Charles Darwin University Act 2003 (Northern Territory)

This Act establishes Charles Darwin University, continues the previous Northern Territory University as the University under a new statutory framework and sets out the corporate form, objects, governance, financial controls, academic structures and transitional arrangements. Mechanically, it: incorporates the University as a body corporate with a common seal and capacity to hold and dispose of real and personal property and sue or be sued (s4); lists the University’s functions, including teaching at undergraduate, postgraduate and vocational levels, research and the commercial exploitation of research (s5); and confers broad powers to support those functions such as entering contracts, acquiring and disposing of property, exploiting intellectual property, and establishing institutes, faculties and student accommodation (s6).

The Act creates a Council as the primary decision-maker for University affairs and prescribes its composition, powers and processes (Pt 3, ss8-19). It requires a separate Academic Board, establishes an Institute of Advanced Studies and research schools, and preserves the Menzies School of Health Research as a research school within the University structure (ss20, 23-25). It sets out staff appointment powers, and authorises the engagement of consultants (ss28-29). The Act creates a financial and accountability architecture: fee-setting power (s31); requirements for proper accounts, investment and trust management (ss32-36); budget adoption and Treasurer information rights (s38); annual reporting and Auditor-General audit and reporting obligations (s39); and specific rules for controlled entities and trading corporations (ss40-41).

Transitional and repeal provisions convert existing Northern Territory University and Centralian College structures, staff, rules and property into the new University framework (Pt 10 and Schedules 2-3). The Act also provides for internal regulatory instruments: by-laws and rules, with specified matters and limited penalty powers (ss46-48). Key governance constraints and fiduciary-style duties are imposed on Council members, including a duty to act solely in the interests of the University, act in good faith, exercise care and diligence, avoid use of office for improper advantage and disclose conflicts (s10A). The Act places some powers outside delegation (s42), contains immunity for acts done in good faith under the Act (s44), and protects the validity of meetings and acts despite procedural defects (s45). The Administrator and the Treasurer retain specific appointment and financial oversight roles, and the Minister is the addressee of annual reports for tabling in the Legislative Assembly (s39(7), s9(1)(d), s37).

NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY ACT 2003 As in force at 3 March 2023 Table of provisions Part 1 Preliminary 1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1 2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1 3 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1 Part 2 Charles Darwin University 4 Continuance and incorporation of University ................................... 2 5 Functions of University .................................................................... 2 6 Powers of University ........................................................................ 3 7 Composition of University ................................................................ 4 Part 3 Council 8 University affairs to be conducted by Council .................................. 5 9 Composition of Council .................................................................... 5 10 Terms of office ................................................................................. 6 10A Duties of members of Council.......................................................... 7 11 Vacation or termination of office ...................................................... 8 12 Casual vacancies ............................................................................ 9 13 Chancellor ....................................................................................... 9 14 Deputy Chancellor ......................................................................... 10 15 Vice-Chancellor ............................................................................. 10 16 Disclosure of interest ..................................................................... 10 17 Meetings of Council ....................................................................... 11 18 Presiding at meetings .................................................................... 12 19 Committees ................................................................................... 12 Part 4 Academic Board, Alumni and student association 20 Academic Board ............................................................................ 13 21 Alumni ........................................................................................... 13 22 Student association ....................................................................... 13 Part 5 Institute of Advanced Studies and research schools 23 Institute of Advanced Studies ........................................................ 14 24 Research schools .......................................................................... 14 25 Menzies School of Health Research.............................................. 14

Charles Darwin University Act 2003 ii Part 6 Degrees and other awards 26 Degrees and awards of University ................................................. 14 27 Degrees and awards of other bodies ............................................. 15 Part 7 Staff and consultants 28 Appointment of staff ....................................................................... 15 29 Consultants may be engaged ........................................................ 15 Part 8 Property, finance, audit and annual report 30 Financial year ................................................................................ 15 31 Fees and charges .......................................................................... 16 32 University accounts ....................................................................... 16 33 Proper accounts to be kept ............................................................ 16 34 Gifts etc. and trust funds ................................................................ 17 35 Investment ..................................................................................... 17 36 Variation of terms of trust or gift..................................................... 18 37 Financial accommodation .............................................................. 20 38 Budget and financial information ................................................... 20 39 Annual reports and audit ............................................................... 21 Part 9 Miscellaneous 40 Trading corporations etc. ............................................................... 22 41 Controlled entities .......................................................................... 22 42 Delegation ..................................................................................... 23 43 Terms of contract and execution of documents ............................. 23 44 Protection from liability .................................................................. 24 45 Validity of proceedings .................................................................. 24 46 By-laws .......................................................................................... 25 47 Rules ............................................................................................. 27 48 Penalties under by-laws and rules ................................................. 28 Part 10 Repeals, savings and transitional provisions 49 Repeal ........................................................................................... 28 50 Removal of college status of Centralian College ........................... 29 51 Establishing first Council................................................................ 29 52 Savings and transitional provisions ............................................... 30 Schedule 1 Schedule 2 Savings and transitional provisions – Northern Territory University

Charles Darwin University Act 2003 iii Schedule 3 Savings and transitional provisions – Centralian College ENDNOTES

NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA

As in force at 3 March 2023

CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY ACT 2003 An Act to establish the Charles Darwin University and for related purposes Part 1 Preliminary 1 Short title This Act may be cited as the Charles Darwin University Act 2003. 2 Commencement (1) Section 51 comes into operation on the day on which the Administrator's assent to this Act is declared. (2) The remaining provisions of this Act come into operation on: (a) 1 January 2004; or (b) the date fixed by the Administrator by notice in the Gazette, whichever occurs first. 3 Definitions In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears: By-laws means the by-laws made under section 46. Centralian College means the institution of that name established under section 41 of the Education Act 1979. Chancellor means the Chancellor of the University appointed under section 13. Council means the Council of the University. Deputy Chancellor means the Deputy Chancellor of the University appointed under section 14. Institute of Advanced Studies means the Institute of Advanced Studies established under section 23.

Part 2 Charles Darwin University Charles Darwin University Act 2003 2 Menzies School of Health Research means the School of that name established by the Menzies School of Health Research Act 1985. Northern Territory University means the Northern Territory University established by the Northern Territory University Act 1988. Rules means the rules made under section 47. student of the University means a person or a class of persons prescribed by the By-Laws. University means the Charles Darwin University. Vice-Chancellor means the Vice-Chancellor of the University appointed under section 15. Part 2 Charles Darwin University 4 Continuance and incorporation of University (1) Despite the repeal of the Northern Territory University Act 1988 by section 49, the University established by section 4 of that Act continues in existence under this Act as the Charles Darwin University. (2) The University: (a) is a body corporate with perpetual succession; (b) has a common seal; (c) is capable, in its corporate name, of acquiring, holding and disposing of real (including leasehold) and personal property; and (d) is capable, in its corporate name, of suing and being sued. (3) A court, judge or persons acting judicially must take judicial notice of the common seal of the University affixed to a document and must presume that it was duly affixed. 5 Functions of University The University has the following functions: (a) to undertake teaching activities that fulfil the requirements of an undergraduate and postgraduate university education and training and further education by way of a course of instruction

Part 2 Charles Darwin University Charles Darwin University Act 2003 3 that is, or is preparatory to, a course of a kind relevant to a trade, technical or other vocational education; (b) to undertake research (taking advantage of the human and physical resources of the University) and, where appropriate, to consider commercial exploitation of research that is undertaken; (c) to undertake teaching activities to provide other education and training as determined by the Council; (d) to co-operate with other universities and with institutions of higher education, training and further education or research (whether within or outside of Australia); (e) to liaise with industry and professional organisations, training committees and the community; (f) to disseminate knowledge and advance skills and their practical application; (g) to provide consultative and research services and facilities; (h) to administer schemes of financial and other assistance for students of the University and persons studying or carrying out research at the University including, in the case of students, financial assistance in the form of loans; (i) to provide library and other educational facilities that may be used by the public on conditions as determined by the Council; (j) to carry out any other function that is conferred on it by or under this or any other Act. 6 Powers of University (1) The University has power to perform its functions and to exercise its powers including to do any thing that is necessary or convenient to be done in connection with or incidental to its functions and powers. (2) The University may establish institutes, faculties, schools, departments and organisations that it considers will best allow it to perform its functions. (3) Without limiting subsections (1) and (2), the University may do any of the following: (a) enter into contracts;

Part 2 Charles Darwin University Charles Darwin University Act 2003 4 (b) create, develop, apply for, obtain and hold intellectual and industrial property and rights and enter into agreements or arrangements for their commercial exploitation on terms as to royalties, lump sum payments or otherwise that the Council thinks fit; (c) purchase, take on lease or otherwise acquire real or personal property and to sell, grant a lease or otherwise dispose of real or personal property; (d) erect buildings; (e) occupy, use and control land or buildings owned or held under lease and made available for the purposes of the University; (f) accept gifts, grants, bequests, devises and assignments made to the University (whether on trust or otherwise) and act as trustee of moneys or other property vested in the University on trust; (g) enter into arrangements with other universities or with institutions of higher, technical or further education (whether in or outside Australia) or with any of the States that administer education services to establish in the University courses of lectures or studies for degrees, diplomas, trade certificates or otherwise; (h) establish, manage and control halls of residence and other forms of student accommodation and to establish, manage and control other accommodation that the Council thinks fit. 7 Composition of University The University consists of: (a) the members of the Council; (b) the graduates of the University and the Northern Territory University; (c) the holders of awards of the University and the Northern Territory University other than degrees; (d) the staff employed by the University; (e) the students of the University; (f) the holders of awards of Centralian College; and

Part 3 Council Charles Darwin University Act 2003 5 (g) other persons or classes of persons that the Council determines. Part 3 Council 8 University affairs to be conducted by Council (1) The affairs of the University are to be conducted by the Council. (2) In particular, the Council is to: (a) monitor the performance of the Vice-Chancellor; (b) approve the mission and strategic direction of the University; (c) approve the budget and business plan of the University; (d) oversee the management of the University, including approving significant commercial activities; (e) regularly review delegations under this Act; (f) monitor systems of accountability implemented by the University; (g) review management practices and performances of the University; and (h) to oversee risk management across the University. (3) All acts and things done: (a) by the Council; or (b) in the name of or on behalf of the University with the express or implied authority of the Council, are taken to have been done by the University. 9 Composition of Council (1) The Council consists of: (a) the Chancellor; (b) the Vice-Chancellor; (c) the Chairperson of the Academic Board; (d) 8 persons appointed by the Administrator;

Part 3 Council Charles Darwin University Act 2003 6 (e) one person elected by and from the full-time higher education academic staff of the University; (f) one person elected by and from the full-time TAFE academic staff of the University; (g) one person elected by and from the undergraduate students of the University; and (h) one person elected by and from the postgraduate students of the University. (2) The Nominations Committee: (a) must nominate persons considered suitable to be appointed members of the Council under subsection (1)(d); and (b) must nominate at least one preferred candidate for each appointment that is to be made under subsection (1)(d). (3) The persons appointed under subsection (1)(d) are to be persons who represent between them a broad range of community interests (including persons with expertise in education and vocational training, research and technology). (4) Of the persons appointed under subsection (1)(d): (a) at least 2 are to be persons with financial expertise; and (b) at least one is to be a person with commercial expertise. (6) If a body of persons required by this section to elect a member of the Council fails or refuses to elect the member by the date determined from time to time by the Council in respect of the particular election: (a) the Minister may on the advice of the Council appoint a person as the Minister thinks fit to be a member of the Council; and (b) the person appointed is taken to have been elected a member by the body of persons. 10 Terms of office (1) Subject to this Act: (a) a person appointed to the Council under section 9(1)(d) holds office for 3 years from the date he or she is appointed;

Part 3 Council Charles Darwin University Act 2003 7 (b) a person elected to the Council under section 9(1)(e) or (f) holds office for 3 years from 1 January following the date he or she is elected; and (c) a person elected to the Council under section 9(1)(g) or (h) holds office for one year from 1 January following the date he or she is elected. (2) Subject to this section, a person referred to in subsection (1) may be re-appointed or re-elected as a member of the Council. (3) A person referred to in subsection (1) cannot be re-appointed or re-elected as a member of the Council if, as a result, the person will hold the office for a continuous period of more than 12 years. (4) If at least two-thirds of the members of the Council agree at a meeting of the Council that subsection (3) should not apply to a person, the person may be re-appointed or re-elected despite that, because of the subsection, the person would not be eligible to be re-appointed or re-elected. 10A Duties of members of Council (1) A member, when exercising a power or performing a function of the office: (a) must act solely in the interests of the University and not as a delegate or representative of a particular constituency; and (b) must act in good faith, honestly and for a proper purpose; and (c) must exercise appropriate care and diligence; and (d) must not use his or her office to improperly gain an advantage (either for the member or another person); and (e) must disclose and avoid conflicts of interest. (2) In this section: member means a member of the Council appointed or elected under section 9(1).

Part 3 Council Charles Darwin University Act 2003 8 11 Vacation or termination of office (1) A member vacates his or her office if: (a) the member becomes bankrupt, applies to take the benefit of a law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors, or compounds with his or her creditors or makes an assignment of his or her remuneration for their benefit; (b) the member is convicted in the Territory of an offence punishable by imprisonment for 12 months or more, or is convicted elsewhere than in the Territory of an offence that, if committed in the Territory, would be an offence punishable by imprisonment for 12 months or more; (c) the Administrator receives a report from the Chief Health Officer, based on advice from 2 medical practitioners, that as a result of his or her mental illness, as defined in the Mental Health and Related Services Act 1998, he or she has become incapable of performing his or her duties as a member and is unlikely to be able to perform them for the remainder of his or her term of appointment; (d) the member is absent, except on leave granted by the Council, from 3 consecutive meetings of the Council of which reasonable notice has been given to the member personally or by post; (e) the member resigns his or her office by writing signed by the member and delivered to the Secretary of the Council; (f) being the member elected under section 9(1)(e) – the member ceases to be a member of the full-time higher education academic staff of the University; (g) being the member elected under section 9(1)(f) – the member ceases to be a member of the full-time TAFE academic staff of the University; (h) being the member elected under section 9(1)(g) – the member ceases to be an undergraduate student; (i) being the member elected under section 9(1)(h) – the member ceases to be a postgraduate student; or (j) the member is disqualified from acting as a Director of a company or managing corporations under Part 2D.6 of the Corporations Act 2001.

Part 3 Council Charles Darwin University Act 2003 9 (2) Subject to subsection (2A), the Council may terminate a member's appointment if it is satisfied that the member has not carried out his or her duties under section 10A. (2A) The Council can only exercise its power under subsection (2) if at least two-thirds of the members of the Council agree at a meeting that the member has not carried out his or her duties under section 10A. (3) In this section: member means a member of the Council appointed or elected under section 9(1). 12 Casual vacancies (1) Subject to subsection (2), if a vacancy occurs in the office of a member of the Council elected under section 9(1) otherwise than by the expiry of the member's term of office: (a) the Council must appoint a person with the same qualification for election as the member in whose stead the member is appointed to fill the vacancy; and (b) subject to this Part – the person appointed holds office as a member of the Council for the unexpired period of office of the member in whose stead the member is appointed. (2) In exercising its powers under subsection (1), the Council must take into account the results of the election at which the member vacating his or her office was elected. 13 Chancellor (1) The Council must appoint a person to be the Chancellor. (2) The Chancellor holds office for 3 years. (3) A member of the Council may be appointed the Chancellor but only if he or she is a member of the Council appointed under section 9(1)(d). (4) If the person appointed Chancellor is a member of the Council appointed under section 9(1)(d), the person is taken to have resigned his or her office as an appointed member and the Administrator must appoint another person to be a member of the Council under section 9(1)(d). (5) The Chancellor may resign his or her office by writing delivered to the Council.

Part 3 Council Charles Darwin University Act 2003 10 14 Deputy Chancellor (1) The Council must appoint a person to be the Deputy Chancellor. (2) The person appointed the Deputy Chancellor must be a member of the Council appointed under section 9(1)(d). (3) The Deputy Chancellor may resign his or her office by writing delivered to the Council. (4) The Deputy Chancellor may act in the office of the Chancellor if the Chancellor is for any reason unable to exercise his or her powers or perform his or her functions. 15 Vice-Chancellor (1) The Council must appoint a Vice-Chancellor. (2) The Vice-Chancellor is to be appointed on terms and conditions determined by the Council. (3) The Vice-Chancellor is: (a) the chief executive officer of the University; and (b) responsible to the Council for the management of the University. (4) The Vice-Chancellor has the powers and functions: (a) as prescribed by the By-laws; and (b) as determined by the Council. 16 Disclosure of interest (1) A member of the Council who has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in: (a) a matter being considered or about to be considered at a meeting of the Council; or (b) a thing being done or about to be done by the Council, must, as soon as possible after the relevant facts come to his or her knowledge, disclose the nature of the interest at a meeting of the Council.

Part 3 Council Charles Darwin University Act 2003 11 (2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the interest is held as a member of, and in common with the other members of, a corporation consisting of not less than 25 members and of which the member is not a director. (3) A disclosure that a member: (a) is a member or an employee of a specified corporation or body; (b) is a partner or employee of a specified person; or (c) has some other specified interest relating to a specified corporation, body or person, is taken to be a sufficient disclosure of the nature of the interest in any matter or thing relating to the company, body or person that may arise after the date of the disclosure. (4) The Council must ensure that: (a) particulars of all disclosures made under this section are recorded in a book; and (b) the book is able to be inspected at all reasonable times by a person after paying the fee, if any, determined by the Council. (5) A member of the Council who has, or is taken to have disclosed, the nature of an interest must not: (a) be present during any deliberation of the Council, or take part in a decision of the Council, in relation to a matter to which the disclosure relates; or (b) perform a function under this Act in relation to a matter to which the disclosure relates. (6) Subsection (5) does not apply if the Council (in the absence of the member) determines otherwise. (7) In this section: Council includes a committee of the Council. 17 Meetings of Council (1) The Chancellor must call as many meetings of the Council as are necessary for it to perform its functions and exercise its powers. (2) However, the interval between meetings cannot exceed 4 months.

Part 3 Council Charles Darwin University Act 2003 12 (3) The Chancellor must call a meeting of the Council if requested to do so by 8 members of the Council. (4) At a meeting of the Council, 8 members of the Council constitute a quorum. (5) At a meeting of the Council: (a) questions are to be determined by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting; and (b) in the event of an equality of votes – the matter is to be deferred to the next meeting of the Council and, in the event of an equality of votes at that meeting, the matter is to be taken to have been defeated. (6) Except as provided by this Act and the By-laws, the Council may determine the procedure to be followed at or in connection with its meetings. (7) The Council must ensure that there are formal induction and professional processes available to a member so that he or she is aware of his or her duties as a member. 18 Presiding at meetings (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Chancellor or, in the Chancellor's absence, the Deputy Chancellor must preside at meetings of the Council at which he or she is present. (2) If both the Chancellor and Deputy Chancellor are absent from a meeting of the Council, the members present must elect an acting Chancellor and the person may exercise the powers and perform the functions of the Chancellor for the meeting. 19 Committees (1) The Council may establish committees. (2) The Council must establish a Nominations Committee. (3) A person may be appointed a member of a committee whether or not he or she is a member of the Council.

Part 4 Academic Board, Alumni and student association Charles Darwin University Act 2003 13 Part 4 Academic Board, Alumni and student association 20 Academic Board (1) The Academic Board of the University is established. (2) The membership of the Academic Board is as prescribed by the By-laws. (3) The By-laws are to provide for the method of appointing the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Academic Board. (4) The Academic Board: (a) may advise the Council or the Vice-Chancellor on any matter relating to the University and, in particular, make recommendations with respect to instruction, studies, examinations and assessments, research and awards relevant to those programs deemed to be awards for funding purposes; and (b) must report on any matter on which it is required to report by the Council or the Vice-Chancellor. (5) In addition to subsection (4), the Academic Board has the powers and duties that are conferred or imposed on it by or under this Act. (6) The proceedings of the Academic Board are to be conducted in the manner it determines. 21 Alumni (1) The Alumni of the University is established. (2) The membership of the Alumni is as prescribed by the By-laws. 22 Student association (1) The students of the University in accordance with the By-laws and the Rules may: (a) establish a student association of the University; and (b) adopt a constitution by which the student association is to be governed. (2) The objects of the student association are to be defined in its constitution.

Part 6 Degrees and other awards Charles Darwin University Act 2003 14 (3) A constitution adopted under subsection (1) and any amendment to it is of no force or effect until approved by the Council. Part 5 Institute of Advanced Studies and research schools 23 Institute of Advanced Studies (1) The Council must establish an Institute of Advanced Studies. (2) The Council must establish an advisory board for the Institute of Advanced Studies. (3) The members of the advisory board for the Institute of Advanced Studies are to be appointed by the Council. 24 Research schools (1) The Institute of Advanced Studies may establish research schools. (2) The Council must in respect of each research school established under subsection (1): (a) appoint a person to be the Director of the research school; (b) establish an advisory board for the research school; and (c) approve the business plan and budget of the research school for each financial year. (3) The members of an advisory board are to be appointed by the Council. (4) An advisory board has the functions determined by the Council. 25 Menzies School of Health Research (1) The Menzies School of Health Research is a research school. (2) The Director of the Menzies School of Health Research is a member of the advisory board for the Institute of Advanced Studies. Part 6 Degrees and other awards 26 Degrees and awards of University (1) The Council may: (a) confer degrees of the University; and

Part 8 Property, finance, audit and annual report Charles Darwin University Act 2003 15 (b) grant diplomas, certificates or other awards of the University, in relation to the passing of examinations of the University or education and training provided by the University. (2) For the purpose of enabling students to obtain degrees and other awards of the University, the Council must promote course articulation and credit transfer between training and further education and higher education. (3) The Council may grant honorary degrees and other distinctions. 27 Degrees and awards of other bodies The Council may cause instruction to be given to students for the purpose of completing the requirements for a degree or other award of any university or other institution with which the Council has made an agreement. Part 7 Staff and consultants 28 Appointment of staff (1) Subject to this Act and the By-laws, the Vice-Chancellor may appoint academic and other staff for the purposes of the University. (2) Members of the staff of the University are to be employed on terms and conditions approved by the Council. 29 Consultants may be engaged The Council may: (a) engage consultants to the University; and (b) make arrangements to be provided with advice. Part 8 Property, finance, audit and annual report 30 Financial year Subject to the approval of the Treasurer, the Council may determine a date on which the financial year of the University ends.

Part 8 Property, finance, audit and annual report Charles Darwin University Act 2003 16 31 Fees and charges (1) The Council may determine the fees and charges to be paid to the University: (a) for courses of study or instruction of the University; (b) for admission to examinations conducted by the University; and (c) for other facilities or privileges of the University. (2) A student granted a scholarship or bursary by the University is exempt from paying fees and charges to the extent of the exemption applicable under the scholarship or bursary. (3) The Council may exempt a student from paying the whole or a part of a fee or charge if it considers that paying the fee or charge, or the part, would cause substantial hardship to the student. (4) The Council may defer the date at which a fee or charge is payable by a student if it considers that paying the fee or charge by the date would cause substantial hardship to the student. 32 University accounts (1) Subject to this Part, the Council may open and maintain accounts with any ADI. (2) All moneys received by the University must be paid to the credit of the accounts referred to in subsection (1). (3) Subject to the terms of a trust, money in an account referred to in subsection (1) must be applied by or with the authority of the Council only for the purposes of the University. 33 Proper accounts to be kept The Council must: (a) cause proper accounts and records of the transactions and affairs of the University to be kept; (b) do all things necessary to ensure that all payments out of the moneys of the University are correctly made and properly authorised; (c) do all things necessary to ensure that adequate control is maintained over the property owned or in the custody of the University; and

Part 8 Property, finance, audit and annual report Charles Darwin University Act 2003 17 (d) do all things necessary to ensure that adequate control is maintained over liabilities incurred by the University. 34 Gifts etc. and trust funds (1) In exercising its powers to acquire, hold, deal with or dispose of real or personal property, the University may agree to and carry out the conditions of a gift, grant, bequest, devise, purchase, lease or other means by which it acquires or holds property. (2) The University may create and administer trust funds: (a) for the purposes of subsection (1); or (b) for any other purpose. 35 Investment (1) The Council may establish investment common funds to collectively invest the trust or other moneys of or in the custody of the University. (2) The Council may, without liability for breach of trust, bring into or withdraw from an investment common fund the whole or any part of the trust or other moneys of or in the custody of the University. (3) Subject to subsections (4) and (5), the Council must periodically distribute the income of an investment common fund among the funds participating in the common fund (having regard to the extent of the participation of each fund in the common fund during the relevant accounting period). (4) If moneys received by the Council to be expended for a stated purpose have been brought into an investment account but cannot, or will not immediately be expended for that purpose, the Council may pay into the general funds of the University the whole or a part of the income of the investment common fund that is attributed to those moneys and which are not required for the stated purpose. (5) The Council may: (a) add a portion of the income of an investment account to the capital of the investment common fund; or (b) use a portion of the income of an investment account to establish or augment a fund as a provision against any capital depreciation or reduction of income.

Part 8 Property, finance, audit and annual report Charles Darwin University Act 2003 18 (6) Moneys of the University (whether forming part of a common fund or not), including moneys held on trust or subject to a condition, must only be invested in a class of investment approved by the Treasurer. (7) The powers conferred by this section or the By-laws relating to investment of property, must not be exercised by the Council in relation to a trust fund or other moneys if: (a) the investment creating the trust expressly prohibits the Council from doing so; or (b) the exercise of power would constitute a breach of a condition under which the fund or moneys was or were acquired. 36 Variation of terms of trust or gift (1) If, in respect of prescribed property: (a) the purpose or all or any of the purposes has or have been effected; (b) the purpose or all or any of the purposes has or have ceased to exist; (c) the purpose or all or any of the purposes has or have been adequately provided for by other means; (d) the purpose or all or any of the purposes is or are uncertain or cannot be identified or is or are not sufficiently defined; (e) it becomes impossible or impracticable or inexpedient to carry out the purpose or all or any of the purposes; or (f) the property or income derived from the property proves inadequate to carry out the purpose or all or any of the purposes, the Council may cause a scheme to be prepared by which prescribed property or any part or residue of the property is to be held on terms requiring the property or income from the property to be applied for the purpose or purposes designated in the scheme. (2) The Council must submit a scheme prepared under subsection (1) to the Administrator.

Part 8 Property, finance, audit and annual report Charles Darwin University Act 2003 19 (3) The Administrator may, on receiving the scheme: (a) by notice in the Gazette: (i) approve it; or (ii) approve it with modifications; or (b) by notice in writing to the Council – refuse to approve the scheme. (4) If an approved scheme exists in relation to property or a part or residue of property held by the University, the property, part or residue must, in accordance with the approved scheme: (a) be diverted from the purpose or purposes for which it was held; and (b) is to be held for the purpose or purposes designated in the approved scheme. (5) In selecting a purpose for an approved scheme, the Council must have a preference for a purpose that, in its opinion, is as nearly similar to the purpose or purposes for which the property concerned is, for the time being, held by the University as is consistent with useful and convenient achievement but the scheme or amendment is not invalidated or otherwise prejudiced by reason that another purpose may have more properly been selected by the Council in accordance with this subsection. (6) On its publication in the Gazette, judicial notice is to be taken of an approved scheme. (7) The powers conferred by this section are in addition to any other power or right exercisable in law in relation to property held by the University on trust. (8) In this section: approved scheme means a scheme approved under subsection (3). prescribed property means property held by the University on terms requiring the property or income from the property to be applied for a purpose or purposes.

Part 8 Property, finance, audit and annual report Charles Darwin University Act 2003 20 37 Financial accommodation (1) The Council may obtain an advance by way of loan: (a) from the Treasurer; (b) on overdraft from an ADI; or (c) from any other person. (2) An advance under subsection (1)(c) may be on security and at a rate of interest and on terms and conditions that the Council thinks fit. 38 Budget and financial information (1) The Council must: (a) in each financial year – adopt for the next financial year a budget for all funds of the University (other than those to which subsection (3) relates); (b) approve all amendments to the budget; and (c) control the expenditure of the University so that it conforms as nearly as practicable to the budget adopted under paragraph (a). (3) The Council must each year: (a) review: (i) the funds available to the University by way of bequest, donation or special grant; and (ii) the expenditure of those funds; and (b) subject to the terms of a trust – approve the proposed disposition of those funds. (4) The Treasurer may require the Vice-Chancellor to provide information that, in the Treasurer's opinion, is necessary to enable him or her to accurately assess the financial affairs of the University, including details of: (a) financial investments in corporations, trusts and joint ventures; (b) contingent liabilities; and (c) guarantees.

Part 8 Property, finance, audit and annual report Charles Darwin University Act 2003 21 (5) The Vice-Chancellor must provide the information required by the Treasurer under subsection (4). 39 Annual reports and audit (1) The Council must: (a) within 6 months after the end of the financial year; or (b) within any further period that the Minister allows, prepare a report on the operations of the University during the financial year and forward it to the Minister. (2) A report under subsection (1) must include any financial statement prepared under subsection (3). (3) The Vice-Chancellor must: (a) within 3 months after the end of the financial year; or (b) within any further period that the Treasurer allows, prepare a financial statement in respect of the operations of the University or functions of the University specified by the Treasurer in writing. (4) A financial statement under subsection (3) must be prepared in the form that the Treasurer directs. (5) The Vice-Chancellor must forward the financial statement to the Auditor-General. (6) The Auditor-General must: (a) audit the statement forwarded under subsection (5); and (b) within 3 months after receiving the statement or any further period that the Administrator allows: (i) report on the statement to the Minister; and (ii) forward a copy of the report to the Vice-Chancellor. (7) The Minister must table in the Legislative Assembly: (a) the report under subsection (1); and (b) the report of the Auditor-General under subsection (6),

Part 9 Miscellaneous Charles Darwin University Act 2003 22 within 6 sitting days of the Assembly after receiving the report of the Auditor-General. Part 9 Miscellaneous 40 Trading corporations etc. The Council may, with the approval of the Treasurer: (a) establish; or (b) participate in establishing, trading, research or other corporations for the purpose of promoting or assisting the University in connection with its functions. 41 Controlled entities (1) The Council must ensure that a controlled entity of the University is properly managed by: (a) ensuring that members of the board of the entity possess appropriate skills, knowledge and experience; (b) ensuring that a sufficient number of members of the board of the entity are independent; (c) ensuring that the board of the entity adopts and implements a statement of governance principles acceptable to the Council; (d) ensuring that the board of the entity documents a clear corporate and business strategy that reports and updates annually the entity's long term objectives and includes an annual business plan containing achievable and measurable performance targets and milestones; (e) requiring the board of the entity to prepare quarterly reports against its business plan; and (f) requiring the financial statements of the entity to be audited by the Auditor-General. (2) In subsection (1): controlled entity has the same meaning as in Australian Accounting Standard 31 (Financial Reporting by Governments) issued by the Australian Accounting Standards Board, as in force from time to time.

Part 9 Miscellaneous Charles Darwin University Act 2003 23 42 Delegation (1) The Council may delegate any of its powers and functions under this Act other than: (a) a power or function referred to in section 8(2); (b) this power of delegation; or (c) the power to make By-laws or Rules. (2) The Vice-Chancellor, subject to the directions of the Council, may delegate any of his or her powers and functions under this Act other than this power of delegation. (3) A power or function delegated under this section, when exercised or performed by the delegate, is taken to have been exercised or performed by the Council or Vice-Chancellor, as the case may be. (4) A delegation under this section does not prevent the exercise of a power or the performance of a function by the Council or Vice-Chancellor. (5) If a power or function is delegated under this section by the Council to a member of the staff of the University, the power or function is also delegated to the Vice-Chancellor. (6) If a power or function is delegated under this section by the Council to a committee of the Council and the composition of the committee changes, the power or function is delegated to the committee despite its change of composition (unless expressly revoked or varied by the Council). (7) A delegation under this section must be in writing. 43 Terms of contract and execution of documents (1) A deed, instrument, contract or agreement relating to any property or matter that, if made or executed by an individual, would by law be required to be in writing under seal may be made on behalf of the University in writing under its common seal. (2) An instrument, contract or agreement relating to any property or matter that, if made by or between individuals would be required to be in writing and signed by the parties, may be made on behalf of the University in writing by a person acting under the authority, express or implied, of the Council.

Part 9 Miscellaneous Charles Darwin University Act 2003 24 (3) A contract relating to any property or matter that, if made between individuals, would by law be valid although made by parol only (and not reduced to writing) may be made on behalf of the University by a person acting under the authority, express or implied, of the Council. (4) A contract entered into or an instrument, contract or agreement signed in relation to any property or obligation of the University is taken to have been entered into or signed with the express authority of the Council if it is entered into or signed in accordance with a resolution of the Council that is in force. 44 Protection from liability (1) This section applies to a person who is or has been: (a) a member of the University; (b) a member of the Council; or (c) a member of a committee. (2) The person is not civilly or criminally liable for an act done or omitted to be done by the person in good faith in the exercise or purported exercise of a power, or the performance or purported performance of a function, under this Act. (3) In addition, the person is not civilly or criminally liable for an act done or omitted to be done by the University or the Council in the exercise or purported exercise of a power, or the performance or purported performance of a function, under this Act. (4) Subsections (2) and (3) do not affect any liability the Territory or the University would, apart from those subsections, have for the act or omission. 45 Validity of proceedings (1) Proceedings of the Council or a committee of the Council cannot be invalidated by reason only of: (a) a defect in the appointment or election of, or a disqualification of, a member of the Council or the committee; (b) a defect in convening or conducting a meeting of the Council or the committee; (c) a vacancy in the membership of the Council or the committee;

Part 9 Miscellaneous Charles Darwin University Act 2003 25 (d) the fact that a person purporting to be a member of the Council or the committee was not a member; or (e) a contravention of or non-compliance with section 16 by a member of the Council or the committee. (2) An act done by the Vice-Chancellor or a delegate of the Council or the Vice-Chancellor cannot be invalidated by reason only of a defect in the appointment of the person to the office. 46 By-laws (1) The Council may make by-laws, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing matters: (a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or (b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act. (2) The By-laws may provide for: (a) the use and custody of the common seal of the University; (b) the method of electing members of the Council under section 9(1), including procedures relating to nominating, enrolling, voting, counting of votes and declaring the polls; (c) the manner and time of convening, holding and adjourning the meetings of the Council, voting at meetings, the powers and duties of the Chancellor or other person presiding at meetings, and the conduct and recording of the business at meetings; (d) the appointment of committees of the Council, and the quorum, powers and duties of those committees; (e) the admission of students to the University; (f) the promotion and extension of University teaching and research; (g) the granting of degrees, diplomas, certificates and honours by the University; (h) the granting of fellowships, scholarships, exhibitions, bursaries and prizes by the University;

Part 9 Miscellaneous Charles Darwin University Act 2003 26 (i) the admitting of students of other universities or educational establishments to a corresponding status or of graduates of other universities to a corresponding degree or diploma of the University without examination; (j) the establishing, managing and controlling of libraries and museums in connection with the University; (k) the establishing, managing and controlling of halls of residence established, and other accommodation provided, by the University; (l) the affiliation, association or connection with the University of an educational or research establishment, wherever situated, to which the governing body of the establishment consents; (m) the controlling and investing of property of the University, including property held on trust or subject to a condition; (n) the protecting of property of or under the control of the University from trespass, damage or misuse; (o) the regulation and control of access to, and the use of, land and buildings of or under the control of the University and the conduct of persons and the presence and use of vehicles thereon; (p) the terms and conditions of appointment of academic and other staff; (q) the recognition of the status of graduate for the purposes of this Act; (r) student discipline; (s) the making of rules; and (t) the method for collecting fees and charges determined by the Council under section 31 and the recovery of costs and charges associated with collecting those fees and charges. (3) A by-law may: (a) in the case of an offence of: (i) bringing a vehicle onto or parking or standing a vehicle on a site in breach of a by-law; (ii) driving a vehicle on a part of a site in breach of a by-law;

Part 9 Miscellaneous Charles Darwin University Act 2003 27 (iii) driving a vehicle on a part of a site at a speed in excess of a speed that, in relation to that part, is prescribed, determined by a method prescribed or fixed by a person authorised by a by-law so to do in respect of the site or that part; (iv) driving a vehicle on a part of a site contrary to a direction, whether given by a person authorised by a by- law so to do or by a traffic control device on the site; or (v) doing on a site with or in respect of a vehicle any other act that is prescribed, provide that the person who was in charge of the vehicle at the material time or the owner of the vehicle (whether or not the owner was in charge of the vehicle at the material time) is liable to be punished for the offence; (b) define who is the owner of a vehicle for the purposes of the By-laws; (c) provide for the removing or disposing of a vehicle: (i) parked or left standing on a site in a position that obstructs, interferes with or causes danger to other vehicles on the site or to users of the site; or (ii) apparently abandoned on a site; and (d) prescribe the proof that is necessary or sufficient to establish a matter relevant to an offence created by the By-laws. (4) A by-law referred to in subsection (3)(a) cannot be construed so that the owner of a vehicle and the person in charge of it at the time an offence was committed with or in respect of the vehicle are both liable for the one offence. (5) The By-laws are not subordinate legislation for the purposes of section 57 of the Interpretation Act 1978. (6) In subsection (3): site means land or a building the property of or under the control of the University. 47 Rules (1) The Council may make rules (not inconsistent with this Act or the By-laws) for carrying into effect any of the provisions of this Act or the By-laws.

Part 10 Repeals, savings and transitional provisions Charles Darwin University Act 2003 28 (2) Rules must be signed by a person authorised by the Council to sign them. (3) Rules: (a) must be published in the manner provided for in the By-laws; and (b) take effect from the date of publication or, if a later date is provided for in the Rules, from the later date. (4) It is sufficient compliance with the requirements of subsection (3) if notice of the making of the Rules and the place where copies of them may be obtained is published on a notice board nominated in the By-laws as the main notice board for the University in each campus. (5) Sections 63A to 63C of the Interpretation Act 1978 do not apply to the Rules. 48 Penalties under by-laws and rules (1) A by-law or rule may impose, or empower the Council or an officer of the University or a body established in accordance with the By-laws to impose, a penalty not exceeding: (a) in the case of a by-law – 10 penalty units; and (b) in the case of a rule – one penalty unit, for a contravention of or failure to comply with a by-law or rule. (2) A penalty imposed under a power conferred by a by-law or rule is a debt due and payable by the person on whom it is imposed to the University. (3) In proceedings to recover a penalty imposed under a by-law or rule, a certificate signed by an officer of the University and specifying the person or body by whom it was imposed, the date on which it was imposed and the amount of the penalty is prima facie evidence of the matters specified. Part 10 Repeals, savings and transitional provisions 49 Repeal The Acts specified in Schedule 1 are repealed.

Part 10 Repeals, savings and transitional provisions Charles Darwin University Act 2003 29 50 Removal of college status of Centralian College Centralian College: (a) ceases to be a college for the purposes of the Education Act 1979; and (b) ceases to be a body corporate. 51 Establishing first Council (1) As soon as practicable after the commencement of this section: (a) the members of the Council referred to in section 9(1)(d) are to be appointed; and (b) the members of the Council referred to in section 9(1)(e), (f), (g) and (h) are to be elected. (2) For the purposes of this section, section 9 is taken to have come into operation on the commencement of this section. (3) For the purposes of this section, the Nominations Committee consists of the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Chancellor of the Northern Territory University. (4) The Nominations Committee must nominate persons to be appointed under section 9(1)(d) in accordance with section 9. (5) As soon as practicable after the commencement of this section, the Vice-Chancellor of the Northern Territory University is to conduct elections for the members referred to in section 9(1)(e), (f), (g) and (h) and a reference in those paragraphs to the University is to be read as a reference to the Northern Territory University. (6) The elections are to be conducted in accordance with the Northern Territory University (Election of Members of Council) By-laws 1990 (with the necessary changes) and a reference in those By-laws: (a) to an election is to be read as a reference to an election conducted under this section; and (b) to the Registrar is to be read as a reference to the Vice- Chancellor. (7) A person appointed to the Council under section 9(1)(d) in accordance with this section holds office for the period, not exceeding 3 years, as is specified in his or her appointment.

Part 10 Repeals, savings and transitional provisions Charles Darwin University Act 2003 30 (8) A person elected to the Council under section 9(1)(e), (f), (g) and (h) in accordance with this section holds office for one year from the date he or she is elected. (9) As soon as practicable after the members of the Council are appointed and elected under this section, the Council must elect the Chancellor and Deputy Chancellor. (10) For the purposes of subsection (9), sections 13 and 14 are taken to have come into operation on the commencement of this section. (11) The Council referred to in subsection (9) is to consist of the members appointed and elected under this section and the Vice- Chancellor and the Chair of the Academic Board of the Northern Territory University. (12) The Chancellor elected under this section holds office for 3 years commencing on the commencement of this Act. 52 Savings and transitional provisions (1) The savings and transitional provisions in Schedules 2 and 3 have effect. (2) The Administrator may by regulations make provisions (not inconsistent with this Act) that the Administrator considers necessary or desirable to be made: (a) for the purpose of giving effect to section 50; (b) for the purpose of giving effect to section 51; or (c) with respect to any matter or thing existing or in force immediately before the commencement of this Act, being provisions consequential on the repeals effected by section 49. (3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(b), subsection (2) is taken to have commenced on the commencement of section 51.

Schedule 1 Charles Darwin University Act 2003 31 Schedule 1 Section 49 Northern Territory University Act 1988 No. 49, 1988 Northern Territory University Amendment Act 1994 No. 79, 1994

Schedule 2 Savings and transitional provisions – Northern Territory University Charles Darwin University Act 2003 32 Schedule 2 Savings and transitional provisions – Northern Territory University section 52(1) (1) On the commencement of this Act, the person who immediately before that commencement was the Vice-Chancellor of the Northern Territory University is the Vice-Chancellor as if appointed under section 15 of this Act on the same terms and conditions as determined for the office under the Northern Territory University Act 1988. (2) On the commencement of this Act: (a) the Academic Board of the University that was established under section 24 of the Northern Territory University Act 1988 is the Academic Board as if established under section 20 of this Act; and (b) the persons who immediately before that commencement were the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Academic Board of the University established under section 24 of the Northern Territory University Act 1988 are the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Academic Board as if appointed to those offices under section 20 of this Act. (3) On the commencement of this Act: (a) the student association that was established under section 26 of Northern Territory University Act 1988 is taken to have been established under section 22 of this Act; and (b) the constitution in force under section 26 of Northern Territory University Act 1988 immediately before that commencement is to taken be the constitution in force under section 22 of this Act. (4) On the commencement of this Act, persons who immediately before that commencement were the staff of the Northern Territory University appointed under section 29 of the Northern Territory University Act 1988 are the staff of the University as if appointed under section 28 of this Act on the same terms and conditions as determined under section 29 of the Northern Territory University Act 1988.

Schedule 2 Savings and transitional provisions – Northern Territory University Charles Darwin University Act 2003 33 (5) On the commencement of this Act, by-laws and rules that were in force under Northern Territory University Act 1988 immediately before that commencement continue in force as if they were by-laws and rules made under this Act. (6) By-laws and rules referred to in subclause (5) may be amended or repealed under this Act. (7) By-laws and rules referred to in subclause (5) are to be read as if a reference in them: (a) to the University or the Council were a reference to the University or Council within the meaning of this Act; (b) to a section of the Act were a reference to the equivalent section (if any) of this Act; and (c) to an office, designation or position were a reference to the equivalent office, designation or position (if any) under this Act. (8) If an office, designation or position in by-laws and rules referred to in subclause (5) no longer exists under this Act, the reference is to be read as a reference to the office, designation or position determined by the Vice-Chancellor.

Schedule 3 Savings and transitional provisions – Centralian College Charles Darwin University Act 2003 34 Schedule 3 Savings and transitional provisions – Centralian College section 52(1) 1 Staff of Centralian College (1) A person who immediately before the commencement of this Act was an employee of the Department performing duties for Centralian College is on that commencement a member of the staff of the University. (2) A person to whom subclause (1) applies: (a) is entitled to be paid salary or wages, allowances and other benefits at rates equal to, and on the same terms and conditions as, those that were payable to him or her immediately before the commencement of this Act until his or her salary, wages, allowances or other benefits is or are varied or altered by an award of a competent tribunal or an industrial agreement or by any other lawful means or, subject to an award or an industrial agreement or other lawful means, by a decision of the Council; (b) continues to be employed on the same conditions as the conditions of his or her employment under the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993 immediately before the commencement of this Act (including any period of probation or any approval given under section 61 of that Act to engage in paid employment outside his or her employment) until varied or altered by an award of a competent tribunal or an industrial agreement or by any other lawful means or, subject to an award or an industrial agreement or other lawful means, by a decision of the Council; and (c) retains all his or her existing and accruing rights arising from his or her employment under the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993 as if he or she continued to be employed under that Act, and for that purpose the person's service under that Act is to be taken to be service with the University. (3) If the contract of employment of a person to whom subclause (1) applies is expressed to expire on a specified or ascertainable date that occurs after the commencement of this Act, the person is taken to be a member of the staff of the University under a contract of employment that expires on the same date.

Schedule 3 Savings and transitional provisions – Centralian College Charles Darwin University Act 2003 35 (4) All: (a) rights and proceedings under Part 7, 8 or 9 of the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993 of or in respect of a person who under subclause (1) is a member of the staff of the University that exist and are pending or have commenced immediately before the commencement of this Act; (b) obligations, duties, liabilities or remedies under the Public Sector Employment or Management Act 1993 in respect of those rights and proceedings; and (c) orders, directions or decisions made in respect of those rights or proceedings under the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993, continue unaffected and may be dealt with under the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993 but this Act and the By- laws apply in relation to those orders, directions or decisions with the necessary changes. (5) Any suspension, instruction, direction or other action that: (a) was taken or given under the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993 in relation to a person who under subclause (1) is a member of the staff of the University; and (b) is in force immediately before the commencement of this Act, continues to have effect as if made under this Act and this Act and the By-laws apply in relation to the suspension, instruction, direction or other action with the necessary changes. (6) A person to whom subclause (1) applies is not entitled to claim benefits under both this Act and the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993 in respect of the same period of service. (7) A person to whom subclause (1) applies may apply in writing to the Chief Executive Officer to be re-appointed an employee at any time before 1 January 2005. (8) A person who applies under subclause (7): (a) is to be provided with assistance by the Department (in accordance with redeployment procedures applying to persons to whom this subclause applies) to find suitable employment in the Public Sector;

Schedule 3 Savings and transitional provisions – Centralian College Charles Darwin University Act 2003 36 (b) is to actively seek to find suitable employment in the Public Sector; and (c) is not to refuse to accept employment in the Public Sector that the Chief Executive Officer considers the person is capable of performing and is competent and qualified to perform. (9) Subclause (8) ceases to apply on 30 June 2005. (10) If a person who applies under subclause (7) is re-appointed an employee on or before 30 June 2005: (a) the person's employment as a member of the staff of the University is, for the purposes of the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993, to be taken to be employment under that Act; and (b) for the purposes of the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993 – subclause (1) is taken not to have applied to the person. (11) In this clause: Chief Executive Officer means the Chief Executive Officer within the meaning of the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993 of the Department. Department means the Department of Employment, Education and Training. employee means an employee within the meaning of the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993. Public Sector means the Public Sector within the meaning of the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993. 2 Property etc. of Centralian College On the commencement of this Act, all property, rights and liabilities of Centralian College become the property, rights and liabilities of the University.

ENDNOTES Charles Darwin University Act 2003 37 ENDNOTES 1 KEY Key to abbreviations amd = amended od = order bl = by-law om = omitted ch = Chapter pt = Part div = Division r = regulation/rule exp = expires/expired renum = renumbered f = forms rep = repealed Gaz = Gazette s = section hdg = heading sch = Schedule ins = inserted sdiv = Subdivision lt = long title SL = Subordinate Legislation N/C = not commenced sub = substituted 2 LIST OF LEGISLATION Charles Darwin University Act 2003 (Act No. 45, 2003) Assent date 29 August 2003 Commenced s 51: 29 August 2003; rem: 5 November 2003 (Gaz G44, 5 November 2003, p 3) Statute Law Revision Act (No. 2) 2004 (Act 54, 2004) Assent date 15 September 2004 Commenced 27 October 2004 (Gaz G43, 27 October 2004, p 3) Charles Darwin University Amendment Act 2005 (Act No. 31, 2005) Assent date 26 August 2005 Commenced 30 September 2005 (Gaz G39, 28 September 2005, p 5) Statute Law Revision Act 2007 (Act No. 4, 2007) Assent date 8 March 2007 Commenced 8 March 2007 Statute Law Revision Act 2017 (Act No. 4, 2017) Assent date 10 March 2017 Commenced 12 April 2017 (Gaz G15, 12 April 2017, p 3) Interpretation Amendment Act 2021 (Act No. 28, 2021) Assent date 15 December 2021 Commenced 1 January 2022 (s 2) Statute Law Revision Act 2023 (Act No. 4, 2023) Assent date 2 March 2023 Commenced 3 March 2023 (s 2) 3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS General amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table of amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation Amendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22 of 2018) to: ss 1, 3, 4, 11, 46, 47, 50 and 51 and sch 2 and 3.

ENDNOTES Charles Darwin University Act 2003 38 4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS s 3 amd No. 4, 2023, s 23 s 9 amd No. 31, 2005, s 4 s 10 amd No. 31, 2005, s 5 s 10A ins No. 31, 2005, s 6 s 11 amd No. 31, 2005, s 7 s 32 amd No. 4, 2017, s 34 s 38 amd No. 31, 2005, s 8 s 46 amd No. 4, 2007, s 7 s 47 amd No. 4, 2007, s 7; No. 28, 2021, s 20 s 52 amd No. 54, 2004, s 7

1 Charles Darwin University Act 2003

The Act organises the University around a limited number of core concepts: corporate continuance, functions and powers, Council governance, academic organs, financial governance, internal regulatory instruments and transitional conservations.

Corporate continuance: section 4 continues the Northern Territory University as Charles Darwin University and gives it corporate attributes: perpetual succession, a common seal and legal capacity to hold property and litigate (s4(1)-(3)). The Court must take judicial notice of the common seal (s4(3)).

Functions and powers: the University’s statutory functions are forward-looking and broad. The University must undertake undergraduate, postgraduate, vocational and other forms of education, research (including commercial exploitation where appropriate), cooperation with other institutions, liaison with industry and community, dissemination of knowledge, consultative services and administration of student assistance schemes (s5). The power clause supports these functions with express authority to create organisational units, enter contracts, manage intellectual property and commercialise research, acquire and dispose of property and manage student accommodation (s6(1)-(3)).

Council-centred governance: the Council is the principal organ to conduct University affairs and to oversee strategic direction, budgeting, performance monitoring of the Vice-Chancellor, risk management and approvals of significant commercial activity (s8). The Council’s composition blends appointed and elected members: the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Chair of Academic Board, eight Administrator-appointed community representatives, elected academic and student representatives (s9). Appointment criteria require a broad range of community interests and minimum financial and commercial expertise among appointees (s9(3)-(4)). Terms are fixed with caps on continuous service and two-thirds exceptions (s10).

Fiduciary-style duties and conflict disclosure: section 10A prescribes member duties when exercising powers, including acting solely in the University’s interests, good faith, care and diligence, avoiding improper use of office and disclosing and avoiding conflicts of interest. Section 16 requires disclosure of a direct or indirect pecuniary interest, recording of disclosures and exclusion from deliberation unless the Council decides otherwise.

Academic and student bodies: the Academic Board is established with membership and appointment processes governed by by-laws, and it has advisory and reporting responsibilities to the Council and Vice-Chancellor (s20). Students may form an association under by-laws and rules, subject to Council approval of constitutions (s22).

Financial governance and accountability: the Act requires proper accounts and control (s33), authorises investment common funds subject to Treasurer-approved classes of investment (s35(6)), allows borrowing including from the Treasurer (s37), requires adoption of annual budgets and budgetary control (s38), and imposes reporting schedules and audit by the Auditor-General with tabling of reports by the Minister (s39).

Internal regulation: the Council may make by-laws on a detailed list of matters (s46), and rules to carry the Act and by-laws into effect (s47). The Act limits penalties that by-laws and rules may impose (s48). Notably, the By-laws are not subordinate legislation for the purposes of the Interpretation Act (s46(5)), and parts of the Interpretation Act do not apply to Rules (s47(5)).

Transitional concepts: the Act expressly preserves staff, rules, by-laws, the Academic Board and student association arrangements from the Northern Territory University and converts Centralian College property and status into University ownership (Schedules 2-3; ss49-52). The Administrator and Treasurer retain discrete appointment and oversight roles for implementation.

These concepts create an institutional and legal architecture that combines academic governance, corporate powers and public-sector financial oversight. The Act balances delegation to an independent Council with statutory checks through appointed members, Treasurer information powers and Auditor-General audit functions.

Primary institutional actors affected are the University itself, the Council and its members, the Vice-Chancellor and University staff, students, alumni and the broader categories of persons and entities with contractual or financial relationships with the University.

Council members and governance participants: the Act directly governs the role, appointment, terms and disqualification of Council members (s9-s12). Appointed members are selected by the Administrator, on nominations from the Nominations Committee (s9(1)(d), s9(2)), and must include persons with financial and commercial expertise (s9(4)). Members face statutory duties (s10A), disclosure obligations on conflicts (s16), possible termination for failing to carry out duties if two-thirds of the Council agree (s11(2)-(2A)), and vacation triggers including bankruptcy, criminal convictions punishable by 12 months imprisonment or loss of certain positions (s11(1)(a)-(j)).

Vice-Chancellor and staff: the Vice-Chancellor is the chief executive officer and is responsible to the Council for management, with appointment on terms determined by the Council (s15). The Vice-Chancellor must provide financial information to the Treasurer on request (s38(4)-(5)), prepare timely financial statements and forward them to the Auditor-General (s39(3)-(5)). Staff appointment powers rest with the Vice-Chancellor subject to by-laws and Council-approved terms (s28).

Students and alumni: students are affected by fee-setting, exemptions and hardship provisions (s31(1)-(4)); by-laws and rules may regulate student discipline, admission and student association governance (ss46(2)(e), 46(2)(r), 22). The Act permits students to elect Council members (s9(1)(g)-(h)) and to form associations subject to Council approval of constitutions (s22(1)-(3)). Alumni membership is created by by-laws (s21).

Donors, beneficiaries of trust funds and investors: the University may accept gifts, bequests and hold property on trust (s6(3)(f), s34). The Act authorises the creation of investment common funds and sets limits on classes of investment to those approved by the Treasurer (s35(1), s35(6)). Scheme variation procedures exist where the purpose of trust property has been effected or is impossible to carry out, requiring submission to the Administrator and Gazette notice on approval (s36).

Territory executive and Parliament: the Administrator appoints certain Council members (s9(1)(d)), may approve schemes under s36, and initially establishes the first Council under s51. The Treasurer has financial levers including approval of the financial year end (s30), approval of classes of investment (s35(6)), approval of trading corporations (s40), and a statutory right to request financial information and direct reporting forms (s38(4), s39(4)). The Minister receives the annual report and Auditor-General’s report and must table them in the Legislative Assembly (s39(7)).

External commercial and research partners: the University has express powers to commercialise intellectual property and enter private arrangements (s6(3)(b), s6(3)(g)). Trading and controlled entities may be established with Treasurer approval (ss40-41), with governance requirements for controlled entities including independence, governance principles, business plans, quarterly reporting and Auditor-General audit (s41(1)).

Entities subject to University by-laws and rules: by-laws may regulate access to and use of University land and buildings, vehicle offences on site with liability extended to vehicle owners in specified circumstances, student discipline and the collection of fees (s46(2)(o), s46(3), s46(2)(r), s46(2)(t)). Penalties for by-law contraventions are capped (s48).

Those who pay: primary payers are students (fees and charges under s31), parties to contracts and tenants of University facilities, borrowers or lenders (s37), donors (when donating) and, in the case of advances from the Treasurer, the Territory (s37(1)(a)). The University, via Council, decides levels of fees and financial policy subject to budgetary processes (ss31, 38).

Overall, the Act affects a range of public and private actors by conferring corporate powers on the University, prescribing governance arrangements and imposing financial reporting and trust management obligations that involve interactions with the Territory’s executive, the Treasurer and the Auditor-General.

The Act sets out explicit duties for Council members, statutory functions for the University and rights relating to property, intellectual property and internal regulation. These define the legal responsibilities of office-holders and the legal capacities of the University.

Duties of Council members: section 10A lists duties that operate when a member exercises powers or performs functions. Members must act solely in the interests of the University, not as delegates of constituencies (s10A(1)(a)); act in good faith, honestly and for a proper purpose (s10A(1)(b)); exercise appropriate care and diligence (s10A(1)(c)); not use office to improperly gain advantage for themselves or others (s10A(1)(d)); and disclose and avoid conflicts of interest (s10A(1)(e)). These duties apply to appointed and elected members as defined in the section.

Disclosure and conflict management: section 16 requires members to disclose direct or indirect pecuniary interests as soon as practicable at a Council meeting (s16(1)). Disclosures must be recorded in a book accessible for inspection (s16(4)). Members who have disclosed an interest must not be present during deliberations or take part in decisions relating to that matter unless the Council determines otherwise in their absence (s16(5)-(6)).

Council’s responsibilities and rights: the Council conducts University affairs and must monitor Vice-Chancellor performance, approve mission and strategic direction, approve budgets and significant commercial activities, and oversee risk and accountability systems (s8(1)-(2)). The Council may make by-laws and rules, establish committees, delegate powers subject to prescribed limits and ensure proper financial and asset control (ss42, 46, 47, 33).

Vice-Chancellor rights and duties: the Vice-Chancellor is the chief executive officer, responsible for management and appointed on Council-determined terms (s15). The Vice-Chancellor may appoint staff subject to by-laws (s28). Financially, the Vice-Chancellor must prepare financial statements within prescribed periods and provide information the Treasurer deems necessary to assess University finances (s39(3), s38(4)-(5)).

University powers and rights: the University may exercise all powers necessary or convenient to fulfil its functions (s6(1)). It may establish institutes, faculties and research schools (s6(2)), enter into contracts (s6(3)(a)), create and commercialise intellectual property (s6(3)(b)), acquire and dispose of property (s6(3)(c)), accept gifts and act as trustee (s6(3)(f), s34), establish investment common funds (s35) and borrow money including from the Treasurer (s37).

Investment and trust obligations: the Council may create investment common funds and allocate income among participating funds (s35(1)-(5)). However, investments must be in classes approved by the Treasurer (s35(6)). The Council may vary terms of trusts for prescribed property by preparing a scheme that requires Administrator approval, with Gazette notice and judicial notice on publication (s36(1)-(6)).

Rights to internal regulation and penalties: the Council may make by-laws on a wide list of operational and academic matters (s46(1)-(2)), and make rules to give effect to the Act and by-laws (s47). By-laws and rules may impose penalties up to 10 penalty units and one penalty unit respectively, and recover penalties as debts due to the University (s48).

Protections and immunities: the Act gives personal protection to members, committees and the University for acts done in good faith in the exercise or purported exercise of powers or functions (s44(2)-(3)). This immunity does not affect liability the Territory or the University would have otherwise (s44(4)).

Limitations on delegation and termination powers: the Council cannot delegate core powers set out in s8(2), the delegation power itself, or the power to make by-laws or rules (s42(1)(a)-(c)). The Council may terminate a member’s appointment for failure to carry out duties under s10A but only if at least two-thirds of members agree (s11(2)-(2A)).

Reporting and audit duties: the Vice-Chancellor must prepare financial statements in the form the Treasurer directs and forward them to the Auditor-General, who must audit and report to the Minister within prescribed timeframes (s39(3)-(6)). The Minister must table those reports in the Legislative Assembly (s39(7)).

Collectively, these duties and rights define an internal governance regime that grants operational autonomy to a Council-led body while imposing reporting, fiduciary-style duties and financial oversight mechanisms involving the Treasurer, Auditor-General and the Administrator in specific appointment and trust-variation functions.

Enforcement under the Act operates through internal regulatory mechanisms, statutory exclusions from participation, termination procedures, reporting and audit obligations, limited monetary penalties for by-law and rule breaches, and immunities for good faith acts.

By-law and rule penalties: the Act authorises by-laws and rules to impose penalties for contraventions but limits the maximum amounts. A by-law may impose a penalty not exceeding 10 penalty units, and a rule may impose a penalty not exceeding one penalty unit (s48(1)). Penalties imposed under by-laws or rules are a debt due and payable to the University (s48(2)) and a certificate by an officer of the University specifying the imposition and amount is prima facie evidence in recovery proceedings (s48(3)). The Act does not specify criminal sanctions beyond penalty units, nor does it provide a criminal enforcement apparatus for by-laws beyond recovery as a civil debt.

Council internal enforcement: the Council may terminate the appointment of a member if satisfied the member has not carried out duties under s10A, but only where at least two-thirds of members agree (s11(2)-(2A)). Section 11 also lists statutory vacation causes including bankruptcy, certain criminal convictions, prolonged unexplained absence from meetings and loss of the qualifying status for elected members (s11(1)(a)-(j)). These mechanisms provide internal disciplinary and removal pathways for Council members.

Conflict of interest exclusion and recording: members with disclosed interests must not be present during deliberations or take part in decisions relating to the interest, unless the Council determines otherwise in the member’s absence (s16(5)-(6)). The Council must record all disclosures in a book available for inspection on payment of any fee determined by the Council (s16(4)). Failure to comply with disclosure requirements can be a ground for termination under s11 if the Council, by two-thirds majority, finds duties under s10A were not carried out.

Audit and external enforcement: financial enforcement is achieved through audit and reporting obligations. The Vice-Chancellor must prepare financial statements in a form directed by the Treasurer and forward them to the Auditor-General (s39(3)-(5)). The Auditor-General must audit and report on those statements to the Minister and Vice-Chancellor within prescribed timeframes (s39(6)). The Minister must table the University report and Auditor-General report in the Legislative Assembly (s39(7)), which creates a public accountability channel and parliamentary oversight.

Treasurer oversight: the Treasurer can require the Vice-Chancellor to provide information necessary to assess the University’s financial affairs, including investments, contingent liabilities and guarantees (s38(4)). The Treasurer may also approve the University’s financial year end (s30) and the classes of investment for University moneys (s35(6)), and must approve the establishment of trading corporations in which the University participates (s40).

Protections from liability: the Act provides that persons who are members of the University, Council or committees are not civilly or criminally liable for acts done or omitted in good faith in the exercise or purported exercise of powers or functions under the Act (s44(2)). Similarly, the University and Council are not liable for acts done in good faith under the Act, although these immunities do not affect any liability the Territory or the University would otherwise have (s44(3)-(4)). This creates a legal buffer around official decision-making, but does not eliminate statutory or contractual remedies that would apply had the act not been in good faith.

Validity despite defects: proceedings of the Council or committees cannot be invalidated solely by reason of defects in appointment, convening or vacancies, or contravention of s16 by a member (s45(1)). Acts by the Vice-Chancellor or a delegate cannot be invalidated solely because of defects in the appointment to the office (s45(2)). These provisions limit procedural challenges to the validity of University acts.

Vehicle and site offences: by-laws may create specific offences relating to vehicles on University sites (s46(3)). The by-laws may make the person in charge of a vehicle or the owner liable for such offences, provide for removal and disposal of obstructing or apparently abandoned vehicles and prescribe evidentiary standards (s46(3)(a)-(d)). However, a by-law cannot make both owner and driver liable for the same offence (s46(4)).

In sum, enforcement is a mix of internal governance remedies, limited monetary penalties enforceable as debts, financial audit and public reporting, Treasurer information and approval powers, and immunities for good faith acts. The Act channels most enforcement through governance and financial oversight rather than extensive criminal sanctions.

The Act establishes interaction points with Territory executive powers, the Corporations Act, the Auditor-General’s functions and other statutory regimes governing trusts, public sector employment and subordinate legislation.

References to Corporations Act disqualification: section 11(1)(j) disqualifies a member from holding office if the member is disqualified from acting as a director or managing corporations under Part 2D.6 of the Corporations Act 2001. The Act therefore imports an external statutory disqualification regime for governance integrity, meaning that findings or orders under the Corporations Act can have direct effect on Council membership.

Treasurer and Auditor-General statutory roles: the Treasurer is given specific financial oversight functions. Investments must be in classes approved by the Treasurer (s35(6)); the Council must adopt a financial year end subject to Treasurer approval (s30); and the Treasurer can require financial information deemed necessary to assess the University’s finances (s38(4)). The Auditor-General is required to audit the University’s financial statements and report to the Minister within prescribed timeframes, and those reports are tabled in the Legislative Assembly (s39(5)-(7)). These provisions create an interface with the Territory’s public finance framework and audit regime.

Public sector employment and transitional savings: Schedule 3 converts staff of Centralian College and certain Department employees into University staff while preserving pre-existing rights and proceedings under the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993 for transitional purposes (Sch 3, cl 1). The schedule preserves accrued rights, allows for reappointment back into the Public Sector under conditions, and retains existing orders or proceedings under that Act, which interact with the University’s subsequent applying of its Act and by-laws (Sch 3).

Trust law and variation of charitable or trust terms: section 36 provides a statutory mechanism to vary terms of trust or gift for prescribed property where original purposes have been effected, ceased, inadequately defined, or are impracticable, by preparing a scheme submitted to and approved by the Administrator with Gazette publication and judicial notice (s36(1)-(6)). This mechanism interacts with broader trust and charitable law but gives a statutory route to alteration within the Territory’s executive process.

Subordinate legislation and Interpretation Act exceptions: the Act expressly provides that By-laws are not subordinate legislation for the purposes of section 57 of the Interpretation Act 1978 (s46(5)), and that sections 63A to 63C of the Interpretation Act 1978 do not apply to Rules (s47(5)). Those exceptions alter the typical interaction between internal instruments and the procedural controls or review mechanisms that apply to subordinate legislation, affecting scrutiny, publication and disallowance processes.

Property and acquisitions from repealed Acts: section 49 repeals earlier university Acts listed in Schedule 1 and the schedules provide savings and transitional provisions to convert property, rights and liabilities of the Northern Territory University and Centralian College to the University (s49; Schs 2-3). This creates an automatic vesting of assets and liabilities into the new statutory entity and engages conveyancing and property law consequences in the Territory.

Approval for trading and controlled entities: the Act allows establishment or participation in trading, research or other corporations for University purposes only with Treasurer approval (s40). Controlled entities are subject to governance requirements and financial statement audits by the Auditor-General (s41). These provisions create cross-over with corporate law and accounting standards, particularly Australian Accounting Standard 31, which the Act references for the definition of “controlled entity” (s41(2)).

Interaction with public records and legal notice: approved schemes varying trusts are published in the Gazette and take judicial notice on publication (s36(6)), creating an interface with public notice regimes and evidential consequences for dealing with the relevant property.

In short, the Act is not isolated. It imports or connects with the Corporations Act for disqualification, the Treasurer’s financial stewardship and the Auditor-General’s audit functions, preserves interactions with public sector employment law during transition, establishes a statutory trust-variation pathway engaging the Administrator and Gazette procedures, and modifies typical subordinate legislation regimes by excluding by-laws and rules from certain Interpretation Act provisions.

The Act’s endnotes list primary amending instruments and general amendment activity. The original Charles Darwin University Act 2003 (Act No. 45, 2003) received assent on 29 August 2003 and most provisions commenced on 5 November 2003 or 1 January 2004 as specified (Endnotes 2). The Act has subsequently been amended by multiple statutory instruments, and the reprint identifies specific section-level amendments.

Key amending Acts and dates recorded in the endnotes and list of amendments include:

Charles Darwin University Amendment Act 2005 (Act No. 31, 2005), assent 26 August 2005, commenced 30 September 2005. This amending Act inserted s10A (Duties of members of Council) and amended ss9, 10 and 11, and altered s38 (see List of amendments: s9, s10, s10A, s11, s38 with No. 31, 2005 references).
Statute Law Revision Acts and Statute Law Revision Act (No. 2) 2004: formal revisions and commencement adjustments are recorded (Endnotes 2 and 3).
Statute Law Revision Act 2007 (Act No. 4, 2007) amended s46 and s47 in a formal manner (List of amendments: s46 amd No.4,2007 s7; s47 amd No.4,2007 s7).
Statute Law Revision Act 2017 (Act No. 4, 2017) amended s32 (List of amendments: s32 amd No.4,2017 s34).
Interpretation Amendment Act 2021 (Act No. 28, 2021), assent 15 December 2021, commenced 1 January 2022, amended s47 (List of amendments: s47 amd No.28,2021 s20).
Statute Law Revision Act 2023 (Act No. 4, 2023) amended s3 (List of amendments: s3 amd No.4,2023 s23), with commencement noted as 3 March 2023 (Endnotes 2).

The endnotes also note general amendments of a formal nature made by the Interpretation Legislation Amendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22 of 2018) to ss 1, 3, 4, 11, 46, 47, 50 and 51 and Schedules 2 and 3 (Endnotes 3). Section-level amendment citations provided in the List of amendments identify the particular sections altered by named Acts and the relevant amending section numbers within those Acts.

Schedule-level changes: Schedules 2 and 3 provide transitional arrangements tied to the 2003 commencement; s52 was amended by No.54, 2004, s7 (List of amendments: s52 amd No.54,2004 s7). The schedules themselves were the mechanism for savings and transitional provisions, and later formal amendments may have adjusted their provisions for clarity or to reflect structural or procedural changes.

Taken together, the amendment history shows that the most substantive policy insertion post-enactment was the 2005 Amendment Act which added explicit duties for Council members (s10A) and adjusted governance provisions. Later instruments have been largely statutory housekeeping and alignment with revised interpretation and subordinate legislation frameworks, and updates to financial or procedural provisions. The Act’s endnotes and list of amendments are the authoritative source for the amendment trail and must be consulted for precise textual changes and commencement dates of amendments.

The text of the Act and its Reprint endnotes contain no case law, judicial decisions or litigation history. The statute as provided lists no judicial determinations, and no cases are named or cited in the text, schedules or endnotes. Section 4(3) requires courts to take judicial notice of the University’s common seal, and section 36(6) requires judicial notice of approved schemes once published in the Gazette; these are procedural evidentiary provisions but not records of litigation.

Absence of recorded litigation in this source does not mean the University or the Act has never been involved in proceedings in other sources, but within the legislative text and the endnotes supplied there are no named judicial authorities, reported decisions or litigation narratives. Practitioners seeking litigation history should search jurisdictional law reports and databases for cases involving the University, its Council or functions, as the Act itself does not catalogue or reference judicial outcomes.

Several provisions are easy to misread, have operational consequences that may catch practitioners and administrators, or alter typical expectations about subordinate instruments, delegation, and oversight.

By-laws not subordinate legislation: the Act explicitly states that By-laws are not subordinate legislation for the purposes of s57 of the Interpretation Act 1978 (s46(5)). Practically, this affects regulatory review, parliamentary scrutiny, and disallowance rights that would normally apply to subordinate legislation. Rules are also exempt from sections 63A-63C of the Interpretation Act (s47(5)). Practitioners should not assume by-laws and rules will be subject to the same procedural checks as typical subordinate legislation.

Penalty caps and civil recovery: penalties under by-laws are capped at 10 penalty units and under rules at one penalty unit (s48(1)). These are civil debts due to the University (s48(2)). Where an enforcement strategy relies on heavy fines, the Act limits available monetary sanctions and requires debt-recovery processes rather than criminal prosecution. Consider whether contractual or other remedies are needed for stronger enforcement.

Delegation exclusions: Council cannot delegate certain powers, including the enumerated powers in s8(2) (which includes approving mission and strategy, approving budgets and significant commercial activities, monitoring the Vice-Chancellor and oversight of delegations and accountability systems), the delegation power itself, and the power to make by-laws or rules (s42(1)). Delegation must be in writing (s42(7)). Practitioners should note that some central governance decisions must remain with the Council and cannot be farmed out administratively.

Conflicts and voting: disclosure rules require exclusion from deliberations on matters in which a member has pecuniary interests unless the Council, without the member present, decides otherwise (s16(5)-(6)). The Council must also record disclosures in an inspectable book (s16(4)). These processes can affect quorums and decision-making if several members are excluded or if attendance is low, because a quorum is eight members (s17(4)).

Appointment mechanics and political interface: eight Council members are appointed by the Administrator (s9(1)(d)), following nominations by the Nominations Committee (s9(2)). This creates an interface with the Territory executive in composition. The requirement that at least two appointees have financial expertise and at least one have commercial expertise (s9(4)) prescribes qualifications but may constrain selection pools in smaller communities.

Term limits and two-thirds exception: members cannot be reappointed or re-elected if the result would create continuous service exceeding 12 years, unless two-thirds of members at a meeting agree to waive the limit for that person (s10(3)-(4)). This two-thirds exception could allow prolonged tenure despite the statutory cap, potentially entrenching continuity in practice.

Trust variation pathway requires Administrator approval: variation of trust or gift terms for prescribed property must be by a scheme submitted to the Administrator, who may approve, modify, or refuse the scheme (s36(1)-(3)). That creates an external executive check and an administrative path that differs from court-based cy-près approaches in other jurisdictions.

Investment restrictions: investments must be in classes approved by the Treasurer (s35(6)). This can restrict asset allocation strategies for trust or other funds and introduces a dependency on Treasurer approvals for permissible investment classes.

Protections from liability: section 44 provides wide protection for persons acting in good faith, but does not remove liabilities the Territory or University would otherwise have (s44(4)). The “good faith” qualifier is fact-sensitive; careful record-keeping and process are necessary to rely on the immunity.

By-law vehicle owner liability: by-laws may make vehicle owners liable for offences committed with their vehicles on University sites even if they were not driving at the time, subject to constraints (s46(3)(a), s46(4)). This is a non-standard attribution of liability that requires careful drafting to ensure fairness and compliance with evidence law.

Rules publication and notice: rules take effect on publication in the manner provided in the By-laws or on a later date in the rules themselves (s47(3)). Publication via a notice board on a campus notice board is sufficient (s47(4)). This creates a practical risk that stakeholders may not receive adequate notice if publication processes are informal; legal challenges asserting inadequate notice may be difficult because the Act permits notice-board publication.

Audit timing: financial statement preparation requirements and Auditor-General reporting windows are tight: Vice-Chancellor must prepare financial statements within three months after the end of the financial year (or a longer period allowed by the Treasurer), and the Auditor-General has three months to report after receiving the statement (s39(3)-(6)). These timeframes require internal accounting capacity and coordination with Audit Office workloads.

Controlled entities governance and audit: the Council must ensure controlled entities have independent boards, governance statements, business plans and quarterly reporting, with financial statements audited by the Auditor-General (s41(1)(a)-(f)). This imposes administrative obligations that resemble public sector governance norms on entities that might otherwise be corporate and commercial.

Transitional staff and public sector rights: for former Department employees absorbed from Centralian College, Schedule 3 preserves accrued Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993 rights and proceedings for transitional purposes (Sch 3, cl 1(2)-(5)). This hybrid status can complicate HR and industrial relations matters during the transition period.

In sum, these gotchas centre on the interaction of internal governance autonomy with executive oversight, limits on delegated enforcement remedies, unusual regulatory instruments and publication modes, and the administrative burden of meeting public-accountability standards. Practitioners advising universities, Council members or external partners should map these features to operational practices and stakeholder expectations.

Compliance under the Act requires attention to governance processes, financial controls, reporting timelines, conflict management, delegated authority protocols and the formalities for by‑laws and rules.

Establish and document governance processes: the Council is required to conduct University affairs and to monitor Vice-Chancellor performance, approve mission, strategy and budgets, oversee significant commercial activities and regular review of delegations (s8(1)-(2), s8(2)(a)-(f)). The Council must meet at intervals not exceeding four months, keep quorate meetings (eight members) and ensure induction and professional processes for members (s17(2), s17(4), s17(7)). A compliance checklist should include scheduling of meetings, delegation reviews, documentation of strategic approvals and a rolling register of Council decisions.

Implement conflicts of interest systems: section 16 mandates prompt disclosure of direct or indirect pecuniary interests at meetings, recording of disclosures in a book available for inspection, and exclusion from deliberations on matters where a member has an interest unless the Council resolves to the contrary in the member’s absence (s16(1), s16(4), s16(5)-(6)). A practical compliance regime should maintain a standing register, require pre-meeting conflict declarations, and provide template minutes for recorded exclusions and approvals.

Document and respect duties of members: s10A prescribes duties to act solely in the University’s interests, in good faith, with care and diligence and to avoid improper use of office (s10A(1)). Implement a written code of conduct and induction that explains these duties, including decision-making standards, record-keeping, and circumstances that might be considered improper advantage. Consider training on public-company governance issues, including Corporations Act director disqualification consequences referenced in s11(1)(j).

Control financial processes and timing: the Council must adopt an annual budget and control expenditure to conform to it (s38(1)). The Vice-Chancellor must prepare financial statements within three months of financial year-end (unless the Treasurer allows more time) and forward them to the Auditor-General (s39(3)-(5)). The Auditor-General will audit and report within three months of receipt (s39(6)). To comply, establish accounting cut-offs, internal audit schedules, prepare financial statements in the form the Treasurer directs (s39(4)), and maintain a calendar aligned with Auditor-General deadlines.

Meet Treasurer information and investment constraints: the Treasurer can require information necessary to assess University finances, including investments, contingent liabilities and guarantees (s38(4)). University investments must be in classes approved by the Treasurer (s35(6)). Ensure reporting templates meet Treasurer expectations, log and track contingent liabilities and guarantees, and restrict investment mandates to approved asset classes or seek Treasurer approval where necessary.

Manage trust funds and gifts carefully: the University may accept gifts and administer trust funds (s6(3)(f), s34). For prescribed property where trust purposes are effected or impracticable, a scheme must be prepared and submitted to the Administrator for approval (s36(1)-(3)). Maintain documentation of donor terms, ensure trust accounting, and take early legal advice before proposing any variation scheme to the Administrator.

Draft by-laws and rules with precision and publication processes: the Council may make by-laws and rules on a wide range of matters (ss46-47). Because by-laws are not subordinate legislation under the Interpretation Act (s46(5)) and rules are exempt from certain Interpretation Act provisions (s47(5)), ensure the by-laws and rules set out clear processes for publication and review. Follow the by-law-prescribed publication process and ensure physical notice boards are updated where rules rely on notice-board publication (s47(4)). Cap penalties appropriately and document evidence relied upon when imposing penalties, using the officer-signed certificate mechanism for recovery (s48(3)).

Comply with controlled-entity governance and audit: where the University establishes or participates in controlled entities, the Council must ensure appropriate board skills, independence, governance principles, business plans, quarterly reporting against plans, and audit by the Auditor-General (s41(1)(a)-(f)). Institute reporting templates, independent director selection processes, and ensure financial statements meet public audit requirements.

Maintain records and audit trails: the Act provides immunities for acts done in good faith (s44), but reliance on that protection is facilitated by contemporaneous records. Keep minutes, decision memos, financial approvals and procurement documentation to establish good-faith exercise of powers and compliance with delegated authority limits.

Respect delegation limits and formalities: delegations must be in writing (s42(7)), and the Council cannot delegate the s8(2) powers, the delegation power itself or power to make by-laws or rules (s42(1)(a)-(c)). Maintain a formal delegation instrument register and ensure delegates are aware of the scope and reporting expectations.

Integrate transition and public-sector legacy obligations: for staff transferred under the transitional schedules (Schs 2-3), preserve contractual entitlements and address any residual Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993 rights as required by the schedules (Sch 3). HR should map legacy entitlements, outstanding proceedings, and any withdrawal or reappointment windows (Sch 3, cl 1).

Plan for vehicle and site regulation consequences: where by-laws affect vehicles or site use, ensure signage, enforcement policies, removal procedures and evidentiary standards are in place to support by-law operation (s46(3)). Consider a consumer-facing policy on how owner liability will be applied and what defences or appeals may exist.

Coordinate with the Treasurer and Administrator: for matters requiring Treasurer approval, scheme approval by the Administrator, or appointments by the Administrator, maintain an engagement plan with the relevant Territory agencies to avoid procedural delays and to obtain required approvals in advance (ss9(1)(d), s35(6), s36(2)-(3)).

In short, compliance requires robust governance documentation, a register-driven approach to conflicts and delegations, tight financial calendars and audit-ready accounting, carefully drafted internal instruments with reliable publication mechanisms, and proactive engagement with the Treasurer and Administrator for approvals and statutory reporting.

Charles Darwin University Act 2003

Plain English Summary

Deep Dive

What it does

Current sections

Charles Darwin University Act 2003

Source text: opening excerpt

1 Charles Darwin University Act 2003

Main concepts

Who it affects

Key duties and rights

Penalties and enforcement

How it interacts with other laws

Amendment history

Litigation history

Gotchas

How to comply