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Why these changes matter (stated aims and practical effects)

• The bill's text performs a mix of technical fixes (definition changes, cross‑reference updates), administrative reforms (JP registration and oath rules, committee numbers), procedural changes for criminal and family-violence matters (HRO threshold wording, police-initiated review of serial perpetrator declarations), and regulatory updates (adding "fuel cell" to safety and licensing laws, allowing "prescribed services" for health complaints, enabling information sharing with the Australian Crime Commission).

• Who is affected and how:

  • Courts, prosecutors, defence lawyers and accused persons: altered definitions and amended statutory tests (e.g. "relevant sexual offence," HRO interim order standard) change how certain decisions and prosecutions are framed and argued.
  • Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions: police gain an express power to apply for review of a magistrate's serial perpetrator declaration; service rules change who must be served in different review scenarios.
  • People working with gas or fuel cells and regulated tradespeople: bring fuel-cell work within existing gas‑safety and occupational licensing regimes, imposing safety and licensing obligations.
  • Justices of the Peace and the Department administering JP appointments: new procedural steps (oath, registration number) and longer appointment cycles change administration, record-keeping and the timing of reappointments.
  • Health service providers and complaint-handling bodies: "prescribed service" insertion permits future extension (by regulation) of what falls under health complaints jurisdiction; this creates a mechanism for future inclusion without amending primary legislation.
  • Integrity Committee members: committee size and quorum rules change how the committee is constituted and when it can act.
  • Agencies handling forensic and criminal intelligence: allows disclosure to the Australian Crime Commission for specific national policing information functions, enabling greater cross‑jurisdictional information sharing.

Testing claimed purposes against costs, incentives and implementation risk

• Retroactivity and finality: the bill says one particular change (to section 2B) is to be taken to have been in force from 4 April 1924 but that it does not apply to proceedings already finally decided before the amendment commences (new s. 466). That combination has two effects: it creates potential retrospective legal effect for unsettled or ongoing matters while protecting concluded cases. The practical costs are legal uncertainty for historical or long‑running matters where that provision could be material; the stated protection reduces risk to finalised proceedings (s. 466).

• Time-limited enactment: the whole Act repeals itself after one year. That limits permanence of the changes unless separately preserved elsewhere. The cost is administrative churn (agencies adapt to changes that may lapse) and the need for follow-up legislation if some changes are intended to be permanent. The benefit is a built-in sunset that forces review.

• Court‑standards and interim orders (HRO wording change): modifying statutory wording that establishes the court's threshold can change the number of interim HROs made. Who decides: judges/magistrates applying the statutory test. Behavioural effect: prosecutors may alter which matters they bring for interim orders; defence arguments will adjust around the new formulation. Implementation risk: low–medium (depends on judicial interpretation over time).

• Police review of serial-perpetrator declarations: giving a sergeant or authorised police officer the standing to apply for review shifts some decision-initiation power to police (who pays: police resourcing; who decides: courts ultimately). This raises operational costs (police time/filing) and creates an incentive for more administrative review applications; it also requires clear internal police authorisation mechanisms to manage risk of inappropriate use.

• Forensic information sharing with the ACC: enables cross‑jurisdictional data flows for national policing functions. This reduces legal friction for sharing, but requires agencies to ensure compliance with Commonwealth Act requirements and data protection obligations. It confers a practical benefit to Commonwealth and State investigative agencies, while imposing governance and compliance responsibilities on the disclosing agency.

• JP administrative reforms: requiring oath and registration and extending appointment periods transfers administrative tasks to the Secretary (who must allocate and notify registration numbers promptly). It reduces reappointment frequency for individual JPs (fewer applications over time) but requires better initial record-keeping and a prompt notification process.

Where the bill changes incentives and who bears costs:

• Police: extra power to seek reviews, cost of preparing applications.
• Courts: apply new wording and definitions; possible litigant arguments on retrospective provisions.
• Agencies (health complaints regulator, licensing bodies, ACC linkage): implement new prescription and sharing mechanisms, update guidance and forms.
• Businesses/Trades (fuel-cell installers, gas-fitters): may face new licensing/safety compliance costs where fuel‑cell work was previously outside the regime.

Implementation risk and compliance burden summary

• Administrative: moderate (JP registration, notice, committee composition, prescription mechanisms).
• Legal interpretation risk: moderate (retroactive clause, "relevant sexual offence" grouping, HRO standard wording).
• Regulatory adjustment: targeted (fuel cell and "prescribed service" bring more activity within existing regimes; these will require regulators to produce rules/administrative instruments).

Source claims vs mechanical effect

• The bill appears to aim to tidy cross‑references, enable particular forms of review and information sharing, update safety and licensing coverage to include fuel cells, and improve JP administration. Mechanically the bill does these things. The main trade-offs are (1) creating retrospective effect with limited protection for completed proceedings, (2) imposing new administrative duties on agencies, and (3) creating a one‑year sunset on the enabling Act, which raises decision and legislative follow-up costs if permanence is intended. (See Parts 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12.)

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Justice and Related Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 2025.

Justice and Related Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 2025 Act No. of 2025 s. 2 Part 1 – Preliminary 6 2. Commencement This Act commences on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent. 3. Repeal of Act This Act is repealed on the first anniversary of the day on which it commenced.

Justice and Related Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 2025 Act No. of 2025 Part 2 – Criminal Code Act 1924 Amended s. 4 7 PART 2 – CRIMINAL CODE ACT 1924 AMENDED 4. Principal Act In this Part, the Criminal Code Act 1924* is referred to as the Principal Act. 5. Schedule 1 amended (Criminal Code) Schedule 1 to the Principal Act is amended as follows: (a) by inserting the following subsection after subsection (2) in section 2B: (3) This section is to be taken to be in force from 4 April 1924. (b) by inserting the following subsection before subsection (1) in section 14A: (1AA) In this section – relevant sexual offence means – (a) an offence against section 124, 124A, 124B, 124C, 125A, 125B, 125C, 126, 127 or 185; or (b) an offence against section 170A, in respect of

*No. 69 of 1924

Justice and Related Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 2025 Act No. of 2025 s. 5 Part 2 – Criminal Code Act 1924 Amended 8 particulars alleging offences against section 124, 125B, 126, 127 or 185. (c) by omitting from section 14A(1) “an offence against section 124, 125B, 127 or 185” and substituting “a relevant sexual offence”; (d) by omitting from section 14A(2) “an offence against section 124, 125B or 185” and substituting “a relevant sexual offence”; (e) by omitting from section 14A(2)(b) “section 124, 125B or 185” and substituting “section 124, 124A, 124B, 124C, 125A, 125B, 125C, 126, 127 or 185”; (f) by omitting “Criminal Code Amendment (Sexual Assault) Act 2017;” from the definition of amending Act in section 461(1) and substituting “Criminal Code Amendment (Sexual Assault) Act 2017.”; (g) by omitting the definition of relevant amendments from section 461(1); (h) by omitting subsection (2) from section 461; (i) by inserting the following section after section 465:

Justice and Related Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 2025 Act No. of 2025 Part 2 – Criminal Code Act 1924 Amended s. 5 9 466. Application of Justice and Related Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 2025 The amendment, to section 2B of this Act, made by section 5 of the Justice and Related Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 2025 does not apply in respect of proceedings determined before the commencement of that Act.

Justice and Related Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 2025 Act No. of 2025 s. 6 Part 3 – Dangerous Criminals and High Risk Offenders Act 2021 Amended 10 PART 3 – DANGEROUS CRIMINALS AND HIGH RISK OFFENDERS ACT 2021 AMENDED 6. Principal Act In this Part, the Dangerous Criminals and High Risk Offenders Act 2021* is referred to as the Principal Act. 7. Section 37 amended (Interim HRO orders) Section 37(1)(b) of the Principal Act is amended by omitting “would, if proved, justify” and substituting “would be likely, if proved, to justify”.

*No. 2 of 2021

Justice and Related Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 2025 Act No. of 2025 Part 4 – Electoral Act 2004 Amended s. 8 11 PART 4 – ELECTORAL ACT 2004 AMENDED 8. Principal Act In this Part, the Electoral Act 2004* is referred to as the Principal Act. 9. Section 186 amended (Offences relating to voting) Section 186(1) of the Principal Act is amended by omitting paragraph (n) and substituting the following paragraphs: (n) vote at an Assembly election after having voted at an election in respect of another division of the Assembly held contemporaneously with the first- mentioned Assembly election; or (o) vote at a Council election after having voted at an election in respect of another division of the Council held contemporaneously with the first- mentioned Council election.

*No. 51 of 2004

Justice and Related Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 2025 Act No. of 2025 s. 10 Part 5 – Evidence Act 2001 Amended 12 PART 5 – EVIDENCE ACT 2001 AMENDED 10. Principal Act In this Part, the Evidence Act 2001* is referred to as the Principal Act. 11. Section 194M amended (Evidence relating to sexual experience) Section 194M(1) of the Principal Act is amended by inserting “section 170A,” after “charged under”.

*No. 76 of 2001

Justice and Related Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 2025 Act No. of 2025 Part 6 – Family Violence Act 2004 Amended s. 12 13 PART 6 – FAMILY VIOLENCE ACT 2004 AMENDED 12. Principal Act In this Part, the Family Violence Act 2004* is referred to as the Principal Act. 13. Section 29D amended (Review of declaration of serial family violence perpetrator) Section 29D of the Principal Act is amended as follows: (a) by inserting the following subsection after subsection (1): (1A) A police officer of the rank of sergeant or above, or a person authorised by the Commissioner of Police, may make an application to a court or judge (a review application) for a review of a declaration, made by a magistrate, of an offender as a serial family violence perpetrator. (b) by inserting in subsection (4)(a) “or subsection (1A)” after “subsection (1)”; (c) by omitting paragraph (b) from subsection (4) and substituting the following paragraph:

*No. 67 of 2004

Justice and Related Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 2025 Act No. of 2025 s. 13 Part 6 – Family Violence Act 2004 Amended 14 (b) a review application under subsection (2) is to be served on the following persons: (i) if the review application is made in relation to a declaration made by a judge, the DPP; (ii) if the review application is made in relation to a declaration made by a magistrate, the Commissioner of Police.

Justice and Related Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 2025 Act No. of 2025 Part 7 – Forensic Procedures Act 2000 Amended s. 14 15 PART 7 – FORENSIC PROCEDURES ACT 2000 AMENDED 14. Principal Act In this Part, the Forensic Procedures Act 2000* is referred to as the Principal Act. 15. Section 63 amended (Disclosure of information) Section 63 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting after subsection (3) the following subsection: (3A) For the avoidance of doubt, a reference to an offence in subsection (3) is a reference to an offence under the law of this State, or the law of another State, a Territory or the Commonwealth. 16. Section 63 further amended (Disclosure of information) Section 63 of the Principal Act is further amended as follows: (a) by inserting the following paragraph after paragraph (d) in subsection (2): (da) the purpose of the Australian Crime Commission’s national policing information functions

*No. 101 of 2000

Justice and Related Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 2025 Act No. of 2025 s. 16 Part 7 – Forensic Procedures Act 2000 Amended 16 under section 7A(fa) of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 of the Commonwealth and in accordance with that Act; (b) by inserting the following paragraph after paragraph (d) in subsection (3): (da) for the purpose of the Australian Crime Commission’s national policing information functions under section 7A(fa) of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 of the Commonwealth and in accordance with that Act;

Justice and Related Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 2025 Act No. of 2025 Part 8 – Gas Safety Act 2019 Amended s. 17 17 PART 8 – GAS SAFETY ACT 2019 AMENDED 17. Principal Act In this Part, the Gas Safety Act 2019* is referred to as the Principal Act. 18. Section 3 amended (Interpretation) Section 3(1) of the Principal Act is amended by inserting “, or a fuel cell,” after “engine” in the definition of automotive gas fuel system.

*No. 2 of 2019

Justice and Related Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 2025 Act No. of 2025 s. 19 Part 9 – Health Complaints Act 1995 Amended 18 PART 9 – HEALTH COMPLAINTS ACT 1995 AMENDED 19. Principal Act In this Part, the Health Complaints Act 1995* is referred to as the Principal Act. 20. Section 3 amended (Interpretation) Section 3 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting paragraph (a) from the definition of health service and substituting the following paragraph: (a) a service specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1, but does not include a service specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1; 21. Schedule 1 amended (Health Services) Schedule 1 to the Principal Act is amended as follows: (a) by inserting the following item after item 12 in Part 1: 13. A prescribed service. (b) by inserting the following item after item 2 in Part 2: 3. A prescribed service.

*No. 95 of 1995

Justice and Related Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 2025 Act No. of 2025 Part 10 – Integrity Commission Act 2009 Amended s. 22 19 PART 10 – INTEGRITY COMMISSION ACT 2009 AMENDED 22. Principal Act In this Part, the Integrity Commission Act 2009* is referred to as the Principal Act. 23. Section 23 amended (Joint Standing Committee on Integrity) Section 23(2) of the Principal Act is amended as follows: (a) by omitting “6” and substituting “an even number, that is not less than 6 and not more than 8, of”; (b) by omitting from paragraph (a) “3” and substituting “half”; (c) by omitting from paragraph (b) “3” and substituting “half”. 24. Schedule 5 amended (Meetings of Joint Standing Committee on Integrity) Clause 1(1) of Schedule 5 to the Principal Act is amended by omitting “Any 3 members of the Joint Committee,” and substituting “Half of the total number of members of the Joint Committee”.

*No. 67 of 2009

Justice and Related Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 2025 Act No. of 2025 s. 25 Part 11 – Justices Act 1959 Amended 20 PART 11 – JUSTICES ACT 1959 AMENDED 25. Principal Act In this Part, the Justices Act 1959* is referred to as the Principal Act. 26. Section 71 amended (Petty crimes triable summarily) Section 71(1) of the Principal Act is amended by inserting after paragraph (ab) the following paragraph: (ac) section 253A of the Criminal Code, if the value of property obtained or delivered, or the benefit gained or detriment caused, does not exceed $20 000; or 27. Section 72 amended (Other crimes triable summarily) Section 72(1) of the Principal Act is amended by inserting after paragraph (c) the following paragraph: (ca) under section 253A of the Criminal Code, if the value of property obtained or delivered, or the benefit gained or detriment caused, exceeds $20 000 but does not exceed $100 000; or

*No. 77 of 1959

Justice and Related Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 2025 Act No. of 2025 Part 12 – Justices of the Peace Act 2018 Amended s. 28 21 PART 12 – JUSTICES OF THE PEACE ACT 2018 AMENDED 28. Principal Act In this Part, the Justices of the Peace Act 2018* is referred to as the Principal Act. 29. Section 5 amended (Appointment of justice) Section 5(1) of the Principal Act is amended by inserting “the Secretary or” after “by” in paragraph (d) of the definition of eligible person. 30. Section 6 substituted Section 6 of the Principal Act is repealed and the following section is substituted: 6. Exercise of powers An appointed justice is not entitled to exercise any of the powers of the office of Justice of the Peace until the appointed justice has – (a) taken the judicial oath in accordance with the Promissory Oaths Act 2015 on that appointment; and

*No. 15 of 2018

Justice and Related Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 2025 Act No. of 2025 s. 31 Part 12 – Justices of the Peace Act 2018 Amended 22 (b) been allocated, and notified of, a registration number under section 38. 31. Section 7 amended (Application for reappointment as appointed justice) Section 7 of the Principal Act is amended as follows: (a) by omitting from subsection (1) “6 months” and substituting “12 months”; (b) by omitting subsection (2). 3

This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.