{"id":"tennant-creek-meetings-and-procedures-bylaws-1989","name":"TENNANT CREEK (MEETINGS AND PROCEDURES) BY-LAWS 1989","slug":"tennant-creek-meetings-and-procedures-by-laws-1989","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":177168,"registerId":"nt-tennant-creek-meetings-and-procedures-bylaws-1989-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"TENNANT CREEK (MEETINGS AND PROCEDURES) BY-LAWS 1989","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nTENNANT CREEK (MEETINGS AND PROCEDURES) BY-LAWS 1989\nAs in force at 1 July 2021\nTable of provisions\nPart I Preliminary\n1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1\nPart II Meetings of council\nDivision 1 Business\n3 Ordinary meetings ........................................................................... 1\n4 Order of business ............................................................................ 1\n5 Business paper ................................................................................ 1\n6 Notice of business to be given ......................................................... 2\n7 Consideration of matter without notice ............................................ 2\n8 Official minute .................................................................................. 2\n9 Petitions ........................................................................................... 2\n10 Deputation ....................................................................................... 3\nDivision 2 Motions\n11 Motions ............................................................................................ 4\n12 Unopposed notices of motion .......................................................... 4\n13 Motions not to be withdrawn ............................................................ 4\n14 Absence of mover of motion ............................................................ 4\n15 Motion to be seconded .................................................................... 5\n16 Amendment to motion ..................................................................... 5\n17 Motion of dissent ............................................................................. 5\n18 Rescinding or altering resolutions.................................................... 5\n19 Procedural motions.......................................................................... 6\nDivision 3 Questions and discussions\n20 Questions ........................................................................................ 7\n21 Mayor to take precedence ............................................................... 7\n22 Mode of addressing members and officers ...................................... 8\n23 Limitation in relation to number of speeches ................................... 8\n24 Priority of speaking .......................................................................... 8\n25 Imputation ........................................................................................ 9\nDivision 4 Order and disorder\n26 Question of order ............................................................................. 9\n\nTennant Creek (Meetings and Procedures) By-laws 1989 ii\n27 Disorder ......................................................................................... 10\n28 Motion, &c., to be rejected if out of order ....................................... 10\nDivision 5 Attendance and non-attendance\n29 Quorum not present ....................................................................... 10\nDivision 6 Public and media\n30 Attendance of public and media at meetings ................................. 11\n31 Removal of persons....................................................................... 11\n32 Public participation at meeting ....................................................... 11\nPart III Committees of council\n33 Conduct of meetings...................................................................... 11\n34 Disorder in committee .................................................................... 11\n35 Reports by committees .................................................................. 12\nPart IV Miscellaneous\n36 Mode of proceeding in cases not provided for ............................... 12\n37 Offences ........................................................................................ 12\n38 By-laws, resolutions and motions to be construed subject to\npower ............................................................................................. 12\nENDNOTES\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 1 July 2021\n____________________\nTENNANT CREEK (MEETINGS AND PROCEDURES) BY-LAWS 1989\nBy-laws under the Local Government Act 2019\nPart I Preliminary\n1 Short title\nThese By-laws may be cited as the Tennant Creek (Meetings and\nProcedures) By-laws 1989.\nPart II Meetings of council\nDivision 1 Business\n3 Ordinary meetings\nAn ordinary meeting shall be held on the day and at the time in\neach month as the council from time to time determines by\nresolution.\n4 Order of business\n(1) Subject to these By-laws, the order of business at an ordinary\nmeeting shall be as the council from time to time determines by\nresolution.\n(2) Notwithstanding a determination under clause (1), the order of\nbusiness at an ordinary meeting may be altered for a particular\nmeeting where a majority of members at that meeting pass a\nmotion to that effect.\n(3) A motion under clause (2) may be moved without notice.\n5 Business paper\n(1) The clerk shall, as soon as practicable before each meeting of the\ncouncil, or within such time as the council determines by resolution,\nprepare or have prepared a business paper.\n\nPart II Meetings of council\nDivision 1 Business\nTennant Creek (Meetings and Procedures) By-laws 1989 2\n(2) Copies of the business paper prepared under clause (1) shall be\nmade available to the public at the council office and at such other\nplaces as the council by resolution determines, as soon as\npracticable before the meeting or at such times as the council\ndetermines by resolution.\n(3) A business paper prepared under clause (1) shall specify the\nbusiness:\n(a) arising out of a previous meeting of the council;\n(b) which the mayor may wish to have considered at the meeting\nwithout notice; and\n(c) of which notice, in accordance with by-law 7, is given.\n6 Notice of business to be given\n(1) Subject to these by-laws, a matter shall not be considered at a\nmeeting of the council unless notice in accordance with this by-law\nis given to the members within such time before the meeting as the\ncouncil from time to time by resolution determines.\n(2) A notice under this by-law shall be in writing and signed by the\nmember who wishes the matter to be considered.\n(3) A notice under this by-law may be given to a member by serving it\non the member personally or by posting it to the member at the\naddress for service which that member has provided to the clerk\nunder section 65(2) of the Act.\n7 Consideration of matter without notice\nNotwithstanding by-law 7, a matter for which notice under that\nby-law has not been given may be considered at an ordinary\nmeeting where a motion is passed by the majority of members at\nthe meeting permitting it to be considered.\n8 Official minute\nThe mayor may introduce a matter for consideration at an ordinary\nmeeting by a personally signed minute, and that matter takes\nprecedence over all other matters for consideration at the meeting\nand may be adopted by motion put by the mayor.\n9 Petitions\n(1) A petition may be presented to a meeting of the council by a\nmember who, before presenting the petition, shall, as far as\npracticable, be acquainted with the subject matter of the petition.\n\nPart II Meetings of council\nDivision 1 Business\nTennant Creek (Meetings and Procedures) By-laws 1989 3\n(2) A member on presenting a petition to a meeting of the council shall:\n(a) state the nature and prayer of the petition; and\n(b) read the petition.\n(3) A petition shall not be presented to a meeting of the council unless\nit is worded in respectful language.\n(4) Where, under this by-law, a member presents a petition to a\nmeeting of the council, no debate on or in relation to it shall be\nallowed and the only motion which may be moved is that the\npetition be received and\n(a) consideration stand as an order of the day for the meeting or\nfor a future meeting; or\n(b) be referred to a committee or officer for consideration and a\nreport to the council.\n10 Deputation\n(1) For the purpose of this by-law, a deputation means a group of\npersons consisting of not less than 2 persons.\n(2) A deputation wishing to attend and be heard at a meeting of the\ncouncil shall, not less than 7 clear days before the meeting, apply in\nwriting to the clerk.\n(3) The clerk, on receiving an application under clause (2), shall notify\nthe mayor of the application and the mayor shall determine whether\nthe deputation may be heard and shall notify the clerk accordingly.\n(4) Where the clerk is notified by the mayor under clause (3), the clerk\nshall:\n(a) inform the deputation of the determination of the mayor; and\n(b) where the mayor has determined that the council is to hear the\ndeputation, arrange a convenient time for the deputation to be\nheard at a meeting of the council.\n(5) Unless a majority of the members at the meeting of the council by\nresolution otherwise determine, only one person in the deputation\nmay be heard at the meeting.\n(6) A person in a deputation at a meeting of the council shall be\ntemperate in speech and manner, and shall not use insulting or\noffensive language.\n\nPart II Meetings of council\nDivision 2 Motions\nTennant Creek (Meetings and Procedures) By-laws 1989 4\n(7) Subject to clauses (8) and (9), a deputation attending at a meeting\nof the council in accordance with this by-law shall be given\nadequate opportunity and facility to explain the purpose of the\ndeputation.\n(8) Notwithstanding clause (7), a council may, by resolution either in\nadvance of or during its hearing of a deputation, determine the\nperiod of time for which the deputation shall be heard.\n(9) Notwithstanding clause (7), the mayor may terminate an address by\na person in a deputation at any time where the mayor is satisfied\nthat the purpose of the deputation has been sufficiently explained to\nthe members at the meeting.\nDivision 2 Motions\n11 Motions\nA motion brought before a meeting of the council in accordance\nwith the Act or these By-laws shall be received and put to the\nmeeting by the mayor.\n12 Unopposed notices of motion\nAt a meeting of the council the mayor may call over the notices of\nmotion in the order in which they appear on the business paper,\nand where no objection is taken to a motion being taken as a formal\nmotion the mayor may, without discussion, put the motion to the\nvote.\n13 Motions not to be withdrawn\nExcept with the consent of a majority of the members at a meeting\nof the council, a motion may not be withdrawn after being placed on\nthe business paper prepared for that meeting.\n14 Absence of mover of motion\nWhere a member who has given notice of a motion under by-law 7\nis absent from the meeting of the council at which the motion is to\nbe considered, the motion may be:\n(a) moved by another member at the meeting; or\n(b) deferred to the next ordinary meeting.\n\nPart II Meetings of council\nDivision 2 Motions\nTennant Creek (Meetings and Procedures) By-laws 1989 5\n15 Motion to be seconded\n(1) Subject to clause (2) and to by-law 20, a motion or an amendment\nto a motion shall not be debated at a meeting of the council unless\nor until the motion or the amendment, as the case may be, is\nseconded.\n(2) Notwithstanding clause (1), a member who moves a motion or an\namendment to a motion may speak in support of that motion or that\namendment, as the case may be, before it is seconded.\n16 Amendment to motion\nNot more than one question and one proposed amendment to the\nquestion may be put to a meeting of the council at any one time.\n17 Motion of dissent\n(1) A member at a meeting of the council may, without notice, move a\nmotion of dissent in relation to a ruling by the mayor on a point or\norder.\n(2) Where, under clause (1), a motion is moved further consideration of\nthe matter in relation to which the ruling of the mayor was made\nshall be suspended until after that motion is put.\n(3) Where a motion moved under clause (1) is carried, the matter in\nrelation to which the ruling of the mayor was made shall:\n(a) proceed as though that ruling had not been made; or\n(b) where as a result of that ruling the matter was discharged as\nout of order, be restored to the business paper and dealt with\nin the normal course of business.\n18 Rescinding or altering resolutions\n(1) A resolution of the council passed at a meeting may not be altered\nor rescinded unless a notice of motion to alter or rescind the\nresolution is given in accordance with this by-law.\n(2) A notice of motion referred to in clause (1) shall:\n(a) not be valid if the resolution to which it refers has already been\nimplemented;\n(b) be in writing and signed by the member proposing the motion;\n(c) have the name of the seconder of the motion endorsed on it;\nand\n\nPart II Meetings of council\nDivision 2 Motions\nTennant Creek (Meetings and Procedures) By-laws 1989 6\n(d) be given to the clerk not less than 7 days before the meeting\nof the council at which the motion is to be put.\n(3) Where at a meeting of the council a notice of motion to rescind a\nresolution of the council is given in respect of a resolution passed at\nthat meeting, the resolution shall not be carried into effect until after\nthe motion is put and lost.\n(4) Where a motion, of which notice under clause (1) is given, is lost, a\nmotion to the same or like effect may not be moved until after the\nexpiration of 3 months after the date on which the first-mentioned\nmotion was lost.\n(5) This by-law does not apply to a motion referred to in by-laws 18\nor 20.\n19 Procedural motions\n(1) Subject to this by-law, a member at a meeting of the council may,\nduring the debate of a matter at the meeting, move, as a procedural\nmotion that:\n(a) the question be put;\n(b) the debate be adjourned;\n(c) the meeting proceed to the next item of business;\n(d) the meeting stands adjourned;\n(e) the meeting be closed; or\n(f) the question lie on the table.\n(2) A procedural motion may be moved under clause (1) at the\nconclusion of a speaker's time, and the mayor shall, on the motion\nbeing moved, immediately put the motion without permitting debate\non, or the need for a seconder of, the motion.\n(3) Where a procedural motion moved under clause (1) is lost, the\nmember who moved the motion may not, until after the expiration of\na period of 30 minutes after that motion was put, move another\nmotion under clause (1).\n(4) Where a procedural motion moved under clause (1), that the\nmeeting stands adjourned, is lost, the business of the meeting shall\ncontinue and the same procedural motion may not be moved by\nany member until after the expiration of 30 minutes after that motion\nwas put.\n\nPart II Meetings of council\nDivision 3 Questions and discussions\nTennant Creek (Meetings and Procedures) By-laws 1989 7\n(5) The procedural motion, that the question be put, may be moved\nunder clause (1), where:\n(a) no other member at the meeting wishes to speak to the motion\nbefore the meeting or any amendment to it; or\n(b) not less than 2 members at the meeting have spoken for and\nnot less than 2 members have spoken against the motion\nbefore the meeting or any amendment to it and the procedural\nmotion is moved by a member who has not spoken in the\ndebate of the motion before the meeting or any amendment to\nit.\n(6) Where a motion put under clause (5) is:\n(a) carried, the mayor shall immediately put the question to the\nmotion or the amendment to it, as the case may be; or\n(b) lost, the debate on the motion or the amendment to it, as the\ncase may be, shall continue.\nDivision 3 Questions and discussions\n20 Questions\n(1) Subject to this by-law, a member may at a meeting of the council\nask a question for reply by another member or an officer.\n(2) Such notice of a question under clause (1), as the mayor\ndetermines, shall be given to the member or officer to whom it is\ndirected to permit consideration of a reply and, if necessary,\nreference to other persons or documents.\n(3) A question under clause (1) shall be asked categorically and\nwithout argument and no discussion shall be permitted at the\nmeeting of the council in relation to a reply or a refusal to reply to\nthe question.\n21 Mayor to take precedence\nThe mayor may, at any time during the debate of a matter at a\nmeeting of the council, indicate an intention to speak and, on so\ndoing, a member speaking or proposing to speak to the debate\nshall cease speaking and remain silent, or refrain from speaking, as\nthe case may be, until the mayor has been heard.\n\nPart II Meetings of council\nDivision 3 Questions and discussions\nTennant Creek (Meetings and Procedures) By-laws 1989 8\n22 Mode of addressing members and officers\nA member shall, at all times during a meeting of the council,\naddress and refer to another member or an officer by his official title\nor designation.\n23 Limitation in relation to number of speeches\n(1) Subject to this by-law, a member who moves a motion shall have a\nright:\n(a) to speak on any amendment proposed to the motion; and\n(b) of general reply to the motion and any amendment proposed\nto it.\n(2) Subject to this by-law, a member at a meeting of the council, not\nbeing a member who moves a motion, has a right to speak once\nonly to the motion, including any amendment proposed to it.\n(3) Subject to clause (2), a member at a meeting of the council may not\nspeak:\n(a) more than once; or\n(b) for more than 5 minutes,\non a question before the meeting.\n(4) Notwithstanding clause (3), where:\n(a) a majority of the members present at a meeting of the council\nconsent, a member's time to speak on a question before the\nmeeting may be extended for such further period, of not more\nthan 5 minutes, as is determined by that majority of the\nmembers; or\n(b) a member considers that he or she has been misrepresented\nor misunderstood, the member may be permitted by a majority\nof the members present at the meeting of the council, to\nanswer, without further observation than is necessary, the\nmisrepresentation or misunderstanding.\n24 Priority of speaking\nWhere 2 or more members at a meeting of the council rise to speak\nat the same time, the mayor shall decide which member shall be\nheard first.\n\nPart II Meetings of council\nDivision 4 Order and disorder\nTennant Creek (Meetings and Procedures) By-laws 1989 9\n25 Imputation\nA member speaking at a meeting of the council shall not make a\npersonal reflection on, or impute an improper motive to, another\nmember.\nDivision 4 Order and disorder\n26 Question of order\n(1) For the purposes of this by-law, a member is guilty of an act of\ndisorder if, at a meeting of the council, the member:\n(a) is in breach of the Act or of these By-laws;\n(b) uses language which, according to common usage, would be\nconsidered disorderly;\n(c) uses an expression inconsistent with good order or decorum;\nor\n(d) says or does anything calculated to bring the council into\ncontempt.\n(2) The mayor at a meeting of the council may, with or without the\nintervention of another member at the meeting, call a member at\nthe meeting to order where the mayor considers the member is out\nof order.\n(3) A member at a meeting of the council may raise a question of order\nwith the mayor where the member considers that another member\nat the meeting is:\n(a) guilty of an act of disorder; or\n(b) out of order.\n(4) Where, under clause (3), a question of order is raised, the mayor\nshall rule on the question but may, before ruling, seek the opinions\nof the other members at the meeting of the question.\n(5) A ruling of the mayor made under clause (4) shall be obeyed\nforthwith and without discussion except where a motion of dissent\nunder by-law 18 is subsequently passed in respect of the ruling.\n(6) A member who, under clause (4), is ruled:\n(a) to be guilty of an act of disorder; or\n(b) to be out of order more than once at a meeting of the council,\n\nPart II Meetings of council\nDivision 5 Attendance and non-attendance\nTennant Creek (Meetings and Procedures) By-laws 1989 10\nis guilty of an offence.\nPenalty: $500\n(7) Where, under clause (4), the mayor rules a member is guilty of an\nact of disorder, he may require the member to leave the place\nwhere the meeting of the council is taking place for a specified\nperiod of time or for the remainder of the meeting and to apologize,\nwithout reservation, to the members at the meeting.\n27 Disorder\n(1) The mayor may, where disorder arises at a meeting of the council,\nadjourn the meeting for a period not exceeding 15 minutes and\nvacate the chair.\n(2) Where, under clause (1), a meeting is adjourned, the mayor shall,\non the resumption of the meeting, move a motion which shall be put\nwithout debate to determine whether the meeting shall proceed.\n(3) Where a motion under clause (2) is lost, the mayor shall declare the\nmeeting closed.\n28 Motion, &c., to be rejected if out of order\nA motion or an amendment to a motion, on a matter before a\nmeeting of the council which is determined by a majority of the\nmembers at the meeting to be out of order, shall be rejected.\nDivision 5 Attendance and non-attendance\n29 Quorum not present\n(1) Where, at the expiration of the time referred to in section 66(2) of\nthe Act, a meeting of the council is postponed, that fact, together\nwith the names of the members present at that time, shall be\nrecorded in the minutes kept by the council.\n(2) Where, at the meeting of the council, a quorum of members, as\nrequired by section 66(1) of the Act, is lost, the mayor shall\nsuspend the meeting for a period of 5 minutes and, if at the\nexpiration of that period, a quorum of members is not present, the\nnames of the members present at that time shall be recorded in the\nminutes kept by the council, and the mayor shall adjourn the\nmeeting to a later hour or to another day, as the mayor thinks fit.\n(3) For the purposes of this By-law, a member is present at a meeting\nof the council if he or she is in the room in which the meeting is\ntaking, or is to take, place and is seated at the place allocated to\nthe member for the meeting.\n\nPart III Committees of council\nTennant Creek (Meetings and Procedures) By-laws 1989 11\nDivision 6 Public and media\n30 Attendance of public and media at meetings\n(1) At a meeting of the council, an area at the place where the meeting\nis to be held shall be made available for members of the public to\nattend the meeting and as many members of the public as\nreasonably can be accommodated in that area shall be permitted to\nattend the meeting, except when a matter prescribed under\nsection 69 of the Act is being considered.\n(2) At a meeting of the council, reasonable facilities shall be made\navailable to media personnel for the purpose of reporting on the\nmeeting, except when a matter prescribed under section 69 of the\nAct is being considered.\n31 Removal of persons\n(1) A person, other than a member, who interrupts the orderly conduct\nof a meeting of the council shall, on being requested to do so by the\nmayor, immediately leave the place where the meeting is being\nheld.\n(2) A person who fails to comply with a request of the mayor under\nclause (1) may be removed, on the order of the mayor, from the\nplace where the meeting is taking place with such force as is\nnecessary.\n32 Public participation at meeting\nExcept when invited to do so by the members at a meeting of the\ncouncil, or in accordance with by-law 11, a member of the public\nshall not take, or attempt to take, part in the proceedings of the\nmeeting.\nPart III Committees of council\n33 Conduct of meetings\nFor the purposes of section 68 of the Act, the procedures for the\nconduct of a meeting of a committee shall, except as otherwise\nprovided by these By-laws, be as determined from time to time by a\nmajority of the members of the committee.\n34 Disorder in committee\nBy-laws 27 and 28 apply to and in relation to a meeting of a\ncommittee as if the meeting was a meeting of the council and the\nchairman of the committee was the mayor.\n\nPart IV Miscellaneous\nTennant Creek (Meetings and Procedures) By-laws 1989 12\n35 Reports by committees\n(1) A report to the council by a committee shall be presented by the\nchairman of the committee or, in the absence of the chairman, by\nsuch other member of the committee as determined by the mayor.\n(2) Where distinct recommendations are made by a committee in a\nreport to the council, the decision of the council in relation to each\nrecommendation may be taken separately.\nPart IV Miscellaneous\n36 Mode of proceeding in cases not provided for\nWhere, at a meeting of the council or a committee, a matter arises\nwhich is not provided for, in part or in whole, by the Act, the\nRegulations these By-laws or an existing decision of the council or\ncommittee as the case may be, the matter shall be dealt with in the\nmanner determined by a resolution of the council or committee.\n37 Offences\nA person who contravenes, or fails to comply with, these By-laws is\nguilty of a regulatory offence.\nPenalty: $500.\n38 By-laws, resolutions and motions to be construed subject to\npower\n(1) These By-laws shall be read and construed subject to the Local\nGovernment Act 2019 and so as not to exceed the powers of the\ncouncil, to the intent that where a by-law would, but for this by-law,\nhave been construed as being in excess of that power it shall\nnevertheless be a valid by-law to the extent to which it is not in\nexcess of that power.\n(2) Where a resolution or motion is passed purportedly in pursuance of\nthese By-laws, the resolution or motion shall be read and construed\nsubject to the Local Government Act 2019 to the intent that where it\nwould, but for this by-law, have been construed as being in excess\nof authority, it shall nevertheless be a valid resolution or motion to\nthe extent to which it is not in excess of authority.\n\nENDNOTES\nTennant Creek (Meetings and Procedures) By-laws 1989 13\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\nTennant Creek (Meetings and Procedures) By-laws (SL No. 16, 1989)\nNotified 9 August 1989\nCommenced 9 August 1989\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)\nStatute Law Revision Act 2020 (Act No. 26, 2020)\nAssent date 19 November 2020\nCommenced 20 November 2020 (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 Interpretation Legislation\nAmendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22 of 2018) to: bl 1 and 38.\n\nENDNOTES\nTennant Creek (Meetings and Procedures) By-laws 1989 14\n4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS\nbl 2 rep Act No. 26, 2020, s 3\nbl 38 amd Act No. 39, 2019, s 370","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"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":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The instrument has been amended since original enactment to align with later Local Government legislation and housekeeping changes. Endnotes record repeal/amendment entries: by-law 2 was repealed (Statute Law Revision Act 2020 s 3) and by-law 38 was amended to reference the Local Government Act 2019 (Act No. 39, 2019 s 370). These amendments update statutory cross-references and the construction clause to read the by-laws subject to the 2019 Act."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-references to the Local Government Act (e.g. quorum and notice rules rely on Act s 65–69)","Delegation of significant discretionary powers to the mayor and clerk (by‑laws 4, 5, 8, 10, 21, 26(2))","Multiple procedural strands (notice, motions, amendments, procedural motions, committees) with timing and seconder rules (by‑laws 6, 11–19, 33)","Specific offence and penalty provisions and repeat-offence handling (by‑laws 26(6), 37)","Public and media access exceptions linked to Act-prescribed confidential matters (by‑law 30 referencing s 69 of the Act)","Interplay between council resolutions, committee procedures and minute/reporting requirements (by‑laws 5, 33–35)","Time-limit and repeat-move constraints on procedural motions and rescission (by‑laws 19(3),(4), 18(4))"],"plain_english_summary":"These by-laws set the procedural rules for Tennant Creek council meetings—when meetings occur, how business is put on the agenda, how motions, debates, deputations and public/media attendance are handled, and how disorder and offences are dealt with.\n\nThey apply to councillors, the mayor, the clerk, council officers, members of the public and media. The rules allocate discretion to the mayor and clerk, create notice and speaking obligations for members, and impose a $500 penalty for certain breaches (by‑laws 26(6), 37)."},"summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The legislation has clearly evolved from its 1989 origins — it has been reprinted at least 18 times (Reprint No: REPL018R18(J)) and has a commencement date of 1 July 2021, suggesting significant amendments over three decades. The administrative split, with the Electoral Commission separately governing Chapter 8, may reflect an expansion or restructuring of scope beyond original meeting procedure rules to incorporate formal electoral processes."},"complexity_factors":["Split administrative responsibility between two separate government agencies (Department of Housing vs Electoral Commission) creates potential jurisdictional confusion","By-laws originate from 1989 but have been updated/reprinted multiple times, meaning users must navigate version history","Procedural rules can contain technical parliamentary terminology (quorum, motion, amendment, etc.) that laypeople may find unclear","Limited metadata provided makes it difficult to assess full legislative scope without access to the actual text"],"plain_english_summary":"The Tennant Creek (Meetings and Procedures) By‑Laws 1989 set the official rules for how the local council conducts, records and decides business — including member conduct, voting and electoral rules (Chapter 8 is administered by the Northern Territory Electoral Commission). They govern council members, officials, attendees and candidates to ensure transparent, fair and orderly local decision‑making. In force from 1 July 2021."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[{"type":"circular_definition","section":"By-law 7","severity":"high","reasoning":"By-law 7 begins, “Notwithstanding by-law 7”, and refers to “notice under that by-law”. It contains no procedure for giving notice, only permission to consider a matter where such notice has not been given. The referenced notice event therefore cannot arise under by-law 7 itself.","confidence":0.99,"description":"The provision refers to itself as both the displaced rule and the source of a notice requirement that it does not create.","source_quotes":["Notwithstanding by-law 7, a matter for which notice under that by-law has not been given may be considered at an ordinary meeting where a motion is passed by the majority of members at the meeting permitting it to be considered."]}],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: establishing procedural rules for council and committee meetings. While it has been updated to reference the Local Government Act 2019 (replacing earlier legislation), the substantive scope — meeting conduct, motions, public participation, and order — has not expanded beyond its original municipal governance remit."},"complexity_factors":["Moderate cross-referencing to the Local Government Act 2019 (particularly sections 65, 66, 68, 69)","Nested conditional logic in procedural rules (e.g., by-law 19 on procedural motions contains 6 sub-clauses with multiple conditions about when motions can be moved, time limits, and consequences of losing)","19 defined procedural concepts (deputation, business paper, motion of dissent, procedural motion, question of order, etc.) though most are intuitive","Multiple exceptions and 'notwithstanding' clauses creating layered rules (e.g., by-law 7 allows consideration without notice despite by-law 6 requiring notice)","Time-based conditions scattered throughout (7 days notice for deputations, 30 minutes between failed procedural motions, 3 month moratorium on failed rescission motions)","Dual application structure — Part II rules apply to committees in Part III with modifications, requiring mental mapping between sections"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** These are the meeting rules for the Tennant Creek Town Council in the Northern Territory — essentially the \"rulebook\" for how council meetings must run.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **Elected councillors** — must follow strict procedures for moving motions, speaking time limits (5 minutes), and debate rules\n- **The Mayor** — has special powers to control meetings, rule on \"points of order\" (procedural objections), and can introduce urgent business via \"official minute\"\n- **Council staff (the Clerk)** — prepares agendas (called \"business papers\") and manages meeting logistics\n- **Local residents** — can attend meetings, present petitions, request deputations (formal presentations by groups), but cannot speak unless invited\n- **Media** — allowed to report on meetings with \"reasonable facilities\"\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Sets meeting schedules** — ordinary meetings held monthly on days the council decides\n- **Controls what gets discussed** — most items need advance written notice; urgent items can be added by majority vote\n- **Regulates debate** — motions need a \"seconder\" (someone to support them), amendments limited, speeches capped at 5 minutes\n- **Manages public input** — petitions must be respectful, deputations need 7 days notice and Mayor's approval, only one spokesperson per deputation unless council agrees otherwise\n- **Maintains order** — Mayor can eject disruptive people, suspend meetings for disorder, and members can be fined $500 for repeated disorderly conduct\n- **Protects decisions** — resolutions can't be overturned for 3 months if a motion to rescind fails\n\n**Why it matters:** These rules ensure council meetings are orderly, transparent, and fair — preventing any single member from dominating, ensuring the public can watch (and sometimes participate), and making sure decisions aren't made on the fly without proper notice. The $500 penalties show these aren't suggestions — they're enforceable laws."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/tennant-creek-meetings-and-procedures-by-laws-1989","history":"/api/acts/tennant-creek-meetings-and-procedures-by-laws-1989/history","analysis":"/api/acts/tennant-creek-meetings-and-procedures-by-laws-1989/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/tennant-creek-meetings-and-procedures-by-laws-1989/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/tennant-creek-meetings-and-procedures-by-laws-1989/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/tennant-creek-meetings-and-procedures-by-laws-1989/documents"}}