Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988
Cth), ss 22, 23, 28 Criminal Injuries Compensation Act 1983
ACT) Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance) Act 1983
ACT) Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance) Amendment Act 1999
The present respondents applied for an award of compensation on various dates after 23 June 1998 under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act 1983
The Compensation Act first became law as a Commonwealth Ordinance, but following the passage of the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988
Cth) and consequential legislation, the Self-Government (Citation of Laws) Act 1989
Each of the respondents made their application prior to 24 December 1999, on which date the Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance) (Amendment) Act 1999
The replacement sections and the remaining sections were re-numbered and the legislation as so amended was re-entitled the Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance) Act 1983
A judge of the Supreme Court subsequently ordered that the jurisdiction of the court be exercised by a Full Court pursuant to s 13(2) of the Supreme Court Act 1933
The issue before the Full Court of the Supreme Court, and now before this Court on appeal, is whether, as the respondents contend, s 16(2) is invalid because of inconsistency with s 23 of the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988