3Interpretation

### 3 Interpretation > In this Act –[*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpa@EN) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 29 of 2022, s. 86, Applied:14 Dec 2022\]*](/view/html/inforce/2022-12-14/act-2022-029#GS86@Hpa@EN) > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 29 of 2022, s. 86, Applied:14 Dec 2022\]*](/view/html/inforce/2022-12-14/act-2022-029#GS86@Hpa@EN) ***agent licence*** means – > > > > > > (a) an agent licence issued and in force under [section 10(1)](#GS10@Gs1@EN) ; or > > > > > > > (b) an agent licence held by a person by virtue of holding deemed registration; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 29 of 2022, s. 86, Applied:14 Dec 2022\]*](/view/html/inforce/2022-12-14/act-2022-029#GS86@Hpa@EN) ***application***, in relation to a licence, means an application to the Director for a licence made in accordance with [section 6](#GS6@EN) ; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpa@EN) ***approved*** means approved by the Director; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpb@EN) ***authorised person*** means a person authorised by the Director; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpc@EN) ***close associate*** has the meaning given by [section 3E](#GS3E@EN) ; > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpb@EN) > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpb@EN) ***code of conduct*** means a code of conduct issued under [section 38A](#GS38A@EN) ; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpb@EN) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpd@EN) ***commercial agent*** means a person who holds an agent licence authorising the person to undertake commercial agent activities; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpe@EN) ***commercial agent activities*** has the meaning given by [section 3C(1)](#GS3C@Gs1@EN) ; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpe@EN) ***commercial employee activities*** has the meaning given by [section 3D(1)](#GS3D@Gs1@EN) ; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpb@EN) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpf@EN) ***commercial sub-agent*** means a person who holds an employee licence authorising the person to undertake commercial employee activities; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpb@EN) ***commercial sub-agent activities*** means the doing of any one or more of the following activities for monetary or other consideration: > > > > > > (a) ascertaining the whereabouts of, or repossessing, a good or chattel that is the subject of a security interest; > > > > > > > (b) collecting or requesting the payment of a debt; > > > > > > > (c) executing legal process for the enforcement of a judgment or order of a court; > > > > > > > (d) levying distress; > > > > > > > (e) any other prescribed activity; > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpg@EN) > > > ***competency standards*** means the competency standards referred to in [section 9](#GS9@EN) ; > > > ***creditor*** means a person on behalf of whom a commercial agent is acting, or has been engaged to act, in recovering or attempting to recover a debt; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpc@EN) ***crowd control activities*** has the meaning given by [section 3A](#GS3A@EN) ; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpc@EN) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hph@EN) ***crowd control agent*** means a person who holds an agent licence authorising the person to undertake crowd control agent activities; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpi@EN) ***crowd control agent activities*** has the meaning given by [section 3C(2)](#GS3C@Gs2@EN) ; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpi@EN) ***crowd control employee activities*** has the meaning given by [section 3D(2)](#GS3D@Gs2@EN) ; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpc@EN) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpj@EN) ***crowd controller*** means a person who holds an employee licence authorising the person to undertake crowd control employee activities; > > > ***debt*** includes any interest, costs or other charges for which a debtor is legally liable to a creditor; > > > ***debtor*** means a person from whom a commercial agent has recovered or is attempting to recover a debt on behalf of a creditor; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 29 of 2022, s. 86, Applied:14 Dec 2022\]*](/view/html/inforce/2022-12-14/act-2022-029#GS86@Hpb@EN) ***deemed registration*** means an entitlement to automatic deemed registration, within the meaning of the *Mutual Recognition Act 1992* of the Commonwealth; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpk@EN) ***Director*** means the Director of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading appointed under [section 9 of the](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1988-053#GS9@EN) [Consumer Affairs Act 1988](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1988-053) ; > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpd@EN) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 29 of 2022, s. 86, Applied:14 Dec 2022\]*](/view/html/inforce/2022-12-14/act-2022-029#GS86@Hpc@EN) > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 29 of 2022, s. 86, Applied:14 Dec 2022\]*](/view/html/inforce/2022-12-14/act-2022-029#GS86@Hpc@EN) ***employee licence*** means – > > > > > > (a) an employee licence issued and in force under [section 10(2)](#GS10@Gs2@EN) ; or > > > > > > > (b) an employee licence held by a person by virtue of holding deemed registration; > > > ***harassment*** means any conduct that – > > > > > > (a) tends to intimidate, embarrass, ridicule or shame; or > > > > > > > (b) involves any undue frequent visits to premises or communications with the occupants of premises; or > > > > > > > (c) involves any statement or suggestion made to a person that action may be taken to embarrass or shame the person if the person fails to pay any debt owed by the person; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpe@EN) ***identifying number*** means the unique identifying number issued to a crowd control agent or crowd controller under [section 35A](#GS35A@EN) ; > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 29 of 2022, s. 86, Applied:14 Dec 2022\]*](/view/html/inforce/2022-12-14/act-2022-029#GS86@Hpd@EN) > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 29 of 2022, s. 86, Applied:14 Dec 2022\]*](/view/html/inforce/2022-12-14/act-2022-029#GS86@Hpd@EN) ***identity card*** means – > > > > > > (a) an identity card referred to in [section 10(4)](#GS10@Gs4@EN) ; or > > > > > > > (b) an identity card that is similar to the identity card referred to in [paragraph (a)](#GS3@Nd204042@Hpa@EN) that is issued to a person who holds an agent licence, or an employee licence, by virtue of holding deemed registration; > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpf@EN) > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpf@EN) ***infringement offence*** means an offence against this Act or the regulations that is prescribed by the regulations to be an infringement offence; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpf@EN) ***inquiry agent*** means a person who holds an agent licence authorising the person to undertake inquiry agent activities; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpf@EN) ***inquiry agent activities*** means the doing of any one or more of the following activities for monetary or other consideration and on behalf of another person: > > > > > > (a) obtaining or providing information with respect to – > > > > > > > > > > (i) the personal character or actions of any person; or > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) the business or occupation of any person; > > > > > > > (b) obtaining evidence for the purpose of legal proceedings; > > > > > > > (c) searching for missing persons; > > > > > > > (d) any other prescribed activity; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpf@EN) ***licence*** means an agent licence or an employee licence; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpf@EN) ***licensed premises*** has the same meaning as in the [Liquor Licensing Act 1990](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1990-044) ; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpf@EN) ***licensee*** has the same meaning as in the [Liquor Licensing Act 1990](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1990-044) ; > > > ***officer***, in relation to a body corporate, means – > > > > > > (a) in the case of a company formed or incorporated under the Corporations Act that is taken to be registered in Tasmania, a director, manager or secretary of that company; and > > > > > > > (b) in the case of any other company incorporated under the Corporations Act, the person who has the control and management of the business carried on by that company in the State; > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpg@EN) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpl@EN) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpg@EN) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpl@EN) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpg@EN) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpl@EN) > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 29 of 2022, s. 86, Applied:14 Dec 2022\]*](/view/html/inforce/2022-12-14/act-2022-029#GS86@Hpe@EN) ***place of business*** means any premises in the State, commercial or residential, at which business is carried on under a licence; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hph@EN) ***police officer*** includes a trainee police officer, and junior constable, within the meaning of the [Police Service Act 2003](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2003-075) ; > > > ***prescribed offence*** means – > > > > > > (a) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpm@EN) an offence involving theft or robbery, or any other offence involving dishonesty, whether committed in the State or elsewhere; or > > > > > > > (b) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpn@EN) an offence involving assault, or any other offence involving violence, whether committed in the State or elsewhere; or > > > > > > > (ba) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpo@EN) an offence involving abduction, kidnapping or stalking, whether committed in the State or elsewhere; or > > > > > > > (c) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpi@EN) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpp@EN) an offence under the [Poisons Act 1971](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1971-081) or [Misuse of Drugs Act 2001](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2001-094) , or a similar offence under the law of another State or a Territory; or > > > > > > > (d) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpq@EN) an offence involving a weapon, whether committed in the State or elsewhere; or > > > > > > > (e) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpr@EN) an offence under Part 5.3 of the *Criminal Code* of the Commonwealth or a similar offence under the law of a State or a Territory or an overseas jurisdiction; > > > ***prescribed record*** means a prescribed record as defined in the [Records of Offences (Access) Act 1981](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1981-061) ; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpj@EN) ***register of licences*** means the register of licences kept under [section 20](#GS20@EN) ; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpj@EN) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hps@EN) ***security agent*** means a person who holds an agent licence authorising the person to undertake security agent activities; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpt@EN) ***security agent activities*** has the meaning given by [section 3C(3)](#GS3C@Gs3@EN) ; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpt@EN) ***security employee activities*** has the meaning given by [section 3D(3)](#GS3D@Gs3@EN) ; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpj@EN) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpu@EN) ***security guard*** means a person who holds an employee licence authorising the person to undertake security employee activities; > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpj@EN) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpv@EN) > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 39 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Jul 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-07-01/act-2010-039#GS4@Hpv@EN) ***security activities*** has the meaning given by [section 3B](#GS3B@EN) ; > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 58 of 2005, s. 5, Applied:01 Jan 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-01-01/act-2005-058#GS5@Hpj@EN) > > > ***security interest*** means any interest in, or power over, goods or chattels that secures payment of a debt or performance of any other obligation; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 29 of 2022, s. 86, Applied:14 Dec 2022\]*](/view/html/inforce/2022-12-14/act-2022-029#GS86@Hpf@EN) ***trust account*** means a trust account maintained under [section 28](#GS28@EN) in the State.