{"id":"scout-association-act-1932","name":"Scout Association Act 1932","slug":"scout-association-act-1932","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"vic","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":176461,"registerId":"vic-scout-association-act-1932-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Scout Association Act 1932","content":"Version No. 021\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\nVersion incorporating amendments as at 7 September 2007\nTABLE OF PROVISIONS\nSection Page\n1 Short title 2\n2 Definitions 2\n3 Incorporation of The Boy Scouts Association, Victorian Branch 4\n4 Validation of acts of Corporation and Branch 5\n4A Change of name of Corporation and Branch 6\n4B Corporation and Branch to be subject to direction by National\nCouncil etc. 7\n5 General powers of the corporation 8\n6 Transfer etc. of properties to the corporation 9\n7 Powers of corporation and Branch Executive Committee 14\n8 Receipt and application of gifts etc. by the corporation 14\n9 Custody and use of the seal 16\n10 Notice to and service on the corporation 16\n11 Protection of names, uniforms, badges etc. used by the\ncorporation and members of its organizations 16\n12 Winding-up of Corporation 19\n__________________\nSCHEDULE—Constitution of the Scout Association of Australia\nVictorian Branch 22\n═══════════════\nENDNOTES 40\n1. General Information 40\n2. Table of Amendments 41\n3. Explanatory Details 42\ni\n\nVersion No. 021\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\nVersion incorporating amendments as at 7 September 2007\nAn Act to incorporate the Governing Body of The Boy Scouts\nAssociation (Incorporated by Royal Charter) Victorian Branch\n(Australia), and to confer and impose upon that Body certain\nPowers Duties Rights and Liabilities and to provide for the\nvesting in it of the Property of the said Association in Victoria\nand for other purposes.\nPreamble\nWHEREAS the Boy Scouts Association (in this\nAct referred to as \"the Association\") was duly\nincorporated in the United Kingdom of Great\nBritain and Ireland by Royal Charter dated the\nfourth day of January One thousand nine hundred\nand twelve:\nAND WHEREAS the Association has power under\nthe said Charter to form Local Branches and\nCommittees in all parts of His Majesty's\nDominions and to apply for and exercise any\npowers obtained under any Supplementary Charter\nor Act of Parliament, Imperial or Colonial and\nwhether Federal or Provincial, which may be\ndeemed expedient for any of the purposes of the\nAssociation:\nAND WHEREAS for providing and maintaining\nan efficient organization for promoting the objects\nof the Association a Local Branch has been formed\nunder the power aforesaid for the State of Victoria:\nAND WHEREAS by an instrument known as the\n\"Amended Constitution,\" containing certain\nmatters which were passed at a special general\nmeeting of the Council of Control of the Australian\nBoy Scouts Association held at the Town Hall at\n1\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\ns. 1\nMelbourne on the twenty-sixth day of May One\nthousand nine hundred and twenty-four, it was\nprovided inter alia that the name of the said\nAssociation should be from the said date \"The Boy\nScouts Association (Incorporated by Royal\nCharter) Victorian Branch (Australia)\" and that the\ngoverning body thereof should be the State\nCouncil which should direct the general policy and\nexercise a general supervision and control over the\naffairs thereof, and that the State Council should\nconsist of certain members:\nAND WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the\nincorporation of the said governing body and for\nconferring and imposing upon that body the\npowers duties rights and liabilities hereinafter\nprovided for and for the vesting in it of the\nproperty of the Association in Victoria and for the\nmanagement of such property as hereinafter\nenacted and to make further provision as\nhereinafter enacted:\nBE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the King's Most Excellent\nMajesty by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative\nCouncil and the Legislative Assembly of Victoria in this present\nParliament assembled and by the authority of the same as follows\n(that is to say):\n1 Short titleS. 1\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 13(2). This Act may be cited as the Scout Association\nAct 1932.\n2 DefinitionsS. 2\nsubstituted by\nNo. 9878 s. 3. In this Act, unless inconsistent with the context or\nsubject-matter—\nappointed day means the day fixed by Order made\nand published pursuant to section 4B(3);\n2\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\ns. 2\nAustralian Association means the Scout\nAssociation of Australia (formerly known as\n\"the Australian Boy Scouts Association\")\nincorporated by Royal Charter dated\n23 August 1967;\nBranch means the Scout Association of Australia,\nVictorian Branch;\nBranch Executive Committee means the\nExecutive Committee established under the\ndocument, a copy of which is set out in the\nSchedule, as from time to time amended;\nBritish Association means the Scout Association\n(formerly known as \"the Boy Scouts\nAssociation\") incorporated by Royal Charter\ndated 4 January 1912;\nConstitution means the Constitution of the\nBranch, a copy of which is set out in the\nSchedule and includes any amendments from\ntime to time made to that document;\ncorporation means the body incorporated by this\nAct;\nNational Council means the National Council of\nthe Australian Association established under\nRoyal Charter dated 23 August 1967;\nNational Executive Committee means the\nNational Executive Committee of the\nAustralian Association established under\nRoyal Charter dated 23 August 1967;\nsponsored group means a group registered with\nthe Corporation as a sponsored group by any\norganization approved by the Australian\nAssociation or the Corporation responsible;\n3\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\ns. 3\nsponsoring authority means the person or\ncommittee appointed by an organization\nwhich has registered a group as a sponsored\ngroup to exercise the functions of the\norganization in respect of the group.\n3 Incorporation of The Boy Scouts Association,\nVictorian Branch\nS. 3\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 4(a).\n(1) Without further or other authority than this Act,\nthe members at the commencement of this Act of\nthe hereinbefore recited State Council of The Boy\nScouts Association (Incorporated by Royal\nCharter) Victorian Branch (Australia) shall upon\nthe commencement of this Act become and the\nmembers for the time being of the said State\nCouncil shall thereafter be and continue a body\ncorporate by the name of \"The Boy Scouts\nAssociation, Victorian Branch\" with perpetual\nsuccession and a common seal (with power to\nbreak alter and change the same from time to\ntime); and shall by that name be capable in law of\nsuing and being sued and subject to this Act of\npurchasing taking holding selling mortgaging\nleasing taking on lease exchanging and disposing\nof real and personal property and of doing and\nsuffering all such other acts and things as bodies\ncorporate may by law do and suffer.\n(2) On and from the date of commencement of the\nScout Association Act 1983, a reference in\nsubsection (1) to \"The Boy Scouts Association,\n(incorporated by Royal Charter) Victorian\nBranch\" shall be deemed to be a reference to \"The\nScout Association of Australia, Victorian Branch\nCouncil\".\nS. 3(2)\ninserted by\nNo. 9878\ns. 4(b).\n(3) The body corporate mentioned in subsection (1)\nhas under its new name the same capacity as it\nhad under its former name.\nS. 3(3)\ninserted by\nNo. 9878\ns. 4(b).\n4\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\ns. 4\n4 Validation of acts of Corporation and Branch S. 4\nsubstituted by\nNo. 9878 s. 5.(1) All acts, matters and things transacted or done by\nor on behalf of the Corporation or in relation to\nthe Branch on or after 15 December 1958, being\nacts, matters or things which were done or\ntransacted in purported pursuance of a direction,\ndecision or ruling of the Australian Association,\nthe National Council or the National Executive\nCommittee or of the Royal Charter dated\n23 August 1967 or any by-law or instrument made\nthereunder, shall notwithstanding anything to the\ncontrary in this Act or in the Royal Charter dated\n4 January 1912 be deemed to have been validly\nand effectually done or transacted and to have\nbeen within the capacity and powers of the Branch\nor the Corporation (as the case requires).\n(2) The provisions of—\n(a) the Royal Charter dated 4 January 1912,\nother than the provision empowering the\nBritish Association to form local branches\nand committees in the Dominions; and\n(b) any by-laws made under the Royal Charter\nmentioned in paragraph (a)—\nshall, so far as they relate to local branches of the\nBritish Association, cease to apply to the\nCorporation and the Branch.\n(3) For the purposes of that provision of the Royal\nCharter dated 4 January 1912 which empowers the\nBritish Association to form local branches and\ncommittees in the Dominions, the Branch shall be\nregarded as a local branch.\n5\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\ns. 4A\n4A Change of name of Corporation and BranchS. 4A\ninserted by\nNo. 9878 s. 5. (1) The Branch Executive Committee may change the\nname of the Corporation or the name of the\nBranch by resolution of the Committee passed at a\nmeeting of the Committee by a majority of the\nmembers of the Committee.\n(2) The Branch Executive Committee shall not\nresolve to change the name of the Corporation or\nthe Branch pursuant to subsection (1) unless the\nproposal to change the name of the Corporation or\nthe Branch has been approved by the National\nCouncil at a general meeting.\n(3) Any change of the name of the Corporation or the\nBranch shall not affect the identity of the\nCorporation or the Branch or any rights or\nobligations of the Corporation or the Branch or\nany legal proceedings by or against the\nCorporation or the Branch, and any legal\nproceedings that might have been commenced or\ncontinued by or against the Corporation or the\nBranch by its former name may be commenced or\ncontinued by or against the Corporation or the\nBranch by its new name.\n(4) Where the name of the Corporation or the Branch\nis changed pursuant to this section, any reference\nin this Act or in any Royal Charter or other\ninstrument or document or in any legal\nproceedings to the Corporation or the Branch by\nits former name shall from the date on which the\nchange takes effect be deemed to be a reference to\nthe Corporation or the Branch by its new name.\n6\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\ns. 4B\n4B Corporation and Branch to be subject to direction\nby National Council etc. S. 4B\ninserted by\nNo. 9878 s. 5.\n(1) The Corporation and the Branch are subject to—\n(a) the provisions of—\n(i) the Royal Charter dated 23 August\n1967;\n(ii) by-laws for the time being in force\nunder the Royal Charter mentioned in\nsubparagraph (i); and\n(iii) any decision or ruling of the National\nCouncil or the National Executive\nmade pursuant to the Royal Charter\nmentioned in subparagraph (i) or the\nby-laws mentioned in\nsubparagraph (ii)—\nwhich relate to the policy of the scout\nmovement and the control of scouting or to\nthe branches of the Australian Association\ngenerally or the Branch or the Corporation in\nparticular; and\n(b) the direction and control of the National\nCouncil and the National Executive\nCommittee.\n(2) Where a provision or direction mentioned in\nsubsection (1) is inconsistent with a provision of\nthe Constitution, the provision of the Constitution\nshall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be\ninoperative.\n(3) Subject to subsection (2), the provisions of the\nConstitution and the documents mentioned in the\nConstitution shall on and from a day to be fixed\nby Order of the Governor in Council published in\nthe Government Gazette have effect in relation to\nthe Branch, the Corporation and the Executive\nCommittee.\n7\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\ns. 5\n(4) The Corporation shall keep at a place appointed\nby it—\n(a) a copy of the Royal Charter dated 23 August\n1967 and any subsequent Royal Charter\nrelating to the Scout Association of\nAustralia;\n(b) the documents comprising the Constitution;\nand\n(c) a copy of each document referred to in the\nConstitution—\nand shall certify each of those documents under\nthe seal of the Corporation and shall cause notice\nof the place at which the documents are kept to be\npublished in the Government Gazette and a\nnewspaper circulating generally throughout\nVictoria.\n(5) In any proceedings the production of a document\npurporting to be a copy of a document kept\npursuant to this section and certified to be a copy\nof that document under the seal of the Corporation\nshall be conclusive evidence of the contents of the\ndocument of which it purports to be a copy.\n5 General powers of the corporationS. 5\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 6(a). Subject to this Act, the Royal Charter dated\n23 August 1967, the by-laws in force under that\nCharter and any decision, direction or ruling of the\nNational Council or the National Executive\nCommittee in force under that Charter or those\nby-laws, the corporation—\n(a) shall control the Scout movement in\nVictoria; and\nS. 5(a)\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 6(b).\n(b) may do all things necessary or requisite for\nproviding and maintaining an efficient\norganization for the purposes of the\nS. 5(b)\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 6(c)(i)(ii).\n8\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\ns. 6\nAustralian Association in Victoria, including\nand without restricting the generality of the\nforegoing provisions of this section the\nperformance and exercise of all such powers\nand duties as are delegated to it by the\nAustralian Association under the provisions\nof the Royal Charter dated 23 August 1967.\n6 Transfer etc. of properties to the corporation\n(1) Any person— S. 6(1)\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 7(1)(a)(b).\n(a) who at the commencement of this Act holds;\n(b) who hereafter acquires; or\n(c) to whom is or has been given devised or\nbequeathed—\nany real or personal property in Victoria upon\ntrust for or on behalf of or for the benefit of the\nBritish Association or the Australian Association\nor a branch of the British Association or the\nAustralian Association or any area or county\ncouncil or district or local association or group or\nbody formed under the Policy Organization and\nRules of the British Association or Australian\nAssociation or any committee of the British\nAssociation or the Australian Association in\nVictoria shall (if and when required by notice in\nwriting from the corporation so to do) transfer\nconvey and assign unto the corporation at its cost\nsuch real or personal property as aforesaid but\nsubject to any conditions or trust upon which the\nsame is held acquired given devised or\nbequeathed.\n(1A) Where pursuant to this section or an order made\nunder this section property is transferred,\nconveyed or assigned to or vested in the\nCorporation upon trust or subject to the condition\nthat the property be held for or on behalf of or for\nthe benefit of the British Association, the\nS. 6(1A)\ninserted by\nNo. 9878\ns. 7(2).\n9\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\ns. 6\nCorporation may notwithstanding that trust or\ncondition apply and use the property for or on\nbehalf of or for the benefit of the Australian\nAssociation but otherwise in accordance with the\ntrust or condition as if a reference in the trust or\ncondition to the British Association were a\nreference to the Australian Association, and the\ntrust or condition shall have effect accordingly,\nunless an order under this section provides in\nrespect of particular property that this subsection\nshall not apply.\n(2) Any notice requiring the transfer conveyance or\nassignment of any such real or personal\nproperty—\n(a) shall be signed by the general secretary or\nother authorized officer of the corporation;\nand\n(b) shall be deemed to have been properly\nserved upon and received by the person or\npersons to whom it is addressed at the\nexpiration of three days after it has been\nforwarded by registered post addressed to\nsuch person or in the case of joint holders\nthen to one of such joint holders at his usual\nor last known place of residence in Victoria:\nProvided that property vested in held by or on\nbehalf of or which is given devised or bequeathed\nto any sponsored group may subject to any\nexpress trust affecting the same be held in trust for\nsuch purposes and be disposed of in such manner\nas the sponsoring authority of such group from\ntime to time determines; but in the event of any\nsuch sponsoring authority dealing with any such\nreal or personal property in a manner contrary to\nthe conditions and trusts upon which the same is\nheld the corporation may by notice in writing\ngiven as aforesaid require the organization by\nS. 6(2)\nProviso\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 7(3)(a)(b).\n10\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\ns. 6\nwhich such sponsoring authority was appointed or\nthe sponsoring authority to transfer convey and\nassign such real or personal property to the\ncorporation.\n(3) Upon service of any such notice as aforesaid the\nreal or personal property in respect of which such\nnotice has been given shall immediately vest in\nthe corporation but subject as aforesaid to any\nconditions and trusts upon which it is held and any\nperson organization or sponsoring authority\nserved with such notice shall be immediately\ndivested of such real and personal property\nmentioned therein.\nS. 6(3)\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 7(3)(b).\n(4) Any person organization or sponsoring authority\nserved with any such notice aforesaid may apply\nby summons to a judge of the Supreme Court for\nan order that any such transfer conveyance or\nassignment of any such real or personal property\nshall be subject to such terms and conditions as\nthe judge may determine are just and equitable\nhaving regard to all the circumstances of the case.\nS. 6(4)\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 7(3)(b).\n(5) In the event of the person organization or\nsponsoring authority holding as aforesaid any real\nor personal property (other than land under the\nTransfer of Land Acts) the legal interest in which\nis transferable or assignable by deed or other\ndocument in writing after service upon him or it\nrequiring him or it so to do refusing or neglecting\nto execute a conveyance or an assignment thereof\nto the corporation or in the event of the\nwhereabouts of any such person being unknown—\nS. 6(5)\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 7(4)(a)–(c).\n(a) the corporation may apply to a judge of the\nSupreme Court for an order directing the\nProthonotary of the Supreme Court to\nexecute for and on behalf of such person\norganization or authority a conveyance or an\nS. 6(5)(a)\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 7(4)(b).\n11\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\ns. 6\nassignment of such real or personal property\nto the corporation; and\n(b) upon proof to the satisfaction of such\njudge—\nS. 6(5)(b)\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 7(4)(b).\n(i) that such real or personal property is\nheld by such person organization or\nsponsoring authority upon trust for or\non behalf of or for the benefit of the\nBritish Association or the Australian\nAssociation or a branch of the British\nAssociation or the Australian\nAssociation or any area or county\ncouncil, district or local association or\ngroup or body as aforesaid or any\ncommittee thereof as aforesaid;\nS. 6(5)(b)(i)\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 7(4)(a)(c).\n(ii) that notice as aforesaid requiring such\nperson organization or sponsoring\nauthority to convey or assign such real\nor personal property has been given in\nmanner herein provided; and\n(iii) that such person organization or\nsponsoring authority refuses or neglects\nto execute such conveyance or\nassignment as aforesaid or that the\nwhereabouts of such person is\nunknown—\nS. 6(5)(b)(iii)\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 7(4)(a).\nthe judge may make such order and the said\nProthonotary shall thereupon do and perform\nall such acts and things as may be necessary\nto convey or assign such real or personal\nproperty to the corporation but subject as to\nany real property to any charge mortgage\nlease or easement then affecting the same\nand to the trusts on which it was held by\nsuch person organization or sponsoring\nauthority.\n12\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\ns. 6\n(6) Any person in Victoria who has at any time\nacquired real or personal property by using the\nname of the British Association or the Australian\nAssociation or of any branch of the British\nAssociation or the Australian Association or of\nany area or county council, district or local\nassociation or group or body formed as aforesaid\nand who is in possession of or otherwise holds\nsuch real or personal property shall be deemed to\nbe a person holding such real or personal property\nupon trust for or on behalf of or for the benefit of\nsuch British Association or Australian Association\nor branch of the British Association or the\nAustralian Association or area or county council\nor district or local association or group or body\nformed as aforesaid.\nS. 6(6)\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 7(5)(a)(b).\n(7) Any liabilities in respect of any real or personal\nproperty which may hereafter become vested in\nthe corporation by virtue of the provisions of this\nsection may thereupon be enforced against the\ncorporation.\n(8) Any rights accrued or accruing or to accrue to any\nperson in Victoria on behalf of the British\nAssociation or Australian Association are and\nshall be hereby vested in and may be enforced by\nthe corporation on behalf of the British\nAssociation or the Australian Association (as the\ncase may be).\nS. 6(8)\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 7(6)(a)(b).\n(9) For the purposes of this Act— S. 6(9)\ninserted by\nNo. 9878\ns. 7(6)(b).\n(a) a group that was a controlled group within\nthe meaning of this Act as in force\nimmediately before the date of\ncommencement of the Scout Association\nAct 1983 shall on and from that date be\ndeemed to be a sponsored group; and\n13\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\ns. 7\n(b) a person or committee that was a controlling\nauthority within the meaning of this Act as in\nforce immediately before the date of\ncommencement of the Scout Association\nAct 1983 shall on and from that date be\ndeemed to be a sponsoring authority.\n7 Powers of corporation and Branch Executive\nCommittee\nS. 7\nsubstituted by\nNo. 9878 s. 8.\n(1) The Corporation may lease, mortgage, sell or\notherwise deal with the real or personal property\nvested in it in such manner, subject to any special\ntrust affecting the property, as the Branch\nExecutive Committee thinks fit.\n(2) In any proceedings, production of a resolution of\nthe Branch Executive Committee specifying the\nmanner in which any real or personal property\nvested in the Corporation is to be leased,\nmortgaged, sold or otherwise dealt with, sealed\nwith the common seal of the Corporation, shall be\nconclusive evidence of the due passing of the\nresolution and compliance with the provisions of\nthis Act and the Constitution relating to the\nresolution.\n(3) The Branch Executive Committee may in the\nname and on behalf of the Corporation exercise in\nrelation to the Corporation and the Branch such\npowers as are conferred on the Committee by the\nConstitution.\n8 Receipt and application of gifts etc. by the\ncorporation\nS. 8\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 9(a).\n(1) The corporation shall—\n(a) receive all gifts grants of money or\ncontributions made by the Government of\nVictoria or by any municipality incorporated\nbody society or person to the Australian\nAssociation or the Branch; and\nS. 8(1)(a)\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 9(b).\n14\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\ns. 8\n(b) apply the same in accordance with the terms\nprovisions and conditions of such gifts,\ngrants or contributions; or if there be none\nsuch, or on such terms provisions or\nconditions becoming impossible of\nperformance, then in accordance with the\nobjects of the Association and the directions\n(if any) of the Australian Association.\nS. 8(1)(b)\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 9(c).\n(2) Subject to subsection (3)— S. 8(2)\ninserted by\nNo. 9878\ns. 9(c).\n(a) the provisions of subsection (1) as amended\nby the Scout Association Act 1983 apply to\nany gift, grant or contribution received by\nthe Corporation on or after the date of\ncommencement of that Act; and\n(b) the provisions of subsection (1) as in force\nimmediately before that date of\ncommencement continue to apply to any gift,\ngrant or contribution received by the\nCorporation before that date.\n(3) Where before the date of commencement of the\nScout Association Act 1983 the Corporation has\nreceived a gift, grant or contribution and at the\ndate of commencement of that Act any part of that\ngift, grant or contribution has not been applied or\nused by the Corporation, the Corporation may if it\nthinks fit, notwithstanding the terms, provisions\nand conditions of the gift, grant or contribution,\napply the gift, grant or contribution in accordance\nwith the objects of the Australian Association and\nthe directions (if any) of that Association, and a\ngift, grant or contribution so applied shall have\neffect as if any reference in a term, provision or\ncondition to the British Association were a\nreference to the Australian Association.\nS. 8(3)\ninserted by\nNo. 9878\ns. 9(c).\n15\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\ns. 9\n(4) The Corporation shall be deemed on and from\n15 December 1958 to have had power to receive\ngifts, grants of money and contributions to the\nAustralian Association and to apply them in\naccordance with any terms, conditions or\nprovisions to which they were subject and\notherwise for the objects and in accordance with\nthe directions (if any) of the Australian\nAssociation.\nS. 8(4)\ninserted by\nNo. 9878\ns. 9(c).\n9 Custody and use of the seal\n(1) The common seal of the Corporation shall be in\nthe custody of the general secretary and shall not\nbe affixed to any document except pursuant to a\nresolution of the Branch Executive Committee.\nS. 9(1)\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 10(a).\n(2) The affixing of the common seal of the\nCorporation to a document shall be attested in\nsuch manner as is prescribed by the Constitution:\nS. 9(2)\nsubstituted by\nNo. 9878\ns. 10(b).\nProvided that it shall not be necessary to require\nthe common seal to be affixed as evidence of the\nappointment by the corporation of a legal\npractitioner in or for the prosecution or defence of\nany action suit or other proceeding.\nS. 9(2)\nProviso\namended by\nNo. 35/1996\ns. 453(Sch. 1\nitem 74).\n10 Notice to and service on the corporation\nNotice to or service upon the general secretary or\nacting general secretary of the corporation shall be\ndeemed to be a notice to or service upon the\ncorporation.\n11 Protection of names, uniforms, badges etc. used by\nthe corporation and members of its organizations\nComp. 16, 17\nGeo. V. c. 26.\n(1) The Governor in Council may by Order in\nCouncil made on the application of the\ncorporation protect—\n(a) the name of the Australian Association and\nof the Branch;\nS. 11(1)(a)\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 11(a).\n16\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\ns. 11\n(b) any special name or designation specified in\nthe Order and used by the Australian\nAssociation or the Branch for the members\nthereof, or for the members of any\norganization constituted by the Association\nin pursuance of its charter or by the Branch\nin pursuance of the Constitution;\nS. 11(1)(b)\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 11(a).\n(c) any uniform with distinctive markings or\nbadges used by the Australian Association or\nthe Branch and described in the Order; and\nS. 11(1)(c)\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 11(a).\n(d) any badge to be worn without uniform used\nby the Australian Association or the Branch\nand described in the Order:\nS. 11(1)(d)\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 11(a).\nProvided that nothing in any such Order or in this\nsection shall deprive any bona fide organization of\nthe right to use any designation uniform or badge\nwhich at the time of the passing of this Act or the\nScout Association Act 1983 is in regular use by\nthat organization.\nS. 11(1)\nProviso\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 11(b).\n(1A) Nothing in subsection (1) affects the continuity of\nstatus, operation or effect of any order made under\nthis section before the date of commencement of\nthe Scout Association Act 1983.\nS. 11(1A)\ninserted by\nNo. 9878\ns. 11(c).\n(2) An Order in Council under this section—\n(a) shall not be made unless notice of the\napplication for an Order has been given in\nsuch manner and accompanied by such\nparticulars as the Minister directs; and the\nMinister shall consider any objections to an\nOrder which are made by or on behalf of any\npersons or societies affected or likely to be\naffected by the Order;\n17\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\ns. 11\n(b) shall be laid as soon as may be after it is\nmade before both Houses of Parliament; and\nif a resolution is passed by either House of\nParliament within the next subsequent\ntwenty-one days on which that House has sat\nnext after any such Order is laid before it\ndeclaring that such Order should be annulled,\nthe Governor in Council may annul the\nOrder and it shall thenceforth be void, but\nwithout prejudice to the validity of anything\npreviously done thereunder; and\n(c) may be amended or revoked by a subsequent\nOrder in Council.\n(3) Where the use by the corporation of any name\ndesignation uniform or badge has been so\nprotected, a person shall not without the authority\nof the corporation use the name designation\nuniform or badge the use of which is so protected\nor any name designation uniform or badge so\nclosely resembling the name designation uniform\nor badge the use of which is protected hereunder\nas to lead to the belief that it is that name\ndesignation uniform or badge.\n(4) If any person acts in contravention of the last\npreceding subsection of this section he shall be\nliable in respect of each offence to a penalty of not\nmore than 2 penalty units:\nS. 11(4)\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 11(d)(i).\nProvided that this section shall not prevent any\nperson from wearing or using any uniform or\nbadge or distinctive marking in the course of or\nfor the performance of a stage play or\nrepresentation, or a music-hall or circus\nperformance, pageant or television production or\nproduction of a cinematograph film, if the uniform\nbadge or distinctive mark is not worn or used in\nsuch a manner or under such circumstances as to\nbring it into contempt.\nS. 11(4)\nProviso\namended by\nNo. 9878\ns. 11(d)(ii).\n18\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\ns. 12\n(5) The corporation when making application for the\nprotection of a uniform shall together with the\napplication furnish an exact and detailed\ndescription of the uniform both in respect to form\nand colour, such as may clearly indicate what are\nthe precise extent and limits of the protection to be\ngranted.\n(6) This section shall be read and construed as in aid\nof and not in derogation from any Commonwealth\nAct relating to the subject-matter hereof.\nSee (Comm.)\n1924 No. 31.\n12 Winding-up of Corporation S. 12\ninserted by\nNo. 9878 s. 12.\n(1) The Corporation may at any time submit to the\nGovernor in Council a scheme for the winding-up\nof the Corporation, sealed with the common seal\nof the Corporation.\n(2) Where a scheme is submitted to the Governor in\nCouncil under subsection (1), the Governor in\nCouncil if he is satisfied that the scheme makes\nproper provision for—\n(a) the discharge of the debts and liabilities of\nthe Corporation or incurred in relation to the\nCorporation;\n(b) the disposal of the assets held by or on behalf\nof the Corporation that may remain after\ndischarge of the debts and liabilities\nmentioned in paragraph (a), not being assets\nto which paragraph (c) applies;\n(c) the transfer to a person or body of persons as\ntrustee or trustees of any property held by the\nCorporation on trust;\n(d) the dissolution of the Corporation;\n(e) contracts, legal proceedings and other\nmatters to which the Corporation is a party\nor in which the Corporation has an interest;\nand\n19\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\ns. 12\n(f) such other matters as the Governor in\nCouncil thinks ought to be provided for in\nrelation to the winding-up of the\nCorporation—\nmay by order published in the Government\nGazette approve and give effect to the scheme.\n(3) An order under subsection (2)—\n(a) shall set out a scheme approved by the order;\n(b) may contain such other provisions as the\nGovernor in Council thinks necessary or\nproper in relation to the dissolution of the\nCorporation and the dissolution or\ngovernment of the Branch; and\n(c) shall have effect according to its tenor and\nnotwithstanding anything to the contrary in\nthis Act.\n(4) The Governor in Council on the application in\nwriting by the Corporation under the\nCorporation's common seal may by order\npublished in the Government Gazette amend or\nvary an order under subsection (2).\n__________________\n20\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\nSch.\nSCHEDULE Sch.\ninserted by\nNo. 9878 s. 12.\nINDEX\nClauses Page\n1–3 Definitions 22\n4–8 The Council—Constitution and duties 23\n9–10 Meetings of the Branch 24\n11–22 Meetings of the Council 25\n23–36 The Committee and management of the Branch 26\n37 Vacation of office by members of the Council and\nCommittee\n32\n38–45 Retirement of members of the Council and\nCommittee\n33\n46–52 Chief Commissioner Designate—appointment 34\n53–54 Chief Commissioner—appointment and term of\noffice\n36\n55 Chief Commissioner—casual vacancy 37\n56–57 Chief Commissioner—Powers 37\n58 Honorary Treasurer 38\n59 General Secretary 38\n60 Seal 38\n61–63 Accounts 38\n64–65 Audit 39\n66 Indemnity 39\n67 Register of members of Council and Committee 39\n68 Notices 39\n69 Alteration of By-laws 39\n21\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\nSch.\nCONSTITUTION OF THE SCOUT ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA\nVICTORIAN BRANCH\nDefinitions\n1. The Constitution of the Branch is set out in the following By-laws.\n2. The provisions of the Act shall be strictly observed and in the\nevent of any inconsistency between the provisions of the Act and\nthe provisions of these By-laws the provisions of the Act shall\nprevail.\n3. In these By-laws unless the context otherwise requires—\n\"the Act\" shall mean The Boy Scouts Association Act 1932 as\namended by the Scout Association Act (Amendment)\nAct 1979 or any amendment or re-enactment thereof;\n\"the Australian Association\" shall mean The Scout\nAssociation of Australia (incorporated by Royal Charter\n1967);\n\"the Branch\" shall mean the Branch as defined in the Act;\n\"Chief Commissioner\" shall mean Chief Commissioner of the\nBranch;\n\"Chief Commissioner Designate\" shall mean the Chief\nCommissioner Designate of the Branch;\n\"the Chief Scout\" shall mean the Chief Scout for the time being\nof Victoria;\n\"the Committee\" shall mean the Branch Executive Committee\nfor the time being appointed under or in accordance with\nthese By-laws or such number of members of such\ncommittee as under the By-laws shall for the time being\nbe entitled to act for such committee;\n\"the Council\" shall mean the State Council for the time being\nof the Branch, being the body incorporated by the Act\nunder the name \"The Scout Association of Australia,\nVictorian Branch Council\", and operating also under these\nBy-laws;\n\"lay member\" shall mean a member not being a Scouter;\n\"warrant\" shall have the same meaning as is ascribed thereto\nby the Policy Organisation and Rules;\n\"Policy Organisation and Rules\" shall mean the Policy\nOrganisation and Rules of the Scout Association of\nAustralia 1976 and any amendment or re-enactment\nthereof;\n22\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\nSch.\n\"the Royal Charter\" shall mean the Royal Charter dated\n23 August 1967 whereby the Australian Association was\nincorporated and any amendment thereof;\n\"Scouter\"—\n(a) shall mean a person holding a Warrant from the\nBranch, but also;\n(b) shall include the Chief Commissioner notwithstanding\nthat his Warrant is issued by the Chief Scout of\nAustralia;\n\"Scout\" shall have the meaning given to it from time to time by\nthe Policy Organisation and Rules.\nWords importing the singular number only shall include the\nplural number and vice versa and words importing persons\nshall include Corporations and words importing the\nmasculine gender shall also include the feminine gender.\nTHE COUNCIL\nMEETINGS AND DUTIES INCLUDING MEETINGS OF THE BRANCH\n4. The Council shall consist of—\n(a) The Chief Scout;\n(b) The persons for the time being respectively holding the\nfollowing offices, namely President of the Branch, two Vice\nPresidents of the Branch, Honorary Treasurer, Chief\nCommissioner, Deputy Chief Commissioner, Assistant\nChief Commissioners and all other Commissioners and\nAssistant Commissioners with the exception of Honorary\nCommissioners and Assistant District Commissioners;\n(c) Area Presidents;\n(d) General Secretary;\n(e) Such other persons, not exceeding thirty-six in number, as\nmay be elected by the Council from time to time as lay\nmembers;\n(f) Two additional members from each Area Council approved\nby the Committee, one only of whom may be a Scouter.\nThese additional members shall be respectively elected by\nthe Area Council which they are to represent.\n23\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\nSch.\n5. The Committee shall have power at any time to appoint any person\nto fill a vacancy in lay members elected from time to time as\nmembers pursuant to Clause 4(e) and may appoint additional lay\nmembers for this purpose but so that there shall be no more than\nthirty-six in number of such lay members in this classification.\nAny person so appointed shall hold office only until the next\nfollowing Annual Ordinary General Meeting of the Council.\n6. The members of the Council holding office on the coming into\noperation of these By-laws shall continue to hold office but shall\nretire as provided by these By-laws.\nDUTIES OF THE COUNCIL\n7. The Council shall in accordance with Section 5 of the Act control\nthe Scout Movement in Victoria and may do all things necessary\nor requisite for providing and maintaining an efficient organisation\nfor the purposes of the Branch including and without restricting\nthe generality of the foregoing provisions of this Clause the\nperformance and exercise of all such powers and duties as are\ndelegated to it by the Australian Association under the provisions\nof the Royal Charter.\n8. The Council shall regulate its functions and duties in accordance\nwith the Policy Organisation and Rules.\nMEETINGS OF THE BRANCH\n9. Once in each year the Council shall hold a Meeting of the\nmembers of the Council and Scouters and other persons interested\nin the Branch and such Meeting shall be called the Annual General\nMeeting of the Branch. The business of this Meeting shall be to\nreceive a report on the state or condition of the Branch and the\nprogress of its work and to make recommendations to the Council.\nSuch Meetings shall be called at such time and place as the\nCommittee shall prescribe by notice thereof published in a\nnewspaper circulating throughout the state of Victoria not less than\nfourteen days prior to the date of the said Meeting.\n10. Any person attending such Meeting may having given seven days\nprior notice in writing to the General Secretary of his intention so\nto do submit any matter to the Meeting for its consideration.\nMEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL\n11. An Annual Ordinary General Meeting of the Council shall be held\nonce in every year at such time and place as the Committee may\nprescribe and such Meeting shall be called the Annual Meeting of\nthe Council. Extraordinary General Meetings of the Council may\nbe called at any time by the Chief Scout or President of the Branch\nand shall be called by the General Secretary on receipt by him of a\n24\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\nSch.\nrequisition signed by at least ten members of the Council for the\ncalling of such Meeting. If the General Secretary shall fail to call\na Meeting within fourteen days after the receipt by him of such\nrequisition the members signing such requisition may themselves\nconvene a Meeting of the Council.\n12. Fourteen days' notice at the least of every Meeting of the Council\n(exclusive of the day on which the notice is served but inclusive of\nthe day for which the Meeting is called) specifying the place day\nand hour of Meeting and (in case of special business) the general\nnature of the business to be transacted shall be given by notice sent\nby post in a prepaid letter envelope or wrapper addressed to each\nmember at his last known address.\n13. The accidental omission to give notice of a Meeting of the Council\nto any member thereof entitled to receive notice shall not\ninvalidate anything done at such Meeting.\nPROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL\n14. The ordinary business of the Annual Ordinary General Meeting of\nthe Council shall be to receive and consider an income and\nexpenditure statement and balance sheet prepared in accordance\nwith Clause 62 to elect members of the Council and of the\nCommittee, to appoint a President, two Vice Presidents, Honorary\nTreasurer, Auditors and Solicitors and to consider such matters as\nare submitted by the Committee or by a Meeting of the Branch of\nwhich notice shall have been given in the notice calling the\nMeeting. All other business transacted at an Ordinary Meeting and\nall business transacted at an Extraordinary Meeting shall be\ndeemed special.\n15. Fifteen members of the Council personally present shall be a\nquorum.\n16. No special business shall be submitted to a Meeting of the Council\nexcept with the consent of the chairman of such Meeting or unless\nwithin seven days after service of the notice calling the Meeting\nnotice shall have been given to the General Secretary of the\nBranch of the intention to submit such special business to the\nMeeting. On receipt of such notice the General Secretary shall\nforthwith give notice thereof to each person entitled to receive\nsuch notice of Meetings.\n17. The President of the Branch shall be entitled to take the chair at\nevery Meeting. If the President of the Branch shall not be present\nwithin fifteen minutes after the time appointed for such Meeting\nthe members of the Council present shall choose one of their\nnumber to take the chair.\n25\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\nSch.\n18. If within half an hour after the time appointed for the Meeting a\nquorum is not present the Meeting shall stand adjourned until such\nday and at such time and place as the chairman may decide and if\nat such adjourned Meeting a quorum is not present those members\nwho are present shall be a quorum and may transact the business\nfor which the Meeting was called.\n19. Except as hereinafter provided every question submitted to a\nMeeting shall be decided by a show of hands. In case of an\nequality of votes the chairman shall have a casting vote in addition\nto the vote to which he is entitled as a member of the Council.\n20. At any Meeting a declaration by the chairman that a resolution has\nbeen carried or carried by a specified majority or lost or not carried\nby a specified majority and an entry to that effect in the books of\nthe Branch shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without proof\nof the number or relative proportion of the votes recorded in\nfavour of or against such resolution.\n21. The chairman of the Meeting may with the consent of the Meeting\nadjourn it from time to time and from place to place.\n22. Subject to the provisions of Clause 19 every member of the\nCouncil personally present shall have one vote. No votes shall be\ngiven by proxy.\nTHE COMMITTEE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE BRANCH\n23. The management of the business of the Branch and of the Council\nshall be vested in the Committee which in addition to the powers\nand authorities by these By-laws or otherwise expressly conferred\nupon it may exercise all such powers and do all such acts and\nthings as may be exercised or done by the Branch or the Council\nand are not by the Act or by these By-laws expressly directed or\nrequired to be exercised or done by the Council but subject\nnevertheless to the provisions of the Royal Charter and of these\nBy-laws and to any regulations or directions from time to time\nmade or given by the Council provided that no regulation so made\nshall invalidate any prior act of the Committee which would have\nbeen valid if such regulations had not been made or given.\n24. Without prejudice to the general powers conferred by the last\npreceding Clause of to any other powers conferred by these\nBy-laws but subject nevertheless to the provisions of the Royal\nCharter and of these By-laws and to any regulations or directions\nfrom time to time made or given by the Council provided that no\nregulation so made shall invalidate any prior act of the Committee\nwhich would have been valid if such regulations had not been\nmade or given it is hereby expressly declared that the Committee\nshall have the power—\n26\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\nSch.\n(a) to receive and accept donations, endowments and gifts of\nany property or assets whatsoever for the Branch or the\nCouncil and either subject, or not subject, to any special\ntrusts or conditions;\n(b) to purchase, take on lease or in exchange, hire or otherwise\nacquire and hold, any real and personal property and any\nrights or privileges which the Committee may think\nnecessary or convenient for the purposes of the Branch, and,\nin particular, any land, buildings, easements, machinery,\nplant and stock in trade;\n(c) to construct, improve, maintain, develop, work, manage,\ncarry out or control any buildings, works, roads, ways,\nbridges, stores, plant and things which may seem calculated,\ndirectly, or indirectly, to advance the Branch's interests; and\nto contribute to, subsidise or otherwise assist, or take part in\nthe construction, improvement, maintenance, development,\nworking management, carrying out or control thereof;\n(d) to invest and deal with all moneys, funds and assets of the\nBranch, or the Council, not immediately required for its\npurposes, in such manner as, from time to time, the\nCommittee may determine;\n(e) to borrow or raise money, with or without security, for any\nof the objects of the Branch or the Council, and to secure the\nsame, or the repayment or performance of any debt, liability,\ncontract, guarantee or other engagement, incurred or entered\ninto by the Branch or the Council, in any way and, in\nparticular by the issue of debentures charged upon all or any\nof the property of the Branch or the Council (both present\nand future) and to purchase, redeem or pay off any such\nsecurities;\n(f) to pay salaries, honoraria, gratuities and other sums in\nconsideration or recognition of services, as may, from time\nto time, be thought fit;\n(g) to draw, make, accept, endorse, execute, discount and issue\npromissory notes, bills of exchange, bills of lading and other\nnegotiable or transferable instruments;\n(h) to sell or dispose of any part of the assets of the Branch or\nthe Council for such consideration as the Committee may\nthink fit;\n(i) to sell, improve, manage, develop, exchange, lease, dispose\nof, turn to account, or otherwise deal with, all or any part of\nthe property and rights of the Branch or the Council;\n27\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\nSch.\n(j) to take or hold mortgages, liens and charges to secure\npayment of the purchase price, or any unpaid balance of the\npurchase price, of any part of the property of the Branch or\nthe Council, of whatsoever kind sold by the Branch or the\nCouncil or any moneys due to the Branch or the Council\nfrom the purchasers or others;\n(k) to apply for, secure, acquire (by grant, legislative enactment,\nassignment, transfer, purchase or otherwise) and to exercise,\ncarry out and enjoy, any charter, licence, which any\nGovernment or Authority or any Corporation or other public\nbody may be empowered to grant; and to pay for, aid in, and\ncontribute towards carrying the same into effect;\n(l) to apply for and obtain any statute, order, regulation or other\nauthorisation or enactment which may be deemed expedient\nfor any of the purposes of the Branch or the Council;\n(m) to organise classes and lectures and to publish and sell or\ndistribute papers, books, pamphlets and information for the\npurposes of creating or stimulating interest in, and\npromoting the objects of, the Branch or the Council, and to\ntake all other measures which may seem necessary for\nproviding and maintaining an efficient organisation for the\npurposes of the Branch or the Council;\n(n) to encourage, aid and facilitate the formation of other bodies\nor organisations of Scouts and the enrolment as members or\nofficers thereof, of persons of all ages and their instruction\nin the duties of citizenship generally, in Scouting, in\nhandicrafts and technical knowledge, and the provision of\nclasses, lectures and entertainments for their benefit and the\nestablishment and provision of prizes, badges, certificates\nand other awards of merit, to be competed for, or awarded to\nthem;\n(o) to supply (with or without charges) and deal in, goods of all\nkinds for the use of Scouts provided that every Scout shall\nbe left entirely free to obtain his equipment and every part\nthereof (whether of an official pattern or not), other than\nbadges and decorations, from any persons, firm or\ncorporation willing to supply the same and shall not be\nobliged to obtain such equipment, or any part thereof from\nthe Branch;\n(p) to assist past or present Scouts in establishing themselves in\nlife, whether by means of apprenticeship or immigration or\nin any other manner and to form, contribute to, and\nadminister special funds for that purpose;\n28\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\nSch.\n(q) to accept and take by way of gift, and absorb upon any\nterms, the undertakings and assets of any society or body\nwhether incorporated or not, carrying on work similar to any\nwork for the time being carried on by the Branch and to\nundertake all, or any of the liabilities of any such society or\nbody;\n(r) to make and carry out any arrangements for joint working or\nco-operation with any other society or body, whether\nincorporated or not, carrying on work similar to any work\nfor the time being carried on by the Branch or the Council;\n(s) to undertake, execute and perform any trusts or conditions\neffecting any real or personal property of any description\nacquired by the Branch or the Council;\n(t) to enter into any arrangement with any educational\nauthorities or any department of the Government of the\nCommonwealth of Australia or of the State of Victoria; and\n(u) to appoint such managers secretaries officers clerks agents\nand servants for permanent temporary or special services as\nmay time to time be thought fit and to determine their\npowers and duties and fix their salaries or emoluments and\nto require security in such instances and to such amount as\nmay be thought fit, and to remove or suspend them or any of\nthem therefrom;\n(v) Subject to the Act The Royal Charter and the By-laws and\nthe Policy Organisation and Rules to make and vary and\nrepeal orders for the regulation of the affairs of the Branch\nor of the Groups or bodies of Scouts for the time being\ncontrolled by the Branch or the Council or any of them;\n(w) to enter into contracts and do all such other acts and things\nas are incidental or conducive to the attainment of any of the\nobjects of purposes of the Branch or the Council or to the\nexercise of any of its said powers.\nCONSTITUTION OF THE COMMITTEE\n25. Until otherwise determined at a Meeting of the Council the\nnumber of the members of the Committee other than ex officio\nmembers as hereinafter defined shall be not less than five nor more\nthan fifteen.\n26. The persons for the time being respectively holding the following\noffices, namely President of the Branch, two Vice Presidents of the\nBranch, Honorary Treasurer, Chief Commissioner, Chief\nCommissioner Designate, Deputy Chief Commissioner, Assistant\nChief Commissioners and such other Branch Commissioners as\n29\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\nSch.\nthe Committee may from time to time determine shall be ex officio\nmembers of the Committee.\n27. The persons other than ex officio members of the Committee at the\ncoming into operation of these By-laws shall continue to be\nmembers of the Committee but shall retire as provided in these\nBy-laws.\n28. The Council shall have power from time to time to remove any\nmember of the Committee other than an ex officio member and\nsubject to Clauses 25, 29 and 30 to appoint any other person to be\na member of the Committee, to fill the vacancy caused by removal\nor as an addition to the Committee.\n29. (a) No person other than an ex officio member of the\nCommittee of or over the age of 65 shall be appointed or act\nas a member of the Committee but nothing in this Cluse\nprevents a person from acting as a member of the\nCommittee during the period commencing on the day on\nwhich he attains the age of 65 years and ending at the\nconclusion of the Annual Ordinary General Meeting of the\nCouncil commencing next after that day.\n(b) The office of a member other than an ex officio member of\nthe Committee shall become vacant at the conclusion of the\nAnnual Ordinary General Meeting of the Council\ncommencing next after he attains the age of 65 years.\n(c) Any act done by a person as a member of the Committee\nshall be valid notwithstanding that it is afterwards\ndiscovered he was of or over the age of 65 years at the time\nof his appointment or that this appointment had terminated\nby virtue of sub-clause (b) of this Clause.\n(d) If any such vacancy has not been filled at the Annual\nOrdinary General Meeting of the Council at which the office\nbecame vacant the office may be filled as a casual vacancy\npursuant to Clause 5 hereof;\n(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Clause contained the\nprovision hereof shall not apply to a person of or over the\nage of 65 years on 1 January 1979.\n30. No person other than an ex officio member of the Committee shall\nbe appointed or elected a member of the Committee unless he is at\nthe time of his appointment or election a lay member of the\nCouncil. Provided nevertheless that the Committee shall have\npower at any time and from time to time to appoint any person\nother than a Scouter (whether a member of the Council or not) to\nbe a member of the Committee either to fill a casual vacancy or as\nan addition to the Committee, provided that the total number of\n30\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\nSch.\nmembers of the Committee exclusive of ex officio members shall\nnot hold office only until the next following Annual Ordinary\nGeneral Meeting of the Council, but shall then be eligible for\nappointment or election to the Council if necessary and re-election\nto the Committee.\nPROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE\n31. The Committee may meet together for the despatch of business\nand adjourn and otherwise regulate its meetings and proceedings\nas it may think fit and may determine the quorum necessary for\ntransaction of business and notice if any which is to be given of\nany such meeting. Until otherwise determined seven members of\nthe Committee shall form a quorum.\n32. The Committee may elect from its members a Chairman and a\nVice-Chairman of its meetings and determine the period for which\nthey respectively are to hold office. The Chairman so appointed\nshall take the chair at meetings of the Committee, but if he is\nunable or unwilling to act at any such meeting the Vice-Chairman\nshall take the Chair at that Meeting. If at the time fixed for\nholding any Meeting neither the Chairman nor the Vice-Chairman\nshall be present or being present shall be unable or unwilling to act\nthe members of the Committee present shall choose one of their\nnumber to be Chairman of the Meeting.\n33. Questions arising at any Meeting shall be decided by a majority of\nvotes and in case of any equality of votes the Chairman shall have\na casting vote.\n34. The Committee may delegate any of its powers to sub-committees\nconsisting of two or more members of the Committee. Every such\nsub-committee shall in the exercise of the powers so delegated\nconfirm to any regulations that may from time to time be imposed\nupon it by the Committee. Any such sub-committee may with the\napproval of the Committee appoint any person a member of such\nsub-committee.\n35. The Meetings and proceedings of any such sub-committee shall be\ngoverned by the provisions herein contained for regulating the\nMeeting and proceedings of the Committee so far as the same are\napplicable thereto and are not superseded by any regulations made\nby the Committee under the last preceding Clause.\n36. All acts done by any Meeting of the Committee or by any sub-\ncommittee shall notwithstanding that it shall afterwards be\ndiscovered that there was some defect in the appointment of all or\nany of the members be valid as if such member or members had\nbeen duly appointed.\n31\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\nSch.\nVACATION OF OFFICE BY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND\nCOMMITTEE\n37. (a) The office of a member of the Council shall become\nvacant—\n(i) if he becomes of unsound mind or a person whose\nperson or estate is liable to be dealt with in any way\nunder the law relating to mental health;\n(ii) if by notice in writing to the Branch he resigns;\n(iii) if the Council by a majority of two thirds of such of\nits members who shall be present at a Meeting duly\nconvened for the purpose shall resolve that such\nmember shall retire.\n(b) The office of a member of the Committee shall become\nvacant:\n(i) if he becomes of unsound mind or a person whose\nperson or estate is liable to be dealt with in any way\nunder the law relating to mental health;\n(ii) if he is absent from three consecutive Meetings of the\nCommittee without leave and the Committee\ndetermines that his office shall become vacant;\n(iii) if by notice in writing to the Branch he resigns;\n(iv) if the Committee by a majority of two-thirds of such\nof its members who shall be present at a Meeting duly\nconvened for the purpose shall resolve that such\nmember shall retire;\n(v) if his office become vacant pursuant to Clause 29.\nRETIREMENT OF MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE\n38. (a) At each Annual Ordinary General Meeting of the Council\none third of the lay members of the Council holding office\nunder Clause 4(e) and one third of the members of the\nCommittee other than ex officio members shall retire from\noffice.\n(b) If the number of the aforesaid lay members of the Council or\nthe members of the Committee other than ex officio\nmembers is not three or a multiple of three, then the number\nnearest the one-third referred to in sub-clause 38(a) shall\nretire from office.\n32\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\nSch.\n39. Subject to Clause 4 the one-third or other nearest number to retire\nin each year shall be those who have been longest in office since\ntheir last election and as between two or more who have been in\noffice an equal length of time the member to retire shall in default\nof agreement between them to be determined by lot. The length of\ntime a member has been in office shall be computed from his last\nelection or appointment where he has previously vacated office.\nA retiring member shall be eligible for re-election. For the\npurpose of this rule the length of time a member has been in office\nwill include the period during which he has been a member of the\nCouncil or Committee of the Branch prior to the coming into\noperation of these By-laws.\n40. Subject to Clauses 4, 29 and 30 the Council at any Annual\nOrdinary General Meeting thereof at which any members of the\nCouncil or Committee retire in manner aforesaid may fill up the\nvacated offices by electing a like number of persons to be\nmembers of the Council or Committee (as the case may be).\n41. If at any Annual Ordinary Meeting of the Council at which an\nelection of members of the Council or Committee ought to take\nplace the places of the retiring members are not filled the retiring\nmembers of the Council or Committee or such of them as have not\nhad their places filled shall if willing to continue in office until the\nAnnual Ordinary General Meeting of the Council in the next year\nand so on and from year to year until their places are filled unless\n(in the case of the Committee) it shall be determined at such\nMeeting on due notice to reduce the number of the members of the\nCommittee.\n42. The Council may from time to time increase or reduce the number\nof the members of the Committee and may also determine in what\nrotation such increased or reduced number is to go out of office.\n43. A person who is a retiring member of the Committee or who is\nrecommended by the Committee for election shall be eligible for\nre-election or election to the Committee as the case may be.\nNo other person shall be eligible for election as a member of the\nCommittee unless he is proposed by some member of the Council\nand he or the member of the Council proposing him has, at least\nseven clear days before the Meeting, left with the General\nSecretary of the Branch a nomination in writing duly signed by the\nmember of the Council and the candidate.\n44. Ex officio members shall not be liable to retirement by rotation or\nbe taken into account in determining the order of retirement.\n45. Any election under these By-laws may be on a show of hands or\nby ballot as the Chairman of the meeting at which such election\nshall be held may determine.\n33\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\nSch.\nAPPOINTMENT OF CHIEF COMMISSIONER DESIGNATE\n46. The Committee shall recommend the appointment of a Chief\nCommissioner Designate in accordance with these By-laws.\n47. To enable it to make such recommendation the Committee shall\nappoint an Advisory Committee from amongst its members.\n48. (a) The General Secretary of the Branch shall notify all persons\nwho hold any one of the following offices, that is to say:\n(i) A member of the Committee;\n(ii) A Branch Commissioner\n(iii) An Area Commissioner;\n(iv) A Regional Commissioner—\nthat the Advisory Committee is about to consider a\nrecommendation for the office of Chief Commissioner\nDesignate and shall invite those persons to submit\nnominations by the method set out in Clause 49.\n(b) Save as provided in Clauses 52 and 55 such\nrecommendations shall be made as nearly as possible six\nmonths prior to the date upon which the person for the time\nbeing holding the office of Chief Commissioner is due to\nrelinquish that office. The date upon which such\nrecommendation is to be made is hereinafter referred to as\n\"the recommendation date\".\n49. (a) Thirty days prior to the recommendation date (or within\nseven days after the occurrence of the events referred to in\nClauses 52 and 55) the General Secretary shall forward to\neach of the persons referred to in Clause 48 a nomination\nform in a form and containing such information as the\nCommittee may from time to time require with advice that\nin order to be valid the form duly completed shall be lodged\nwith the General Secretary by a specified date, which date\nshall be not less than fourteen nor more than twenty-one\ndays thereafter.\n(b) Any nomination shall be in the form provided for in sub-\nclause (a) of this Clause signed by the person submitting the\nsame, and the person so nominated shall endorse upon the\nnomination form a statement of his willingness to accept the\noffice.\n34\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\nSch.\n(c) The nomination form duly completed as set out in sub-\nclause (b) of this Clause shall be forwarded to the General\nSecretary by the specified date, in a sealed envelope marked\non the face thereof \"Confidential—Nomination of the Chief\nCommissioner Designate\".\n(d) The Advisory Committee shall consider the names\nsubmitted, and table the nomination forms at a Meeting of\nthe Committee, together with its recommendation.\n(e) The Committee shall then determine the person who shall be\nrecommended for approval pursuant to Clause 50. In so\ndoing it shall accept or reject the recommendation of the\nAdvisory Committee. In the event the Committee rejects\nthe recommendation of the Advisory Committee it may\ndecide upon one other of the names submitted, if there be\nany others; and if it does not so decide shall refer the matter\nback to the Advisory Committee for further\nrecommendation.\n(f) If any of the members of the Committee is amongst those\nnominated, such member or members shall retire from the\nMeeting of the Committee during the period the Committee\nis deliberating upon the matter referred to in sub-clause (e)\nof this Clause.\n50. The President on behalf of the Committee shall advise the Chief\nScout the name of the person recommended by the Committee for\nappointment as Chief Commissioner Designate immediately\nfollowing such recommendation and shall seek his approval.\nUpon such approval the person so recommended shall act as Chief\nCommissioner Designate.\n51. The Chief Commissioner Designate, whilst holding office shall act\nas a Deputy of the Chief Commissioner, with such powers as the\nlatter may delegate to him and notwithstanding that at the same\ntime there may be another person also acting as Deputy Chief\nCommissioner.\n52. In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of a Chief\nCommissioner Designate the procedure referred to in Clauses 47,\n48, 49 and 50 shall immediately become operative.\nRECOMMENDATION FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF\nCOMMISSIONER\n53. Two months prior to the date upon which the person holding office\nof Chief Commissioner is due to relinquish that office, the\nPresident on behalf of the Committee shall submit the name of the\nChief Commissioner Designate to the Chief Scout in order that the\nlatter may convey such name to the Chief Scout of Australia as a\n35\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\nSch.\nrecommendation for appointment by the Chief Scout of Australia\nas Chief Commissioner on and from the date upon which the office\nbecomes vacant. If the Chief Scout of Australia accepts such\nrecommendation the Chief Commissioner Designate shall become\nthe Chief Commissioner from that date.\n54. A Chief Commissioner shall hold office initially for a term of three\nyears, but the Committee may, with the concurrence of the person\nholding the office and subject to the approval of the Chief Scout of\nAustralia extend the term from time to time provided that such\nextension is for a period of not more than three years and that the\nextension is made after nominations have been called and a\nrecommendation made in the manner set out in Clauses 47, 48 and\n49 for an appointment as Chief Commissioner Designate and that\nno other person has been approved as Chief Commissioner\nDesignate pursuant to Clause 50.\nCASUAL VACANCIES IN OFFICE OF CHIEF COMMISSIONER\n55. In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of Chief\nCommissioner, while he is holding that office, the following\nprocedure shall apply:\n(a) If the vacancy occurs before the appointment of a Chief\nCommissioner Designate—\n(i) the procedure referred to in Clauses 47, 48 and 49 if\nnot already in operation shall become operative;\n(ii) the Committee shall appoint a suitable person as\nActing Chief Commissioner and he shall act as Chief\nCommissioner until the appointment of the Chief\nCommissioner Designate; and\n(iii) as soon as a recommendation for the appointment of a\nChief Commissioner Designate has been made by the\nCommittee the President on behalf of the Committee\nshall submit a recommendation through the Chief\nScout to the Chief Scout of Australia to proceed\nimmediately with the appointment of the Chief\nCommissioner Designate as the Chief Commissioner;\nand\n(b) If the vacancy occurs after the appointment of a Chief\nCommissioner Designate, the latter shall act as Chief\nCommissioner and the President on behalf of the Committee\nshall submit the name of the Chief Commissioner Designate\nto the Chief Scout for appointment by the Chief Scout of\nAustralia as Chief Commissioner.\n36\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\nSch.\nCHIEF COMMISSIONER—POWER AND DUTIES\n56. (a) The Chief Commissioner is the Chief Executive Scouter of\nthe Branch and (subject to the Royal Charter, the By-laws\nmade thereunder and the Policy Organisation and Rules\npromulgated by the National Council under the Charter) is\nresponsible to the Council for all Scout Activities within the\nBranch.\n(b) The Chief Commissioner shall with the approval of the\nCommittee appoint a Deputy Chief Commissioner and such\nif any Assistant Chief Commissioners, Branch\nCommissioners, Assistant Branch Commissioners and Field\nCommissioners, with such respective duties, as the Chief\nCommissioner may from time to time determine.\nCHIEF COMMISSIONER'S POWER TO DELEGATE\n57. During the absence of the Chief Commissioner for Victoria or his\ntemporary inability from any other cause to carry out his duties of\nChief Commissioner the Committee with the approval of the Chief\nScout and of the Chief Commissioner if he is within Victoria and\nable to act may appoint the Deputy Chief Commissioner or failing\nhim another Commissioner to act as his delegate for such period as\nhe shall specify.\nHONORARY TREASURER\n58. The Honorary Treasurer shall be appointed in accordance with\nClause 14 and his duties shall be determined by the Committee.\nGENERAL SECRETARY\n59. The Committee shall appoint a General Secretary and may from\ntime to time where the General Secretaryship is vacant or the\nGeneral Secretary is unable to act appoint an Acting General\nSecretary who shall for the purpose of the Act and these By-laws\nbe deemed the General Secretary.\nSEAL\n60. The General Secretary shall provide for the safe custody of the\nCommon Seal of the Branch and it shall not be used except\npursuant to a resolution of the Committee and every instrument to\nwhich the Seal is affixed shall be signed by two members of the\nCommittee and shall be countersigned by the General Secretary or\nsome other person appointed by the Committee for the purpose.\n37\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\nSch.\nACCOUNTS\n61. The Committee shall cause true accounts to be kept of the income\nand expenditure of the Branch and the matters in respect of which\nsuch income and expenditure take place and of the assets,\nliabilities and funds of the Branch.\n62. At the Annual Ordinary General Meeting of the Council in every\nyear the Committee shall lay before the Council an income and\nexpenditure account and balance sheet made up to the year ending\ndate of the year being reviewed at that meeting and duly audited\nby an Auditor or Auditors appointed in accordance with these\nBy-laws.\n63. The Committee shall lay before every meeting of the Branch a\nreport on the state and condition of the Branch and the progress of\nits work.\nAUDIT\n64. An Auditor or Auditors shall be appointed by the Council and the\nremuneration of such Auditor or Auditors shall be fixed by the\nCommittee.\n65. It shall be the duty of every officer and servant of the Branch to\ngive to the Auditor or Auditors such information and explanations\nas may reasonably be required.\nINDEMNITY\n66. Every member of the Council or the Committee and other officer\nor servant of the Branch shall be indemnified by the Branch from\nand against all costs and losses for which he may become liable by\nreason of any act or thing reasonably done by him in the discharge\nof his duty and any paid officer or servant shall similarly be\nindemnified from and against any costs losses or expenses which\nhe may reasonably incur or become liable to by reason of any act\nor thing reasonably done by him in the discharge of any duty\nperformed for and with the authority of the Committee.\nREGISTER OF MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE\n67. The General Secretary shall keep and maintain a Register of\nMembers of the Council and Members of the Committee in which\nshall be entered the full names and addresses and dates of election\nof every member and such other details as the Committee may\nfrom time to time determine.\n38\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\nSch.\nNOTICES\n68. Any notice sent by post shall be deemed to have been served on\nthe third working day following that on which the envelope or\nwrapper containing the same is posted and in proving such service\nit shall be sufficient to prove that the envelope or wrapper\ncontaining the notice was properly addressed prepaid and posted.\nALTERATION OF BY-LAWS\n69. These By-laws or any of them may at any time and from time to\ntime (subject to the provisions of the Act) be added to, abrogated\nor varied by a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-\nthirds of the members of the Council present and voting at a\nmeeting of the Council duly convened for the purpose.\n═══════════════\n39\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\nEndnotes\nENDNOTES\n1. General Information\nThe Scout Association Act 1932 was assented to on 29 December 1932 and\ncame into operation on 29 December 1932.\nThe name of this Act was changed from the Boy Scouts Association Act\n1932 to the Scout Association Act 1932 by section 13(2) of the Scout\nAssociation Act 1983, No. 9878/1983.\n40\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\nEndnotes\n2. Table of Amendments\nThis Version incorporates amendments made to the Scout Association Act\n1932 by Acts and subordinate instruments.\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\nScout Association Act 1983, No. 9878/1983\nAssent Date: 3.5.83\nCommencement Date: 3.5.83\nCurrent State: All of Act in operation\nLegal Practice Act 1996, No. 35/1996\nAssent Date: 6.11.96\nCommencement Date: S. 453(Sch. 1 item 74) on 1.1.97: s. 2(3)\nCurrent State: This information relates only to the provision/s\namending the Scout Association Act 1932\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\n41\n\nScout Association Act 1932\nNo. 4092 of 1932\nEndnotes\n3. Explanatory Details\nNo entries at date of publication.\n42","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The legislation has grown significantly beyond its original 1932 purpose of simply incorporating the Victorian branch of the British Boy Scouts Association. The 1983 amendments (No. 9878) fundamentally restructured the Act to reflect Australian independence from British scouting, introducing: (1) subordination to the newly created Australian national body (1967 Royal Charter) rather than the British Association; (2) new governance structures including the Branch Executive Committee; (3) complex transitional provisions validating acts done between 1958-1983; (4) modernised property transfer mechanisms for 'sponsored groups'; and (5) a completely new Schedule replacing the original constitution. The Act transformed from a simple colonial incorporation statute into a sophisticated governance framework for an independent Australian scouting organisation."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple layers of governance: The Act creates overlapping structures (Corporation, Branch, Council, Branch Executive Committee, National Council) with complex hierarchical relationships","Extensive cross-referencing: Heavy reliance on external documents including two Royal Charters (1912 and 1967), the Constitution (set out in the Schedule), and the Policy Organisation and Rules","Conditional and transitional provisions: Multiple subsections dealing with pre- and post-1983 amendments, including validation of past acts and different treatment of gifts received before/after commencement dates","Detailed procedural requirements: The Schedule contains 69 clauses with specific rules for meetings, quorums, voting, nominations, and retirement ages (e.g., age 65 retirement rule with grandfathering)","Property law mechanisms: Complex provisions for compulsory transfer of property, Supreme Court applications, and deeming provisions for trusts","Dual naming conventions: The Act manages historical name changes (Boy Scouts Association → Scout Association of Australia) with deeming provisions throughout"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does:**\n\nThis Act creates a legal structure for the Scout Association in Victoria, Australia. It turns the governing body of the Victorian branch of Scouts into a legal entity (a \"body corporate\") that can own property, enter contracts, sue and be sued, and manage the Scout movement across the state.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n*   **The Scout Association of Australia, Victorian Branch** – the main organisation that runs Scouting in Victoria.\n*   **Local Scout groups** – including \"sponsored groups\" (groups run with support from churches, schools, or other community organisations).\n*   **People who hold property for Scouts** – anyone holding land, money, or assets on behalf of any Scout group must transfer it to the main corporation when asked.\n*   **The general public** – the Act protects Scout names, uniforms, and badges from being misused by others.\n\n**Key things the law covers:**\n\n*   **Property transfers:** If someone holds property (like a Scout hall or land) for any Scout group, the main corporation can demand it be transferred to them. There are court processes if someone refuses.\n*   **Protection of Scout identity:** The government can make orders protecting Scout names, uniforms, and badges. It's an offence (with a fine) to use these without permission, with exceptions for things like stage plays or films.\n*   **Governance:** The Act includes a detailed constitution (in the Schedule) setting out how the Council and Executive Committee are elected, how meetings run, and how the Chief Commissioner is appointed.\n*   **Subordination to national body:** The Victorian branch must follow directions from the National Council of the Australian Scout Association.\n*   **Winding up:** There is a process for dissolving the corporation if needed, including handling debts and transferring remaining assets.\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThis law ensures that Scout property across Victoria is held securely under one legal roof, prevents fragmentation of the organisation, and protects the Scout brand from misuse. It also provides a clear governance structure so the organisation can operate transparently and accountably."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original statute incorporated the Victorian governing body and vested local property. Subsequent amendments, notably by the Scout Association Act 1983, extended and clarified national‑level authority and interaction: they expressly subject the Corporation and Branch to the Australian Association’s Royal Charter, by‑laws and National Council/Executive control (s. 4B(1)–(2)); validate prior acts taken under national direction (s. 4(1)); broaden property transfer and trust‑substitution mechanisms (s. 6(1A)–(6)); permit name changes with National Council approval (s. 4A); set rules for protection of names/uniforms via Governor in Council (s. 11); and add a statutory winding‑up scheme under Governor in Council oversight (s. 12). These amendments shift practical control and dispute‑resolution channels from a purely local corporate model toward a structured national hierarchy and create new statutory pathways for asset transfer and enforcement."},"complexity_factors":["Cross‑jurisdictional layering: the Act operates alongside and defers to the Australian Association’s Royal Charter (1967) and its by‑laws and decisions (see s. 4B(1)), creating multi‑level governance.","Property transfer and vesting regime with statutory notice, automatic vesting on service, court‑ordered conveyance and continuation of trusts (see s. 6(1)–(6)).","Trust‑substitution power allowing references to the British Association in trusts to be treated as references to the Australian Association unless excluded (s. 6(1A), s. 8(3)).","Governor in Council discretion for protection of names/uniforms (s. 11) and for approving winding‑up schemes and related orders (s. 12), introducing executive discretion and parliamentary scrutiny procedures (s. 11(2)).","Detailed internal governance rules embedded in the Schedule (constitution/by‑laws) that regulate elections, committees, officers and delegation, producing many procedural requirements.","Validation clause retrospectively confirming past acts under national direction (s. 4(1)), which affects historical legal exposure and certainty.","Multiple amendment layers (notably 1983 and 1996) creating interpretive complexity about which historical and current provisions apply."],"plain_english_summary":"This Act makes the Scout Association’s Victorian State Council a corporate body, vests Scout property in that corporation, and sets out how it is governed, how gifts and property are received or transferred, and how its name, uniforms and badges may be protected. It affects members, donors, sponsoring authorities, local groups and the National Council by specifying who decides policy, how assets move or are enforced, and what procedures apply for winding-up."},"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available information, the Act appears to have retained its original narrow purpose of legally recognising and structuring the Scout Association in Victoria. The consolidated version indicates amendments have been made, but there is no indication the core scope has shifted from its original intent."},"complexity_factors":["Very old legislation (1932) which may use archaic legal language","Limited publicly available content provided for full analysis","Narrow, single-purpose subject matter keeps complexity low","Consolidated version suggests minor amendments over time, adding slight interpretive complexity"],"plain_english_summary":"The Scout Association Act 1932 gives the Scout Association in Victoria formal legal identity so it can own property, enter contracts and operate as a recognised organisation under law. It sets out the basic legal framework for how Scouts, leaders and volunteers conduct the organisation’s affairs. \n\nThat legal recognition matters because it enables the Association to hold land, bank accounts and be legally responsible for its activities — a continuing foundation for Scouts in Victoria."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/scout-association-act-1932","history":"/api/acts/scout-association-act-1932/history","analysis":"/api/acts/scout-association-act-1932/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/scout-association-act-1932/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/scout-association-act-1932/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/scout-association-act-1932/documents"}}