The Local Court Act (NT) ss 45-47 contempt regime renders conduct that would constitute contempt at common law a contempt for statutory purposes without creating specific statutory offences, and accordingly a charge need not identify a particular statutory offence but must identify the statutory provision and the conduct constituting the offending. There is no essential principle requiring the presence of the accused during summary proceedings; the Local Court may proceed in the defendant's absence under s 38 of the Local Court Act where the defendant's conduct makes it impracticable to continue in their presence.
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