Professional Combat Sports Act 1987 (Western Australia)

This Act establishes a statutory regulatory framework for combat sports in Western Australia. It creates a Combat Sports Commission (the Commission) with appointments, powers and funding (Pt II, ss 4, 11-13). The Commission keeps registers of two categories of persons: contestants (Part III, ss 14-25A) and industry participants (Part IV, ss 26-34A). The Act requires registration before participation or involvement in prescribed capacities (see definition of industry participant at s 3 and offences at ss 24, 33), and issues time-limited certificates of registration (3 years, ss 18, 30). It imposes pre-contest procedural requirements: written permit applications (s 44), permits issued subject to terms and conditions (s 45), mandatory weigh-ins (s 48), mandatory pre-contest medical examinations within 24 hours (s 49A), and contest-time medical oversight and reporting (s 49, s 51).

Enforcement and compliance mechanisms include criminal penalties for breaches (s 47 and elsewhere), administrative disciplinary powers over registrations and permits (ss 21, 23, 33A, 47A), investigatory powers (s 47AA), and inquiry and remedial powers in relation to sham contests (s 48A). The Commission may require police information to assess fitness and probity (s 54A) and the Commissioner of Police can certify information as confidential, restricting disclosure and limiting reasons the Commission must give when relying on such information (s 54B(2)-(4)). The Act integrates with public sector financial and governance laws (ss 12-13 refer to the Financial Management Act 2006 and Auditor General Act 2006) and requires approved rules for each combat sport (s 62A) with the Minister to approve on the Commission’s advice.

Mechanically, the Act moves participants through statutory processes: application (forms, fees, prescribed medical material, ss 16, 19, 31), fitness and fit-and-proper assessments by the Commission (ss 17, 28, 32), issuance of certificates and record books (ss 18, 35), and permit-based event approval (ss 44-45). It also prescribes documentation and evidentiary traces (contestant record books, ss 35-42; evidentiary certificates, s 58) to facilitate enforcement and adjudication.

CrestWestern Australia

Combat Sports Act 1987

Western Australia

Combat Sports Act 1987

Contents

Part I — Preliminary

Short title 2
Commencement 2
Terms used 2

Part II — Combat Sports Commission

Combat Sports Commission established 4
Vacation of office 5
Remuneration and leave of members 6
Casual vacancies 6
Meetings of Commission 6
Control of Minister 7
Functions of Commission 7
Staff 8
Funds of Commission 8
Financial provisions 9

Part III — Registration of contestants

Prescribed classes of contestants 10
Register 10
Applying for registration 10
Registering contestants 11
Certificate of registration 12
Term of registration and application for renewal 12
Renewal of registration 12
Commission’s powers to ensure health and safety of contestants 13
Disciplinary powers against contestants 14

24A. Cancelling registration on contestant’s request 14

Offence to participate in contests if unregistered etc. 14

25A. Commission may vary or cancel conditions and restrictions 15

Part IV — Registration of industry participants

Register of industry participants 16
Applying to be registered 16
Registering industry participants 17
Certificate of registration 17
Term of registration 17
Application for renewal of registration 18
Renewal of registration 18

33A. Disciplinary powers 18

Offence 19

34A. Commission may cancel or vary conditions or restrictions 19

Part VI — Contestant record books

Books to be issued to registered contestants 20
Altering books 21
Damaging books 21
Surrender of books 21
Re‑issue of books 21
Issuing additional books 22
Replacing books 22

Part VII — Contests

Interpretation 23
Applying for permits to conduct contests 23
Issuing permits for contests 24
Notification of Commissioner of Police 25

47AA. Commission may require information 25

47A. Suspending or cancelling a permit 25

Offences 26

48A. Sham contests, inquiries into 27

Pre‑contest weigh‑ins 28

49A. Pre‑contest medical examinations 29

Medical practitioner to notify referee at contest if contestant unfit to participate; and referee to take action 30
Contestants not to compete without weigh‑in and medical examination 31
Duties of promoter and medical practitioner 31
Record of contest 33

Part VIIIA — Review

53A. Review by SAT 34

Part VIII — Miscellaneous

False or misleading information 35

54A. Commission may get information from WA Police 35

54B. Confidential police information 35

Refusing applications, imposing or varying conditions etc. and suspending or cancelling registrations, procedure for 37
Recovery of charges etc. 38
Statutory declaration 38
Evidentiary certificates 38
Delegation 39
Authentication of certain documents 39
Protection of Commission and others 39

62A. Rules for contests 40

Regulations 40

Notes

Compilation table 42

Defined terms

Western Australia

Combat Sports Act 1987

An Act to control combat sports and for other and incidental purposes.

[Long title amended: No. 16 of 2003 s. 4; No. 44 of 2011 s. 4.]

Part I — Preliminary

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Combat Sports Act 1987 1.

[Section 1 amended: No. 16 of 2003 s. 5; No. 44 of 2011 s. 5.]

2. Commencement

This Act shall come into operation on a day to be fixed by proclamation 1.

3. Terms used

In this Act unless the context otherwise requires —

boxing means fist fighting or sparring;

capacity, in relation to an industry participant, means a capacity prescribed for the purposes of the definition of industry participant in this section;

combat sport means —

(a) boxing; or

(b) any other martial art, sport or activity that involves 2 or more participants whose primary objective is to do any or any combination of the following —

(i) grapple with, punch, kick or throw each other; or

(ii) strike or hit each other, whether or not with a weapon,

unless it is prescribed not to be a combat sport for the purposes of this Act;

Commission means the Commission established under section 4;

contest means a contest or exhibition of a combat sport —

(a) that is organised, arranged or promoted for profit; or

(b) that is conducted for public entertainment; or

unless it is prescribed not to be a contest for the purposes of this Act;

contestant means a person who participates in a contest, whether for reward or not;

Department means the Department principally assisting the Minister in the administration of this Act;

industry participant means a person who, otherwise than as a contestant, is involved, in a capacity that is prescribed, in conducting or assisting to conduct a contest;

medical practitioner means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia) in the medical profession;

member means a member of the Commission and includes the chairman;

prescribed means prescribed by the regulations;

registered —

(a) in relation to a contestant, means registered under section 17;

(b) in relation to an industry participant, means registered under section 27;

sham contest means a contest —

(a) during the whole or a part of which any contestant is, for any reason, including an injury or illness, or a bribe, promise or threat by another person, not competing to the best of his or her ability; or

(b) the result of which is arranged by the contestants or by a person involved in controlling, judging or promoting the contest.

[Section 3 amended: No. 16 of 2003 s. 6; No. 44 of 2011 s. 6.]

Part II — Combat Sports Commission

[Heading inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 7.]

4. Combat Sports Commission established

(1) There shall be a Combat Sports Commission.

(2A) The Commission is a continuation of the body previously called the “Professional Combat Sports Commission” and the “Western Australian Boxing Commission”.

(2) The Commission shall consist of 9 members of whom —

(a) 8 persons shall be appointed by the Minister as follows —

(i) one person shall be a person appointed to be chairman of the Commission;

(ii) one person shall be a police officer nominated in writing by the Commissioner of Police;

(iii) one person shall be a medical practitioner who in the opinion of the Minister has knowledge of injuries suffered by contestants;

(iv) one person shall be a person who in the opinion of the Minister has knowledge of the boxing industry;

(v) one person shall be a person who in the opinion of the Minister has knowledge of the industry relating to combat sports other than boxing;

(vi) one person shall be a person who in the opinion of the Minister represents persons who are or have been registered as contestants in a class relevant to boxing;

(vii) one person shall be a person who in the opinion of the Minister represents persons who are or have been registered as contestants in a class other than a class relevant to boxing;

(viii) one person shall be a person who in the opinion of the Minister has knowledge of the industry relating to combat sports known as mixed martial arts;

and

(b) one person shall be the chief executive officer of the Department or an officer of the Department nominated by the chief executive officer.

(3) A nomination for the purposes of subsection (2)(a)(ii) or (b) —

(a) may be withdrawn at any time;

(b) may be made for a period or in relation to such circumstances as are specified in the nomination.

(4) The Minister may make such arrangements as the Minister considers appropriate for the receipt of nominations for the purposes of an appointment under subsection (2)(a)(iii), (iv), (v), (vi) or (vii).

(5) A member other than a member referred to in subsection (2)(a)(ii) or (2)(b) shall be appointed for such term not exceeding 3 years as is specified in the instrument of his appointment.

[Section 4 amended: No. 29 of 1990 s. 4; No. 16 of 2003 s. 8; No. 44 of 2011 s. 8.]

5. Vacation of office

(1) The office of member, other than the office of member referred to in section 4(2)(a)(ii) or 4(2)(b), becomes vacant if —

(a) the term of office of the member expires; or

(b) the member becomes permanently incapable of performing his duties; or

(d) the member is, according to the Interpretation Act 1984 section 13D, a bankrupt or a person whose affairs are under insolvency laws; or

(e) the member is removed from office by the Minister on the grounds of neglect of duty, his behaviour or incompetence; or

(f) the member is absent without leave of the Minister from 3 consecutive meetings of the Commission.

(2) The office of member referred in section 4(2)(a)(ii) becomes vacant if the nomination of the member is withdrawn.

[Section 5 amended: No. 18 of 2009 s. 69; No. 44 of 2011 s. 9.]

6. Remuneration and leave of members

(1) A member is entitled to such remuneration and allowances as are determined by the Governor on the recommendation of the Public Sector Commissioner.

(2) The Minister may grant leave of absence to a member on such terms and conditions as the Minister determines.

[Section 6 amended: No. 39 of 2010 s. 89.]

7. Casual vacancies

Where an office of member becomes vacant otherwise than by effluxion of time a person appointed to the vacancy shall hold office only for the balance of the term of the person whose vacancy he fills.

8. Meetings of Commission

(1) The chairman may at any time and shall when so requested by the Minister convene a meeting of the Commission to be held at a time and place determined by the chairman.

(2) The chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Commission at which he is present.

(3) If the chairman is not present at a meeting of the Commission the members present shall elect one of their number to preside at the meeting.

(4) At a meeting of the Commission 5 members constitute a quorum.

(5) At a meeting of the Commission where any question requiring a vote arises the question shall be decided by a majority of the members present.

(6) Subject to the presence of a quorum, the Commission may act notwithstanding any vacancy in its membership.

(7) A member of the Commission who has a pecuniary interest whether direct or indirect in any matter to be considered by the Commission —

(a) shall declare the nature of that interest at every meeting of the Commission at which the matter is considered; and

(b) shall not take part in any deliberation on the matter; and

(8) Except to the extent that they are prescribed, the Commission may determine its own procedures.

[Section 8 amended: No. 44 of 2011 s. 10.]

9. Control of Minister

The Commission is subject to the control and direction of the Minister, and is responsible to the Minister for the administration of this Act.

10. Functions of Commission

(1) The functions of the Commission are —

(a) to carry out the functions conferred on the Commission under this or any other Act;

(b) to formulate or recommend standards, specifications, codes of conduct or other forms of guidance for the purpose of maintaining proper standards in combat sports;

(d) to devise and approve standards or guidelines for the preparation or training of persons participating in or proposing to participate in contests.

(2) The Commission may adopt standards, specifications, codes of conduct or guidelines of any other authority or body engaged in or controlling a combat sport or any other matters connected with or incidental to a combat sport.

[Section 10 amended: No. 16 of 2003 s. 9; No. 44 of 2011 s. 11.]

11. Staff

There shall be appointed under and subject to Part 3 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994 such officers and employees as are necessary to assist the Commission in the performance of its functions.

[Section 11 amended: No. 32 of 1994 s. 3(2).]

12. Funds of Commission

(1) An account called the Combat Sports Commission Account is to be established —

(a) as an agency special purpose account under section 16 of the Financial Management Act 2006; or

(b) with the approval of the Treasurer, at a bank as defined in section 3 of that Act,

to which the funds of the Commission are to be credited.

(2A) The Combat Sports Commission Account is a continuation of the account previously called the “Professional Combat Sports Commission Account” and the “Western Australian Boxing Commission Account”.

(2) The funds of the Commission shall consist of —

(a) any moneys received by or paid to the Commission under this Act; and

(b) such moneys as are appropriated by Parliament from time to time; and

(d) any other moneys lawfully received by, made available to, or payable to the Commission.

(3) The funds of the Commission shall be applied by the Commission for —

(a) the purposes of carrying out its functions under this Act; and

(b) the payment of such moneys for such purposes as are approved by the Minister.

[Section 12 amended: No. 49 of 1996 s. 49; No. 16 of 2003 s. 10(1); No. 28 of 2006 s. 160; No. 77 of 2006 Sch. 1 cl. 133(1); No. 44 of 2011 s. 12.]

13. Financial provisions

The provisions of the Financial Management Act 2006 and the Auditor General Act 2006 regulating the financial administration, audit and reporting of statutory authorities apply to and in respect of the Commission and its operations.

[Section 13 amended: No. 77 of 2006 Sch. 1 cl. 133(2).]

Part III — Registration of contestants

[Heading inserted: No. 16 of 2003 s. 11.]

14. Prescribed classes of contestants

For the purposes of registering contestants, classes of contestants may be prescribed.

[Section 14 amended: No. 16 of 2003 s. 28(3).]

15. Register

(1) The Commission shall cause to be kept a register in respect of each prescribed class of contestant.

(2) The Commission shall cause to be entered in the register in respect of each person registered as a contestant —

(a) the names and addresses of persons who are registered as contestants; and

(b) the prescribed class of contestant under which a contestant is registered; and

[Section 15 amended: No. 16 of 2003 s. 28(1) and (3).]

16. Applying for registration

(1) A person who desires to be registered as a contestant must apply to the Commission to be registered.

(2) An application made under subsection (1) must —

(a) be in a form approved by the Commission; and

(b) be accompanied by any medical information about the applicant that is prescribed; and

(3) The Commission may ask the applicant to give the Commission any additional information the Commission needs to decide an application under section 17.

(4) The Commission may refuse to decide an application until it has received the information it needs to decide the application under section 17.

[Section 16 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 13.]

17. Registering contestants

(1) If on an application made under section 16 the Commission is satisfied —

(a) the applicant —

(i) is a fit and proper person; and

(ii) has reached the age prescribed for the prescribed class of contestant for which registration is sought; and

(iii) is medically and physically fit to be registered as a contestant in that class; and

(iv) understands the duties that this Act will impose on the applicant if the application is granted;

and

(b) there is no reason, in the interests of the health and safety of the applicant or of any contestant with whom the applicant might participate in a contest, not to do so,

the Commission must register the applicant as a contestant in the prescribed class of contestant for which registration is sought.

(2) If the Commission is satisfied an applicant has not attained the prescribed age required by subsection (1)(a)(ii) but otherwise complies with the requirements of subsection (1), the Commission may recommend to the Minister that the applicant be registered and the Minister may direct and authorise the Commission to register the applicant in terms of the recommendation or in such other terms as the Minister determines.

(3) When registering a contestant, the Commission may impose such conditions or restrictions on the contestant as it thinks fit.

[Section 17 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 14.]

18. Certificate of registration

The Commission shall issue a person registered as a contestant a certificate of registration, in a form approved by the Commission, stating —

(a) that the person is registered as a contestant; and

(b) the conditions and restrictions (if any) that apply in relation to the person as a contestant.

[Section 18 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 15.]

19. Term of registration and application for renewal

(1) A certificate of registration issued under section 18 to a person has effect for 3 years as from and including the date of the certificate unless it is cancelled or suspended.

(2) A person who is registered as a contestant may apply to the Commission for the renewal of the person’s registration.

(3) An application made under subsection (2) must —

(a) be in a form approved by the Commission; and

(b) be accompanied by any medical information about the applicant that is prescribed; and

[Section 19 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 16.]

20. Renewal of registration

(1) If on an application made under section 19 the Commission is satisfied —

(a) the applicant —

(i) is a fit and proper person; and

(ii) is medically and physically fit to be registered as a contestant in that class; and

(iii) has complied with any conditions and restrictions imposed on the applicant under this Part; and

(iv) understands the duties that this Act will impose on the applicant if the application is granted;

and

(b) there is no reason, in the interests of the health and safety of the applicant or of any contestant with whom the applicant might participate in a contest, not to do so,

the Commission must renew the applicant’s registration as a contestant in the class sought in the application.

(2) When renewing a contestant’s registration, the Commission may impose such conditions or restrictions on the contestant as it thinks fit.

[Section 20 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 17.]

21. Commission’s powers to ensure health and safety of contestants

If the Commission is of the opinion that it is in the interests of the health and safety of a contestant, or of any other contestant with whom that contestant might participate in a contest, the Commission may —

(a) cancel or suspend the contestant’s registration as a contestant; or

(b) impose any conditions or restrictions on the contestant it thinks fit; or

[Section 21 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 18.]

[22. Deleted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 19.]

23. Disciplinary powers against contestants

If the Commission —

(a) is of the opinion a registered contestant —

(i) is not a fit and proper person; or

(ii) has committed an offence against this Act; or

(iii) has not complied with any condition or restriction imposed on him or her under this Act;

(b) after conducting an inquiry under section 48A, is of the opinion a registered contestant has participated in a sham contest,

the Commission may do any of the following —

(d) impose any conditions or restrictions on the contestant it thinks fit;

(e) cancel or suspend the registration of that person as a contestant.

[Section 23 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 20.]

24A. Cancelling registration on contestant’s request

The Commission must cancel the registration of a contestant if the contestant asks the Commission to do so.

[Section 24A inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 21.]

24. Offence to participate in contests if unregistered etc.

A person shall not participate in a contest in a particular class of combat sport —

(a) if the person is not registered as a contestant of that class; or

(b) while the person’s registration as a contestant of that class is suspended under section 23.

Penalty: a fine of $6 000.

[Section 24 inserted: No. 16 of 2003 s. 14; amended: No. 44 of 2011 s. 22.]

25A. Commission may vary or cancel conditions and restrictions

The Commission may at any time vary or cancel a condition or restriction imposed under this Part in respect of the registration of a contestant or impose any condition or restriction on the registration of a contestant that it thinks fit.

[Section 25A inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 23.]

Part IV — Registration of industry participants

[25. Deleted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 24.]

26. Register of industry participants

The Commission shall cause to be kept a register of industry participants in which are recorded —

(a) the name and address of each person registered as an industry participant; and

(b) the capacity in which he or she is registered as an industry participant; and

[Section 26 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 25.]

27. Applying to be registered

(1) A person who desires to be registered as an industry participant must apply to the Commission to be registered.

(2) Only a natural person can apply to be registered as an industry participant.

(3) An application made under subsection (1) must —

(a) be in a form approved by the Commission; and

(b) be accompanied by the prescribed fee.

(4) The Commission may ask the applicant to give the Commission any additional information the Commission needs to decide an application under section 28.

(5) The Commission may refuse to decide an application until it has received the information it needs to decide the application under section 28.

[Section 27 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 26.]

28. Registering industry participants

(1) If on an application made under section 27 the Commission is satisfied the applicant —

(a) is a fit and proper person; and

(b) understands the duties that this Act will impose on the applicant if the application is granted,

the Commission must register the applicant as an industry participant in the terms sought in the application.

(2) When registering an industry participant, the Commission may impose such conditions and restrictions in relation to the participant as the Commission thinks fit.

[Section 28 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 26.]

29. Certificate of registration

The Commission shall issue a person registered as an industry participant a certificate of registration, in a form approved by the Commission, stating —

(a) that the person is registered as an industry participant; and

(b) the capacity in which he or she is registered as an industry participant; and

[Section 29 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 27.]

30. Term of registration

A certificate of registration issued under section 29 to a person has effect for 3 years as from and including the date of the certificate unless it is cancelled or suspended.

[Section 30 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 28.]

31. Application for renewal of registration

(1) A person who is registered as an industry participant may apply to the Commission for the renewal of the person’s registration.

(2) An application under subsection (1) shall be —

(a) in a form of the form approved by the Commission; and

(b) accompanied by the fee prescribed in relation to the kind of industry participant in question.

(3) The Commission may require an applicant under subsection (1) to furnish to the Commission such further information as is specified by the Commission.

[Section 31 amended: No. 44 of 2011 s. 29.]

32. Renewal of registration

(1) If on an application made under section 31 the Commission is satisfied the applicant —

(a) is a fit and proper person; and

(b) has complied with the conditions and restrictions imposed on the applicant under this Part; and

the Commission must renew the applicant’s registration as an industry participant in the terms sought in the application.

(2) The Commission may impose such conditions and restrictions in respect of the renewal of a registration under this section as it thinks fit.

[Section 32 amended: No. 16 of 2003 s. 15; No. 44 of 2011 s. 30.]

33A. Disciplinary powers

If the Commission —

(a) is of the opinion a registered industry participant —

(i) is not a fit and proper person; or

(ii) has committed an offence against this Act; or

(iii) has not complied with any condition or restriction imposed on the person under this Part;

(b) after conducting an inquiry under section 48A, is of the opinion a registered industry participant has participated in a sham contest,

the Commission may do any of the following —

(d) impose any conditions or restrictions on the participant it thinks fit;

(e) cancel or suspend the registration of that person as an industry participant.

[Section 33A inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 31.]

33. Offence

A person must not be involved in the conduct of a contest in a capacity that is prescribed for the purposes of the definition in section 3 of industry participant unless he or she is registered as an industry participant in that capacity.

Penalty:

(a) for a first offence, a fine of $2 000;

(b) for a subsequent offence, a fine of $10 000.

[Section 33 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 32.]

34A. Commission may cancel or vary conditions or restrictions

The Commission may at any time vary or cancel a condition or restriction imposed under this Part in respect of the registration of an industry participant or impose any condition or restriction on the registration of an industry participant that it thinks fit.

[Section 34A inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 33.]

[Part V (s. 34) deleted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 34.]

Part VI — Contestant record books

[Heading inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 35.]

35. Books to be issued to registered contestants

(1) The Commission, on the first registration of a person as a contestant, must issue the person a contestant record book, in a form approved by the Commission, that —

(a) states —

(i) such personal details about the contestant as are prescribed; and

(ii) such information about the registration of the contestant as is prescribed;

and

(b) provides for the recording of —

(i) such other information about the registration of the contestant as is prescribed; and

(ii) such medical information about the contestant as is prescribed; and

(iii) such information about the contests in which the contestant participates as is prescribed.

(2) If a person, having been registered as a contestant —

(a) ceases, for any period, to be so registered; and

(b) is, after the registration ceases, again registered as a contestant,

the Commission must issue the person a contestant record book that —

(d) contains the same information as was contained in any contestant record book or other book previously issued under this Act to that person.

[Section 35 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 36.]

36. Altering books

(1) A person shall not enter or alter information in a contestant record book unless the person is authorised to do so under this Act.

(2) A person who enters or alters information in a contestant record book must initial the book immediately adjacent to the information.

Penalty: a fine of $6 000.

[Section 36 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 37.]

[37. Deleted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 38.]

38. Damaging books

A person must not wilfully damage or deface a contestant record book.

Penalty: a fine of $6 000.

[Section 38 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 39.]

39. Surrender of books

If under Part III the registration of a contestant is not renewed by the Commission, is cancelled or is suspended, the contestant must give his or her contestant record book to the Commission within 7 days after being notified of the fact.

Penalty: a fine of $500.

[Section 39 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 40.]

40. Re‑issue of books

The Commission shall re‑issue a contestant’s contestant record book to the contestant —

(a) where the book is surrendered under section 39 as a consequence of the suspension of registration and no application for review is made in relation to the suspension — as soon as practicable after the suspension;

(b) where the book is surrendered under section 39 and, on application made for a review of a decision of the Commission to cancel or suspend registration, the decision is set aside — as soon as is practicable after the decision is set aside.

[Section 40 amended: No. 16 of 2003 s. 28(1); No. 55 of 2004 s. 72; No. 44 of 2011 s. 41.]

41. Issuing additional books

If a contestant’s contestant record book is full, the Commission must issue the contestant another contestant record book that conforms with section 35(1).

[Section 41 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 42.]

42. Replacing books

If a contestant satisfies the Commission that his or her contestant record book has been spoilt, lost or destroyed the Commission must, on payment of the prescribed fee, issue the contestant a duplicate contestant record book, stamped with the word “Duplicate”.

[Section 42 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 43.]

Part VII — Contests

[Heading inserted: No. 16 of 2003 s. 16.]

43. Interpretation

In this Part a reference to a contest includes a reference to —

(a) a single contest;

(b) 2 or more contests, where the contests are conducted on the one occasion and at the same venue.

[Section 43 amended: No. 16 of 2003 s. 29(1).]

44. Applying for permits to conduct contests

(1) A person who desires to conduct a contest must apply to the Commission for a permit for the contest.

(2) An application made under subsection (1) must —

(a) be in a form approved by the Commission; and

(b) include the names of each person who will participate in the contest; and

(d) be made not less than 42 days before the proposed date of the contest unless the Commission allows otherwise; and

(e) be accompanied by the prescribed fee.

(3) The Commission may ask the applicant to give the Commission any additional information the Commission needs to decide an application under section 45.

(4) The Commission may refuse to decide an application until it has received the information it needs to decide the application under section 45.

[Section 44 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 44.]

45. Issuing permits for contests

(1) If on an application made under section 44 the Commission is satisfied —

(a) that any requirement that, under the regulations, must be complied with before a permit can be issued has been complied with; and

(b) that the requirements under this Act as they apply in relation to the contest referred to in the application will be complied with,

the Commission may issue a permit for the contest.

(2) The Commission may issue a permit for a contest subject to any terms, conditions and restrictions the Commission thinks fit.

(3) A permit issued for a contest must include the following information —

(a) the date, time and place of the contest;

(b) the name of each person who will participate in the contest;

(d) any other information that is prescribed.

(4) The Commission may refuse to issue a permit for a contest if it is of the opinion that it is necessary to do so in the interests of the health and safety of any person who would participate in the contest if the permit were issued.

(5) The Commission, on the application of the holder of the permit or on its own initiative, may at any time vary a permit for a contest.

[Section 45 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 45.]

46. Notification of Commissioner of Police

(1) Where the Commission issues a permit under section 45, the Commission shall, as soon as is practicable, cause the Commissioner of Police to be notified of the date, time and place of the contest in respect of which the permit is issued.

(2) Section 73 of The Criminal Code does not apply to or in relation to a contest in respect of which a permit is issued under this Act.

[Section 46 amended: No. 16 of 2003 s. 29(1); No. 70 of 2004 s. 82.]

47AA. Commission may require information

(1) At any time after it issues a permit under section 45 for a contest and before the contest has taken place, the Commission, by giving the person a written notice, may require any or all of these persons —

(a) the person who holds the permit;

(b) a person who will participate in the contest;

to give the Commission the information specified in the notice, being information relevant to the contest.

(2) A person given a notice under subsection (1) must obey it.

Penalty: a fine of $6 000.

[Section 47AA inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 46.]

47A. Suspending or cancelling a permit

(1) The Commission, at any time before or during a contest for which a permit has been issued under section 45, may suspend or cancel the permit if it is satisfied —

(a) that any term, condition or restriction to which the permit is subject has not or is not being complied with; or

(b) that it is in the interests of the health or safety of any contestant in the contest to do so; or

(2) Before it suspends or cancels a permit, the Commission must give the permit holder a reasonable opportunity to be heard unless, in the time needed to do so, the health or safety of any contestant in the contest may be jeopardised.

(3) To suspend or cancel a permit, a person authorised by the Commission, or a member, must give the permit holder, or the referee of the contest, oral or written notice —

(a) that the Commission has suspended or cancelled the permit, as the case requires; and

(b) if the permit is suspended, of the term of the suspension, whether by referring to an event that may occur or to a period of time.

(4) If oral notice is given to a person under subsection (3), written confirmation of the notice must be given to the person within 7 days after the date on which the oral notice was given.

(5) If a permit is suspended, the Commission may at any time cancel the suspension for good reason.

(6) A written notice or a written confirmation of a notice given orally under subsection (3) must state the reasons for suspending or cancelling the permit.

[Section 47A inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 46.]

47. Offences

(1) A person must not conduct a contest unless a permit has been issued under this Part for the contest.

Penalty: a fine of $12 000.

(2A) A person must not conduct a contest the permit for which is suspended or has been cancelled under section 47A.

Penalty: a fine of $12 000.

(2B) A person who conducts a contest for which a permit has been issued under this Part must comply with any term, condition or restriction to which the permit is subject.

Penalty: a fine of $12 000.

(2) A person must not —

(a) agree to participate, whether as a contestant, judge or referee or in some other capacity, in a contest that he or she knows will be a sham contest; or

(b) participate, whether as a contestant, judge or referee or in some other capacity, in a contest that he or she knows is a sham contest; or

(c) be involved in any capacity in organising, arranging, promoting or conducting a contest that he or she knows will be or is a sham contest.

Penalty: a fine of $12 000.

(3) A referee of a contest who, knowing it is a sham contest, does not stop it or gives a decision in it commits an offence.

Penalty: a fine of $12 000.

(4) A judge of a contest who, knowing it is a sham contest, gives a decision in it commits an offence.

Penalty: a fine of $12 000.

(5) A judge or referee of a contest who suspects it will be or is a sham contest must report the matter in writing to the Commission as soon as practicable.

Penalty: a fine of $12 000.

[Section 47 amended: No. 16 of 2003 s. 18, 28(3) and 29(1); No. 44 of 2011 s. 47.]

48A. Sham contests, inquiries into

(1) If the Commission is of the opinion (whether or not as a result of a report made by the referee of the contest) that a contest is a sham contest the Commission shall inquire into the promotion, arrangement and conduct of the contest.

(2) If after its inquiry the Commission is satisfied on the balance of probabilities that a contest is a sham contest, it —

(a) may order any person who is legally required to pay money or money’s worth to a contestant for participating in the contest not to pay the contestant without the written consent of the Commission; and

(b) may order that an amount of money not more than the money or money’s worth (if any) paid or payable to a contestant or industry participant who, in the opinion of the Commission, has participated in, or been involved in any capacity in conducting, the contest be paid to the Commission.

(3) Nothing in subsection (2) prevents a person from being prosecuted for an offence under section 47 or prevents proceedings being taken under section 23 or 33A.

(4) A person given an order made under subsection (2)(a) must obey it.

Penalty: a fine of $12 000.

(5) If the Commission makes an order under subsection (2)(b), the Commission may recover the amount ordered to be paid to the Commission in a court of competent jurisdiction as a debt due to the Commission.

[Section 48A inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 48.]

48. Pre‑contest weigh‑ins

(1) Before a contest occurs each person intending to participate in the contest must attend and submit to a weigh‑in.

(2) The following provisions apply to a weigh‑in referred to in subsection (1) —

(a) the weigh‑in shall take place at the time and place approved by the Commission;

(b) the weigh‑in shall take place within 24 hours before the contest;

(i) the person who holds the permit for the contest or that person’s agent;

(ii) a person appointed by the Commission (the Commission’s appointee);

(d) each person intending to participate in the contest shall produce his or her contestant record book to the Commission’s appointee for inspection and for the recording of prescribed information;

(e) the Commission’s appointee shall ensure —

(i) that the weigh‑in and the recording of the weights of the contestants are properly carried out; and

(ii) that this section is complied with.

[Section 48 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 49.]

49A. Pre‑contest medical examinations

(1) Each person intending to participate in a contest must, within 24 hours before the contest —

(a) attend a medical practitioner approved by the Commission; and

(b) submit to an examination by the practitioner; and

(c) produce his or her contestant record book to the practitioner for inspection and for the recording of relevant information.

(2) The medical practitioner whom a person attends under subsection (1) must do the following —

(a) inspect the person’s contestant record book;

(b) carry out a medical examination of the person;

(d) record the results of the examination on a form approved by the Commission;

(e) if the practitioner is of the opinion that the person should not participate in the proposed contest because of the person’s medical condition, record the opinion in the form;

(f) give the form to the Commission’s appointee referred to in section 48(2)(c)(ii).

Penalty: a fine of $12 000.

(3) If a form given by a medical practitioner to the Commission’s appointee under subsection (2) states a person should not participate in a proposed contest because of the person’s medical condition, the Commission’s appointee —

(a) must inform the person who holds the permit for the contest, or that person’s agent, of that fact forthwith; and

(b) give the person who holds the permit for the contest, or that person’s agent, a copy of the form as soon as practicable.

(4) If the person who holds the permit for a contest, or that person’s agent, is informed under subsection (3), the permit holder must ensure the person does not participate in the contest.

Penalty: a fine of $12 000.

[Section 49A inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 49.]

49. Medical practitioner to notify referee at contest if contestant unfit to participate; and referee to take action

(1) A medical practitioner approved by the Commission who is present at a contest shall inform the referee officiating at the contest if the medical practitioner is of the opinion that —

(a) the contestant should not participate in the contest because of the contestant’s medical condition; or

(b) the contestant should not continue to participate in the contest because of the contestant’s medical condition.

Penalty: a fine of $12 000.

(2) A referee who, under subsection (1), is informed of a medical practitioner’s opinion that a contestant should not participate in, or continue to participate in, the contest because of the contestant’s medical condition shall ensure that the contestant does not participate in, or continue to participate in, the contest.

Penalty: a fine of $12 000.

[Section 49 inserted: No. 16 of 2003 s. 20; amended: No. 44 of 2011 s. 50.]

50. Contestants not to compete without weigh‑in and medical examination

A person shall not participate in a contest unless —

(a) he or she has attended and submitted to a weigh‑in in accordance with section 48; and

(b) he or she has attended and submitted to a medical examination in accordance with section 49A; and

Penalty: a fine of $12 000.

[Section 50 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 51.]

51. Duties of promoter and medical practitioner

(1) A person who conducts a contest —

(a) must not permit a contestant to participate in the contest unless the contestant has attended and submitted to a weigh‑in under section 48 and a medical examination under section 49A; and

(b) must not engage a contestant for a contest if the Commission, after considering a medical report that a contestant is not medically fit, has directed a contestant not to participate in the contest; and

(c) must permit not more than 3 persons, being either persons authorised by the Commission or members, to be present at the contest unconditionally and for no charge for the purpose of ensuring the contest is conducted in accordance with this Act and any rules approved under section 62A that apply to the contest; and

(d) must not permit the contest to occur unless —

(i) a medical practitioner approved by the Commission; and

(ii) at least 2 persons referred to in paragraph (c),

are present at the contest.

Penalty: a fine of $12 000.

(2) If a contest is not conducted in accordance with any rules approved under section 62A that apply to the contest, the person who conducts the contest, the person to whom a permit for the contest was issued, and the referee of the contest, each commits an offence.

Penalty: a fine of $12 000.

(3) Where a contestant is rendered unconscious during a contest a medical practitioner approved by the Commission shall medically examine the contestant and carry out such functions as are necessary in the circumstances.

(4) A medical practitioner approved by the Commission shall as soon as is practicable after a contest examine the contestants who have participated in the contest.

[Section 51 amended: No. 16 of 2003 s. 22, 28(1) and 29(1); No. 44 of 2011 s. 52.]

52. Record of contest

(1) Before a person participates in a contest, he or she shall produce his or her contestant record book to —

(a) the medical practitioner approved by the Commission who is present at the contest; and

(b) a person appointed by the Commission who is present at the contest.

Penalty: a fine of $6 000.

(2) A person appointed by the Commission for that purpose shall in relation to a contest —

(a) cause a record to be made of the contest; and

(b) record the result of the contest in the record referred to in paragraph (a); and

(d) record in each contestant’s contestant record book such information as is prescribed.

[Section 52 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 53.]

Part VIIIA — Review

[Heading inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 54.]

53A. Review by SAT

A person aggrieved by a decision of the Commission or the Minister made under Part III, IV or VII may apply to the State Administrative Tribunal for a review of the decision.

[Section 53A inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 54.]

Part VIII — Miscellaneous

53. False or misleading information

A person must not include any information that is false or misleading in a material particular in —

(a) an application made under this Act; or

(b) any information given to the Commission under this Act other than in a statutory declaration; or

Penalty: a fine of $12 000.

[Section 53 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 55.]

54A. Commission may get information from WA Police

For the purposes of deciding under Part III or IV whether a person is a fit and proper person, the Commission may ask the Commissioner of Police to give the Commission information about the person.

[Section 54A inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 56.]

54B. Confidential police information

(1) In this section —

confidential police information means information the Commissioner of Police has certified is confidential police information under subsection (2);

court includes the State Administrative Tribunal;

sensitive police information means information in the possession of the Commissioner of Police the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected —

(a) to prejudice criminal investigations or the operations of the Police Force; or

(b) to enable the discovery of the existence or identity of a source of information relevant to law enforcement and confidential to the Commissioner; or

(2) If the Commissioner of Police believes any information given by the Commissioner to the Commission is sensitive police information, the Commissioner, in writing, may certify the information is confidential police information.

(3) If the Commission receives confidential police information from the Commissioner of Police, then, despite any other provision of this Act, the Commission must not disclose it to any person except —

(a) a court;

(b) the Minister;

(c) the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administrative Investigations appointed under the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1971;

(d) the Corruption and Crime Commission established under the Corruption, Crime and Misconduct Act 2003;

(e) the Parliamentary Inspector of the Corruption and Crime Commission appointed under the Corruption, Crime and Misconduct Act 2003;

(f) a person to whom disclosure has been permitted by the Commissioner.

(4) If the Commission under Part III or IV —

(a) refuses an application for registration or for a renewal of registration; or

(b) cancels a registration,

and the decision is made wholly or partly on the basis of confidential police information received from the Commissioner of Police, then, despite any other provision of this Act, the Commission need not give any reasons for its decision other than that it is made in the public interest.

(5) In proceedings in a court relating to a decision referred to in subsection (4), the court —

(a) may decide whether information the Commissioner of Police has certified is confidential police information is sensitive police information; and

(b) may take evidence consisting of or relating to that information by way of an affidavit of a police officer of or above the rank of Superintendent; and

(i) to maintain the confidentiality of any information that the court is satisfied is sensitive police information; and

(ii) to prohibit the publication of evidence about that information.

(6) The Commissioner of Police must not delegate the function of certifying information as confidential police information except to a Deputy Commissioner of Police or an Assistant Commissioner of Police.

[Section 54B inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 56; amended: No. 35 of 2014 s. 39.]

54. Refusing applications, imposing or varying conditions etc. and suspending or cancelling registrations, procedure for

(1) The Commission must not —

(a) refuse a person’s application for registration, or for a renewal of a registration, made under Part III or IV; or

(b) impose or vary a condition or restriction on a person under Part III or IV; or

(d) refuse a person’s application for a permit made under Part VII; or

(e) impose or vary a term, condition or restriction in a permit issued under Part VII to a person,

unless the Commission has given the person a reasonable opportunity to be heard on the matter.

(2) If the Commission decides to take any action described in subsection (1)(a) to (e) the Commission must give the person a written notice of the decision and of the reasons for it within 7 days after the date of it.

(3) A decision notice of which is given to a person under subsection (2) takes effect on the date on which it is given to the person or on any later date specified in it.

[Section 54 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 57.]

55. Recovery of charges etc.

Any charge, fee or money due to the Commission may be recovered by the Commission as a debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.

[56. Deleted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 58.]

57. Statutory declaration

The Commission may require any information supplied to the Commission to be verified by statutory declaration.

58. Evidentiary certificates

In any legal proceedings a certificate signed or purporting to be signed by an officer of the Department stating —

(a) that at a specified time a specified person was, or was not, registered as a contestant of a specified class or as an industry participant in a specified capacity;

(b) that at a specified time the registration of a specified person as a contestant of a specified class or as an industry participant in a specified capacity has been cancelled;

(c) that the registration of a specified person as a contestant of a specified class or as an industry participant in a specified capacity had been suspended for the period specified;

(d) that the registration of a person as a contestant of a specified class or industry participant in a specified capacity is due to expire, or expired on a specified day,

is evidence of its contents.

[Section 58 inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 59.]

59. Delegation

The Commission may by instrument in writing delegate to any person its functions, other than this power of delegation, and may amend or revoke any such instrument.

60. Authentication of certain documents

Every summons, process, demand, order, notice, statement, direction or other document may be sufficiently authenticated if signed by the chairman or by any member of the staff of the Commission authorised to do so by the chief executive officer of the Department or an officer of the Department nominated by the chief executive officer.

[Section 60 amended: No. 29 of 1990 s. 7.]

61. Protection of Commission and others

No liability attaches to the Commission, any delegate of the Commission, any member or officer or employee of the Commission or any officer of the Public Service of the State for any act or omission that occurred in good faith and in the exercise or purported exercise or in the discharge or purported discharge of its or his functions under this Act.

62A. Rules for contests

(1) The Minister on the advice of the Commission must, for each combat sport, approve rules to be observed in any contest in that sport.

(2) Approved rules may consist of, or may incorporate, adopt or operate by reference to, any code, standard or other document (with or without modification) as in force from time to time or as in force at a particular time, as specified in the rules.

(3) If a code, standard or other document is applied, adopted or incorporated in approved rules —

(a) a copy of the code, standard or other document must be kept available for inspection by members of the public, without charge and during normal office hours, at a place determined by the Minister; and

(b) in any legal proceedings, evidence of the contents of the code, standard or other document may be given by production of a document apparently certified by or on behalf of the Minister as a true copy of the code, standard or other document.

(4) The Minister on the advice of the Commission may —

(a) approve an amendment of approved rules; or

(b) cancel any approved rules.

(5) The Interpretation Act 1984 sections 41 and 42 apply, with any necessary changes, to any rules approved, amended or cancelled under this section.

[Section 62A inserted: No. 44 of 2011 s. 60.]

62. Regulations

(1) The Governor may make regulations with respect to all matters that are required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed, or are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for giving effect to the purposes of this Act.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1) regulations may be made with respect to any or all of the following —

(a) the appointment of, and fees payable to, officials involved in combat sports;

(b) ratings of contestants;

(d) contracts between contestants and industry participants;

(e) rest periods for contestants;

(f) guarantees and other securities to be given by promoters of contests.

(3) Without limiting subsection (1) regulations may prescribe persons who are taken to be registered under this Act, being persons who are registered or licensed under a law of a place outside the State, the purpose of which substantially corresponds with the purpose of this Act.

(4) Without limiting subsection (1) or the Interpretation Act 1984 section 45A regulations made for the purposes of section 44 may prescribe a fee that will allow recovery of expenditure that is relevant to the Commission performing its functions under sections 44 and 48 and at contests.

(5) Without limiting subsection (1) regulations with a savings or transitional effect may be made to provide for the consequences of the operation of the amendments made to this Act by the Professional Combat Sports Amendment Act 2011.

[Section 62 amended: No. 16 of 2003 s. 24; No. 44 of 2011 s. 61.]

[63. Deleted: No. 16 of 2003 s. 25.]

[64. Deleted: No. 16 of 2003 s. 26.]

[65. Deleted: No. 16 of 2003 s. 27.]

dline

Notes

1 This is a compilation of the Combat Sports Act 1987 and includes the amendments made by the other written laws referred to in the following table 2. The table also contains information about any reprint.

Compilation table

Short title	Number and year	Assent	Commencement
Boxing Control Act 1987 3	2 of 1987	29 May 1987	s. 1 and 2: 29 May 1987; Act other than s. 1 and 2: 22 Feb 1991 (see s. 2 and Gazette 22 Feb 1991 p. 867)
Boxing Control Amendment Act 1990	29 of 1990	5 Oct 1990	Act other than s. 4: 22 Feb 1991 (see s. 2(1)); s. 4: 3 May 1991 (see s. 2(2) and Gazette 3 May 1991 p. 1936)
Acts Amendment (Public Sector Management) Act 1994 s. 3(2)	32 of 1994	29 Jun 1994	1 Oct 1994 (see s. 2 and Gazette 30 Sep 1994 p. 4948)
Financial Legislation Amendment Act 1996 s. 49	49 of 1996	25 Oct 1996	25 Oct 1996 (see s. 2(1))
Boxing Control Amendment Act 2003 4, 5, 6	16 of 2003	17 Apr 2003	s. 1 and 2: 17 Apr 2003; Act other than s. 1 and 2: 12 Jan 2005 (see s. 2 and Gazette 11 Jan 2005 p. 89)
Sentencing Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2003 s. 40 7	50 of 2003 (as amended by No. 8 of 2009 s. 116(2))	9 Jul 2003	s. 40(2): 15May 2004 (see s. 2 and Gazette 14 May 2004 p. 1445)
State Administrative Tribunal (Conferral of Jurisdiction) Amendment and Repeal Act 2004 Pt. 2 Div. 13 8	55 of 2004	24 Nov 2004	1 Jan 2005 (see s. 2 and Gazette 31 Dec 2004 p. 7130)
Criminal Law Amendment (Simple Offences) Act 2004 s. 82	70 of 2004	8 Dec 2004	31 May 2005 (see s. 2 and Gazette 14 Jan 2005 p. 163)
*Reprint 1: The Professional Combat Sports Act 1987* as at 11 Mar 2005** (includes amendments listed above except those in the Criminal Law Amendment (Simple Offences) Act 2004)
Machinery of Government (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2006 Pt. 5 Div. 2	28 of 2006	26 Jun 2006	1 Jul 2006 (see s. 2 and Gazette 27 Jun 2006 p. 2347)
Financial Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2006 Sch. 1 cl. 133	77 of 2006	21 Dec 2006	1 Feb 2007 (see s. 2(1) and Gazette 19 Jan 2007 p. 137)
Acts Amendment (Bankruptcy) Act 2009 s. 69	18 of 2009	16 Sep 2009	17 Sep 2009 (see s. 2(b))
Public Sector Reform Act 2010 s. 89	39 of 2010	1 Oct 2010	1 Dec 2010 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 5 Nov 2010 p. 5563)
Professional Combat Sports Amendment Act 2011	44 of 2011	12 Oct 2011	s. 1 and 2: 12 Oct 2011 (see s. 2(a)); Act other than s. 1 and 2: 1 Mar 2013 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 1 Mar 2013 p. 1091)
*Reprint 2: The Combat Sports Act 1987* as at 5 Apr 2013** (includes amendments listed above)
Corruption and Crime Commission Amendment (Misconduct) Act 2014 s. 39	35 of 2014	9 Dec 2014	1 Jul 2015 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 26 Jun 2015 p. 2235)

2 The Courts Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2004 Sch. 2 cl. 7 was repealed by the Criminal Law and Evidence Amendment Act 2008 s. 77(13).

3 Short title was initially the Boxing Control Act 1987 and was subsequently changed to the Professional Combat Sports Act 1987, and now the Combat Sports Act 1987 (see note under s. 1).

4 The Boxing Control Amendment Act 2003 s. 10(2) reads as follows:

(2) The Professional Combat Sports Commission Account is a continuation of the fund of the Commission called the Western Australian Boxing Commission Account immediately before the commencement of this Act.

5 The amendment in the Boxing Control Amendment Act 2003 s. 29(2) is not included because the section it sought to amend was previously amended by the State Administrative Tribunal (Conferral of Jurisdiction) Amendment and Repeal Act 2004 s. 72.

6 The Boxing Control Amendment Act 2003 s. 30 reads as follows:

Transitional provision in relation to certain registrations

(1) A person who, immediately before the commencement of this Act, was registered as a boxer of a certain class is to be treated on the commencement of this Act as being registered as a contestant of that class.

(2) The conditions and restrictions applicable to the registration of a person referred to in subsection (1) and the time for renewal of the registration continue to apply as if this Act had not been enacted.

7 Section 40(3) of this Act had not come into operation when it was deleted by the Statutes (Repeals and Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2009 s. 116(2).

8 The State Administrative Tribunal (Conferral of Jurisdiction) Amendment and Repeal Act 2004 Pt. 5, the State Administrative Tribunal Act 2004 s. 167 and 169, and the State Administrative Tribunal Regulations 2004 r. 28 and 42 deal with certain transitional issues some of which may be relevant for this Act.

Defined terms

[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]

Defined term Provision(s)

boxing 3

capacity 3

combat sport 3

Commission 3

Commission’s appointee 48(2)

confidential police information 54B(1)

contest 3

contestant 3

court 54B(1)

Department 3

industry participant 3

medical practitioner 3

member 3

prescribed 3

registered 3

sensitive police information 54B(1)

sham contest 3

Western Australia

Combat Sports Act 1987

Western Australia

Combat Sports Act 1987

Contents

Part I — Preliminary

Short title 2
Commencement 2
Terms used 2

Part II — Combat Sports Commission

Combat Sports Commission established 4
Vacation of office 5
Remuneration and leave of members 6
Casual vacancies 6
Meetings of Commission 6
Control of Minister 7
Functions of Commission 7
Staff 8
Funds of Commission 8
Financial provisions 9

Part III — Registration of contestants

Prescribed classes of contestants 10
Register 10
Applying for registration 10
Registering contestants 11
Certificate of registration 12
Term of registration and application for renewal 12
Renewal of registration 12
Commission’s powers to ensure health and safety of contestants 13
Disciplinary powers against contestants 14

24A. Cancelling registration on contestant’s request 14

Offence to participate in contests if unregistered etc. 14

25A. Commission may vary or cancel conditions and restrictions 15

Part IV — Registration of industry participants

Register of industry participants 16
Applying to be registered 16
Registering industry participants 17
Certificate of registration 17
Term of registration 17
Application for renewal of registration 18

The Act defines a set of core concepts that shape regulatory scope and discretion. Combat sport is broadly defined to include boxing and any martial art, sport or activity involving two or more participants whose primary objective is grappling, punching, kicking, throwing, striking or hitting, with an express power to exclude classes by regulation (s 3). Contest is defined by purpose and audience , organised for profit, for public entertainment, or where the public is invited , with the power to exclude particular events by regulation (s 3). The statutory definition of contestant is broad: any person who participates in a contest, whether for reward or not (s 3).

Industry participant is defined by reference to prescribed capacities (s 3). The Act does not list the capacities in the text but leaves their specification to regulation (s 62(2) enables prescription of officials, ratings and related matters). That regulatory gap matters: the conduct-based offence in s 33 makes it an offence to be involved in the conduct of a contest in a prescribed capacity without registration.

“Sham contest” is a distinct legal concept (s 3). It covers contests where a participant is not competing to the best of their ability for reasons including injury or inducement, and contests where the result is arranged by participants or people controlling/judging/promoting the contest. The definition is the gate for inquiry powers (s 48A), criminal sanctions (s 47), and remedial monetary orders (s 48A(2)). The Act links sham contests to both administrative discipline (ss 23, 33A) and criminal sanction (s 47), and authorises recovery and withholding of payments (s 48A(2)-(5)).

“Fit and proper person” is the key evaluative standard applied when the Commission registers contestants and industry participants (ss 17(1)(a)(i), 28(1)(a), 32(1)(a)). The Act aligns probity enquiries with police information powers (s 54A) and confidential handling of sensitive police information (s 54B), thereby embedding criminal‑history and integrity considerations into licensing decisions.

Procedural concepts: permits to run contests (Pt VII) require a set form, prescribed information, and timing (not less than 42 days’ notice unless the Commission allows otherwise, s 44(2)(d)). Permits can be varied, suspended or cancelled (ss 45(5), 47A), and the Commission can demand additional information after issuing a permit (s 47AA). Approved rules for each combat sport (s 62A) are made by the Minister on the Commission’s advice, and may incorporate external codes and standards.

Record-keeping concepts: contestant record books are statutory devices for longitudinal medical and contest histories (Pt VI, ss 35-42). The Act criminalises unauthorised alterations (s 36), wilful damage (s 38) and prescribes surrender and re‑issue processes (ss 39-42). Evidentiary certificates (s 58) are admissible evidence in proceedings and facilitate enforcement and debt recovery (ss 48A(5), 55).

Financial and governance concepts: the Commission has a dedicated account and is subject to public-sector financial reporting and audit regimes (s 12 and s 13). The Commission’s staff are public servants under the Public Sector Management Act (s 11). The Minister retains control and direction of the Commission (s 9), while appointments reflect a mix of expertise, industry representation and a police nominee (s 4).

The Act’s primary subjects are contestants (defined at s 3) and industry participants (s 3), but its regulatory reach extends to a range of private and public actors involved in combat sports.

Contestants: persons who participate in contests, whether for reward or not (s 3). They must be registered to compete in a prescribed class (ss 16-17), carry and present statutory contestant record books (ss 35, 48(2)(d), 49A(1)(c), 52(1)), undergo weigh-ins (s 48) and pre-contest medical examinations within 24 hours (s 49A). Failure to register, to comply with weigh-in or medical requirements, or to keep record books properly attracts penal consequences (ss 24, 50, 36, 38).
Industry participants: natural persons who act in prescribed capacities other than as contestants (s 27(2); definition at s 3). The Act requires registration in those capacities (ss 26-32) and makes it an offence to be involved in the conduct of a contest in a prescribed capacity without registration (s 33). Prescribed capacities are delegated to regulation (s 62(2)), so the scope of industry participant roles (managers, promoters, judges, referees, trainers etc.) depends on current regulation.
Promoters and permit holders: persons who apply for and hold permits to conduct contests (ss 44-45). Promoters must ensure compliance with pre-contest procedures, presence of approved medical practitioners (s 51(1)(d)), allow Commission observers (s 51(1)(c)) and may be criminally liable for operating without a permit or not complying with permit terms (s 47(1), (2B)).
Referees and judges: the Act imposes duties and liability. Referees and judges who knowingly allow or decide sham contests commit offences (s 47(3)-(4)). Referees must act on medical advice to stop contestants unfit to participate (s 49(2)), and officials must report suspected sham contests (s 47(5)).
Medical practitioners: the Act defines medical practitioner by reference to registration under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (WA) (s 3). Approved medical practitioners must conduct pre-contest examinations, certify and record prescribed information in contestant record books (s 49A(2)), and are penalised for failing to inform a referee if a contestant is unfit (s 49(1)). Promoters must ensure approved medical practitioners are present at contests (s 51(1)(d)).
Commission members, staff and the Department: the Commission administers registrations, permits, rules and enforcement (Pt II and elsewhere). Commission members are appointed by the Minister with specified representation (s 4). The Department provides staff under the Public Sector Management Act (s 11), the CEO or nominee sits on the Commission (s 4(2)(b)), and the Commission’s finances are subject to public financial law (ss 12-13).
Commissioner of Police and WA Police: police interact with the Commission via the nominated member (s 4(2)(a)(ii)), notifications of permits (s 46(1)), and provision of information to help assess fitness and probity (s 54A). The Commissioner can designate information as confidential police information (s 54B(2)), affecting disclosure and reasons in administrative decisions (s 54B(3)-(4)).
Courts and the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT): the Act provides an administrative review route to SAT for aggrieved persons under Parts III, IV or VII (s 53A). Courts are involved in recovery of debts to the Commission (s 55) and may be called upon to adjudicate confidentiality disputes over sensitive police information (s 54B(5)).

Collective impacts: promoters and venues who host public events are affected indirectly because permits, medical supervision and Commission oversight sit upstream of any commercial contest. Insurers and employers in clubs/institutions may be affected by mandated pre-contest medical screening and record-keeping requirements. The requirement that only natural persons be registered as industry participants (s 27(2)) affects corporate structures and how promoter or manager roles are allocated.

The Act assigns duties and confers certain procedural protections and rights. Emphasis is on licensing/registration duties, pre-contest health and safety duties, permit obligations, record-keeping duties, and procedural fairness rights.

Duties on registration and renewal

Applicants must apply in approved forms, furnish prescribed medical information, and pay prescribed fees (ss 16(2), 19(3), 27(3), 31(2)). The Commission may withhold decision until necessary information is provided (ss 16(3)-(4), 27(4)-(5)).
Registration criteria require the Commission be satisfied the applicant is a fit and proper person, meets age requirements, is medically and physically fit, understands statutory duties, and that registration does not threaten health and safety of the applicant or others (ss 17(1), 20(1), 28(1), 32(1)).

Health and safety duties

Contestants must undergo weigh-ins and medical examinations within 24 hours prior to a contest (ss 48(1)-(2), 49A(1)). Medical practitioners must inspect the contestant’s record book, examine the person, record prescribed information and certify fitness (s 49A(2)).
Medical practitioners and referees have a duty to act: practitioners must inform referees if a contestant is unfit (s 49(1)), and referees must prevent unfit contestants from participating or continuing (s 49(2)). Promoters must ensure approved medical practitioners are present at contests and must prevent participation where the Commission has directed a contestant not to compete following medical report (s 51(1)(a)-(b), (d)).

Permit and conduct duties

Permit applicants must supply names of participants, prescribed information, comply with timing (normally ≥42 days) and pay fees (s 44(2)). Permit holders must comply with terms, conditions and restrictions attached to permits and must allow Commission-appointed observers free entry to monitor compliance (s 45(2), s 51(1)(c)).
The Commission can suspend or cancel permits where permit terms are not complied with, where health or safety concerns arise, or where the contest is or will be a sham (s 47A(1)). The Commission must give reasons and an opportunity to be heard before action, except where immediate health or safety concerns justify urgent action (s 47A(2)-(4)).

Record-keeping duties and evidence

The Commission issues contestant record books to track personal, medical and contest information (s 35). Alteration by unauthorised persons is prohibited (s 36). Contestants must produce their record book at weigh-ins and to the medical practitioner (ss 48(2)(d), 49A(1)(c)) and at the contest (s 52(1)). Evidentiary certificates from the Department are admissible in proceedings (s 58).

Rights and procedural protections

The Act requires the Commission to give a reasonable opportunity to be heard before refusing applications, imposing or varying conditions, suspending or cancelling registrations, refusing permits, or imposing or varying permit terms (s 54(1)).
Decisions taken must be notified in writing with reasons within 7 days (s 54(2)) and take effect on notice or a later specified date (s 54(3)). A person aggrieved by a decision under Parts III, IV or VII may apply to the State Administrative Tribunal for review (s 53A).
The Act provides a scheme for handling confidential police information. When the Commission relies wholly or partly on confidential police information in refusing, cancelling or suspending registration, it need not give reasons other than that the decision is made in the public interest (s 54B(4)). Courts, SAT and other specified oversight bodies are the only permitted recipients of such confidential information (s 54B(3)).

Discretionary powers

The Commission may impose, vary or cancel conditions on registrations and permits at any time (ss 17(3), 20(2), 25A, 34A, 45(2)). It may adopt standards, codes or guidance and may adopt external standards (s 10). It may request police information (s 54A) and require additional information after issuing permits (s 47AA). The Minister, on the Commission’s advice, must approve sport-specific rules (s 62A).

Administrative supports and protections

The Commission operates under public sector financial rules and audit (ss 12-13) and benefits from statutory protection from liability for acts or omissions done in good faith (s 61). The Commission may delegate functions (s 59) and authenticate documents through authorised officers (s 60).

The Act creates a mix of criminal penalties, administrative sanctions, and civil recovery mechanisms. Fines are the principal criminal sanction; administrative actions include suspension, cancellation, conditions, inquiries and monetary orders following sham contest findings.

Criminal penalties and monetary fines

Participation while unregistered or during suspension: penalty up to $6,000 (s 24).
Offences relating to involvement in conduct of a contest as an unregistered industry participant: first offence $2,000, subsequent $10,000 (s 33).
Failure to produce weigh-in/medical book requirements or to comply with pre-contest medical/weigh-in procedures attract fines: e.g. weigh-in and medical compliance and record requirements in ss 48-50 carry penalties up to $12,000 (see ss 49A(2)-(4), 49(1), 49(2), 50).
Operating without a permit, conducting a contest whose permit is suspended/cancelled, or breaching permit terms: penalties up to $12,000 (s 47(1), (2A), (2B)).
Sham contest participation, agreement to participate or knowing participation in a sham contest, and judges/referees who knowingly fail to stop or give decisions in sham contests attract fines up to $12,000 (s 47(2), (3), (4)); officials who suspect a sham contest must report it or face fines (s 47(5)).
False or misleading information in applications, information given to the Commission, or contestant record books: penalty $12,000 (s 53).
Contestant record book offences: unauthorised alteration or failure to initial entries $6,000 (s 36); wilful damage $6,000 (s 38); failure to surrender a book after cancellation or suspension $500 (s 39).

Administrative enforcement and remedial powers

The Commission may cancel or suspend registrations, vary or impose conditions on registrations and permits at any time (ss 21, 23, 25A, 34A, 45(2), 47A).
The Commission must inquire into alleged sham contests and, if satisfied on the balance of probabilities, may order persons legally required to pay money to a contestant not to pay without written Commission consent (s 48A(2)(a)). It may also order payment to the Commission of sums up to the amount paid to participants or industry participants involved in the sham contest (s 48A(2)(b)).
Such monetary orders are recoverable as a debt in court (s 48A(5)); other charges, fees or monies due to the Commission are recoverable as debts (s 55).

Investigatory and information powers

The Commission may require information from permit-holders, participants and persons involved in conducting contests after a permit is issued and before the contest takes place (s 47AA), with non-compliance attracting a $6,000 fine.
The Commission can request police information for fitness and probity checks (s 54A). The Commissioner of Police can certify material as confidential police information, limiting disclosure and the Commission’s obligation to give reasons in certain decisions (s 54B(2)-(4)). Courts have powers to manage sensitive police information and may receive evidence by affidavit from senior police (s 54B(5)).

Evidence and proceedings

The Commission can rely on evidentiary certificates from Department officers stating registration, suspension, cancellation or expiry (s 58). Those certificates are admissible evidence in proceedings.
The Act subjects the Commission to public‑sector audit and reporting regimes (ss 12-13), giving external oversight channels to review Commission finances and governance.

Enforcement architecture and layers of decision-making

Criminal enforcement is available for breaches, but many regulatory tools are administrative (suspension, cancellation, conditions). The Commission’s power to impose conditions and to pursue sham-contest financial orders creates a hybrid enforcement model combining criminal deterrence and administrative remediation. The Act also preserves the Commission’s protection from civil liability for acts done in good faith (s 61), potentially affecting litigation strategies.

The Act explicitly cross-references and integrates with several other statutory regimes, creating cross-cutting administrative, health, policing and judicial interactions.

Public sector and financial law

The Commission’s staff are to be appointed under and subject to Part 3 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994 (s 11). The Commission’s funds are to be held in a special purpose account under the Financial Management Act 2006 or, with Treasurer approval, at an approved bank (s 12(1)(a)-(b)). The Financial Management Act 2006 and the Auditor General Act 2006 apply to the Commission’s financial administration, audit and reporting (s 13). Those references subject the Commission to standard public‑sector fiduciary and transparency obligations.

Health practitioner regulation

Medical practitioner is defined by reference to registration under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia) (s 3). That links medical practitioner eligibility and disciplinary status to national registration standards and implies that only registered medical practitioners may be “approved” as such for purposes under s 49 and s 51.

Criminal law and policing

Section 46(2) states that s 73 of The Criminal Code does not apply to or in relation to a contest in respect of which a permit is issued under this Act. The Commission must notify the Commissioner of Police of issued permits (s 46(1)), creating a policing interface for public order and safety at permitted events.
The Commission may request information from the Commissioner of Police to decide whether a person is fit and proper (s 54A). The Commissioner can certify information as confidential police information and thereby restrict disclosure to courts and specified oversight agencies (s 54B(2)-(3)). In court proceedings, the court may decide whether certified information is sensitive and may receive evidence by affidavit of a senior officer (s 54B(5)(a)-(b)). The Commissioner’s certification function is not delegable except to Deputy or Assistant Commissioners (s 54B(6)).

Administrative law and review

The Act confers a statutory right of review to the State Administrative Tribunal for decisions made under Parts III, IV or VII (s 53A). Section 54 prescribes procedural fairness obligations: the Commission must give persons a reasonable opportunity to be heard before taking a range of adverse actions and must give written notice and reasons within 7 days (s 54(1)-(3)). Section 54B(5) contemplates court management of evidentiary secrecy in judicial proceedings.

Interpretation and rules

The Act invokes the Interpretation Act 1984 for rule‑making form and publication (s 62A(5)). Approved rules may incorporate external codes or standards and require availability for public inspection in a place determined by the Minister (s 62A(2)-(3)). Regulations may prescribe persons taken to be registered under comparable overseas regimes (s 62(3)).

Recovery and civil procedure

Monetary orders made in sham contest inquiries (s 48A(2)(b)) are recoverable as debts in a court of competent jurisdiction (s 48A(5)). More generally, charges, fees and amounts due to the Commission may be recovered as debts (s 55). Evidentiary certificates (s 58) streamline proof of registration status in court proceedings.

Oversight and corruption‑resistance frameworks

Confidential police information may be disclosed to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administrative Investigations and the Corruption and Crime Commission and its Parliamentary Inspector (s 54B(3)(c)-(e)), embedding oversight channels. The Commission’s own protection from civil liability for acts done in good faith (s 61) interacts with those oversight regimes, particularly where investigatory use of police information informs administrative action.

Statutory amendments and transitional arrangements

The compilation table and notes show multiple amendment acts (e.g. the Professional Combat Sports Amendment Act 2011, which introduced major structural and definitional changes and retitling) and transitional provisions (s 62(5) permits regulations with savings or transitional effect). These amendments reflect the Act’s evolutionary relationship with other statutes and administrative reforms.

The Act has undergone multiple amendments, name changes and reprints. The compilation table and notes are the source of this summary; dates and instruments below are taken from that table.

Original enactment and titles

The Act commenced as the Boxing Control Act 1987 (No. 2 of 1987), with s 1 and s 2 commencing on 29 May 1987 and the remainder on 22 February 1991 (compilation table). Subsequent retitlings led to the Professional Combat Sports Act 1987 and later to the Combat Sports Act 1987 (note under s 1).

Key amendment milestones

Boxing Control Amendment Act 1990 (No. 29 of 1990): amending provisions including those affecting composition of the Commission (s 4 amendments cited).
Acts Amendment (Public Sector Management) Act 1994 (No. 32 of 1994): relevant to staffing arrangements (s 11 was amended to reflect public sector appointment framework).
Financial Legislation Amendment Act 1996 (No. 49 of 1996): amendments relevant to financial arrangements.
Boxing Control Amendment Act 2003 (No. 16 of 2003): multiple amendments, some of which are reflected in notes (including transitional provision treating pre-existing boxer registrations as contestant registrations, see note 6).
State Administrative Tribunal (Conferral of Jurisdiction) Amendment and Repeal Act 2004 (No. 55 of 2004): conferred jurisdiction to SAT in specified respects and led to reprint 1.
Criminal Law Amendment (Simple Offences) Act 2004 (No. 70 of 2004): amendments to certain penalty provisions; came into force 31 May 2005 for applicable provisions (see compilation table).
Machinery of Government (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2006 and Financial Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2006: adjustments to government machinery references and financial provisions with commencement dates in 2006-2007.
Acts Amendment (Bankruptcy) Act 2009 (No. 18 of 2009): amendment reflecting insolvency grounds for vacation of office (s 5(d)).
Public Sector Reform Act 2010 (No. 39 of 2010): affects remuneration and public sector alignment (s 6).
Professional Combat Sports Amendment Act 2011 (No. 44 of 2011): significant structural reforms, including renaming of the Commission, insertion of new parts (Part II heading inserted), introduction of contestant record books (Pt VI), updated registration schemes for contestants and industry participants (Pts III and IV), rules for contests (s 62A), expanded administrative powers including ss 47AA, 48A and SAT review (s 53A). Commencement of most 2011 amendments was 1 March 2013 (compilation table).
Corruption and Crime Commission Amendment (Misconduct) Act 2014 (No. 35 of 2014): amended s 54B and related provisions, with effect from 1 July 2015 in respect of specified matters.

Deletions and reprints

Several sections were deleted in later amendments (for example, sections 22, 25, 37, 40 and others as indicated in the consolidation notes). The Act has two major reprints noted: Reprint 1 as the Professional Combat Sports Act 1987 (as at 11 March 2005) and Reprint 2 as the Combat Sports Act 1987 (as at 5 April 2013) incorporating changes up to the 2011 amendments.

Transitional and savings provisions

The 2003 amendment included explicit transitional treatment of existing boxer registrations (note 6 to the compilation table), preserving earlier registration conditions and renewal timing for those registered prior to the amendment. Section 62(5) authorises regulations of a savings or transitional nature to give effect to the 2011 amendments.

Practical implications of amendment history

The 2011 package was a substantial modernisation, expanding administrative powers, creating contestant record books, and formalising medical and safety requirements. The compilation table and editorial notes in the source record the sequence and commencement dates; practitioners must check the current reprint and subordinate instrument registers for the exact historical sequencing and operative dates when advising on conduct spanning amendment dates.

The legislative text does not name any judicial decisions or specify litigation outcomes. It does, however, create procedural routes and evidentiary processes that shape how disputes and challenges will be litigated or reviewed.

Statutory review route

The Act provides for review of Commission and Minister decisions under Parts III, IV and VII by the State Administrative Tribunal (s 53A). This is the express administrative‑law avenue for aggrieved persons to seek merits review of registration decisions, renewal refusals, permit decisions and related actions falling under those Parts.

Court processes contemplated by the Act

The Act contemplates court involvement in limited ways that carry evidentiary and confidentiality rules:
- Courts may be asked to determine whether police‑certified information is sensitive (s 54B(5)(a)). The Act permits the court to receive affidavit evidence from senior police officers to protect sensitive information (s 54B(5)(b)) and requires courts, on request by the Commissioner of Police, to take reasonable steps to maintain confidentiality and prohibit publication (s 54B(5)(c)(i)-(ii)).
- Monetary orders made by the Commission after sham-contest inquiries are recoverable as debts in a court of competent jurisdiction (s 48A(5)), and other sums due to the Commission are recoverable in court as debts (s 55).
- Evidentiary certificates from Department officers are admissible in proceedings (s 58), which simplifies proof of registration status in litigation.

Absence of named cases

The Act does not list or reference case law. Therefore the source document does not furnish litigated precedents. For practitioners, the statutory framework sets out the likely litigation vectors: SAT review of administrative decisions (s 53A), judicial determination of confidentiality and management of sensitive policing evidence in court (s 54B(5)), debt recovery actions under ordinary civil procedure (ss 48A(5), 55), and criminal prosecutions for offences under the Act (numerous sections setting fines and offences).

Implications for legal strategy

Where a decision is based wholly or partly on confidential police information, s 54B(4) reduces the Commission’s obligation to provide reasons and may affect the content of a review application. In such cases SAT review (s 53A) and court processes under s 54B(5) will be the legal mechanisms to test the sufficiency and handling of police information. Evidentiary certificates (s 58) may limit the need for witness evidence establishing registration status but will not displace contestable facts about fitness, medical evidence or sham conduct where those are central to disputes.

This section highlights specific provisions and practical pitfalls in the Act that commonly give rise to compliance issues, operational risk, or legal friction. Each point references the statutory provision that creates the risk.

Broad and subjective “fit and proper” tests (ss 17(1)(a)(i), 28(1)(a), 32(1)(a))

The Commission’s threshold for registration and renewal is discretionary. Because the Act permits reliance on police information (s 54A) and confidential police information (s 54B), applicants may be rejected without detailed reasons where decisions are based on confidential police information (s 54B(4)). That constrains ability to meaningfully respond and can complicate SAT review (s 53A).

Criminal and administrative liability for sham contests (ss 3, 47, 48A)

The sham contest definition is behaviourally broad (s 3). The Commission’s inquiry power and monetary‑recovery powers (s 48A(2)(b), (5)) can convert reputational or regulatory findings into financially recoverable orders. A promoter, contestant or official involved in conduct later judged a sham contest risks both criminal fines (s 47) and civil monetary orders.

Tight pre-contest timeframes and mandatory medical/weigh-in procedures (ss 48, 49A, 50)

Medical exams and weigh-ins must occur within 24 hours of the contest (ss 48(2)(b), 49A(1)). Failure to follow these timing and procedural requirements exposes promoters and contestants to $12,000 fines (s 50) and could lead to permit suspension (s 47A). Operationally, last-minute card changes are high risk unless the Commission grants exceptions.

Permit application lead time and information demands (s 44(2)(d), 47AA)

Applications must ordinarily be made not less than 42 days before the contest unless the Commission allows otherwise (s 44(2)(d)). After permit issuance, the Commission can still require additional information (s 47AA); non‑compliance is punishable (s 47AA(2)). Promoters who plan late or rely on ad hoc line-ups face procedural inflexibility and potential criminal penalties.

Unclear definition of prescribed capacities and regulatory dependence (s 3, s 62(2))

The scope of “industry participant” depends on regulations. Until or unless subordinate instruments precisely define capacities, enforcement under s 33 may be uncertain, and businesses may be exposed to fines if they engage persons in roles that later become prescribed capacities without registration.

Record-keeping risks and evidentiary consequences (Pt VI, ss 35-42, s 58)

Contestant record books are the statutory source of medical and contest history. Unauthorized alteration (s 36), wilful damage (s 38) and failure to surrender (s 39) carry sanctions. The Commission and courts can use evidentiary certificates (s 58) to quickly establish registration status, reducing litigation levers for contested proof.

Ministerial control and appointment patterns (ss 4, 9)

The Minister appoints eight of nine members (s 4) and the Commission is subject to Ministerial control and direction (s 9). The presence of a police nominee on the Commission (s 4(2)(a)(ii)) and a Departmental CEO or nominee (s 4(2)(b)) creates potential operational alignment with police and public-sector perspectives, which could influence regulatory priorities, especially in matters involving public safety and probity.

Confidential police information limits disclosure and reasons (s 54B)

Where the Commissioner of Police certifies information as confidential, the Commission must not disclose it except to specified bodies (s 54B(3)). If the Commission relies on such material to refuse or cancel registration, it may issue only an “in the public interest” reason (s 54B(4)). That reduces transparency and can complicate merits review and reputational management.

Multiple, overlapping sanctions and recovery mechanisms (ss 47, 48A, 55)

Criminal fines, administrative suspensions, and civil recovery for sham contest payments can apply cumulatively for the same underlying conduct. Affected persons must plan for parallel regulatory, criminal and civil consequences.

Requirement that industry participants be natural persons (s 27(2))

Only natural persons may be registered as industry participants (s 27(2)). Organisations that rely on corporate structures for promoters, managers or other roles may need to restructure operations, allocate contractual liabilities differently, or ensure individuals hold registrations.

Practitioners advising clients should map these “gotchas” onto planned operations: event scheduling, medical and weigh-in logistics, contract terms with contestants and officials, record-keeping procedures, and strategies for responding to Commission inquiries and SAT review.

This section sets out a practical compliance checklist and key procedural steps grounded in the Act’s provisions. It is a stepwise operational guide to minimise regulatory, financial and criminal risk.

Pre-event planning and permits (ss 44-45)

Apply for a permit in the Commission’s approved form, include names of each participant and prescribed information, and pay the prescribed fee (s 44(2)(a)-(c), (e)).
Submit permit applications not less than 42 days before the proposed contest (s 44(2)(d)), unless an express Commission waiver is sought and obtained. Factor in Commission timelines for requests for additional information (s 44(3)-(4)).
Expect permit conditions. Read permits carefully for terms, conditions and restrictions (s 45(2)-(3)) and ensure operational compliance (s 47(2B)).

Registration and certifications for contestants and industry participants (Parts III and IV)

Ensure all contestants are registered under the relevant prescribed class prior to any contest participation (ss 16-18). Maintain current certificates; note three‑year term and renewal requirements (ss 18, 19(1), 30).
Industry participants (as prescribed by regulation) must be natural persons and registered in the relevant capacity before engaging in conduct of a contest (ss 27(2), 28, 33). Check current regulations for prescribed capacities (s 62(2)).

Medical and weigh-in protocols (ss 48, 49A, 50, 51)

Schedule weigh-ins and pre-contest medical examinations within the 24-hour window before the contest (ss 48(2)(b), 49A(1)). Ensure weigh-in location and time are approved by the Commission (s 48(2)(a)), and that the Commission’s appointee is present (s 48(2)(c)(ii)).
Use medical practitioners who are registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (WA) and, where the Commission requires, approved by it (s 3 definition, s 49A(1)(a)). Ensure the practitioner inspects the contestant record book, carries out the examination, records prescribed information and supplies the Commission’s appointee with the form (s 49A(2)-(3)).
If a medical practitioner records that a contestant is unfit, do not permit the contestant to compete (s 49A(3), s 51(1)(b)). Medical practitioners present at the contest must inform referees of fitness concerns (s 49(1)).

Contestant record books and record-keeping (Pt VI)

On first registration, obtain a contestant record book and ensure it contains prescribed personal, medical and contest information (s 35). Require contestants to produce the book at weigh-ins and contests (ss 48(2)(d), 52(1)(a)).
Restrict who may alter record books to authorised persons, ensure initials adjacent to entries (s 36), and implement secure storage and chain-of-custody procedures to avoid wilful damage or loss (ss 38, 42). Set internal policies about surrender and re‑issue (ss 39-41).

Promoter duties at contests (s 51)

Ensure the presence of an approved medical practitioner and at least two persons authorised by the Commission to be present free of charge (s 51(1)(c)-(d)). Do not engage contestants prohibited by the Commission on medical grounds (s 51(1)(b)).
Comply with any rules approved under s 62A; non‑compliance is an offence for the promoter, permit holder and referee (s 51(2)).

Anti‑sham contest measures

Implement contractual and procedural safeguards to prevent fixed outcomes. Educate referees, judges and officials on reporting obligations for suspected sham contests (s 47(5)), and document internal controls to detect inducements or collusion.
Maintain financial records to demonstrate proper disbursement of payments and to be able to contest any Commission sham contest inquiry (s 48A).

Responding to Commission actions and inquiries (ss 47AA, 47A, 54)

If the Commission requests additional information after issuing a permit (s 47AA), comply promptly; failure attracts a $6,000 penalty.
If the Commission proposes to refuse registration, vary conditions, suspend or cancel registration, expect to be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard (s 54(1)). Obtain written reasons within 7 days if action is taken (s 54(2)) and lodge an SAT review if aggrieved (s 53A).

Police information and confidentiality risks (ss 54A, 54B)

Anticipate that the Commission may seek police information for fit-and-proper assessments (s 54A). Where police certify information as confidential, be aware that the Commission need only give limited reasons (s 54B(4)). Engage counsel early where confidential police information is likely to be relied on.

Financial and governance compliance (ss 12-13, 55)

Ensure timely payment of prescribed fees associated with registration and permits. Maintain documentation to support charges, guarantees or securities required by regulation (s 62(2)(f)). Understand that fees and charges unpaid are recoverable as debt (s 55).

Contracts and organisational structure

Reflect statutory requirements in written contracts with contestants, trainers and officials, including provisions for compliance with weigh-ins, medical exams and suspension/cancellation protocols. Where industry participants must be natural persons (s 27(2)), ensure contracting structures conform to that requirement and allocate liabilities accordingly.

Practical checklist

Confirm who in your organisation will manage permit and registration timelines.
Maintain a medical and weigh-in protocol checklist tied to the 24-hour rule.
Store contestant record books securely and limit alteration to authorised personnel.
Audit contractual arrangements to ensure only registered persons act in prescribed capacities.
Establish an escalation plan for Commission notices (immediate counsel briefing, evidence collation for SAT review).
Keep records demonstrating compliance with rules approved under s 62A and any permit conditions.

Adopting these steps reduces the likelihood of criminal fines, administrative suspension or monetary recovery orders and facilitates robust responses to Commission inquiries or SAT proceedings.

Deep Dive

What it does

Current sections