930 2\n4 Appointment of inspector or poundkeeper\nA local government council in respect of its local government area\nand the Minister in respect of an area other than a local government\narea may appoint a person to be:\n(a) an inspector for the purposes of this Act; or\n(b) a poundkeeper of a pound.\n5 Establishment of pounds\nA local government council in respect of its local government area\nand the Minister in respect of an area other than a local government\narea may:\n(a) by notice in the Gazette, establish a pound; or\n(b) make such arrangements as the local government council or\nMinister, as the case may be, thinks fit for the use of land for\nimpounding cattle seized under this Act.\n6 Pound to be enclosed and kept in good order\n(1) Every pound shall be properly enclosed and shall be kept clean and\nin good repair by the poundkeeper thereof.\n(2) Any cattle for the time being impounded shall be supplied by the\npoundkeeper with a sufficiency of food and water.\n7 Diseased cattle to be kept in separate enclosure\nIn cases where in any pound there is a separate enclosure in which\ncattle infected with disease may be kept, cattle infected with any\ninfectious or contagious disease shall not be kept in the same\nenclosure with cattle not so infected.\n8 Destruction of diseased cattle\nAny cattle impounded in a pound which have been certified in\nwriting by an inspector, as defined in the Livestock Act 2008, to be\naffected with any infectious or contagious disease, may be\ndestroyed by the poundkeeper of the pound or by a member of the\nPolice Force.\n\nPounds Act 1930 3\n9 Constant supply of water to be maintained\nThere shall be maintained in every pound a constant supply of\nwholesome water by means of troughs or by any other means in\nsuch manner as to afford any cattle impounded therein free access\nto the water at all times.\n10 Taking cattle out of pound for grazing or watering\nA poundkeeper of any pound may take or send any cattle out of the\npound at such times and to such places as he thinks fit for the\npurpose of grazing or watering.\n11 Pound book\nEvery poundkeeper shall keep a pound book in accordance with\nForm A in Schedule 2 and shall make all entries therein without\ndelay.\n12 Board setting out fees to be maintained at pound\nThe poundkeeper of every pound shall keep erected in some\nconspicuous part of the pound a board having thereon a notice\nsetting out the fees payable in accordance with or in pursuance of\nthis Act.\n13 Accounting for money received by poundkeeper\nEvery poundkeeper shall, at least once in every month, render an\naccount of and pay all moneys received by him during the\npreceding month in respect of fees payable in accordance with or in\npursuance of this Act, where the poundkeeper is appointed by:\n(a) the Minister, to the Territory; or\n(b) a local government council, to the council and that money will\nform part of the revenue of the council.\n14 Powers of impounding cattle\n(1) Any cattle found trespassing upon any land may be impounded in\nthe nearest accessible pound by the owner of the land, a member\nof the Police Force or inspector.\n(2) A member of the Police Force or inspector may impound any cattle\nfound wandering, straying or lying upon any public road.\n\nPounds Act 1930 4\n14A Transport to pound\n(1) Where cattle are to be impounded in pursuance of section 14, they\nmay be driven, led or conveyed by a vehicle suitable for the\npurpose to the pound where they are to be impounded.\n(2) Where cattle are driven, led or conveyed under subsection (1) to a\npound, the reasonable costs of driving, leading or conveying the\ncattle is recoverable from the owner of the cattle as a debt due and\npayable by him to the poundkeeper.\n(3) The occupier of any enclosed land may seize and impound:\n(a) any cattle found wandering, straying or lying upon any public\nroad immediately adjacent to or fronting the enclosed land of\nthe occupier; or\n(b) any cattle found feeding off the enclosed land.\n(4) Any person may seize and impound in the nearest pound any cattle\nstraying or at large or unlawfully tethered or depastured in any\nstreet or public place in any town or township.\n15 Impounding unlawfully or in an unauthorized place\nAny person who impounds any cattle unlawfully or in any place not\nauthorized by this Act shall be guilty of an offence.\nMaximum penalty: 4 penalty units.\n16 Fees to be paid to the poundkeeper\n(1) Every poundkeeper shall demand and receive, as poundage fees\nfor cattle impounded under this Act, the fees payable under the\nregulations.\n(2) The fees referred to in this section shall be chargeable for each\nday, or part of a day, during which the cattle remained impounded.\n18 Person impounding not liable to fees\nThe person impounding any cattle in a pound shall not be liable, by\nreason only of the impounding, to pay to the poundkeeper any fees\nor charges in respect of the cattle impounded.\n19 Payment of fees on seizure for impounding\nIf any cattle have been lawfully seized by a poundkeeper, a\nmember of the Police Force or inspector for the purpose of being\nimpounded, the owner of the cattle or some person authorized by\n\nPounds Act 1930 5\nhim may pay or tender to the poundkeeper, a member of the Police\nForce or inspector who has seized the cattle such amount as would\nbe payable in accordance with or in pursuance of this Act as\npoundage fees for one day in respect of the cattle seized and\nreasonable costs incurred under section 14A, and thereupon the\npoundkeeper, a member of the Police Force or inspector, as the\ncase may be, shall deliver up the cattle seized to the owner or\nperson paying or tendering the amount due.\n20 Notice to be given by person impounding cattle\nAny person impounding any cattle in a pound shall give notice to\nthe poundkeeper thereof, specifying:\n(a) the number and kinds of the cattle impounded;\n(b) the name of the owner, if known, or of the supposed owner, or\na statement that the owner is not known; and\n(c) the place where the cattle were found trespassing.\n21 Duty and responsibility of poundkeeper\n(1) The poundkeeper of every pound shall receive into his custody any\ncattle impounded in the pound, and shall detain them in his\ncustody, whether in the pound or elsewhere, until they are released,\nsold or otherwise disposed of according to this Act.\n(2) The poundkeeper shall be responsible to the owner of any cattle\nimpounded for loss or damage sustained by the poundkeeper's\nwilful act or neglect, or the wilful act or neglect of any of his agents\nor servants, but not otherwise, until the cattle impounded are\nreleased, sold or otherwise disposed of according to this Act.\n22 Posting of notice of cattle impounded\nThe poundkeeper of every pound, whenever and as soon as any\ncattle are impounded therein, shall post a written notice on a board\non some conspicuous part of the pound, setting forth a description\nof the cattle impounded.\n23 Notice of impounding to be given to owner\nWhen any cattle are impounded in a pound, the poundkeeper shall,\nif the owner of the cattle impounded is known, immediately give\nnotice of impounding to the owner by telephone or by any other\nconvenient means of communication.\n\nPounds Act 1930 6\n24 If cattle not claimed notice to be published in newspaper\nIf any cattle impounded in any pound are not claimed by the owner\nor by some person on his behalf within 24 hours after being\nimpounded, the poundkeeper shall, as soon as possible after the\nexpiration of the 24 hours referred to, cause a notice of the\nimpounding in accordance with Form B in Schedule 2 to be\npublished in a newspaper circulating in the area:\nProvided that, where the Minister, by notice in a newspaper\ncirculating in the area, specifies, with respect to any pound, that\nnotices of the impounding of cattle in that pound which are made in\naccordance with Form B contained in Schedule 2 shall, in lieu of\nbeing published in a newspaper circulating in the area, be posted at\nthe pound and at the nearest accessible police station, the notice of\nimpounding referred to in this section shall be posted on a board in\nsome conspicuous part of the pound and also in a conspicuous\nplace at the nearest accessible police station to the pound.\n25 Cattle to be released on payment of fees, &c.\nThe poundkeeper of every pound, upon payment of the poundage\nfees in respect of any cattle impounded and reasonable costs\nincurred under section 14A, shall release those cattle and deliver\nthem to the owner thereof or to any other person duly authorized by\nthe owner to receive them:\nProvided that a poundkeeper shall not be required to release or\ndeliver any cattle except between the hours of sunrise and sunset.\n26 Power of sale of cattle by poundkeeper\nIf the release of any cattle under section 25 is not obtained before\nthe time fixed for the sale of those cattle in the notice of impounding\npublished in a newspaper circulating in the area or posted in\naccordance with section 24, the poundkeeper may sell the cattle in\nthe manner provided for in this Act.\n27 Time of sale of impounded cattle\nEvery sale of any impounded cattle shall take place not less than\n4 clear days after the notice of impounding referred to in section 24\nhas been published in a newspaper circulating in the area, or not\nless than 7 clear days after the notice of impounding has been\nposted in accordance with that section, as the case may be.\n\nPounds Act 1930 7\n28 Mode of sale of impounded cattle\nEvery sale of any impounded cattle shall:\n(a) take place at the pound where the cattle were impounded;\n(b) be by auction to the highest bidder; and\n(c) commence at such time as is fixed by the poundkeeper in the\nnotice published in a newspaper circulating in the area or\nposted in accordance with section 24.\n29 Poundkeeper to act as auctioneer\nEvery sale of any impounded cattle shall be conducted by the\npoundkeeper acting as auctioneer:\nProvided that, for the purpose of this section, a poundkeeper shall\nnot be required to have an auctioneer's licence or to be licensed as\nan auctioneer under any law in force in the Territory.\n30 Number of cattle to be put up for auction in one lot\nAt any sale of impounded cattle any number of sheep, goats or pigs\nmay be put up for auction in one lot, but not more than one animal\nof any other description shall be put up for auction in any one lot:\nProvided that nothing in this section shall prevent a cow with her\ncalf or a mare with her foal from being put up for auction and sold in\none lot.\n31 Persons forbidden to purchase impounded cattle\n(1) Neither the person who impounded the cattle nor the poundkeeper\nshall, either personally or by any other person, purchase any cattle\nimpounded in that pound.\n(2) Any person contravening subsection (1) shall be liable, for every\npurchase, to a maximum penalty of 4 penalty units and shall also\nrestore the cattle purchased to the person who, if the sale had not\ntaken place, would be entitled to receive them.\n\nPounds Act 1930 8\n32 Powers of poundkeeper where no bid made at sale\nWhere any impounded cattle have been offered for sale at any\npound in accordance with this Act and no bid for the cattle has been\nmade at that sale, the poundkeeper may:\n(a) fix another time for the sale of the cattle by a further notice in a\nnewspaper circulating in the area in accordance with Form B\nin Schedule 2; or\n(b) fix another time for the sale of the cattle by posting a notice of\nsale on a board on some conspicuous part of the pound; or\n(c) cause the cattle to be destroyed; or\n(d) where he is appointed by the Minister, take over the cattle as\nthe property of the Territory or, where he is appointed by the\nlocal government council, take over the cattle as the property\nof the council.\n33 Disposal of proceeds of sale after deducting poundage fees\nWhere impounded cattle have been sold under this Act, the\nproceeds of the sale shall be applied by the poundkeeper to pay (in\nthe order in which they appear):\n(a) costs of the sale; and\n(b) poundage fees in respect of the cattle impounded; and\n(c) reasonable costs incurred under section 14A,\nand the remainder, if any:\n(d) where the owner of the cattle is known, to that owner; or\n(e) where the owner of the cattle is not known, one calendar\nmonth has expired after the date of the sale and the\npoundkeeper was appointed by the Minister, to the Territory;\nor\n(f) where the owner of the cattle is not known, one calendar\nmonth has expired after the date of the sale and the\npoundkeeper was appointed by the local government council,\nto the council.\n\nPounds Act 1930 9\n34 Pound rescues or breaches\n(1) Any person who:\n(a) unlawfully rescues or releases any cattle lawfully impounded\nor seized for the purposes of being impounded;\n(b) damages any pound, whether any cattle are impounded\ntherein or not; or\n(c) commits any pound-breach whereby any cattle may escape\nfrom any pound,\nshall be liable to a maximum penalty of 4 penalty units, and to pay\nsuch reasonable charges and expenses as the Court thinks fit. The\nwhole or any portion of the penalty may be awarded to the owner of\nthe cattle.\n(2) In any proceedings in respect of any offence against this section,\nproof that any cattle so rescued, released or escaping are, within\n48 hours of the time of the rescue, release or escape, found in the\npossession or on the lands or with any of the herds of the owner of\nthe cattle, shall be prima facie evidence that the rescue, release or\npound-breach was made or committed by the owner.\n35 Owners of straying cattle liable to penalty\nIf any cattle are found straying, or at large, or tethered, or\ndepastured, in any street or public place within any town or\ntownship, the owner shall be liable to a maximum penalty of\n4 penalty units.\n36 Compensation for trespass on enclosed land\n(1) The owner of any land which is surrounded by a fence, or of any\nland a portion of which is surrounded by a fence, may, if the fenced\nland or the fenced portion of the land is trespassed on by cattle,\ndrive off the cattle or give notice to the owner of the cattle requiring\nhim to remove them and, may thereupon demand compensation\nfrom the owner of the cattle and, in case of non-payment, may\nrecover in a summary way before the Local Court such\ncompensation as the Court deems reasonable (not exceeding\n$1,000) in respect of any damage occasioned by the cattle whilst\non the land trespassed on or whilst entering upon the land\ntrespassed on.\n(2) Nothing contained in this section or in this Act shall deprive the\nowner of any land trespassed on by cattle of any other legal\nremedies available, under the law in force in the Territory, on\naccount of the trespass of cattle.\n\nPounds Act 1930 10\n36A Certain fines paid to local government council\nWhere an offence against this Act or the Regulations is committed\nin a local government area, a fine or monetary penalty recovered in\nrelation to the offence shall be paid to the local government council.\n36B Offences and penalties\n(1) A person shall not contravene or fail to comply with a provision of,\nor an order under, this Act or the Regulations.\n(2) A person who contravenes or fails to comply with a provision of, or\nan order under, this Act or the Regulations for which a penalty is\nnot provided by a provision of this Act or the Regulations other than\nthis section, is punishable on being found guilty by the imposition of\na maximum penalty of 4 penalty units or imprisonment for\n3 months.\n37 Regulations\nThe Administrator may make regulations, not inconsistent with this\nAct, prescribing all matters which are required or permitted to be\nprescribed, or which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed,\nfor carrying out or giving effect to this Act and, in particular,\nprescribing matters for or in relation to the poundage fees payable\nfor impounding cattle in a pound.\n\nSchedule 1 Acts of the State of South Australia and Ordinances of the Northern Territory\nPounds Act 1930 11\nSchedule 1 Acts of the State of South Australia and\nOrdinances of the Northern Territory\nThe Impounding Act of 1858 of the State of South Australia (No. 8 of 1858)\nThe Impounding Act Amendment Act, 1895 of the State of South Australia\n(No. 625 of 1895)\nDarwin Pound Ordinance 1917 of the Northern Territory (No. 10 of 1917)\nDarwin Pound Ordinance 1918 of the Northern Territory (No. 4 of 1918)\nDarwin Pound Ordinance 1924 of the Northern Territory (No. 18 of 1924)\n\nSchedule 2\nPounds Act 1930 12\nSchedule 2\nsection 11\nForm A\nFORM OF POUND BOOK\nImpounded\nDate and\ntime\nDescription\nof cattle,\ncolour and\nbrands\nBy whom\nimpounded\nFor what\ncause\nOwner or\nsupposed\nowner\nTime and\nmode of\ngiving\nnotice\nReleased or Sold\nDate and time Whether released\nor sold\nAmount Received\nfor Sales Fees\n$ $\nSignature of person\nreceiving cattle and\npaying fees\n\nSchedule 2\nPounds Act 1930 13\nsection 24, 32 Form B\nFORM OF NOTICE TO BE PUBLISHED\nImpounded at [here state the place, and describe the cattle, the\nnumber and kind, and where and how branded].*\nIf not claimed, will be sold on\nPoundkeeper\n*Where there is no brand, the cattle are to be shortly described, stating\nage, colour or any particular mark.\n\nENDNOTES\nPounds Act 1930 14\nENDNOTES\n1 KEY\nKey to abbreviations\namd = amended od = order\napp = appendix om = omitted\nbl = by-law pt = Part\nch = Chapter r = regulation/rule\ncl = clause rem = remainder\ndiv = Division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired rep = repealed\nf = forms s = section\nGaz = Gazette sch = Schedule\nhdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision\nins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation\nlt = long title sub = substituted\nnc = not commenced\n2 LIST OF LEGISLATION\nPounds Ordinance 1930 (Act No. 14, 1930)\nAssent date 16 October 1930\nCommenced 1 December 1930 ((Cth) Gaz 30 October 1930)\nAdministrator's Council Ordinance 1959 (Act No. 22, 1959)\nAssent date 7 July 1959\nCommenced 28 April 1960 (Gaz No. 18, 27 April 1960)\nPounds Ordinance 1963 (Act No. 6, 1963)\nAssent date 23 January 1963\nCommenced 28 August 1963 (Gaz No. 35, 28 August 1963)\nPounds Ordinance 1965 (Act No. 52, 1965)\nAssent date 17 December 1965\nCommenced 14 February 1966 (s 2)\nPounds Ordinance 1966 (Act No. 7, 1966)\nAssent date 23 March 1966\nCommenced 23 March 1966\nPounds Ordinance 1967 (Act No. 42, 1967)\nAssent date 4 December 1967\nCommenced 6 December 1967 (Gaz No. 60, 6 December 1967)\nOrdinances Revision Ordinance 1973 (Act No. 87, 1973)\nAssent date 11 December 1973\nCommenced 11 December 1973 (s 12(2))\nAmending Legislation\nOrdinances Revision Ordinance 1974 (Act No. 34, 1974)\nAssent date 26 August 1974\nCommenced 11 December 1973 (s 3(2))\n\nENDNOTES\nPounds Act 1930 15\nOrdinances Revision Ordinance (No. 2) 1974 (Act No. 69, 1974)\nAssent date 24 October 1974\nCommenced 11 December 1973 (s 3)\nOrdinances Revision Ordinance 1976 (Act No. 27, 1976)\nAssent date 28 June 1976\nCommenced ss 1, 2 and 6: 28 June 1976 (s 6(2));\nss 3 and 4: 11 December 1973; s 5: 24 October 1974\nTransfer of Powers (Further Provisions) Ordinance 1977 (Act No. 51, 1977)\nAssent date 9 December 1977\nCommenced 1 January 1978 (s 2)\nTransfer of Powers (Self-Government) Ordinance 1978 (Act No. 54, 1978)\nAssent date 1 July 1978\nCommenced 1 July 1978\nStatute Law Revision Act 1978 (Act No. 95, 1978)\nAssent date 5 September 1978\nCommenced 5 September 1978\nPounds Amendment Act 1983 (Act No. 6, 1983)\nAssent date 27 April 1983\nCommenced 1 September 1983 (Gaz G34, 26 August 1983, p 7)\nLocal Court (Consequential Amendments) Act 1989 (Act No. 14, 1989)\nAssent date 5 June 1989\nCommenced s 6: 5 June 1989; rem: 1 January 1991 (s 2, s 2 Small Claims\nAmendment Act 1988 (Act No. 43, 1988), Gaz G17,\n3 May 1989, p 2, s 2 Local Court Act 1989 (Act No. 31, 1989)\nand Gaz G49, 12 December 1990, p 2)\nLocal Government (Consequential Amendments) Act 1993 (Act No. 84, 1993)\nAssent date 31 December 1993\nCommenced 1 June 1994 (s 2, s 2 Local Government Act 1993 (Act\nNo. 83, 1993) and Gaz S35, 20 May 1994)\nSentencing (Consequential Amendments) Act 1996 (Act No. 17, 1996)\nAssent date 19 April 1996\nCommenced s 7: 19 April 1996; rem: 1 July 1996 (s 2, s 2 Sentencing\nAct 1995 (Act No. 39, 1995) and Gaz S15, 13 June 1996)\nLocal Government (Consequential Amendments) Act 2008 (Act No. 28, 2008)\nAssent date 14 November 2008\nCommenced 1 July 2008 (s 2)\nLivestock Act 2008 (Act No. 36, 2008)\nAssent date 8 December 2008\nCommenced 1 September 2009 (Gaz G34, 26 August 2009, p 3)\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)\n\nENDNOTES\nPounds Act 1930 16\nLocal Government Amendment Act 2014 (Act No. 19, 2014)\nAssent date 2 June 2014\nCommenced s 16: 1 July 2014; s 18: 1 December 2014; rem: 2 June 2014\n(s 2)\nLocal Government Act 2019 (Act No. 39, 2019)\nAssent date 13 December 2019\nCommenced pt 8.6: 1 July 2022; rem: 1 July 2021 (Gaz S27,\n30 June 2021)\nAmending Legislation\nStatute Law Revision Act 2020 (Act No. 26, 2020)\nAssent date 19 November 2020\nCommenced 20 November 2020 (s 2)\nLocal Government Amendment Act 2021 (Act No. 15, 2021)\nAssent date 25 May 2021\nCommenced 26 May 2021 (s 2)\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 Ordinances Revision\nOrdinance 1973 (Act No. 87, 1973) (as amended) to: ss 3, 4, 5, 11, 15, 24,\n27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36.\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 and 8.\n5 LIST OF AMENDMENTS\nlt amd No. 6, 1983, s 12\nss 1 – 2 amd No. 6, 1983, s 12\ns 3 sub No. 6, 1983, s 4\namd No. 84, 1993, s 6; No. 28, 2008, s 3; No. 19, 2014, s 26\ns 4 sub No. 6, 1983, s 4\namd No. 19, 2014, s 26\ns 5 amd No. 51, 1977, s 3; No. 54, 1978, s 3\nsub No. 6, 1983, s 4\namd No. 19, 2014, s 26; No. 39, 2019, s 370\ns 8 amd No. 6, 1983, s 12; No. 36, 2008, s 154\nss 11 – 12 amd No. 6, 1983, s 12\ns 13 amd No. 6, 1983, s 5; No. 19, 2014, s 26\ns 14 amd No. 6, 1983, s 12\ns 14A ins No. 6, 1983, s 6\ns 15 amd No. 52, 1965, s 3; No. 6, 1983, s 12; No. 23, 2013, s 16\ns 16 amd No. 42, 1967, s 3; No. 6, 1983, s 12\ns 17 amd No. 22, 1959, s 6\nrep No. 42, 1967, s 4\ns 19 amd No. 6, 1983, s 12\n\nENDNOTES\nPounds Act 1930 17\ns 21 amd No. 6, 1983, s 12\ns 24 amd No. 22, 1959, s 6; No. 51, 1977, s 3; No. 54, 1978, s 3; No. 6, 1983, s 12\ns 25 amd No. 6, 1983, s 7\nss 26 – 29 amd No. 6, 1983, s 12\ns 31 amd No. 52, 1965, s 4; No. 6, 1983, s 12; No. 23, 2013, s 16\ns 32 amd No. 6, 1983, s 8; No. 19, 2014, s 26\ns 33 sub No. 6, 1983, s 9\namd No. 19, 2014, s 26\ns 34 amd No. 52, 1965, s 5; No. 6, 1983, s 12; No. 23, 2013, s 16\ns 35 amd No. 52, 1965, s 6; No. 6, 1983, s 12; No. 23, 2013, s 16\ns 36 amd No. 6, 1963, s 4; No. 52, 1965, s 7; No. 6, 1983, s 12; No. 14, 1989, s 7\ns 36A ins No. 6, 1983, s 10\namd No. 19, 2014, s 26\ns 36B ins No. 6, 1983, s 10\namd No. 17, 1996, s 6; No. 23, 2013, s 16\ns 37 ins No. 42, 1967, s 5\namd No. 95, 1978, s 14; No. 6, 1983, s 12\nsch hdg om No. 87, 1973, s 12\nsch 1 amd No. 6, 1983, s 12\nsch 2 amd No. 52, 1965, s 8; No. 6, 1983, ss 11 and 12\nthird sch sub No. 6, 1963, s 3; No. 52, 1965, s 9\namd No. 7, 1966, s 2\nrep No. 42, 1967, s 6","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Act's core scope — procedures for impounding, caring for and disposing of animals — remains unchanged. Later amendments added operational detail (transport cost recovery at s 14A), disease‑control cross‑reference to the Livestock Act (s 8), and allocation of fines or proceeds to local government (s 36A, s 33), but did not broaden the subject‑matter beyond impounding and related administration."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow, operational subject-matter limited to impounding and disposal of animals (overall Act)","Multiple actors with distinct powers and duties: owners, poundkeepers, inspectors, police, local government councils and the Minister (ss 4, 5, 14)","Detailed procedural requirements for custody, notice, record‑keeping and sale (ss 9–13, 20–29)","Cost‑recovery and payment rules that allocate financial burdens to owners (ss 14A, 16, 19, 25, 33)","Statutory discretion for poundkeepers and officials in management, sale timing, destruction or taking ownership (ss 10, 26, 32)","Cross‑references to other legislation and delegated law: Livestock Act for disease certification (s 8) and regulations for fees and prescriptions (s 37)","Multiple small criminal and civil sanctions rather than large, complex penalties (ss 15, 31, 34, 35, 36B)"],"plain_english_summary":"This Act sets out how stray, trespassing or wandering animals may be seized, held, cared for, released, sold or destroyed by appointed poundkeepers, inspectors, police, local government councils or the Minister. It affects animal owners (who pay impounding, feeding and transport costs and may face small penalties), and the public authorities that establish pounds and appoint poundkeepers. Owners pay impounding, feeding and transport costs (ss 14A, 16, 25); councils or the Minister establish pounds and appoint officers (ss 4–5). The Act creates procedural rules, modest penalties and administrative obligations (s 36B)."},"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"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original 1930 Act was a simple impounding law for stray livestock. Over 90+ years of amendments, it has expanded significantly: (1) addition of section 14A (1983) creating statutory debt for transport costs; (2) insertion of sections 36A and 36B (1983) creating general offence provisions and fine distribution mechanisms; (3) integration with modern local government structures (multiple amendments from 1977–2019); (4) cross-referencing to the Livestock Act 2008 for disease control; and (5) adaptation from a purely 'pound' system to include negotiated land-use arrangements (section 5(b)). The Act now functions as a hybrid property/administrative/criminal law statute rather than a simple procedural mechanism for stray animals."},"complexity_factors":["Straightforward structure with 37 sections plus 2 schedules, but contains numerous cross-references between sections (e.g., sections 24, 26, 27, 28, 32 all interrelate regarding notice and sale procedures)","Multiple conditional pathways for sale procedures depending on whether notice is published in newspaper or posted at pound/police station (section 24 proviso affecting sections 27 and 28)","Dual administrative structure — different rules apply depending on whether poundkeeper is appointed by Minister (Territory) or local government council (sections 4, 5, 13, 32, 33, 36A)","Nested provisos and exceptions (e.g., section 30 limits lot sizes at auction but excepts 'cow with calf' or 'mare with foal'; section 25 has proviso restricting release hours)","Definition section (section 3) contains 5 defined terms but uses inclusive definitions that expand ordinary meaning (e.g., 'cattle' includes horses, sheep, camels, pigs, buffalo)","Historical layering — section numbers are non-consecutive (missing s 17) due to repeals, and multiple amendment layers visible in endnotes (1930 through 2021)","Forms in Schedule 2 create compliance obligations but are not fully integrated into operative text"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does:**\n\nThis is the Northern Territory's **Pounds Act 1930** — a law that sets up a system for dealing with stray or trespassing livestock (cattle, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, camels, etc.). Think of it as the rules for the \"dog pound,\" but for farm animals.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **Landowners** — can impound animals trespassing on their property\n- **Local councils and the NT Government** — run the pound system, appoint poundkeepers, and collect fees\n- **Poundkeepers** — officials who run the pounds, care for impounded animals, and conduct auctions\n- **Livestock owners** — must pay fees to get their animals back, or risk having them sold\n- **Police and inspectors** — can seize wandering animals on public roads\n\n**How it works:**\n- If animals stray onto your land or wander on public roads, they can be seized and taken to an official \"pound\" (a secure enclosure)\n- The poundkeeper must feed and water the animals, keep records, and notify the owner\n- Owners can reclaim their animals by paying **poundage fees** (daily charges) plus transport costs\n- If not claimed within a set time (at least 4–7 days), the animals are sold at auction by the poundkeeper\n- The money from sales covers costs and fees; any surplus goes to the owner (or to the government/council if the owner is unknown)\n- There are penalties for illegal impounding, \"pound rescues\" (breaking animals out), or letting your livestock stray in towns\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis law balances the rights of landowners to protect their property from wandering stock against the rights of animal owners to recover their property. It provides a structured, transparent process so that stray livestock don't just disappear or get stolen — they go through a formal system with public notices, auctions, and proper accounting."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/pounds-act-1930","history":"/api/acts/pounds-act-1930/history","analysis":"/api/acts/pounds-act-1930/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/pounds-act-1930/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/pounds-act-1930/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/pounds-act-1930/documents"}}