Northern Territory Consolidated Acts

DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE ACT 2007

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

           Long Title

CHAPTER 1--INTRODUCTION

   PART 1.1--PRELIMINARY MATTERS

   1.      Short title  
   2.      Commencement  
   3.      Objects of Act and their achievement  

   PART 1.2--INTERPRETATION

           Division 1--Defined terms

   4.      Definitions  

           Division 2--Important concepts

              Subdivision 1--Concepts relating to domestic violence

   5.      Domestic violence  
   5A.     Emotional or psychological abuse  
   5B.     Coercive control  
   6.      Intimidation  
   7.      Stalking  
   8.      Economic abuse  

              Subdivision 2--Concepts relating to domestic relationships

   9.      Domestic relationship  
   10.     Family relationship  
   11.     Intimate personal relationship  
   12.     Carers relationship  

              Subdivision 3--Concepts relating to parties to domestic violence

   13.     Protected person  
   14.     Respondent  

           Division 3--Criminal responsibility

   15.     Application of Criminal Code  

CHAPTER 2--DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ORDERS

   PART 2.1--PRELIMINARY MATTERS

   16.     Objects of Chapter  
   17.     When person taken to have committed domestic violence  

   PART 2.2--MAKING OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ORDERS

   18.     When DVO may be made  
   19.     Matters to be considered in making DVO  
   20.     Presumption in favour of protected person with child remaining at home  

   PART 2.3--CONTENT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ORDERS

   20A.    Mandatory prohibition  
   21.     What DVO may provide  
   22.     Premises exclusion order  
   23.     Order regarding tenancy agreement  
   24.     Order for rehabilitation program  
   25.     Protected person's residential address not to be included in order  
   26.     Prohibition on publication of personal details  
   27.     Duration of court DVO  

   PART 2.4--POLICE DVO

           Division 1--Making of police DVO

   28.     When authorised police officer may make DVO  
   29.     Matters to be recorded on police DVO  
   30.     What police officer must do after police DVO is made  
   31.     Police DVO taken to be summons to appear before Court  
   32.     Criminal history and report of respondent  
   33.     Report of protected person  
   34.     Duration of police DVO  

           Division 2--Review of police DVO

   35.     Application for review  
   36.     How application is made  
   37.     Deciding application  
   38.     Action of police officer if police DVO confirmed with variation  
   39.     Action of police officer if police DVO confirmed without variation  
   40.     Action of Court if police DVO confirmed with variation  
   41.     Action of police officer if police DVO revoked  
   42.     Explanation of police DVO  
   43.     Order taken to be summons to appear before Court  

           Division 3--Confirmation of police DVO

   44.     Application of Division  
   45.     Place of hearing  
   46.     Parties to hearing  
   47.     Considerations at hearing  
   48.     Decision at hearing  
   49.     Respondent failing to appear at hearing  
   50.     Notice of order  

   PART 2.5--COURT DVO

           Division 1--Power to make court DVO

   51.     Court DVO  

           Division 2--Application process

   52.     Who may apply for court DVO  
   53.     When application must be made for child  
   54.     How application is made  
   55.     Place of hearing  

           Division 3--Hearing process and decision

   56.     Dismissal if application likely to be contrary to objects of Act  
   57.     Criminal history and report of respondent  
   58.     Report of protected person  
   59.     Court may decide application in absence of respondent  
   60.     When registrar must not decide application  
   61.     Referral of application to Court  
   62.     Court may refuse to hear application or order stay of proceeding  
   63.     Notice of court DVO  

           Division 4--Protection during hearing process

   64.     Interim court DVO  

           Division 5--Court DVO made on consent of parties

   65.     When DVO may be made on consent  
   66.     Referral of application to Court  
   67.     No service of documents  
   68.     Notice of court DVO on consent  

   PART 2.6--VARIATION AND REVOCATION OF COURT DVO

           Division 1--Power to vary or revoke court DVO

   69.     Order to vary or revoke court DVO  

           Division 2--Application to vary or revoke

   70.     Who may apply for variation or revocation  
   71.     Filing application  
   72.     Notice of hearing of application  

           Division 3--Court hearings for variation and revocation

   73.     Right to be heard before decision is made  
   74.     Interim variation of court DVO  
   75.     What must be considered before making order  
   76.     Notice of order  

           Division 4--Special provisions for variation and revocation without hearing

   77.     Application of Division  
   78.     Deciding application  
   79.     Referral of application to Court  
   80.     Notice of order  
   81.     Order taken to be summons to appear before Court  

           Division 5--Variation and revocation with consent of parties

   82.     Application of Division  
   82A.    When order may be made  
   82B.    Referral of application to Court  
   82C.    Notice of order  

   PART 2.7--FINALISING COURT DVO ON SUMMONS

   82D.    Application of Part  
   82E.    Parties to hearing  
   82F.    Decision at hearing  
   82G.    Notice of order  

   PART 2.8--EXTENSION OF COURT DVO

   82H.    When Court may extend court DVO  
   82J.    Application to extend duration of court DVO  
   82K.    How application is made  
   82L.    Notice of hearing of application  
   82M.    What must be considered before extending court DVO  
   82N.    Decision of extension  
   82P.    Interim extension of court DVO  
   82Q.    Notice of order  

   PART 2.9--VARIATION OF COURT DVO OR POLICE DVO IN URGENT CIRCUMSTANCES

   82R.    DVOs to which Part applies  
   82S.    When application may be made  
   82T.    How application is made  
   82U.    Deciding application  
   82V.    What Court must do if application is refused  
   82W.    What Court must do if variation order is made  
   82X.    What police officer must do when variation order is made  
   82Y.    Order taken to be summons to appear before Court  

   PART 2.10--DVOS MADE BY COURTS IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS

   83.     Power of court if person guilty of related offence  

   PART 2.11--SPECIAL POLICE POWERS

   84.     Power to remove and detain  
   85.     Retrieval of respondent's personal property  
   85AA.   Retrieval of protected person's personal property  

   PART 2.11A--REHABILITATION PROGRAMS

   85A.    Declaration of rehabilitation program  
   85B.    Satisfactory completion of rehabilitation program  
   85C.    Failure to comply with rehabilitation program  
   85D.    Notification obligations of program facilitator  
   85E.    Bringing respondent before Court for review  
   85F.    Additional power to bring respondent before Court  
   85G.    Revocation of order for rehabilitation program  

   PART 2.12--MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

   86.     DVO may be made regardless of criminal proceeding  
   87.     DVO not to affect other liability  
   88.     Requirement to give documents to protected person  
   89.     Explanation of court DVO  
   90.     Family law orders  
   91.     Costs  
   91B.    Registrar exercises powers as delegate of Court  

CHAPTER 3--EXTERNAL ORDERS

   PART 3.1--PRELIMINARY MATTERS

   92.     Objects of Chapter  

   PART 3.2--REGISTRATION OF ORDERS

   93.     Application for registration  
   94.     Registration  
   95.     Notice of registration  
   96.     Period of registration  
   97.     Effect of registration  

   PART 3.3--VARIATION AND CANCELLATION OF REGISTERED EXTERNAL ORDERS

   98.     Application for variation or cancellation of order  
   99.     How application is dealt with  
   100.    Notice of registration  

CHAPTER 3A--NATIONAL RECOGNITION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ORDERS

   PART 3A.1--PRELIMINARY MATTERS

   101.    Objects of Chapter  
   102.    Definitions  
   103.    Local DVO  
   103A.   Interstate DVO  
   103B.   Registered foreign order  
   103C.   Domestic violence concerns – SA and WA orders  
   103D.   Special provisions for foreign orders  

   PART 3A.2--NATIONAL RECOGNITION OF DVOS

           Division 1--General principles

   103E.   Recognition of DVOs  
   103F.   Variations to DVO  
   103G.   Revocation of recognised DVO  
   103H.   Recognised DVO prevails over earlier comparable DVOs  
   103J.   Making of new orders  

           Division 2--Enforcement of recognised DVOs

   103K.   Recognised DVOs and variations are enforceable against respondent  
   103L.   Meaning of properly notified  
   103M.   Contravention of enforceable recognised DVO  

           Division 3--Enforcement of non-local DVOs

   103N.   Non-local DVO to be treated as local DVO  
   103P.   Licences, permits and other authorisations  
   103Q.   Recognition of disqualification to hold firearms licence  
   103R.   Recognition of disqualification to hold weapons licence  
   103S.   Orders for costs  

   PART 3A.3--VARIATION AND REVOCATION OF RECOGNISED NON-LOCAL DVOS

   103T.   Definition  
   103U.   Power of court to vary or revoke recognised non-local DVOs  
   103V.   Application for variation or revocation of recognised non-local DVO  
   103W.   Decision about hearing an application  

   PART 3A.4--EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION

   103X.   Issuing authorities may obtain DVO information  
   103Y.   Issuing authorities must provide DVO information  
   103Z.   Law enforcement agencies may obtain DVO information  
   103ZA.  Information to be provided to law enforcement agencies  

   PART 3A.5--MISCELLANEOUS

   103ZB.  Certificate evidence – notification  
   103ZC.  Protection from liability  

   PART 3A.6--PROVISIONS CONSEQUENTIAL ON ENACTMENT OF DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE (RECOGNITION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ORDERS) (NATIONAL UNIFORM LAW) AMENDMENT ACT 2017

           Division 1--Preliminary matters

   103ZD.  Definition  
   103ZE.  Enforcement of DVOs under other provisions  

           Division 2--DVOs to which scheme applies

   103ZF.  DVOs made in the Territory  
   103ZG.  DVOs made in other jurisdictions  

           Division 3--Extension of scheme to older DVOs

   103ZH.  DVOs declared to be recognised DVOs  
   103ZI.  DVOs declared to be recognised in other jurisdictions before commencement date  

           Division 4--Power to declare DVO to be recognised

   103ZJ.  Definition  
   103ZK.  Power to declare DVO to be recognised  
   103ZL.  Application for order  
   103ZM.  Functions of registrar may be exercised by court  

CHAPTER 4--LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND EVIDENTIARY MATTERS

   PART 4.1--EVIDENCE IN PROCEEDINGS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ORDERS

           Division 1--Preliminary matters

   104.    Definitions  
   105.    Application of Part  

           Division 2--Closure of Court in certain cases

   106.    When Court to be closed  

           Division 3--Evidence of children

   107.    How evidence of child given  
   108.    Admission of child's evidence  
   109.    No cross-examination of child  

           Division 4--Evidence of vulnerable witnesses

   110.    How evidence of vulnerable witness given  
   111.    Vulnerable witness entitled to support  
   112.    Court's power relating to vulnerable witness giving evidence  
   113.    Evidence given outside courtroom  

           Division 4A--Recorded statements

   113A.   Definitions  
   113B.   Application of Division  
   113C.   Use of recorded statement  

           Division 5--General matters

   114.    Leave required for unrepresented defendant to cross-examine certain witnesses  
   114A.   Leave not given to directly cross-examine witness  
   114B.   Warning  

   PART 4.2--HEARING PROCEDURES

   115.    Procedural directions  

   PART 4.3--OTHER EVIDENTIARY MATTERS

   116.    Hearsay evidence  
   117.    Evidentiary value of endorsement on court file  

CHAPTER 5--ENFORCEMENT

   PART 5.1--INTERPRETATION

   118.    Definition  
   119.    When DVO is given to respondent  

   PART 5.2--OFFENCES

   120.    Contravention of DVO by defendant  
   121.    Penalties for contravention of DVO  
   123.    Publication of names and identifying information about children  
   124.    Publication of personal details  
   124A.   Reporting domestic violence  

CHAPTER 5A--INFORMATION SHARING

   PART 5A.1--PRELIMINARY MATTERS

   124B.   Definitions  
   124C.   Information sharing principles  
   124D.   Application of this Chapter to courts  
   124DA.  Approval of information sharing entity  
   124DB.  Collection of information  

   PART 5A.2--INFORMATION SHARING

   124E.   Sharing information for assessing or preventing domestic violence threat  
   124F.   Police may share certain information with information sharing entities  
   124G.   Limits on information that may be shared  
   124H.   Obligation to disclose for domestic violence assessment or protection purpose  

   PART 5A.3--CONFIDENTIALITY PROTECTIONS

   124J.   Permitted uses of shared information  
   124K.   Who may give or receive information on behalf of information sharing entity  
   124L.   Unauthorised disclosure of confidential information  
   124M.   Police use of confidential information  

   PART 5A.4--GUIDELINES

   124N.   Minister to make and publish guidelines  
   124P.   Information sharing entities to comply with guidelines  

   PART 5A.5--RISK ASSESSMENT AND RISK MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

   124Q.   CEO may approve framework  
   124R.   Obligation to align with approved framework  

   PART 5A.6--MISCELLANEOUS

   124S.   Protection of persons giving information  
   124T.   Interaction with other laws  

   PART 5A.7--REVIEW

   124U.   Reviews of operation of Chapter  

CHAPTER 6--MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

   125.    Protection for reporting domestic violence  
   126.    Approved forms  
   127.    Regulations  

CHAPTER 7--REPEALS AND TRANSITIONAL MATTERS

   PART 7.1--REPEALS

   128.    Acts repealed  

   PART 7.2--TRANSITIONAL MATTERS FOR DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE ACT 2007

   129.    Definitions  
   130.    Restraining orders  
   131.    Registered external restraining orders  
   132.    Pending applications for restraining orders  
   133.    Confirmation hearings  
   134.    Pending referrals to Court  
   135.    Interpretation Act not affected  

   PART 7.3--TRANSITIONAL MATTERS FOR JUSTICE LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (VULNERABLE WITNESSES) ACT 2016

   136.    Proceedings already commenced  

   PART 7.4--TRANSITIONAL MATTERS FOR DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE (RECOGNITION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ORDERS) (NATIONAL UNIFORM LAW) AMENDMENT ACT 2017

   137.    Definitions  
   138.    Interim court DVO  
   139.    Interim court variation order  
   140.    Registered interstate DVOs  
   141.    Enforcement of non-recognised interstate DVOs  

   PART 7.5--TRANSITIONAL MATTERS FOR EVIDENCE AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT ACT 2020

   142.    Proceeding already commenced  

   PART 7.6--TRANSITIONAL MATTERS FOR JUSTICE LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTS) ACT 2022

   143.    Definition  
   144.    DVO made but not given to parties or Court before commencement  
   145.    DVO varied but not given to parties or Court before commencement  
   146.    DVO confirmed with variations but not given to parties or Court before commencement  

   PART 7.7--TRANSITIONAL MATTERS FOR JUSTICE LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE) ACT 2023

   147.    Definitions  
   148.    Saving of DVOs  
   149.    Application of sections 123, 124 and 124L  
   150.    Proceeding already started  
           SCHEDULE 1
           ENDNOTES