EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

BUSINESS NAMES ORDINANCE 1966
No. 15 of 1966

COURT OF PETTY SESSIONS ORDINANCE 1966
No. 2 of 1966

EDUCATION ORDINANCE 1966
No. 3 of 1966

POLICE PENSIONS ORDINANCE (NO. 2) 1966
No. 4 of 1966

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	One of the purposes of the Currency Act 1965 is to convert amounts of money appearing in Commonwealth Legislation to their exact equivalents in decimal currency with effect from 14th February, 1966.

	As a result A.C.T. Ordinances which contain references to amounts of money which do not convert exactly to amounts containing whole numbers of cents require amendment prior to that date.

	The conversion of such amounts to be effected by the attached Ordinances, with the exception of the Court of Petty Sessions Ordinance 1966, is in accordance with the table of equivalents in Section 11 (3.) of the Currency Act 1965.  This is in conformity with the Treasurer’s assurance that Commonwealth Departments would not use the introduction of decimal currency as a method of raising charges.  The amendments to the Court of Petty Sessions Ordinance 1930-1961 are explained below.

Administration and Probate Ordinance 1966 :

	The purpose of this Ordinance is to convert into decimal currency the fees set out in the Third Schedule to the Administration and Probate Ordinance 1929-1965.  With the exception of the amount specified in item 25 of this Schedule, all amounts convert exactly into whole numbers of cents.  Item 25 provides for a fee of one shilling and three pence per folio for a typewritten office copy of a will or other document.  It is proposed that this fee be amended to twelve cents.

Business Names Ordinance 1966 :

	The purpose of this Ordinance is to convert into decimal currency the fees set out in the Schedule to the Business Names Ordinance 1956-1962.  All amounts, except those specified in item 6 of the Schedule, convert exactly into whole numbers of cents.  It is proposed to amend the amounts of nine pence and one shilling and four pence specified in item 6 to eight cents and thirteen cents respectively.

Court of Petty Sessions Ordinance 1966 :

	The purpose of this Ordinance is to make two amendments to the Court of Petty Sessions Ordinance 1930-1961.  The first amendment, which would be made by clause 3, substitutes one cent for twopence as the maximum damages that may be awarded a successful plaintiff in a suit against a magistrate in respect of a decision by the magistrate in certain circumstances.  The purpose of the provision is to confine the plaintiff, in the specified circumstances, to nominal damages.  The second amendment, which would be made by clause 4, deletes a reference to the word ‘pounds’ in Form 3 in the First Schedules to the Principal Ordinance.

Education Ordinance 1966 :

	The purpose of this Ordinance is to convert references to bus fares of three pence in Sections 10 and 34 of the Education Ordinance 1937-1964.  The conversion to an amount of two cents is in accordance with fares to come into operation on 14th February, 1966.

Police Pensions Ordinance (No 2) 1966 :

	The purpose of this Ordinance is to amend an amount of £1333.6.8. appearing in the Second Schedule to the Police Pensions Ordinance 1958-1965, as amended by the Police Pensions Ordinance 1966.  It is proposed that the amount, which represents the annual rate of pension payable to one Robert Reid, be converted to $2666.67, and that other pensions prescribed in the Schedule be amended at the same time to their exact equivalents in decimal currency.