Australian Capital Territory Consolidated Acts

ROYAL COMMISSIONS ACT 1991 - NOTES

Note 2     For example, the Legislation Act, dict, pt 1, defines the following terms:

              •     director-general (see s 163)

              •     Executive

              •     exercise

              •     function

              •     month

              •     under.

"authorised person" means a person declared in writing by the chairperson to be an authorised person for this Act.

"chairperson" means—

        (a)     the chairperson of a commission appointed under section 6 (2) or (4); or

        (b)     for a commission constituted by 1 person—that person.

"commission "means—

        (a)     a royal commission appointed under section 5; and

        (b)     for an inquiry—the royal commission appointed to conduct that inquiry.

"commissioner "means—

        (a)     for a commission constituted by 1 person—that person; or

        (b)     for a commission constituted by 2 or more people—each of those people.

"judge" means—

        (a)     a justice of the High Court; or

        (b)     a judge of the Federal Court or Family Court; or

        (c)     a judge of the Supreme Court; or

        (d)     a judge of the Supreme Court of a State or the Northern Territory.

"premises" includes—

        (a)     a building or other structure; and

        (b)     an aircraft, vehicle or vessel; and

        (c)     a place, whether enclosed or built on, or not.

Endnotes

1     About the endnotes

Amending and modifying laws are annotated in the legislation history and the amendment history. Current modifications are not included in the republished law but are set out in the endnotes.

Not all editorial amendments made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 are annotated in the amendment history. Full details of any amendments can be obtained from the Parliamentary Counsel's Office.

Uncommenced amending laws and expiries are listed in the legislation history and the amendment history. These details are underlined. Uncommenced provisions and amendments are not included in the republished law but are set out in the last endnote.

If all the provisions of the law have been renumbered, a table of renumbered provisions gives details of previous and current numbering.

The endnotes also include a table of earlier republications.

2     Abbreviation key

A = Act	NI = Notifiable instrument
AF = Approved form	o = order
am = amended	om = omitted/repealed
amdt = amendment	ord = ordinance
AR = Assembly resolution	orig = original
ch = chapter	par = paragraph/subparagraph
CN = Commencement notice	pres = present
def = definition	prev = previous
DI = Disallowable instrument	(prev...) = previously
dict = dictionary	pt = part
disallowed = disallowed by the Legislative	r = rule/subrule
Assembly	reloc = relocated
div = division	renum = renumbered
exp = expires/expired	R[X] = Republication No
Gaz = gazette	RI = reissue
hdg = heading	s = section/subsection
IA = Interpretation Act 1967	sch = schedule
ins = inserted/added	sdiv = subdivision
LA = Legislation Act 2001	SL = Subordinate law
LR = legislation register	sub = substituted
LRA = Legislation (Republication) Act 1996	underlining = whole or part not commenced
mod = modified/modification	or to be expired

3     Legislation history

Royal Commissions Act 1991 No 1

notified 1 March 1991 (Gaz 1991 No S7)

s 1, s 2 commenced 1 March 1991 (s 2 (1))

remainder commenced 1 May 1991 (s 2 (2) and Gaz 1991 No 16)

as amended by

Act Revision (Position of Crown) Act 1993 No 44 sch 2

notified 27 August 1993 (Gaz 1993 No S165)

commenced 27 August 1993 (s 2)

Judicial Commissions (Consequential Amendments) Act 1994 No 10 s 10

notified 14 March 1994 (Gaz 1994 No S44)

commenced 14 March 1994 (s 2)

Public Sector Management (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 1994 No 38 sch 1 pt 71

notified 30 June 1994 (Gaz 1994 No S121)

s 1, s 2 commenced 30 June 1994 (s 2 (1))

sch 1, pt 71 commenced 1 July 1994 (s 2 (2) and Gaz 1994 No S142)

Remuneration Tribunal (Consequential Amendments) Act 1997 No 41 sch 1 (as am by Act 2002 No 49 amdt 3.222)

notified 19 September 1997 (Gaz 1997 No S264)

s 1, s 2 commenced 19 September 1997 (s 2 (1))

sch 1 commenced 24 September 1997 (s 2 as am by Act 2002 No 49 amdt 3.222)

Legal Practitioners (Consequential Amendments) 1997 No 96 sch 1

notified 1 December 1997 (Gaz 1997 No S380)

s 1, s 2 commenced 1 December 1997 (s 2 (1))

sch 1 commenced 1 June 1998 (s 2 (2))

Statute Law Revision (Penalties) Act 1998 No 54 sch

notified 27 November 1998 (Gaz 1997 No S207)

s 1, s 2 commenced 27 November 1998 (s 2 (1))

sch commenced 1 June 1998 (s 2 (2) and Gaz 1998 No 49)

Custodial Escorts (Consequential Provisions) Act 1998 No 67 pt 13

notified 23 December 1998 (Gaz 1998 No S212)

s 1, s 2 commenced 23 December 1998 (s 2 (1))

pt 13 commenced 23 December 1998 (s 2 (2) and Gaz 1998 No 51)

Courts and Tribunals (Audio Visual and Audio Linking) Act 1999 No 22 pt 13

notified 14 April 1999 (Gaz 1999 No S16)

s 1, s 2 commenced 14 April 1999 (s 2 (1))

pt 13 commenced 1 September 1999 (s 2 (2) and Gaz 1999 No 35)

Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2000 (No 3) No 17 sch 1

notified 1 June 2000 (Gaz 1997 No 22)

commenced 1 June 2000 (s (2))

Legislation (Consequential Amendments) Act 2001 No 44 pt 352

notified 26 July 2001 (Gaz 2001 No 30)

s 1, s 2 commenced 26 July 2001 (IA s 10B)

pt 352 commenced 12 September 2001 (s 2 and see Gaz 2001 No S65)

Statute Law Amendment Act 2002 (No 2) No 49 amdt 3.222

notified LR 20 December 2002

s 1, s 2 taken to have commenced 7 October 1994 (LA s 75 (2))

amdt 3.222 commenced 24 September 1997 (s 2 (3))

Note     This Act only amends the Remuneration Tribunal (Consequential Amendments) Act 1997 No 41.

Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act 2003 A2003-48 sch 2 pt 2.13

notified LR 31 October 2003

s 1, s 2 commenced 31 October 2003 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 2 pt 2.13 commenced 30 April 2004 (s 2 and LA s 79)

Royal Commissions Amendment Act 2003 A2003-53

notified LR 3 December 2003

s 1, s 2 commenced 3 December 2003 (LA s 75 (1))

remainder commenced 4 December 2003 (s 2)

Criminal Code (Theft, Fraud, Bribery and Related Offences) Amendment Act 2004 A2004-15 sch 2 pt 2.82

notified LR 26 March 2004

s 1, s 2 commenced 26 March 2004 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 2 pt 2.82 commenced 9 April 2004 (s 2 (1))

Criminal Code (Administration of Justice Offences) Amendment Act 2005 A2005-53 sch 1 pt 1.29

notified LR 26 October 2005

s 1, s 2 commenced 26 October 2005 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 1 pt 1.29 commenced 23 November 2005 (s 2)

Sentencing Legislation Amendment Act 2006 A2006-23 sch 1 pt 1.31

notified LR 18 May 2006

s 1, s 2 commenced 18 May 2006 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 1 pt 1.31 commenced 2 June 2006 (s 2 (1) and see Crimes (Sentence Administration) Act 2005 A2005-59 s 2, Crimes (Sentencing) Act 2005 A2005-58, s 2 and LA s 79)

Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2006 A2006-40 sch 2 pt 2.29

notified LR 28 September 2006

s 1, s 2 commenced 28 September 2006 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 2 pt 2.29 commenced 29 September 2006 (s 2 (1))

Statute Law Amendment Act 2006 A2006-42 sch 3 pt 3.20

notified LR 26 October 2006

s 1, s 2 taken to have commenced 12 November 2005 (LA s 75 (2))

sch 3 pt 3.20 commenced 16 November 2006 (s 2 (1))

Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2010 (No 3) A2010-40 sch 2 pt 2.11

notified LR 5 October 2010

s 1, s 2 commenced 5 October 2010 (LA s 75 (1))

s 3 commenced 6 October 2010 (s 2 (1))

sch 2 pt 2.11 commenced 2 November 2010 (s 2 (2))

Administrative (One ACT Public Service Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2011 A2011-22 sch 1 pt 1.139

notified LR 30 June 2011

s 1, s 2 commenced 30 June 2011 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 1 pt 1.139 commenced 1 July 2011 (s 2 (1))

4     Amendment history

Name of Act
s 1     sub A2006-42 amdt 3.176

Dictionary
s 2     om 2001 No 44 amdt 1.3827
    ins A2006-42 amdt 3.177

Notes
s 3     orig s 3
    om A2006-42 amdt 3.177
    def authorised person om A2006-42 amdt 3.177
    def chairperson om A2006-42 amdt 3.177
    def chief police officer om A2006-42 amdt 3.177
    def commission om A2006-42 amdt 3.177
    def commissioner om A2006-42 amdt 3.177
    def judge om A2006-42 amdt 3.177
    def legal practitioner om 1997 No 96 sch 1
    def premises om A2006-42 amdt 3.177
    pres s 3
    (prev s 4) ins A2005-53 amdt 1.141
    renum as s 3 A2006-42 amdt 3.178

Notes
s 4     orig s 4
    om 1993 No 44 sch 2
    prev s 4
    renum as s 3
    pres s 4
    (prev s 4A) ins A2005-53 amdt 1.141
    renum as s 4 A2006-42 amdt 3.178

Offences against Act—application of Criminal Code etc
s 4A     renum as s 4

Appointment of royal commission
s 5     am 2001 No 44 amdts 1.3828-1.3830
    sub A2006-42 amdt 3.179

Commissioners
s 6     am A2006-42 amdt 3.180, amdt 3.181, amdt 3.201

Remuneration and allowances
s 8     am 1994 No 10 s 10
    om 1997 No 41 sch 1

Cessation of office
s 9     am A2006-42 amdt 3.182

Resignation
s 10     om A2006-42 amdt 3.183

Staff
s 12     am 1994 No 38 sch 1 pt 71; A2011-22 amdt 1.397

Terms of reference
s 13     am 2001 No 44 amdt 1.3831, amdt 1. 3832

Conduct of inquiry
s 14     sub A2006-42 amdt 3.184

Reports of commissions
s 15     am 1994 No 10 s 10

Presenting reports
s 16     sub A2003-53 s 4

Chief Minister to explain non-presentation of report
s 16A     ins A2003-53 s 4
    am A2006-42 amdt 3.185

General
div 4.1 hdg     (prev pt 4 div 1 hdg) renum R3 LA

Determination of questions
s 17     am A2006-42 amdt 3.201

Counsel assisting commissions
s 18     am 1997 No 96 sch 1; A2006-42 amdt 3.200

Protection of commissioners etc
s 19     am A2005-53 amdt 1.142; A2006-42 amdt 3.186, amdt 3.200

Nondisclosure of information by commissioners etc
s 20     am 1997 No 96 sch 1; 1998 No 54 sch ; A2006-42 amdt 3.187, amdt 3.188, amdt 3.200

Disclosure of information by commissions
s 21     am A2006-42 amdt 3.189

Outstanding matters
s 22     am 1994 No 10 s 10; A2006-42 amdt 3.190

Evidence
div 4.2 hdg     (prev pt 4 div 2 hdg) renum R3 LA

Procedure
s 23     sub A2003-53 s 5

Privileges against selfincrimination and exposure to civil penalty
s 24     sub A2005-53 amdt 1.143

Powers
div 4.3 hdg     (prev pt 4 div 3 hdg) renum R3 LA
div 4.3 hdg note     ins A2006-42 amdt 3.191

Search warrants
s 25     am 1994 No 10 s 10

Additional powers
s 27     om A2006-42 amdt 3.192

Hearings
div 4.4 hdg     (prev pt 4 div 4 hdg) renum R3 LA

Power to hold
s 28     am A2006-42 amdt 3.201

Conduct of hearing
s 30     sub A2006-42 amdt 3.193

Appearance and representation
s 31     am A2005-53 amdt 1.144; A2006-42 amdt 3.200

Presence of persons at private hearings
s 32 hdg     am A2006-42 amdt 3.201
s 32     am 1997 No 96 sch 1; A2006-42 amdt 3.200

Examination of witnesses
s 33     am 1997 No 96 sch 1; A2006-42 amdt 3.200

Powers in relation to witnesses etc
s 34     am 1994 No 10 s 10; 2001 No 44 amdt 1.3833
    sub A2005-53 amdt 1.145

Appearance by audiovisual or audio links
s 34A     ins 1999 No 22 s 36
    am 2000 No 17 sch 1; A2003-48 amdt 2.18; A2010-40 amdt 2.19

Apprehension of witnesses failing to appear
s 35     am 1998 No 67 s 43; A2005-53 amdt 1.146; A2006-23 amdt 1.279, amdt 1.280

Proposed adverse comments in reports
s 35A     ins A2003-53 s 6

Obstruction of authorised persons
s 35B     (prev s 35A) ins 1994 No 10 s 10
    am 1998 No 54 sch
    renum R4 LA
    om A2004-15 amdt 2.172

Failure of witnesses to attend or produce documents
s 36     am 1998 No 54 sch
    om A2005-53 amdt 1.147

Refusal to be sworn or give evidence
s 37     am 1998 No 54 sch
    om A2005-53 amdt 1.147

False evidence
s 38     am 1998 No 54 sch
    om A2005-53 amdt 1.147

Improper dealings with documents
s 39     am 1998 No 54 sch
    om A2005-53 amdt 1.147

Intimidation or dismissal of witnesses
s 40     am 1994 No 10 s 10; 1998 No 54 sch
    om A2005-53 amdt 1.147

Preventing witnesses from attending
s 41     am 1998 No 54 sch
    om A2005-53 amdt 1.147

Bribery of witnesses
s 42     am 1998 No 54 sch
    om A2005-53 amdt 1.147

Fraud on witnesses
s 43     am 1998 No 54 sch
    om A2005-53 amdt 1.147

Contempt of commissions
s 44     am 1998 No 54 sch
    om A2005-53 amdt 1.147

Miscellaneous
pt 5 hdg     orig pt 5 hdg om A2005-53 amdt 1.147
    (prev pt 6 hdg) renum A2005-53 amdt 1.150

Application of Criminal Code, ch 7
s 45     am 1997 No 96 sch 1; 1998 No 54 sch
    om A2005-53 amdt 1.147
    ins A2005-53 amdt 1.148

Contempt of commission
s 46     am 1998 No 54 sch
    om A2005-53 amdt 1.147
    ins A2005-53 amdt 1.148

Protection of certain officers
s 47     am A2006-42 amdt 3.194

No proceeding against commission
s 48     sub A2006-40 amdt 2.171

Publication of published proceedings, reports and comments protected
s 49     am 1994 No 10 s 10
    sub A2003-53 s 7
    am A2006-42 amdt 3.195, amdt 3.196

References to subpoena
s 50A     ins A2005-53 amdt 1.149
    exp 23 November 2006 (s 50A (2))

Approved forms
s 51     sub 2001 No 44 amdt 1.3834
    am A2006-42 amdt 3.197, amdt 3.198

Regulation-making power
s 52     ins 2001 No 44 amdt 1.3834

Miscellaneous
pt 6 hdg     renum as pt 5 hdg

Dictionary
dict     ins A2006-42 amdt 3.199
    am A2011-22 amdt 1.398
    def authorised person ins A2006-42 amdt 3.199
    def chairperson ins A2006-42 amdt 3.199
    def commission ins A2006-42 amdt 3.199
    def commissioner ins A2006-42 amdt 3.199
    def judge ins A2006-42 amdt 3.199
    def premises ins A2006-42 amdt 3.199

5     Earlier republications

Some earlier republications were not numbered. The number in column 1 refers to the publication order.

Since 12 September 2001 every authorised republication has been published in electronic pdf format on the ACT legislation register. A selection of authorised republications have also been published in printed format. These republications are marked with an asterisk (*) in column 1. Electronic and printed versions of an authorised republication are identical.

Republication No and date	Effective	Last amendment made by	Republication for
R0A 18 Oct 2007	27 Aug 1993– 13 Mar 1994	A1993-44	amendments by A1993-44
R0B 18 Oct 2007	14 Mar 1994– 30 June 1994	A1994-10	amendments by A1994-10
R1 28 Feb 1995	1 July 1994– 23 Sept 1997	A1994-38	amendments by A1994-38
R1 (RI) 18 Oct 2007	1 July 1994– 23 Sept 1997	A1994-38	reissue of printed version
R1A 18 Oct 2007	24 Sept 1997– 31 May 1998	A1997-41	amendments by A1997-41 and includes retrospective amendments by A2002-49
R1B 18 Oct 2007	23 Dec 1998– 31 Aug 1999	A1998-67	amendments by A1997-96, A1998-54 and A1998-67 and includes retrospective amendments by A2002-49
R2 1 Sept 1999	1 Sept 1999– 31 May 2000	A1999-22	amendments by A1999-22
R2 (RI) 18 Oct 2007	1 Sept 1999– 31 May 2000	A1999-22	amendments by A1999-22 and includes retrospective amendments by A2002-49
R2A 18 Oct 2007	1 June 2000– 11 Sept 2001	A2000-17	amendments by A2000-17 and includes retrospective amendments by A2002-49
R3 18 Feb 2002	12 Sept 2001– 3 Dec 2003	A2001-44	amendments by A2001-44
R3 (RI) 18 Oct 2007	12 Sept 2001– 3 Dec 2003	A2001-44	reissue for retrospective amendments by A2002-49
R4 4 Dec 2003	4 Dec 2003– 8 Apr 2004	A2003-53	amendments by A2003-53
R5 9 Apr 2004	9 Apr 2004– 29 Apr 2004	A2004-15	amendments by A2004-15
R6 30 Apr 2004	30 Apr 2004– 22 Nov 2005	A2004-15	amendments by A2003-48
R7 23 Nov 2005	23 Nov 2005– 1 June 2006	A2005-53	amendments by A2005-53
R8 2 June 2006	2 June 2006– 28 Sept 2006	A2006-23	amendments by A2006-23
R9 29 Sept 2006	29 Sept 2006– 15 Nov 2006	A2006-40	amendments by A2006-40
R10 16 Nov 2006	16 Nov 2006– 23 Nov 2006	A2006-42	amendments by A2006-42
R11 24 Nov 2006	24 Nov 2006– 1 Nov 2010	A2006-42	commenced expiry
R12 2 Nov 2010	2 Nov 2010– 30 June 2011	A2010-40	amendments by A2010-40

© Australian Capital Territory 2011

Australian Capital Territory

A1991-1

Republication No 13

Effective: 1 July 2011

Republication date: 1 July 2011

Last amendment made by A2011-22





Unauthorised version prepared by ACT Parliamentary Counsel's Office

About this republication

The republished law

This is a republication of the Royal Commissions Act 1991

(including any amendment made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 (Editorial changes)) as in force on 1 July 2011

. It also includes any commencement, amendment, repeal or expiry affecting this republished law to 1 July 2011

.

The legislation history and amendment history of the republished law are set out in endnotes 3 and 4.

Kinds of republications

The Parliamentary Counsel's Office prepares 2 kinds of republications of ACT laws (see the ACT legislation register at www.legislation.act.gov.au):

              • authorised republications to which the Legislation Act 2001 applies

              • unauthorised republications.

The status of this republication appears on the bottom of each page.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 authorises the Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial amendments and other changes of a formal nature when preparing a law for republication. Editorial changes do not change the effect of the law, but have effect as if they had been made by an Act commencing on the republication date (see Legislation Act 2001, s 115 and s 117). The changes are made if the Parliamentary Counsel considers they are desirable to bring the law into line, or more closely into line, with current legislative drafting practice.

This republication does not include amendments made under part 11.3 (see endnote 1).

Uncommenced provisions and amendments

If a provision of the republished law has not commenced, the symbol  U  appears immediately before the provision heading. Any uncommenced amendments that affect this republished law are accessible on the ACT legislation register (www.legislation.act.gov.au). For more information, see the home page for this law on the register.

Modifications

If a provision of the republished law is affected by a current modification, the symbol  M  appears immediately before the provision heading. The text of the modifying provision appears in the endnotes. For the legal status of modifications, see the Legislation Act 2001, section 95.

Penalties

At the republication date, the value of a penalty unit for an offence against this law is $110 for an individual and $550 for a corporation (see Legislation Act 2001, s 133).

Australian Capital Territory

Royal Commissions Act 1991

Endnotes

Australian Capital Territory

Royal Commissions Act 1991