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Legal Resources Guide

A GUIDE TO INTERNET LEGAL RESOURCES IN NORTHERN TERRITORY

Topics


ARTS LAW

Arts Law Centre of Australia

Community legal centre offering a specialised legal and business advice and referral service. Professional development resources and advocacy for artists and arts organisations.

http://www.artslaw.com.au

  • Information sheets
  • Publications
  • Services

IP Australia

Grant and maintain Patents, Designs and Trademarks.

http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au

  • Patent and Trademark forms
  • Database of registrations

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COMMUNITY LEGAL CENTRES - GENERAL

National Association of Community Legal Centres (NACLC)

Association of state community legal centre organisations in Australia.

http://www.naclc.org.au

  • Contact details for community legal centres throughout Australia
  • Reports and submissions

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CONSUMER DEBT/CREDIT

Consumer & Business Affairs

Department of Justice within the Northern Territory Government.

http://www.nt.gov.au/justice/graphpages/cba/index.shtml

  • Fact sheets
  • Complaint forms
  • Statutory declarations

FIDO - Australian Securities and Investments Commission

http://fido.asic.gov.au

  • 'How to complain' guide (including links to relevant sites)
  • Online complaint form
  • Online Financial Information Directory

Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman

Free independent resolution of complaints and disputes regarding telecommunications services.

http://www.tio.com.au

  • Online complaint form
  • Search list of TIO member organisations
  • Fact sheets

Australian Banking Industry Ombudsman

Dispute resolution service dealing with disputes that individuals and small business have with their financial providers.

http://www.abio.org.au

  • Policies and procedures
  • Terms of reference
  • Jurisdiction checker
  • Banking code of practice plus other publications

Mortgage Industry Ombudsman Scheme

Independent dispute resolution process free of charge to customers of the Mortgage Industry Association of Australasia (MIAA).

http://www.miaa.com.au/ombudsman.html

  • Guide to resolving a dispute
  • Search for whether dispute is with a member of the MIAA or the complaint should go through the Australian Banking Industry Ombudsman

Consumer Credit Code Website

Details of the code governing all credit transactions in Australia.

http://www.creditcode.gov.au

  • Detailed information on what is covered by the code
  • Downloadable documents

Financial Industry Complaints Service (FICS)

Provide free advice and assistance in relation to complaints with the financial services industry.

http://www.fics.asn.au

  • Lodge a complaint online
  • Determinations and adjudications
  • FICS rules

Credit Union Dispute Resolution Centre

Free independent resolution service for credit union members.

http://www.cudrc.com.au

  • How to make a complaint
  • Jurisdiction guidelines
  • List of participating credit unions

Insolvency Trustee Service Australia

Government agency responsible for the administration and regulation of the personal insolvency system.

http://www.itsa.gov.au

  • Statutory forms for bankruptcy
  • Debt agreement information
  • Legislation

See also:

  • National Children's and Youth Law Centre for information on mobile phones. See Young People for contact details

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COURT MATTERS

NT Courts

http://www.nt.gov.au/justice/graphpages/courts/index.shtml

  • Links to NT Courts and Tribunals

Federal Magistrates Service

Independent federal court.

http://www.fms.gov.au

  • Judgments
  • Procedures
  • Forms

Commonwealth Courts

http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink.nsf/pages/goingtocourt#HeadingA

  • Links to Commonwealth Courts and Tribunals

See also:

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DISABILITY

Darwin Community Legal Service

Community legal centre providing legal advice and assistance and undertaking community legal education and law reform.

http://www.dcls.org.au

  • Aged and Disability rights a focus
  • Information on how to make a complaint
  • Submissions

See also:

  • Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission: Disability Rights Unit. See Discrimination for contact details
  • Guardianship for Office of Adult Guardianship NT

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DISCRIMINATION

Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission

National independent statutory government body. HREOC investigate alleged anti-discrimination law infringements, undertake human rights education and conduct public inquiries.

http://www.hreoc.gov.au

  • Anti-discrimination legislation
  • Publications on human rights and discrimination issues
  • Online complaint form and guidelines
  • Election of jurisdictions information
  • Links to HREOC decisions

NT Anti-Discrimination Commission

Promote equality of opportunity and protect from unlawful discrimination through investigation and conciliation.

http://www.nt.gov.au/justice/adc/index800.html

  • Link to Anti-Discrimination Act
  • Complaint form
  • Pamphlets and other information

See also:

« Back to index

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse

National resource on issues of domestic and family violence.

http://www.austdvclearinghouse.unsw.edu.au/

  • Publications
  • Resource database
  • Links

Australian Institute of Criminology

National focus for the study of crime and criminal justice in Australia and for the dissemination of criminal justice information.

http://www.aic.gov.au

  • Statistics and reports regarding the incidence of domestic violence

See also:

  • Legal Aid for contact details of domestic violence services in NT

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EMPLOYMENT

Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment

Provide the legislative and policy frameworks for the effective development and management of Northern Territory Public Sector (NTPS) employees.

http://www.nt.gov.au/ocpe/

  • Employment conditions and legislation
  • Enterprise bargaining information
  • Information on grievance reviews

Australian Industrial Relations Commission

Facilitate agreement between employers and employees, conciliate and work within industrial disputes.

http://www.airc.gov.au

  • Details of the law relating to employment
  • Procedures involved in making a claim

Office of the Employment Advocate

Provide assistance and advice to employers and employees on the Workplace Relations Act 1996, particularly regarding Australian Workplace Agreements and freedom of association.

http://www.oea.gov.au

  • Australian Workplace Agreements (AWA) complaint form
  • AWA no-disadvantage test
  • Bargaining Agents Referral List

Comcare

Responsible for workplace safety, rehabilitation and compensation in the Commonwealth jurisdiction.

http://www.comcare.gov.au

  • Forms
  • Processes
  • Legislation
  • Incident notification information

Working Women's Centres

Information and advice to working women on a range of employment issues.

http://www.wwc.org.au

  • Awards and employment agreements
  • Information on sexual harassment, discrimination, unfair dismissal, workers compensation and workplace bullying

NT Worksafe

Hold responsibility for the Territory-wide regulation of occupational health and safety, rehabilitation and workers' compensation.

http://www.nt.gov.au/deet/worksafe/

  • Workers compensation claims information
  • Incident notification information
  • Legislation

Australian Workplace

Commonwealth government website with information on employment, workplace relations, government assistance, jobs, careers, training and wages.

http://www.workplace.gov.au

  • Employment legislation and policy information
  • Details of available schemes

See also:

« Back to index

ENVIRONMENT

Environmental Defenders Office

Community legal centre providing free legal advice, representation and community legal education on environmental matters.

http://www.edo.org.au/edont/index.htm

  • Fact sheets being prepared for online publication

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FAMILY LAW

Family Court of Australia

http://www.familycourt.gov.au

  • Step-by-step guide to proceedings in the family court
  • Online court forms and brochures
  • Family law legislation and cases
  • Information specifically for young people

Family Law Online

Attorney-General's Department initiative.

http://www.familylaw.gov.au

  • Information sorted by topic
  • Links

Child Support Agency

http://www.csa.gov.au

  • Legislative information
  • Forms
  • Links to organisations

Births Deaths and Marriages

http://www.nt.gov.au/justice/graphpages/bdm/index.shtml

  • Forms for change of name
  • Certificate application forms
  • Fees schedule

See also:

« Back to index

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

Information Act 2003 in force from 1 July 2003

http://www.nt.gov.au

  • Link to Act

Department of Employment Education and Training

http://www.deet.nt.gov.au/forms/foi/

  • Guide to making an FOI application

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GAY AND LESBIAN LEGAL ISSUES

Darwin Community Legal Service

Community legal service which undertakes law reform activities in relation to laws as they impact upon gay and lesbian people.

http://www.dcls.org.au/Gayandlesbianlawreform.htm

  • Submissions

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GENERAL LEGAL INFORMATION

Law Society Northern Territory

http://www.lawsocnt.asn.au

  • Links to legal resources
  • Member directory

Law and Safety NT

http://www.nt.gov.au/ntg/lawsafe.shtml

  • Links to NT Government departments
  • Some legal information

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GOVERNMENT (COMPLAINTS ABOUT)

Ombudsman for the Northern Territory

Receive complaints and investigate actions, decisions, practices and procedures of most government departments, statutory bodies and local councils.

http://www.nt.gov.au/ombudsman

  • Online complaint form
  • Guide to the complaint process
  • Legislation

Commonwealth Ombudsman

http://www.ombudsman.gov.au

  • Online complaint form
  • Legislation
  • Freedom of Information guide

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GUARDIANSHIP

Office of Adult Guardianship NT

http://www.nt.gov.au/health/org_supp/performance_audit/
adult_guard/guardianship.shtml

  • Contact details

« Back to index

HIV/AIDS

Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations

Leadership, information, advocacy and policy. AFAO is the peak non-government organisation representing Australia's community-based response to HIV/AIDS.

http://www.afao.org.au

  • Information on a range of issues affecting people living with HIV/AIDS

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IMMIGRATION

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights

Network of Australian lawyers active in practising and promoting awareness of international human rights standards in Australia.

http://www.alhr.asn.au

  • Asylum seeker legal resources
  • Refugee kit

Immigration Advice and Rights Centre

NSW community legal centre providing free legal advice and assistance in relation to immigration law matters.

http://www.iarc.asn.au/

  • Fact sheets
  • Information on steps to take in relation to applying for various visas and how to appeal a decision at the Migration Review Tribunal

Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs

Federal government department responsible for immigration.

http://www.immi.gov.au/

  • Frequently asked questions and migration fact sheets
  • Visa information and online application facility

Refugee Review Tribunal

Indpendent merits review tribunal which reviews decisions made by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs to refuse or cancel protection visas to non-citizens in Australia.

http://www.rrt.gov.au

  • Forms
  • Decisions
  • Handbook

Migration Review Tribunal

Independent merits review body which reviews certain decisions made by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.

http://www.mrt.gov.au

  • Forms
  • Decisions
  • Interpreter information

Administrative Appeals Tribunal

Independent review of administrative decisions made by the Commonwealth government and some non-government agencies.

http://www.aat.gov.au

  • Forms
  • Fees
  • Legislation and jurisdiction

See also:

  • Social Security for National Welfare Rights Network information for residents and newly arrived migrants

« Back to index

INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS

Social Justice Commissioner

Office established within the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission to deal with discrimination and disadvantage affecting Indigenous Australians.

http://www.hreoc.gov.au/social_justice/

  • Statistics
  • Information

National Network of Indigenous Women's Legal Services

All members of the network provide legal advice and assistance to Indigenous women and children.

http://www.nwjc.org.au/awlsn/index.htm

  • Contact details for member services

See also:

  • Legal Aid for contact details for Aboriginal legal services

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LEGAL AID

Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission

Provide access to the law and legal assistance to people who are unable to afford the services of a private lawyer.

http://www.ntlac.nt.gov.au

  • Information on services available
  • How to apply for legal aid

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LEGAL PRACTITIONER COMPLAINTS

Law Society Northern Territory

Statutory body which works to ensure the effectiveness of the coregulatory scheme of the legal profession.

http://www.lawsocnt.asn.au/complaints.htm

  • Information
  • Complaint form

« Back to index

LEGISLATION AND CASES

Austlii

Australasian Legal Information Institute.

http://www.austlii.edu.au

  • Full text legislation in all Australian jurisdictions
  • Full text case law in most Australian Courts and Tribunals
  • Full text international instruments

ScalePlus

http://scaleplus.law.gov.au/

  • Full text legislation of the Commonwealth and non self-governing territories
  • Functional index of law and law-related functions of the Commonwealth government

Northern Territory Legislative Assembly

http://www.nt.gov.au/lant/hansard/hansard.shtml

  • Current NT legislation and legislation history
  • Hansards

Parliamentary website

http://www.aph.gov.au

  • Full text legislation and bills
  • Hansard

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MEDIA/COMMUNICATIONS

Communications Law Centre

Independent, non-profit, public interest organisation specialising in media, communications and online law and policy.

http://www.comslaw.org.au

  • Information on defamation, media ownership and media ethics
  • Legal Advice via Oz NetLaw (http://www.oznetlaw.net.au)

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PRIVACY

The Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner

Promote privacy in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988.

http://www.privacy.gov.au

  • Legislation
  • Complaint form

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PROPERTY

Land Titles Office

Responsible for maintaining a secure system of Torrens Title including search facilities, land information and general registry services.

http://www.nt.gov.au/justice/graphpages/landtitl/index.shtml

  • Land Titles Office forms
  • Fees schedule

Northern Land Council

Represent traditional Aboriginal landowners and Aboriginal people in the Top End of the Northern Territory.

http://www.nlc.org.au

  • Legislation
  • Information on use of Aboriginal land

Central Land Council

Statutory representative body representing Aboriginal people in the Central Australia region.

http://www.clc.org.au

  • Information on land use and permits
  • Information on mining and land acquisition

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SOCIAL SECURITY

National Welfare Rights Network

Advice and assistance to individuals relating to their rights and entitlements under the Australian social security system.

http://www.welfarerights.org.au

  • Types of social security payments available and a guide to who is eligible
  • Fact sheets and information kits
  • Information for migrants and residents
  • How to complain or lodge an appeal
  • Social Security handbook
  • Policy papers

Social Security Appeals Tribunal

Review decisions made in relation to social security, education or training payments.

http://www.ssat.gov.au

  • Forms
  • Guides
  • Checklists

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TRANSLATORS/INTERPRETERS

NT Interpreter Services

http://www.nt.gov.au/ntg/interpret.shtml

  • Details for NT Interpreter and Translator Service
  • Details for Aboriginal Interpreter Service

National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI)

National standards body.

http://www.naati.com.au

  • Directory of practitioners in Australia

Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS)

Australian government service.

http://www.immi.gov.au/tis/index.htm

  • Guidelines
  • Information on services

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VICTIMS OF CRIME

NT Charter for Victims of Crime

http://www.nt.gov.au/justice/graphpages/crimvict/ntcharter.shtml

  • Charter
  • Legislation
  • List of relevant agencies

NT Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions - Victim Support Unit

http://www.nt.gov.au/justice/dpp/html/victim/index.html

  • Victim Impact Statement form
  • Services available

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YOUNG PEOPLE

National Children's and Youth Law Centre

Community legal centre providing legal advice, advocacy and education in respect of legal issues as they impact on children and young people.

http://www.lawstuff.org.au

  • Online advice service for young people via Lawstuff
  • Legal and rights information eg school issues, bullying, age of consent to sex and being charged with a crime.

« Back to index

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National Pro Bono Resource Centre
Email: info@nationalprobono.org.au
Telephone:  +61 2 9385 7381     Fax: +61 2 9385 7375

PRIVACY POLICY

Current at 17 October, 2003