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Public Health Act 1997
89Court orders for relief against seizure
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89 Court orders for relief against seizure
(1) A person claiming to be entitled to anything seized under this part
may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for an order
disallowing the seizure within 10 days after the seizure.
(2) An application under subsection (1) must be made in accordance with
the relevant rules of court and must not be heard unless the applicant
has served a copy of the application on the authorised officer
responsible for the relevant seizure.
(3) The authorised officer responsible for the relevant seizure is entitled
to appear as respondent at the hearing of an application.
(4) If, on the hearing of an application, it appears to the court that the
thing seized is required to be produced in evidence in any pending
proceedings in connection with an offence against this Act, the court
may, on the application of the respondent, or on its own initiative,
adjourn the hearing until the conclusion of those proceedings.
(5) On the hearing of an application, the court may make an order
disallowing the seizure—
(a) if—
(i) it is proved that the applicant would, but for the seizure, be
entitled to the return of the thing seized; and
(ii) it is not proved beyond reasonable doubt that an offence
was being or had been, at the time of the seizure,
committed, being an offence with which the thing is
connected; or
(b) if there are exceptional circumstances justifying the making of
an order disallowing the seizure.
(6) If the court makes an order disallowing a seizure, the court may make
1 or more of the following ancillary orders:
(a) an order directing the respondent to cause the thing to be
delivered to the applicant or to such other person as appears to
the court to be entitled to it;
(b) if the thing cannot for any reason be so delivered or the thing
has in consequence of the seizure depreciated in value—an order
directing the Territory to pay to the applicant just and reasonable
compensation;
(c) if the applicant has sustained financial loss by reason of the
seizure—an order directing the Territory to pay the applicant
just and reasonable compensation;