NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
FLAG AND EMBLEM ACT 1985
As in force at 14 October 2015
Table of provisions
1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1
2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1
3 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1
4 Delegation ....................................................................................... 1
5 Arms of the Territory ........................................................................ 2
6 Improper use of Arms of the Territory an offence ............................ 2
7 Flag of the Territory ......................................................................... 2
8 Declared emblem ............................................................................ 3
9 Improper use of declared emblem an offence ................................. 3
11 Rules for use of declared emblems, &c. .......................................... 3
12 Consent of Attorney-General ........................................................... 4
13 Substitute use of Arms of the Territory ............................................ 4
Schedule 1 Description of Arms of the Territory
Schedule 2 Production of Arms of the Territory
Schedule 3 Description of Flag of the Territory
Schedule 4 Reproduction of Flag of the Territory
ENDNOTES
NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
As in force at 14 October 2015
FLAG AND EMBLEM ACT 1985
An act to control the use of the Northern Territory Arms, flag and
emblems
1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Flag and Emblem Act 1985.
2 Commencement
This Act shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by the
Administrator by notice in the Gazette.
3 Definitions
In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:
Arms of the Territory means the Territory Arms referred to in
section 5.
declared emblem means an emblem declared under section 8 by
the Administrator to be:
(a) a Territory Badge; or
(b) an official emblem of the Territory,
and includes any other emblem that so nearly resembles an
emblem so declared as to be likely to deceive or be capable of
being mistaken for an emblem so declared.
4 Delegation
(1) The Minister may, by instrument in writing, delegate to a person any
of his powers and functions under this Act, other than this power of
delegation.
(2) A power or function delegated under this section, when exercised
or performed by the delegate, shall, for the purpose of this Act, be
deemed to have been exercised or performed by the Minister.
Flag and Emblem Act 1985 2
(3) A delegation under this section does not prevent the exercise of a
power or the performance of a function by the Minister.
5 Arms of the Territory
The Arms of the Territory described in Schedule 1, being the Arms
a reproduction of which is set out in Schedule 2, are the Arms of the
Territory.
6 Improper use of Arms of the Territory an offence
(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Minister may, by notice in writing,
authorize a person to use the Arms of the Territory.
(2) The Minister shall not authorize under subsection (1) the use of the
Arms of the Territory except for Territory Government purposes or
bona fide educational purposes within the Territory.
(3) A person who, directly or indirectly, without the prior written
authority under subsection (1) of the Minister:
(a) assumes, uses or otherwise deals with or causes to be
assumed, used or otherwise dealt with; or
(b) prints, publishes, manufactures, sells or offers or exhibits for
sale or causes to be printed, published, manufactured, sold or
offered or exhibited for sale or sends, distributes or delivers to
or serves on, or causes to be sent, distributed or delivered to,
or served on, a person any writing, material or object in or
upon which appears,
the Arms of the Territory or Arms or any token insignia, emblem or
other thing that so nearly resembles the Arms of the Territory as to
be likely to deceive or be capable of being mistaken for the Arms of
the Territory is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 4 penalty units, and 0.8 penalty unit for each
day during which the offence continues.
(4) In proceedings under this section, if a person is named in the
writing, on material or an object referred to in this section in such
manner as to imply that he is the printer, publisher, manufacturer,
seller or sender of it, that person shall, unless the contrary is
proved, be taken to be the person who printed, published,
manufactured, sold or sent that writing, material or object.
7 Flag of the Territory
The flag described in Schedule 3, being the flag a reproduction of
which is set out in Schedule 4, is the Flag of the Territory.
Flag and Emblem Act 1985 3
8 Declared emblem
The Administrator may, by notice in the Gazette, declare an
emblem described, depicted or referred to in the declaration to be:
(a) a Territory Badge; or
(b) an official emblem of the Territory.
9 Improper use of declared emblem an offence
(1) The Minister may, by notice in writing, authorize a person to use a
declared emblem, either without defacement or defaced in a
manner specified in the notice.
(2) A person who, directly or indirectly, without the prior written
authority under subsection (1) of the Minister:
(a) assumes, uses or otherwise deals with or causes to be
assumed, used or otherwise dealt with; or
(b) prints, publishes, manufactures, sells or offers or exhibits for
sale or causes to be printed, published, manufactured, sold or
offered or exhibited for sale or sends, distributes or delivers to
or serves on, or causes to be sent, distributed or delivered to,
or served on, a person, any writing, material or object in which
or on which appears,
a declared emblem for any trade, business, calling, profession or
commercial purpose, or in connection with a club or any body or
association of persons (including, but without limiting the generality
of this subsection, a club or body or association of persons formed
for the purpose of playing a game or athletic sport) or in such a
manner as to suggest that the writing, material or object has official
significance, is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 4 penalty units and 0.8 penalty unit for each
day during which the offence continues.
(3) In proceedings under this section, if a person is named in the
writing, on material or an object referred to in this section in such
manner as to imply that he is the printer, publisher, manufacturer,
seller or sender of it, that person shall, unless the contrary is
proved, be taken to be the person who printed, published,
manufactured, sold or sent that writing, material or object.
11 Rules for use of declared emblems, &c.
(1) The Minister may make and cause to be published rules for the use
of declared emblems.
Flag and Emblem Act 1985 4
(2) The rules may prescribe penalties not exceeding 4 penalty units for
a contravention or breach of the rules and, in addition, penalties not
exceeding 0.8 penalty unit for each day during which such a
contravention or breach occurs.
12 Consent of Attorney-General
Proceedings for an offence against this Act or the rules shall not be
instituted except by or with the consent in writing of the Attorney-
General or Director of Public Prosecutions.
13 Substitute use of Arms of the Territory
Where by or under an Act the use of the Arms of the Territory or a
representation thereof, in whatever terms described, is prescribed
for a document, form, seal or otherwise as a mark of authority of the
Crown, the use for that purpose of a representation of the Arms of
the Territory, in the form in which that armorial insignia is or was, at
the material time, granted, shall be taken to be and to have always
been a sufficient compliance in law with that prescription.
Schedule 1 Description of Arms of the Territory
Flag and Emblem Act 1985 5
Schedule 1 Description of Arms of the Territory
Section 5
For Arms, Tenny, representations in the Australian Aboriginal manner of an
Arnhem Land rock painting of a woman with stylised internal anatomy
between in dexter chief and base two symbolic representations of campsites
joined by journey or path markings in the manner of the Central Australian
Aboriginals and in sinister chief and base the like all Argent; and for a Crest:
Upon a Wreath of the Colours a Wedge tailed Eagle (Aquila audax) wings
elevated grasping with its talons an Australian Aboriginal stone Tjurunga
proper; and for Supporters: On either side a Red Kangaroo (Macropus refus
(Desmarest)) guardant that to the dexter holding in the dexter fore-paw a
Chiragra Spider Conch (Lambis Chiragra) and similarly that to the sinister in
its sinister fore-paw a True Heart Cockle (Corculum carelissa) growing from a
compartment comprising a grassy-sandy mound Sturt's Desert Roses
(Gossypium sturtianum).
Schedule 2 Production of Arms of the Territory
Flag and Emblem Act 1985 6
Schedule 2 Production of Arms of the Territory
section 5
(Refer pamphlet copy)
Schedule 3 Description of Flag of the Territory
Flag and Emblem Act 1985 7
Schedule 3 Description of Flag of the Territory
section 7
The Flag of the Territory incorporates the three official Territory colours of
black, white and ochre and the official Territory floral emblem, Sturt's Desert
Rose. The floral emblem resides in white on an ochre panel which is flanked
on the left by a black panel on which is set five white stars representing the
form of the constellation of the Southern Cross. The stylised Sturt's Desert
Rose on the ochre panel has seven petals with a seven pointed star in the
centre, symbolising the six Australian States and the Territory.
Schedule 4 Reproduction of Flag of the Territory
Flag and Emblem Act 1985 8
Schedule 4 Reproduction of Flag of the Territory
section 7
(Refer pamphlet copy)
ENDNOTES
Flag and Emblem Act 1985 9
ENDNOTES
1 KEY
Key to abbreviations
amd = amended od = order
app = appendix om = omitted
bl = by-law pt = Part
ch = Chapter r = regulation/rule
cl = clause rem = remainder
div = Division renum = renumbered
exp = expires/expired rep = repealed
f = forms s = section
Gaz = Gazette sch = Schedule
hdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision
ins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation
lt = long title sub = substituted
nc = not commenced
2 LIST OF LEGISLATION
Flag and Emblem Act 1985 (Act No. 24, 1985)
Assent date 18 June 1985
Commenced 18 September 1985 (Gaz G37, 18 September 1985, p 9)
Director of Public Prosecutions (Consequential Amendments) Act 1990 (Act No. 29,
1990)
Assent date 11 June 1990
Commenced 21 January 1991 (s 2, s 2 Director of Public Prosecutions Act
1990 (Act No. 35, 1990) and Gaz G2, 16 January 1991, p 9)
Penalties Amendment (Chief Minister's and Other Portfolios) Act 2011 (Act No. 27,
2011)
Assent date 31 August 2011
Commenced 21 September 2011 (Gaz G38, 21 September 2011, p 5)
Statute Law Amendment (Directors' Liability) Act 2015 (Act No. 26, 2015)
Assent date 18 September 2015
Commenced 14 October 2015 (Gaz G41, 14 October 2015, p 3)
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, 2018) to: s 1.
4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS
s 6 amd No. 27, 2011, s 3
s 9 amd No. 27, 2011, s 3
s 10 rep No. 26, 2015, s 38
s 11 amd No. 27, 2011, s 3
ENDNOTES
Flag and Emblem Act 1985 10
s 12 amd No. 29, 1990, s 7