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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.


RESTRAINING ORDERS AMENDMENT BILL 2000

                               Western Australia



                          LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL



            Restraining Orders Amendment Bill
                           2000


                                   A Bill for


    An Act to amend the Restraining Orders Act 1997.



    The Parliament of Western Australia enacts as follows:


    1.      Short title
            This Act may be cited as the Restraining Orders Amendment
5           Act 2000.




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     Restraining Orders Amendment Bill 2000



     s. 2




     2.       Commencement
              This Act comes into operation on the day on which it receives
              the Royal Assent.

     3.       The Act amended
5             The amendments in this Act are to the Restraining Orders
              Act 1997*.
              [* Act No. 19 of 1997.
                 For subsequent amendments see 1998 Index to Legislation of
                 Western Australia, Table 1, p. 215 and Act No. 11 of 1999.]

10   4.       Section 3 amended
              Section 3 is amended as follows:
                (a) by inserting the following definition in its appropriate
                     alphabetical position --
              "
15                          "child welfare officer" means --
                                (a) the Director-General as defined in the Child
                                     Welfare Act 1947; or
                                (b) an officer of the Department, as defined in
                                     the Child Welfare Act 1947, who is
20                                   authorized under section 29 of that Act;
                                                                                   ";
                  (b)        by deleting paragraph (d) of the definition of "final
                             order" and inserting the following paragraph instead --
                        "
25                           (d)   that is a final order under section 63(4a);
                                                                                   ";




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                                        Restraining Orders Amendment Bill 2000



                                                                                  s. 5



                 (c)    in the definition of "interim order" by inserting after
                        "section 29(1)(a)" --
                        " or 63(4b) ".

     5.         Section 7 amended
5               Section 7(a) is amended by inserting after "of the child" --
                " or a child welfare officer    ".

     6.         Section 18 replaced
                Section 18 is repealed and the following section is inserted
                instead --
10        "

          18.          Who can apply
                (1)    An application for a violence restraining order may be
                       made under this Division by --
                        (a)   an authorized person on behalf of the person to
15                            be protected; or
                        (b)   the person to be protected if he or she is
                              introduced to the authorized magistrate by an
                              authorized person.
                (2)    An application for a violence restraining order may
20                     also be made under this Division --
                        (a)   if the person to be protected is a child, by a
                              parent or guardian of the child, or a child
                              welfare officer, on behalf of the child; or
                        (b)   if the person to be protected is a person for
25                            whom a guardian has been appointed under the



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     Restraining Orders Amendment Bill 2000



     s. 7



                                Guardianship and Administration Act 1990, by
                                the guardian on behalf of the person,
                        if the parent, child welfare officer or guardian is
                        introduced to the authorized magistrate by an
5                       authorized person.
                  (3)   An authorized person is not to make an application, or
                        introduce a person to make an application, under
                        subsection (1) or (2) unless the authorized person
                        reasonably believes that the case meets the criteria set
10                      out in section 20(1).
                                                                                   ".

     7.           Section 25 replaced
                  Section 25 is repealed and the following section is inserted
                  instead --
15   "
            25.         Application
                  (1)   An application for a violence restraining order may be
                        made in person by --
                         (a) the person to be protected; or
20                       (b) a police officer on behalf of that person.
                  (2)   An application for a violence restraining order may
                        also be made --
                          (a) if the person to be protected is a child, by a
                                parent or guardian of the child, or a child
25                              welfare officer, on behalf of the child; or
                          (b) if the person to be protected is a person for
                                whom a guardian has been appointed under the
                                Guardianship and Administration Act 1990, by
                                the guardian on behalf of the person.

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                                       Restraining Orders Amendment Bill 2000



                                                                               s. 8



                (3)   An application for a violence restraining order made in
                      person is to be made in the prescribed form to --
                        (a) if the respondent is a child, the Children's
                              Court; or
5                       (b) otherwise, a court of petty sessions.
                                                                                 ".

     8.         Section 38 replaced
                Section 38 is repealed and the following section is inserted
                instead --
10   "
          38.         Application
                (1)   An application for a misconduct restraining order may
                      be made in person by --
                        (a) the person to be protected; or
15                      (b) a police officer on behalf of that person.
                (2)   An application for a misconduct restraining order may
                      also be made --
                        (a) if the person to be protected is a child, by a
                              parent or guardian of the child, or a child
20                            welfare officer, on behalf of the child; or
                        (b) if the person to be protected is a person for
                              whom a guardian has been appointed under the
                              Guardianship and Administration Act 1990, by
                              the guardian on behalf of the person.
25              (3)   If there is no particular person to be protected an
                      application for a misconduct restraining order may be
                      made by a police officer on behalf of the public
                      generally.



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     Restraining Orders Amendment Bill 2000



     s. 9



                   (4)       An application for a misconduct restraining order is to
                             be made in the prescribed form to --
                               (a) if the respondent is a child, the Children's
                                    Court; or
5                              (b) otherwise, a court of petty sessions.
                                                                                         ".

     9.            Section 42 amended
                   Section 42(2)(a) is deleted and the following paragraph is
                   inserted instead --
10                       "
                              (a)   if it is satisfied that the respondent was --
                                       (i) in the case of a hearing fixed under
                                              section 33, notified of the hearing; or
                                      (ii) in the case of a hearing fixed under
15                                            section 40(3)(c) or 41(4), served with a
                                              summons requiring the respondent to
                                              attend the hearing,
                                    is to hear the matter in the absence of the
                                    respondent;
20                                                                                       ".
     10.           Section 45 replaced and consequential amendments
           (1)     Section 45 is repealed and the following section is inserted
                   instead --
     "
25           45.             Application
                   (1)       An application to vary or cancel a final order may be
                             made by --
                              (a) the person protected by the order;


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                                      Restraining Orders Amendment Bill 2000



                                                                         s. 10



                     (b)    a police officer on behalf of the person
                            protected by the order; or
                     (c)    the person bound by the order.
           (2)     An application to vary or cancel a final order may also
5                  be made --
                     (a) if the person protected by the order is a child,
                          by a parent or guardian of the child, or a child
                          welfare officer, on behalf of the child; or
                     (b) if the person protected by the order is a person
10                        for whom a guardian has been appointed under
                          the Guardianship and Administration Act 1990,
                          by the guardian on behalf of the person.
           (3)     If the original application for a final order was made by
                   a police officer on behalf of the public generally an
15                 application to vary or cancel the order may be made by
                   a police officer on behalf of the public generally.
           (4)     An application to vary or cancel a final order is to be
                   made in the prescribed form to the court that made the
                   final order.
20                                                                             ".
     (2)   Section 46(1) is amended by deleting "45(1)(e)" and inserting
           instead --
           "     45(1)(c)   ".
     (3)   Section 47(1) is amended by deleting "45(1)(a) to (d)" and
25         inserting instead --
           "     45(1)(a) or (b), (2) or (3)   ".
     (4)   Section 48(1) is amended by deleting "45(1)" and inserting
           instead --
           "     45 ".

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     Restraining Orders Amendment Bill 2000



     s. 11



     11.         Section 47 amended
                 Section 47(2) is amended by deleting paragraphs (a), (b) and (c)
                 and inserting instead --
                       "
5                           (a)   if the person protected by the order is a child --
                                     (i) the child;
                                    (ii) a parent or guardian of the child on
                                          behalf of the child; or
                                   (iii) a child welfare officer on behalf of the
10                                        child,
                                  as the clerk considers appropriate;
                            (b)   if the person protected by the order is a person
                                  for whom a guardian has been appointed under
                                  the Guardianship and Administration Act 1990,
15                                the guardian on behalf of the person; or
                            (c)   otherwise, the person protected by the order.
                                                                                       ".

     12.         Section 61 amended

                 After section 61(2) the following subsection is inserted --
20           "
                 (3)       Proceedings for a breach of a restraining order are to be
                           brought --
                             (a) if the alleged offender is a child, in the
                                  Children's Court; or
25                           (b) otherwise, in a court of petty sessions.
                                                                                       ".




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                                              Restraining Orders Amendment Bill 2000



                                                                                   s. 13



     13.              Section 63 amended
           (1)        Section 63(1), (2) and (3) are repealed and the following
                      subsections are inserted instead --
                 "
5                     (1)   A court, including a judicial officer considering a case
                            for bail, before which a person charged with an offence
                            is appearing may make a restraining order against that
                            person or any other person who gives evidence in
                            relation to the charge.
10                    (2)   A court hearing proceedings under the Family Court
                            Act 1997 or the Family Law Act 1975 of the
                            Commonwealth may make a restraining order against a
                            party to the proceedings or any other person who gives
                            evidence in the proceedings.
15                    (3)   A court hearing an application under the Child Welfare
                            Act 1947 to declare a child in need of care and
                            protection may make a restraining order against a party
                            to the proceedings or any other person who gives
                            evidence in the proceedings.
20                   (3a)   A restraining order may be made under this section --
                             (a) on the initiative of the court;
                             (b) at the request of a party to the proceedings;
                             (c) if the person to be protected is a child, at the
                                    request of --
25                                     (i) the child;
                                      (ii) a parent or guardian of the child on
                                           behalf of the child; or
                                     (iii) in a matter referred to in subsection (3),
                                           a child welfare officer on behalf of the
30                                         child;

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     Restraining Orders Amendment Bill 2000



     s. 13



                       (d)    if the person to be protected is a person for
                              whom a guardian has been appointed under the
                              Guardianship and Administration Act 1990, at
                              the request of the guardian on behalf of the
5                             person; or
                        (e)   at the request of a person who gives evidence in
                              the proceedings or in relation to the charge.
                                                                                 ".
         (2)    Section 63(4) is amended by deleting "subsection (2)" and
10              inserting instead --
                " this section   ".
         (3)    After section 63(4) the following subsections are inserted --
     "
               (4a)   Subject to subsection (4b) a restraining order made
15                    under this section is a final order.
               (4b)   If a court referred to in subsection (2) is considering
                      making a restraining order and the person who would
                      be bound by the order objects to it being made, the
                      court may make an interim order.
20             (4c)   Sections 33, 42, 43 and 44 apply to an interim order
                      made under subsection (4b) as if the person bound by
                      the order --
                        (a) were the respondent; and
                        (b) had returned the respondent's endorsement
25                            copy of the interim order --
                                (i) in accordance with section 31;
                               (ii) on the day after the interim order was
                                     made; and



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                                                                                     s. 14



                                    (iii)    indicating that the person objected to the
                                             order becoming final.
                                                                                          ".
           (4)        Section 63(5), (6) and (7) are amended by deleting
5                     "subsection (2)" and inserting instead --
                      " this section    ".

     14.              Section 64 amended
                      After section 64(6) the following subsection is inserted --
                 "
10                   (6a)   If the decision was made by a court hearing
                            proceedings under the Family Court Act 1997 or the
                            Family Law Act 1975 of the Commonwealth, the
                            appeal is to be made --
                              (a) in the case of a decision of a court of summary
15                                  jurisdiction, to the Family Court of Western
                                    Australia in accordance with section 211(2) of
                                    the Family Court Act 1997; and
                              (b) otherwise to the Full Court of the Supreme
                                    Court in accordance with section 211(3) of the
20                                  Family Court Act 1997.
                                                                                          ".

     15.              Section 75 amended
                      Section 75(1) is repealed and the following subsections are
                      inserted instead --
25               "
                      (1)   An application for registration of an interstate order
                            may be made by --
                             (a) the person protected by the order; or


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     Restraining Orders Amendment Bill 2000



     s. 16



                         (b)   a police officer on behalf of that person.
                 (1a)   An application for registration of an interstate order
                        may also be made --
                         (a) if the person protected by the order is a child,
5                              by a parent or guardian of the child, or a child
                               welfare officer, on behalf of the child; or
                         (b) if the person protected by the order is a person
                               for whom a guardian has been appointed under
                               the Guardianship and Administration Act 1990
10                             (or a similar Act of the State or Territory in
                               which the interstate order was made), by the
                               guardian on behalf of the person.
                                                                                   ".

     16.          Section 79B amended
15                Section 79B(1) is repealed and the following subsections are
                  inserted instead --
             "
                  (1)   An application for registration of a foreign restraining
                        order may be made by --
20                        (a) the person protected by the order; or
                          (b) a police officer on behalf of that person.
                 (1a)   An application for registration of a foreign restraining
                        order may also be made --
                          (a) if the person protected by the order is a child,
25                             by a parent or guardian of the child, or a child
                               welfare officer, on behalf of the child; or
                          (b) if the person protected by the order is under the
                               guardianship of a guardian (however described)



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                                                                    s. 17



                       appointed under the law of the foreign country,
                       by the guardian on behalf of the person.
                                                                         ".

    17.   Section 86 amended
5         Section 86(1) is amended by deleting "order." and inserting
          instead --
          " order made at a final order hearing.   ".




 


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