The State Children Act 1895 (Act no. 641/1895) was passed on 20 December 1895. Its full title was ‘An Act to amend the Law relating to State Children, and for other purposes’. It was repealed by the Child Welfare Ordinance 1958 (Act No.20/1958) on 2 February 1959. During the period 1863 to 1911 when the…
The Child Welfare Ordinance 1958 (Act no. 20/1958) replaced the South Australian State Children’s Act 1895. Its full title was ‘An ordinance relating to the welfare of children’. It was passed on 14 November 1958 and commenced on 2 February 1959. The Child Welfare Ordinance 1958 appointed the Director of Welfare as the guardian of…
The Welfare Ordinance 1953 (Act No. 16/1953) was assented to on 15 July 1963 and commenced on 13 May 1957. It was repealed by the Social Welfare Ordinance (Act no. 31/1964) on 15 September 1964. The Welfare Ordinance 1953 created the position of Director of Welfare and made the Director the legal guardian of all…
This Aboriginals Ordinance 1918 (Act no. 9/1918) combined and replaced the Northern Territory Aboriginals Act of 1910 (SA) and the Commonwealth Aboriginals Ordinance of 1911. It carried over most of the provisions of the previous Ordinances. The Chief Protector retained control over many aspects of Aboriginal lives and continued to be the legal guardian of…
The Crime (Serious Repeat Offenders) Sentencing Act 1992 (Act no. 3/1992) commenced on 9 March 1992. Its long title was ‘An Act to provide for the sentencing of juveniles who commit certain offences involving the use of stolen motor vehicles and of juveniles or other persons who repeatedly commit those or certain other offences, and…
The Mental Treatment Act 1927 (18 Geo. V No. 13) allowed people in the general population with ‘mental disorders’ to be admitted to mental health institutions without the stigma of being certified as insane, but to be subsequently sent to a hospital for the insane involuntarily if they had not ‘recovered’ within six months. The…
The Mental Treatment Act 1917 (7 Geo. V No. 29) allowed people returning from World War I service with ‘mental disorders’ to be admitted to mental health institutions without the stigma of being certified as insane. It would have been possible for returning service personnel under 21 years of age to be admitted under this…
The Health and Disability Services (Complaints) Act 1995 (Act number 075/1995) integrates with Part 6 of the Disability Services Act 1993 to provide avenues for consumer and carers’ complaints to be addressed. The Health and Disability Services (Complaints) Act 1995 also established the functions of the Office of Health Review (1995-2010) and the Health and…
The Criminal Law Amendment Act 1892 (55 Vict. No.24) sought to ‘make better provision for the protection of women and girls’ by identifying a number of offences against morality, including defilement of all girls under 12 (s.4). Carnal knowledge of girls aged 12-14 years, ‘idiot’ and ‘imbecile’ women and girls was outlawed (s.6). It was…
The Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Accused) Act 1996 (070/1996) acknowledges that not all people who come before the courts are ‘mentally fit’ to stand trial (s.9). The Act applies to all Western Australian courts where criminal proceedings are heard, including the Children’s Court. The Act established the Mentally Accused Review Board. The Act makes provision…
Dec 18, 2024
Nov 15, 2024
