{"id":"tas:act-1996-017","name":"Legislation Publication Act 1996","slug":"legislation-publication-act-1996","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"tas","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"17 of 1996","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":176985,"registerId":"tas-tas:act-1996-017-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Part 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"Preliminary","content":"# Part 1 Preliminary","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Short title","content":"### 1 Short title\n\n> This Act may be cited as the [Legislation Publication Act 1996](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1996-017) .","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"### 2 Commencement\n\n> This Act commences on a day to be proclaimed.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Interpretation","content":"### 3 Interpretation\n\n> In this Act –\n> \n> > ***Act*** means an enactment of the Parliament of this State;\n> \n> > ***current legislative drafting practice*** means the legislative drafting practice for the time being in use in Tasmania;\n> \n> > ***database*** means the database referred to in [section 5](#GS5@EN) ;\n> \n> > ***law*** means –\n> > \n> > > > (a) an Act; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) a statutory rule;\n> \n> > ***made*** includes enacted;\n> \n> > ***minor error*** means –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a typographical error; or\n> > > \n> > > > (b) a grammatical error; or\n> > > \n> > > > (c) a spelling error; or\n> > > \n> > > > (d) an error of punctuation; or\n> > > \n> > > > (e) an error in cross-referencing to a provision of a law or other instrument;\n> \n> > [*\\[Section 3 Amended by No. 18 of 2013, s. 4, Applied:20 Jun 2013\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-20/act-2013-018#GS4@Hpa@EN) ***original Act*** means an Act on which the Royal Assent has been signified;\n> \n> > [*\\[Section 3 Amended by No. 18 of 2013, s. 4, Applied:20 Jun 2013\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-20/act-2013-018#GS4@Hpa@EN) ***original statutory rule*** means a statutory rule containing the signature or seal of the person or body that made the statutory rule;\n> \n> > ***referential words*** means any of the words specified in [section 4](#GS4@EN) occurring in conjunction with a number to designate a provision of a law;\n> \n> > [*\\[Section 3 Amended by No. 63 of 1997, s. 4, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#GS4@EN) ***reprint*** includes consolidation;\n> \n> > [*\\[Section 3 Amended by No. 63 of 1997, s. 4, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#GS4@EN) ***reprint change***, in relation to an Act or statutory rule, means any change to that Act or statutory rule made under this Act or any other Act which authorised the reprint of Acts or statutory rules;\n> \n> > [*\\[Section 3 Amended by No. 18 of 2013, s. 4, Applied:20 Jun 2013\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-20/act-2013-018#GS4@Hpb@EN) ***State Archivist*** means the person appointed as State Archivist under [section 7 of the](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1983-076#GS7@EN) [Archives Act 1983](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1983-076) ;\n> \n> > ***statutory rule*** has the same meaning as in the [Rules Publication Act 1953](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1953-050) .","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Referential words","content":"### 4 Referential words\n\n> The following are referential words:\n> \n> > > (a) \"of this Act\";\n> > \n> > > (b) \"to this Act\";\n> > \n> > > (c) \"of these regulations\";\n> > \n> > > (d) \"to these regulations\";\n> > \n> > > (e) \"of this Schedule\";\n> > \n> > > (f) \"of this Chapter\";\n> > \n> > > (g) \"of this Part\";\n> > \n> > > (h) \"of this Division\";\n> > \n> > > (i) \"of this Subdivision\";\n> > \n> > > (j) \"of this section\";\n> > \n> > > (k) \"of this subsection\";\n> > \n> > > (l) \"of this regulation\";\n> > \n> > > (m) \"of this subregulation\";\n> > \n> > > (n) \"of this paragraph\";\n> > \n> > > (o) \"of this subparagraph\";\n> > \n> > > (p) \"of this clause\";\n> > \n> > > (q) \"of this subclause\";\n> > \n> > > (r) \"of this item\";\n> > \n> > > (s) \"before-mentioned\";\n> > \n> > > (t) \"afore-mentioned\";\n> > \n> > > (u) \"hereof\" or \"hereto\";\n> > \n> > > (v) \"thereof\" or \"thereto\";\n> > \n> > > (w) \"said\" or \"aforesaid\".","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"Part 2","sectionType":"part","heading":"Database","content":"# Part 2 Database","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Database","content":"### 5 Database\n\n> > (1)  The Chief Parliamentary Counsel must establish a database in electronic form of legislation of this State.\n> \n> > (2)  The database is to be under the control of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel.\n> \n> > (3)  The database is to consist of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) [*\\[Section 5 Subsection (3) amended by No. 63 of 1997, s. 5, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#GS5@Hpa@EN) certain Acts for the time being in force and, if any of those Acts have been amended and the amendments are in force, those Acts with the amendments incorporated; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) all other Acts enacted after the commencement of this Act; and\n> > > \n> > > > (c) certain statutory rules for the time being in force and, if any of those statutory rules have been amended and the amendments are in force, those statutory rules with the amendments incorporated; and\n> > > \n> > > > (d) all statutory rules made after the commencement of this act.\n> \n> > (4)  [*\\[Section 5 Subsection (4) amended by No. 63 of 1997, s. 5, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#GS5@Hpb@EN) The Chief Parliamentary Counsel must produce or cause to be produced copies of the database in electronic form and cause those copies to be held securely in a place separate from the place at which the database is held.\n> \n> > (5)  Copies of the database produced under [subsection (4)](#GS5@Gs4@EN) are to be treated for all purposes as if they were the database.","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authorised versions of Acts and statutory rules","content":"### 6 Authorised versions of Acts and statutory rules\n\n> > (1)  The Acts and statutory rules of this State are to be taken in all circumstances and for all purposes to be as they appear from time to time in the authorised version of the Acts and statutory rules.\n> \n> > (2)  [*\\[Section 6 Subsection (2) amended by No. 63 of 1997, s. 6, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#GS6@Hpa@EN) Subject to [subsections (3)](#GS6@Gs3@EN) and [(4)](#GS6@Gs4@EN) , on and after the commencement of this Act, the authorised version of an Act at any particular date is that version of the Act which is on the database as at that date.\n> \n> > (3)  [*\\[Section 6 Subsection (3) amended by No. 63 of 1997, s. 6, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#GS6@Hpb@EN) [*\\[Section 6 Subsection (3) substituted by No. 18 of 2013, s. 5, Applied:20 Jun 2013\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-20/act-2013-018#GS5@Hpa@EN) The authorised version of an Act that is not on the database is that Act as transmitted to the Archives Office of Tasmania in accordance with [section 32](#GS32@EN) .\n> \n> > (3A)  [*\\[Section 6 Subsection (3A) inserted by No. 63 of 1997, s. 6, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#GS6@Hpc@EN) [*\\[Section 6 Subsection (3A) omitted by No. 18 of 2013, s. 5, Applied:20 Jun 2013\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-20/act-2013-018#GS5@Hpa@EN) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  \n> \n> > (4)  [*\\[Section 6 Subsection (4) amended by No. 63 of 1997, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#AT@EN) [*\\[Section 6 Subsection (4) substituted by No. 18 of 2013, s. 5, Applied:20 Jun 2013\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-20/act-2013-018#GS5@Hpa@EN) Subject to [subsection (8)](#GS6@Gs8@EN) , the authorised version of an Act passed before the commencement of this Act and not on the database, as at a particular date before the commencement of this Act, is that original Act, as transmitted to the Archives Office of Tasmania in accordance with [section 32](#GS32@EN) , read and construed with any Act amending that Act as so transmitted.\n> \n> > (5)  [*\\[Section 6 Subsection (5) amended by No. 18 of 2013, s. 5, Applied:20 Jun 2013\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-20/act-2013-018#GS5@Hpb@EN) [*\\[Section 6 Subsection (5) amended by No. 63 of 1997, s. 6, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#GS6@Hpe@EN) Subject to [subsections (6)](#GS6@Gs6@EN) , [(6A)](#GS6@Gs6A@EN) , [(6B)](#GS6@Gs6B@EN) , [(7)](#GS6@Gs7@EN) and [(7A)](#GS6@Gs7A@EN) , on and after the commencement of this Act, the authorised version of a statutory rule at any particular date is the version of the statutory rule which is on the database as at that date.\n> \n> > (6)  [*\\[Section 6 Subsection (6) substituted by No. 18 of 2013, s. 5, Applied:20 Jun 2013\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-20/act-2013-018#GS5@Hpc@EN) The authorised version of a statutory rule, other than a statutory rule made by the judges of the Supreme Court, made before the commencement of this Act and not on the database is that original statutory rule as transmitted to the Archives Office of Tasmania in accordance with [section 32A](#GS32A@EN) .\n> \n> > (6A)  [*\\[Section 6 Subsection (6A) inserted by No. 63 of 1997, s. 6, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#GS6@Hpf@EN) [*\\[Section 6 Subsection (6A) substituted by No. 18 of 2013, s. 5, Applied:20 Jun 2013\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-20/act-2013-018#GS5@Hpc@EN) The authorised version of a statutory rule, other than a statutory rule made by the judges of the Supreme Court, made on or after the commencement of this Act and not on the database is that original statutory rule as transmitted to the Archives Office of Tasmania in accordance with [section 32A](#GS32A@EN) .\n> \n> > (6B)  [*\\[Section 6 Subsection (6B) inserted by No. 18 of 2013, s. 5, Applied:20 Jun 2013\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-20/act-2013-018#GS5@Hpc@EN) The authorised version of a statutory rule made by the judges of the Supreme Court and not on the database is that original statutory rule as held among the records of the Supreme Court and transmitted to the Archives Office of Tasmania in accordance with [section 32A](#GS32A@EN) .\n> \n> > (7)  [*\\[Section 6 Subsection (7) amended by No. 63 of 1997, s. 6, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#GS6@Hpg@EN) [*\\[Section 6 Subsection (7) substituted by No. 18 of 2013, s. 5, Applied:20 Jun 2013\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-20/act-2013-018#GS5@Hpc@EN) Subject to [subsection (8)](#GS6@Gs8@EN) , the authorised version of a statutory rule, other than a statutory rule made by the judges of the Supreme Court, that is not on the database as at a particular date is that original statutory rule, as transmitted to the Archives Office of Tasmania in accordance with [section 32A](#GS32A@EN) , read and construed with any statutory rule amending that statutory rule as so transmitted.\n> \n> > (7A)  [*\\[Section 6 Subsection (7A) inserted by No. 18 of 2013, s. 5, Applied:20 Jun 2013\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-20/act-2013-018#GS5@Hpc@EN) Subject to [subsection (8)](#GS6@Gs8@EN) , the authorised version of a statutory rule made by the judges of the Supreme Court that is not on the database as at a particular date is that original statutory rule, as kept among the records of the Supreme Court and transmitted to the Archives Office of Tasmania in accordance with [section 32A](#GS32A@EN) , read and construed with any statutory rule as so deposited and transmitted.\n> \n> > (8)  [*\\[Section 6 Subsection (8) amended by No. 63 of 1997, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#AT@EN) If an Act passed or a statutory rule made before the commencement of this Act and is not on the database was reprinted under the [Acts Reprinting Act 1979](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1979-011) , the authorised version of that Act or statutory rule, as at a particular date before the commencement of this Act, is the reprint of that Act or statutory rule as in force at that date.\n> \n> > (9)  All Acts and statutory rules on the database are to include a certificate of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel indicating that –\n> > \n> > > > (a) the Act or statutory rule is the authorised version at the date specified in the certificate; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) the Act or statutory rule incorporates all amendments, if any, made before and in force as at the date shown on the certificate and any reprint changes –\n> > > > \n> > > > > > (i) made under any Act, in force before the commencement of this Act, authorising the reprint of the Acts and statutory rules; or\n> > > > > \n> > > > > > (ii) permitted under this Act and made before that date.\n> \n> > (10)  [*\\[Section 6 Subsection (10) amended by No. 63 of 1997, s. 6, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#GS6@Hpj@EN) [*\\[Section 6 Subsection (10) amended by No. 63 of 1997, s. 6, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#GS6@Hpi@EN) The Chief Parliamentary Counsel may approve the production of copies of authorised versions of Acts or statutory rules and copies of reprints of Acts or statutory rules in electronic or printed form by a person approved in writing by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel for the purposes of production or distribution.\n> \n> > (11)  [*\\[Section 6 Subsection (11) amended by No. 63 of 1997, s. 6, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#GS6@Hpk@EN) A copy of an Act or a statutory rule or the reprint of an Act or a statutory rule produced under [subsection (10)](#GS6@Gs10@EN) is to contain a statement to the effect that the copy is produced with the approval of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel.","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Offences","content":"### 7 Offences\n\n> > (1)  A person who falsely includes in a document purporting to be an Act or statutory rule a certificate purporting to be a certificate under [section 6](#GS6@EN) [(9)](#GS6@Gs9@EN) is guilty of an offence.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  Fine not exceeding 100 penalty units.\n> \n> > (2)  A person who falsely represents that a copy of an Act or statutory rule is produced with the approval of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel is guilty of an offence.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  Fine not exceeding 100 penalty units.\n> \n> > (3)  [*\\[Section 7 Subsection (3) inserted by No. 63 of 1997, s. 7, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#GS7@EN) A person who falsely represents that a copy of an Act or statutory rule is the authorised version of the Act or statutory rule is guilty of an offence.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  Fine not exceeding 100 penalty units.","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"Part 3","sectionType":"part","heading":"Reprints","content":"# Part 3 Reprints","sortOrder":9},{"sectionNumber":"Division 1","sectionType":"division","heading":"Authorisation and compilation of reprints","content":"## Division 1 Authorisation and compilation of reprints","sortOrder":10},{"sectionNumber":"8","sectionType":"section","heading":"Application of provisions of this Part","content":"### 8 Application of provisions of this Part\n\n> The provisions of this Part are to apply in relation to the authorisation and compilation of a reprint of a law.","sortOrder":11},{"sectionNumber":"9","sectionType":"section","heading":"Power to authorise and cause reprints to be compiled","content":"### 9 Power to authorise and cause reprints to be compiled\n\n> > (1)  The Chief Parliamentary Counsel may authorise and cause to be compiled a reprint of a law.\n> \n> > (2)  In a reprint of a law under this Act, the text of the law may be given incorporating any change to the law permitted under [Division 2](#HP3@HD2@EN) of this Part.\n> \n> > (3)  A reprinted law is to include a note stating the date of the reprint.","sortOrder":12},{"sectionNumber":"10","sectionType":"section","heading":"Reprint changes not to change effect of law","content":"### 10 Reprint changes not to change effect of law\n\n> [Section 9](#GS9@EN) does not permit any change to the text of a provision of a law that would change the effect of the provision.","sortOrder":13},{"sectionNumber":"11","sectionType":"section","heading":"Effect of reprinted law","content":"### 11 Effect of reprinted law\n\n> If in a reprint of a law the text of the law is given as permitted under this Act, the law has effect as if the changes effected under this Act had been made expressly by another law that amended the law immediately before the reprint date.","sortOrder":14},{"sectionNumber":"Division 2","sectionType":"division","heading":"Alterations","content":"## Division 2 Alterations","sortOrder":15},{"sectionNumber":"12","sectionType":"section","heading":"Citations and references to law","content":"### 12 Citations and references to law\n\n> > (1)  If a law has a citation that includes a comma before or after a year in the citation, the citation or a reference to the law may be given omitting the comma.\n> \n> > (2)  If a law has a citation that begins and ends with inverted commas, the citation or a reference to the law may be given omitting the inverted commas.\n> \n> > (3)  If a law has a citation that begins with the word \"The\", the citation or a reference to the law may be given omitting the word.\n> \n> > (4)  If an Act has a citation that does not include the word \"Act\", the citation or a reference to the Act may be given including the word \"Act\" and any necessary consequential amendments may be made to the citation or reference.\n> \n> > (5)  If a law has a citation that does not include a year, the citation or a reference to the law may be given including the year in which the law was made.\n> \n> > (6)  In a provision of a law, a reference to another law may be given omitting from the reference any words occurring after the first year.\n> \n> > (7)  If a law does not have a citation, it may be given a citation that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.\n> \n> > (8)  If a law has a citation that is inconsistent with current legislative drafting practice in a way that is not mentioned in [subsections (1)](#GS12@Gs1@EN) to [(6)](#GS12@Gs6@EN) , the citation may be given in a way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.\n> \n> > (9)  If there is a reference to a law's citation and since the reference was made the citation has been amended by another law or under [subsections (1)](#GS12@Gs1@EN) to [(8)](#GS12@Gs8@EN) , the reference may be given using the citation as amended.\n> \n> > (10)  In this section,\n> > \n> > > ***law*** includes a law of the Commonwealth, another State or a Territory.","sortOrder":16},{"sectionNumber":"13","sectionType":"section","heading":"Remade law or provision","content":"### 13 Remade law or provision\n\n> > (1)  A reference to a law, or a provision of a law, for which any other law or provision has been substituted may be altered to the substituted law or provision.\n> \n> > (2)  In this section,\n> > \n> > > ***law*** includes a law of the Commonwealth, another State or a Territory.","sortOrder":17},{"sectionNumber":"14","sectionType":"section","heading":"Gender","content":"### 14 Gender\n\n> > (1)  If a provision of a law uses a word indicating a gender or that could be taken to indicate a gender, the provision may be expressed in a way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.\n> \n> > (2)  If the name of an office established by a law uses a word indicating a gender or that could be taken to indicate a gender –\n> > \n> > > > (a) the name of the office may be changed in a way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) any reference in a law to the office may be given in a way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.\n> \n> > (3)  A change in the name of an office does not otherwise affect the office or the holding of the office by the office holder.","sortOrder":18},{"sectionNumber":"15","sectionType":"section","heading":"Changed name or title","content":"### 15 Changed name or title\n\n> > (1)  A reference in a law to the name or title of a body, office, person, place or thing that has been changed may be given using the name or title as changed.\n> \n> > (2)  The words \"His Majesty the King\" or \"Her Majesty the Queen\" in a law may be changed to the words \"Sovereign\" or \"Crown\".","sortOrder":19},{"sectionNumber":"16","sectionType":"section","heading":"Replacement of body, &c.","content":"### 16 Replacement of body, &c.\n\n> A reference in a law to a body, office, person, place or thing which has been replaced by another body, office, person, place or thing may be given using that other body, office, person, place or thing.","sortOrder":20},{"sectionNumber":"17","sectionType":"section","heading":"Spelling","content":"### 17 Spelling\n\n> If a provision of a law uses a word that is spelt in a way that is inconsistent with current legislative drafting practice, the word may be spelt in a way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.","sortOrder":21},{"sectionNumber":"18","sectionType":"section","heading":"Punctuation","content":"### 18 Punctuation\n\n> If a provision of a law uses punctuation that is inconsistent with current legislative drafting practice, the provision may be expressed by using punctuation that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.","sortOrder":22},{"sectionNumber":"19","sectionType":"section","heading":"Conjunctives and disjunctives","content":"### 19 Conjunctives and disjunctives\n\n> A provision of a law may be expressed by using a conjunctive or disjunctive at the end of the provision if the use of the conjunctive or disjunctive is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.","sortOrder":23},{"sectionNumber":"20","sectionType":"section","heading":"Order of definitions","content":"### 20 Order of definitions\n\n> A provision of a law that contains definitions in a particular order may be expressed so that the definitions are in an order that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.","sortOrder":24},{"sectionNumber":"21","sectionType":"section","heading":"Order of other provisions","content":"### 21 Order of other provisions\n\n> A provision of a law that contains provisions in a particular order may be expressed so that the provisions are in an order that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.","sortOrder":25},{"sectionNumber":"22","sectionType":"section","heading":"Penalty provisions","content":"### 22 Penalty provisions\n\n> If a penalty provision of a law is expressed in a manner that is inconsistent with current legislative drafting practice, the provision may be expressed in a manner that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.","sortOrder":26},{"sectionNumber":"23","sectionType":"section","heading":"Relocation of marginal notes","content":"### 23 Relocation of marginal notes\n\n> A marginal note to a provision of a law descriptive of the subject matter of that provision may be placed above the provision as the heading to that provision.","sortOrder":27},{"sectionNumber":"24","sectionType":"section","heading":"Format and printing style","content":"### 24 Format and printing style\n\n> The format and printing style of a law, including the setting out of provisions, Schedules and tables, the placement of conjunctives and disjunctives, the use of numbering, lettering and indenting and the use of capital letters, lower case letters, hyphens, italics, bolding and quotation marks, may be changed in a way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.","sortOrder":28},{"sectionNumber":"25","sectionType":"section","heading":"Omission of certain provisions","content":"### 25 Omission of certain provisions\n\n> > (1)  A provision of a law that is spent, has expired or has otherwise ceased to have effect may be omitted.\n> \n> > (2)  A saving, transitional or validation provision of a law which only applies to a time or event that has passed may be omitted.","sortOrder":29},{"sectionNumber":"26","sectionType":"section","heading":"Omission of certain words and notes","content":"### 26 Omission of certain words and notes\n\n> > (1)  Any unnecessary referential words in a provision of a law may be omitted.\n> \n> > (2)  Any notes in a provision of a law indicating the legislative history of the provision, the source of the provision or any corresponding provision in another jurisdiction may be omitted.\n> \n> > (3)  Any words of enactment or notification of a law may be omitted.","sortOrder":30},{"sectionNumber":"27","sectionType":"section","heading":"Numbering and renumbering of provisions","content":"### 27 Numbering and renumbering of provisions\n\n> > (1)  If a provision of a law is unnumbered –\n> > \n> > > > (a) the provision may be numbered in a way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) all necessary consequential numbering amendments may be made.\n> \n> > (2)  If a provision of a law is numbered in a way that is inconsistent with current legislative drafting practice –\n> > \n> > > > (a) the provision may be renumbered in a way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) all necessary consequential numbering amendments may be made.\n> \n> > (3)  If a law has been amended so that the numbering of provisions of the law is significantly different to the way in which the provisions would have been numbered if the law were to be remade –\n> > \n> > > > (a) the law may be renumbered in a way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) all necessary consequential numbering amendments may be made.\n> \n> > (4)  If a provision of a law is numbered or renumbered under this section –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a reference in any law to the provision is a reference to the provision as numbered or renumbered; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) a reference in the law or another law to the provision may be changed to a reference to the provision as numbered or renumbered.","sortOrder":31},{"sectionNumber":"28","sectionType":"section","heading":"Number, date, time and money, &c.","content":"### 28 Number, date, time and money, &c.\n\n> > (1)  If a provision of a law expresses any item in a particular way, the item may be expressed in a way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.\n> \n> > (2)  In this section,\n> > \n> > > ***item*** means any number, fraction, year, date, time, amount of money, quantity or measurement of a thing.","sortOrder":32},{"sectionNumber":"29","sectionType":"section","heading":"Correction of minor errors","content":"### 29 Correction of minor errors\n\n> A provision of a law that contains a minor error may be expressed in a different way so as to correct the error.","sortOrder":33},{"sectionNumber":"30","sectionType":"section","heading":"Incorporation into Act of certain provisions","content":"### 30 Incorporation into Act of certain provisions\n\n> [*\\[Section 30 Amended by No. 63 of 1997, s. 8, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#GS8@EN) A provision of a savings or transitional nature, a validation provision or any other provision contained in an amendment Act which is not by the amendment Act incorporated in another Act may be incorporated as a provision of the Act to which it relates and all necessary consequential amendments may be made to that provision or that Act.","sortOrder":34},{"sectionNumber":"Division 3","sectionType":"division","heading":"Miscellaneous provisions relating to reprints","content":"## Division 3 Miscellaneous provisions relating to reprints","sortOrder":35},{"sectionNumber":"31","sectionType":"section","heading":"Provisions not shown","content":"### 31 Provisions not shown\n\n> > (1)  Nothing in this Act requires every provision of a law which has been incorporated in another Act to be shown in a reprint of the law.\n> \n> > (2)  If a provision of a law is not shown in a reprint of the law, the reprint is to indicate that fact in a suitable place.","sortOrder":36},{"sectionNumber":"Part 4","sectionType":"part","heading":"Miscellaneous","content":"# Part 4 Miscellaneous","sortOrder":37},{"sectionNumber":"32","sectionType":"section","heading":"Custody of Acts","content":"### 32 Custody of Acts\n\n> [*\\[Section 32 Substituted by No. 18 of 2013, s. 6, Applied:20 Jun 2013\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-20/act-2013-018#GS6@EN)\n> \n> > (1)  The Registrar of the Supreme Court must, as soon as practicable after the commencement of the [Legislation Publication Amendment Act 2013](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2013-018) , transmit to the Archives Office of Tasmania, after consultation with the State Archivist, all original Acts held among the records of the Supreme Court immediately before the commencement of that Act.\n> \n> > (2)  The Clerk of the Legislative Council must, as soon as practicable after the commencement of the [Legislation Publication Amendment Act 2013](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2013-018) , transmit to the Archives Office of Tasmania, after consultation with the State Archivist, that Act and all original Acts that receive the Royal Assent on or after the commencement of that Act.","sortOrder":38},{"sectionNumber":"32A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Custody of statutory rules and certain other rules","content":"### 32A Custody of statutory rules and certain other rules\n\n> [*\\[Section 32A Inserted by No. 18 of 2013, s. 6, Applied:20 Jun 2013\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-20/act-2013-018#GS6@EN)\n> \n> > (1)  The Secretary of the responsible Department in relation to the [Justices Act 1959](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1959-077) must, as soon as practicable after the commencement of the [Legislation Publication Amendment Act 2013](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2013-018) , transmit to the Archives Office of Tasmania, after consultation with the State Archivist, all original statutory rules, other than statutory rules or other rules made by the judges of the Supreme Court, held among the records of that department immediately before the commencement of that Act.\n> \n> > (2)  The Chief Parliamentary Counsel must, as soon as practicable after the commencement of the [Legislation Publication Amendment Act 2013](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2013-018) , transmit to the Archives Office of Tasmania, after consultation with the State Archivist, all original statutory rules, other than statutory rules or other rules made by the judges of the Supreme Court, held among the records of the Office of Parliamentary Counsel immediately before the commencement of that Act.\n> \n> > (3)  The Registrar of the Supreme Court must, as soon as practicable after the commencement of the [Legislation Publication Amendment Act 2013](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2013-018) , transmit to the Archives Office of Tasmania, after consultation with the State Archivist, all original statutory rules made by the judges of the Supreme Court and held among the records of the Supreme Court immediately before the commencement of that Act.\n> \n> > (4)  The Chief Parliamentary Counsel must transmit all original statutory rules, other than statutory rules or other rules made by the judges of the Supreme Court, made in each year on or after the commencement of the [Legislation Publication Amendment Act 2013](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2013-018) to the Archives Office of Tasmania by not later than 31 January in the following year.\n> \n> > (5)  The Registrar of the Supreme Court must transmit all original statutory rules made in each year on or after the commencement of the [Legislation Publication Amendment Act 2013](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2013-018) by the judges of the Supreme Court to the Archives Office of Tasmania by not later than 31 January in the following year.","sortOrder":39},{"sectionNumber":"33","sectionType":"section","heading":"Regulations","content":"### 33 Regulations\n\n> > (1)  The Governor may make regulations for the purposes of this Act.\n> \n> > (2)  The regulations may prescribe changes, not otherwise permitted under this Act, that are permitted to be made to the text of a law in a reprint of that law.\n> \n> > (3)  The regulations may be made so as to apply differently according to matters, limitations or restrictions, whether as to time, circumstance or otherwise, specified in the regulations.\n\n*\n\n**34.**   \n\n> The amendments effected by this section have been incorporated into authorised versions of the following Acts:\n> \n> > > (a) [Acts Custody Act 1858](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1858-052) ;\n> > \n> > > (b) [Acts Reprinting Act 1979](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1979-011) .\n\n*","sortOrder":40},{"sectionNumber":"34.","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"### 34.\n\n> The amendments effected by this section have been incorporated into authorised versions of the following Acts:\n> \n> > > (a) [Acts Custody Act 1858](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1858-052) ;\n> > \n> > > (b) [Acts Reprinting Act 1979](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1979-011) .","sortOrder":41},{"sectionNumber":"35.","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"### 35.\n\n[*\\[Section 35 Repealed by No. 63 of 1997, s. 9, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#GS9@EN)*\n\n**36.**   \n\n> The amendments effected by this section have been incorporated into the authorised version of the [Evidence Act 1910](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1910-020) .\n\n*","sortOrder":42},{"sectionNumber":"36.","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"### 36.\n\n> The amendments effected by this section have been incorporated into the authorised version of the [Evidence Act 1910](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1910-020) .","sortOrder":43},{"sectionNumber":"37.","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"### 37.\n\n[*\\[Section 37 Repealed by No. 63 of 1997, s. 10, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#GS10@EN)","sortOrder":44},{"sectionNumber":"38","sectionType":"section","heading":"Administration of Act","content":"### 38 Administration of Act\n\n> Until provision is made in relation to this Act by order under [section 4 of the](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1990-004#GS4@EN) [Administrative Arrangements Act 1990](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1990-004) –\n> \n> > > (a) the administration of this Act is assigned to the Premier; and\n> > \n> > > (b) the Department responsible to the Premier in relation to the administration of this Act is the Department of Premier and Cabinet.","sortOrder":45}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[{"type":"self_contradicting","section":"Status Information - Currency of version","severity":"medium","reasoning":"A Legislation Publication Act that is responsible for ensuring legislative currency and accuracy has not itself been modified in nearly a decade, while simultaneously asserting it is current. This creates a performative contradiction: the Act mandating publication standards may not itself meet those standards.","confidence":0.62,"description":"The Act governing the publication of legislation appears not to have been updated since 2017 (file last modified 5 July 2017), yet claims currency 'to date' as of 5 April 2026. An Act regulating how legislation is published and kept current is itself potentially not current."},{"type":"self_contradicting","section":"Status Information - Currency of version","severity":"low","reasoning":"The 3-working-day update promise is made within the very instrument that governs publication obligations. If that promise is not being met with respect to the Act itself, the Act is non-compliant with its own stated standards. If it is being met, the 2017 file date implies no amendments since 2017, which raises questions about whether the responsible minister assignment is truly current.","confidence":0.55,"description":"The site states legislation is 'usually updated within 3 working days after a change to the legislation,' but the authorisation timestamp shows the file was last modified on 5 July 2017. If the Act itself changed after that date and the 3-day rule applied, the file modification date should be more recent. If it has not changed, the currency claim is vacuously true but misleading in context."},{"type":"self_contradicting","section":"Title / Header duplication throughout document","severity":"medium","reasoning":"The core purpose of a Legislation Publication Act is to ensure legislation is published correctly and authoritatively. The Act's own published form contains systematic duplication errors throughout every structural element, directly undermining the credibility and purpose of the instrument. This is a performative self-contradiction: the Act fails to do what it legislates.","confidence":0.85,"description":"The document systematically duplicates every heading and title (e.g., 'Legislation Publication Act 19 Legislation Publication Act 1996', 'Status Information Status Information', 'Authorisation Authorisation'). An Act concerned with the accurate and authoritative publication of legislation contains manifest publication errors in its own presentation."},{"type":"self_contradicting","section":"Title - 'Legislation Publication Act 19'","severity":"high","reasoning":"If the authoritative version of a Legislation Publication Act cannot accurately publish its own title, it raises a foundational question about whether this version can be relied upon as the authoritative text for any legal purpose. Under the Act's own logic, the authoritative published version should be definitive — yet it is demonstrably erroneous on its face.","confidence":0.9,"description":"The Act's title is rendered in truncated form as 'Legislation Publication Act 19' in multiple locations, omitting '96'. An Act governing the authoritative publication of legislation has had its own title corrupted in the authoritative published version."},{"type":"other","section":"Responsible Minister and Department","severity":"low","reasoning":"While this is common legislative drafting practice, it is mildly absurd in the context of a Legislation Publication Act — the very instrument designed to make legislative obligations clear and accessible requires readers to consult a separate, frequently changing executive instrument to determine who administers it.","confidence":0.45,"description":"The responsible minister is identified only by reference to an external Administrative Arrangement Order, with no fixed content in the Act itself. As Administrative Arrangement Orders change frequently, the Act at any given moment provides no self-contained answer to who is responsible for its administration."}],"contradictions":[{"severity":"medium","section_a":"Status Information - 'usually updated within 3 working days after a change to the legislation'","section_b":"Authorisation - 'File last modified 5 July 2017'","confidence":0.6,"description":"The document asserts an ongoing obligation or practice of updating legislation within 3 working days of any change, while the file modification date of 5 July 2017 combined with a currency date of 5 April 2026 creates an unresolvable ambiguity: either the Act has not changed in nearly 9 years (casting doubt on whether the responsible minister reference is truly current), or updates have occurred but the file modification date has not been updated, violating the transparency the Act ostensibly requires."},{"severity":"medium","section_a":"Currency statement - 'Version current from 20 June 2013 to date (accessed 5 April 2026 at 13:23)'","section_b":"Authorisation - 'File last modified 5 July 2017'","confidence":0.65,"description":"The version is stated to be current from 20 June 2013, implying it reflects all changes from that date. However, the file was last modified 5 July 2017. This creates a four-year gap (2013–2017) where changes may or may not have been incorporated, and a further nine-year gap (2017–2026) where the file has apparently not been touched despite the currency claim extending to the access date of 5 April 2026."}]},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available text, there is no indication that the scope of the Act has changed from its original intent. The Act appears to have remained functionally stable since at least 2013, continuing to serve its original purpose of governing the publication and accessibility of Tasmanian legislation. The limited text provided does not reveal any scope expansions or contractions."},"complexity_factors":["The legislation text provided is extremely limited — mostly metadata, status information, and administrative details rather than substantive provisions","The subject matter (publication of legislation) is administrative and procedural in nature, not substantively complex","No detailed operative clauses, definitions, or penalty provisions are visible in the provided text","The Act appears narrow in scope, dealing with a single administrative function","The version has been unchanged since 2013, suggesting settled and straightforward operation"],"plain_english_summary":"The Legislation Publication Act 1996 (Tas) sets the legal framework for how Tasmanian Acts and legislative instruments are officially published and made accessible. It affects Tasmanians, lawyers, businesses, government agencies and users of the consolidated legislation website by underpinning the authority, accuracy and public accessibility of online and printed versions of Tasmanian law."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Act does not alter the substantive ambit of Tasmanian law; it creates a publication and custody regime that designates an electronic authorised version (s 5–6), permits non-substantive editorial reprint changes (ss 12–29) but expressly forbids changes that would alter legal effect (s 10). It therefore changes how authoritative texts are produced and stored, not the substantive scope of laws."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross-referenced rules determining which text is \"authorised\" depending on presence on the database or transmission to the Archives Office (s 6, ss (2)–(8), (3),(6),(6A),(6B),(7),(7A))","Wide range of permitted editorial changes tied to \"current legislative drafting practice\" (ss 12–29, 24) introduces administrative discretion about permissible alterations","Reprint effect and safeguards: reprints cannot change legal effect (s 10) but are treated as if changes had been made by amendment (s 11), creating legal and interpretive nuance","Custody and transmission obligations split between multiple offices (Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Registrar of Supreme Court, Clerk of Legislative Council, departmental secretaries) with staged deadlines (ss 32, 32A)","Penalties and criminal offences for false certificates or misrepresentations regarding authorised copies (s 7) add compliance risk for publishers","Power for Governor to make regulations to allow further text changes and to apply exceptions (s 33) introduces potential regulatory complexity","Definitions and exceptions in the interpretation section (s 3) and historical amendment notes increase interpretive load"],"plain_english_summary":"Mechanically, this Act requires the Chief Parliamentary Counsel to create and control an electronic database of Tasmanian Acts and statutory rules and to declare the database copy the \"authorised version\" (ss 5–6). It allows authorised reprints that update drafting, spelling, punctuation and format to current practice but not to change legal effect, and it sets custody and transmission rules for original instruments and offences for false certification (ss 9–11, 29, 32–33). It affects drafters, archives, courts, publishers and users by centralising which text is authoritative and who may approve reproductions."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains focused on its original purpose of establishing an official database and authorised versions of Tasmanian legislation. While it has been amended several times (notably in 1997 and 2013) to update custody arrangements and clarify authorised version rules, these amendments refine rather than expand the core scope. The 2013 amendments transferred custody responsibilities to the Archives Office but did not add new substantive areas of law."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple amendment history markers throughout the text (e.g., \"[Section 6 Subsection (3) substituted by No. 18 of 2013...]\") creating visual clutter though not substantive complexity","Nested definitions in section 3 (e.g., 'law' defined as including Acts and statutory rules, with 'statutory rule' referring to another Act)","Cross-references to external legislation (Archives Act 1983, Rules Publication Act 1953, Administrative Arrangements Act 1990, Evidence Act 1910, etc.)","Multiple conditional subsections in section 6 establishing different rules for: (a) Acts vs statutory rules, (b) pre-commencement vs post-commencement laws, (c) Supreme Court rules vs other rules, (d) database vs non-database versions","19 specific permitted alterations listed in Division 2 (sections 12-30) with detailed conditions","Repealed and spent provisions still visible in the text (sections 35, 37 marked as repealed)","Technical distinction between 'original Acts', 'authorised versions', 'reprints', and 'database copies'"],"plain_english_summary":"This is the **Legislation Publication Act 1996** (Tasmania), which sets up the official system for publishing and maintaining Tasmanian laws.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Creates an official database** of Tasmanian laws (Acts and statutory rules) managed by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel\n- **Establishes \"authorised versions\"** — the official, legally recognised copies of laws that courts and everyone else must use\n- **Allows laws to be \"reprinted\"** — updated versions that incorporate amendments and modernise formatting without changing the actual legal meaning\n- **Sets rules for fixing errors** — permits correction of typos, grammar, and updating language (like gendered terms) to match modern drafting standards\n- **Protects against fraud** — makes it an offence to falsely claim a document is an official authorised version\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **The Chief Parliamentary Counsel** — runs the database and approves reprints\n- **Courts and lawyers** — must use the authorised versions from the database\n- **Government departments** — must transfer original documents to the State Archives\n- **The public** — anyone accessing Tasmanian law relies on this system for accurate, official versions\n\n**Why it matters:**\nBefore this Act, it was hard to know which version of a law was the \"real\" one, especially after multiple amendments. This Act ensures there's a single, trusted source of truth for Tasmanian legislation — accessible electronically, regularly updated, and legally definitive. It also lets old laws be cleaned up (better formatting, modern language) without needing Parliament to vote on every comma."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/legislation-publication-act-1996","history":"/api/acts/legislation-publication-act-1996/history","analysis":"/api/acts/legislation-publication-act-1996/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/legislation-publication-act-1996/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/legislation-publication-act-1996/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/legislation-publication-act-1996/documents"}}