{"id":"nsw:act-1973-046","name":"Printing and Newspapers Act 1973","slug":"printing-and-newspapers-act-1973","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"nsw","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"46 of 1973","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":110248,"registerId":"nsw-act-1973-046-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name of Act and commencement","content":"#### 1 Name of Act and commencement\n\n1 Name of Act and commencement\n\n> > (1) This Act may be cited as the [Printing and Newspapers Act 1973](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1973-046).\n> \n> > (2) This Act shall commence upon such day as may be appointed by the Governor in respect thereof and as may be notified by proclamation published in the Gazette.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"#### 2 Definitions\n\n2 Definitions\n\n> In this Act, except in so far as the context otherwise indicates or requires:\n> \n> document includes a book, pamphlet, leaflet, circular, advertisement, poster, or magazine or other periodical publication, but does not include a newspaper.\n> \n> newspaper means any paper containing public news, or observations thereon or upon any political matter, which is printed for sale or gratuitous distribution and published periodically at intervals not exceeding twenty-six days.\n> \n> printing includes any mode of representing or reproducing in any document or newspaper any words, symbols, or pictures in any visible form.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Provisions in respect of certain printed documents","content":"#### 3 Provisions in respect of certain printed documents\n\n3 Provisions in respect of certain printed documents\n\n> > (1) Subject to subsection (4), a person who prints any document which the person knows, or has reason to believe, is intended to be sold or distributed (whether to the public generally or to a restricted class or number of persons) or to be publicly displayed shall:\n> > \n> > > (a) at the time of, or within twenty-four hours after, printing the document print on at least one copy of the document the name and address of the person for whom or on whose instructions the document was printed,\n> > \n> > > (b) subject to paragraph (c), retain, for a period of six months from the date on which the document was printed, a copy of the document on which that name and address is so printed,\n> > \n> > > (c) upon the request of a member of the police force made at any time during that period, produce or surrender the copy of the document so retained, and\n> > \n> > > (d) at the time of the printing, print the person’s name, or if the person carries on business under a name registered under the [Business Names Registration Act 2011](http://www.legislation.gov.au/) of the Commonwealth, that name, the address of the person’s place of business, and the year in which the document is printed on the front or first or last page of the document.\n> > \n> > Maximum penalty: 4 penalty units.\n> \n> > (2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), no person shall sell, offer for sale, deliver, distribute, affix to any object or structure in a public place, leave in a public place or otherwise expose to public view, a document on which there have not been printed on the front or first or last page the name of the printer or the name under which the printer carries on business, the address of the printer’s place of business and the year in which the document was printed.\n> > \n> > Maximum penalty: 4 penalty units.\n> \n> > (3) It shall be a defence if a person charged with an offence under subsection (2) proves that the document concerned:\n> > \n> > > (a) was printed before the commencement of this Act, or\n> > \n> > > (b) was not printed in the State.\n> \n> > (4) This section does not apply to:\n> > \n> > > (a) any document containing only the name, address, telephone number, business or profession of a person and the designation of any article in which the person deals,\n> > \n> > > (b) any document relating to the sale of property by auction or otherwise,\n> > \n> > > (c) documents intended for use as bills of exchange, promissory notes, bonds or other securities for the payment of money, bills of lading, policies of insurance, letters or powers of attorney, deeds, agreements or process of a court,\n> > \n> > > (d) any document printed for the Crown in the right of a State (including the State) or of the Commonwealth, either House of Parliament of a State (including this State) or of the Commonwealth, any department of Government, any statutory body representing the Crown or any other body prescribed by the regulations, or\n> > \n> > > (e) any document or document belonging to any class of document which the Minister, by order, exempts from the application of this section.\n> \n> > (5) The Governor may make regulations prescribing bodies for the purposes of subsection (4) (d).\n> \n> **s 3:** Am 1993 No 47, Sch 1; 1995 No 11, Sch 1; 2002 No 97, Sch 1.9 \\[1\\]; 2011 No 44, Sch 3.16 \\[1\\].","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Provision in respect of printing and publishing newspapers","content":"#### 4 Provision in respect of printing and publishing newspapers\n\n4 Provision in respect of printing and publishing newspapers\n\n> > (1) A person who prints a newspaper shall, at the time of the printing, print on the front or first or last page of the newspaper:\n> > \n> > > (a) the person’s name or if the person carries on business under a name registered under the [Business Names Registration Act 2011](http://www.legislation.gov.au/) of the Commonwealth, that name, and the address of the person’s place of business, and\n> > \n> > > (b) the name and address of the publisher of the newspaper.\n> > \n> > Maximum penalty: 4 penalty units.\n> \n> > (2) Subject to subsection (3), no person shall sell, offer for sale, deliver, distribute, affix to any object or structure in a public place, leave in a public place or otherwise expose to public view a newspaper on which the name of the printer or the name under which the printer carries on business, and the address of the printer’s place of business, and the name and address of the publisher, have not been printed on the front or first or last page of the newspaper.\n> > \n> > Maximum penalty: 4 penalty units.\n> \n> > (3) It shall be a defence if a person charged with an offence under subsection (2) proves that the newspaper concerned:\n> > \n> > > (a) was printed before the commencement of this Act, or\n> > \n> > > (b) was not printed in the State.\n> \n> **s 4:** Am 1993 No 47, Sch 1; 1995 No 11, Sch 1; 2002 No 97, Sch 1.9 \\[2\\]; 2011 No 44, Sch 3.16 \\[2\\].","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Evidentiary","content":"#### 5 Evidentiary\n\n5 Evidentiary\n\n> A document or newspaper on which is printed a name purporting to be the name of:\n> \n> > (a) the printer of the document or newspaper,\n> \n> > (b) the person for whom or on whose instructions the document was printed, or\n> \n> > (c) the publisher of the newspaper,\n> \n> shall be received by all courts and tribunals in any proceedings (whether criminal or civil) as prima facie evidence that the person whose name is so printed is:\n> \n> > (d) the printer of the document or newspaper,\n> \n> > (e) the person for whom or on whose instructions the document was printed, or\n> \n> > (f) the publisher of the newspaper,\n> \n> as the case may be.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"#### 6\n\n6 (Repealed)","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Repeals and savings","content":"#### 7 Repeals and savings\n\n7 Repeals and savings\n\n> > (1) (Repealed)\n> \n> > (2) Notwithstanding the repeal of the [Newspapers Act 1898](/view/pdf/asmade/act-1898-23), sections 9, 15 and 18 of that Act shall continue to have effect in relation to any legal proceedings pending at the commencement of this Act.\n> \n> > (3) No person shall be liable under a recognisance entered into under Part 3 of the [Newspapers Act 1898](/view/pdf/asmade/act-1898-23), except for any penalty imposed or incurred before the commencement of this Act and for which the person would otherwise have been liable under the recognisance.\n> \n> **s 7:** Am 1999 No 85, Sch 4.","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"sch","sectionType":"schedule","heading":null,"content":"# sch\n\nSchedule (Repealed)\n\n**Sch:** Rep 1999 No 85, Sch 4.","sortOrder":8}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This Act replaced the earlier Newspapers Act 1898 and preserved only certain sections of that earlier Act for legal proceedings pending at commencement (s 7(2)–(3)). The 1973 Act therefore changed the statutory scheme by repealing the prior Act and establishing the current obligations, exemptions and evidentiary rule set out in sections 2–5, while carrying limited transitional effect for specified pending matters (s 7)."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple actor obligations: distinct duties for printers, publishers and distributors (s 3, s 4)","Retention and production requirement with a fixed six-month period and police production power (s 3(1)(b)–(c))","Evidentiary presumption shifting initial burden in proceedings (s 5)","Several carve-outs and an administrative exemption power vested in the Minister, plus regulation-making by the Governor (s 3(4)–(5))","Cross-reference to external registration law for business names (Business Names Registration Act 2011) which affects how names must appear (s 3(1)(d), s 4(1)(a))","Overlap between definitions (document vs newspaper) and separate rules for each creates interpretive distinctions (s 2, s 3, s 4)","Penalty and defence structure is straightforward but requires factual determination about where and when printing occurred (s 3(2)–(3), s 4(2)–(3))"],"plain_english_summary":"What this law does (mechanics)\n\n- Requires people who print documents or newspapers in the State to put identifying information on the printed material and to keep a retained copy in some cases. A \"document\" is defined broadly (books, pamphlets, leaflets, advertisements, posters, magazines or other periodicals) but specifically excludes \"newspapers\" for the purpose of that definition (s 2). \"Printing\" covers any mode of reproducing visible words, symbols or pictures (s 2).\n\n- For printed documents intended for sale, distribution or public display, the printer must: print on at least one copy, at or within 24 hours of printing, the name and address of the person for whom or on whose instructions the document was printed; retain a copy showing that name and address for six months (and produce or surrender that retained copy to a police officer on request during that period); and print the printer’s name (or registered business name), the printer’s business address, and the year of printing on the front, first or last page (s 3(1)(a)–(d)). There is a maximum penalty of 4 penalty units for breach (s 3(1)).\n\n- It is an offence to sell, distribute, affix in public places, leave in public places or otherwise expose to public view any document lacking the printer’s name (or registered business name), the printer’s business address and the year on the front/first/last page (s 3(2)). The same defences apply if the document was printed before the Act commenced or was not printed in the State (s 3(3)).\n\n- For newspapers, the printer must print on the front/first/last page the printer’s name (or registered business name) and business address and the name and address of the publisher (s 4(1)(a)–(b)). It is an offence to distribute a newspaper that lacks that information (s 4(2)). The defences in s 4(3) mirror those for documents in s 3(3). Maximum penalty: 4 penalty units (s 4(1)–(2)).\n\n- A printed name on a document or newspaper is prima facie evidence in court or tribunal proceedings that the named person is the printer, the person for whom it was printed, or the publisher, as relevant (s 5).\n\n- The Act provides categories of excluded documents that are not caught by the s 3 obligations: e.g. simple business-cards / small ads limited to name/address/telephone and product designation, documents relating to sale of property, various commercial and legal instruments (bills of exchange, deeds, contracts, court process), documents printed for the Crown, Parliament, government departments or statutory bodies as prescribed, and any class of document the Minister exempts by order (s 3(4)(a)–(e)). The Governor may make regulations prescribing bodies for the Crown exemption (s 3(5)).\n\n- The Act repealed the earlier Newspapers Act 1898 but preserved particular sections of that earlier Act for proceedings that were pending when the new Act commenced (s 7(2)–(3)).\n\nWho this affects and who pays\n\n- Primary obligations fall on printers (persons who do the physical printing) and, in the case of newspapers, on publishers as to the information that must appear (s 3(1), s 4(1)).\n- Secondary restriction: persons who sell or distribute printed documents or newspapers expose themselves to penalties if the required information is absent (s 3(2), s 4(2)).\n- Police have authority to request (and obtain) retained copies from printers during the six-month retention period (s 3(1)(c)).\n- The Governor and Minister have decision roles: the Governor appoints commencement day and may make regulations prescribing bodies (s 1(2), s 3(5)); the Minister may exempt classes of documents (s 3(4)(e)).\n\nWhy it matters (official purpose claims and practical trade-offs)\n\n- Officially, the Act operates to ensure printed materials carry identifying information linking materials to printers and publishers and to provide courts with a straightforward evidentiary link where names appear on printed matter (s 3, s 4, s 5). That mechanism lowers the transaction cost of identifying responsible parties in civil and criminal proceedings by creating a statutory presumption (s 5).\n\n- Practical costs and incentives created by the law:\n  - Compliance costs for printers: printing identifying details on copies, retaining a six-month copy, and producing copies to police on request (s 3(1)(a)–(c)). These impose storage, recordkeeping and operational steps that increase the marginal cost of producing printed documents.\n  - Distribution restriction: sellers and distributors face a risk of penalty if they put documents/newspapers into public circulation without the required front-page information (s 3(2), s 4(2)). That creates an incentive for distribution channels to check compliance before distributing.\n  - Evidentiary shift: the prima facie presumption (s 5) shifts initial evidentiary burden onto the named person, who must disprove the presumption if challenged in proceedings. That affects litigation strategy and potential liabilities.\n  - Administrative discretion and regulatory risk: the Minister may exempt classes of documents by order (s 3(4)(e)), and the Governor may prescribe bodies for Crown exemptions by regulation (s 3(5)); those powers introduce administrative decision points that can change which items are regulated.\n\n- Opportunity costs and substitution effects:\n  - Small-scale or occasional printers and distributers will bear the fixed burden of compliance (printing labels, retention storage), which may push some activity out of formal printing channels or into non-printed forms not caught by the Act (the source defines the categories covered) (s 2, s 3).\n  - Exemptions (s 3(4)) narrow the reach of obligations for many commercial and government documents, concentrating regulatory burden on other printed material.\n\nImplementation and enforcement risks\n\n- Enforcement relies partly on routine checks by distributors and the power of police to demand retained copies (s 3(1)(c)), and on courts accepting the prima facie evidence provision (s 5). The administration of exemptions and regulations by the Minister and Governor can materially affect what is caught by the law (s 3(4)(e), s 3(5)).\n\nKey sections to consult directly: definitions and scope (s 2), document obligations and exemptions (s 3), newspaper obligations (s 4), evidentiary rule (s 5), and repeal/savings (s 7)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains focused on its original purpose of requiring identification details on printed materials. While it has been amended several times (noted in section histories), these appear to be technical updates – such as updating the reference from the old Business Names Act to the Business Names Registration Act 2011, and repealing spent provisions. There is no indication the Act has expanded beyond its core function of printer/publisher identification and record-keeping."},"complexity_factors":["Only 7 sections (one repealed), with straightforward sequential numbering","Just 3 defined terms in section 2: 'document', 'newspaper', and 'printing'","Simple conditional structure: main offence provisions with standard 'defence' and 'exceptions' subsections","Limited cross-referencing: only references to the Business Names Registration Act 2011 and the repealed Newspapers Act 1898","No nested exceptions or complex conditional logic – subsection (4) contains a simple list of 5 exempt categories plus a regulation-making power","Evidentiary provision (section 5) is a simple prima facie evidence rule without complicated presumptions or rebuttal mechanisms","Penalty structure is uniform (4 penalty units throughout) with no escalating or alternative penalties"],"plain_english_summary":"This law requires printers to put their name and address on documents and newspapers they print, and to keep records of who they printed for. It makes it illegal to sell or distribute printed materials that don't show this information.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **Printers** – must print their business name and address on everything they produce, and keep copies of documents for 6 months with the client's name and address\n- **Publishers** – must have their name and address printed on newspapers\n- **Sellers/distributors** – cannot sell or display documents or newspapers missing the required printer/publisher details\n\n**Key requirements:**\n- Documents (books, pamphlets, magazines, etc.) must show: printer's name/business name, business address, and year printed\n- Newspapers must show: printer's details **and** publisher's name and address\n- Printers must keep a copy of each document for 6 months showing who ordered it, and hand it over to police if asked\n- Maximum penalty for breaches: 4 penalty units (a fine)\n\n**Exceptions:**\n- Simple business cards with just name, address and what you sell\n- Documents about property sales\n- Financial instruments (cheques, insurance policies, court documents)\n- Government documents\n- Anything the Minister specifically exempts\n- Old documents printed before 1973, or documents printed outside the state\n\n**Why it matters:** This is essentially a transparency and accountability law from the pre-internet era. It helps authorities trace who is responsible for printed material, which was important for addressing issues like defamation, obscenity, or political propaganda. The law creates a paper trail so you can't anonymously print and distribute controversial material."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"While the original 1973 Act was drafted in an era of physical printing presses and traditional newspaper publishing, the digital revolution has significantly changed the media landscape. Four rounds of amendments (2001, 2004, 2012, 2013) suggest the legislature has tried to keep the Act relevant, but a law focused on 'printing and newspapers' now exists in a world of online news, digital publishing, and social media. The practical scope of who and what it covers has likely narrowed considerably compared to its original intent, as many modern forms of publishing fall outside its traditional definitions."},"complexity_factors":["Insufficient substantive content provided — only metadata and website navigation was included, preventing full analysis of the Act's provisions","The Act itself, based on its title and historical context, is likely a short and straightforward regulatory instrument with limited technical complexity","Multiple amendments over time (2001, 2004, 2012, 2013) may have introduced some complexity by layering changes onto the original text","The Act is quite old (1973) meaning it may use dated legal drafting language that requires interpretation against modern contexts such as digital publishing"],"plain_english_summary":"## Printing and Newspapers Act 1973 (NSW)\n\n**What is this?**\nThis is a New South Wales law originally passed in 1973 that relates to the printing and newspaper industry. Based on the available metadata, the substantive content of the Act itself is not fully reproduced here — only the status and navigation information from the NSW legislation website is visible.\n\n**What we can tell from the metadata:**\n- The Act has been in continuous force since 1973 and remains current law in NSW as of 2026\n- It falls under the responsibility of the **Attorney General**, suggesting it deals with legal/regulatory obligations rather than purely commercial matters\n- It has been amended several times (notably in 2001, 2004, 2012, and 2013), meaning it has been updated to remain relevant over the decades\n- The last substantive update was **11 January 2013**, meaning it has not been significantly changed in over a decade\n\n**Who does it affect?**\nHistorically, laws like this typically affect:\n- **Printers** — people or businesses that physically print documents, books, or newspapers\n- **Newspaper publishers** — companies that produce and distribute newspapers\n- **The general public** — through requirements about identifying who printed or published a document (known as \"printer's imprint\" rules), which help trace the source of published material\n\n**Why does it matter?**\nLaws of this type traditionally require printed materials to carry the name and address of the printer/publisher. This promotes **accountability and transparency** — if someone publishes defamatory, misleading, or illegal content, authorities can identify who is responsible.\n\n> ⚠️ *Note: The full text of the Act's provisions was not provided — only website navigation and status metadata. This summary is therefore based on the Act's title, history, and general knowledge of similar legislation. For the precise legal obligations, consult the full Act on the NSW legislation website.*"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/printing-and-newspapers-act-1973","history":"/api/acts/printing-and-newspapers-act-1973/history","analysis":"/api/acts/printing-and-newspapers-act-1973/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/printing-and-newspapers-act-1973/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/printing-and-newspapers-act-1973/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/printing-and-newspapers-act-1973/documents"}}