2018

THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE 

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

Magistrates Court (Retirement Age of Magistrates) Amendment Bill 2018

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Presented by
Jeremy Hanson MLA 
Member for Murrumbidgee

Magistrates Court (Retirement Age of Magistrates) Amendment Bill 2018 

Introduction
This explanatory statement relates to the Magistrates Court (Retirement Age of Magistrates) Amendment Bill 2018 (the Bill) as presented to the Legislative Assembly. It has been prepared to assist the reader of the Bill and to help inform debate on it. It does not form part of the Bill and has not been endorsed by the ACT Legislative Assembly.
This explanatory statement must be read in conjunction with the Bill. It is not, and is not intended to be, a comprehensive description of the Bill. What is written about a provision is not to be taken as an authoritative statement of the meaning of a provision, this being a responsibility of the Courts.

Overview of the Bill
The purpose of this Bill is to amend the Magistrates Court Act 2018 to extend the retirement age of Magistrates from the current 65 years old to 70 years old.

This brings the retirement age in the ACT Magistrates Court into line with the retirement age that applies in the Supreme Court, and with most other jurisdictions in Australia.  

Summary of clauses 

1 Name of Act  
This Act is the Magistrates Court (Retirement Age of Magistrates) Amendment Act 2018.  

2 Commencement  
This Act commences on the day after its notification day. 

3 Legislation amended
This Act amends the Magistrates Court Act 1930.  

4 Term of appointment of Magistrates - Section 7D 

This clause omits the current words “65 years old” and substitutes “70 years old.”

Human rights implications

As this Bill extends the retirement age for magistrates, the Bill does not have adverse human rights implications.