NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
REFERENDUMS ACT 1998
As in force at 1 October 2019
Table of provisions
Part 1 Preliminary
1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1
2 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1
3 Delegation ....................................................................................... 3
4 Matters that can be subject of referendum ...................................... 3
Part 2 Writ for referendum
5 Resolution of Legislative Assembly ................................................. 3
6 Issue of writ for referendum ............................................................. 4
7 Form and content of writ for referendum ......................................... 4
8 Referendum to be conducted .......................................................... 4
9 Chief electoral officer to publish writ and prepare for
referendum ...................................................................................... 4
10 Distribution to electors of arguments for and against question ........ 5
Part 3 Conduct of referendum
Division 1 Rolls for referendum
11 Printing of rolls ................................................................................. 6
12 Alteration of rolls .............................................................................. 6
Division 2 Polling places, mobile polling teams, officers
and Scrutineers
13 Polling places .................................................................................. 7
14 Mobile polling teams ........................................................................ 7
15 Public notice of polling places and mobile polling teams ................. 8
16 Presiding officers and mobile team leaders ..................................... 8
17 Scrutineers ...................................................................................... 9
18 Certified list of voters ....................................................................... 9
Division 3 Polling booths, ballot-boxes and ballot-papers
19 Separate voting booths .................................................................. 10
20 Ballot-boxes ................................................................................... 10
21 Ballot-papers ................................................................................. 10
Referendums Act 1998 ii
Division 4 Mobile polling
22 Mobile polling................................................................................. 10
23 Voting at certain polling places may be restricted to class of
voters ............................................................................................. 10
24 Places and hours of use of mobile polling team ............................ 10
Division 5 Pre-poll voting and postal voting
25 Pre-poll voting................................................................................ 11
26 Postal voting .................................................................................. 12
Division 6 Voting on polling day
27 Polling ............................................................................................ 12
28 Persons entitled to vote ................................................................. 12
29 Ballot-boxes to be exhibited empty before polling ......................... 13
30 Name to be on roll ......................................................................... 13
31 Persons claiming to vote to give names and other particulars ....... 13
32 Record of objections ...................................................................... 14
33 Ballot-papers to be initialled........................................................... 14
34 Vote to be marked in private .......................................................... 14
35 Assistance of certain persons ........................................................ 15
36 Vote of unlisted persons ................................................................ 16
37 Method of voting ............................................................................ 17
38 Spoilt or discarded ballot-papers ................................................... 18
39 Adjournment of polling ................................................................... 18
40 Direction to leave polling place ...................................................... 18
41 Marking of ballot-papers ................................................................ 19
42 Employee wishing to vote .............................................................. 19
43 Ballot-boxes to be secured at close of polling................................ 20
Division 7 Offences relating to polling
44 Persons present at polling ............................................................. 20
45 Electors must vote ......................................................................... 20
46 Person may vote only once ........................................................... 21
47 Offences in relation to ballot-papers and at polling places ............ 21
Part 4 Determination of results of polling
48 Definition........................................................................................ 22
49 Determination ................................................................................ 22
50 Informal ballot-papers .................................................................... 22
51 Proceedings at determination ........................................................ 23
52 Conduct of determination............................................................... 23
53 Objections by scrutineers .............................................................. 24
54 Determination of votes ................................................................... 25
55 Action after determination of referendum ...................................... 25
Referendums Act 1998 iii
56 Disregarding certain votes ............................................................. 25
57 Re-count ........................................................................................ 26
58 Applicable provisions for re-count.................................................. 26
59 Referral of questions ..................................................................... 26
60 Return of writ for referendum ......................................................... 26
Part 5 Disputed referendum
61 Referendum Tribunal ..................................................................... 27
62 Method of disputing validity of referendum .................................... 27
63 Persons to be served ..................................................................... 28
64 No proceedings unless requisites complied with ........................... 28
65 Hearings of Tribunal ...................................................................... 28
66 Powers of Tribunal......................................................................... 28
67 Inquiries by Tribunal ...................................................................... 29
68 Exercise of powers ........................................................................ 30
69 Reporting of offences .................................................................... 30
70 Tribunal may have regard to certain rejected ballot-papers ........... 30
71 Immaterial errors not to vitiate referendum .................................... 31
72 No appeal ...................................................................................... 31
73 Clerk of Legislative Assembly to receive copy of petition and
decision ......................................................................................... 31
74 Representation at hearing ............................................................. 31
75 Costs ............................................................................................. 31
76 Rules of Tribunal ........................................................................... 32
Part 6 Offences
77 Exemption of public policy statements........................................... 32
78 Printing of advertisements ............................................................. 32
79 Heading of advertisements ............................................................ 33
80 Articles to be signed ...................................................................... 33
81 Broadcasting of advertisements .................................................... 34
82 Untrue statements ......................................................................... 34
83 Signature to papers ....................................................................... 35
84 Witnesses to papers ...................................................................... 35
85 Canvassing near polling places prohibited .................................... 36
86 Making unauthorised marks ........................................................... 36
87 Forged documents......................................................................... 37
88 Influencing officer .......................................................................... 37
Part 7 Miscellaneous
89 Referendum at same time as election ........................................... 37
90 Extension of time ........................................................................... 39
91 Averments ..................................................................................... 39
92 Regulatory offences....................................................................... 39
93 Prosecutions not to be brought after 12 months ............................ 39
94 Disclosure of information ............................................................... 40
Referendums Act 1998 iv
95 Protection of officers ...................................................................... 40
96 Destruction of ballot-papers ........................................................... 40
97 Regulations.................................................................................... 40
Schedule
ENDNOTES
NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
As in force at 1 October 2019
REFERENDUMS ACT 1998
An Act provide for the conduct of referendums and for related purposes
Part 1 Preliminary
1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Referendums Act 1998.
2 Definitions
In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:
assistant officer means a person appointed as an assistant officer
under section 16(1)(c) or (2).
Assistant Returning Officer has the same meaning as in the
Northern Territory Electoral Act 1995.
ballot-paper includes a postal ballot-paper.
certified list of voters means a list referred to in section 18.
Chief Electoral Officer has the same meaning as in the Northern
Territory Electoral Act 1995.
division has the same meaning as in the Northern Territory
Electoral Act 1995.
Divisional Returning Officer has the same meaning as in the
Northern Territory Electoral Act 1995.
elector means a person whose name is on a roll.
enrolled, in relation to a person, means the person's name is on a
roll.
Part 1 Preliminary
Referendums Act 1998 2
hours of polling means:
(a) in relation to a place other than a place at which a mobile
polling team is used – from 8.00 a.m. until 6.00 p.m. on polling
day; and
(b) in relation to a place at which a mobile polling team is used –
the hours during which the mobile polling team may conduct
polling at that place.
mobile polling team means a mobile polling team authorised
under section 14.
mobile polling team leader means a mobile polling team leader
appointed under section 16(1)(b).
officer means the Chief Electoral Officer, a Divisional Returning
Officer, an Assistant Returning Officer, a presiding officer and an
assistant officer.
petition means a petition referred to in section 62(1).
polling day means the date fixed by a writ for a referendum as
polling day for the referendum.
polling place means a polling place appointed under section 13(1)
and includes:
(a) the area adjacent to a polling place designated by a notice
erected by the presiding officer of the polling place; and
(b) the area designated by a notice erected by a mobile polling
team leader,
during the period the notice is displayed.
presiding officer means a presiding officer of a polling place
appointed under section 16(1)(a), and includes a deputy presiding
officer appointed under that section while presiding at the polling
place and a mobile polling team leader.
referendum means the taking of the vote of electors on the
question the subject of a writ for a referendum.
referendum advertisement means anything able or intended:
(a) to influence an elector in relation to voting at a referendum; or
(b) to affect the result of a referendum.
Part 2 Writ for referendum
Referendums Act 1998 3
roll means a roll of electors kept under the Northern Territory
Electoral Act 1995.
scrutineer means a person appointed under section 17.
Tribunal means the Referendum Tribunal established by
section 61(1).
writ for a referendum means a writ for a referendum issued under
this Act.
3 Delegation
(1) The Chief Electoral Officer may delegate to a person any of his or
her powers and functions under this Act, other than this power of
delegation.
(2) A delegation under this section may be to a named person or to a
person from time to time holding, acting in or performing the duties
of an office, designation or position.
(3) A power or function delegated under this section, when exercised
or performed by the delegate, is to be taken to have been exercised
or performed by the Chief Electoral Officer.
(4) A delegation under this section:
(a) is to be in writing; and
(b) does not prevent the exercise of a power or the performance
of a function by the Chief Electoral Officer.
4 Matters that can be subject of referendum
(1) A referendum under this Act can be conducted only for or in relation
to a matter specified under section 35 of the Northern Territory (Self
Government) Act 1978 of the Commonwealth.
(2) Subsection (1) applies only while the executive authority of the
Ministers of the Territory is conferred under section 35 of the
Northern Territory (Self Government) Act 1978 of the
Commonwealth.
Part 2 Writ for referendum
5 Resolution of Legislative Assembly
(1) The Legislative Assembly may, on the motion of the Attorney-
General, resolve that a question be submitted to electors.
Part 2 Writ for referendum
Referendums Act 1998 4
(2) The Legislative Assembly may specify the date on which the writ for
the referendum is to be issued.
6 Issue of writ for referendum
(1) The Administrator must issue a writ for a referendum if the
Legislative Assembly has resolved that a question be submitted to
electors.
(2) If a date is specified under section 5, the Administrator must issue
the writ for the referendum on that date.
7 Form and content of writ for referendum
(1) A writ for a referendum is to be in accordance with the form in the
Schedule.
(2) A writ for a referendum is to state:
(a) the date it is issued;
(b) the polling day for the referendum; and
(c) the last day on which the writ may be returned.
(3) The day fixed as polling day is to be not less than 16 clear days nor
more than 52 clear days after the date of the issue of the writ for the
referendum.
(4) A copy of the resolution of the Legislative Assembly that approved
the question being submitted to electors is to be attached to the writ
for the referendum.
8 Referendum to be conducted
If the Administrator issues a writ for a referendum, the referendum
is to be conducted in accordance with the writ and this Act.
9 Chief electoral officer to publish writ and prepare for
referendum
On receiving a writ for a referendum, the Chief Electoral Officer
must:
(a) publish a copy of it in the Gazette;
(b) advertise the day stated in it as polling day in other ways the
Chief Electoral Officer considers appropriate; and
(c) make appropriate arrangements to conduct the referendum.
Part 2 Writ for referendum
Referendums Act 1998 5
10 Distribution to electors of arguments for and against question
(1) If the Legislative Assembly resolves to submit a question to electors
that relates to a proposed law passed by the Legislative Assembly:
(a) the majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly who
voted in favour of the proposed law may authorise an
argument in favour of the question for distribution to electors;
and
(b) the majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly who
voted against the proposed law may authorise an argument
against the question for distribution to electors.
(2) If the Legislative Assembly resolves to submit a question to electors
that does not relate to a proposed law passed by the Legislative
Assembly, the Speaker may call for members to nominate whether
they are in favour of the question or whether they are not in favour
of the question.
(3) The majority of the members who nominate that they are in favour
of the question may authorise an argument in favour of the question
for distribution to electors and the majority of the members who
nominate that they are not in favour of the question may authorise
an argument against the question for distribution to electors.
(4) An argument in favour of or against a question is to consist of not
more than 2,000 words.
(5) A copy of an argument authorised under this section is to be given
to the Chief Electoral Officer not later than 3 days after the day on
which the writ for the referendum is issued.
(6) The Chief Electoral Officer may require amendments to be made to
an argument authorised under this section if he or she is of the
opinion that it is grossly misleading or inaccurate.
(7) If the Chief Electoral Officer receives arguments authorised under
this section, he or she must, as soon as practicable after the
arguments are received:
(a) arrange for a pamphlet containing the arguments to be
printed; and
(b) as far as is reasonably practicable, ensure that a copy of the
pamphlet is posted to each elector.
Part 3 Conduct of referendum
Division 1 Rolls for referendum
Referendums Act 1998 6
(8) If 2 or more referendums are to be conducted on the same polling
day, all the arguments authorised under this section that relate to
the questions to be submitted to electors are to be printed in one
pamphlet.
(9) The Chief Electoral Officer may arrange for arguments in favour of
and against a question (that substantially reflect the arguments
authorised for and against the question):
(a) to be published by printed advertisement or by electronic
means;
(b) to be broadcast by radio or television; or
(c) to be published or broadcast by any other means, and for any
period, that the Chief Electoral Officer considers appropriate.
(10) A pamphlet or other material prepared, printed, distributed,
published or broadcast under this section is not a referendum
advertisement for the purposes of Part 6.
Part 3 Conduct of referendum
Division 1 Rolls for referendum
11 Printing of rolls
(1) The Chief Electoral Officer must arrange for the rolls to be printed
when directed by the Minister.
(2) Supplementary rolls, setting out additions to the rolls since the last
print of the rolls are, if necessary, to be prepared and printed:
(a) immediately after the issue of the writ for a referendum; and
(b) at any other times that the Minister directs.
12 Alteration of rolls
(1) A Divisional Returning Officer may alter a roll kept by him or her for
the purpose of:
(a) correcting a mistake or error in the particulars of the enrolment
of an elector; or
(b) removing the name of a deceased elector.
Part 3 Conduct of referendum
Division 2 Polling places, mobile polling teams, officers and Scrutineers
Referendums Act 1998 7
(2) A Divisional Returning Officer must not alter a roll kept by him or
her that is to be used at a referendum in pursuance of a claim for
enrolment or transfer of enrolment received by the Divisional
Returning Officer after 6.00 p.m. on the day of the issue of the writ
for a referendum until after the close of polling at the referendum.
Division 2 Polling places, mobile polling teams, officers and
Scrutineers
13 Polling places
(1) The Minister may, in writing, appoint polling places for a division or
part of a division.
(2) A part of premises licensed under the Liquor Act 2019 is not to be
used as a polling place unless the Chief Electoral Officer declares,
in writing, that he or she is satisfied that during the hours of polling
on polling day:
(a) intoxicating liquor will not be available for sale or consumption
on that part of the premises;
(b) the part of the premises proposed to be used as the polling
place will be segregated from the part of the premises where
intoxicating liquor will be available for sale or consumption;
and
(c) electors will not have to pass through the part of the premises
where intoxicating liquor will be available for sale or
consumption to gain access to the part of the premises
proposed to be used as the polling place.
14 Mobile polling teams
(1) The Minister may, in writing, authorise the use of mobile polling
teams at particular polling places in a division or part of a division.
(2) If the use of a mobile polling team is to service the voting needs of
a class of voters (such as the in-patients or inmates in a hospital or
institution), the Minister must specify the class of voters.
(3) If the Minister authorises the use of a mobile polling team at a
polling place, the Chief Electoral Officer must, notwithstanding the
date fixed as polling day, specify the date and hours during which a
mobile polling team is to be used at those places for the purposes
of the referendum.
Part 3 Conduct of referendum
Division 2 Polling places, mobile polling teams, officers and Scrutineers
Referendums Act 1998 8
15 Public notice of polling places and mobile polling teams
The Chief Electoral Officer must, as he or she thinks fit:
(a) give public notice of the location of polling places appointed
under section 13; and
(b) if the Minister authorises the use of mobile polling teams, give
public notice of the dates and hours specified under
section 14(3) and, as the case may be, the class of voters
referred to in the notice in accordance with section 14(2).
16 Presiding officers and mobile team leaders
(1) The Divisional Returning Officer for the division for which he or she
is appointed must:
(a) appoint a presiding officer to preside at each polling place
and, if necessary, a deputy presiding officer;
(b) if the use of mobile polling teams has been authorised under
section 14, appoint a mobile polling team leader for each
mobile polling team who is to have all the functions, powers
and duties of a presiding officer;
(c) appoint assistant officers for a polling place or, if the use of
mobile polling teams has been authorised under section 14, to
be members of a mobile polling team; and
(d) make all other arrangements that are necessary for taking the
poll.
(2) A presiding officer may appoint a person to act as an assistant
officer on polling day if it is necessary, in his or her opinion, for the
conduct of polling at the polling place to which the presiding officer
is appointed.
(3) A presiding officer may appoint an officer to perform the presiding
officer's duties during his or her temporary absence and the officer
may, while acting, exercise all the powers of the presiding officer,
and is, in the exercise of those powers, to be taken to be the
presiding officer.
(4) An assistant officer may, subject to the direction of the presiding
officer, exercise all or any of the powers of the presiding officer and
is, in respect of the exercise of those powers, to be taken to be the
presiding officer.
Part 3 Conduct of referendum
Division 2 Polling places, mobile polling teams, officers and Scrutineers
Referendums Act 1998 9
17 Scrutineers
(1) A member of the Legislative Assembly or a person authorised
under this section may appoint persons to be scrutineers for the
purposes of a referendum.
(2) The appointment of a scrutineer:
(a) is to be made in writing or by telegram or other electronically
transmitted writing;
(b) in the case of a scrutineer for a polling place, is to be
addressed to the Divisional Returning Officer for the division
or the presiding officer of the polling place for which the
scrutineer is appointed;
(c) in the case of a scrutineer for a place at which the results of
the referendum are to be determined, is to be addressed to
the officer conducting the determination at the place;
(d) is to be signed by the member or person authorised to make
the appointment or bear his or her name; and
(e) is to state the name and address of the scrutineer.
(3) The Chief Electoral Officer may, as he or she thinks fit, authorise a
person to appoint scrutineers for the purposes of a referendum.
(4) Only one scrutineer appointed by each member of the Legislative
Assembly or each person authorised to appoint scrutineers for a
polling place may enter or remain in the polling place at any one
time.
(5) Only one scrutineer appointed by each member of the Legislative
Assembly or each person authorised to appoint scrutineers for a
place where the results of the referendum are to be determined
may enter or remain in the place at any one time or, if tables are
used for the purposes of counting ballot-papers, only one scrutineer
for each table may enter or remain in the place at any one time.
18 Certified list of voters
(1) The Divisional Returning Officer must supply a list of electors
enrolled in the division for which he or she is appointed to all
presiding officers appointed for polling places for the division.
(2) The list is to be certified by the Divisional Returning Officer.
Part 3 Conduct of referendum
Division 4 Mobile polling
Referendums Act 1998 10
Division 3 Polling booths, ballot-boxes and ballot-papers
19 Separate voting booths
(1) A polling place must have separate polling booths.
(2) Polling booths are to be constructed so as to screen voters from
being observed while marking their ballot-papers.
20 Ballot-boxes
(1) A ballot-box is to be constructed and fitted as is prescribed.
(2) A polling place in a division is to be provided with as many ballot-
boxes as the Divisional Returning Officer for the division thinks fit.
21 Ballot-papers
A ballot-paper is to be in the prescribed form.
Division 4 Mobile polling
22 Mobile polling
Subject to this Act, a person may vote at a referendum using a
mobile polling team at a place and on the date and during the hours
specified under section 14 in respect of the mobile polling team.
23 Voting at certain polling places may be restricted to class of
voters
If the Minister authorises the use of a mobile polling team to service
the voting needs of a class of voters at a polling place, only electors
of the class may vote using the mobile polling team.
24 Places and hours of use of mobile polling team
(1) If:
(a) a mobile polling team is unable to be at a polling place on the
dates or during the times specified under section 14(3); or
(b) in the opinion of the Chief Electoral Officer, the exigencies of
the referendum require it,
Part 3 Conduct of referendum
Division 5 Pre-poll voting and postal voting
Referendums Act 1998 11
the Chief Electoral Officer or mobile polling team leader may do one
or both of the following:
(c) substitute another place for the appointed polling place,
except in the case of a mobile polling team to service the
voting needs of a class of voters in accordance with an
authorisation under section 14(2);
(d) change or vary the specified dates or hours.
(2) The Chief Electoral Officer or a mobile polling team leader must:
(a) give public notice of the substitution under subsection (1)(c) of
a polling place or the change or variation under
subsection (1)(d) in the specified dates or hours as he or she
thinks fit; and
(b) inform the Divisional Returning Officer of the division in which
the mobile polling team is authorised to operate of the
substitution, change or variation.
(3) A referendum or the result of a referendum is not to be invalidated
on the grounds that a mobile polling team failed to attend at a
polling place or to attend on the dates or during the hours specified
under section 14(3) or at the place or on the dates or hours
substituted, changed or varied under this section.
Division 5 Pre-poll voting and postal voting
25 Pre-poll voting
(1) An elector entitled to vote at a referendum who will not be able to
attend at a polling place on polling day may apply to vote under this
section.
(2) An elector who is eligible to vote under this section may vote before
6.00 p.m. on the day before polling day at a location determined by
the Chief Electoral Officer.
(3) An application under this section:
(a) is to be made to an officer appointed for the purpose by the
Chief Electoral Officer; and
(b) subject to section 89, may be made at any time after 7 clear
days after the issue of the writ for a referendum.
Part 3 Conduct of referendum
Division 6 Voting on polling day
Referendums Act 1998 12
(4) If the officer to whom an application is made is satisfied:
(a) that facilities for voting are available at the place where the
application is made; and
(b) the applicant satisfies the requirements for a postal vote,
the applicant may, there and then, vote at the referendum.
(5) The officer must not issue a ballot-paper to an applicant under this
section unless the applicant has answered the following question in
the negative: "Will you be able to attend a polling place on polling
day during the hours of polling?".
(6) The question to be asked under subsection (5) is in addition to any
other question the officer may ask to determine the elector's
entitlement to vote at the referendum.
(7) Division 6, with the necessary changes, applies in relation to an
application to vote and voting under this section.
26 Postal voting
(1) Part 7 of the Northern Territory Electoral Act 1995, with the
necessary changes, applies to a referendum as if a reference in
that Part to an election were a reference to a referendum.
(2) A form prescribed by the Northern Territory Electoral
Regulations 1996 for the purposes of Part 7 of the Northern
Territory Electoral Act 1995 can be used for the purposes of that
Part as applying to a referendum because of subsection (1).
(3) Subject to section 89, a postal ballot-paper must not be issued until
7 clear days after the issue of the writ for a referendum.
Division 6 Voting on polling day
27 Polling
Subject to this Act, polling at a polling place is to be conducted in
the manner determined by the Chief Electoral Officer.
28 Persons entitled to vote
A person is only entitled to vote at a referendum if, had the
referendum been an election for a member of the Legislative
Assembly, the person would be entitled to vote at the election.
Part 3 Conduct of referendum
Division 6 Voting on polling day
Referendums Act 1998 13
29 Ballot-boxes to be exhibited empty before polling
(1) The presiding officer of a polling place must before a vote is taken,
exhibit the ballot-box empty and must then securely fasten it closed.
(2) If the presiding officer referred to in subsection (1) is a mobile
polling team leader, in a division attended in pursuance of
section 14 by the mobile polling team of which he or she is the
leader, he or she need not comply with the requirements of
subsection (1) other than at the first polling place in the division so
attended.
30 Name to be on roll
Subject to this Part, an officer must not issue a ballot-paper to a
person unless the person's name appears on the roll for the division
for which the person wishes to vote.
31 Persons claiming to vote to give names and other particulars
(1) Subject to this Part and section 89, an officer must issue a ballot-
paper to a person if:
(a) the person states his or her full name and any other
particulars that are necessary to identify the person as an
elector; and
(b) the person answers the following question in the absolute
affirmative: "Is this the first time you have voted either here or
elsewhere in this referendum?".
(2) An officer may, and at the request of a scrutineer must, put all or
any of the following questions in addition to the question referred to
in subsection (1) to a person who claims to vote under section 36(1)
before issuing a ballot-paper to the person:
(a) "Are you of the age of 18 years or more?";
(b) "Are you an Australian citizen?"; and
(c) "Are you qualified to vote?",
and, if the person answers the question specified in paragraph (b)
in the negative:
(d) "Were you a British subject who was enrolled as a
Commonwealth, Territory, or State elector on
25 January 1984?".
Part 3 Conduct of referendum
Division 6 Voting on polling day
Referendums Act 1998 14
(3) Subject to this section and Division 5, a ballot-paper is to be issued
under this Part:
(a) only:
(i) between the hours of 8.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. on polling
day; or
(ii) to an elector in a polling place at 6.00 p.m. on a polling
day who wishes to vote; or
(b) only:
(i) during the hours specified under section 14(3) or those
hours as changed or varied under section 24(1); or
(ii) to a person in a polling place, designated by a notice
erected by a mobile polling team leader, at the expiration
of the hours specified under section 14(3) or those hours
as changed or varied under section 24(1) who wishes to
vote.
32 Record of objections
When requested by a scrutineer, a presiding officer must keep a
record of all objections made by a scrutineer to the issue of a ballot-
paper to any person.
33 Ballot-papers to be initialled
(1) An officer must before issuing a ballot-paper to a person place the
officer's initials on the back of the ballot-paper in a position where
the initials can be easily seen when the ballot-paper is folded to
conceal the vote of the person on it.
(2) Immediately before issuing a ballot-paper to a person whose name
is on a certified list of voters, the officer must place a mark against
that person's name on the list.
34 Vote to be marked in private
Subject to section 35, a person who has been issued with a ballot-
paper must, without delay:
(a) retire alone to an unoccupied polling booth and there mark his
or her vote on the ballot-paper in accordance with this Act;
(b) having complied with paragraph (a), fold the ballot-paper so as
to conceal his or her vote;
Part 3 Conduct of referendum
Division 6 Voting on polling day
Referendums Act 1998 15
(c) exhibit the ballot-paper folded in accordance with paragraph
(b) to an officer; and
(d) openly, and without unfolding the ballot-paper, deposit it in a
ballot-box.
35 Assistance of certain persons
(1) If a voter satisfies the presiding officer of a polling place that the
voter is so physically incapacitated that he or she is unable to vote
without assistance or is illiterate, the presiding officer must, or must
direct an officer to:
(a) enter an unoccupied polling booth with the voter;
(b) mark the voter's ballot-paper in accordance with the
instructions of the voter; and
(c) fold and deposit the voter's ballot-paper in a ballot-box.
(2) If the presiding officer of a polling place is satisfied that the physical
incapacity or illiteracy of a voter will not enable the voter:
(a) to communicate the voter's instructions for marking his or her
ballot-paper to the presiding officer or an officer under
subsection (1); or
(b) to verify that his or her ballot-paper will be marked in
accordance with his or her instructions,
the presiding officer may permit a person appointed by the voter:
(c) to assist the voter in accomplishing the matters referred to in
paragraphs (a) and (b); and
(d) to be present while the ballot-paper of the voter is marked,
folded and deposited in accordance with subsection (1).
(3) For the purposes of this section, it is sufficient indication of a voter's
instructions if the voter or the person appointed by the voter under
subsection (2) presents to an officer referred to in subsection (1) a
piece of paper or card, whether or not a recognisable how-to-vote
card, indicating how to vote at the referendum, and the officer is
satisfied that the piece of paper or card reflects the wishes of the
voter.
(4) An officer who:
(a) in pursuance of this section is required to mark the ballot-
paper of a voter; and
Part 3 Conduct of referendum
Division 6 Voting on polling day
Referendums Act 1998 16
(b) marks the ballot-paper of the voter otherwise than in
accordance with instructions given by the voter or, in a case
where subsection (2) applies, by a person appointed by the
voter,
is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 17 penalty units or imprisonment for
2 years.
(5) A person, appointed under subsection (2) by a voter, who causes
the ballot-paper of the voter to be marked by an officer otherwise
than in accordance with the instructions of the voter is guilty of an
offence.
Maximum penalty: 17 penalty units or imprisonment for
2 years.
(6) A scrutineer or a person, appointed under subsection (2) by a voter,
must not disclose to any person anything relating to the vote of a
voter voting under this section.
Maximum penalty: 17 penalty units or imprisonment for
2 years.
(7) Nothing in this Act, other than section 17 or 40, prevents a
scrutineer from being present, if he or she so desires, while the
ballot-paper of a voter is marked, folded and deposited in
accordance with this section.
36 Vote of unlisted persons
(1) The presiding officer of a polling place may, subject to the
Regulations, issue a ballot-paper to a person whose name is not on
the certified list of voters for the division for which the polling place
has been appointed if the person makes a declaration in the
prescribed form that:
(a) the person has complied with Part VIII of the Commonwealth
Electoral Act 1918 of the Commonwealth before the issue of
the writ for the referendum;
(b) to the best of the person’s knowledge, no objection has been
upheld in relation to the inclusion of his or her name on a roll;
and
(c) the person is not qualified for enrolment in a division other
than the division for which he or she claims to vote.
Part 3 Conduct of referendum
Division 6 Voting on polling day
Referendums Act 1998 17
(2) The presiding officer of a polling place may, subject to the
Regulations, issue a ballot-paper to a person whose name appears
on a certified list of voters marked in accordance with section 33(2)
or who has been issued with a postal ballot-paper if the person
makes a declaration in the prescribed form that he or she has not
already voted and surrenders the postal ballot-paper, if the person
is in possession of a postal ballot-paper.
(3) The presiding officer of a polling place may, subject to the
Regulations, issue a ballot-paper to a person whose name is not on
a certified list of voters for the division in respect of which the
polling place is appointed if the person makes a declaration in the
prescribed form that he or she is enrolled in another division and
that he or she has not already voted at the referendum.
(4) A presiding officer who issues a ballot-paper under this section
must:
(a) make and sign a record of:
(i) the name of the person to whom it is issued; and
(ii) the division for which the person declares under
subsection (3) he or she is enrolled; and
(b) forward the record to the presiding officer’s Divisional
Returning Officer.
(5) For the purposes of subsections (1), (2) and (3), the prescribed
form is the form prescribed for the purposes of the equivalent
subsection of section 72 of the Northern Territory Electoral
Act 1995.
37 Method of voting
(1) If a person is issued with a ballot-paper under section 36, the
person must mark and fold his or her ballot-paper in the manner
prescribed in section 34(a) and (b) and return it to the presiding
officer for the polling place.
(2) A presiding officer who receives a ballot-paper in accordance with
subsection (1) must in the presence of the person who marked and
folded the ballot-paper and of scrutineers that are present:
(a) enclose the ballot-paper, without unfolding it, in an envelope
bearing the declaration of the person under section 36(1), (2)
or (3), as the case may be, and addressed to the Divisional
Returning Officer for the division for which the person claims
to be entitled to vote; and
Part 3 Conduct of referendum
Division 6 Voting on polling day
Referendums Act 1998 18
(b) forthwith securely fasten the envelope and deposit it in a
ballot-box.
38 Spoilt or discarded ballot-papers
(1) On receiving a spoilt ballot-paper or finding or being given a
discarded ballot-paper, the presiding officer of a polling place may
cancel the ballot-paper.
(2) If a person who has been issued with a ballot-paper satisfies the
presiding officer of a polling place that the ballot-paper has been
spoilt by mistake or accident, the presiding officer may issue a new
ballot-paper to the person.
39 Adjournment of polling
(1) The presiding officer of a polling place may adjourn polling from day
to day if the polling is interrupted by:
(a) riot or open violence; or
(b) fire, storm, tempest, flood or a similar occurrence.
(2) The Chief Electoral Officer may adjourn polling at a polling place for
a period not exceeding 21 days if, from any cause, the polling place
is not open.
(3) If polling is adjourned:
(a) under subsection (1), the presiding officer; or
(b) under subsection (2), the Chief Electoral Officer,
must take steps as he or she thinks necessary or convenient to give
public notice of the adjournment as soon as practicable after polling
is adjourned.
(4) If polling is adjourned under subsection (1) or (2), only those
persons who are entitled to vote in the referendum for the division
and who have not already voted are entitled to vote at the
adjourned polling.
40 Direction to leave polling place
(1) If the presiding officer at a polling place believes, on reasonable
grounds, that a person by his or her conduct at the polling place is
or is likely to disrupt the orderly conduct of voting or the counting of
votes at the polling place, the presiding officer may direct the
person to leave and remain away from the polling place.
Part 3 Conduct of referendum
Division 6 Voting on polling day
Referendums Act 1998 19
(2) A direction under subsection (1) may be given to a person who is a
scrutineer or who is entitled to vote at the polling place and has not
voted.
(3) A person who is given a direction under subsection (1) must leave
and remain away from the polling place in accordance with the
direction.
Maximum penalty: 8 penalty units or imprisonment for
6 months.
41 Marking of ballot-papers
(1) A person issued with a ballot-paper must indicate his or her vote:
(a) if the elector intends to vote in favour of the question – by
writing the word "yes" in the space provided on the ballot-
paper; or
(b) if the elector intends to vote against the question – by writing
the word "no" in the space provided on the ballot-paper.
(2) Subject to this Act, a person must not write on or mark a ballot-
paper other than a ballot-paper issued to the person.
Maximum penalty: 4 penalty units.
42 Employee wishing to vote
(1) Subject to subsection (2), if an elector notifies his or her employer
that the elector desires leave of absence to enable him or her to
vote at a referendum, the employer must, if the absence desired is
necessary to enable the employee to vote at the referendum, allow
him or her leave of absence, without a penalty or disproportionate
deduction of pay, for a reasonable period, not exceeding 2 hours,
that is necessary to enable the employee to vote at the referendum.
(2) An employee must not, under pretence that he or she intends to
vote at a referendum, but without the bona fide intention of so
doing, obtain leave of absence under this section.
Maximum penalty: 0.8 penalty unit.
(3) This section does not apply to an elector whose absence may
cause danger or substantial loss in respect of the employment in
which the elector is engaged.
Part 3 Conduct of referendum
Division 7 Offences relating to polling
Referendums Act 1998 20
43 Ballot-boxes to be secured at close of polling
(1) The presiding officer of a polling place must at the close of polling,
in the presence of any scrutineers that are in attendance:
(a) publicly close, fasten, seal and take charge of the ballot-box;
and
(b) with the least possible delay, forward it to the place where the
results of the referendum are to be determined.
(2) A ballot-box that has been closed, fastened and sealed in
accordance with subsection (1) must, on no account, be opened
except in accordance with this Act.
(3) If the determination of the results of the referendum is proceeded
with immediately after the close of polling at the polling place at
which the votes are taken, it is not necessary for the presiding
officer to publicly close, fasten or seal the ballot-box as required by
subsection (1).
Division 7 Offences relating to polling
44 Persons present at polling
A person, other than:
(a) an officer;
(b) a scrutineer, as permitted by section 17; or
(c) an elector voting or about to vote,
must not enter or remain in a polling place except by the permission
of the presiding officer of the polling place.
Maximum penalty: 17 penalty units or imprisonment for
2 years.
45 Electors must vote
(1) Subject to this Act, an elector must not fail to vote at a referendum
without a valid and sufficient reason for the failure.
Maximum penalty: 0.8 penalty unit.
(2) If the polling day for a referendum is the same as that fixed as
polling day for an election of a member of the Legislative Assembly,
a person cannot be found guilty of an offence against
subsection (1) if the person has been found guilty of an offence
Part 3 Conduct of referendum
Division 7 Offences relating to polling
Referendums Act 1998 21
against section 64 of the Northern Territory Electoral Act 1995 in
respect of his or her failing to vote at the election.
46 Person may vote only once
A person must not vote more than once at a referendum.
Maximum penalty: 8 penalty units.
47 Offences in relation to ballot-papers and at polling places
(1) A person must not falsely impersonate a person to secure a ballot-
paper to which the impersonator is not entitled.
Maximum penalty: 4 penalty units.
(2) Subject to this Act, a person must not wilfully destroy or deface a
ballot-paper.
Maximum penalty: 17 penalty units or imprisonment for
2 years.
(3) A person must not fraudulently put a ballot-paper or other paper
into a ballot-box.
Maximum penalty: 4 penalty units.
(4) A person must not fraudulently take a ballot-paper out of a polling
place or a place at which the results of a referendum are being
determined.
Maximum penalty: 17 penalty units or imprisonment for
12 months.
(5) Subject to this Act, a person must not wilfully take a ballot-paper out
of a polling place.
Maximum penalty: 1.7 penalty units.
(6) A person must not misconduct him or herself or fail to obey the
lawful directions of the presiding officer in a polling place.
Maximum penalty: 1.7 penalty units.
(7) A person must not supply ballot-papers without authority.
Maximum penalty: 8 penalty units or imprisonment for
6 months.
Part 4 Determination of results of polling
Referendums Act 1998 22
(8) A person must not unlawfully destroy, take or otherwise interfere
with, ballot-boxes or ballot-papers contained in a ballot-box.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
(9) Subject to this Act, a person must not wear or display an emblem,
poster, representation or statement in a polling place that a
reasonable person would associate with the approval or
disapproval of a question submitted to electors at a referendum.
Maximum penalty: 1.7 penalty units.
(10) A person, other than an officer conducting a determination of the
results of a referendum, must not open a ballot-box.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
(11) A person, other than an officer, must not exhibit in a polling booth a
card or paper having on it a direction or instruction with respect to
voting.
Maximum penalty: 8 penalty units.
(12) A person must truthfully answer all questions put to him or her
under this Part.
Maximum penalty: 4 penalty units.
Part 4 Determination of results of polling
48 Definition
In this Part, officer means a Divisional Returning Officer or an
Assistant Returning Officer.
49 Determination
The results of a referendum must be ascertained in accordance
with this Part.
50 Informal ballot-papers
(1) A ballot-paper is informal:
(a) unless it is:
(i) printed by the Government Printer; or
(ii) created for the purposes of this Act by an officer and
initialled by an officer;
Part 4 Determination of results of polling
Referendums Act 1998 23
(b) if the word "yes" or the word "no" is not written in the space
provided on the ballot-paper and the Divisional Returning
Officer is not satisfied that the elector's intention in respect of
the question is clearly indicated on the ballot-paper; or
(c) if it has on it a mark or writing by which, in the opinion of the
Divisional Returning Officer, the voter can be identified.
(2) If the letter "y" or a mark in the form of a tick is written or marked in
the space provided on the ballot-paper, it is a clear indication that
the elector's intention is to vote in favour of the question.
(3) If the letter "n" or a mark in the form of a cross is written or marked
in the space provided on the ballot-paper, it is a clear indication that
the elector's intention is to vote against the question.
51 Proceedings at determination
(1) Scrutineers and any other persons who are approved by the officer
conducting a determination may be present at the determination of
the results of a referendum.
(2) Proceedings at a determination of the results of a referendum are to
be open to inspection by scrutineers.
(3) An officer conducting a determination of the results of a referendum
may adjourn the determination from time to time.
52 Conduct of determination
(1) An officer conducting a determination of the results of a referendum
must:
(a) open the ballot-boxes under his or her control;
(b) notwithstanding paragraphs (c) to (f) inclusive, if he or she is
not the Divisional Returning Officer for the division in respect
of which the vote on a ballot-paper contained in an envelope is
cast – transmit, unopened, all envelopes containing those
ballot-papers received by him or her to the Divisional
Returning Officers for the divisions in respect of which the
votes on those ballot-papers are cast;
(c) place all informal ballot-papers in a parcel;
(d) arrange all formal ballot-papers in the votes in favour of the
question and those against the question;
(e) count the votes on the formal ballot-papers;
Part 4 Determination of results of polling
Referendums Act 1998 24
(f) make and sign a statement setting out the number of:
(i) votes in favour of the question and votes against the
question; and
(ii) informal votes;
(g) if he or she is not the Divisional Returning Officer for the
division in respect of which the votes were cast – transmit the
information contained in the statement referred to in
paragraph (f) to the Divisional Returning Officer for the division
in respect of which the votes were cast;
(h) place all formal ballot-papers referred to in paragraph (d) in
separate parcels according to whether to votes are in favour
or against the question;
(j) seal up the parcels referred to in paragraphs (c) and (h) and
endorse on each parcel a statement of the contents; and
(k) if he or she is not the Divisional Returning Officer for the
division in respect of which votes were cast – transmit to the
Divisional Returning Officer referred to in paragraph (g), as
soon as is practicable, all the parcels and statements.
(2) A scrutineer may sign:
(a) a statement referred to in subsection (1)(f); and
(b) any parcels referred to in subsection (1)(h).
(3) The Divisional Returning Officer for the division in respect of which
the votes on ballot-papers, used for voting under Division 5 or
section 36, are cast, must examine, count and deal with those
ballot-papers in the prescribed manner.
53 Objections by scrutineers
(1) A scrutineer may object to the officer conducting a determination of
the results of a referendum as to the admission or rejection of a
ballot-paper as a formal ballot-paper.
(2) The officer conducting a determination of the results of a
referendum must:
(a) determine an objection made under subsection (1) by
admitting or rejecting the ballot-paper the subject of the
objection as a formal ballot-paper; and
Part 4 Determination of results of polling
Referendums Act 1998 25
(b) mark the ballot-paper "admitted" or "rejected" according to his
or her decision.
(3) Nothing in this section prevents the officer conducting a
determination of the results of a referendum from rejecting a ballot-
paper as being informal although no objection is made to it.
(4) A reference in this section to the officer conducting a determination
of the results of a referendum is to be read as a reference to the
Divisional Returning Officer for the division in respect of which the
votes were cast in the application of this section to a ballot-paper
used for voting under Division 5 or section 36.
54 Determination of votes
A Divisional Returning Officer must, from the statements made
under section 52 and the result of the scrutiny of the votes counted
by him or her, determine the number of votes in favour of the
question and the number of votes against the question for the
division in respect of which he or she is Divisional Returning Officer.
55 Action after determination of referendum
A Divisional Returning Officer must, on completing a determination
of the results of a referendum:
(a) place in separate parcels all informal votes and all formal
votes;
(b) seal up the parcels referred to in paragraph (a) and endorse
on each parcel a statement of the contents; and
(c) allow any scrutineers present, if they desire, to sign each
parcel.
56 Disregarding certain votes
The Chief Electoral Officer may declare the results of a referendum
if he or she is satisfied that any ballot-papers that:
(a) have not been received by a Divisional Returning Officer; or
(b) have not been dealt with in accordance with this Act,
cannot, due to the number of those ballot-papers, affect the
outcome of a determination of the results of a referendum.
Part 4 Determination of results of polling
Referendums Act 1998 26
57 Re-count
(1) The Divisional Returning Officer for a division, at any time before
the determination of the results of a referendum:
(a) may of his or her own motion or on the written request of a
member of the Legislative Assembly or a person authorised to
appoint a scrutineer; and
(b) must, on the direction of the Chief Electoral Officer,
re-count any ballot-papers placed in a parcel in accordance with
this Part.
(2) A request under subsection (1)(a) is to contain a statement of the
reasons for the request.
58 Applicable provisions for re-count
This Part applies to a re-count of any ballot-papers as if the re-
count were the determination of the results of a referendum and
any decision in relation to the determination as to the admission or
rejection of a ballot-paper as a formal ballot-paper may be
reversed.
59 Referral of questions
(1) The Divisional Returning Officer conducting a re-count under
section 57 must, if required by a scrutineer, refer any question
relating to the formal or informal nature of a ballot-paper to the
Chief Electoral Officer.
(2) The Chief Electoral Officer must decide a question referred for him
or her under subsection (1).
60 Return of writ for referendum
The Chief Electoral Officer must, after the results of the referendum
are determined:
(a) write on the writ for the referendum the total number of votes
in favour of the question and the total number of votes against
the question;
(b) write on the writ whether or not the question has been
approved by a majority of the electors voting;
(c) return the writ to the Administrator;
(d) retain a copy of the writ; and
Part 5 Disputed referendum
Referendums Act 1998 27
(e) notify the results of the referendum in the Gazette.
Part 5 Disputed referendum
61 Referendum Tribunal
(1) The Referendum Tribunal is established.
(2) The Tribunal is constituted by a Judge of the Supreme Court.
(3) The Tribunal must keep a record of its proceedings under this Part.
62 Method of disputing validity of referendum
(1) The validity of a referendum may be disputed by petition addressed
to the Tribunal, but not otherwise.
(2) The Tribunal has jurisdiction to hear and determine a petition.
(3) A petition is to:
(a) set out the facts relied on to invalidate the referendum;
(b) set out those facts with sufficient particularity to identify the
specific matter or matters on which the petitioner relies as
justifying the grant of relief;
(c) contain a prayer asking for the relief the petitioner claims to be
entitled to;
(d) be signed by the person making the petition;
(e) be attested by 2 witnesses whose occupations and addresses
are stated; and
(f) be filed with an Associate Judge not later than 21 days after
the day fixed for the return of the writ for the referendum.
(4) At the time of filing a petition the petitioner must lodge $500 with the
Associate Judge as security for costs.
(5) The Associate Judge must deposit money lodged under
subsection (4) in a trust account and must not disperse the money
other than in accordance with section 75.
(6) The trust account is to be known as "The Referendum Tribunal
Trust Account".
Part 5 Disputed referendum
Referendums Act 1998 28
63 Persons to be served
(1) A notice of the lodging of a petition and a copy of the petition must
be served on the Chief Electoral Officer.
(2) If the Chief Electoral Officer proposes to contest the petition, he or
she must, not later than 7 days after the service or any further time
that is allowed by the Tribunal, lodge a reply to the petition with the
Associate Judge and the petitioner.
(3) A reply to the petition is to:
(a) set out the facts on which the Chief Electoral Officer proposes
to reply;
(b) ask for the relief to which the Chief Electoral Officer claims to
be entitled; and
(c) be signed by the Chief Electoral Officer.
64 No proceedings unless requisites complied with
The proceedings on a petition must not be proceeded with unless
the requirements of sections 62 and 63 are complied with in respect
of the petition.
65 Hearings of Tribunal
The Tribunal, when exercising the jurisdiction conferred by this
Part:
(a) is to be open to the public; and
(b) is not bound by the rules of evidence.
66 Powers of Tribunal
(1) Subject to section 68, the powers of the Tribunal includes the power
to:
(a) adjourn; and
(b) compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of
documents; and
(c) require a person appearing before it to give evidence on oath;
and
(d) with the consent of the parties to the proceedings, receive
evidence on affidavit or by statutory declaration; and
Part 5 Disputed referendum
Referendums Act 1998 29
(e) regulate the form and mode of its proceedings in each case;
and
(f) grant to a party to the petition leave to inspect, in the presence
of an officer nominated by the Tribunal, the rolls and other
documents (except ballot-papers) used at or in connection
with the referendum to which a petition relates and to take, in
the presence of the officer, extracts from those rolls and
documents; and
(g) permit, at any stage of its proceedings and on the terms that it
thinks fit, amendments to a petition or other pleadings, that it
thinks fit; and
(h) permit a person to appear and be heard, or to be represented,
in its proceedings; and
(j) declare a referendum void; and
(k) uphold a petition, in whole or in part; and
(m) dismiss a petition; and
(n) award costs.
(2) The Tribunal may exercise all or any of its powers under this
section on any grounds that it thinks fit.
(3) Without limiting the powers conferred by this section, the power of
the Tribunal to declare a referendum void may be exercised on the
ground that illegal practices were committed in connection with the
referendum.
(4) The Tribunal has power to punish a contempt of its authority as if it
were the Supreme Court and as if the contempt were a contempt of
the Supreme Court.
67 Inquiries by Tribunal
(1) The Tribunal must inquire whether or not the requirements of
sections 62 and 63 have been complied with and, so far as voting is
concerned, may inquire into the identity of persons and whether
their votes were improperly admitted or rejected and whether the
result of the polling was correctly ascertained, but the Tribunal must
not inquire into the correctness of a roll and must take the roll to be
conclusive evidence that the persons enrolled were, at the time of
the issue of the writ for the referendum, entitled to be enrolled.
(2) The qualification of a person enrolled must not be questioned and a
referendum must not be declared void on the ground that a person
Part 5 Disputed referendum
Referendums Act 1998 30
whose name appears on the roll for a division, and who has voted
as an elector for the division, was not qualified to be enrolled or to
continue to be enrolled as an elector for the division.
68 Exercise of powers
(1) The Tribunal must not exercise the power referred to in
section 66(1)(j) or (k):
(a) on the ground of an action that occurred; or
(b) on the ground of the commission of an offence against this
Act,
unless it is satisfied:
(c) that the result of the referendum was likely to have been
affected by that action or the commission of the offence; and
(d) that it is just that the Tribunal exercise that power.
(2) The Tribunal must not:
(a) in determining whether the actions of an officer affected the
results of a referendum, admit evidence of the manner in
which a person, who was wrongly prevented from voting at a
referendum by an officer, would have voted; or
(b) admit evidence from a person referred to in paragraph (a)
unless the person satisfies the Tribunal that he or she was
wrongly prevented from voting.
69 Reporting of offences
If the Tribunal finds that a person has committed an offence against
this Act, the Associate Judge must, as soon as practicable, report
that finding to the Attorney-General, the Director of Public
Prosecutions and the Minister.
70 Tribunal may have regard to certain rejected ballot-papers
In making its decision on a petition, the Tribunal may:
(a) have regard to ballot-papers used for voting under Part 3
rejected at the determination if satisfied that the votes marked
on the ballot-papers were recorded before the close of polling;
and
Part 5 Disputed referendum
Referendums Act 1998 31
(b) have regard to any ballot-paper for voting under section 25 or
36 rejected at the determination if of the opinion that the
ballot-papers should not have been rejected.
71 Immaterial errors not to vitiate referendum
A referendum must not be voided on account of a delay in the
polling or the return of the writ for the referendum.
72 No appeal
An appeal or other proceedings does not lie from or in relation to a
decision of the Tribunal.
73 Clerk of Legislative Assembly to receive copy of petition and
decision
The Associate Judge must:
(a) as soon as practicable after the issue of a petition; and
(b) after the determination of the petition,
forward to the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly a copy of the
petition and a copy of the order of the Tribunal made after the
determination.
74 Representation at hearing
(1) A party to proceedings under this Part cannot, except by consent of
all parties, or by leave of the Tribunal, be represented by an agent
or legal practitioner.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), no more than one agent or legal
practitioner may appear at the same time on behalf of a party to the
proceedings under this Part.
75 Costs
(1) The Tribunal may award costs as it thinks fit in proceedings under
this Part.
(2) A security paid in accordance with section 62(4):
(a) is to be returned to the person who paid the security if:
(i) no order as to costs is made; or
(ii) costs are awarded to the person who paid the security;
or
Part 6 Offences
Referendums Act 1998 32
(b) is to be applied toward the costs of the person to whom they
are awarded, other than the person referred to in
paragraph (a).
(3) Costs ordered to be paid under this section by the Tribunal may be
recovered as if the order of the Tribunal were a judgment of the
Supreme Court, and that order it to be entered as a judgment of the
Supreme Court and is to be enforced accordingly.
76 Rules of Tribunal
The Judges who are appointed under section 32(1) of the Supreme
Court Act 1979 and are not additional Judges, or a majority of those
Judges, may make rules, not inconsistent with this Act:
(a) regulating the practice and procedure of the Tribunal;
(b) conferring on the Tribunal additional powers necessary or
convenient for carrying out its functions; and
(c) making any other provision that is necessary or convenient for
carrying into effect the provisions of this Part relating to the
Tribunal.
Part 6 Offences
77 Exemption of public policy statements
Despite anything in this Act, a declaration of public policy or
promise of public action is not to be construed as an offence.
78 Printing of advertisements
(1) On or after the date of issue and before the return of a writ for a
referendum, a person must not:
(a) print or publish a printed referendum advertisement, handbill
or pamphlet, other than an advertisement in a newspaper,
without the name and place of business (if any) of the printer
or other person producing the matter being printed at the foot
of the matter;
(b) publish a referendum advertisement, handbill or pamphlet or
issue a referendum notice, other than the announcement by
advertisement in a newspaper of the holding of a meeting,
without the name and address of the person authorising the
advertisement, handbill, pamphlet or referendum notice
appearing at the end of the document;
Part 6 Offences
Referendums Act 1998 33
(c) print, publish or distribute a referendum advertisement, notice,
handbill, pamphlet or card containing a representation of a
ballot-paper or a representation apparently intended to
represent a ballot-paper, having on it directions intended to or
likely to mislead or improperly interfere with an elector in or in
relation to the casting of his or her vote;
(d) print, publish or distribute a referendum advertisement, notice,
handbill, pamphlet or card containing an untrue or incorrect
statement intended to or likely to mislead or improperly
interfere with an elector in or in relation to the casting of the
elector's vote; or
(e) wilfully inform an elector that the elector is not enrolled, or that
the elector is not enrolled for a particular division, if he or she
is enrolled, or is enrolled for the division, as the case may be.
Maximum penalty: 8 penalty units or imprisonment for
6 months.
(2) In subsection (1), publish and distribute includes publish or
distribute, or publish and distribute, by electronic means and that
subsection applies whether or not the electronic means results in
the production of printed matter.
79 Heading of advertisements
On and after the date of issue and before the return of the writ for a
referendum, the proprietor of every newspaper published or
distributed in the Territory must cause the word "advertisement" to
be printed as a headline in letters not smaller than 10 point, to each
article or paragraph in his or her newspaper containing:
(a) matter intended or calculated to affect the result of a
referendum; or
(b) a report of a speech of a person,
the insertion of which is or is to be paid for or for which any reward
or compensation or promise is or is to be made.
Maximum penalty: 8 penalty units or imprisonment for
6 months.
80 Articles to be signed
(1) Subject to subsection (3), on and after the date of issue and before
the return of the writ for a referendum, every article, report, letter or
other matter commenting on the issues being submitted to the
electors at the referendum, published in any newspaper, circular,
Part 6 Offences
Referendums Act 1998 34
pamphlet or handbill must:
(a) be signed by the author; or
(b) state the true name and address of the author at the end of
the article, report, letter or other matter, or that part of it which
is published.
Maximum penalty: 8 penalty units or imprisonment for
6 months.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), a newspaper editor or proprietor who
permits, in a newspaper that he or she edits or owns, the
contravention or failure to comply with subsection (1) is guilty of an
offence.
Maximum penalty: 8 penalty units or imprisonment for
6 months.
(3) This section does not apply to the publishing in a newspaper of:
(a) a leading article; or
(b) an article that consists solely of a report of a meeting and
does not contain any comment, other than comment made by
a speaker at the meeting, on the issues being submitted to the
electors.
81 Broadcasting of advertisements
(1) On and after the date of issue and before the return of the writ for a
referendum, every referendum advertisement that is broadcast on
radio or television must contain a statement of the name and
address of the person authorising the advertisement.
(2) The statement must be at the end of the advertisement.
Maximum penalty: 8 penalty units or imprisonment for
6 months.
82 Untrue statements
A person must not make an untrue statement or supply false
information:
(a) to an officer for the purposes of or in connection with:
(i) the preparation, maintenance or revision of the rolls; or
(ii) obtaining a ballot-paper; or
Part 6 Offences
Referendums Act 1998 35
(b) in a document required by or under this Act to be signed by
the person.
Maximum penalty: 17 penalty units or imprisonment for
2 years.
83 Signature to papers
(1) If a person who is required by this Act to sign a document is unable
to sign his or her name in writing and instead makes his or her mark
as his or her signature, the mark is to be taken to be his personal
signature, if, subject to subsection (2), it is made in the presence of
a witness who signs the document as witness.
(2) If a person of a description referred to in subsection (1) makes an
application for a postal ballot-paper or completes a postal vote
certificate, a reference in subsection (1) to a witness who signs the
document as witness is to be read as a reference to 2 witnesses
who sign the application or postal vote certificate, as the case may
be, as witnesses.
(3) A person must not make the signature of another person on a
document required by this Act to be signed by the other person.
Maximum penalty: 17 penalty units or imprisonment for
2 years.
84 Witnesses to papers
(1) A person must not:
(a) sign his or her name as witness on a blank document that is
required by this Act to be witnessed;
(b) sign his or her name as witness on a document required by
this Act to be witnessed that has been wholly or partly
completed unless it has been signed by the person intended
to sign it;
(c) sign his or her name as witness on a document required by
this Act to be witnessed unless he or she has seen the
person, whose signature he or she purports to witness, sign it;
or
(d) write a name other than his or her own name as his or her
own name on a document required by this Act.
Maximum penalty: 17 penalty units or imprisonment for
2 years.
Part 6 Offences
Referendums Act 1998 36
(2) A member of the Legislative Assembly or person who is authorised
to appoint scrutineers must not sign his or her name as witness on
a document required by this Act to be witnessed.
Maximum penalty: 0.8 penalty unit.
85 Canvassing near polling places prohibited
Subject to this Act, a person must not during polling hours on
polling day or a day to which polling is adjourned, within 10 metres
of the entrance of a polling place or by means of sound
amplification with the intention that the message is audible in or
within 10 metres of the entrance of a polling place:
(a) canvass for votes;
(b) solicit the vote of an elector;
(c) induce an elector not to vote in a particular way;
(d) induce an elector not to vote at the referendum; or
(e) exhibit a notice or sign relating to the referendum.
Maximum penalty: 8 penalty units.
86 Making unauthorised marks
(1) A person must not, without lawful authority, proof of which lies on
him or her:
(a) make on or in a paper a mark required by this Act to be placed
on or in the paper;
(b) have in his or her possession any paper bearing a mark
referred to in paragraph (a); or
(c) make, use or have in his or her possession an instrument
capable of making on or in a paper a mark referred to in
paragraph (a) other than an instrument used for the purposes
of voting.
Maximum penalty: 17 penalty units or imprisonment for
2 years.
(2) A person who, without lawful authority, proof of which authority lies
on the person, makes on or in a ballot-paper, or on or in a paper
purporting to be a ballot-paper, a mark referred to in
subsection (1)(a), is to be taken to have forged the ballot-paper.
Part 7 Miscellaneous
Referendums Act 1998 37
(3) A paper bearing a mark referred to in subsection (1)(a), and all
instruments capable of making that mark on or in a paper made,
used or in the possession of any person without lawful authority,
proof of which authority lies on the person, is forfeited to the
Territory and may, without warrant, be seized by any member of the
Police Force and destroyed or dealt with in any manner that the
Chief Electoral Officer or the Commissioner of Police thinks fit.
87 Forged documents
A person must not forge, or utter knowing it to be forged, a
document required by this Act.
Maximum penalty: 17 penalty units or imprisonment for
2 years.
88 Influencing officer
A person who, directly or indirectly, by force, deception, threat or
intimidation of any kind, influences or attempts to influence an
officer in the exercise of the officer's duty, authority or discretion
under this Act, is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 17 penalty units or imprisonment for
2 years.
Part 7 Miscellaneous
89 Referendum at same time as election
(1) If polling day for a referendum is the same as that fixed as polling
day for an election of a member of the Legislative Assembly:
(a) a person appointed as an officer under the Northern Territory
Electoral Act 1995 for the election is to be taken to be
appointed as an officer for the referendum;
(b) a polling place appointed under the Northern Territory
Electoral Act 1995 for the election is to be taken to be a polling
place for the referendum;
(c) a mobile polling team authorised under the Northern Territory
Electoral Act 1995 for the election is to be taken to be a
mobile polling team for the referendum and may be used at
the places and during the days and hours specified under that
Act;
(d) the same certified list of voters may be used for the purposes
of both the election and referendum;
Part 7 Miscellaneous
Referendums Act 1998 38
(e) the date for the purposes of sections 25 and 26 is the close of
nominations for the election; and
(f) the answer given by a person to a question asked of him or
her under section 67 of the Northern Territory Electoral
Act 1995 is to be taken to be the person's answer to the
equivalent question in section 31.
(2) If polling day for a referendum is the same as that fixed as polling
day for:
(a) an election conducted under the Commonwealth Electoral
Act 1918 of the Commonwealth; or
(b) a referendum under the Referendum (Machinery Provisions)
Act 1984 of the Commonwealth,
the Chief Electoral Officer may enter into an agreement with the
Australian Electoral Commission for it to conduct the referendum.
(3) If a referendum under this Act is to be conducted by the Australian
Electoral Commission, the Administrator may, by notice in the
Gazette, specify how the referendum is to be conducted.
(4) The notice may provide for anything that in the opinion of the
Administrator is necessary or convenient to be done to ensure that
the referendum and the election under the Commonwealth Electoral
Act 1918 of the Commonwealth or the referendum under the
Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 of the
Commonwealth are able to be conducted in a manner that
facilitates the conduct of the referendum and the election or
referendum, as the case may be, at the same time.
(5) Without limiting the matter that may be included in the notice, the
notice may:
(a) provide that a provision of this Act or the Regulations is to be
taken to not apply to the conduct of the referendum or to have
been amended as specified in the notice;
(b) provide that procedures under the Commonwealth Electoral
Act 1918 of the Commonwealth and the Referendums
(Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 of the Commonwealth are to
apply to the conduct of the referendum in substitution for those
contained in this Act; and
(c) provide that officers appointed under the Commonwealth
Electoral Act 1918 of the Commonwealth and the
Referendums (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 of the
Commonwealth may exercise the powers and perform the
Part 7 Miscellaneous
Referendums Act 1998 39
functions of officers under this Act.
(6) For the purposes of the referendum conducted under this Act,
anything done in accordance with a notice under this section is to
be taken to have been done under this Act.
90 Extension of time
(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Administrator may, by notice in the
Gazette, within 20 days before or after polling day:
(a) extend the time for the holding of a referendum; or
(b) extend the time for the return of the writ for the referendum,
for the purpose of obviating a difficulty that may arise in the
referendum.
(2) A polling day must not be postponed under subsection (1) at any
time later than 7 days before the time originally appointed.
(3) The Chief Electoral Officer must give public notice of any extension
of time under subsection (1) in the division to which the extension
relates.
91 Averments
The averments of the prosecutor contained in an information or
complaint relating to an offence against this Act are evidence of the
matters averred.
92 Regulatory offences
An offence of contravening or failing to comply with section 41(2),
44, 46, 47(11) or 83 is a regulatory offence.
93 Prosecutions not to be brought after 12 months
Despite any other law in force in the Territory, a prosecution for an
offence against this Act or the Regulations cannot be brought if
12 months have elapsed from the date of the commission of the
offence.
Part 7 Miscellaneous
Referendums Act 1998 40
94 Disclosure of information
A person who is or has been an officer must not, except for the
purposes of this Act, disclose any document or information that he
or she has received while acting or purporting to act in accordance
with his or her duty as an officer.
Maximum penalty: 17 penalty units or imprisonment for
2 years.
95 Protection of officers
An action or proceeding, civil or criminal, does not lie against a
person who is or has been an officer for or in respect of an act or
thing done in good faith by the person in his or her capacity as an
officer.
96 Destruction of ballot-papers
(1) The Chief Electoral Officer must preserve:
(a) all ballot-papers;
(b) all certified lists of voters; and
(c) all declarations,
used at a referendum for not less than 6 months after the date of
the return of the writ for the referendum.
(2) Subject to any directions of the Tribunal, the Chief Electoral Officer
must destroy all ballot-papers, lists and declarations referred to in
subsection (1) at any time, being not later than 12 months, after the
date of the return of the writ for the referendum, that he or she
thinks fit.
97 Regulations
The Administrator may make regulations, not inconsistent with this
Act, prescribing all matters:
(a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or
(b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or
giving effect to this Act.
Schedule
Referendums Act 1998 41
Schedule
section 7
NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
REFERENDUMS ACT 1998
WRIT FOR REFERENDUM
TO:
the Chief Electoral Officer.
I order you to conduct or make arrangements for the conduct of a referendum
in accordance with the Referendums Act 1998 on the question
, approved by the Legislative Assembly and a copy of which is attached, and
fix:
(a) , to be polling day; and
(b) , to be the last day on which this writ may be returned.
This writ was issued on , .
Given under my Hand and the Public Seal of the Northern Territory of
Australia.
Administrator
ENDNOTES
Referendums Act 1998 42
ENDNOTES
1 KEY
Key to abbreviations
amd = amended od = order
app = appendix om = omitted
bl = by-law pt = Part
ch = Chapter r = regulation/rule
cl = clause rem = remainder
div = Division renum = renumbered
exp = expires/expired rep = repealed
f = forms s = section
Gaz = Gazette sch = Schedule
hdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision
ins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation
lt = long title sub = substituted
nc = not commenced
2 LIST OF LEGISLATION
Referendums Act 1998 (Act No. 49, 1998)
Assent date 14 August 1998
Commenced 14 August 1998
Statute Law Revision Act (No. 2) 2001 (Act No. 62, 2001)
Assent date 11 December 2001
Commenced 11 December 2001
Oaths, Affidavits and Declarations (Consequential Amendments) Act 2010 (Act No. 40,
2010)
Assent date 18 November 2010
Commenced 1 March 2011 (s 2, s 2 Oaths, Affidavits and Declarations
Act 2010 (Act No. 39, 2010) and Gaz G7, 16 February 2011,
p 4)
Penalties Amendment (Chief Minister's and Other Portfolios) Act 2011 (Act No. 27,
2011)
Assent date 31 August 2011
Commenced 21 September 2011 (Gaz G38, 21 September 2011, p 5)
Supreme Court Amendment (Associate Judges) Act 2017 (Act No. 18, 2017)
Assent date 5 September 2017
Commenced 22 November 2017 (Gaz S84, 21 November 2017, p 1)
Liquor Act 2019 (Act No. 29, 2019)
Assent date 3 September 2019
Commenced 1 October 2019 (Gaz G39, 25 September 2019, p 2)
ENDNOTES
Referendums Act 1998 43
3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS
General amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table
of amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation
Amendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22, 2018) to: ss 1, 2, 13, 26, 36, 45, 76 and 89
and sch.
4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS
s 2 amd No. 18, 2017, s 36
s 13 amd No. 29, 2019, s 401
s 17 amd No. 62, 2001, s 15
s 35 amd No. 27, 2011, s 3
ss 40 – 42 amd No. 27, 2011, s 3
ss 44 – 47 amd No. 27, 2011, s 3
ss 62 – 63 amd No. 18, 2017, s 36
s 66 amd No. 40, 2010, s 118
s 69 amd No. 18, 2017, s 36
s 73 amd No. 18, 2017, s 36
ss 78 – 88 amd No. 27, 2011, s 3
s 94 amd No. 27, 2011, s 3