Queensland MAGISTRATES COURTS JURISDICTION AMENDMENT BILL 1993 Queensland MAGISTRATES COURTS JURISDICTION AMENDMENT BILL 1993 TABLE OF PROVISIONS Section Page PART 1—PRELIMINARY 1 Short title 2.2... eee eee 4 2 Commencement ......... 0.0.0 eee eee 4 PART 2—AMENDMENT OF MAGISTRATES COURTS ACT 1921 3 Amended Act ....... 0... cee cee eee eens 4 4 Amendment of s.4 (Jurisdiction of Magistrates Courts)................ 4 5 Amendment of s.10 (Rules of evidence)............0..00..000.0000. 4 6 Amendment of s.11 2.0.0.0... 0. eee 5 PART 3—AMENDMENT OF PROPERTY LAW ACT 1974 7 Amended Act ....... 0... cee cee eee eens 5 8 Amendment of s.147 (Arrears of rent etc.) ...... 0.00... 6 SCHEDULE ......................... 7 MINOR AMENDMENTS OF MAGISTRATES COURTS ACT 1921 A BILL FOR An Act relating to the jurisdiction of Magistrates Courts, and for other purposes Magistrates Courts Jurisdiction Amendment The Parliament of Queensland enacts— PART 1—PRELIMINARY Short title Clause1. This Act may be cited as the Magistrates Courts Jurisdiction Amendment Act 1993. Commencement Clause2. This Act commences on a day to be fixed by proclamation. PART 2—AMENDMENT OF MAGISTRATES COURTS ACT 1921 Amended Act Clause3. The Magistrates Courts Act 192] is amended as set out in this Part and the Schedule. Amendment of s.4 (Jurisdiction of Magistrates Courts) Clause4. Section 4(1), (2) and (3)— omit '$20 000' (wherever occurring), insert '$40 000'. Amendment of s.10 (Rules of evidence) Clause5. Section 10(1)— omit, insert— 12 1417Magistrates Courts Jurisdiction Amendment 'Court rules and procedure *10.(1) The laws of evidence that apply in the Supreme Court apply in the trial of all questions of fact in the Court. '(2) However, in an action for a small debt or any other action in which the amount sued for is not more than $5 000, the Court— (a) is not bound by laws of evidence or procedure usually applicable to court cases; and (b) may inform itself of the facts in any way that it considers appropriate.'. Amendment of s.11 Clause6.(1) Section 11(3)(i) and (iv)— omit '$2 400 or upwards', insert 'more than $5 000". (2) Section 11(3)(ii}— omit, insert— '(ii) in an action for the recovery of possession of land if— (A) the value of the land is more than $5 000; or (B) the annual rental of the land is more than $5 000; or'. (3) Section 11(3)(a)— omit 'less than $2 400', insert 'not more than $5 000'. PART 3—AMENDMENT OF PROPERTY LAW ACT 1974 Amended Act Clause7. The Property Law Act 1974 is amended as set out in this Part. \o co ND ns Wn 113151719 21 23 Magistrates Courts Jurisdiction Amendment Amendment of s.147 (Arrears of rent etc.) Clause8. Section 147(5)— omit '$20 000', insert '$40 000'. Magistrates Courts Jurisdiction Amendment SCHEDULE MINOR AMENDMENTS OF MAGISTRATES COURTS ACT 1921 section 3 1. Section 2 (definitions "District", "Justice", "Magistrates Court" or "Court", "Minister", "Prescribed", "Registrar", "Rules of Court" and "This Act")— omit. 2. Section 2— insert— ' "district" means a district appointed under the Justices Act 1886 for the purposes of a Magistrates Court;'. 3. Section 3— omit, insert— 'Registrars '3. A clerk of the court under the Justices Act 1886 is the registrar of each Magistrates Court held at each place for which the clerk is appointed.'. 4. Section 4(2) to (9)— renumber as sections 4A to 4H respectively. 5. Section 10(2)— renumber as section 10A. on rninanwn 12 1417 19 21 Magistrates Courts Jurisdiction Amendment SCHEDULE (continued) 6. Section 11(2) to (6)— renumber as sections 11AA to 11AE respectively. 7. Section 11(6)— insert (as heading) 'No appeal in action for small debt etc.'. 8. Section 13(2) (1st and 2nd sentences)— renumber as sections 13A and 13B respectively. 9. Section 14(1)— omit ', by Order in Council published in the Gazette from time to time make any', insert 'make'. 10. Section 14(1)(iv)(c)— omit 'one hundred dollars in amount', insert '2 penalty units'. 11. Section 14(2) and (3)— omit. 12. After section 14— insert— 'References to Small Debts Court '15. A reference in another Act to a Small Debts Court is a reference to a Magistrates Court. 12 14 1619 Magistrates Courts Jurisdiction Amendment SCHEDULE (continued) 'Existing rules of court '16. A rule of court contained in an order in council in force for the purposes of this Act immediately before the commencement of this section continues to have effect after the commencement, and may be repealed or amended, as if it were a rule of court made under section 14.'. © State of Queensland 1993 Hn nKWN