Crimes Act 1900

In every case of apprehended violence by any person to the person of another, or of his or her domestic partner or child, or of apprehended injury to his or her property, a magistrate may on the complaint of the person apprehending the violence or injury, issue a summons or warrant as in any case of apprehended violence to the person, if at present security is required to keep the peace, and a magistrate may examine the complainant, and defendant, and their witnesses, as to the truth of the matter alleged, and, if it appears that the apprehension alleged is reasonable, but not otherwise, the magistrate may require the defendant to enter into a recognisance to keep the peace, with or without sureties, as in any case of a like nature.

If in any such case the defendant has spoken any offensive or defamatory words to or of the complainant, on an occasion when a breach of the peace might have been induced thereby, he or she may be required by the magistrate to enter into a recognisance, with or without sureties, to be of good behaviour for a term not exceeding 6 months, and, in default of its being entered into forthwith, the magistrate may order that the defendant be imprisoned for 3 months, unless such recognisance is sooner entered into.

The magistrate, in every such case, may award costs to either complainant or defendant, to be recovered as costs in summary jurisdiction cases are recoverable.