{"id":"F2026L00129","name":"Legislation Rules 2026","slug":"legislation-rules-2026","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":443145,"registerId":"F2026L00129-fast-fetch-1775958061776","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Legislation Rules 2026","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.jpeg)\n\n \n\nLegislation Rules 2026\n\nI, Meredith Leigh, First Parliamentary Counsel, make the following rules.\n\nDated 18 February 2026\n\nMeredith Leigh\n\nFirst Parliamentary Counsel\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nContents\n\nPart 1—Preliminary\n\n1 Name\n\n2 Commencement\n\n3 Authority\n\n4 Schedules\n\n5 Definitions\n\nPart 2—Lodgement\n\n6 Requirements for lodgement\n\n7 Withdrawal of lodgement\n\n8 Requirements for compilations\n\n9 Compilations prepared and lodged by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel\n\nPart 3—Registration\n\n10 Approved website for registered material\n\n11 Giving unique names\n\n12 Giving name that includes year of making\n\n13 Inserting unique identifiers\n\n14 Alternative arrangements in the event of technical difficulties\n\nPart 4—Keeping the Register\n\n15 Redacting personal information\n\n16 Removing reviewing comments\n\n17 Events affecting the currency or accuracy of the Register\n\nPart 5—Authorised versions\n\n18 Authorised versions\n\nSchedule 1—Repeals\n\nLegislation Rule 2016\n\n \n\nPart 1—Preliminary\n\n \n\n1  Name\n\n  This instrument is the Legislation Rules 2026.\n\n2  Commencement\n\n (1) Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.\n\n \n\n- Commencement information\n- Column 1 Column 2 Column 3\n- Provisions Commencement Date/Details\n- 1. The whole of this instrument The day after this instrument is registered. 24 February 2026\n\n\nNote: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.\n\n (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.\n\n3  Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under the Legislation Act 2003.\n\n4  Schedules\n\n  Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.\n\n5  Definitions\n\nNote: A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in the Act, including the following:\n\n(a) approved website;\n\n(b) authorised version;\n\n(c) compilation;\n\n(d) legislative instrument;\n\n(e) notifiable instrument;\n\n(f) responsible person.\n\n  In this instrument:\n\nAct means the Legislation Act 2003.\n\nPart 2—Lodgement\n\n \n\n6  Requirements for lodgement\n\n (1) This section is made for the purposes of paragraphs 15M(a) and 15U(d) of the Act.\n\nMethod of lodgement\n\n (2) An instrument, compilation of an instrument or other document must be lodged for registration:\n\n (a) using the online facility at https://lodge.legislation.gov.au; or\n\n (b) using another method agreed between the First Parliamentary Counsel and the person lodging the instrument, compilation or document.\n\nFormat for lodgement\n\n (3) An instrument, compilation of an instrument or other document must be lodged using one of the following formats:\n\n (a) RTF, DOC or DOCX format;\n\n (b) another format agreed between the First Parliamentary Counsel and the person lodging the instrument, compilation or document.\n\nConversion to other formats\n\n (4) An instrument, compilation of an instrument or other document must be lodged in a form that can be readily converted into EPUB, HTML, and PDF formats in a way that maintains consistency in the instrument, compilation or document between the original and converted formats.\n\nDynamic content\n\n (5) An instrument, compilation of an instrument or other document lodged for registration must not contain content that:\n\n (a) is dynamic; and\n\n (b) interferes with the accuracy of the instrument, compilation or document.\n\n7  Withdrawal of lodgement\n\n (1) This section is made for the purposes of paragraphs 15M(c) and 15U(e) of the Act.\n\n (2) If an instrument, compilation of an instrument or other document has been lodged for registration but not registered, the person who lodged the instrument, compilation or document may withdraw it by:\n\n (a) using the online lodgement facility at https://lodge.legislation.gov.au; or\n\n (b) using another method agreed between the First Parliamentary Counsel and the person.\n\n (3) If a person who lodged an instrument, compilation of an instrument or other document becomes aware that any information provided when lodging the instrument, compilation or document is incomplete or inaccurate, the person must withdraw the instrument, compilation or document under subsection (2) as soon as practicable.\n\n8  Requirements for compilations\n\n  For the purposes of subparagraph 15U(d)(iii) of the Act, the information that must be provided for a compilation of a legislative instrument or notifiable instrument that is lodged for registration is the following:\n\n (a) the name of the instrument;\n\n (b) the number of the compilation;\n\n (c) the name of the Department or agency that prepared the compilation;\n\n (d) a key setting out any abbreviations used in any notes to the compilation;\n\n (e) the enabling legislation for the instrument.\n\n9  Compilations prepared and lodged by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel\n\n  For the purposes of subsection 15R(4) of the Act, section 15R of the Act does not require a compilation of a legislative instrument or notifiable instrument to be prepared and lodged for registration if:\n\n (a) the Office of Parliamentary Counsel is required to undertake, or arrange for, the drafting of the instrument under:\n\n (i) directions issued under section 55ZF of the Judiciary Act 1903; or\n\n (ii) any other legislative instrument relating to the legal services of the Commonwealth; or\n\n (b) the Office of Parliamentary Counsel prepares and lodges the compilation for registration.\n\nPart 3—Registration\n\n \n\n10  Approved website for registered material\n\n  For the purposes of section 15C of the Act, the approved website is https://www.legislation.gov.au.\n\n11  Giving unique names\n\n (1) For the purposes of subparagraph 15M(b)(i) of the Act, the First Parliamentary Counsel may add a unique name to an instrument or other document lodged for registration if the First Parliamentary Counsel is satisfied that the instrument or document as lodged does not have a name.\n\n (2) For the purposes of subparagraph 15M(b)(ii) of the Act, the First Parliamentary Counsel may amend the name of an instrument or other document lodged for registration to give the instrument or document a unique name if the First Parliamentary Counsel is satisfied that the name of the instrument or document as lodged is not unique.\n\n12  Giving name that includes year of making\n\n  For the purposes of subparagraph 15M(b)(ii) of the Act, the First Parliamentary Counsel may amend the name of an instrument or other document lodged for registration to give the instrument or document a name that includes the year of its making if the First Parliamentary Counsel is satisfied that the name of the instrument or document as lodged does not include that year.\n\nExample: An instrument made in 2025 is lodged for registration with the name Coffee Determination. As this name does not include the year of the instrument’s making, the First Parliamentary Counsel may give the instrument a name such as Coffee Determination 2025, or if there is already an instrument with that name, Coffee Determination (No. 2) 2025 or another appropriate name.\n\n13  Inserting unique identifiers\n\n  For the purposes of paragraph 15E(b) and subparagraph 15M(b)(iii) of the Act, before registering a document, the First Parliamentary Counsel may cause a unique identifier to be inserted into the document.\n\n14  Alternative arrangements in the event of technical difficulties\n\n (1) For the purposes of paragraph 15M(f) of the Act, in the event of technical difficulties, the First Parliamentary Counsel must register an Act, instrument or other document by:\n\n (a) publishing the Act, instrument or document on the website https://www.opc.gov.au; or\n\n (b) if that website is not publicly available—publicly displaying a hard copy of the Act, instrument or document at 28 Sydney Avenue, Forrest, in the Australian Capital Territory.\n\n (2) As soon as practicable after the technical difficulties have ceased, the First Parliamentary Counsel must make any Act, instrument or document that was registered in accordance with subsection (1) available to the public on the approved website.\n\nPart 4—Keeping the Register\n\n \n\n15  Redacting personal information\n\n  For the purposes of paragraphs 15E(a) and 15M(h) of the Act, the First Parliamentary Counsel may redact any personal information (within the meaning of the Privacy Act 1988) from a document on the Federal Register of Legislation (other than an Act, a legislative instrument or a notifiable instrument) if the First Parliamentary Counsel considers it appropriate to do so.\n\n16  Removing reviewing comments\n\n  For the purposes of paragraphs 15E(a) and 15M(h) of the Act, the First Parliamentary Counsel may remove any reviewing comments from a document on the Federal Register of Legislation (other than an Act, a legislative instrument or a notifiable instrument) if the First Parliamentary Counsel is satisfied that the inclusion of the comments in the document is an error.\n\nNote: An example of a reviewing comment is a comment balloon included using a word processing software function.\n\n17  Events affecting the currency or accuracy of the Register\n\n  For the purposes of paragraph 15E(a) of the Act, if a responsible person for a registered Act, legislative instrument or notifiable instrument has given notice under section 15L of the Legislation Act 2003 to the First Parliamentary Counsel of the occurrence of an event in relation to the registered Act or instrument, the First Parliamentary Counsel may require the person to provide documentary evidence of the event.\n\nPart 5—Authorised versions\n\n \n\n18  Authorised versions\n\n (1) For the purposes of paragraphs 15ZA(1)(a) and (2)(a) of the Act, the format is PDF.\n\n (2) For the purposes of subparagraph 15ZA(1)(b)(ii), paragraph 15ZA(2)(b) and subsection 15ZA(3) of the Act, the way an electronic or printed copy of a registered law or explanatory statement indicates that it is an authorised version is by including any of the following in the copy:\n\n (a) “Authorised version”;\n\n (b) “ComLaw Authoritative Act”;\n\n (c) “Federal Register of Legislative Instruments”;\n\n (d) for an explanatory statement for a legislative instrument—“Explanatory Statement to” and a reference to the unique identifier for the instrument.\n\nSchedule 1—Repeals\n\n \n\nLegislation Rule 2016\n\n1  The whole of the instrument\n\nRepeal the instrument.\n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument operates as procedural rules made under the Legislation Act 2003 (s3) and does not alter the substantive scope of the Act. It updates operational details for lodgement, registration and publication (e.g. format, naming, redaction, contingency arrangements) and repeals the 2016 Rules (Schedule 1), but it does not expand or contract the types of laws or instruments covered by the Act."},"complexity_factors":["Technical format and conversion requirements (s6(3)–(4), s18(1)) — requires lodgements to be in editable formats and convertible to EPUB/HTML/PDF, adding IT and formatting compliance.","Ban on dynamic content (s6(5)) — constrains document authorship and may require content rework or tool changes.","Discretionary powers vested in the First Parliamentary Counsel (ss11–13,15–16) — authority to give/amend names, insert identifiers, redact personal information and remove reviewing comments creates interpretive discretion.","Alternative arrangements for technical failures (s14) — operational contingency obligations for the Office, including temporary publication and later migration to the approved website.","Metadata/compilation information obligations (s8) — lodgers must supply specific compilation metadata (name, number, preparing agency, key, enabling legislation).","Withdrawal and correction duties (s7) — lodgers must withdraw incomplete or inaccurate lodgements promptly, creating a procedural compliance trigger.","Evidence requirement from responsible person (s17) — First Parliamentary Counsel may demand documentary proof of events affecting currency, imposing documentary obligations on responsible persons.","Repeal and replacement effect (Schedule 1) — the instrument repeals the 2016 Rules, raising transitional and interpretive issues for affected processes."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument sets procedural rules for lodging, registering and publishing Commonwealth laws and compilations. It prescribes how documents must be lodged (online or by agreement), required file formats and conversion to EPUB/HTML/PDF, bans dynamic content, and gives the First Parliamentary Counsel power to add unique names/identifiers, redact or remove material and handle outages (see ss6,11–16,18). Agencies and officers who lodge instruments bear the compliance burden; the First Parliamentary Counsel makes key registration and disclosure decisions."},"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"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a straightforward re-enactment/replacement of the 2016 rules with the same scope. The instrument maintains its original purpose of providing procedural machinery for the Federal Register of Legislation. No significant scope creep is evident; the provisions cover the same functional areas (lodgement, registration, maintenance, authorised versions) as the original 2016 instrument being repealed."},"complexity_factors":["Short length (18 sections plus Schedule)","Minimal defined terms (only 'Act' is explicitly defined; relies on definitions from parent Legislation Act 2003)","Straightforward structure following logical workflow (lodgement → registration → maintenance → authorised versions)","Simple conditional logic (mostly 'if satisfied that...' tests)","Heavy cross-referencing to the Legislation Act 2003 (parent statute), but these references are explicit and serve clear purposes","No nested exceptions or complex temporal provisions","Practical, procedural focus rather than substantive legal rules"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument sets out the administrative rules for how Commonwealth laws and related documents are lodged, registered, maintained and certified on the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au). It governs how agencies submit and update official texts, how the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel manages the public register and contingencies, and what constitutes an authorised copy.\n\nIt affects government agencies, the Parliamentary Counsel’s office, and anyone relying on official, up-to-date versions of Australian law."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/legislation-rules-2026","history":"/api/acts/legislation-rules-2026/history","analysis":"/api/acts/legislation-rules-2026/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/legislation-rules-2026/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/legislation-rules-2026/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/legislation-rules-2026/documents"}}