{"id":"C1901A00002","name":"Acts Interpretation Act 1901","slug":"acts-interpretation-act-1901","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"2 of 1901","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":2254,"registerId":"commonwealth-C1901A00002-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-03-29","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Part 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"Preliminary","content":"Part 1—Preliminary\n\n \n\n","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Short title","content":"1  Short title\n\n  This Act may be cited as the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.\n\n","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"1A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Simplified outline","content":"1A  Simplified outline\n\n  The following is a simplified outline of this Act:\n\nOverview\n\nThis Act is like a dictionary and manual to use when reading and interpreting Commonwealth Acts and instruments made under Commonwealth Acts.\n\nThe definitions and many of the interpretation rules are aimed at making Commonwealth legislation shorter, less complex and more consistent in operation.\n\nA provision of this Act is subject to a contrary intention in other Commonwealth legislation.\n\nStructure\n\nPart 1 provides that this Act applies to all Acts. This Act also applies to legislative instruments, notifiable instruments and other instruments made under an Act (see subsection 13(1) of the Legislation Act 2003 and subsection 46(1) of this Act).\n\nPart 2 contains definitions that apply across all Commonwealth legislation (for example, Australian citizen, business day, document and month).\n\nPart 3 deals with the commencement of Commonwealth Acts. For example, section 4 allows certain powers to be exercised (like the making of appointments) between the enactment and commencement of an Act.\n\nPart 4 deals with the amendment, repeal and expiry of Commonwealth legislation. For example, section 7 provides that the repeal of an Act does not affect any rights accrued under the Act, or any legal proceedings instituted, before the repeal.\n\nPart 5 contains various rules for interpreting Commonwealth legislation, including:\n\n (a) section 15A (about interpreting an Act subject to the Constitution); and\n\n (b) section 15AA (which provides for interpreting an Act in a way that best achieves the purpose or object of the Act); and\n\n (c) section 15AB (about using material that is not part of an Act (like explanatory memorandums and second reading speeches) in interpreting an Act); and\n\n (d) sections 19 to 20 (which deal generally with references to Ministers and Departments in Acts, with the effect of machinery of government changes on references to Ministers and Departments and other authorities in Acts and Commonwealth agreements, and with the validity of acts done by Ministers).\n\n","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"Part 6","sectionType":"part","heading":"deals with the service of documents on persons.","content":"Part 6 deals with the service of documents on persons.\n\n","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"Part 7","sectionType":"part","heading":"contains rules about exercising powers and performing functions and duties under Commonwealth legislation, including:","content":"Part 7 contains rules about exercising powers and performing functions and duties under Commonwealth legislation, including:\n\n (a) subsection 33(3) (which provides that a power to make an instrument includes the power to vary or revoke the instrument); and\n\n (b) section 33A (about acting appointments); and\n\n (c) sections 34AA, 34AB and 34A (about delegating powers, functions and duties).\n\nPart 8 deals with the calculation of distance, time and age.\n\nPart 9 deals with the citation of Acts.\n\nPart 10 deals with instruments other than legislative instruments or notifiable instruments. For example, it provides that this Act applies to those instruments and that expressions in those instruments have the same meaning as in the enabling legislation.\n\nPart 11 contains a regulation‑making power.\n\n2  Application of Act\n\n (1) This Act applies to all Acts (including this Act).\n\nNote: This Act also applies to legislative instruments, notifiable instruments and other instruments: see subsection 13(1) of the Legislation Act 2003 and subsection 46(1) of this Act.\n\n (2) However, the application of this Act or a provision of this Act to an Act or a provision of an Act is subject to a contrary intention.\n\n","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"2A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Binding the Crown","content":"2A  Binding the Crown\n\n  This Act binds the Crown in each of its capacities.\n\n","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"Part 2","sectionType":"part","heading":"Definitions","content":"Part 2—Definitions\n\n \n\n","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"2B","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"2B  Definitions\n\n  In any Act:\n\nacting SES employee has the same meaning as in the Public Service Act 1999.\n\nAdministrative Arrangements Order:\n\n (a) means an instrument (a primary AAO) made by the Governor‑General that is described as an Administrative Arrangements Order; and\n\n (b) includes an instrument made by the Governor‑General that:\n\n (i) amends a primary AAO; or\n\n (ii) revokes a primary AAO and substitutes a new primary AAO.\n\nNote: The Administrative Arrangements Order sets out, from time to time, the matters dealt with by Departments of State of the Commonwealth together with the legislation administered by the Ministers for those Departments.\n\naffidavit includes affirmation, declaration and promise.\n\nappoint: see section 33AA.\n\nAPS employee has the same meaning as in the Public Service Act 1999.\n\nAustralia means the Commonwealth of Australia and, when used in a geographical sense, includes Norfolk Island, the Territory of Christmas Island and the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, but does not include any other external Territory.\n\nAustralian citizen has the same meaning as in the Australian Citizenship Act 2007.\n\nAustralian Privacy Principle has the same meaning as in the Privacy Act 1988.\n\nAustralian Standard: see section 2L.\n\nbusiness day means a day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a public holiday in the place concerned.\n\ncalendar month means one of the 12 months of the year.\n\ncalendar year means a period of 12 months starting on 1 January.\n\ncharitable has the meaning given by Part 2 of the Charities Act 2013.\n\ncharitable purpose has the meaning given by Part 3 of the Charities Act 2013.\n\ncharity has the meaning given by Part 2 of the Charities Act 2013.\n\ncommencement, in relation to an Act or a provision of an Act, means the time at which the Act or provision comes into operation.\n\nNote: See also section 3.\n\nCommonwealth means the Commonwealth of Australia and, when used in a geographical sense, includes Norfolk Island, the Territory of Christmas Island and the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, but does not include any other external Territory.\n\nConsolidated Revenue Fund means the Consolidated Revenue Fund referred to in section 81 of the Constitution.\n\nConstitution means the Constitution of the Commonwealth.\n\ncontiguous zone has the same meaning as in the Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973.\n\ncontinental shelf has the same meaning as in the Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973.\n\ncontravene includes fail to comply with.\n\ncourt exercising federal jurisdiction means any court when exercising federal jurisdiction, and includes a federal court.\n\ncourt of summary jurisdiction means any justice of the peace, or magistrate of a State or Territory, sitting as a court of summary jurisdiction.\n\nde facto partner: see section 2D.\n\ndocument means any record of information, and includes:\n\n (a) anything on which there is writing; and\n\n (b) anything on which there are marks, figures, symbols or perforations having a meaning for persons qualified to interpret them; and\n\n (c) anything from which sounds, images or writings can be reproduced with or without the aid of anything else; and\n\n (d) a map, plan, drawing or photograph.\n\nestate includes any estate, interest, charge, right, title, claim demand, lien or encumbrance at law or in equity.\n\nexclusive economic zone has the same meaning as in the Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973.\n\nExecutive Council means the Federal Executive Council.\n\nexternal Territory means a Territory, other than an internal Territory, where an Act makes provision for the government of the Territory as a Territory.\n\nfederal court means the High Court or any court created by the Parliament.\n\nfinancial year means a period of 12 months starting on 1 July.\n\nforeign country means any country (whether or not an independent sovereign state) outside Australia and the external Territories.\n\nGazette means the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette.\n\nGovernment Printer includes any person printing for the Government of the Commonwealth.\n\nNote: See also section 17A.\n\nGovernor of a State: see section 16B.\n\nGovernor‑General: see section 16A.\n\nHigh Court means the High Court of Australia.\n\nindividual means a natural person.\n\ninsolvent under administration has the same meaning as in the Corporations Act 2001.\n\ninternal Territory means the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory or the Jervis Bay Territory.\n\nJervis Bay Territory means the Territory referred to in the Jervis Bay Territory Acceptance Act 1915.\n\njudge has a meaning affected by section 16BA.\n\njustice of the peace includes a justice of the peace for a State or part of a State or for a Territory.\n\nland includes messuages, tenements and hereditaments, corporeal and incorporeal, of any tenure or description, whatever may be the estate or interest in them.\n\nlaw of the Commonwealth: see section 2H.\n\nlegislative instrument has the same meaning as in the Legislation Act 2003.\n\nMagistrate: see subsections 16C(2) and (3).\n\nMinister or Minister of State means one of the Ministers of State for the Commonwealth.\n\nNote: See also section 19.\n\nmodifications, in relation to a law, includes additions, omissions and substitutions.\n\nmonth: see section 2G.\n\nNorthern Territory means the Northern Territory of Australia.\n\nnotifiable instrument has the same meaning as in the Legislation Act 2003.\n\noath includes affirmation, declaration and promise.\n\nParliament means the Parliament of the Commonwealth.\n\npenalty unit, including in relation to a civil penalty provision, has the meaning given by section 4AA of the Crimes Act 1914.\n\nperson: see section 2C.\n\nprescribed means prescribed by the Act or by regulations under the Act.\n\nProclamation means a Proclamation by the Governor‑General that is registered in the Federal Register of Legislation established under the Legislation Act 2003 as a legislative instrument or notifiable instrument.\n\nNote: Some Proclamations provide solely for the commencement of Acts, legislative instruments or notifiable instruments, or provisions of Acts or such instruments. Under section 11 of the Legislation Act 2003, these are notifiable instruments.\n\nrecord includes information stored or recorded by means of a computer.\n\nregulations means regulations under the Act.\n\nrules of court: see section 2K.\n\nseat of Government means the seat of Government of the Commonwealth.\n\nSenior Counsel includes:\n\n (a) if the Sovereign is a King—King’s Counsel; and\n\n (b) if the Sovereign is a Queen—Queen’s Counsel.\n\nSES employee has the same meaning as in the Public Service Act 1999.\n\nsitting day: see section 2M.\n\nSovereign: see section 16.\n\nspouse: see section 2CA.\n\nStandards Australia means Standards Australia Limited (ACN 087 326 690).\n\nState means a State of the Commonwealth.\n\nstatutory declaration means a declaration made because of any Act authorising a declaration to be made otherwise than in the course of a judicial proceeding.\n\nStipendiary Magistrate: see subsections 16C(1) and (3).\n\nswear includes affirm, declare and promise.\n\nterritorial sea has the same meaning as in the Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973.\n\nTerritory, Territory of the Commonwealth, Territory under the authority of the Commonwealth or Territory of Australia means a Territory referred to in section 122 of the Constitution.\n\nUnited Kingdom means the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.\n\nwriting includes any mode of representing or reproducing words, figures, drawings or symbols in a visible form.\n\n","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"2C","sectionType":"section","heading":"References to persons","content":"2C  References to persons\n\n (1) In any Act, expressions used to denote persons generally (such as “person”, “party”, “someone”, “anyone”, “no‑one”, “one”, “another” and “whoever”), include a body politic or corporate as well as an individual.\n\n (2) Express references in an Act to companies, corporations or bodies corporate do not imply that expressions in that Act, of the kind mentioned in subsection (1), do not include companies, corporations or bodies corporate.\n\n2CA  References to spouses\n\n (1) For the purposes of any Act, a person is the spouse of another person (whether of the same sex or a different sex) if the person is legally married to the other person.\n\n (2) Subsection (1) has effect in addition to any provision of an Act that affects the meaning of spouse in a provision of that Act.\n\nExample: Spouse is defined for the purposes of an Act to include a de facto partner and a former spouse. Because of this section, a reference in the Act to a person’s spouse covers any person who is legally married to the person, in addition to any person covered by the definition in the Act.\n\n","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"2D","sectionType":"section","heading":"References to de facto partners","content":"2D  References to de facto partners\n\n  For the purposes of a provision of an Act that is a provision in which de facto partner has the meaning given by this Act, a person is the de facto partner of another person (whether of the same sex or a different sex) if:\n\n (a) the person is in a registered relationship with the other person under section 2E; or\n\n (b) the person is in a de facto relationship with the other person under section 2F.\n\n","sortOrder":9},{"sectionNumber":"2E","sectionType":"section","heading":"Registered relationships","content":"2E  Registered relationships\n\n  For the purposes of paragraph 2D(a), a person is in a registered relationship with another person if the relationship between the persons is registered under a prescribed law of a State or Territory as a prescribed kind of relationship.\n\n","sortOrder":10},{"sectionNumber":"2F","sectionType":"section","heading":"De facto relationships","content":"2F  De facto relationships\n\n (1) For the purposes of paragraph 2D(b), a person is in a de facto relationship with another person if the persons:\n\n (a) are not legally married to each other; and\n\n (b) are not related by family (see subsection (6)); and\n\n (c) have a relationship as a couple living together on a genuine domestic basis.\n\n (2) In determining for the purposes of paragraph (1)(c) whether 2 persons have a relationship as a couple, all the circumstances of their relationship are to be taken into account, including any or all of the following circumstances:\n\n (a) the duration of the relationship;\n\n (b) the nature and extent of their common residence;\n\n (c) whether a sexual relationship exists;\n\n (d) the degree of financial dependence or interdependence, and any arrangements for financial support, between them;\n\n (e) the ownership, use and acquisition of their property;\n\n (f) the degree of mutual commitment to a shared life;\n\n (g) the care and support of children;\n\n (h) the reputation and public aspects of the relationship.\n\n (3) No particular finding in relation to any circumstance mentioned in subsection (2) is necessary in determining whether 2 persons have a relationship as a couple for the purposes of paragraph (1)(c).\n\n (4) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(c), the persons are taken to be living together on a genuine domestic basis if the persons are not living together on a genuine domestic basis only because of:\n\n (a) a temporary absence from each other; or\n\n (b) illness or infirmity of either or both of them.\n\n (5) For the purposes of subsection (1), a de facto relationship can exist even if one of the persons is legally married to someone else or is in a registered relationship (within the meaning of section 2E) with someone else or is in another de facto relationship.\n\n (6) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), 2 persons are related by family if:\n\n (a) one is the child (including an adopted child) of the other; or\n\n (b) one is another descendant of the other (even if the relationship between them is traced through an adoptive parent); or\n\n (c) they have a parent in common (who may be an adoptive parent of either or both of them).\n\nFor this purpose, disregard whether an adoption is declared void or has ceased to have effect.\n\n (7) For the purposes of subsection (6), adopted means adopted under the law of any place (whether in or out of Australia) relating to the adoption of children.\n\n","sortOrder":11},{"sectionNumber":"2G","sectionType":"section","heading":"Months","content":"2G  Months\n\n (1) In any Act, month means a period:\n\n (a) starting at the start of any day of one of the calendar months; and\n\n (b) ending:\n\n (i) immediately before the start of the corresponding day of the next calendar month; or\n\n (ii) if there is no such day—at the end of the next calendar month.\n\nExample 1: A month starting on 15 December in a year ends immediately before 15 January in the next year.\n\nExample 2: A month starting on 31 August in a year ends at the end of September in that year (because September is the calendar month coming after August and does not have 31 days).\n\n (2) In any Act, a reference to a period of 2 or more months is a reference to a period:\n\n (a) starting at the start of a day of one of the calendar months (the starting month); and\n\n (b) ending:\n\n (i) immediately before the start of the corresponding day of the calendar month that is that number of calendar months after the starting month; or\n\n (ii) if there is no such day—at the end of the calendar month that is that number of calendar months after the starting month.\n\nExample 1: A reference to 6 months starting on 15 December in a year is a reference to a period starting on that day and ending immediately before 15 June in the next year.\n\nExample 2: A reference to 6 months starting on 31 October in a year is a reference to a period starting on that day and ending at the end of April in the next year (because April is the calendar month coming sixth after October and does not have 31 days).\n\n","sortOrder":12},{"sectionNumber":"2H","sectionType":"section","heading":"References to law of the Commonwealth","content":"2H  References to law of the Commonwealth\n\n  In any Act, a reference to the law of the Commonwealth, or to a law of the Commonwealth, does not include, and is taken never to have included, a reference to a law in force in a Territory so far as the law is so in force because of an Act providing for the acceptance, administration or government of that Territory.\n\n","sortOrder":13},{"sectionNumber":"2J","sectionType":"section","heading":"Documents commencing proceedings","content":"2J  Documents commencing proceedings\n\n  A reference in a provision of an Act to any one or more of the following in connection with court proceedings:\n\n (a) a summons;\n\n (b) an information;\n\n (c) a claim;\n\n (d) a complaint;\n\n (e) a declaration;\n\nis taken to include a reference to any document through which proceedings may be instituted in a court.\n\nNote: An example of such a document is a court attendance notice under the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 of New South Wales.\n\n","sortOrder":14},{"sectionNumber":"2K","sectionType":"section","heading":"Rules of court","content":"2K  Rules of court\n\n (1) In any Act, rules of court, in relation to any court, means rules made by the authority having for the time being power to make rules or orders regulating the practice and procedure of such court.\n\n (2) The power of the authority to make rules of court includes a power to make rules of court for the purpose of any Act which directs or authorises anything to be done by rules of court.\n\n","sortOrder":15},{"sectionNumber":"2L","sectionType":"section","heading":"References to Australian Standards","content":"2L  References to Australian Standards\n\n  In any Act, a reference consisting of the words “Australian Standard” followed by the letters “AS” and a number is a reference to the standard so numbered that is published by, or on behalf of, Standards Australia.\n\n","sortOrder":16},{"sectionNumber":"2M","sectionType":"section","heading":"Sitting day","content":"2M  Sitting day\n\n (1) In any Act, a sitting day, in relation to a House of the Parliament, is a day on which the House actually sits.\n\n (2) However, if the House sat without adjourning on a previous day (the earlier sitting day), any period during which the House continues to sit, with or without a suspension, on a later day, until it adjourns, is taken to be part of the earlier sitting day.\n\nExample 1: The Senate begins sitting at 9 am on Thursday and extends (with or without a suspension of the sitting) until it is adjourned at 3 pm on Friday. Thursday is a sitting day for the Senate but Friday is not. This example applies equally to the House of Representatives.\n\nExample 2: The House of Representatives begins sitting at 9 am on Wednesday and extends (with or without a suspension of the sitting) until it is adjourned at 1 am on Thursday. The House of Representatives then starts sitting again at 10 am on Thursday and adjourns at 3 pm on Thursday. Both Wednesday and Thursday are sitting days for the House of Representatives. This example applies equally to the Senate.\n\n (3) For the purposes of this section, a House is taken to have adjourned if:\n\n (a) the Parliament is prorogued; or\n\n (b) that House is dissolved; or\n\n (c) if that House is the House of Representatives—that House expires.\n\n","sortOrder":17},{"sectionNumber":"Part 3","sectionType":"part","heading":"Commencement of Acts","content":"Part 3—Commencement of Acts\n\n \n\n","sortOrder":18},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"When Acts come into operation","content":"3  When Acts come into operation\n\n  If an Act or a provision of an Act is expressed to come into operation on a particular day (whether the expression “come into operation” or “commence” is used), it comes into operation at the start of the day.\n\n","sortOrder":19},{"sectionNumber":"3A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement of Acts","content":"3A  Commencement of Acts\n\n (1) This section does not apply to an Act so far as it provides for its commencement.\n\n (2) An Act (other than an Act to alter the Constitution) commences on the 28th day after the day on which that Act receives the Royal Assent.\n\n (3) An Act to alter the Constitution commences on the day on which that Act receives the Royal Assent.\n\n","sortOrder":20},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Exercise of powers between enactment and commencement of Act","content":"4  Exercise of powers between enactment and commencement of Act\n\nApplication of section\n\n (1) This section applies if an Act is enacted and at a time (the start time) after its enactment the Act will confer power to make an appointment, or to make an instrument of a legislative or administrative character (including rules, regulations or by‑laws), because:\n\n (a) the Act will commence at the start time; or\n\n (b) the Act will be amended at the start time by an Act that has been enacted and that commences at that time.\n\nExercise of power before start time\n\n (2) The power may be exercised before the start time as if the relevant commencement had occurred.\n\n (3) Anything may be done before the start time for the purpose of enabling the exercise of the power, or of bringing the appointment or instrument into effect, as if the relevant commencement had occurred.\n\n (4) The exercise of a power under subsection (2) does not confer a power or right or impose an obligation on a person before the relevant commencement except so far as is necessary or convenient for the purpose of:\n\n (a) bringing the appointment or instrument into effect; or\n\n (b) bringing the Act conferring power into operation; or\n\n (c) making the Act conferring power fully effective at or after the start time.\n\n (5) An appointment, or a provision of an instrument, made under subsection (2) takes effect at the start time or a later time specified in the appointment or instrument.\n\nOne instrument may rely on subsection (2) and existing power\n\n (6) To avoid doubt, a single instrument may be made before the start time partly under subsection (2) and partly under a power already conferred by an Act.\n\nExtended application to provisions of an Act\n\n (7) Subsections (1) to (6) also apply in relation to a provision of an Act in the same way as they apply in relation to an Act.\n\n","sortOrder":21},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Evidence of date of assent","content":"6  Evidence of date of assent\n\n  The date appearing on the copy of an Act printed by the Government Printer, and purporting to be the date on which the Governor‑General assented thereto, or made known the Sovereign’s assent, shall be evidence that such date was the date on which the Governor‑General so assented or made known the Sovereign’s assent, and shall be judicially noticed.\n\n","sortOrder":22},{"sectionNumber":"Part 4","sectionType":"part","heading":"Amendment, repeal and expiry of Acts","content":"Part 4—Amendment, repeal and expiry of Acts\n\n \n\n","sortOrder":23},{"sectionNumber":"7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Effect of repeal or amendment of Act","content":"7  Effect of repeal or amendment of Act\n\nNo revival of other Act or part\n\n (1) The repeal of an Act, or of a part of an Act, that repealed an Act (the old Act) or part (the old part) of an Act does not revive the old Act or old part, unless express provision is made for the revival.\n\nNo effect on previous operation of Act or part\n\n (2) If an Act, or an instrument under an Act, repeals or amends an Act (the affected Act) or a part of an Act, then the repeal or amendment does not:\n\n (a) revive anything not in force or existing at the time at which the repeal or amendment takes effect; or\n\n (b) affect the previous operation of the affected Act or part (including any amendment made by the affected Act or part), or anything duly done or suffered under the affected Act or part; or\n\n (c) affect any right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired, accrued or incurred under the affected Act or part; or\n\n (d) affect any penalty, forfeiture or punishment incurred in respect of any offence committed against the affected Act or part; or\n\n (e) affect any investigation, legal proceeding or remedy in respect of any such right, privilege, obligation, liability, penalty, forfeiture or punishment.\n\nAny such investigation, legal proceeding or remedy may be instituted, continued or enforced, and any such penalty, forfeiture or punishment may be imposed, as if the affected Act or part had not been repealed or amended.\n\nNote: The Act that makes the repeal or amendment, or provides for the instrument to make the repeal or amendment, may be different from, or the same as, the affected Act or the Act containing the part repealed or amended.\n\nInterpretation\n\n (3) A reference in subsection (1) or (2) to the repeal or amendment of an Act or of a part of an Act includes a reference to:\n\n (a) a repeal or amendment effected by implication; and\n\n (b) the expiry, lapsing or cessation of effect of the Act or part; and\n\n (c) the abrogation or limitation of the effect of the Act or part; and\n\n (d) the exclusion of the application of the Act or part to any person, subject‑matter or circumstance.\n\n (4) A reference in this section to a part of an Act includes a reference to any provision of, or words, figures, drawings or symbols in, an Act.\n\n","sortOrder":24},{"sectionNumber":"10","sectionType":"section","heading":"References to amended or re‑enacted Acts","content":"10  References to amended or re‑enacted Acts\n\n  Where an Act contains a reference to a short title that is or was provided by law for the citation of another Act as originally enacted, or of another Act as amended, then:\n\n (a) the reference shall be construed as a reference to that other Act as originally enacted and as amended from time to time; and\n\n (b) where that other Act has been repealed and re‑enacted, with or without modifications, the reference shall be construed as including a reference to the re‑enacted Act as originally enacted and as amended from time to time; and\n\n (c) if a provision of the other Act is repealed and re‑enacted (including where the other Act is repealed and re‑enacted), with or without modifications, a reference to the repealed provision extends to any corresponding re‑enacted provision (whether or not the re‑enacted provision has the same number as the repealed provision).\n\n","sortOrder":25},{"sectionNumber":"10A","sectionType":"section","heading":"References to amended or re‑enacted laws of States and Territories","content":"10A  References to amended or re‑enacted laws of States and Territories\n\n  Where an Act contains a reference to a short title or other citation that is or was provided by the law of a State or Territory for the citation of a law of that State or Territory as originally enacted or made, or as amended, then:\n\n (a) the reference shall be construed as a reference to that law as originally enacted or made and as amended from time to time; and\n\n (b) where that law has been repealed and re‑enacted or re‑made, with or without modifications, the reference shall be construed as including a reference to the re‑enacted or re‑made law as originally enacted or made and as amended from time to time; and\n\n (c) if a provision of that law is repealed and re‑enacted or re‑made (including where that law is repealed and re‑enacted or re‑made), with or without modifications, a reference to the repealed provision extends to any corresponding re‑enacted or re‑made provision (whether or not the re‑enacted or re‑made provision has the same number as the repealed provision).\n\n","sortOrder":26},{"sectionNumber":"11","sectionType":"section","heading":"Acts may be altered etc. in same session","content":"11  Acts may be altered etc. in same session\n\n  An Act may be altered, amended or repealed in the same session of Parliament in which it was passed.\n\n","sortOrder":27},{"sectionNumber":"11A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Inserting definitions into provisions or inserting items into lists or tables","content":"11A  Inserting definitions into provisions or inserting items into lists or tables\n\nInserting definitions\n\n (1) If an amending Act inserts a definition in a provision of the Act being amended, but does not specify the position in that provision where it is to be inserted, it is to be inserted in the appropriate alphabetical position, determined on a letter‑by‑letter basis.\n\nInserting items into lists or tables\n\n (a) an amending Act inserts an item into a list or table in a provision of the Act being amended, but does not specify the position in the list or table where the item is to be inserted; and\n\n (b) immediately before the insertion, the list or table was arranged alphabetically;\n\nthe item is inserted in the appropriate alphabetical position, determined on a letter‑by‑letter basis.\n\n","sortOrder":28},{"sectionNumber":"11B","sectionType":"section","heading":"Amending Act to be construed with amended Act","content":"11B  Amending Act to be construed with amended Act\n\n (1) Every Act amending another Act must be construed with the other Act as part of the other Act.\n\n (a) an Act (the amending Act) amends another Act (the principal Act); and\n\n (b) a provision (the non‑amending provision) of the amending Act does not amend the principal Act, but relates to an amendment of the principal Act made by another provision of the amending Act; and\n\n (c) a term is used in the non‑amending provision that has a particular meaning in the principal Act or in a provision of the principal Act amended or included by the amending Act;\n\nthen the term has that meaning in the non‑amending provision.\n\nNote: Subsection (2) covers, for example, application, transitional and saving items in a Schedule to an amending Act that relate to amendments of a principal Act made by other items in the Schedule.\n\n (3) Subsection (2) does not limit subsection (1).\n\n","sortOrder":29},{"sectionNumber":"Part 5","sectionType":"part","heading":"General interpretation rules","content":"Part 5—General interpretation rules\n\n \n\n","sortOrder":30},{"sectionNumber":"12","sectionType":"section","heading":"Every section a substantive enactment","content":"12  Every section a substantive enactment\n\n  Every section of an Act shall have effect as a substantive enactment without introductory words.\n\n","sortOrder":31},{"sectionNumber":"13","sectionType":"section","heading":"Material that is part of an Act","content":"13  Material that is part of an Act\n\n (1) All material from and including the first section of an Act to the end of:\n\n (a) if there are no Schedules to the Act—the last section of the Act; or\n\n (b) if there are one or more Schedules to the Act—the last Schedule to the Act;\n\nis part of the Act.\n\n (2) The following are also part of an Act:\n\n (a) the long title of the Act;\n\n (b) any Preamble to the Act;\n\n (c) the enacting words for the Act;\n\n (d) any heading to a Chapter, Part, Division or Subdivision appearing before the first section of the Act.\n\n (3) However, text is not part of an Act, or a compilation of an Act within the meaning of the Legislation Act 2003, if the text:\n\n (a) only indicates the effect of an element of the Act; and\n\n (b) is accessible in an electronic version of the Act or compilation; and\n\n (c) does not appear in the printed text of the Act (or any amendment of the Act) as enacted by the Parliament, or any other printed version of the Act or compilation.\n\nNote: This text is known as alternative text or “alt text”. Alternative text may be accessible in an electronic version of an Act or compilation that is published on an approved website under the Legislation Act 2003. This text may, for example, aurally indicate the effect of a graphic image in an Act to assist users of the website who have visual disabilities.\n\n","sortOrder":32},{"sectionNumber":"15A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Construction of Acts to be subject to Constitution","content":"15A  Construction of Acts to be subject to Constitution\n\n  Every Act shall be read and construed subject to the Constitution, and so as not to exceed the legislative power of the Commonwealth, to the intent that where any enactment thereof would, but for this section, have been construed as being in excess of that power, it shall nevertheless be a valid enactment to the extent to which it is not in excess of that power.\n\n15AA  Interpretation best achieving Act’s purpose or object\n\n  In interpreting a provision of an Act, the interpretation that would best achieve the purpose or object of the Act (whether or not that purpose or object is expressly stated in the Act) is to be preferred to each other interpretation.\n\n15AB  Use of extrinsic material in the interpretation of an Act\n\n (1) Subject to subsection (3), in the interpretation of a provision of an Act, if any material not forming part of the Act is capable of assisting in the ascertainment of the meaning of the provision, consideration may be given to that material:\n\n (a) to confirm that the meaning of the provision is the ordinary meaning conveyed by the text of the provision taking into account its context in the Act and the purpose or object underlying the Act; or\n\n (b) to determine the meaning of the provision when:\n\n (i) the provision is ambiguous or obscure; or\n\n (ii) the ordinary meaning conveyed by the text of the provision taking into account its context in the Act and the purpose or object underlying the Act leads to a result that is manifestly absurd or is unreasonable.\n\n (2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the material that may be considered in accordance with that subsection in the interpretation of a provision of an Act includes:\n\n (a) all matters not forming part of the Act that are set out in the document containing the text of the Act as printed by the Government Printer;\n\n (b) any relevant report of a Royal Commission, Law Reform Commission, committee of inquiry or other similar body that was laid before either House of the Parliament before the time when the provision was enacted;\n\n (c) any relevant report of a committee of the Parliament or of either House of the Parliament that was made to the Parliament or that House of the Parliament before the time when the provision was enacted;\n\n (d) any treaty or other international agreement that is referred to in the Act;\n\n (e) any explanatory memorandum relating to the Bill containing the provision, or any other relevant document, that was laid before, or furnished to the members of, either House of the Parliament by a Minister before the time when the provision was enacted;\n\n (f) the speech made to a House of the Parliament by a Minister on the occasion of the moving by that Minister of a motion that the Bill containing the provision be read a second time in that House;\n\n (g) any document (whether or not a document to which a preceding paragraph applies) that is declared by the Act to be a relevant document for the purposes of this section; and\n\n (h) any relevant material in the Journals of the Senate, in the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives or in any official record of debates in the Parliament or either House of the Parliament.\n\n (3) In determining whether consideration should be given to any material in accordance with subsection (1), or in considering the weight to be given to any such material, regard shall be had, in addition to any other relevant matters, to:\n\n (a) the desirability of persons being able to rely on the ordinary meaning conveyed by the text of the provision taking into account its context in the Act and the purpose or object underlying the Act; and\n\n (b) the need to avoid prolonging legal or other proceedings without compensating advantage.\n\n15AC  Changes to style not to affect meaning\n\n  Where:\n\n (a) an Act has expressed an idea in a particular form of words; and\n\n (b) a later Act appears to have expressed the same idea in a different form of words for the purpose of using a clearer style;\n\nthe ideas shall not be taken to be different merely because different forms of words were used.\n\n15AD  Examples\n\n  If an Act includes an example of the operation of a provision:\n\n (a) the example is not exhaustive; and\n\n (b) the example may extend the operation of the provision.\n\n","sortOrder":33},{"sectionNumber":"15B","sectionType":"section","heading":"Application of Acts in coastal sea","content":"15B  Application of Acts in coastal sea\n\nCoastal sea of Australia\n\n (1) An Act is taken to have effect in, and in relation to, the coastal sea of Australia as if that coastal sea were part of Australia.\n\n (2) A reference in an Act to Australia, or to the Commonwealth, is taken to include a reference to the coastal sea of Australia.\n\nCoastal sea of external Territory\n\n (3) An Act that is in force in an external Territory is taken to have effect in, and in relation to, the coastal sea of the Territory as if that coastal sea were part of the Territory.\n\n (3A) A reference in an Act to all or any of the external Territories (whether or not one or more particular Territories are referred to) is taken to include a reference to the coastal sea of any Territory to which the reference relates.\n\nDefinition\n\n (4) In this section, coastal sea:\n\n (a) in relation to Australia, means:\n\n (i) the territorial sea of Australia; and\n\n (ii) the sea on the landward side of the territorial sea of Australia and not within the limits of a State or internal Territory;\n\n  and includes the airspace over, and the sea‑bed and subsoil beneath, any such sea; and\n\n (b) in relation to an external Territory, means:\n\n (i) the territorial sea adjacent to the Territory; and\n\n (ii) the sea on the landward side of the territorial sea adjacent to the Territory and not within the limits of the Territory;\n\n  and includes the airspace over, and the sea‑bed and subsoil beneath, any such sea.\n\n","sortOrder":34},{"sectionNumber":"15C","sectionType":"section","heading":"Jurisdiction of courts","content":"15C  Jurisdiction of courts\n\n  Where a provision of an Act, whether expressly or by implication, authorises a civil or criminal proceeding to be instituted in a particular court in relation to a matter:\n\n (a) that provision shall be deemed to vest that court with jurisdiction in that matter;\n\n (b) the jurisdiction so vested is not limited by any limits to which any other jurisdiction of the court may be subject; and\n\n (c) in the case of a court of a Territory, that provision shall be construed as providing that the jurisdiction is vested so far only as the Constitution permits.\n\n","sortOrder":35},{"sectionNumber":"16","sectionType":"section","heading":"References to the Sovereign","content":"16  References to the Sovereign\n\n  In any Act references to the Sovereign reigning at the time of the passing of such Act, or to the Crown, shall be construed as references to the Sovereign for the time being.\n\n","sortOrder":36},{"sectionNumber":"16A","sectionType":"section","heading":"References to the Governor‑General","content":"16A  References to the Governor‑General\n\n  Where, in an Act, the Governor‑General is referred to, the reference shall be deemed to include:\n\n (a) the person for the time being administering the Government of the Commonwealth; or\n\n (b) where the reference occurs in or in relation to a provision conferring on the Governor‑General a power or function which the Governor‑General or the person administering the Government of the Commonwealth has for the time being assigned to a person as his or her deputy, that last‑mentioned person in his or her capacity as deputy;\n\nand shall be read as referring to the Governor‑General, or a person so deemed to be included in the reference, acting with the advice of the Executive Council.\n\n","sortOrder":37},{"sectionNumber":"16B","sectionType":"section","heading":"References to the Governor of a State","content":"16B  References to the Governor of a State\n\n  Where, in an Act, the Governor of a State is referred to, the reference shall be deemed to include the Governor for the time being of the State or any other person who is, for the time being, the chief executive officer or administrator of the government of the State.\n\n16BA  References to judge\n\n  In any Act, a reference (whether general or otherwise) to a judge does not include a reference to a Judge, or an acting Judge, of the Local Court of New South Wales or of the Local Court of the Northern Territory.\n\n","sortOrder":38},{"sectionNumber":"16C","sectionType":"section","heading":"References to Stipendiary Magistrate and Magistrate","content":"16C  References to Stipendiary Magistrate and Magistrate\n\n (1) Where, in an Act, reference is made to a Stipendiary Magistrate, the reference shall be read as including a reference to any Magistrate in respect of whose office an annual salary is payable.\n\n (2) Where, in an Act passed after the date of commencement of this section, reference is made to a Magistrate, the reference shall be read as a reference to:\n\n (a) a Chief, Police, Stipendiary, Resident or Special Magistrate; or\n\n (b) any other Magistrate in respect of whose office an annual salary is payable.\n\n (3) In any Act, a reference to a Stipendiary Magistrate or Magistrate includes a reference to a Judge, or an acting Judge, of the Local Court of New South Wales or of the Local Court of the Northern Territory.\n\n","sortOrder":39},{"sectionNumber":"17A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Paper or document purporting to be printed by Government Printer","content":"17A  Paper or document purporting to be printed by Government Printer\n\n  For the purposes of an Act in which reference is made to a paper or document purporting to be printed by the Government Printer, the words “Government Printer of the Commonwealth”, “Government Printer of the Commonwealth of Australia”, “Commonwealth Government Printer” or “Government Printer of Australia” appearing on a paper or document shall be deemed to refer to the Government Printer.\n\n","sortOrder":40},{"sectionNumber":"18A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Parts of speech and grammatical forms","content":"18A  Parts of speech and grammatical forms\n\n  In any Act where a word or phrase is given a particular meaning, other parts of speech and grammatical forms of that word or phrase have corresponding meanings.\n\n","sortOrder":41},{"sectionNumber":"18B","sectionType":"section","heading":"Titles of Chairs and Deputy Chairs","content":"18B  Titles of Chairs and Deputy Chairs\n\nChair titles\n\n (1) For the purposes of this section, each of the following is a chair title:\n\n (a) Chair;\n\n (b) Chairperson;\n\n (c) Chairman;\n\n (d) Chairwoman.\n\n (2) A person occupying an office that is established by an Act and that has a chair title may choose to be referred to by:\n\n (a) that chair title; or\n\n (b) another chair title; or\n\n (c) any other similar title.\n\n (3) If a person occupying an office that is established by an Act and that has a chair title does not choose to be referred to by a title mentioned in subsection (2), the person may be referred to by the chair title that someone addressing the person considers appropriate.\n\nDeputy chair titles\n\n (4) For the purposes of this section, each of the following is a deputy chair title:\n\n (a) Deputy Chair;\n\n (b) Deputy Chairperson;\n\n (c) Deputy Chairman;\n\n (d) Deputy Chairwoman.\n\n (5) A person occupying an office that is established by an Act and that has a deputy chair title may choose to be referred to by:\n\n (a) that deputy chair title; or\n\n (b) another deputy chair title; or\n\n (c) any other similar title.\n\n (6) If a person occupying an office that is established by an Act and that has a deputy chair title does not choose to be referred to by a title mentioned in subsection (5), the person may be referred to by the deputy chair title that someone addressing the person considers appropriate.\n\n","sortOrder":42},{"sectionNumber":"19","sectionType":"section","heading":"References to Ministers in Acts","content":"19  References to Ministers in Acts\n\n (1) If a provision of an Act refers to a Minister, the following table provides which Minister the provision refers to in relation to a particular matter (the relevant matter) on a particular day (the relevant day).\n\n \n\n- References to Ministers in Acts\n- If the provision … then the Minister referred to is …\n- 1 refers to a Minister by using the expression “the Minister”, without identifying the Minister the Minister, or any of the Ministers, administering the provision on the relevant day, in relation to the relevant matter.\n- 2 refers to a Minister by reference to the fact that the Minister administers any of the following laws:(a) the Act, that provision or another provision of the Act;(b) another Act, or a provision of another Act the Minister, or any of the Ministers, administering that law on the relevant day, in relation to the relevant matter.\n- 3 refers to a Minister by title (for example, “the Attorney‑General” or “the Minister for Industry”), even if that title no longer exists (a) if, at the time the provision commenced, or the reference to the Minister was inserted, the Minister referred to by title administered the provision—the Minister, or any of the Ministers, identified by item 1; or(b) if paragraph (a) does not apply—the Minister currently identified by the title, or by a substituted reference order under section 19B; or(c) in any case—any other Minister administering the Department of State of the Commonwealth that deals with the matters for which the Minister mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) (as the case may be) is responsible on the relevant day.\n- 4 refers to a Minister by describing a matter for which the Minister is responsible (for example, “the Minister responsible for the environment”) the Minister, or any of the Ministers, administering the Department of State of the Commonwealth that deals with the relevant matter on the relevant day.\n\n (2) Instruments including the following, as in force on the relevant day, or any earlier day, may be used to work out which Minister (or Ministers) is referred to under subsection (1):\n\n (3) To avoid doubt, if, because of this section, a provision of an Act is taken to require anything to be done by or in relation to any one of 2 or more Ministers, the provision is not taken to require it to be done in any particular case by or in relation to more than one of those Ministers.\n\nActing Ministers\n\n (4) If a provision of an Act refers to a Minister, the reference is taken to include a reference to a Minister or member of the Executive Council for the time being acting for or on behalf of the Minister.\n\n","sortOrder":43},{"sectionNumber":"19A","sectionType":"section","heading":"References to Departments in Acts","content":"19A  References to Departments in Acts\n\n (1) If a provision of an Act refers to a Department, the following table provides which Department the provision refers to in relation to a particular matter (the relevant matter) on a particular day (the relevant day).\n\n \n\n- References to Departments in Acts\n- Item If the provision … then the Department is …\n- 1 refers to a Department by using the expression “the Department”, without identifying the Department the Department of State of the Commonwealth that is administered by the Minister or Ministers administering that provision in relation to the relevant matter, and that deals with that matter.\n- 2 refers to a Department by title (for example, “the Attorney‑General’s Department” or “the Department of Industry”), even if that title no longer exists (a) if, at the time the provision commenced, or the reference to the Department was inserted, the Department referred to by title was administered by the Minister or Ministers administering that provision in relation to the relevant matter—the Department identified by item 1; or(b) if paragraph (a) does not apply—the Department of State of the Commonwealth identified by the title, or by a substituted reference order under section 19B; or(c) in any case—any other Department of State of the Commonwealth that deals with the matters for which the Department mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) (as the case may be) is responsible on the relevant day.\n- 3 refers to a Department by describing a matter for which the Department is responsible (for example, “the Department responsible for the environment”) the Department of State of the Commonwealth that deals with the relevant matter on the relevant day.\n\nExample: A provision of an Act refers to “the Secretary of the Department” but does not identify which Department is referred to. Under item 1, the reference is to the Secretary of the Department administered by the Minister who administers that provision in relation to the relevant matter, and that deals with that matter, as worked out under subsection (2).\n\n (2) Instruments including the following, as in force on the relevant day, or any earlier day, may be used to work out which Department is identified by the table in subsection (1):\n\n","sortOrder":44},{"sectionNumber":"19B","sectionType":"section","heading":"Machinery of government—substituted reference orders","content":"19B  Machinery of government—substituted reference orders\n\nScope\n\n (1) This section applies if:\n\n (a) a provision of an Act refers to an authority (see subsection (7)); and\n\n (b) any of the following happens:\n\n (i) the authority is abolished;\n\n (ii) the name or title of the authority is changed;\n\n (iii) there is a change in the matters dealt with by the authority because of the effect of an Administrative Arrangements Order;\n\n (iv) the reference to the authority becomes no longer appropriate for any other reason.\n\nSubstituted reference orders—Ministers, Departments, Agencies and offices\n\n (2) The Governor‑General may make a substituted reference order directing that the provision is to have effect for all purposes, on and after a day specified in the order:\n\n (a) as if there were substituted, for the reference to the authority mentioned in subsection (1), a reference to another specified authority (or authorities); or\n\n (b) as if, in so far as the provision applies in a particular respect specified in the order, there were substituted, for the reference to the authority mentioned in subsection (1), a reference to another specified authority (or authorities).\n\nNote 1: For when the Governor‑General may make a substituted reference order that relates to certain provisions of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979, or the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979, that refer to the Attorney‑General, see sections 5B and 6V of those Acts respectively.\n\nNote 2: A substituted reference order may be amended or revoked in the same way as it is made (see subsection 33(3) of this Act).\n\n (3) The day specified in the order (as the day on and after which the order is to have effect) may be a day before the order is made.\n\n (4) A substituted reference order has effect according to its terms.\n\nNote: The order has effect for the purpose of the making of any subsequent order under this section.\n\n (5) A substituted reference order is a legislative instrument.\n\nAuthority abolished and another established with the same name\n\n (6) A substituted reference order must not be made only because an authority is abolished, and, immediately after its abolition, another authority of the same type, with the same name, is established.\n\nNote: However, a substituted reference order may be made if either of the following happens in relation to the authority:\n\n(a) there is a change in the matters dealt with by the authority because of the effect of an Administrative Arrangements Order (see subparagraph (1)(b)(iii));\n\n(b) a reference to the authority becomes no longer appropriate for any other reason (see subparagraph (1)(b)(iv)).\n\n (7) In this section:\n\nauthority means any of the following:\n\nNote: Offices are offices in and for the Commonwealth (see section 21). An example is the office of Secretary of a Department of State.\n\n","sortOrder":45},{"sectionNumber":"19C","sectionType":"section","heading":"Machinery of government—references to authorities in Commonwealth agreements","content":"19C  Machinery of government—references to authorities in Commonwealth agreements\n\nScope\n\n (1) This section applies if:\n\n (a) a provision of an agreement entered into by or on behalf of the Commonwealth refers to an authority (see subsection (6)) in relation to a particular matter (the relevant matter); and\n\n (b) any of the following happens after the agreement was entered into:\n\n (i) the authority is abolished;\n\n (ii) the name or title of the authority is changed;\n\n (iii) there is a change in the matters dealt with by the authority because of the effect of an Administrative Arrangements Order;\n\n (iv) the reference to the authority becomes no longer appropriate for any other reason.\n\nReferences to authorities in Commonwealth agreements\n\n (2) The following table provides which authority the provision of the agreement is taken to refer to in relation to the relevant matter on a particular day (the relevant day) after the most recent event mentioned in paragraph (1)(b).\n\n \n\n- References to authorities in Commonwealth agreements\n- Item If the provision refers to … then the provision is taken to refer to …\n- 1 a Minister the Minister, or any of the Ministers, administering the Department of State of the Commonwealth that deals with the relevant matter on the relevant day.\n- 2 a Department the Department of State of the Commonwealth that deals with the relevant matter on the relevant day.\n- 3 any other authority (the relevant authority) an authority (including the relevant authority):(a) exercising the powers, or performing the functions, of the relevant authority on the relevant day; or(b) determined under subsection (4).\n\n (3) The following instruments, as in force on the relevant day, or any earlier day, may be used to work out which authority is taken to be referred to under subsection (2):\n\n (4) The Minister administering the Department of State of the Commonwealth that deals with the relevant matter may, by notifiable instrument, make a determination for the purposes of item 3 of the table in subsection (2).\n\nNote 1: A determination may be amended or revoked in the same way as it is made (see subsection 33(3)).\n\nNote 2: Notifiable instruments must be registered under the Legislation Act 2003, but they are not subject to parliamentary scrutiny or sunsetting under that Act.\n\n (5) To avoid doubt, if, because of this section, a provision of an agreement entered into by or on behalf of the Commonwealth is taken to require anything to be done by or in relation to any one of 2 or more Ministers, the provision is not taken to require it to be done in any particular case by or in relation to more than one of those Ministers.\n\n (6) In this section:\n\nauthority means any of the following:\n\nNote: Offices are offices in and for the Commonwealth (see section 21). An example is the office of Secretary of a Department of State.\n\n","sortOrder":46},{"sectionNumber":"19D","sectionType":"section","heading":"Machinery of government changes—saving the validity of acts done by authorities","content":"19D  Machinery of government changes—saving the validity of acts done by authorities\n\nSaving the validity of acts done by authorities\n\n (1) Subject to section 19E, the purported exercise or performance of a power, function or duty by or on behalf of an authority (see subsection (5)) is not invalid merely because, following a machinery of government change, the power, function or duty:\n\n (a) is conferred or imposed on another authority; or\n\n (b) is conferred or imposed on the same authority under another name or title; or\n\n (c) is no longer conferred or imposed on any authority.\n\n (2) Subsection (1) only applies if the authority acted on the basis of a reasonable, but mistaken, belief about the occurrence, timing or nature of the machinery of government change.\n\nMachinery of government change\n\n (3) For the purposes of this section, a machinery of government change occurs if any of the following applies in relation to an authority:\n\n (a) the authority is abolished;\n\n (b) the name or title of the authority is changed;\n\n (c) there is a change in the matters dealt with by the authority because of the effect of an Administrative Arrangements Order;\n\n (d) the authority no longer exercises or performs the power, function or duty for any other reason.\n\nPowers, functions and duties\n\n (4) This section applies in relation to a power, function or duty purportedly exercised or performed by or on behalf of an authority, whether before or after the machinery of government change, under any of the following:\n\n (a) an Act or legislative instrument;\n\n (b) an agreement entered into by or on behalf of the Commonwealth;\n\n (c) any other authorisation under a law of the Commonwealth.\n\n (5) In this section:\n\nauthority means any of the following persons or bodies:\n\nNote: Offices are offices in and for the Commonwealth (see section 21). An example is the office of Secretary of a Department of State.\n\n","sortOrder":47},{"sectionNumber":"19E","sectionType":"section","heading":"Validity of acts done by Ministers","content":"19E  Validity of acts done by Ministers\n\n  If a Minister purports to exercise a power or perform a function or duty that is conferred or imposed on another Minister by an Act, the exercise of that power or the performance of that function or duty is not invalid merely because the power, function or duty is conferred or imposed on the other Minister.\n\n","sortOrder":48},{"sectionNumber":"20","sectionType":"section","heading":"References to holders of appointments, offices and positions in Acts and Commonwealth agreements","content":"20  References to holders of appointments, offices and positions in Acts and Commonwealth agreements\n\n  In a provision of an Act, or of an agreement entered into by or on behalf of the Commonwealth, a reference in general terms to the holder or occupier of an office, appointment or position includes all persons who for the time being:\n\n (a) hold or occupy the office, appointment or position; or\n\n (b) perform the duties of the office, appointment or position.\n\n","sortOrder":49},{"sectionNumber":"21","sectionType":"section","heading":"Office etc. means office etc. of the Commonwealth","content":"21  Office etc. means office etc. of the Commonwealth\n\n (1) In any Act:\n\n (a) references to any officer or office shall be construed as references to such officer or office in and for the Commonwealth; and\n\n (b) references to localities jurisdictions and other matters and things shall be construed as references to such localities jurisdictions and other matters and things in and of the Commonwealth.\n\n (2) In this section:\n\nofficer includes an APS employee.\n\n","sortOrder":50},{"sectionNumber":"23","sectionType":"section","heading":"Rules as to gender and number","content":"23  Rules as to gender and number\n\n  In any Act:\n\n (a) words importing a gender include every other gender; and\n\n (b) words in the singular number include the plural and words in the plural number include the singular.\n\n","sortOrder":51},{"sectionNumber":"25A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Production of records kept in computers etc.","content":"25A  Production of records kept in computers etc.\n\n  Where a person who keeps a record of information by means of a mechanical, electronic or other device is required by or under an Act to produce the information or a document containing the information to, or make a document containing the information available for inspection by, a court, tribunal or person, then, unless the court, tribunal or person otherwise directs, the requirement shall be deemed to oblige the person to produce or make available for inspection, as the case may be, a writing that reproduces the information in a form capable of being understood by the court, tribunal or person, and the production of such a writing to the court, tribunal or person constitutes compliance with the requirement.\n\n","sortOrder":52},{"sectionNumber":"25B","sectionType":"section","heading":"Alterations of names and constitutions","content":"25B  Alterations of names and constitutions\n\n (1) Where an Act alters the name of a body (whether or not the body is incorporated) or alters the name of an office, then:\n\n (a) the body or office continues in existence under the new name so that its identity is not affected; and\n\n (b) in any Act, in any instrument under an Act, in any award or other industrial determination or order or any industrial agreement, in any other order (whether executive, judicial or otherwise), in any contract, in any pleading in, or process issued in connection with, any legal or other proceedings or in any other instrument, a reference to the body or the office under the former name shall, except in relation to matters that occurred before the alteration took place, be construed as a reference to the body or the office under the new name.\n\n (1A) Where a law of a State or Territory alters the name of a body (whether or not incorporated) or of an office, then a reference in an Act or an instrument made under an Act to the body or office under the former name is to be construed, except in relation to matters that occurred before the alteration, as a reference to the body or office under the new name.\n\n (2) Where an Act alters the constitution of a body (whether or not the body is incorporated), then:\n\n (a) the body continues in existence as newly constituted so that its identity is not affected;\n\n (b) the alteration does not affect any functions, powers, property, rights, liabilities or obligations of the body;\n\n (c) the alteration does not affect any legal or other proceedings instituted or to be instituted by or against the body, and any legal or other proceedings that might have been continued or commenced by or against the body as previously constituted may be continued or commenced by or against the body as newly constituted; and\n\n (d) the alteration does not affect any investigation or inquiry being or proposed to be undertaken by any tribunal, authority or person into any action taken or practice engaged in by the body before the alteration took place, and any investigation or inquiry that might have been continued or commenced into any such action or practice may be continued or commenced as if the action had been taken or the practice had been engaged in by the body as newly constituted.\n\n (3) In this section:\n\n","sortOrder":53},{"sectionNumber":"25C","sectionType":"section","heading":"Compliance with forms","content":"25C  Compliance with forms\n\n  Where an Act prescribes a form, then strict compliance with the form is not required and substantial compliance is sufficient.\n\n","sortOrder":54},{"sectionNumber":"25D","sectionType":"section","heading":"Content of statements of reasons for decisions","content":"25D  Content of statements of reasons for decisions\n\n  Where an Act requires a tribunal, body or person making a decision to give written reasons for the decision, whether the expression “reasons”, “grounds” or any other expression is used, the instrument giving the reasons shall also set out the findings on material questions of fact and refer to the evidence or other material on which those findings were based.\n\nPart 6—Service of documents\n\n \n\n","sortOrder":55},{"sectionNumber":"28A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Service of documents","content":"28A  Service of documents\n\n (1) For the purposes of any Act that requires or permits a document to be served on a person, whether the expression “serve”, “give” or “send” or any other expression is used, then the document may be served:\n\n (a) on a natural person:\n\n (i) by delivering it to the person personally; or\n\n (ii) by leaving it at, or by sending it by pre‑paid post to, the address of the place of residence or business of the person last known to the person serving the document; or\n\n (b) on a body corporate—by leaving it at, or sending it by pre‑paid post to, the head office, a registered office or a principal office of the body corporate.\n\nNote: The Electronic Transactions Act 1999 deals with giving information in writing by means of an electronic communication.\n\n (2) Nothing in subsection (1):\n\n (a) affects the operation of any other law of the Commonwealth, or any law of a State or Territory, that authorises the service of a document otherwise than as provided in that subsection; or\n\n (b) affects the power of a court to authorise service of a document otherwise than as provided in that subsection.\n\n","sortOrder":56},{"sectionNumber":"29","sectionType":"section","heading":"Meaning of service by post","content":"29  Meaning of service by post\n\n (1) Where an Act authorises or requires any document to be served by post, whether the expression “serve” or the expression “give” or “send” or any other expression is used, then the service shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, prepaying and posting the document as a letter and, unless the contrary is proved, to have been effected at the time at which the letter would be delivered in the ordinary course of post.\n\n (2) This section does not affect the operation of section 160 of the Evidence Act 1995.\n\nPart 7—Powers, functions and duties\n\n \n\n","sortOrder":57},{"sectionNumber":"33","sectionType":"section","heading":"Exercise of powers and performance of functions or duties","content":"33  Exercise of powers and performance of functions or duties\n\nPowers, functions and duties may be exercised or must be performed as the occasion requires\n\n (1) Where an Act confers a power or function or imposes a duty, then the power may be exercised and the function or duty must be performed from time to time as occasion requires.\n\nMeaning of may\n\n (2A) Where an Act assented to after the commencement of this subsection provides that a person, court or body may do a particular act or thing, and the word “may” is used, the act or thing may be done at the discretion of the person, court or body.\n\nPowers, functions and duties of bodies not affected by membership vacancies\n\n (2B) Where an Act confers a power or function, or imposes a duty, on a body, whether incorporated or unincorporated, the exercise of the power or the performance of the function or duty is not affected merely because of a vacancy or vacancies in the membership of the body.\n\nPower to make instrument includes power to vary or revoke etc. instrument\n\n (3) Where an Act confers a power to make, grant or issue any instrument of a legislative or administrative character (including rules, regulations or by‑laws) the power shall be construed as including a power exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like conditions (if any) to repeal, rescind, revoke, amend, or vary any such instrument.\n\n (3AA) If a condition (the ongoing condition):\n\n (a) must be satisfied before the making, granting or issuing of an instrument; and\n\n (b) is capable of ceasing to be satisfied after the making, granting or issuing of the instrument;\n\nsubsection (3) has effect, in relation to the repeal, rescission or revocation of the instrument, as if the reference to like conditions (to the extent that the reference relates to the ongoing condition) were a reference to the ongoing condition ceasing to be satisfied.\n\nExample: A Minister may give a person a written permission if, among other things, the Minister is satisfied the person is of good character.\n\n This condition is capable of ceasing to be satisfied after the giving of the permission.\n\n The Minister may repeal, rescind or revoke the permission in the like manner if the Minister ceases to be satisfied that the person is of good character.\n\nScope of powers in respect of matters\n\n (3A) Where an Act confers a power to make, grant or issue any instrument of a legislative or administrative character (including rules, regulations or by‑laws) with respect to particular matters (however the matters are described), the power shall be construed as including a power to make, grant or issue such an instrument with respect to some only of those matters or with respect to a particular class or particular classes of those matters and to make different provision with respect to different matters or different classes of matters.\n\n (3AB) If an Act confers on a person or authority the power to make an instrument (except a legislative instrument, a notifiable instrument or a rule of court):\n\n (a) specifying, declaring or prescribing a matter; or\n\n (b) doing anything in relation to a matter;\n\nthen, in exercising the power, the person or authority may identify the matter by reference to a class or classes of matters.\n\nNote: This provision has a parallel, in relation to legislative instruments, and notifiable instruments, in section 13 of the Legislation Act 2003.\n\n (3AC) For the purposes of subsections (3A) and (3AB), matter includes thing, person and animal.\n\n (3B) Where an Act confers a power to make, grant or issue any instrument of a legislative or administrative character (including rules, regulations or by‑laws), the power shall not be taken, by implication, not to include the power to make provision for or in relation to a particular aspect of a matter by reason only that provision is made by the Act in relation to another aspect of that matter or in relation to another matter.\n\nPower to make appointment to an office or place\n\n (4) Where an Act confers upon any person or authority a power to make appointments to any office or place, the power shall be construed as including a power to appoint a person to act in the office or place until:\n\n (a) a person is appointed to the office or place; or\n\n (b) the expiration of 12 months after the office or place was created or became vacant, as the case requires;\n\nwhichever first happens, and as also including a power to remove or suspend any person appointed, and to appoint another person temporarily in the place of any person so suspended or in place of any sick or absent holder of such office or place.\n\n  Provided that where the power of such person or authority to make any such appointment is only exercisable upon the recommendation or subject to the approval or consent of some other person or authority, such power to make an appointment to act in an office or place or such power of removal shall only be exercisable upon the recommendation or subject to the approval or consent of such other person or authority.\n\nPower to make instrument prescribing penalties\n\n (5) Where an Act confers a power to make, grant or issue an instrument (including rules, regulations or by‑laws) prescribing penalties not exceeding a specified amount or imprisonment for a specified period, that limitation on the penalties that may be prescribed does not prevent the instrument from requiring the making of a statutory declaration.\n\n33AA  Power to appoint includes power to reappoint\n\n  If an Act confers on a person or body a power to make an appointment, the power is taken to include a power of reappointment.\n\n33AB  Validity of things done under appointments under Acts\n\n  Anything done by or in relation to a person purporting to act under an appointment (including an acting appointment) under an Act is not invalid merely because:\n\n (a) for any appointment—the occasion for the appointment had not arisen; or\n\n (b) for any appointment—there was a defect or irregularity in connection with the appointment; or\n\n (c) for any appointment—the appointment had ceased to have effect; or\n\n (d) for an acting appointment—the occasion to act had not arisen or had ceased.\n\n","sortOrder":58},{"sectionNumber":"33A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Acting in offices or positions","content":"33A  Acting in offices or positions\n\nActing appointments\n\n (1) Where a provision of an Act (other than subsection 33(4) of this Act) confers on a person or body (in this section called the appointer) a power to appoint a person (in this section called the appointee) to act in a particular office, then, except so far as the Act otherwise provides, the following paragraphs apply in relation to an appointment made under the provision:\n\n (a) the appointment may be expressed to have effect only in the circumstances specified in the instrument of appointment;\n\n (b) the appointer may:\n\n (i) determine the terms and conditions of the appointment, including remuneration and allowances; and\n\n (ii) terminate the appointment at any time;\n\n (ba) where the appointment is to act in a vacant office, the appointee must not continue to act in the office for more than 12 months;\n\n (c) where the appointee is acting in an office other than a vacant office and the office becomes vacant while the appointee is acting, then, subject to paragraph (a), the appointee may continue so to act until:\n\n (i) the appointer otherwise directs;\n\n (ii) the vacancy is filled; or\n\n (iii) a period of 12 months from the day of the vacancy ends;\n\n  whichever happens first;\n\n (d) the appointment ceases to have effect if the appointee resigns in writing delivered to the appointer;\n\n (e) while the appointee is acting in the office:\n\n (i) the appointee has and may exercise all the powers, and shall perform all the functions and duties, of the holder of the office; and\n\n (ii) that or any other Act applies in relation to the appointee as if the appointee were the holder of the office.\n\nActing by operation of law\n\n (2) If a provision of an Act provides for a person to act in a particular office (without the need for an appointment), then, except so far as the Act otherwise provides, while the person is acting in the office:\n\n (a) the person has and may exercise all the powers, and must perform all the functions and duties, of the holder of the office; and\n\n (b) the Act or any other Act applies in relation to the person as if the person were the holder of the office.\n\n (3) Anything done by or in relation to a person purporting to act in the office mentioned in subsection (2) is not invalid merely because the occasion to act had not arisen or had ceased.\n\nDefinition\n\n (4) In this section:\n\n","sortOrder":59},{"sectionNumber":"33B","sectionType":"section","heading":"Participation in meetings by telephone etc.","content":"33B  Participation in meetings by telephone etc.\n\n (1) This section applies to a body (whether or not incorporated) established by an Act if the Act requires or permits meetings of the members of the body to be held.\n\n (2) The body may permit its members to participate in a meeting, or all meetings, by:\n\n (a) telephone; or\n\n (b) closed‑circuit television; or\n\n (c) any other means of communication.\n\n (3) A member who participates in a meeting under a permission under subsection (2) is taken to be present at the meeting and to form part of any quorum for the meeting.\n\n (4) The members of a body participating in a meeting for which a permission under subsection (2) is in effect may all participate by a means of communication referred to in that subsection.\n\n (5) A meeting for which a permission under subsection (2) is in effect may be held at 2 or more places at the same time.\n\n","sortOrder":60},{"sectionNumber":"34","sectionType":"section","heading":"Power to hear and determine a matter includes power to receive evidence and examine witnesses etc.","content":"34  Power to hear and determine a matter includes power to receive evidence and examine witnesses etc.\n\n  Any court, Judge, justice of the peace, officer, commissioner, arbitrator, or other person authorised by law, or by consent of parties, to hear and determine any matter, shall have authority to receive evidence and examine witnesses and to administer an oath or affirmation to all witnesses legally called before them respectively.\n\n34AAA  Exercise of powers etc. by holders etc. of offices or positions\n\n  If an Act confers a power or function or imposes a duty on a person holding or occupying an office or position as such, then the power may be exercised or the function or duty must be performed by the person for the time being holding or occupying the office or position.\n\n34AAB  Minister may authorise others to perform functions or duties or exercise powers on his or her behalf\n\n (1) A Minister (the authorising Minister) who administers (whether alone or jointly with one or more other Ministers) an Act or a provision of an Act may authorise:\n\n (a) a Minister who does not administer the Act or provision; or\n\n (b) a member of the Executive Council who is not a Minister;\n\nto act on behalf of the authorising Minister in the performance of functions or duties, or the exercise of powers, that the authorising Minister may perform or exercise under the Act or provision.\n\n (2) An authorisation under subsection (1) in relation to an Act or a provision of an Act extends to the performance of functions or duties, or the exercise of powers, that the authorising Minister may perform or exercise under an instrument (including a regulation, rule or Proclamation) having effect under or for the purposes of the Act or provision.\n\n (3) Subject to subsection (4), an authorisation under subsection (1) may be expressed:\n\n (a) to have effect only during a period or periods, or during the existence of a circumstance or circumstances, referred to in the authorisation; or\n\n (b) to take effect immediately, or at a time referred to in the authorisation, and afterwards to continue to have effect until another person is appointed to the office held by the authorising Minister.\n\n (4) An authorisation under subsection (1) may be revoked at any time by the authorising Minister.\n\n (5) An authorisation under subsection (1), and the revocation of such an authorisation, must be in writing.\n\n (6) This section does not affect the giving, under a power existing apart from this section, of an authorisation to a Minister or other member of the Executive Council to act on behalf of another Minister.\n\n34AA  Delegation to persons holding, occupying or performing the duties of an office or position\n\n  Where an Act confers power to delegate a function, duty or power, then the power of delegation shall not be construed as being limited to delegating the function, duty or power to a specified person but shall be construed as including a power to delegate the function, duty or power to any person from time to time holding, occupying, or performing the duties of, a specified office or position, even if the office or position does not come into existence until after the delegation is given.\n\n34AB  Effect of delegation\n\nGeneral\n\n (1) Where an Act confers power on a person or body (in this section called the authority) to delegate a function, duty or power:\n\n (a) the delegation may be made either generally or as otherwise provided by the instrument of delegation;\n\n (b) the powers that may be delegated do not include that power to delegate;\n\n (c) a function, duty or power so delegated, when performed or exercised by the delegate, shall, for the purposes of the Act, be deemed to have been performed or exercised by the authority;\n\n (d) a delegation by the authority does not prevent the performance or exercise of a function, duty or power by the authority; and\n\n (e) if the authority is not a person, section 34A applies as if it were.\n\nAddition of functions, duties or powers\n\n (a) a person (the delegator) or body (also the delegator) delegates all the person’s or body’s functions, duties or powers under an Act, or a provision of an Act, to another person or body; and\n\n (b) the Act is amended to give the delegator one or more additional functions, duties or powers under the Act or provision; and\n\n (c) the delegation is in force immediately before the amendment takes effect;\n\nthen, on and after the amendment taking effect, the delegation is taken to include the additional functions, duties or powers.\n\nAlteration of functions, duties or powers\n\n (3) If:\n\n (a) a person or body delegates one or more of the person’s or body’s functions, duties or powers under an Act, or a provision of an Act, to another person or body; and\n\n (b) the Act is amended to alter the scope of one or more of those functions, duties or powers under the Act or provision; and\n\n (c) the delegation is in force immediately before the amendment takes effect;\n\nthen, on and after the amendment taking effect, the delegation is taken to include the functions, duties or powers as altered.\n\n","sortOrder":61},{"sectionNumber":"34A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Exercise of powers and performance of functions or duties that depend upon the opinion etc. of delegates","content":"34A  Exercise of powers and performance of functions or duties that depend upon the opinion etc. of delegates\n\n  If:\n\n (a) under an Act, a person’s exercise of a power, or a person’s performance of a function or duty, is dependent upon the person’s opinion, belief or state of mind in relation to a matter; and\n\n (b) that power, function or duty has been delegated under that or any other Act;\n\nthe delegate may exercise that power, or may perform that function or duty, upon the delegate’s opinion, belief or state of mind in relation to that matter.\n\n","sortOrder":62},{"sectionNumber":"34B","sectionType":"section","heading":"Presentation of papers to the Parliament","content":"34B  Presentation of papers to the Parliament\n\n (1) Where, by an Act or a law of a Territory, provision is made requiring or permitting the presentation (however expressed) of a paper to the Parliament or to both Houses, or to each or either House, of the Parliament, it is sufficient compliance with the provision, in relation to a House, if:\n\n (a) the paper is presented in that House in accordance with the rules or orders of the House or, if, under the rules or orders of the House, papers are deemed to be presented to the House if they are delivered to the Clerk of the House and recorded in the records of the proceedings of the House, the paper is so delivered and recorded;\n\n (b) where the provision provides for a specified person to present the paper or to cause the paper to be presented—that person, or any other person who could by virtue of this Act or of any other Act, or of a law of a Territory, act in the place of that person, makes or causes to be made, as the case may be, the presentation or the delivery of the paper referred to in the last preceding paragraph; and\n\n (c) where the provision specifies a period within which the paper is to be presented—the presentation, or the delivery and recording, of the paper referred to in paragraph (a) takes place within that period.\n\n (1A) For the purposes of an Act or a law of a Territory that refers to papers presented (however the presentation is described) to the Parliament or to both Houses, or to each or either House, of the Parliament:\n\n (а) presentation of a paper in a House of the Parliament in accordance with the rules or orders of the House; or\n\n (b) if, under the rules or orders of a House of the Parliament, papers are to be deemed to be presented to the House if they are delivered to the Clerk of the House and recorded in the records of the proceedings of the House—such a delivery and recording of a paper;\n\nshall be deemed to have been presentation of the paper to that House, as described in that Act or law, effected or caused by the person who so presented or delivered the paper or caused the paper to be so presented or delivered.\n\n (2) In this section, paper includes:\n\n (a) an ordinance, rule, regulation or by‑law;\n\n (b) a report; and\n\n (c) any other document or instrument whatsoever.\n\n","sortOrder":63},{"sectionNumber":"34C","sectionType":"section","heading":"Periodic reports","content":"34C  Periodic reports\n\n (1) In this section:\n\nperiodic report means a regular report relating to:\n\n (a) the activities, operations, business or affairs of a person; or\n\n (b) the administration, operation or working of an Act or part of an Act;\n\nduring a particular period that ends on or after 30 June 1983.\n\nperson includes a body corporate, office, commission, authority, committee, tribunal, board, institute, organization or other body however described.\n\n (2) Where an Act requires a person to furnish a periodic report to a Minister but does not specify a period within which the report is to be so furnished, that person shall furnish the report to the Minister as soon as practicable after the end of the particular period to which the report relates and, in any event, within 6 months after the end of that particular period.\n\n (3) Where an Act requires a person to furnish a periodic report to a Minister for presentation to the Parliament but does not specify a period within which the report is to be so presented, that Minister shall cause a copy of the periodic report to be laid before each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the day on which he or she receives the report.\n\n (4) Where this or any other Act requires a person to furnish a periodic report to a Minister within a specified period and that person is of the opinion that it will not be reasonably possible to comply with the requirement, that person may, within the specified period, apply to the Minister for an extension of the period, and, where he or she does so apply, he or she shall furnish to the Minister a statement in writing explaining why, in that person’s opinion, it will not be reasonably possible to comply with the requirement.\n\n (5) A Minister may, on application under subsection (4), grant such extension as he or she considers reasonable in the circumstances.\n\n (6) Notwithstanding subsection (2) and the provisions of any other Act, where a Minister grants an extension pursuant to an application under subsection (4):\n\n (a) the Minister shall cause to be laid before each House of the Parliament, within 3 sitting days of that House after the day on which he or she grants the extension, a copy of the statement furnished pursuant to subsection (4) in respect of the application together with a statement specifying the extension granted and his or her reasons for granting the extension;\n\n (b) the person who made the application shall furnish the periodic report to the Minister within the period as so extended; and\n\n (c) the Minister shall cause a copy of the periodic report to be laid before each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the day on which he or she receives the report.\n\n (7) Where this or any other Act requires a person to furnish a periodic report to a Minister within a specified period or an extension of that period under this section and that person fails to do so:\n\n (a) that person shall, not later than 14 days after the end of that specified period or extension, as the case may be, furnish to the Minister a statement in writing explaining why the report was not furnished as required; and\n\n (b) the Minister shall cause a copy of the statement to be laid before each House of the Parliament within 3 sitting days of that House after the day on which he or she receives the statement.\n\n (7A) This section applies to the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, the Australian Signals Directorate and the Office of National Intelligence in the following way:\n\n (a) subsection (3) does not apply;\n\n (b) if an extension is granted under subsection (5), then for the purpose of subsection (6), paragraph (6)(c) is to be disregarded.\n\n (8) This section does not apply in relation to the Australian Secret Intelligence Service.\n\n","sortOrder":64},{"sectionNumber":"Part 8","sectionType":"part","heading":"Distance, time and age","content":"Part 8—Distance, time and age\n\n \n\n","sortOrder":65},{"sectionNumber":"35","sectionType":"section","heading":"Measurement of distance","content":"35  Measurement of distance\n\n  In the measurement of any distance for the purposes of any Act, that distance shall be measured in a straight line on a horizontal plane.\n\n","sortOrder":66},{"sectionNumber":"36","sectionType":"section","heading":"Calculating time","content":"36  Calculating time\n\n (1) A period of time referred to in an Act that is of a kind mentioned in column 1 of an item in the following table is to be calculated according to the rule mentioned in column 2 of that item:\n\n \n\n- Calculating periods of time\n- Item Column 1 If the period of time: Column 2 then the period of time:\n- 1 is expressed to occur between 2 days includes both days.\n- 2 is expressed to begin at, on or with a specified day includes that day.\n- 3 is expressed to continue until a specified day includes that day.\n- 4 is expressed to end at, on or with a specified day includes that day.\n- 5 is expressed to begin from a specified day does not include that day.\n- 6 is expressed to begin after a specified day does not include that day.\n- 7 is expressed to end before a specified day does not include that day.\n\nExample 1: If a claim may be made between 1 September and 30 November, a claim may be made on both 1 September and 30 November.\n\nExample 2: If a permission begins on the first day of a financial year, the permission is in force on that day.\n\nExample 3: If a licence continues until 31 March, the licence is valid up to and including 31 March.\n\nExample 4: If a person’s right to make submissions ends on the last day of a financial year, the person may make submissions on that day.\n\nExample 5: If a variation of an agreement is expressed to operate from 30 June, the variation starts to operate on 1 July.\n\nExample 6: If a decision is made on 2 August and a person has 28 days after the day the decision is made to seek a review of the decision, the 28‑day period begins on 3 August.\n\nExample 7: If a person must give a notice to another person at any time during the period of 7 days before the day a proceeding starts and the proceeding starts on 8 May, the notice may be given at any time during the 7‑day period starting on 1 May and ending on 7 May.\n\n (a) an Act requires or allows a thing to be done; and\n\n (b) the last day for doing the thing is a Saturday, a Sunday or a holiday;\n\nthen the thing may be done on the next day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a holiday.\n\nExample: If a person has until 31 March to make an application and 31 March is a Saturday, the application may be made on Monday 2 April.\n\n (3) In this section:\n\nholiday, in relation to the time for doing a thing, means:\n\n (a) a day that is a public holiday in the place in which the thing is to be or may be done; and\n\n (b) if the thing is to be or may be done at a particular office or other place—a day on which the place or office is closed for the whole day.\n\n","sortOrder":67},{"sectionNumber":"37","sectionType":"section","heading":"Expressions of time","content":"37  Expressions of time\n\n  Where in an Act any reference to time occurs, such time shall, unless it is otherwise specifically stated, be deemed in each State or part of the Commonwealth to mean the legal time in that State or part of the Commonwealth.\n\n","sortOrder":68},{"sectionNumber":"37A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Attainment of particular age","content":"37A  Attainment of particular age\n\n  For the purposes of any Act, the time at which a person attains a particular age expressed in years is the commencement of the relevant anniversary of the date of the birth of that person.\n\n","sortOrder":69},{"sectionNumber":"Part 9","sectionType":"part","heading":"Citation of Acts and instruments","content":"Part 9—Citation of Acts and instruments\n\n \n\n","sortOrder":70},{"sectionNumber":"38","sectionType":"section","heading":"Reference to Acts","content":"38  Reference to Acts\n\n (1) An Act passed by the Parliament of the Commonwealth may be referred to by the word “Act” alone.\n\n (2) An Act passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom may be referred to by the term “Imperial Act”.\n\n (3) An Act passed by the Parliament of a State may be referred to by the term “State Act”.\n\n (4) An Act passed by the legislature of a Territory may be referred to by the term “Territory Act”.\n\n","sortOrder":71},{"sectionNumber":"39","sectionType":"section","heading":"Numbering of Acts","content":"39  Numbering of Acts\n\n  The Acts passed in each secular year shall be numbered in regular arithmetical series, beginning with the number 1, in the order in which the Governor‑General assents thereto, or makes known the Sovereign’s assent thereto.\n\n","sortOrder":72},{"sectionNumber":"40","sectionType":"section","heading":"Citation of Acts and instruments","content":"40  Citation of Acts and instruments\n\nCitation of Acts, legislative instruments and notifiable instruments\n\n (1A) In any Act, instrument or document:\n\n (a) an Act may be cited by:\n\n (i) the short title of the Act; or\n\n (ii) the secular year in which it was passed, and its number; or\n\n (iii) a unique identifier given to the Act in accordance with rules prescribed under the Legislation Act 2003; and\n\n (b) a legislative instrument or notifiable instrument may be cited by:\n\n (i) any name the instrument gives itself; or\n\n (ii) a unique identifier given to the instrument in accordance with rules prescribed under the Legislation Act 2003; or\n\n (iii) if the instrument was numbered under a Commonwealth law—the year it was made and its number, together with a reference (if necessary) to the kind of instrument; or\n\n (iv) if the instrument was notified or published in the Gazette—the date and (if necessary) number and page of the Gazette in which it was notified or published; or\n\n (v) the date it was made, together with a reference to the Act or instrument, and (if necessary) provision, under which it was made.\n\nCitation of Imperial Acts, State Acts and Territory Acts\n\n (1) In any Act, instrument, or document:\n\n (b) any Imperial Act may be cited by its short title (if any) or in such other manner as is sufficient in an Imperial Act; and\n\n (c) any State Act may be cited by a reference to the State by the Parliament whereof the Act was passed, together with such mode of reference as is sufficient in Acts passed by such Parliament; and\n\n (d) any Territory Act may be cited by a reference to the Territory by whose legislature the Act was passed, together with such mode of reference as is sufficient in Acts passed by that legislature.\n\n (2) Any enactment may be cited by reference to the part, section, subsection, or other division of the Act, Imperial Act, State Act or Territory Act, in which the enactment is contained.\n\n","sortOrder":73},{"sectionNumber":"40A","sectionType":"section","heading":"References to the new corporations and ASIC legislation","content":"40A  References to the new corporations and ASIC legislation\n\n (1) A reference in an Act to:\n\n (a) an Act, or regulations or another instrument, that is part of the new corporations legislation or the new ASIC legislation; or\n\n (b) a provision, or group of provisions, of such an Act, regulations or other instrument;\n\nis taken to include a reference to:\n\n (c) the corresponding part, provision or provisions of the old corporations legislation or the old ASIC legislation; and\n\n (d) any relevant earlier law.\n\n (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to:\n\n (a) a reference in an Act that is part of the new corporations legislation or the new ASIC legislation; or\n\n (b) a reference in the Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001; or\n\n (c) a reference that identifies an Act that is part of the new corporations legislation or the new ASIC legislation as an Act to be amended; or\n\n (d) a reference in a provision that applies an Act that is part of the new corporations legislation or the new ASIC legislation, or a provision or group of provisions, of such an Act to a particular matter (whether with or without modification).\n\n (3) Subsection (1) has effect:\n\n (a) subject to an express provision to the contrary in the Act concerned; and\n\n (b) subject to regulations made for the purposes of subsection (5).\n\n (4) For the purposes of this section:\n\n (a) the question whether a part, provision or provisions of the old corporations legislation corresponds to a part, provision or provisions of the new corporations legislation is to be determined in the same way as it is determined for the purposes of Part 10.1 of the Corporations Act 2001; and\n\n (b) the question whether a part, provision or provisions of the old ASIC legislation corresponds to a part, provision or provisions of the new ASIC legislation is to be determined in the same way as it is determined for the purposes of Part 16 of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001.\n\n (5) The regulations may provide that subsection (1) does not apply in relation to a particular reference, or class of references, in an Act.\n\n (6) In this section:\n\nnew ASIC legislation has the same meanings as in Part 16 of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001.\n\nnew corporations legislation has the same meanings as in Part 10.1 of the Corporations Act 2001.\n\nold ASIC legislation has the same meanings as in Part 16 of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001.\n\nold corporations legislation has the same meanings as in Part 10.1 of the Corporations Act 2001.\n\nrelevant earlier law, in relation to a provision of the old corporations legislation, or the old ASIC legislation, means a law that was:\n\n (a) a corresponding previous law (as defined for the purposes of that provision or provisions that included that provision); or\n\n (b) a relevant previous law (as defined for the purposes of that provision or provisions that included that provision).\n\n","sortOrder":74},{"sectionNumber":"Part 10","sectionType":"part","heading":"Instruments not covered by the Legislation Act 2003, and parliamentary resolutions","content":"Part 10—Instruments not covered by the Legislation Act 2003, and parliamentary resolutions\n\n \n\n","sortOrder":75},{"sectionNumber":"46","sectionType":"section","heading":"Construction of instruments","content":"46  Construction of instruments\n\n (1) If a provision confers on a person (the authority) the power to make an instrument other than a legislative instrument, notifiable instrument or a rule of court, then:\n\n (a) this Act applies to any instrument so made as if it were an Act and as if each provision of the instrument were a section of an Act; and\n\n (b) expressions used in any instrument so made have the same meaning as in the Act or instrument, as in force from time to time, that authorises the making of the instrument in which the expressions are used; and\n\n (c) any instrument so made is to be read and construed subject to the enabling legislation as in force from time to time, and so as not to exceed the power of the authority.\n\n (2) If any instrument so made would, but for this subsection, be construed as being in excess of the authority’s power, it is to be taken to be a valid instrument to the extent to which it is not in excess of that power.\n\n (3) The amendment of an instrument, other than a legislative instrument or a notifiable instrument, or a rule of court, by an Act does not prevent the instrument, as so amended, from being amended or repealed by the authority.\n\nNote: This provision has a parallel, in relation to legislative instruments and notifiable instruments, in section 13 of the Legislation Act 2003.\n\n46AA  Prescribing matters by reference to other instruments\n\n (1) If legislation authorises or requires provision to be made in relation to any matter in an instrument, other than a legislative instrument, a notifiable instrument or a rule of court, that instrument may make provision in relation to that matter:\n\n (a) by applying, adopting or incorporating, with or without modification, any of the following, as in force at a particular time or as in force from time to time:\n\n (i) the provisions of an Act;\n\n (ii) the provisions of a legislative instrument covered by subsection (3);\n\n (iii) the provisions of rules of court; or\n\n (b) subject to subsection (2), by applying, adopting or incorporating, with or without modification, any matter contained in any other instrument or writing as in force or existing at:\n\n (i) the time the first‑mentioned instrument commences; or\n\n (ii) a time before the first‑mentioned instrument commences (whether or not the other instrument is still in force, or the other writing still exists, at the time the first‑mentioned instrument commences).\n\n (2) The instrument may not make provision in relation to that matter by applying, adopting or incorporating any matter contained in an instrument or other writing as in force or existing from time to time.\n\n (3) The following legislative instruments are covered by this subsection:\n\n (a) disallowable legislative instruments within the meaning of the Legislation Act 2003;\n\n (b) legislative instruments that were disallowable under this or any other Act at any time before 1 January 2005.\n\nNote 1: Section 4 of the Legislation Act 2003 defines a disallowable legislative instrument as a legislative instrument to which section 42 of that Act applies.\n\nNote 2: The substantive provisions of the Legislation Act 2003 commenced on 1 January 2005.\n\nForms\n\n (4) If an instrument provides for a form to be used, this section does not apply in relation to the form.\n\nNote: This provision has a parallel, in relation to legislative instruments and notifiable instruments, in section 14 of the Legislation Act 2003.\n\n","sortOrder":76},{"sectionNumber":"47","sectionType":"section","heading":"Construction of resolutions","content":"47  Construction of resolutions\n\n  Where any resolution is or has been passed by either House of the Parliament in purported pursuance of any Act, then the resolution shall be read and construed subject to the Constitution and to the Act under which it purports to have been passed, to the intent that where the resolution would, but for this section, have been construed as being in excess of authority, it shall nevertheless be a valid resolution to the extent to which it is not in excess of authority.\n\n","sortOrder":77},{"sectionNumber":"Part 11","sectionType":"part","heading":"Regulations","content":"Part 11—Regulations\n\n \n\n","sortOrder":78},{"sectionNumber":"51","sectionType":"section","heading":"Regulations","content":"51  Regulations\n\n  The Governor‑General may make regulations prescribing matters:\n\n (a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or\n\n (b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.\n\nEndnotes\n\nThe endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.\n\nThe following endnotes are included in every compilation:\n\nAbbreviation key—Endnote 2\n\nThe abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.\n\nLegislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4\n\nAmending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.\n\nThe legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.\n\nThe amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.\n\nEditorial changes\n\nThe Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.\n\nIf the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.\n\nMisdescribed amendments\n\nA misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.\n\nIf a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and “(md not incorp)” is added to the amendment history.\n\n \n\n \n\n| ad = added or inserted | orig = original |\n| --- | --- |\n| am = amended | p = page(s) |\n| amdt = amendment | para = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s) |\n| C[x] = Compilation No. x | /sub‑subparagraph(s) |\n| ch = Chapter(s) | pres = present |\n| cl = clause(s) | prev = previous |\n| cont. = continued | (prev…) = previously |\n| def = definition(s) | pt = Part(s) |\n| Dict = Dictionary | r = regulation(s)/Court rule(s) |\n| disallowed = disallowed by Parliament | reloc = relocated |\n| div = Division(s) | renum = renumbered |\n| ed = editorial change | rep = repealed |\n| exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have | rs = repealed and substituted |\n| effect | s = section(s)/subsection(s) |\n| gaz = gazette | /rule(s)/subrule(s)/order(s)/suborder(s) |\n| LA = Legislation Act 2003 | sch = Schedule(s) |\n| LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003 | SLI = Select Legislative Instrument |\n| (md) = misdescribed amendment can be given | SR = Statutory Rules |\n| effect | sub ch = Sub‑Chapter(s) |\n| (md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment | sub div = Subdivision(s) |\n| cannot be given effect | sub pt = Subpart(s) |\n| mod = modified/modification | underlining = whole or part not |\n| No. = Number(s) | commenced or to be commenced |\n| Ord = Ordinance |  |\n\n \n\n \n\n- Act Number and year Assent Commencement Application, saving and transitional provisions\n- Acts Interpretation Act 1901 2, 1901 12 July 1901 12 July 1901\n- Acts Interpretation Act 1916 4, 1916 30 May 1916 s 2: 30 May 1916 —\n- Acts Interpretation Act 1918 8, 1918 11 June 1918 11 June 1918 —\n- Acts Interpretation Act 1930 23, 1930 14 Aug 1930 s 3: 27 Oct 1930 (s 3(2) and gaz 1930, p 2093) s 4‑6: 14 Aug 1930 —\n- Acts Interpretation Act 1932 24, 1932 30 May 1932 s 2 and 5: 30 May 1932 —\n- Acts Interpretation Act 1937 10, 1937 27 Aug 1937 s 4‑14: 11 Oct 1937 (s 2 and gaz 1937, p 1695) s 14\n- Acts Interpretation Act 1941 7, 1941 4 Apr 1941 s 5: 3 Sept 1939 (s 5(2)) Remainder: 4 Apr 1941 (s 2) —\n- Defence (Transitional Provisions) Act 1947 78, 1947 11 Dec 1947 s 7: 1 Jan 1948 (s 2(2)) —\n- Acts Interpretation Act 1948 79, 1948 17 Dec 1948 14 Jan 1949 —\n- Statute Law Revision Act 1950 80, 1950 16 Dec 1950 s 16 and First Sch: 31 Dec 1950 (s 2) s 16\n- Acts Interpretation Act 1957 69, 1957 5 Dec 1957 5 Dec 1957 (s 2) —\n- Acts Interpretation Act 1963 19, 1963 28 May 1963 25 June 1963 s 6\n- Acts Interpretation Act 1964 52, 1964 30 May 1964 27 June 1964 —\n- Statute Law Revision (Decimal Currency) Act 1966 93, 1966 29 Oct 1966 First Sch: 1 Dec 1966 (s 2(1)) —\n- Acts Interpretation Act 1973 79, 1973 19 June 1973 s 4(2): 1 July 1973 (s 2(2) and gaz 1973, No 79) Remainder: 19 June 1973 (s 2(1)) —\n- Statute Law Revision Act 1973 216, 1973 19 Dec 1973 s 9(1) and Sch 1: 31 Dec 1973 (s 2) s 9(1)\n- Acts Citation Act 1976 37, 1976 26 May 1976 s 3 and 4: 1 July 1976 (s 2) —\n- Acts Interpretation Amendment Act 1976 144, 1976 6 Dec 1976 s 3, 4, 5(1), 6, 7, 8(1), (2), 9 and Sch: 6 Dec 1976 (s 2(1)) s 5(2): 1 July 1977 (s 2(2) and gaz 1977, No S122) s 3(2) and 8(2)\n- Acts Interpretation Amendment Act 1978 35, 1978 12 June 1978 12 June 1978 (s 2) —\n- Acts Interpretation Amendment Act 1980 1, 1980 1 Mar 1980 1 Jan 1980 (s 2) —\n- Statute Law Revision Act 1981 61, 1981 12 June 1981 Sch 1: 12 June 1981 (s 2(1)) —\n- Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 1) 1982 26, 1982 7 May 1982 s 4: 4 June 1982 (s 2(12)) —\n- Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 1982 80, 1982 22 Sept 1982 s 263: 4 June 1982 (s 2(11)) —\n- Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 1982 80, 1982 22 Sept 1982 s 16: 22 Sept 1982 (s 2(1)) —\n- Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1983 39, 1983 20 June 1983 Sch 1: 18 July 1983 (s 2(1)) —\n- Acts Interpretation Amendment Act 1984 27, 1984 15 May 1984 12 June 1984 s 2, 12(2) and 13(2)\n- Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 2) 1984 165, 1984 25 Oct 1984 s 2(32): 25 Oct 1984 (s 2(2)) s 6(1): 22 Nov 1984 (s 2(1)) Sch 1: 12 June 1984 (s 2(3)) s 2(32) and 6(1)\n- Public Service Reform Act 1984 63, 1984 25 June 1984 s 151(9) and Sch 4: 1 July 1984 (s 2(4) and gaz 1984, No S245) s 151(9)\n- Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 2) 1984 165, 1984 25 Oct 1984 s 2(32): 25 Oct 1984 (s 2(2)) s 6(1): 22 Nov 1984 (s 2(1)) Sch 1: 1 July 1984 (s 2(21)(b)) s 2(32) and 6(1)\n- Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1984 72, 1984 25 June 1984 s 5(1) and Sch: 23 July 1984 (s 2(1)) s 5(1)\n- Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 2) 1985 193, 1985 16 Dec 1985 s 5, 16 and Sch 1: 16 Dec 1985 (s 2(1)) s 5 and 16\n- Administrative Arrangements Act 1987 92, 1987 18 Sept 1987 s 4‑8: 24 July 1987 (s 2(2)) —\n- Crimes Legislation Amendment Act 1987 120, 1987 16 Dec 1987 s 75(2) and Sch 5: 1 Mar 1989 (s 2(1) and gaz 1989, No S54) s 75(2)\n- Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1987 141, 1987 18 Dec 1987 s 5(1) and Sch 1: 18 Dec 1987 (s 2(1)) s 5(1)\n- Statutory Instruments (Tabling and Disallowance) Legislation Amendment Act 1988 99, 1988 2 Dec 1988 s 4‑7: 2 Dec 1988 (s 2) —\n- Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1988 120, 1988 14 Dec 1988 s 4 and 5: 14 Dec 1988 (s 2(1)) —\n- Crimes Legislation Amendment Act 1989 108, 1989 30 June 1989 s 4: 30 June 1989 (s 2(1)) —\n- Corporations Legislation Amendment Act 1990 110, 1990 18 Dec 1990 s 16: 1 Jan 1991 (s 2(2) and gaz 1990, No S335) —\n- Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1990 115, 1990 21 Dec 1990 Sch: 21 Dec 1990 (s 2(1)) —\n- Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1991 136, 1991 12 Sept 1991 Sch: 10 Oct 1991 (s 2(1)) —\n- Territories Law Reform Act 1992 104, 1992 30 June 1992 Sch 4: 1 July 1992 (s 2(3)) —\n- Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1994 84, 1994 23 June 1994 s 3 and 5: 23 June 1992 (s 2(1)) s 3\n- Evidence (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1995 3, 1995 23 Feb 1995 s 14: 23 Feb 1995 (s 2(1)) s 15 and Sch: 18 Apr 1995 (s 2(2), (13)) s 14\n- Audit (Transitional and Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 1997 152, 1997 24 Oct 1997 Sch 2 (items 136, 137): 1 Jan 1998 (s 2(2)) —\n- Financial Sector Reform (Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 1998 54, 1998 29 June 1998 Sch 18 (item 40): 1 July 1998 (s 2(2)(p)) —\n- Acts Interpretation Amendment Act 1998 125, 1998 21 Dec 1998 21 Dec 1998 (s 2) Sch 1 (items 2, 5, 7)\n- Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999 146, 1999 11 Nov 1999 Sch 1 (items 33‑40): 5 Dec 1999 (s 2(1), (2)) —\n- Corporate Law Economic Reform Program Act 1999 156, 1999 24 Nov 1999 Sch 12 (items 1, 2, 26, 27): 24 Nov 2000 (s 2(4)) —\n- Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Legislation Amendment Act 1999 161, 1999 10 Dec 1999 Sch 3 (items 1, 2): 10 Dec 1999 (s 2(2)) —\n- Federal Magistrates (Consequential Amendments) Act 1999 194, 1999 23 Dec 1999 Sch 2: 23 Dec 1999 (s 2(1)) —\n- Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001 55, 2001 28 June 2001 Sch 3 (items 9, 10): 15 July 2001 (s 2(1), (3)) —\n- Intelligence Services (Consequential Provisions) Act 2001 153, 2001 1 Oct 2001 Sch 3 (item 1): 29 Oct 2001 (s 2) —\n- Statute Law Revision Act 2002 63, 2002 3 July 2002 Sch 1 (item 1): 21 Dec 1990 (s 2(1) item 2) —\n- Acts Interpretation Amendment (Court Procedures) Act 2003 46, 2003 26 June 2003 7 July 2003 (s 2) Sch 1 (item 2)\n- Legislative Instruments Act 2003 139, 2003 17 Dec 2003 Sch 1: 1 Jan 2005 (s 2(1) item 3) —\n- Legislative Instruments (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2003 140, 2003 17 Dec 2003 s 4 and Sch 1 (items 3‑7): 1 Jan 2005 (s 2(1) items 2, 3) s 4\n- Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Act 2005 8, 2005 22 Feb 2005 s 4 and Sch 1 (items 1, 70): 22 Feb 2005 (s 2(1) items 1, 2) s 4\n- Acts Interpretation Amendment (Legislative Instruments) Act 2005 133, 2005 15 Nov 2005 Sch 1 (items 1‑5): 1 Jan 2005 (s 2(1) items 2, 3) Remainder: 15 Nov 2005 (s 2(1) item 1) —\n- Statute Law Revision Act 2008 73, 2008 3 July 2008 Sch 1 (item 2): 1 Jan 2005 (s 2(1) item 3) —\n- Same‑Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws—Superannuation) Act 2008 134, 2008 4 Dec 2008 Sch 2 (item 1): 4 Dec 2008 (s 2(1) item 3) —\n- Evidence Amendment Act 2008 135, 2008 4 Dec 2008 Sch 3 (item 6): 4 Dec 2009 (s 2(1) item 3) —\n- Acts Interpretation Amendment Act 2011 46, 2011 27 June 2011 Sch 1 (items 1‑110) and Sch 3 (items 1‑9, 11): 27 Dec 2011 (s 2(1) items 2, 12) Sch 3 (items 1‑9, 11)\n- Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012 197, 2012 12 Dec 2012 Sch 5 (item 1) and Sch 6 (items 15‑19): 12 Mar 2014 (s 2(1) items 3, 19) Sch 6 (item 1): 12 Dec 2012 (s 2(1) item 16) Sch 6 (items 1, 15‑19)\n- Federal Circuit Court of Australia (Consequential Amendments) Act 2013 13, 2013 14 Mar 2013 Sch 1 (items 1, 2): 12 Apr 2013 (s 2(1) item 2) —\n- Charities (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2013 96, 2013 28 June 2013 Sch 1 (items 1‑3): 1 Jan 2014 (s 2(1) item 2) —\n- Statute Law Revision Act (No. 1) 2015 5, 2015 25 Feb 2015 Sch 3 (items 212‑216): 25 Mar 2015 (s 2(1) item 10) —\n- Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) Act 2015 10, 2015 5 Mar 2015 Sch 1 (items 93‑117, 166‑179) and Sch 2: 5 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 2) Sch 1 (items 166‑179) and Sch 2 (items 4‑7)\n- Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2015 126, 2015 10 Sept 2015 Sch 3 (items 1, 6): 5 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 8) Sch 3 (item 6)\n- Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2015 126, 2015 10 Sept 2015 Sch 3 (items 2, 6): 5 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 8) Sch 3 (item 6)\n- Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Northern Territory Local Court) Act 2016 26, 2016 23 Mar 2016 Sch 1 (items 3‑7, 34): 1 May 2016 (s 2(1) item 2) Sch 1 (item 34)\n- Territories Legislation Amendment Act 2016 33, 2016 23 Mar 2016 Sch 5 (items 1, 2, 4‑8): 1 July 2016 (s 2(1) item 7) Sch 5 (items 4‑8)\n- Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017 129, 2017 8 Dec 2017 Sch 3 (items 1‑3) and Sch 4: 9 Dec 2017 (s 2(1) item 7) Sch 3 (item 3) and Sch 4\n- Intelligence Services Amendment (Establishment of the Australian Signals Directorate) Act 2018 25, 2018 11 Apr 2018 Sch 1 (items 35, 100‑108): 1 July 2018 (s 2(1) item 2) Sch 1 (items 100‑108)\n- Legislation Amendment (Sunsetting Review and Other Measures) Act 2018 78, 2018 24 Aug 2018 Sch 1 (items 1‑5) and Sch 2 (items 1‑4): 25 Aug 2018 (s 2(1) items 2, 3) Sch 1 (item 5) and Sch 2 (item 4)\n\n \n\n| Act  (Register ID) | Number and year | Assent | Commencement | Application, saving and transitional provisions |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Civil Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2018 (C2018A00130) | 130, 2018 | 25 Oct 2018 | sch 1: 26 Oct 2018 (s 2(1) item 2) | — |\n| Office of National Intelligence (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2018 (C2018A00156) | 156, 2018 | 10 Dec 2018 | sch 2 (items 1, 2), sch 4: 20 Dec 2018 (s 2(1) items 2, 4) | sch 4 |\n| National Security Legislation Amendment (Comprehensive Review and Other Measures No. 2) Act 2023 (C2023A00053) | 53, 2023 | 11 Aug 2023 | sch 1 (item 1): 12 Aug 2023 (s 2(1) item 1) | — |\n| Crown References Amendment Act 2024 (C2024A00115) | 115, 2024 | 10 Dec 2024 | sch 1 (item 1): 11 Dec 2024 (s 2(1) item 1) | — |\n| Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (New South Wales Local Court) Act 2026 (C2026A00004) | 4, 2026 | 5 Mar 2026 | sch 1 (items 1, 2, 29): 28 Mar 2026 (s 2(1) item 1) | sch 1 (item 29) |\n\n \n\n \n\n| Provision affected | How affected |\n| --- | --- |\n| Part 1 |  |\n| Part I heading.............. | ad No 52, 1964 |\n| Part 1 heading............. | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| Heading preceding s 1........ | rep No 52, 1964 |\n| s 1A.................... | ad No 46, 2011 |\n|  | am No 10, 2015; No 130, 2018 |\n| s 2..................... | rs No 10, 1937 |\n|  | am No 37, 1976 |\n|  | am No 10, 2015 |\n| s 2A.................... | ad No 24, 1932 |\n|  | rep No 10, 1937 |\n|  | ad No 52, 1964 |\n|  | rep No 216, 1973 |\n|  | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| Part 2 |  |\n| Part 2................... | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| s 2B.................... | ad No 46, 2011 |\n|  | am No 197, 2012; No 13, 2013; No 96, 2013; No 10, 2015; No 26, 2016; No 33, 2016; No 129, 2017; No 78, 2018; No 115, 2024 |\n| s 2C.................... | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| s 2CA................... | ad No 129, 2017 |\n| s 2D.................... | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| s 2E.................... | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| s 2F.................... | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| s 2G.................... | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| s 2H.................... | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| s 2J.................... | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| s 2K.................... | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| s 2L.................... | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| s 2M.................... | ad No 78, 2018 |\n| Part 3 |  |\n| Part II heading............. | ad No 52, 1964 |\n| Part 3 heading............. | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| Heading preceding s 3........ | rep No 52, 1964 |\n| s 3..................... | am No 27, 1984; No 141, 1987; No 46, 2011; No 10, 2015 |\n| s 3A.................... | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| s 4..................... | rs No 144, 1976 |\n|  | am No 115, 1990; No 63, 2002; No 140, 2003 |\n| s 5..................... | am No 10, 1937; No 144, 1976 |\n| s 6..................... | am No 46, 2011 |\n| Part 4 |  |\n| Part III heading............. | ad No 52, 1964 |\n| Part 4 heading............. | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| Heading preceding s 7........ | rep No 52, 1964 |\n| s 7..................... | rs No 46, 2011 |\n| s 8..................... | rep No 46, 2011 |\n| s 8A.................... | ad No 27, 1984 |\n| s 8B.................... | ad No 27, 1984 |\n| s 8C.................... | ad No 27, 1984 |\n| s 9..................... | rep No 46, 2011 |\n| s 10.................... | rs No 37, 1976 |\n|  | am No 46, 2011; No 78, 2018 |\n| s 10A................... | ad No 4, 1916 |\n|  | rep No 37, 1976 |\n|  | ad No 27, 1984 |\n|  | am No 46, 2011; No 78, 2018 |\n| s 11.................... | rs No 46, 2011 |\n| s 11A................... | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| s 11B................... | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| Part 5 |  |\n| Part IV heading............. | ad No 52, 1964 |\n| Part 5 heading............. | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| Heading preceding s 12....... | rep No 52, 1964 |\n| s 13.................... | am No 1, 1980 |\n|  | am No 10, 2015 |\n| s 14.................... | rep No 46, 2011 |\n| s 14A................... | ad No 141, 1987 |\n| s 14B................... | ad No 141, 1987 |\n| s 15.................... | rep No 46, 2011 |\n| s 15A................... | ad No 23, 1930 |\n|  | rs No 10, 1937 |\n| s 15AA.................. | ad No 61, 1981 |\n|  | am No 27, 1984 |\n| s 15AB.................. | ad No 27, 1984 |\n| s 15AC.................. | ad No 141, 1987 |\n| s 15AD.................. | ad No 141, 1987 |\n| s 15AE.................. | ad No 133, 2005 |\n| s 15B................... | ad No 144, 1976 |\n| s 15C................... | ad No 27, 1984 |\n| Part V heading............. | ad No 52, 1964 |\n| Heading preceding s 16....... | rep No 52, 1964 |\n| s 16.................... | am No 46, 2011 |\n| s 16A................... | ad No 69, 1957 |\n|  | am No 46, 2011; No 5, 2015 |\n| s 16B................... | ad No 69, 1957 |\n| s 16BA.................. | ad No 26, 2016 |\n|  | am No 4, 2026 |\n| s 16C................... | ad No 79, 1973 |\n|  | am No 194, 1999; No 46, 2011; No 13, 2013; No 26, 2016; No 4, 2026 |\n| s 17.................... | am No 23, 1930; No 10, 1937; No 80, 1950; No 69, 1957; No 79, 1973; No 216, 1973; No 144, 1976; No 80, 1982; No 92, 1987; No 104, 1992; No 152, 1997; No 140, 2003; No 8, 2005 |\n| s 17AA.................. | ad No 146, 1999 |\n| s 17A................... | ad No 79, 1973 |\n| s 18.................... | am No 216, 1973 |\n| s 18A................... | ad No 144, 1976 |\n| s 18B................... | ad No 141, 1987 |\n|  | am No 120, 1988 |\n|  | rs No 152, 1997; No 46, 2011 |\n| s 18C................... | ad No 125, 1998 |\n| s 19.................... | am No 8, 1918; No 125, 1998 |\n| s 19A................... | ad No 23, 1930 |\n|  | am No 24, 1932 |\n|  | rs No 10, 1937 |\n|  | am No 7, 1941 |\n|  | rep No 144, 1976 |\n|  | ad No 92, 1987 |\n|  | am No 125, 1998; No 46, 2011 |\n| s 19B................... | ad No 7, 1941 |\n|  | rs No 144, 1976 |\n|  | am No 63, 1984; No 92, 1987; No 146, 1999; No 46, 2011 |\n|  | ed C30 |\n|  | am No 53, 2023 |\n| s 19BA.................. | ad No 144, 1976 |\n|  | am No 35, 1978; No 63, 1984; No 92, 1987; No 125, 1998; No 146, 1999; No 73, 2008; No 46, 2011 |\n| s 19BAA................. | ad No 144, 1976 |\n| s 19BB.................. | ad No 144, 1976 |\n| s 19BC.................. | ad No 144, 1976 |\n|  | am No 35, 1978 |\n| s 19BD.................. | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| s 19C................... | ad No 78, 1947 |\n|  | am No 92, 1987; No 146, 1999 |\n| s 19D................... | ad No 10, 2015 |\n|  | am No 130, 2018 |\n| s 19E................... | ad No 130, 2018 |\n| s 20.................... | am No 27, 1984; No 46, 2011 |\n| s 21.................... | am No 146, 1999; No 46, 2011 |\n| s 22.................... | am No 144, 1976; No 39, 1983; No 27, 1984; No 193, 1985; No 115, 1990 |\n| s 22A................... | ad No 134, 2008 |\n| s 22B................... | ad No 134, 2008 |\n| s 22C................... | ad No 134, 2008 |\n| s 23.................... | rs No 27, 1984 |\n| s 24.................... | am No 7, 1941; No 93, 1966; No 144, 1976; No 27, 1984 |\n| s 25.................... | rs No 27, 1984 |\n|  | am No 108, 1989 |\n| s 25A................... | ad No 27, 1984 |\n| s 25B................... | ad No 27, 1984 |\n|  | am No 136, 1991; No 146, 1999; No 46, 2011 |\n| s 25C................... | ad No 27, 1984 |\n| s 25D................... | ad No 27, 1984 |\n| s 25E................... | ad No 27, 1984 |\n| Part 6 |  |\n| Part VI heading............. | ad No 52, 1964 |\n| Part 6 heading............. | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| Heading preceding s 26....... | rep No 52, 1964 |\n| s 26.................... | am No 10, 1937; No 80, 1950; No 216, 1973; No 27, 1984; No 194, 1999 |\n| s 27.................... | am No 193, 1985; No 120, 1987 |\n| s 27A................... | ad No 46, 2003 |\n| s 28.................... | rep No 46, 2011 |\n| s 28A................... | ad No 27, 1984 |\n| s 29.................... | am No 3, 1995; No 46, 2011 |\n| s 30.................... | am No 10, 1937; No 216, 1973; No 144, 1976 |\n| s 31.................... | rep No 52, 1964 |\n| Part 7 |  |\n| Part VII heading............ | ad No 52, 1964 |\n| Part 7 heading............. | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| s 32.................... | am No 23, 1930 |\n|  | rep No 10, 1937 |\n| Heading preceding s 33....... | rep No 52, 1964 |\n| s 33.................... | am No 7, 1941; No 27, 1984; No 141, 1987; No 146, 1999; No 46, 2011; No 10, 2015 |\n| s 33AA.................. | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| s 33AB.................. | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| s 33A................... | ad No 141, 1987 |\n|  | am No 120, 1988; No 115, 1990; No 146, 1999; No 46, 2011 |\n| s 33B................... | ad No 136, 1991 |\n| s 34.................... | am No 46, 2011 |\n| s 34AAA................. | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| s 34AAB................. | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| s 34AA.................. | ad No 27, 1984 |\n|  | am No 84, 1994; No 46, 2011 |\n| s 34AB.................. | ad No 141, 1987 |\n| s 34A................... | ad No 78, 1947 |\n|  | am No 72, 1984 |\n| s 34B................... | ad No 19, 1963 |\n|  | am No 52, 1964; No 144, 1976 |\n| s 34C................... | ad No 39, 1983 |\n|  | am No 161, 1999; No 153, 2001; No 5, 2015; No 25, 2018; No 156, 2018 |\n| Part 8 |  |\n| Part VIII heading........... | ad No 52, 1964 |\n| Part 8 heading............. | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| Heading preceding s 35....... | rep No 52, 1964 |\n| s 35.................... | am No 46, 2011 |\n| s 36.................... | am No 79, 1948 |\n| s 37.................... | am No 46, 2011 |\n| s 37A................... | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| Part 9 |  |\n| Part IX heading............. | ad No 52, 1964 |\n| Part 9 heading............. | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| Heading preceding s 38....... | rep No 52, 1964 |\n| s 38.................... | am No 46, 2011 |\n| s 39.................... | am No 144, 1976; No 46, 2011 |\n| s 40.................... | am No 19, 1963; No 135, 2008; No 46, 2011; No 10, 2015 |\n| s 40A................... | ad No 110, 1990 |\n|  | am No 54, 1998; No 156, 1999 |\n|  | rs No 55, 2001 |\n| Part X heading............. | ad No 52, 1964 |\n| Part X................... | rep No 120, 1987 |\n| Heading preceding s 41....... | ad No 10, 1937 |\n| s 41.................... | ad No 10, 1937 |\n| s 42.................... | ad No 10, 1937 |\n| s 43.................... | ad No 10, 1937 |\n| s 44.................... | ad No 10, 1937 |\n| s 45.................... | ad No 10, 1937 |\n| s 45A................... | ad No 27, 1984 |\n| s 45B................... | ad No 27, 1984 |\n| Part 10 |  |\n| Part XI heading............. | ad No 52, 1964 |\n|  | rs No 140, 2003 |\n| Part 10 heading............. | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| Heading preceding s 46....... | ad No 10, 1937 |\n| s 46.................... | ad No 10, 1937 |\n|  | am No 27, 1984; No 115, 1990 |\n|  | rs No 140, 2003 |\n|  | am No 133, 2005; No 46, 2011; No 10, 2015 |\n| s 46A................... | ad No 141, 1987 |\n|  | am No 99, 1988; No 115, 1990; No 3, 1995 |\n| s 46AA.................. | ad No 140, 2003 |\n|  | am No 133, 2005; No 46, 2011; No 10, 2015; No 126, 2015; No 78, 2018 |\n| s 46B................... | ad No 140, 2003 |\n|  | am No 139, 2003; No 133, 2005 |\n| s 47.................... | ad No 10, 1937 |\n| Part 11 |  |\n| Part XII heading............ | ad No 52, 1964 |\n| Part 11 heading............. | ad No 46, 2011 |\n| Heading preceding s 48....... | ad No 10, 1937 |\n| s 48.................... | ad No 10, 1937 |\n|  | am No 80, 1950; No 19, 1963; No 144, 1976; No 26, 1982; No 141, 1987; No 99, 1988; No 115, 1990 |\n| s 48A................... | ad No 99, 1988 |\n| s 48B................... | ad No 99, 1988 |\n| s 49.................... | ad No 10, 1937 |\n|  | am No 19, 1963; No 144, 1976; No 99, 1988 |\n| s 49A................... | ad No 52, 1964 |\n| s 50.................... | ad No 10, 1937 |\n| s 51.................... | ad No 55, 2001 |\n\n \n","sortOrder":79}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"provider":"moonshot","completionTokens":2279},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act has expanded significantly from its original 1901 purpose as a simple statute for 'shortening the language' of Acts. It now regulates modern administrative law concepts unknown in 1901, including legislative instruments and notifiable instruments (via interaction with the Legislation Act 2003), electronic document service, video conferencing for meetings, complex machinery of government transitions for the modern public service, and contemporary relationship definitions (same-sex marriage, registered relationships). The addition of 'purpose-based interpretation' (section 15AA) and extrinsic materials (section 15AB) in the 1980s also shifted it from a purely mechanical drafting aid to an active tool of statutory interpretation."},"complexity_factors":["Over 40 defined terms in section 2B, with additional dedicated definitional sections for complex concepts like 'de facto partner' (section 2F with 7 subsections), 'month' (section 2G with detailed calendar calculation rules), and 'sitting day' (section 2M)","Extensive cross-referencing to other Commonwealth Acts including the Legislation Act 2003, Public Service Act 1999, Charities Act 2013, and Privacy Act 1988","Conditional application clauses throughout, particularly the 'contrary intention' override in section 2(2) which subjects the entire Act to exceptions in other legislation","Complex nested machinery of government provisions (sections 19-19E) with multiple layers of substituted references, retrospective effect clauses, and savings provisions for actions taken during administrative reorganisations","Detailed conditional logic in delegation provisions (sections 33-34AAB) including exceptions for ongoing conditions, automatic expansion of delegations when Acts are amended, and specific rules for sub-delegation","Table-based calculation rules for time periods (section 36) with 7 distinct rules for different temporal expressions, plus exceptions for holidays and weekends","Interaction with constitutional limits (section 15A) and multiple saving provisions (section 7) that preserve rights and penalties despite repeal or amendment of Acts"],"plain_english_summary":"This Act is the **rulebook and dictionary for reading all Commonwealth (federal) laws**. It applies to every Act passed by the Australian Parliament and sets out standard rules so that individual laws don't have to keep repeating the same definitions and procedures.\n\n**What it does:**\n\n*   **Dictionary**: Defines common terms that appear across all laws—like \"business day\" (a day that isn't a weekend or public holiday), \"month\" (explaining tricky calendar calculations), \"document\" (including digital records), and \"Australia\" (including certain territories). It also clarifies that words referring to \"persons\" include companies, and that \"spouse\" includes same-sex married couples.\n\n*   **When laws start**: Rules about when an Act begins (commences)—usually 28 days after it receives Royal Assent unless stated otherwise. It also allows the government to prepare for a new law (like making appointments) before it officially starts.\n\n*   **How to interpret laws**: Directs judges and decision-makers to interpret Acts in a way that best achieves their purpose. It also allows them to look at outside materials (like explanatory memorandums or second reading speeches) to understand what Parliament intended, especially if the text is unclear.\n\n*   **Machinery of government**: Contains complex rules for when Ministers or Departments change names or responsibilities. This ensures that if a Department is abolished or a Minister's title changes, the law automatically refers to the new authority without needing to rewrite every Act.\n\n*   **Powers and appointments**: Rules about delegating powers (letting someone else make decisions on your behalf), acting appointments (filling in for someone who is absent), and how committees can meet by phone or video.\n\n*   **Practical details**: How to serve legal documents, calculate time periods (including what happens if a deadline falls on a weekend), measure distances, and how to cite Acts properly.\n\n**Who it affects and why it matters:**\n\nThis Act affects **everyone who uses or is affected by federal law**—from judges and lawyers to public servants and ordinary citizens. It matters because it ensures laws are read consistently across Australia, prevents outdated definitions from making laws unworkable, and saves Parliament from having to write hundreds of pages of definitions into every single Bill. Without it, simple questions like \"Does 'person' mean a company?\" or \"When exactly does this law start?\" would create constant legal confusion."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act’s core purpose—providing uniform interpretation rules for Commonwealth Acts—remains, but its operational scope has expanded over time to cover instruments beyond Acts and to supply machinery‑of‑government and administrative mechanics. The text explicitly applies the Act to instruments made under Acts (s 46(1)), allows substituted reference orders to redirect statutory references after organisational change (s 19B), and sets out detailed delegation and delegation‑effect rules (ss 34AA, 34AB). It also authorises use of extrinsic materials in statutory interpretation (s 15AB). These additions extend the Act’s practical reach from a drafting dictionary to an operational toolbox for managing statutory references, delegations and administrative procedure without requiring frequent statutory amendment."},"complexity_factors":["Very broad application across all Commonwealth Acts and many instruments (s 2(1); s 46(1))","Large number of cross‑references and defined terms collected in Part 2 (s 2B and related sections)","Machinery of government provisions that allow substituted references and retrospective effect (s 19B(2)–(4))","Delegation and acting appointment rules with legal‑effect clauses (ss 33A, 34AA, 34AB)","Permitted use of extrinsic materials in interpretation, which introduces evidentiary and procedural complexity in disputes (s 15AB(1)–(3))","Interaction with commencement, repeal and amendment rules that preserve past rights while permitting administrative change (ss 3A, 4, 7)","Provisions that alter practical compliance mechanics (service, electronic records, time calculation) across many statutes (ss 28A, 25A, 36)"],"plain_english_summary":"What this law does (mechanically)\n\n- The Acts Interpretation Act 1901 provides the standard rules and definitions to be used when reading and operating Commonwealth Acts and many instruments made under those Acts. It functions as a cross‑cutting reference: a set of drafting, timing, service, commencement, delegation and definition rules that apply across Commonwealth law (s 2(1); s 46(1)).\n\n- It says this Act applies to all Acts (s 2(1)) and to many instruments made under Acts (s 46(1)). A provision of this Act yields to a contrary intention in other Commonwealth legislation (s 2(2)).\n\n- The Act supplies uniform definitions and interpretation rules in Part 2 and Part 5 (for example, definitions in s 2B; purpose‑based interpretation in s 15AA; use of extrinsic material in s 15AB). It also contains procedural rules about when Acts commence (s 3, s 3A), what repeals or amendments do or do not affect (s 7), how to measure time and events (ss 36–37A), and how to cite Acts and instruments (ss 38–40).\n\n- It sets rules about service of documents (s 28A; s 29), production of computer records (s 25A), periodic reporting timeframes (s 34C), measurement of distance (s 35), and other commonly recurring technical matters.\n\n- It establishes administrative mechanics: powers to make, vary or revoke instruments (s 33(3)); rules for acting appointments and time limits on acting roles (s 33A); delegation and the legal effect of delegations (ss 34AA, 34AB); and provisions allowing Ministers or the Governor‑General to substitute references to authorities when machinery of government changes occur (ss 19B, 19C).\n\nWho it affects\n\n- All Commonwealth entities that make, administer or enforce Commonwealth Acts and many instruments (Ministers, Departments, Agencies, courts and tribunals) because the Act sets default interpretation and operational rules (s 2(1); s 19A; s 21).\n\n- Persons and organisations subject to Commonwealth law: the Act changes how obligations, time limits, service, and other technical requirements are to be read and performed (for example, service by post in s 29; calculation of time in s 36; compliance with forms in s 25C).\n\n- The Crown: the Act binds the Crown in each capacity (s 2A).\n\nWhy it matters (official rationale and tested mechanisms)\n\n- Officially: the Act is a \"dictionary and manual\" for reading Commonwealth legislation and for making legislation shorter, more consistent and less complex (simplified outline, s 1A).\n\n- How that operates in practice and what it implies:\n  - Centralised definitions and interpretation rules reduce the need for repeating technical drafting across individual Acts (see Part 2 and s 15AA). That lowers drafting costs and promotes consistency for users interpreting different laws.\n  - The Act gives administrative flexibility to the executive branch: powers to delegate (s 34AB), to appoint people to act temporarily (s 33A), and to make substituted reference orders when agencies or ministerial responsibilities change (s 19B). That lets Departments and Ministers reassign responsibilities without amending every statute that mentions them, but it also concentrates decision‑making discretion in the executive (s 19B(2); s 34AAB(1)).\n  - The Act permits consideration of extrinsic materials (explanatory memoranda, second reading speeches and similar) when a provision is ambiguous or to confirm ordinary meaning (s 15AB). This can improve interpretive clarity but may increase the range of documents litigants and agencies consider, with potential to prolong disputes if parties contest which materials are \"relevant\" or what weight they should have (s 15AB(1)–(3)).\n  - Some executive actions under the Act can be retrospective in effect: substituted reference orders may have effect from a day before they are made (s 19B(3)). That reduces the need for immediate statutory amendment after machinery of government changes, but it creates an implementation risk for third parties who relied on prior arrangements.\n  - Practical compliance rules simplify common tasks: service by leaving or posting documents (s 28A) and treating properly reproduced computer records as compliance (s 25A) reduce friction and compliance costs for both government and regulated parties, while preserving courts’ power to order alternative service (s 28A(2)).\n\nCosts, incentives and trade‑offs (mechanisms, not judgments)\n\n- Who pays: administrative and transition costs for implementing machinery‑of‑government changes, substituted reference orders and delegations fall on the Commonwealth (the Departments and Agencies making and operating those instruments) and on external parties who must track which authority now administers a matter (see s 19B; s 19C). Individuals and businesses pay the compliance costs of following rules for service, time limits, forms and periodic reporting (ss 28A, 36, 25C, 34C).\n\n- Incentives and opportunity costs: by allowing delegation (s 34AB) and acting appointments (s 33A), the Act incentivises agencies to rely on internal administrative adjustments rather than seeking immediate statutory amendment — this can speed administration but shifts effort from parliamentary amendment to executive instruments and internal governance.\n\n- Bureaucratic discretion and implementation risk: substituted reference orders (s 19B) and executive delegations (s 34AB) create discretion for the Governor‑General, Ministers and Agencies. Those powers can be used to keep statute references operative after organisational change, but they also require agencies and third parties to monitor and interpret instrument changes (see s 19B(2)–(4)). The Act saves the validity of past acts done under a reasonable but mistaken belief about a machinery change (s 19D(1)–(2)), which mitigates some legal risk but depends on a \"reasonable belief\" standard.\n\n- Litigation and administrative burden: permitting extrinsic materials in interpretation (s 15AB) increases the sources that may be argued in court; subsection (3) requires consideration of the desirability of reliance on the ordinary text and the need to avoid prolonging proceedings, which introduces a balancing exercise in litigation.\n\nEffects on private enterprise, contracts and individual choice (as supported by the text)\n\n- The Act primarily standardises interpretation and administrative procedure rather than directly regulating markets or prices. Its effects on private enterprise are indirect:\n  - By supplying consistent definitions and timing/service rules (Part 2; ss 28A, 36), it reduces uncertainty and transaction costs when businesses or individuals must comply with Commonwealth laws.\n  - By enabling executive reassignments and delegations (ss 19B, 34AB), it can change which Department or official a business must deal with; that can affect administrative friction and the cost of compliance even though the Act does not itself change substantive regulatory obligations.\n  - Provisions that make electronic and computer records acceptable (s 25A) facilitate digital processes and may lower paperwork costs.\n\nKey sections to look at quickly\n\n- Application and binding the Crown: s 2(1)–(2); s 2A.\n- Definitions and common terms: Part 2, esp. s 2B and related sections (s 2C–2M).\n- Commencement and pre‑commencement powers: s 3, s 3A, s 4.\n- Repeal/amendment effects: s 7.\n- Interpretation approach and extrinsic material: s 15AA; s 15AB.\n- Machinery of government and substituted reference orders: s 19B; s 19C; saving validity (s 19D).\n- Delegation, acting appointments and effect of delegations: s 33; s 33A; s 34AA; s 34AB.\n- Service of documents and postal service: s 28A; s 29.\n- Computer records and forms: s 25A; s 25C.\n- Instruments not covered by the Legislation Act and construction of those instruments: s 46; s 46AA.\n\nNet effect (mechanical summary)\n\n- The Act makes many interpretive and procedural defaults that apply across Commonwealth law: it shortens drafting by centralising rules and definitions, creates executive mechanisms to keep statutory references operative through organisational change, and sets practical rules for service, timing and delegation. Those mechanics increase administrative flexibility and consistency, while shifting certain monitoring and compliance costs to agencies and regulated parties (see ss 2(1), 15AB, 19B, 34AB, 28A)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/acts-interpretation-act-1901","history":"/api/acts/acts-interpretation-act-1901/history","analysis":"/api/acts/acts-interpretation-act-1901/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/acts-interpretation-act-1901/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/acts-interpretation-act-1901/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/acts-interpretation-act-1901/documents"}}