{"id":"a-1949-11","name":"Machinery Act 1949","slug":"machinery-act-1949","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"act","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"11 of 1949","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":23912,"registerId":"act-a-1949-11-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Machinery Act 1949","content":"Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nMachinery Act 1949\nA1949-11\nRepublication No 10\nEffective: 23 June 2021\nRepublication date: 23 June 2021\nLast amendment made by A2021-12\n\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAbout this republication\nThe republished law\nThis is a republication of the Machinery Act 1949 (including any amendment made under the\nLegislation Act 2001, part 11.3 (Editorial changes)) as in force on 23 June 2021. It also includes\nany commencement, amendment, repeal or expiry affecting this republished law to 23 June 2021.\nThe legislation history and amendment history of the republished law are set out in endnotes 3\nand 4.\nKinds of republications\nThe Parliamentary Counsel’s Office prepares 2 kinds of republications of ACT laws (see the ACT\nlegislation register at www.legislation.act.gov.au):\n• authorised republications to which the Legislation Act 2001 applies\n• unauthorised republications.\nThe status of this republication appears on the bottom of each page.\nEditorial changes\nThe Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 authorises the Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial\namendments and other changes of a formal nature when preparing a law for republication.\nEditorial changes do not change the effect of the law, but have effect as if they had been made by\nan Act commencing on the republication date (see Legislation Act 2001, s 115 and s 117). The\nchanges are made if the Parliamentary Counsel considers they are desirable to bring the law into\nline, or more closely into line, with current legislative drafting practice.\nThis republication does not include amendments made under part 11.3 (see endnote 1).\nUncommenced provisions and amendments\nIf a provision of the republished law has not commenced, the symbol U appears immediately\nbefore the provision heading. Any uncommenced amendments that affect this republished law\nare accessible on the ACT legislation register (www.legislation.act.gov.au). For more\ninformation, see the home page for this law on the register.\nModifications\nIf a provision of the republished law is affected by a current modification, the\nsymbol M appears immediately before the provision heading. The text of the modifying\nprovision appears in the endnotes. For the legal status of modifications, see the Legislation\nAct 2001, section 95.\nPenalties\nAt the republication date, the value of a penalty unit for an offence against this law is $160 for an\nindividual and $810 for a corporation (see Legislation Act 2001, s 133).\n\nR10\n23/06/21\nMachinery Act 1949\nEffective: 23/06/21\ncontents 1\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nMachinery Act 1949\nContents\nPage\n1 Name of Act 2\n2 Dictionary 2\n2A Notes 2\n3 Chief Inspector of Machinery 2\n4 Inspectors of machinery 2\n5 Determination of fees 3\n7 Regulation-making power 3\nDictionary 5\nEndnotes\n1 About the endnotes 6\n2 Abbreviation key 6\n3 Legislation history 7\n\nContents\nPage\ncontents 2 Machinery Act 1949\nEffective: 23/06/21\nR10\n23/06/21\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n4 Amendment history 10\n5 Earlier republications 11\n\nR10\n23/06/21\nMachinery Act 1949\nEffective: 23/06/21\npage 1\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nMachinery Act 1949\nAn Act relating to the installation, use, inspection and operation of machinery\n\nSection 1\npage 2 Machinery Act 1949\nEffective: 23/06/21\nR10\n23/06/21\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n1 Name of Act\nThis Act is the Machinery Act 1949.\n2 Dictionary\nThe dictionary at the end of this Act is part of this Act.\nNote 1 The dictionary at the end of this Act defines certain terms used in this\nAct.\nNote 2 A definition in the dictionary applies to the entire Act unless the\ndefinition, or another provision of the Act, provides otherwise or the\ncontrary intention otherwise appears (see Legislation Act, s 155 and\ns 156 (1)).\n2A Notes\nA note included in this Act is explanatory and is not part of this Act.\nNote See the Legislation Act, s 127 (1), (4) and (5) for the legal status of notes.\n3 Chief Inspector of Machinery\nThe work health and safety commissioner must appoint a public\nservant as the Chief Inspector of Machinery.\nNote 1 For the making of appointments (including acting appointments), see the\nLegislation Act, pt 19.3.\nNote 2 In particular, an appointment may be made by naming a person or\nnominating the occupant of a position (see Legislation Act, s 207).\n4 Inspectors of machinery\n(1) The work health and safety commissioner may appoint a person to be\nan inspector for this Act.\nNote 1 For the making of appointments (including acting appointments), see the\nLegislation Act, pt 19.3.\nNote 2 In particular, an appointment may be made by naming a person or\nnominating the occupant of a position (see Legislation Act, s 207).\n(2) The chief inspector is also an inspector.\n\nSection 5\nR10\n23/06/21\nMachinery Act 1949\nEffective: 23/06/21\npage 3\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n5 Determination of fees\n(1) The Minister may, in writing, determine fees for this Act.\nNote The Legislation Act 2001 contains provisions about the making of\ndeterminations and regulations relating to fees (see pt 6.3).\n(2) A determination is a disallowable instrument.\nNote A disallowable instrument must notified, and presented to the Legislative\nAssembly, under the Legislation Act 2001.\n7 Regulation-making power\n(1) The Executive may make regulations for this Act.\nNote Regulations must be notified, and presented to the Legislative Assembly,\nunder the Legislation Act 2001.\n(2) The regulations may make provision in relation to—\n(a) regulating the installation, use and operation of machinery; and\n(b) securing the safety of people and property from injury or\ndamage arising out of the installation, use or operation of\nmachinery; and\n(c) the registration, inspection and testing of machinery; and\n(d) requiring licences or certificates to be held for the installation,\nuse, operation, inspection or testing of machinery, and the\ngranting, suspension and cancellation of licences and\ncertificates; and\n(e) the precautions to be taken to secure the safety of people\nemployed at or in relation to machinery; and\n(f) the functions (including powers of entry) of the chief inspector\nand inspectors; and\n(g) prohibiting the employment of anyone younger than the\nprescribed age in relation to any prescribed machinery.\n\nSection 7\npage 4 Machinery Act 1949\nEffective: 23/06/21\nR10\n23/06/21\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(3) The regulations may also prescribe offences for contraventions of the\nregulations and prescribe maximum penalties of not more than 10\npenalty units for offences against the regulations.\n\nDictionary\nR10\n23/06/21\nMachinery Act 1949\nEffective: 23/06/21\npage 5\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nDictionary\n(see s 2)\nNote 1 The Legislation Act contains definitions and other provisions relevant to\nthis Act.\nNote 2 For example, the Legislation Act, dict, pt 1, defines the following terms:\n• Executive\n• Minister (see s 162)\n• work health and safety commissioner.\nchief inspector means the Chief Inspector of Machinery under\nsection 3.\ninspector means an inspector under section 4.\nmachinery includes any machine, boiler, pressure vessel, engine,\nmotor or source of motive power, and any shaft, belt, gearing, pulley,\nflywheel, lift, crane, contrivance or appliance operated by machinery.\nNote 1 A definition applies except so far as the contrary intention appears (see\nLegislation Act 2001, s 155).\nNote 2 A reference to an Act includes a reference to the statutory instruments\nmade or in force under the Act, including regulations (see Legislation\nAct 2001, s 104).\n\nEndnotes\n1 About the endnotes\npage 6 Machinery Act 1949\nEffective: 23/06/21\nR10\n23/06/21\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nEndnotes\n1 About the endnotes\nAmending and modifying laws are annotated in the legislation history and the\namendment history. Current modifications are not included in the republished law\nbut are set out in the endnotes.\nNot all editorial amendments made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 are\nannotated in the amendment history. Full details of any amendments can be\nobtained from the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office.\nUncommenced amending laws are not included in the republished law. The details\nof these laws are underlined in the legislation history. Uncommenced expiries are\nunderlined in the legislation history and amendment history.\nIf all the provisions of the law have been renumbered, a table of renumbered\nprovisions gives details of previous and current numbering.\nThe endnotes also include a table of earlier republications.\n2 Abbreviation key\nA = Act NI = Notifiable instrument\nAF = Approved form o = order\nam = amended om = omitted/repealed\namdt = amendment ord = ordinance\nAR = Assembly resolution orig = original\nch = chapter par = paragraph/subparagraph\nCN = Commencement notice pres = present\ndef = definition prev = previous\nDI = Disallowable instrument (prev...) = previously\ndict = dictionary pt = part\ndisallowed = disallowed by the Legislative r = rule/subrule\nAssembly reloc = relocated\ndiv = division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired R[X] = Republication No\nGaz = gazette RI = reissue\nhdg = heading s = section/subsection\nIA = Interpretation Act 1967 sch = schedule\nins = inserted/added sdiv = subdivision\nLA = Legislation Act 2001 SL = Subordinate law\nLR = legislation register sub = substituted\nLRA = Legislation (Republication) Act 1996 underlining = whole or part not commenced\nmod = modified/modification or to be expired\n\nEndnotes\nLegislation history 3\nR10\n23/06/21\nMachinery Act 1949\nEffective: 23/06/21\npage 7\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n3 Legislation history\nThis Act was originally a Commonwealth ordinance—the Machinery\nOrdinance 1949 No 11 (Cwlth).\nThe Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cwlth), s 34 (4)\nconverted most former Commonwealth ordinances in force in the ACT into ACT\nenactments. This allowed the ACT Legislative Assembly to amend and repeal the\nlaws. This Act was converted into an ACT enactment on 11 May 1989 (self-\ngovernment day).\nAs with most ordinances in force in the ACT, the name was changed from\nOrdinance to Act by the Self-Government (Citation of Laws) Act 1989 A1989-21,\ns 5 on 11 May 1989 (self-government day).\nBefore 11 May 1989, ordinances commenced on their notification day unless\notherwise stated (see Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1910 (Cwlth), s 12).\nLegislation before self-government\nMachinery Act 1949 A1949-11\nnotified 13 October 1949 (Cwlth Gaz 1949 No 74)\ncommenced 13 October 1949 (see Seat of Government\n(Administration) Act 1910 (Cwlth), s 12)\nas amended by\nOrdinances Revision (Decimal Currency) Ordinance 1966 Ord1966-19\n(as am by Ord 1967-36)\nnotified 23 December 1966 (Cwlth Gaz 1966 No 109)\ncommenced 23 December 1966 (see Seat of Government\n(Administration) Act 1910 (Cwlth), s 12)\nMachinery (Amendment) Ordinance 1983 Ord1983-29\nnotified 29 September 1983 (Cwlth Gaz 1983 No S226)\ncommenced 1 October 1983 (s 2)\nSelf-Government (Consequential Amendments) Ordinance 1989\nOrd1989-38 sch 1\nnotified 10 May 1989 (Cwlth Gaz 1989 No S160)\ns 1, s 2 commenced 10 May 1989 (s 2 (1))\nsch 1 commenced 11 May 1989 (s 2 (2) and see Cwlth Gaz 1989\nNo S164)\n\nEndnotes\n3 Legislation history\npage 8 Machinery Act 1949\nEffective: 23/06/21\nR10\n23/06/21\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nLegislation after self-government\nActs Revision (Position of Crown) Act 1993 A1993-44 sch 2\nnotified 27 August 1993 (Gaz 1993 No S165)\nsch 2 commenced 27 August 1993 (s 2)\nStatute Law Revision (Penalties) Act 1994 A1994-81 sch\nnotified 29 November 1994 (Gaz 1994 No S253)\ns 1, s 2 commenced 29 November 1994 (s 2 (1))\nsch commenced 29 November 1994 (s 2 (2) and Gaz 1994 No S269)\nStatutory Offices (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1994 A1994-97 sch\npt 1\nnotified 15 December 1994 (Gaz 1994 No S280)\ns 1, s 2 commenced 15 December 1994 (s 2 (1))\nsch pt 1 commenced 15 December 1994 (s 2 (2) and Gaz 1994\nNo S293)\nStatute Law Revision Act 1995 A1995-46 sch\nnotified 18 December 1995 (Gaz 1995 No S306)\nsch commenced 18 December 1995 (s 2)\nOccupational Health and Safety (Amendment) Act 1997 A1997-44\ns 10, sch\nnotified 19 September 1997 (Gaz 1997 No S264)\ns 10, sch never commenced and rep 2001 No 11 pt 4.3\nLegislation (Consequential Amendments) Act 2001 A2001-44 pt 234\nnotified 26 July 2001 (Gaz 2001 No 30)\ns 1, s 2 commenced 26 July 2001 (IA s 10B)\npt 234 commenced 12 September 2001 (s 2 and see Gaz 2001\nNo S65)\nStatute Law Amendment Act 2007 A2007-3 sch 3 pt 3.64\nnotified LR 22 March 2007\ns 1, s 2 taken to have commenced 1 July 2006 (LA s 75 (2))\nsch 3 pt 3.64 commenced 12 April 2007 (s 2 (1))\n\nEndnotes\nLegislation history 3\nR10\n23/06/21\nMachinery Act 1949\nEffective: 23/06/21\npage 9\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nJustice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2009\n(No 2) A2009-19 pt 10\nnotified LR 1 September 2009\ns 1, s 2 commenced 1 September 2009 (LA s 75 (1))\npt 10 commenced 29 September 2009 (s 2)\nAdministrative (One ACT Public Service Miscellaneous Amendments)\nAct 2011 A2011-22 sch 1 pt 1.98\nnotified LR 30 June 2011\ns 1, s 2 commenced 30 June 2011 (LA s 75 (1))\nsch 1 pt 1.98 commenced 1 July 2011 (s 2 (1))\nWork Health and Safety Amendment Act 2019 A2019-38 sch 1 pt 1.7\nnotified LR 31 October 2019\ns 1, s 2 commenced 31 October 2019 (LA s 75 (1))\nsch 1 pt 1.7 commenced 30 April 2020 (s 2 (1) and LA s 79)\nStatute Law Amendment Act 2021 A2021-12 sch 3 pt 3.34\nnotified LR 9 June 2021\ns 1, s 2 commenced 9 June 2021 (LA s 75 (1))\nsch 3 pt 3.34 commenced 23 June 2021 (s 2 (1))\n\nEndnotes\n4 Amendment history\npage 10 Machinery Act 1949\nEffective: 23/06/21\nR10\n23/06/21\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n4 Amendment history\nName of Act\ns 1 sub A2007-3 amdt 3.354\nDictionary\ns 2 am A2001-44 amdt 1.2738\ndefs reloc to dict A2007-3 amdt 3.355\nsub A2007-3 amdt 3.356\ndef this Act om A2001-44 amdt 1.2737\nNotes\ns 2A ins A2007-3 amdt 3.356\nChief Inspector of Machinery\ns 3 om 1993 Act No 44 sch 2\nins A1994-97 sch 1\nsub A2007-3 amdt 3.357\n(2)-(4) exp 12 April 2008 (s 3 (4) (LA s 88 declaration applies))\nam A2011-22 amdt 1.302; A2019-38 amdt 1.14\nInspectors of machinery\ns 4 sub 1994 Act No 97 sch 1; A2007-3 amdt 3.357\n(3)-(5) exp 12 April 2008 (s 4 (5) (LA s 88 declaration applies))\nam A2009-19 s 55; A2011-22 amdt 1.303; A2019-38\namdt 1.15\nPower of Minister to determine fees\ns 4A ins Ord1983-29\nom A2001-44 amdt 1.2739\nFees payable\ns 4B ins Ord1983-29\nam Ord1989-38 sch 1\nom A2001-44 amdt 1.2739 sch 1\nDetermination of fees\ns 5 am Ord1966-19 (as am Ord1967-36); Ord1983-29;\nOrd1989-38 sch 1; A1994-81 sch; A1994-97 sch pt 1;\nA1995-46 sch\nsub A2001-44 amdt 1.2739\nApproved forms\ns 6 ins A2001-44 amdt 1.2739\nam A2007-3 amdt 3.358\nom A2021-12 amdt 3.82\nRegulation-making power\ns 7 ins A2001-44 amdt 1.2739\n\nEndnotes\nEarlier republications 5\nR10\n23/06/21\nMachinery Act 1949\nEffective: 23/06/21\npage 11\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nDictionary\ndict ins A2007-3 amdt 3.359\nam A2011-22 amdt 1.304; A2019-38 amdt 1.16, amdt 1.17\ndef chief inspector ins A1994-97 sch pt 1\nreloc from s 2 A2007-3 amdt 3.355\ndef inspector ins A1994-97 sch pt 1\nreloc from s 2 A2007-3 amdt 3.355\ndef machinery reloc from s 2 A2007-3 amdt 3.355\n5 Earlier republications\nSome earlier republications were not numbered. The number in column 1 refers to\nthe publication order.\nSince 12 September 2001 every authorised republication has been published in\nelectronic pdf format on the ACT legislation register. A selection of authorised\nrepublications have also been published in printed format. These republications are\nmarked with an asterisk (*) in column 1. Electronic and printed versions of an\nauthorised republication are identical.\nRepublication No Amendments to Republication date\n1 Ord1989-38 30 June 1991\n2 A1994-97 28 February 1995\n3 A1995-46 30 November 1996\n4 A2001-44 4 January 2002\n5 A2007-3 12 April 2007\n6 A2007-3 13 April 2008\n7 A2009-19 29 September 2009\n8 A2011-22 1 July 2011\n9 A2019-38 30 April 2020\n© Australian Capital Territory 2021","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"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"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Act remains essentially an enabling framework for machinery safety regulation as originally intended (regulating installation, use, inspection and operation of machinery). Recent amendments and relocations of provisions have modernised administrative arrangements (for example, appointment and supervisory links to the Work Health and Safety Commissioner (s 3) and moving definitions into the Dictionary), and some procedural provisions (approved forms) have been removed. Those are administrative and drafting modernisations rather than a significant expansion of substantive scope. The core function — authorising regulation of machinery safety, licensing, inspections and related offences — is unchanged."},"complexity_factors":["Short enabling Act with 7 substantive provisions plus Dictionary and notes","Broad, but concise, regulation-making power in s 7 covering multiple topics (installation, safety, registration, licensing, inspections, entry powers, prohibition on young workers)","Relies on subordinate instruments for substantive detail (regulations and Ministerial fee determinations), increasing practical complexity despite simple text","Cross-references to other Acts and administrative structures (Legislation Act 2001 for instrument procedure and definitions; WHS Commissioner for appointments) — procedural dependency rather than internal complexity","Only a small set of defined terms in the Dictionary (chief inspector, inspector, machinery) — limited internal definitions","Offence-creating power limited to regulations with a capped penalty (maximum 10 penalty units) — relatively low statutory penalty complexity","Endnotes and amendment history show several historical changes (modernisation and administrative moves) but the operative text is straightforward"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does (mechanically)\n\n- Establishes roles and appointments: the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Commissioner must appoint a public servant as the Chief Inspector of Machinery (s 3). The WHS Commissioner may also appoint other inspectors; the Chief Inspector is an inspector by default (s 4).\n\n- Gives the Minister power to set fees in writing for matters under the Act; those fee determinations are disallowable instruments (s 5).\n\n- Gives the Executive (government) a broad power to make regulations covering the installation, use and operation of machinery; safety measures to protect people and property; registration, inspection and testing of machinery; licences and certificates for people who install, operate, inspect or test machinery (including granting, suspension and cancellation); required precautions for employees; inspectors’ functions and powers (including powers of entry); and rules about the employment of young people on particular machinery (s 7).\n\n- Allows regulations to create offences for breaching those regulations and to set maximum penalties for those offences of up to 10 penalty units (s 7(3)).\n\n- Defines “machinery” broadly in the dictionary to include machines, boilers, pressure vessels, engines, motors, shafts, belts, gearing, lifts, cranes and related appliances; and defines the statutory labels \"chief inspector\" and \"inspector\" (Dictionary).\n\n\nWho is affected\n\n- Businesses and individuals who own, install, operate, maintain or test machinery as defined in the Dictionary (owners, employers, contractors, installers, service and test providers).\n- Workers employed at or in relation to machinery (their required protections can be set by regulation).\n- Persons who would be required to hold licences or certificates for working with machinery once regulations are made.\n- The WHS Commissioner, the Chief Inspector, appointed inspectors, the Minister (for fees), and the Executive (for making regulations).\n\n\nWhy it matters (practical effect)\n\n- This Act is an enabling framework: it does not itself set operational safety rules or licensing regimes. Instead it creates the legal authority for the Executive to make regulations that will set the detailed obligations, licensing, inspection regimes and penalties for machinery safety (s 7). That means the substantive compliance requirements, costs and enforcement mechanisms will mostly appear in subordinate legislation and instruments.\n\n- Where regulations are made, affected parties may face direct costs: licence or certificate fees (s 5), costs of testing, registration or inspection, administrative compliance costs, and potential penalties for contraventions (s 7(3)). Who pays: principally the owners/operators or licence-holders responsible for machinery.\n\n- Who decides and how: the Executive decides the content of the regulations; the Minister determines fees (disallowable instrument); the WHS Commissioner appoints inspectors. This creates a governance chain that concentrates rule-writing power in the Executive and administrative discretion in regulators and the Minister (ss 3–5, 7).\n\n\nOfficial purpose claim and a practical test\n\n- The Act's stated/clear mechanical purpose is to regulate the installation, use, inspection and operation of machinery and to secure safety of people and property arising from machinery (s 7(a)–(b)).\n\n- Testing that claim against practical trade-offs:\n  - Benefit mechanism: by enabling licensing, inspection and penalties, the Act provides legal tools to enforce safety standards (s 7(d), (f)).\n  - Costs and incentives: licensing and registration typically raise compliance costs and can create entry costs for service providers; fees set by the Minister (s 5) and testing/inspection requirements will be direct cost drivers. Businesses will face choice trade-offs: invest to comply (testing, training, certification) or risk regulatory sanction.\n  - Implementation risk: the Act delegates detail to regulations and fee determinations, so the effectiveness and burden depend heavily on how the Executive and Minister design subordinate instruments (s 7, s 5). This delegation also creates administrative discretion (who gets licences, how entry powers are used).\n  - Overlap and coordination: appointments and roles are tied to the WHS Commissioner, so the Machinery Act operates within the broader WHS administrative framework. That requires coordination in practice to avoid duplication or gaps between this Act’s regulations and other WHS instruments (s 3; Dictionary notes referencing the Legislation Act and WHS definitions).\n\n\nConcrete behavioural effects\n\n- Operators will likely need to register machinery, obtain licences or certificates, submit to inspection and testing, and follow precautions required by regulation (s 7(c)–(e)).\n- Inspectors will have powers (including entry) defined in regulations; refusal to comply with regulatory obligations can attract penalties prescribed in the regulations (s 7(f), (3)).\n- The Minister’s fee determinations (s 5) create a budgetary and compliance channel: regulated parties pay fees that fund administration or inspection activities.\n\n\nWhere the real rules live\n\n- The Act is a short enabling statute. The substantive requirements, offences and penalties relevant to day‑to‑day compliance will be specified in regulations and fee determinations (s 7, s 5). If you need to know exact duties or licence conditions, consult the Machinery Regulations (or equivalent subordinate instruments) made under s 7 and any Ministerial fee determinations under s 5.\n\n(References in parentheses are to the sections of the Machinery Act 1949 cited above.)"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act has significantly shrunk from its original scope. Originally enacted in 1949 as a Commonwealth ordinance, it likely contained detailed technical provisions for machinery safety. Over decades of amendments, particularly the 2001 and 2007 revisions, the substantive content has been stripped out and moved to regulations or other legislation. The current Act is essentially a shell - it establishes the office of Chief Inspector and inspectors, provides for fees, and delegates all substantive safety requirements to regulations. The amendment history shows removal of sections 4A, 4B, and 6, and the conversion of detailed provisions into a broad regulation-making power. This reflects a modern legislative trend of moving technical detail to subordinate legislation, but represents a major shift from the Act's original comprehensive approach."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short - only 7 sections (with section 6 omitted)","Minimal defined terms - only 3 definitions in the dictionary (chief inspector, inspector, machinery)","No conditional logic or nested exceptions in the operative provisions","Simple administrative structure with clear appointment powers","Regulation-making power is broad but straightforward, listing 7 specific subject matters without complex cross-referencing","No offence provisions in the Act itself (left to regulations)","Heavy reliance on external legislation (Legislation Act 2001) for machinery of government matters like appointments and disallowable instruments"],"plain_english_summary":"The Machinery Act 1949 establishes a regulatory framework for machinery safety in the ACT by creating a Chief Inspector and inspectors, enabling the Minister to set fees, and empowering the Executive to make regulations covering installation, operation, licensing, inspection and enforcement.\n\nIt affects anyone who owns, operates or works with industrial equipment and supplies the inspection and enforcement backbone to reduce injury and death, while leaving detailed technical rules to subordinate regulations."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/machinery-act-1949","history":"/api/acts/machinery-act-1949/history","analysis":"/api/acts/machinery-act-1949/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/machinery-act-1949/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/machinery-act-1949/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/machinery-act-1949/documents"}}