NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
LOCAL COURT REGULATIONS 2016
As in force at 3 November 2021
Table of provisions
Part 1 Preliminary matters
1 Citation ............................................................................................ 1
2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1
Part 2 When JPs may constitute the Court
Division 1 Two or more JPs
3 Court constituted by 2 JPs ............................................................... 1
4 How Court to act when constituted by 2 or more JPs ...................... 2
Division 2 One JP
5 Court constituted by one JP............................................................. 2
6 One JP may perform Court's functions under the Bail Act 1982 ...... 3
Part 3 Fees
7 Fees ................................................................................................ 3
8 No fees for certain proceedings ....................................................... 3
9 Fees for Territory in civil proceedings .............................................. 3
10 Fees for parties in civil proceedings ................................................ 3
11 Fees for Territory in criminal proceedings ....................................... 4
12 Waiver of fee in case of hardship .................................................... 4
Schedule Fees
ENDNOTES
NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
As in force at 3 November 2021
LOCAL COURT REGULATIONS 2016
Regulations under the Local Court Act 2015
Part 1 Preliminary matters
1 Citation
These Regulations may be cited as the Local Court
Regulations 2016.
2 Commencement
These Regulations commence on the commencement of the Local
Court Act 2015.
Part 2 When JPs may constitute the Court
Division 1 Two or more JPs
3 Court constituted by 2 JPs
(1) For section 6(4) of the Act, the Court may be constituted by 2 or
more JPs for the purpose of exercising the Court's criminal
jurisdiction as mentioned in subregulations (2) and (3).
(2) In proceedings relating to a charge of a summary offence, the Court
constituted by 2 or more JPs may do either or both of the following:
(a) anything preliminary to the hearing of the charge;
(b) if there is no Judge available to constitute the Court to hear
and determine the charge without the proceedings being
unreasonably delayed – hear and determine the charge.
(3) In proceedings relating to a charge of an indictable offence that is to
be heard and determined summarily, the Court constituted by 2 or
more JPs:
Part 2 When JPs may constitute the Court
Division 2 One JP
Local Court Regulations 2016 2
(a) may do anything preliminary to the hearing of the charge; but
(b) cannot hear and determine the charge.
4 How Court to act when constituted by 2 or more JPs
(1) If the Court is constituted by 2 or more JPs, both or all of them must
be present and acting together.
(2) If the Court is constituted by 2 JPs, the decision of the Court is:
(a) the unanimous decision of both of them; or
(b) if they cannot agree – the decision of the one who was first
appointed as a JP.
(3) If the Court is constituted by more than 2 JPs, the decision of the
Court is:
(a) the unanimous decision of all of them; or
(b) the decision of a majority of them; or
(c) if there is an equality of votes – the decision of the one who
was first appointed as a JP.
Division 2 One JP
5 Court constituted by one JP
(1) For section 6(4) of the Act, the Court may be constituted by one JP
for the purpose of exercising the Court's criminal jurisdiction as
mentioned in subregulation (2).
(2) In proceedings relating to a charge of a summary offence, the Court
constituted by one JP may do either or both of the following:
(a) anything preliminary to the hearing of the charge;
(b) if the criteria mentioned in subregulation (3) are satisfied –
hear and determine the charge.
(3) The criteria for subregulation (2)(b) are that:
(a) the offence is an offence against a law in force in the Territory;
and
(b) the offence is not punishable by a term of imprisonment; and
(c) the maximum fine that may be imposed on an individual for
the offence is not more than 10 penalty units; and
Part 3 Fees
Local Court Regulations 2016 3
(d) the parties have given written consent to the charge being
heard and determined by the Court constituted by one JP.
6 One JP may perform Court's functions under the Bail Act 1982
The Court may be constituted by one JP for the purposes of
performing the Court's functions under the Bail Act 1982 (except as
otherwise provided in that Act).
Part 3 Fees
7 Fees
(1) The Schedule prescribes the fees payable in relation to
proceedings and for other matters listed in the Schedule.
(2) The fees are specified in revenue units unless otherwise indicated.
(3) The fees are payable:
(a) to the Court unless otherwise specified; and
(b) at the time specified in the Schedule.
(4) This regulation is subject to regulations 8 to 12.
8 No fees for certain proceedings
No fees are payable in relation to proceedings under the Domestic
and Family Violence Act 2007 or the Personal Violence Restraining
Orders Act 2016.
9 Fees for Territory in civil proceedings
(1) This regulation applies in relation to a person acting in civil
proceedings for or by the authority of the Territory.
(2) The person is exempt from payment of the fees specified in the
Schedule, items 1 and 2.
(3) The person is entitled to recover an amount equal to the fee that
would otherwise have been payable as part of a judgment debt as if
it were a cost incurred.
(4) On recovery of the judgement debt, the person must pay an amount
equal to the fee to the Court.
10 Fees for parties in civil proceedings
(1) This regulation applies in relation to the parties to civil proceedings.
Part 3 Fees
Local Court Regulations 2016 4
(2) The parties are exempt from payment of the fees specified in the
Schedule, item 4.
11 Fees for Territory in criminal proceedings
(1) This regulation applies where criminal proceedings are commenced
under the Act by:
(a) a police officer in the officer's capacity as an officer; or
(b) in relation to legislation that is administered by an Agency
within the meaning of the Public Sector Employment and
Management Act 1993:
(i) an employee, as defined in that Act; or
(ii) a Chief Executive Officer, as defined in that Act.
(2) The officer, employee or Chief Executive Officer is exempt from
payment of the fees specified in the Schedule, item 8, 9, 10, 11
and 13, unless otherwise ordered by the Court.
12 Waiver of fee in case of hardship
A registrar may waive payment of all or part of any of the following
fees, subject to any written directions given by the principal
registrar, if satisfied that payment of the fee would cause financial
hardship to the person otherwise required to pay it:
(a) a fee specified in the Schedule, item 1, 2, 3, or 4;
(b) a fee specified in the Schedule, item 8, that is prescribed for
filing a complaint, information or application.
Schedule Fees
Local Court Regulations 2016 5
Schedule Fees
regulation 7
Fee
(revenue units)
Part 1 Civil Jurisdiction
1 Filing
(Payable at time of filing)
(a) Statement of claim or originating application under Part 7 of
the Local Court (Civil Jurisdiction) Rules 1998 seeking
monetary relief where the amount is:
(i) more than $5 000 but less than $10 000 .......................... 232
(ii) $10 000 or more but less than $20 000 ............................ 355
(iii) $20 000 or more ............................................................... 435
(iv) an unspecified amount ..................................................... 435
(b) Statement of claim or originating application under Part 7 of
the Local Court (Civil Jurisdiction) Rules 1998 other than a
claim or application seeking monetary relief ............................. 232
(c) Statement of claim or originating application under Part 7 of
the Local Court (Civil Jurisdiction) Rules 1998 seeking relief
other than monetary relief in addition to, or as an alternative to,
monetary relief where the amount to which the other than
monetary relief is in addition, or is an alternative, is:
(i) more than $5 000 but less than $10 000 .......................... 232
(ii) $10 000 or more but less than $20 000 ............................ 355
(iii) $20 000 or more ............................................................... 435
(iv) an unspecified amount ..................................................... 435
(d) Application for an interpleader order under Part 14 of the Local
Court (Civil Jurisdiction) Rules 1998 ......................................... 126
(e) Application for an order under Part 18 of the Local Court (Civil
Jurisdiction) Rules 1998 seeking preliminary discovery or
discovery from a non-party ....................................................... 126
(f) Application for a re-hearing under Part 36 of the Local Court
(Civil Jurisdiction) Rules 1998 .................................................. 271
(g) Notice of appeal under Part 37 of the Local Court (Civil
Jurisdiction) Rules 1998 ........................................................... 115
(h) Application for the issue of a warrant ........................................ 62
Schedule Fees
Local Court Regulations 2016 6
(i) Application for an order under Chapter 2 of the Local Court
(Civil Jurisdiction) Rules 1998 .................................................. 62
(j) Judgment filed for registration under section 105 of the Service
and Execution of Process Act 1992 (Cth) ................................. 134
(k) Any other application ................................................................ 126
2 Taxation of costs
(Payable at time of filing)
Filing a bill of costs under Part 38 of the Local Court (Civil
Jurisdiction) Rules 1998 ........................................................... 385
3 Orders
(Payable on demand)
Certified copy of order under Part 35 of the Local Court (Civil
Jurisdiction) Rules 1998 ........................................................... 66
4 Inspection of court records
(Payable at time of access or inspection)
(a) Access to case file under section 29(2) of the Act .................... 22
(b) Inspection of judgment or order under section 30(1) of the Act 22
(c) Access to an exhibit admitted into evidence under
section 31(2) of the Act ............................................................. 22
5 Service
(Payable to bailiff on demand after service or 2 unsuccessful
attempts to serve)
Bailiff fee for service under rule 5 of the Local Court (General)
Rules 2016 ............................................................................... 125
6 Execution of warrants
(Payable to bailiff on execution of warrant)
(a) Bailiff fee for execution of warrant of possession ...................... 136
(b) Bailiff fee for execution of warrant of seizure and sale where
the value of property to be seized is:
(i) less than $5 000 ............................................................... 91
(ii) $5 000 or more but less than $20 000 .............................. 136
(iii) $20 000 or more ............................................................... 180
(c) Bailiff fee for execution of other warrants .................................. 65
Schedule Fees
Local Court Regulations 2016 7
6A Court transcripts
(Payable on demand)
(a) Copy of transcript not on case file – per page ........................... 14
(b) Certification of copy of any transcript ......................................... 10
7 Photocopying
(Payable on demand)
Photocopying by Court staff – per page .................................... 2
Part 2 Criminal Jurisdiction
8 Filing
(Payable at time of filing)
Complaint, information, application ........................................... 87
Notice of appeal ........................................................................ 124
9 Issue of summons
(Payable before summons issued)
Issue of summons ..................................................................... 23
10 Service
(Payable before service is attempted)
Fee for service of summons, application, notice or order by
bailiff ......................................................................................... 33
11 Warrants
(Payable before warrant issued or executed)
(i) for issue of warrant ........................................................... 52
(ii) for execution ..................................................................... 51
12 Orders for payment of money
(Payable before order issued or executed)
Order for payment of a fine or other sum of money
(i) for issue of order .............................................................. 52
(ii) for execution ..................................................................... 51
12A Court transcripts
(Payable on demand)
(a) Copy of transcript not on case file – per page ........................... 14
(b) Certification of copy of any transcript ......................................... 10
Schedule Fees
Local Court Regulations 2016 8
13 Photocopying
(Payable on demand)
Photocopying of document in proceedings – per page ............. 2
14 Certificates of proceeding
(Payable on demand)
Certificate given under section 178 of the Evidence (National
Uniform Legislation)
Act 2011…………………………………………… 42
ENDNOTES
Local Court Regulations 2016 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
Local Court Regulations (SL No. 16, 2016)
Notified 29 April 2016
Commenced 1 May 2016 (r 2, s 2 Local Court Act 2015 (Act No. 15, 2015)
and Gaz G1, 6 January 2016, p 9)
Local Court Amendment Regulations 2016 (SL No. 28, 2016)
Notified 1 July 2016
Commenced 1 July 2016
Local Court Amendment Regulations 2018 (SL No. 23, 2018)
Notified 5 December 2018
Commenced 5 December 2018
Justice Legislation Amendment Regulations 2021 (SL No. 18, 2021)
Notified 3 November 2021
Commenced 3 November 2021
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: rr 1, 2, 6, 8 and 11 and sch.
4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS
r 12 sub No. 5, 2018, r 4
sch amd No. 28, 2016, r 3; No. 5, 2018, r 5; No. 18, 2021, r 5