Text as at 15 April 2026

This provision has not been checked by a human. The text below was read automatically from the official PDF and has not yet been verified against it, so it may differ from the provision as published — in its wording, its numbering, or where one provision ends and the next begins. For the authorised text, see legislation.vic.gov.au.

25 Extent of jurisdiction

(1)The Court has jurisdiction—

(a)to hear and determine all summary offences; and

(b)to hear and determine all indictable offences which may be heard and determined summarily; and

(c)to conduct committal proceedings into indictable offences and either—

(i)direct the accused to be tried and order that the accused be remanded in custody until trial or grant bail; or

S. 25(1)(c)(i) amended by No. 68/2009 s. 97(Sch. item 82.25).

(ii)discharge the accused under section 126(4) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009; and

S. 25(1)(c)(ii) amended by Nos 68/2009 s. 97(Sch. item 82.25), 5/2025 s. 59.S. 25(3)(b)(ii) amended by Nos 30/2010 s. 85, 63/2014 s. 5(2), 16/2020 s. 20, 54/2025 s. 25.

(d)to make orders to enforce the payment of all fines which are, by any Act, directed to be recovered in the Court or for the recovery of which no provision is made.

(2)The jurisdiction given by subsection (1) is additional to any other jurisdiction given to the Court with respect to a criminal proceeding by or under any Act other than this Act.

(3)In a particular case, the jurisdiction given by subsection (1)(c) may be exercised concurrently with the jurisdiction of the Children's Court to conduct a committal proceeding if—

S. 25(3) inserted by No. 7/2009 s. 426 (as amended by No. 68/2009 ss 46(a), 54(l)).

(a)the charges against each accused could properly be joined in the same indictment; and

(b)the accused who is a child—

(i)is of or over the age of 15 years at the time the proceeding against the child for the offence is commenced; and

(ii)is charged with murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, child homicide, homicide by firearm, a designated offence (within the meaning of section 516 of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005) committed when the child was aged 15 years or over, an offence against section 197A of the Crimes Act 1958 (arson causing death) or an offence against section 318 of the Crimes Act 1958 (culpable driving causing death); and

(c)the Court makes an order under subsection (4) in relation to the accused who is not a child and the Children's Court makes an order under section 516A(2) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 in relation to the accused who is a child.

(4)The Court may order that joint committal proceedings in relation to a particular accused are appropriate having regard to—

S. 25(4) inserted by No. 7/2009 s. 426 (as amended by No. 68/2009 ss 46(b), 54(l)).

(a)the age of the child; and

(b)the effect on victims of the offence charged if the committal proceedings were not conducted jointly; and

(c)the estimated duration of the committal proceedings if conducted jointly; and

(d)the number of witnesses that would be cross-examined by both accused; and

(e)any other matter considered relevant.

(5)The Court may make an order under subsection (4) on the application of a party or on its own motion.

S. 25(5) inserted by No. 7/2009 s. 426 (as amended by No. 68/2009 s. 54(l)).

(6)Each party is entitled to be present and may address the Court when the Court is considering the making of an order under subsection (4).

S. 25(6) inserted by No. 7/2009 s. 426 (as amended by No. 68/2009 s. 54(l)).

(7)If the Court makes an order under subsection (4), the Court may adjourn the proceeding for a period not exceeding 28 days to enable the Children's Court to determine whether joint committal proceedings are appropriate in the particular case.

S. 25(7) inserted by No. 7/2009 s. 426 (as amended by No. 68/2009 s. 54(l)).

(8)If joint committal proceedings are conducted under subsection (3)—with any necessary modifications to ensure that the joint committal proceedings are conducted fairly and efficiently.

S. 25(8) inserted by No. 7/2009 s. 426 (as amended by No. 68/2009 ss 46(c), 54(l)).

(a)the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 applies as far as practicable to the child; and

(b)the Criminal Procedure Act 2009 applies as far as practicable to the other accused—

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