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Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956
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NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
LAW REFORM (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 1956
As in force at 6 December 2018
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Part I Preliminary
1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1
3 Repeal ............................................................................................. 1
4 Ordinance to bind Crown ................................................................. 1
Part II Survival of causes of actions
5 Effect of death on certain causes of action ...................................... 1
6 Damages in actions which survive under this Part .......................... 1
7 Conditions precedent to survival of causes of action ....................... 2
8 Provision for cases where person liable dies before or at time
of damage........................................................................................ 3
9 Saving of other rights ....................................................................... 3
Part IV Proceedings against and contributions
between tort-feasors
11 Interpretation ................................................................................... 4
12 Proceedings against and contribution between joint and
several tort-feasors .......................................................................... 4
13 Extent of contribution ....................................................................... 5
14 Exemptions ...................................................................................... 5
Part V Contributory negligence
15 Interpretation ................................................................................... 5
16 Apportionment of liability ................................................................. 6
17 Application of Part IV ....................................................................... 7
18 Claims by third parties ..................................................................... 7
19 Pleading of statute of limitations ...................................................... 7
20 Where case is tried with jury ............................................................ 8
21 Application of section 16 .................................................................. 8
21A Transitional: application of section 16 on commencement of
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act 2001 ...... 8
Part VI Common employment
22 Abolition of rule of common employment ......................................... 9
22A Rights in cases of vicarious liability ................................................. 9
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956 ii
Part VII Injury arising from mental or nervous
shock
23 Definitions ...................................................................................... 10
24 Personal injury received from mental or nervous shock ................ 10
25 Extension of liability in certain cases ............................................. 10
Part VIII Attachment of insurance moneys
26 Amount of liability to be charge on insurance moneys payable
against that liability ........................................................................ 11
27 Enforcement of charge .................................................................. 12
28 Protection of insurer ...................................................................... 13
29 Certain other provisions not affected ............................................. 13
Part VIIIA Liability for damage to property caused by
children
29A Liability for damage to property caused by children....................... 13
Part X Dogs
31 Interpretation ................................................................................. 14
32 Liability for damage caused by dogs ............................................. 14
33 Defence against actions in relation to killing or injuring dogs......... 14
34 Protection of persons destroying dogs .......................................... 15
35 Provision for guide-dogs or hearing dogs ...................................... 15
ENDNOTES
NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
____________________
As in force at 6 December 2018
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LAW REFORM (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 1956
An Act to effect certain reforms in the law
Part I Preliminary
1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Law Reform (Miscellaneous
Provisions) Act 1956.
3 Repeal
The Wrongs Ordinance 1955 is repealed.
4 Ordinance to bind Crown
This Ordinance binds the Crown.
Part II Survival of causes of actions
5 Effect of death on certain causes of action
(1) Subject to this Part, on the death of a person after the
commencement of this Ordinance all causes of action subsisting
against or vested in him survive against his estate or, as the case
may be, for the benefit of his estate.
(2) This section does not apply to causes of action for defamation or
seduction or for inducing one spouse to leave or remain apart from
the other or to claims for damages on the ground of adultery.
6 Damages in actions which survive under this Part
(1) Where a cause of action survives under this Part for the benefit of
the estate of a deceased person, the damages recoverable for the
benefit of the estate of that person:
(a) do not include exemplary damages;
Part II Survival of causes of actions
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956 2
(b) in the case of a breach of promise to marry, are limited to such
damage, if any, to the estate of that person as flows from the
breach of promise to marry; and
(c) where the death of that person has been caused by the act or
omission which gives rise to the cause of action:
(i) shall be calculated without reference to any loss or gain
to his estate consequent upon his death, except that a
sum in respect of funeral expenses may be included;
and
(ii) do not include damages for the pain or suffering of that
person or for any bodily or mental harm suffered by him
or for the curtailment of his expectation of life; and
(iii) shall be calculated without reference to the future
probable earnings of the deceased if he had survived the
consequences of the act or omission and without
allowance being made for the loss of his earning
capacity that relates to a period after his death.
(2) However, if a person commences an action for damages for
personal injury arising from a dust disease and dies as a result of
the disease before the action is determined, the exclusion of
damages for pain or suffering, bodily or mental harm or curtailment
of expectation of life (subsection (1)(c)(ii)) does not apply.
(3) Subsection (2) extends to an action that remains undetermined at
the date of commencement of that subsection even though the
(former) plaintiff has, as at that date, already died.
(4) In this section:
dust disease means a pathological condition of the lungs, pleura or
peritoneum that is attributable to dust.
7 Conditions precedent to survival of causes of action
(1) No proceedings are maintainable in respect of a cause of action in
tort which, by virtue of this Part, has survived against the estate of
the deceased person unless:
(a) proceedings against him in respect of that cause of action
were pending at the date of his death; or
(b) the cause of action arose not earlier than 12 months before
his death and proceedings are taken in respect of the cause of
action not later than 12 months after his executor or
administrator took out probate or letters of administration or
Part II Survival of causes of actions
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956 3
within such further period as the Supreme Court, on an
application made, either before or after the expiration of that
period, allows.
(2) The fact that the cause of action arose earlier than 12 months
before the death of the deceased person is not, of itself, a bar to the
maintenance of proceedings in respect of a cause of action referred
to in subsection (1) where the court in which the proceedings are
taken is satisfied that, having regard to all the circumstances of the
case, it would be reasonable to allow the proceedings to continue.
(3) Subsection (2) does not affect the operation of any law, other than
this section, relating to the limitation of actions.
8 Provision for cases where person liable dies before or at time
of damage
Where damage has been suffered by reason of an act or omission
in respect of which a cause of action would have subsisted against
a person if that person had not died before or at the same time as
the damage was suffered, there shall be deemed, for the purposes
of this Part, to have been subsisting against him before his death
such cause of action in respect of that act or omission as would
have subsisted if he had died after the damage was suffered.
9 Saving of other rights
(1) The rights conferred by this Part for the benefit of the estates of
deceased persons are in addition to, and not in derogation of, any
rights conferred on the dependants of deceased persons by the
Compensation (Fatal Injuries) Ordinance 1974 and so much of this
Part as relates to causes of action against the estates of deceased
persons applies in relation to causes of action under that Ordinance
as it applies in relation to other causes of action not expressly
excepted from the operation of section 5.
(2) The rights conferred by this Part for the benefit of the estates of
deceased persons and the obligations continued or created under
or by virtue of this Part against the estates of deceased persons are
in addition to, and not in derogation of, any rights conferred or
obligations created by or under Part V of the Motor Vehicles
Ordinance 1949, or that Ordinance as amended from time to time.
Part IV Proceedings against and contributions between tort-feasors
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956 4
Part IV Proceedings against and contributions
between tort-feasors
11 Interpretation
In this Part:
(a) parent and child have the same meanings as they have in
the Compensation (Fatal Injuries) Ordinance 1974; and
(b) the reference to "the judgment first given" shall, in a case
where that judgment is reversed on appeal, be construed as a
reference to the judgment first given which is not so reversed,
and, in a case where a judgment is varied on appeal, be
construed as a reference to that judgment as so varied.
12 Proceedings against and contribution between joint and
several tort-feasors
(1) This section applies where damage is suffered by a person as a
result of a tort (whether an offence or not).
(2) Judgment recovered against a tort-feasor liable in respect of the
damage is not a bar to an action against any other person who
would, if sued, have been liable as a joint tort-feasor in respect of
the same damage.
(3) If more than one action is brought in respect of the damage by or
on behalf of the person by whom it was suffered, or for the benefit
of the estate, or of a spouse, de facto partner, sibling, half-sibling,
parent or child, of that person against tort-feasors liable in respect
of the damage (whether as joint tort-feasors or otherwise):
(a) the sums recoverable under the judgments given in those
actions by way of damages do not in the aggregate exceed
the amount of the damages awarded by the judgment first
given; and
(b) in any of those actions other than that in which judgment is
first given, the plaintiff is not entitled to costs unless the court
is of opinion that there was reasonable ground for bringing the
action.
(4) A tort-feasor liable in respect of the damage may recover
contribution from any other tort-feasor who is, or would if sued have
been, liable in respect of the same damage, whether as a joint tort-
feasor or otherwise, but no person is entitled to recover contribution
under this section from a person entitled to be indemnified by him in
respect of the liability in respect of which the contribution is sought.
Part V Contributory negligence
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956 5
(5) Where the tort causing the damage was, or the torts causing the
damage were, committed by a spouse or de facto partner of the
person suffering the damage and some other person, that other
person may recover contribution as mentioned in subsection (4)
from a spouse or de facto partner, as if a spouse or de facto partner
had been liable to the person suffering the damage.
13 Extent of contribution
In proceedings for contribution under section 12 the amount of the
contribution recoverable from a person is such as is found by the
court to be just and equitable, having regard to the extent of that
person's responsibility for the damage, and the court has power to
exempt a person from liability to make contribution, or to direct that
the contribution to be recovered from a person shall amount to a
complete indemnity.
14 Exemptions
Nothing in this Part:
(a) applies with respect to a tort committed before the
commencement of this Ordinance;
(b) affects any criminal proceedings against a person in respect of
a wrongful act; or
(c) renders enforceable an agreement for indemnity which would
not have been enforceable if this Part had not been enacted.
Part V Contributory negligence
15 Interpretation
(1) In this Part:
court means, in relation to a claim, the court or arbitrator by or
before whom the claim falls to be determined.
damage includes loss of life and personal injury.
dependant means a person for whose benefit an action could be
brought under the Compensation (Fatal Injuries) Ordinance 1974.
wrong means an act or omission that:
(a) gives rise to a liability in the tort of negligence;
Part V Contributory negligence
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956 6
(b) amounts to a breach of a contractual duty of care that is
concurrent with a duty of care in tort; or
(c) amounts to a breach of statutory duty.
(2) A reference in this Part to the wrong of a person shall be deemed to
include a reference to a wrong for which that person is vicariously
responsible.
16 Apportionment of liability
(1) If a person suffers damage as the result partly of the person's
failure to take reasonable care and partly of the wrong of another
person or other persons:
(a) a claim in respect of the damage is not defeated by reason of
the contributory negligence of the person suffering the
damage; and
(b) the damages recoverable in respect of the wrong are to be
reduced to the extent the court thinks just and equitable
having regard to the claimant's share in the responsibility for
the damage.
(2) Subsection (1) does not operate to defeat any defence arising
under a contract.
(2A) If a contract or enactment providing for the limitation of liability is
applicable to a claim in respect of damage referred to in
subsection (1), the amount of damages recoverable by the claimant
is not to exceed the maximum limit applicable under the contract or
enactment.
(3) Where damages are recoverable by a person by virtue of
subsection (1) subject to the reduction specified in that subsection,
the court shall find and record the total damages which, apart from
any limitation of liability provided by contract or enactment or any
limitation of the jurisdiction of the court, would have been
recoverable but for the claimant's share in the responsibility for the
damage.
(4) Where damages are recoverable by virtue of subsection (1) subject
to the reduction specified in that subsection, and a contract or
enactment providing for a limitation of liability is applicable to the
claim or the jurisdiction of the court is limited:
(a) the total damages found in accordance with subsection (3)
shall be reduced to such extent as the court thinks just and
equitable having regard to the claimant's share in
responsibility for the damage, and the reduced amount is,
Part V Contributory negligence
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956 7
except as provided in paragraph (b) the amount recoverable;
and
(b) if the amount of damages as reduced under paragraph (a)
exceeds the limit provided for in the contract or enactment or
the limit of the jurisdiction of the court, the court shall award
the maximum amount of damages permitted by the contract or
enactment, or by the limit of the court's jurisdiction.
17 Application of Part IV
(1) The provisions of Part IV apply in any case where 2 or more
persons are liable, or would, if they had all been sued, be liable, by
virtue of section 16 in respect of the damage suffered by a person.
(2) Where a person dies as the result partly of his own wrong and
partly of the wrong of another person or other persons, and
accordingly, if an action were brought for the benefit of the estate
under Part II, the damages recoverable would be reduced under
section 16, any damages recoverable in an action brought for the
benefit of the dependants of that person under the Compensation
(Fatal Injuries) Ordinance 1974 shall be reduced to a proportionate
extent.
18 Claims by third parties
Where:
(a) a person (in this section called the injured person) suffers
damage as a result partly of his own wrong and partly of the
wrong of another person or other persons; and
(b) by reason of the damage to the injured person a third person
suffers damage (whether by way of the loss of the society or
services of the injured person or otherwise),
the wrong of the injured person shall, in a claim by the third person
for the damage so suffered by him, be taken into account under
section 16 for the purpose of reducing the damages recoverable by
the third person as if the wrong of the injured person were the
wrong of the third person.
19 Pleading of statute of limitations
Where, in a case to which section 16 applies, one of the persons at
wrong avoids liability to another such person or his personal
representative by pleading an enactment limiting the time within
which proceedings may be taken, he is not entitled to recover
damages or contribution from that other person or representative by
virtue of that section.
Part V Contributory negligence
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956 8
20 Where case is tried with jury
Where a case to which section 16 applies is tried with a jury, the
jury shall determine the total damages which, apart from any
limitation of liability provided by contract or enactment or any
limitation of the jurisdiction of the court, would have been
recoverable if the claimant had not been at wrong, and the extent to
which those damages are to be reduced.
21 Application of section 16
Section 16 does not apply to:
(a) a claim to which section 259 of the Navigation Act 1912 of the
Commonwealth applies; and
(b) a case where the wrong giving rise to a claim occurred before
28 June 1956 (which is the date of the commencement of the
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance 1956).
21A Transitional: application of section 16 on commencement of
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act 2001
(1) This section applies subject to section 21.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), section 16 as in force on and after the
commencement of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions)
Amendment Act 2001 applies to a wrong committed before that
commencement as if that Act were in force when the wrong was
committed.
(3) Section 16 as in force before the commencement of the Law
Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act 2001 continues
after that commencement to apply, as if that Act had not
commenced, to a wrong committed before that commencement
about which:
(a) legal proceedings were commenced before that
commencement (whether or not the legal proceedings are
finally determined, subject to appeal or discontinued or
otherwise not proceeded with before or after that
commencement); or
(b) the persons responsible for the damage had before that
commencement entered into an agreement (including an
agreement about liability only) to settle claims arising from the
wrong.
Part VI Common employment
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956 9
(4) For the avoidance of doubt concerning the application of
subsection (3)(a), the following legal proceedings are to be
determined as if the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions)
Amendment Act 2001 had not commenced:
(a) legal proceedings referred to in subsection (3)(a);
(b) any other legal proceedings that are about the wrong the
subject of legal proceedings referred to in subsection (3)(a)
and that are commenced after those legal proceedings
(whether before or after the commencement of the Law
Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act 2001).
Part VI Common employment
22 Abolition of rule of common employment
(1) Where injury or damage is suffered by a servant by reason of the
wrongful act, neglect or default of a fellow servant, the employer of
those servants is liable in damages in respect of that injury or
damage in the same manner and in the same cases as if those
servants had not been engaged in a common employment.
(2) This section applies to injury or damage arising from a wrongful act,
neglect or default committed after the date of commencement of
this Ordinance, whether the contract of employment was made
before or is made after that date.
22A Rights in cases of vicarious liability
(1) Notwithstanding any other law in force in the Territory, or the
provisions, express or implied, of a contract or agreement, where
an employee commits a tort for which his employer is vicariously
liable:
(a) the employee shall not be liable to indemnify the employer in
relation to the vicarious liability incurred by the employer; and
(b) unless the employee is otherwise entitled to indemnity in
relation to his liability, the employer shall be liable to indemnify
the employee in relation to the liability incurred by the
employee,
arising from the commission of the tort.
(2) Where an employer is proceeded against for the tort of his
employee, and the employee is entitled in pursuance of a policy of
insurance or contract of indemnity to be indemnified in relation to a
liability that he may incur in relation to the tort, the employer shall
Part VII Injury arising from mental or nervous shock
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956 10
be subrogated to the rights of the employee under the policy or
contract in relation to the liability incurred by the employer, arising
from the commission of the tort.
(3) Where a person commits serious and wilful, or gross, misconduct in
the course of his employment and the misconduct constitutes a tort,
subsection (1) shall not apply in relation to the tort.
Part VII Injury arising from mental or nervous shock
23 Definitions
In this Part:
child, in relation to a person, means the son, daughter, grandson,
granddaughter, step-son or step-daughter of that person, or a
person to whom that person stands in loco parentis.
member of the family, in relation to a person, means the spouse,
de facto partner, parent, child, sibling or half-sibling of that person.
parent, in relation to a person, means the father, mother,
grandfather, grandmother, step-father or step-mother of that
person, or a person standing in loco parentis to that person.
24 Personal injury received from mental or nervous shock
(1) In an action for injury to the person caused after the
commencement of this Ordinance, the plaintiff is not debarred from
recovering damages merely because the injury complained of arose
wholly or in part from mental or nervous shock.
(2) In determining a question of liability for injury to the person caused
before the commencement of this Ordinance, no regard shall be
paid to the fact that this section has been enacted or to the
provisions of this section.
25 Extension of liability in certain cases
(1) The liability of a person in respect of injury caused after the
commencement of this Ordinance by act, neglect or default by
which another person is killed, injured or put in peril extends to
include liability for injury arising wholly or in part from mental or
nervous shock sustained by:
(a) a parent or the spouse or de facto partner of the person killed,
injured or put in peril; or
Part VIII Attachment of insurance moneys
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956 11
(b) another member of the family of the person so killed, injured
or put in peril, where the person was killed, injured or put in
peril within the sight or hearing of that other member of the
family.
(2) Where an action is brought by a member of the family of a person
so killed, injured or put in peril in respect of liability for injury arising
wholly or in part from mental or nervous shock sustained by the
plaintiff and claims have been made against or are apprehended by
the defendant at the suit of other members of the family of that
person in respect of liability arising by operation of subsection (1)
out of the same act, neglect or default, the defendant may apply to
the Court for the exercise of its powers under subsection (3).
(3) The Court may thereupon stay any proceedings pending at the suit
of any such other member of the family arising out of the same act,
neglect or default and may proceed in such manner and subject to
such orders as to:
(a) making members of the family of the person killed, injured or
put in peril parties to the action;
(b) who is to have the carriage of the action; and
(c) the exclusion of any member of the family who does not come
in within a time fixed by the Court,
as the Court thinks just.
(4) Where an application under subsection (2) is made, the action shall
be for the benefit of the original plaintiff and such members of the
family of the person killed, injured or put in peril as are joined by the
Court as plaintiffs in pursuance of the application, and the Court (or,
if there is a jury, the jury) may give such damages as it thinks
proportioned to the injury resulting to the plaintiffs respectively, and
the amount so recovered, after deducting the costs not recovered
from the defendant, shall be divided amongst the plaintiffs in such
shares as the Court (or, if there is a jury, the jury) decides.
(5) An action in respect of a liability arising by operation of
subsection (1) shall be brought in the Supreme Court.
Part VIII Attachment of insurance moneys
26 Amount of liability to be charge on insurance moneys payable
against that liability
(1) If a person (in this Part referred to as the insured) has, whether
before or after the commencement of this Ordinance, entered into a
Part VIII Attachment of insurance moneys
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956 12
contract of insurance by which he is indemnified against liability to
pay any damages or compensation, the amount of his liability is, on
the happening of the event giving rise to the claim for damages or
compensation, and notwithstanding that the amount of the liability
may not then have been determined, a charge on all insurance
moneys that are or may become payable in respect of that liability.
(2) If, on the happening of the event giving rise to the claim for
damages or compensation, the insured (being a corporation) is
being wound up, or if any subsequent winding-up of the insured
(being a corporation) is deemed to have commenced not later than
the happening of that event, the provisions of subsection (1) apply
notwithstanding the winding-up.
(3) Every charge created by this section has priority over all other
charges affecting the insurance moneys, and where the same
insurance moneys are subject to 2 or more charges by virtue of this
section those charges have priority between themselves in the
order of the dates of the events out of which the liability arose, or, if
the charges arise out of events happening on the same date, they
rank equally between themselves.
27 Enforcement of charge
(1) Subject to subsection (2), a charge created by this Part is
enforceable by way of an action against the insurer in the same
way and in the same court as if the action were an action to recover
damages or compensation from the insured.
(2) In respect of any such action and of the judgment given in any such
action the parties have, to the extent of the charge, the same rights
and liabilities, and the court has the same powers, as if the action
were against the insured.
(3) Except where the provisions of subsection (2) of section 26 apply,
no such action shall be commenced in any court except with the
leave of that court, and leave shall not be granted where the court
is satisfied that the insurer is entitled under the terms of the contract
of insurance to disclaim liability, and that any proceedings, including
arbitration proceedings, necessary to establish that the insurer is so
entitled to disclaim have been taken.
(4) Such an action may be brought although judgment has been
already recovered against the insured for damages or
compensation in respect of the same matter.
Part VIIIA Liability for damage to property caused by children
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956 13
28 Protection of insurer
(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Part, a payment made by an
insurer under the contract of insurance without actual notice of the
existence of a charge under this Part is, to the extent of that
payment, a valid discharge to the insurer.
(2) An insurer is not liable under this Part for any greater sum than that
fixed by the contract of insurance between himself and the insured.
29 Certain other provisions not affected
Nothing in this Part affects the operation of any of the provisions of
the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance 1921 or Part V of the
Motor Vehicles Ordinance 1974.
Part VIIIA Liability for damage to property caused by
children
29A Liability for damage to property caused by children
(1) In this section, child means a person who has not attained the age
of 18 years.
(2) Where, after the commencement of this section, a child intentionally
causes damage to property, a parent of the child is, subject to this
section, jointly and severally liable with the child for the damage
caused to the property where, at the time the damage was caused,
the child was:
(a) ordinarily resident with that parent; and
(b) not in full time employment.
(3) Where, after the commencement of this section, a detainee, within
the meaning of the Youth Justice Act 2005, intentionally causes
damage to property, the Territory is, subject to this section, jointly
and severally liable with the detainee for the damage caused to the
property.
(4) The maximum amount that may be recovered from any parent or
parents under subsection (2) (whether sued individually or jointly) or
the Territory under subsection (3) is $5,000 in respect of damage
caused by a child or detainee referred to in those subsections, as
the case may be.
Part X Dogs
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956 14
(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed as:
(a) affecting or limiting a cause of action which may otherwise lie
in or in relation to damage caused to property by a child or
detainee; or
(b) imposing liability on a parent under subsection (2) in respect
of damage caused by a detainee referred to in subsection (3).
Part X Dogs
31 Interpretation
In this Act:
dog means an animal of the genus Canis.
premises includes any land or building.
32 Liability for damage caused by dogs
(1) The owner of a dog is liable for any loss, damage or injury as a
result of the actions of the dog.
(2) In an action for damages under this section, it shall not be
necessary to prove a previous mischievous propensity in the dog or
that the loss, damage or injury was attributable to neglect on the
part of the owner.
33 Defence against actions in relation to killing or injuring dogs
(1) It is a defence to a prosecution for or civil action in relation to the
killing or injuring of a dog if:
(a) the defendant was not a trespasser on the premises on which
the dog was;
(b) the defendant or another person, or a bird or animal belonging
to the defendant, was, at the time that the dog was killed or
injured, being attacked by the dog, or the defendant believed,
on reasonable grounds, that such an attack was about to take
place; and
(c) the defendant did not provoke the attack or impending attack.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a bird or animal is deemed to
belong to the defendant if it belongs to a person who authorised the
defendant to control it.
Part X Dogs
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956 15
(3) Where a person kills or injures a dog on premises of which he or
she is the occupier or on which he or she is authorised by the
occupier to be, that person shall be deemed to have established a
prima facie defence under subsection (1).
34 Protection of persons destroying dogs
(1) A person who destroys a dog in pursuance of a law of the Territory
or if the dog is so diseased or injured that it is humane to do so is
not liable in respect of that destruction.
(2) A person who destroys a dog on the request of another person is
not liable in respect of that destruction if he or she had reasonable
cause to believe that the person who made the request was the
owner of the dog.
35 Provision for guide-dogs or hearing dogs
Notwithstanding any other law in force in the Territory:
(a) a person who is wholly or partially blind or deaf is entitled to
be accompanied by a guide-dog or hearing dog, as the case
may be, into a building or place open to or used by the public
for any purpose whatsoever or into a vehicle, vessel or craft
used for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward and
shall not be guilty of an offence by reason only that the person
takes that dog into or permits that dog to enter such a building,
place, vehicle, vessel or craft; and
(b) an occupier or person in charge of a building or place open to
or used by the public or in charge of a vehicle, vessel or craft
used for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward shall not
refuse entry into any such building, place, vehicle, vessel or
craft, or deny accommodation or service to a person who is
wholly or partially blind or deaf, by reason only that the person
is accompanied by a guide-dog or hearing dog.
Maximum penalty: 4 penalty units.
ENDNOTES
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956 16
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
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance 1956 (Act No. 31, 1956)
Assent date 28 June 1956
Commenced 28 June 1956
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance 1967 (Act No. 13, 1967)
Assent date 19 April 1967
Commenced 19 April 1967
Ordinances Revision Ordinance 1973 (Act No. 87, 1973)
Assent date 11 December 1973
Commenced 11 December 1973 (s 12(2))
Amending Legislation
Ordinances Revision Ordinance 1974 (Act No. 34, 1974)
Assent date 26 August 1974
Commenced 11 December 1973 (s 3(2))
Ordinances Revision Ordinance (No. 2) 1974 (Act No. 69, 1974)
Assent date 24 October 1974
Commenced 11 December 1973 (s 3)
Ordinances Revision Ordinance 1976 (Act No. 27, 1976)
Assent date 28 June 1976
Commenced ss 1, 2 and 6: 28 June 1976 (s 6(2));
ss 3 and 4: 11 December 1973; s 5: 24 October 1974
Statute Law Revision Act (No. 2) 1979 (Act No. 128, 1979)
Assent date 15 October 1979
Commenced 15 October 1979
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act 1984 (Act No. 16, 1984)
Assent date 12 July 1984
Commenced 12 July 1984
ENDNOTES
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956 17
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act 1986 (Act No. 9, 1986)
Assent date 19 May 1986
Commenced 1 July 1986 (Gaz G24, 18 June 1986, p 8)
Married Persons (Equality of Status) Act 1989 (Act No. 76, 1989)
Assent date 12 December 1989
Commenced 12 December 1989
Local Court (Consequential Amendments) Act 1990 (Act No. 31, 1990)
Assent date 11 June 1990
Commenced s 5: 11 June 1990; rem: 1 January 1991 (s 2, s 2 Small
Claims Amendment Act 1988 (Act No. 43, 1988), Gaz G17,
3 May 1989, p 2, s 2 Local Court Act 1989 (Act No. 31, 1989)
and Gaz G49, 12 December 1990, p 2)
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act 1991 (Act No. 6, 1991)
Assent date 7 March 1991
Commenced 3 April 1992 (s 2, s 2 Dog Act Repeal Act 1991 (Act No. 5,
1991) and Gaz S21, 3 April 1992)
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act (No. 2) 1991 (Act No. 44, 1991)
Assent date 26 September 1991
Commenced 1 January 1992 (Gaz S63, 16 December 1991)
De Facto Relationships (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1991 (Act No. 82, 1991)
Assent date 24 December 1991
Commenced 1 January 1992 (s 2)
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act 1992 (Act No. 10, 1992)
Assent date 21 April 1992
Commenced 3 April 1992 (s 2, s 2 Dog Act Repeal Act 1991 (Act No. 5,
1991) and Gaz S21, 3 April 1992)
Sentencing of Juveniles (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2000 (Act No. 17, 2000)
Assent date 30 May 2000
Commenced 1 June 2000 (s 2)
Law of Property (Consequential Amendments) Act 2000 (Act No. 46, 2000)
Assent date 12 September 2000
Commenced 1 December 2000 (s 2, s 2 Law of Property Act 2000 (Act
No. 1, 2000)and Gaz G38, 27 September 2000, p 2)
Statute Law Revision Act 2001 (Act No. 3, 2001)
Assent date 22 March 2001
Commenced 22 March 2001
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act 2001 (Act No. 12, 2001)
Assent date 28 June 2001
Commenced 1 August 2001 (Gaz G29, 25 July 2001, p 2)
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act (No. 2) 2001 (Act No. 26, 2001)
Assent date 19 July 2001
Commenced 19 July 2001
ENDNOTES
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956 18
Personal Injuries (Liabilities and Damages) (Consequential Amendments) Act 2003 (Act
No. 4, 2003)
Assent date 18 March 2003
Commenced 1 May 2003 (Gaz G17, 30 April 2003, p 3)
Law Reform (Gender, Sexuality and De Facto Relationships) Act 2003 (Act No. 1, 2004)
Assent date 7 January 2004
Commenced 17 March 2004 (Gaz G11, 17 March 2004, p 8)
Statute Law Revision Act (No. 2) 2004 (Act No. 54, 2004)
Assent date 15 September 2004
Commenced 27 October 2004 (Gaz G43, 27 October 2004, p 3)
Youth Justice (Consequential Amendments) Act 2005 (Act No. 33, 2005)
Assent date 22 September 2005
Commenced 1 August 2006 (s 2, s 2 Youth Justice Act 2005 (Act No. 32,
2005) and Gaz G30, 26 July 2006, p 3)
Law Reform (Dust Diseases) Amendment Act 2007 (Act No. 22, 2007)
Assent date 29 October 2007
Commenced 7 November 2007 (Gaz G45, 7 November 2007, p 3)
Justice Legislation Amendment (Penalties) Act 2010 (Act No. 12, 2010)
Assent date 20 May 2010
Commenced 1 July 2010 (Gaz G24, 16 June 2010, p 3)
Local Court (Related Amendments) Act 2016 (Act No. 8, 2016)
Assent date 6 April 2016
Commenced 1 May 2016 (s 2, s 2 Local Court (Repeals and Related
Amendments) Act 2016 (Act No. 9, 2016) and Gaz S34,
29 April 2016)
Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration and Other Legislation Amendment 2018 (Act
No. 30, 2018)
Assent date 5 December 2018
Commenced 6 December 2018 (s 2)
3 SAVINGS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
s 3 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance 1967 (Act No. 13,
1967)
s 3 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act 1984 (Act
No. 16, 1984)
s 5 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act 1986 (Act No. 9,
1986)
s 8(3) De Facto Relationships (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1991 (Act
No. 82, 1991)
s 3(2) and (3) Personal Injuries (Liabilities and Damages) (Consequential
Amendments) Act 2003 (Act No. 4, 2003)
s 74 Law Reform (Gender, Sexuality and De Facto Relationships) Act 2003
(Act No. 1, 2004)
ENDNOTES
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956 19
4 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 Ordinances Revision
Ordinance 1973 (as amended) to the following provisions: ss 7, 9, 10, 11, 12,
13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27 and 29.
5 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, 9, 11, 15, 17, 29 and
29A.
6 LIST OF AMENDMENTS
s 2 rep No. 128, 1979, s 37
s 6 amd No. 9, 1986, s 4; No. 22, 2007, s 4
s 7 amd No. 13, 1967, s 2
s 9 amd No. 13, 1967, s 3
pt III hdg rep No. 76, 1989, s 7
ins No. 26, 2001, s 2
rep No. 54, 2004, s 3
s 10 rep No. 76, 1989, s 7
ins No. 26, 2001, s 2
rep No. 4, 2003, s 3
s 10A ins No. 26, 2001, s 2
rep No. 4, 2003, s 3
s 11 amd No. 3, 2001, s 8
s 12 amd No. 1, 2004, s 62; No. 8, 2016, s 45; No. 30, 2018, s 24
s 15 amd No. 12, 2001, s 4
s 16 amd No. 12, 2001, s 5
ss 17 – 20 amd No. 12, 2001, s 7
s 21 sub No. 12, 2001, s 6
s 21A ins No. 12, 2001, s 6
s 22A ins No. 16, 1984, s 2
s 23 amd No. 82, 1991, s 8; No. 1, 2004, s 62; No. 30, 2018, s 25
s 25 amd No. 82, 1991, s 8; No. 30, 2018, s 26
pt VIIIA hdg ins No. 44, 1991, s 3
s 29A ins No. 44, 1991, s 3
amd No. 17, 2000, s 6; No. 33, 2005, s 5
pt IX hdg ins No. 31, 1990, s 4
rep No. 46, 2000, s 4
s 30 ins No. 31, 1990, s 4
rep No. 46, 2000, s 4
pt X hdg ins No. 6, 1991, s 3
ss 31 – 34 ins No. 6, 1991, s 3
s 35 ins No. 10, 1992, s 3
amd No. 12, 2010, s 3