{"id":"weeds-management-regulations-2006","name":"WEEDS MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS 2006","slug":"weeds-management-regulations-2006","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":179244,"registerId":"nt-weeds-management-regulations-2006-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"WEEDS MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS 2006","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nWEEDS MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS 2006\nAs in force at 9 January 2023\nTable of provisions\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\n1 Citation ............................................................................................ 1\n2 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1\nPart 2 Infringement notices\n3 When infringement notice for infringement offence may be\nserved .............................................................................................. 2\n4 Contents of infringement notice ....................................................... 2\n5 Payment by cheque ......................................................................... 3\n6 Withdrawal of infringement notice.................................................... 3\n7 Application of Part ........................................................................... 3\nSchedule Infringement offences and prescribed\namounts\nENDNOTES\n\n\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 9 January 2023\n____________________\nWEEDS MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS 2006\nRegulations under the Weeds Management Act 2001\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\n1 Citation\nThese Regulations may be cited as the Weeds Management\nRegulations 2006.\n2 Definitions\nIn these Regulations:\ninfringement notice, see regulation 3.\ninfringement offence means an offence against a provision of the\nAct specified in the Schedule.\nprescribed amount, for an infringement offence, means:\n(a) for an offence specified in the Schedule, Part 1 – the amount\npayable for the offence under section 8 of the Environmental\nOffences and Penalties Act 1996; or\n(b) for an offence specified in the Schedule, Part 2, column 2:\n(i) if the infringement notice is served on an individual – the\namount specified opposite the offence provision in\ncolumn 3; or\n(ii) if the infringement notice is served on a body corporate –\n5 times the amount specified opposite the offence\nprovision in column 3.\n\nPart 2 Infringement notices\nWeeds Management Regulations 2006 2\nPart 2 Infringement notices\n3 When infringement notice for infringement offence may be\nserved\nIf a weed management officer reasonably believes a person has\ncommitted an infringement offence, the officer may serve a notice\n(an infringement notice) on the person.\n4 Contents of infringement notice\n(1) The infringement notice must specify the following particulars:\n(a) the name and address of the alleged offender, if known;\n(b) the date of the infringement notice;\n(c) the date, time and place of the infringement offence;\n(d) a description of the infringement offence and the prescribed\namount payable for the offence;\n(e) the enforcement agency, as defined in the Fines and Penalties\n(Recovery) Act 2001, to whom the prescribed amount is\npayable.\n(2) An infringement notice must include a statement to the effect of the\nfollowing:\n(a) the alleged offender may expiate the infringement offence and\navoid further action in relation to the offence by paying the\nprescribed amount to the specified enforcement agency within\n28 days after service of the notice;\n(b) the alleged offender may elect under section 21 of the Fines\nand Penalties (Recovery) Act 2001 to have the matter dealt\nwith by a court instead of under that Act by completing a\nstatement of election and serving it on the specified\nenforcement agency;\n(c) if the alleged offender does nothing in response to the notice,\nenforcement action may be taken under the Fines and\nPenalties (Recovery) Act 2001 including (but not limited to)\naction for the following:\n(i) suspension of the alleged offender's licence to drive;\n(ii) suspension of the alleged offender's vehicle registration;\n(iii) seizure of personal property of the alleged offender;\n\nPart 2 Infringement notices\nWeeds Management Regulations 2006 3\n(iv) deduction of an amount from the alleged offender's\nwages or salary;\n(v) registration of a statutory charge on land owned by the\nalleged offender;\n(vi) making of a community work order for the alleged\noffender which may result in imprisonment of the alleged\noffender if the alleged offender breaches the order.\n(3) Also, the infringement notice must include an appropriate form for\nmaking the statement of election mentioned in subregulation (2)(b).\n5 Payment by cheque\nIf the alleged offender tenders a cheque in payment of the\nprescribed amount, the amount is not taken to have been paid\nunless the cheque is cleared on first presentation.\n6 Withdrawal of infringement notice\n(1) The Chief Executive Officer may withdraw the infringement notice\nby written notice served on the alleged offender.\n(2) The notice must be served within 28 days after service of the\ninfringement notice but before payment of the prescribed amount.\n7 Application of Part\n(1) This Part does not prejudice or affect the start or continuing of\nproceedings for an infringement offence for which an infringement\nnotice has been served unless the offence is expiated.\n(2) Also, this Part does not prevent more than one infringement notice\nfor the same infringement offence being served on an alleged\noffender and, to expiate the offence, it is sufficient for the alleged\noffender to pay the prescribed amount in accordance with any of\nthe notices.\n(3) In addition, this Part does not:\n(a) require an infringement notice to be served; or\n(b) affect the liability of a person to be prosecuted in a court for an\ninfringement offence for which an infringement notice has not\nbeen served.\n\nSchedule Infringement offences and prescribed amounts\nWeeds Management Regulations 2006 4\nSchedule Infringement offences and prescribed amounts\nregulation 2, definitions infringement offence\nand prescribed amount\nPart 1\n1 Sections 15C(3) and 21B(2)\nNote for clause 1\nEach offence listed above is an environmental offence level 3.\n2 Sections 9A(3), 9D(4), 9G(3), 9L(4) and (5), 14B(4), (5) and (6),\n15A(3), 22A(3), 23B(1), 28L(3) and 30(1)\nNote for clause 2\nEach offence listed above is an environmental offence level 4.\nPart 2\nColumn 1\nItem Number\nColumn 2\nOffence provision\nColumn 3\nPrescribed amount\n1 Section 25A(1) 1 penalty unit\n2 Section 25A(2) 1 penalty unit\n3 Section 28E(1) 4 penalty units\n4 Section 28E(2) 4 penalty units\n\nENDNOTES\nWeeds Management Regulations 2006 5\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\nWeeds Management Regulations (SL No. 48, 2006)\nNotified 20 December 2006\nCommenced 20 December 2006\nPenalties Amendment (Miscellaneous) Act 2013 (Act No. 23, 2013)\nAssent date 12 July 2013\nCommenced 28 August 2013 (Gaz G35, 28 August 2013, p 2)\nWeeds Management Legislation Amendment Act 2022 (Act No. 7, 2022)\nAssent date 26 May 2022\nCommenced 9 January 2023 (Gaz G48, 7 December 2022, p 1)\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, 2018) to: rr 1, 2 and 4.\n4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS\nr 2 amd Act No. 7, 2022, s 34\nsch amd Act No. 23, 2013, s 14; Act No. 7, 2022, s 35","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Insufficient text was provided to assess whether the scope changed from the original 2006 intent. The reprint reference (REPW017R1) and the 2023 commencement date suggest at least one update has occurred since the original regulations were made, which may indicate scope changes, but this cannot be confirmed from the available metadata alone."},"complexity_factors":["Insufficient legislative text provided — only metadata/header information available, preventing detailed analysis","Regulations of this type typically involve species-specific lists that can be technically complex for non-specialists","Interaction with the parent Act (Weeds Management Act) creates a two-tier legal framework that readers must navigate","Enforcement and compliance provisions can involve administrative law processes unfamiliar to laypeople","Territorial application means different rules may apply depending on land tenure type (freehold, pastoral lease, Crown land)"],"plain_english_summary":"## Weeds Management Regulations 2006 (NT)\n\nThese are regulations made under the Northern Territory's weeds management framework. They set out the detailed rules for how weeds are managed across the Territory.\n\n**Who is affected?**\n- **Landowners and occupiers** — people who own or manage land in the NT may have obligations to control certain weeds on their property\n- **Primary producers and farmers** — particularly affected by weed control requirements that can impact agricultural operations\n- **Government agencies** — responsible for enforcement and compliance\n- **Contractors and businesses** working with land, vegetation, or machinery that could spread weeds\n\n**What do these regulations likely cover?**\n- Which plant species are declared as 'weeds' (plants considered harmful to the environment, agriculture, or human health)\n- The obligations of landholders to control or eradicate declared weeds\n- Processes for inspections and enforcement\n- Fees, permits, or exemptions that may apply\n- Penalties for non-compliance\n\n**Why does it matter?**\nWeeds can devastate native ecosystems, reduce agricultural productivity, and cost the economy billions. These regulations give the legal teeth to weed management programs — meaning landholders can face real consequences (fines or orders) if they fail to control declared weeds on their land.\n\n> ⚠️ **Note:** The available text provides only metadata about this legislation, not its actual content. The summary above reflects what regulations of this type typically contain. Always consult the full text for specific obligations."},"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":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Regulations primarily set procedural rules and fixed-penalty amounts for enforcing the existing Weeds Management Act. Amendments reflected in the reprint (noted in endnotes) adjust penalty references and amounts and add technical detail (for example the corporate multiplier and linkage to the Environmental Offences and Penalties Act for certain offences). Those changes tune enforcement and penalty levels rather than expanding the substantive range of regulated activity; they do not appear to broaden the types of conduct captured beyond the original regulatory scheme."},"complexity_factors":["Short instrument: 7 regulations plus Schedule","Cross-references to other Acts (Environmental Offences and Penalties Act 1996; Fines and Penalties (Recovery) Act 2001) increasing interpretive dependencies","Different calculation rules for prescribed amounts (reg 2(a) links to external Act; reg 2(b) sets schedule-based amounts)","Corporate multiplier (5×) for body corporate in reg 2(b)(ii) — conditional calculation","List of multiple enforcement actions triggered via cross-reference to Fines and Penalties (Recovery) Act (reg 4(2)(c)(i)–(vi))","Allowing multiple infringement notices for same offence (reg 7(2)) creates procedural nuances","Limited discretionary standards (\"reasonable belief\" in reg 3) and time‑limited CEO withdrawal power (reg 6)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What these Regulations do (mechanically)**\n\n- These Regulations set out a formal infringement-notice (on-the-spot fine) scheme for offences under the Weeds Management Act 2001. The key rules are: who may issue notices, what must be on a notice, how payment works, how a notice can be withdrawn, and which offences attract fixed penalty amounts (see regulation 3, regulation 4, regulation 5, regulation 6 and the Schedule).\n- Definitions: the Regulations define “infringement offence” and “prescribed amount” and explain how prescribed amounts are calculated (regulation 2). For some offences the prescribed amount is taken from the Environmental Offences and Penalties Act 1996 (reg 2(a)); for certain other offences the Schedule sets specific penalty-unit amounts and a corporate multiplier applies (reg 2(b)(ii)).\n- Who can issue a notice: a weed management officer may serve an infringement notice if the officer reasonably believes a person has committed an infringement offence (reg 3).\n- Required contents of a notice: the notice must give the alleged offender’s name/address (if known), the date/time/place of the offence, a description of the offence and the prescribed amount, and the enforcement agency to which payment is to be made (reg 4(1)).\n- Options given to the alleged offender: the notice must explain that the person may either pay the prescribed amount within 28 days to expiate (discharge) the offence, or elect to have the matter dealt with by a court by lodging a statement of election (reg 4(2)(a)–(b)). A statement-of-election form must be included (reg 4(3)).\n- Consequences of non‑payment: the notice must warn that, if nothing is done, enforcement action under the Fines and Penalties (Recovery) Act 2001 may follow — for example licence suspension, vehicle registration suspension, seizure of property, wage deduction, registration of a statutory charge on land, or community work orders (which can lead to imprisonment for breaching the order) (reg 4(2)(c)(i)–(vi)).\n- Payment rules and withdrawal: a cheque only counts as payment once it clears on first presentation (reg 5). The Chief Executive Officer may withdraw an infringement notice by written notice served within 28 days after service of the notice but before payment (reg 6).\n- Multiple notices and prosecutions: the Regulations allow more than one infringement notice for the same offence (it is sufficient to pay any one of them to expiate) and do not prevent court prosecution where no notice has been served (reg 7).\n- The Schedule lists the specific Weeds Management Act provisions that are designated as infringement offences and gives the prescribed amounts (Schedule; see also notes that some listed offences are classified as environmental offence levels 3 or 4).\n\n**Who this affects**\n\n- Private individuals and bodies corporate who own or occupy land, or otherwise can commit the listed Weeds Management Act offences. The alleged offender is the person served with the notice (reg 3, reg 4).\n- Bodies corporate face larger fixed penalties for certain Schedule offences: where the Schedule sets a specific amount for an offence, a body corporate pays five times the individual amount (reg 2(b)(ii)).\n- Enforcement and administrative agencies: weed management officers, the specified enforcement agency under the Fines and Penalties (Recovery) Act 2001 (reg 4(1)(e)), and the Chief Executive Officer (who can withdraw notices — reg 6).\n\n**Why it matters (policy purpose claims and practical tests of those claims)**\n\n- The stated purpose in the instrument is administrative: provide a fast, out‑of‑court way to deal with minor weeds offences (by fixing prescribed amounts and a clear notice process). That aims to reduce court workload and speed enforcement.\n\n- Testing that claim against costs and incentives:\n  - Who pays: the alleged offender pays the prescribed amount to expiate (reg 4(2)(a)). Businesses (corporate entities) pay 5× certain amounts (reg 2(b)(ii)), which concentrates cost on corporate actors for those offences.\n  - Incentives: the availability of immediate expiation plus the listed enforcement tools (reg 4(2)(c)) creates a strong incentive to pay rather than litigate, especially where enforcement actions (licence suspension, wage deductions, statutory charge on land) are consequential.\n  - Compliance burden: landholders, contractors and small businesses face compliance costs from the fines themselves and the administrative process of responding to notices. The corporate multiplier increases the financial stake for incorporated businesses.\n  - Substitution effects and opportunity cost: some persons may choose to pay low‑value fines rather than contest novel legal questions in court; that reduces litigation costs for the state but means less judicial development of the law.\n  - Enforcement risk and discretion: the threshold for issuing a notice is the officer’s “reasonable belief” (reg 3). That gives operational discretion to officers; the CEO’s power to withdraw notices (reg 6) is a limited internal check, constrained to within 28 days and prior to payment (reg 6(2)). These features create some implementation risk (potential for incorrect or contested notices) and administrative burden to monitor withdrawals.\n  - Cross‑agency interaction: amounts for some offences are linked to another Act (Environmental Offences and Penalties Act 1996) and enforcement proceedings rely on the Fines and Penalties (Recovery) Act 2001 (reg 2(a); reg 4(2)(c)). That creates dependence on other regimes to collect and enforce penalties, transferring collection costs and methods to those systems.\n\n**Concrete trade-offs and likely behavioural effects**\n\n- The scheme reduces the time and cost for the State of pursuing minor offences through courts, at the expense of creating stronger default incentives for alleged offenders to pay rather than litigate (reg 4(2)).\n- The five‑times multiplier for corporate liability (reg 2(b)(ii)) raises the expected compliance cost for businesses and makes corporate actors more likely to change behaviour or to contest notices where amounts are material.\n- The potential registration of a statutory charge on land as an enforcement consequence (reg 4(2)(c)(v)) links regulatory non‑compliance to property interests, which can affect land transferability and credit arrangements.\n\n**Practical mechanics to note when responding to a notice**\n\n- Must act within 28 days to expiate by payment or to elect court (reg 4(2)(a)–(b)); if a cheque is used it must clear on first presentation (reg 5).\n- If a notice has been served, more than one notice can be issued for the same offence but payment of any one expiates (reg 7(2)).\n- The Chief Executive Officer can withdraw a notice within 28 days but only before payment (reg 6).\n\n**Key provisions to consult directly**: regulation 2 (definitions and prescribed-amount rules), regulation 3 (when a notice may be served), regulation 4 (contents and required statements), regulation 5 (cheque payment rule), regulation 6 (withdrawal), regulation 7 (application and interaction with prosecutions), and the Schedule (listed offences and prescribed amounts)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations remain tightly focused on their original purpose: establishing an infringement notice system for the Weeds Management Act 2001. The 2022 amendments simply updated references and offence classifications without expanding the regulatory scope beyond fine administration."},"complexity_factors":["Short length (7 regulations plus Schedule)","Minimal defined terms (only 3: infringement notice, infringement offence, prescribed amount)","Simple conditional structure (if/then logic for serving notices)","Cross-references to 3 other Acts (Weeds Management Act 2001, Environmental Offences and Penalties Act 1996, Fines and Penalties (Recovery) Act 2001) but these are standard incorporation by reference","Straightforward tabular format for offence listings in Schedule","No nested exceptions or complex definitional chains","Clear 28-day time limits without complicated calculation methods"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this legislation does:**\n\nThese regulations set up a system for issuing **infringement notices** (on-the-spot fines) for weed-related offences in the Northern Territory. Instead of taking someone straight to court for breaking weed control laws, authorised officers can issue a fine that the person can pay to avoid further legal action.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n- **Weed management officers** – government staff who can issue fines if they reasonably believe someone has committed an offence\n- **Landowners, farmers, and property managers** – anyone who might breach the Weeds Management Act 2001 (for example, by failing to control declared weeds or comply with weed management directions)\n- **Businesses** – companies face higher fines (5 times the individual amount) for the same offences\n\n**Key features:**\n\n- **Two-tier penalty system:**\n  - **Part 1 offences** (serious environmental offences): penalties set by the Environmental Offences and Penalties Act 1996\n  - **Part 2 offences**: fixed fines ranging from 1 to 4 penalty units (roughly $155 to $620 for individuals, based on current NT penalty unit values)\n\n- **Your options if you get a fine:**\n  1. **Pay within 28 days** – the matter ends there\n  2. **Elect to go to court** – challenge the fine through the court system\n  3. **Do nothing** – face serious enforcement including licence suspension, vehicle registration cancellation, property seizure, wage garnishment, or even imprisonment for breaching community work orders\n\n- **Payment rules:** Cheques must clear before the fine is considered paid\n\n- **Withdrawal:** The Chief Executive can withdraw a notice within 28 days (before payment)\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThis creates a streamlined, lower-cost way to enforce weed control laws without clogging up courts for minor breaches. However, the \"do nothing\" consequences are severe – the legislation explicitly warns that ignoring a fine can lead to imprisonment. It balances convenience for minor offences with serious enforcement teeth for non-compliance."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/weeds-management-regulations-2006","history":"/api/acts/weeds-management-regulations-2006/history","analysis":"/api/acts/weeds-management-regulations-2006/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/weeds-management-regulations-2006/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/weeds-management-regulations-2006/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/weeds-management-regulations-2006/documents"}}