{"id":"qld:act-1981-083","name":"Printing and Newspapers Act 1981","slug":"printing-and-newspapers-act-1981","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"qld","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"83 of 1981","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":105017,"registerId":"qld-act-1981-083-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"pt.1","sectionType":"part","heading":"Preliminary","content":"# Preliminary","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"sec.1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Short title","content":"### sec.1 Short title\n\nThis Act may be cited as the Printing and Newspapers Act 1981 .\ns 1 amd 1995 No. 58 s 4 sch 1","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"sec.2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"### sec.2 Commencement\n\nSection 1 and this section shall commence on the day on which this Act is assented to for and on behalf of Her Majesty.\nExcept as provided by subsection (1) , this Act shall commence on a day appointed by proclamation.\n(sec.2-ssec.1) Section 1 and this section shall commence on the day on which this Act is assented to for and on behalf of Her Majesty.\n(sec.2-ssec.2) Except as provided by subsection (1) , this Act shall commence on a day appointed by proclamation.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"sec.3","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"### Section sec.3\n\ns 3 om 25 October 1989 RA s 36","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"sec.5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"### sec.5 Definitions\n\nIn this Act—\nBusiness Names Register means the register established and maintained under the Business Names Registration Act 2011 (Cwlth) , section 22 .\ns 5 def Business Names Register ins 2011 No. 34 s 31 sch 1\ndocument includes a book, pamphlet, leaflet, circular, advertisement, poster or magazine or other periodical publication, but does not include a newspaper.\nMinister ...\ns 5 def Minister om R1 (see RA s 39)\nnewspaper includes a paper or pamphlet containing any public news, intelligence, occurrences or any remarks or observations thereon or upon any political matter, printed for sale or distribution, and published periodically or in parts or numbers at intervals not exceeding 31 days between the publication of any 2 such papers or pamphlets or parts or numbers, but does not include any document published in the course of his or her duty by the Government Printer, or any paper containing only matter wholly of a commercial nature.\nprint includes representing or reproducing in any document or newspaper any words, symbols or pictures in any visible form.\nsell includes auction, barter, exchange or supply or cause, permit, or attempt, any of those things, and also offer or attempt to sell, and supply or receive for sale, or have in possession for sale, or expose for sale, or send, forward, or deliver for sale or have on sale, or cause, suffer or allow to be sold or offered for sale, or dispose or offer for disposal under any hire purchase agreement.\ns 5 amd 1995 No. 58 s 4 sch 1","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"pt.2","sectionType":"part","heading":"Imprinting","content":"# Imprinting","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"sec.6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Provision in respect of certain printed documents","content":"### sec.6 Provision in respect of certain printed documents\n\nSubject 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—\nat the time of, or within 24 hours after, printing the document print on at least 1 copy of the document in legible characters the name and address of the person for whom or on whose instructions the document was printed; and\nsubject to paragraph (c) retain for a period of 6 months from the date on which the document was printed, a copy of the document on which that name and address are so printed; and\nupon the request of a police officer made at any time during that period, produce or surrender without payment the copy of the document so retained; and\nat the time of printing, print in legible characters—\nhis or her name, or if the person carries on business under a name registered on the Business Names Register or held under business names legislation, that name; and\nthe address of the person’s place of business; and\nthe year in which the document is printed;\non the front or first or last page of the document.\nMaximum penalty—10 penalty units.\nSubject 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 in legible characters on the front or first or last page the name of the printer or the name under which the person carries on business, the address of the person’s place of business and the year in which the document was printed.\nMaximum penalty—10 penalty units.\nIt shall be a defence if a person charged with an offence under subsection (2) proves that the document concerned was not printed in this State.\nThis section does not apply to—\na document printed for the Crown in right of a State (including the State of Queensland) or in right of the Commonwealth or a document printed for any authority, corporation or instrumentality established by an Act of Parliament of a State (including the State of Queensland) or of the Commonwealth; or\na document printed by order or under the authority of a House of Parliament of a State (including the Legislative Assembly) or of the Commonwealth; or\na document printed by or under the authority of the Government Printer of any State (including the State of Queensland) or the Government Printer of the Commonwealth; or\na representation of a work of art; or\na document containing only the name, address, telephone number or profession of any person and the articles in which the person deals, or some 1 or more of those particulars; or\na document containing only information relating to proposed sale of property; or\nbank notes, bills of exchange, dividend warrants, promissory notes or other securities for the payment of money; or\nstocks, shares, bonds, debentures or other like securities and transfers and assignments thereof; or\nreceipts for money or goods; or\ndocuments used in proceedings in courts such as writs, summonses, complaints, plaints and warrants; or\na circular or letter from any company or from any association registered under any Act to the directors, shareholders or members thereof, which bears the true name and address or place of business of the secretary or other officer thereof, or any circular notice or letter issued by any person and bearing the person’s true name and address.\nFor subsection (1) (d) (i) , a name is held under business names legislation only if it is held under—\nthe Business Names Registration Act 2011 (Cwlth) , section 54 ; or\nthe Business Names Registration (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 2011 (Cwlth) , schedule 1 , item 5.\ns 6 amd 1995 No. 58 s 4 sch 1 ; 2011 No. 34 s 31 sch 1\n(sec.6-ssec.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— at the time of, or within 24 hours after, printing the document print on at least 1 copy of the document in legible characters the name and address of the person for whom or on whose instructions the document was printed; and subject to paragraph (c) retain for a period of 6 months from the date on which the document was printed, a copy of the document on which that name and address are so printed; and upon the request of a police officer made at any time during that period, produce or surrender without payment the copy of the document so retained; and at the time of printing, print in legible characters— his or her name, or if the person carries on business under a name registered on the Business Names Register or held under business names legislation, that name; and 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. Maximum penalty—10 penalty units.\n(sec.6-ssec.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 in legible characters on the front or first or last page the name of the printer or the name under which the person carries on business, the address of the person’s place of business and the year in which the document was printed. Maximum penalty—10 penalty units.\n(sec.6-ssec.3) It shall be a defence if a person charged with an offence under subsection (2) proves that the document concerned was not printed in this State.\n(sec.6-ssec.4) This section does not apply to— a document printed for the Crown in right of a State (including the State of Queensland) or in right of the Commonwealth or a document printed for any authority, corporation or instrumentality established by an Act of Parliament of a State (including the State of Queensland) or of the Commonwealth; or a document printed by order or under the authority of a House of Parliament of a State (including the Legislative Assembly) or of the Commonwealth; or a document printed by or under the authority of the Government Printer of any State (including the State of Queensland) or the Government Printer of the Commonwealth; or a representation of a work of art; or a document containing only the name, address, telephone number or profession of any person and the articles in which the person deals, or some 1 or more of those particulars; or a document containing only information relating to proposed sale of property; or bank notes, bills of exchange, dividend warrants, promissory notes or other securities for the payment of money; or stocks, shares, bonds, debentures or other like securities and transfers and assignments thereof; or receipts for money or goods; or documents used in proceedings in courts such as writs, summonses, complaints, plaints and warrants; or a circular or letter from any company or from any association registered under any Act to the directors, shareholders or members thereof, which bears the true name and address or place of business of the secretary or other officer thereof, or any circular notice or letter issued by any person and bearing the person’s true name and address.\n(sec.6-ssec.5) For subsection (1) (d) (i) , a name is held under business names legislation only if it is held under— the Business Names Registration Act 2011 (Cwlth) , section 54 ; or the Business Names Registration (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 2011 (Cwlth) , schedule 1 , item 5.\n- (a) at the time of, or within 24 hours after, printing the document print on at least 1 copy of the document in legible characters the name and address of the person for whom or on whose instructions the document was printed; and\n- (b) subject to paragraph (c) retain for a period of 6 months from the date on which the document was printed, a copy of the document on which that name and address are so printed; and\n- (c) upon the request of a police officer made at any time during that period, produce or surrender without payment the copy of the document so retained; and\n- (d) at the time of printing, print in legible characters— (i) his or her name, or if the person carries on business under a name registered on the Business Names Register or held under business names legislation, that name; and (ii) the address of the person’s place of business; and (iii) the year in which the document is printed; on the front or first or last page of the document.\n- (i) his or her name, or if the person carries on business under a name registered on the Business Names Register or held under business names legislation, that name; and\n- (ii) the address of the person’s place of business; and\n- (iii) the year in which the document is printed;\n- (i) his or her name, or if the person carries on business under a name registered on the Business Names Register or held under business names legislation, that name; and\n- (ii) the address of the person’s place of business; and\n- (iii) the year in which the document is printed;\n- (a) a document printed for the Crown in right of a State (including the State of Queensland) or in right of the Commonwealth or a document printed for any authority, corporation or instrumentality established by an Act of Parliament of a State (including the State of Queensland) or of the Commonwealth; or\n- (b) a document printed by order or under the authority of a House of Parliament of a State (including the Legislative Assembly) or of the Commonwealth; or\n- (c) a document printed by or under the authority of the Government Printer of any State (including the State of Queensland) or the Government Printer of the Commonwealth; or\n- (d) a representation of a work of art; or\n- (e) a document containing only the name, address, telephone number or profession of any person and the articles in which the person deals, or some 1 or more of those particulars; or\n- (f) a document containing only information relating to proposed sale of property; or\n- (g) bank notes, bills of exchange, dividend warrants, promissory notes or other securities for the payment of money; or\n- (h) stocks, shares, bonds, debentures or other like securities and transfers and assignments thereof; or\n- (i) receipts for money or goods; or\n- (j) documents used in proceedings in courts such as writs, summonses, complaints, plaints and warrants; or\n- (k) a circular or letter from any company or from any association registered under any Act to the directors, shareholders or members thereof, which bears the true name and address or place of business of the secretary or other officer thereof, or any circular notice or letter issued by any person and bearing the person’s true name and address.\n- (a) the Business Names Registration Act 2011 (Cwlth) , section 54 ; or\n- (b) the Business Names Registration (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 2011 (Cwlth) , schedule 1 , item 5.","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"sec.7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Provisions in respect of printing and publishing newspapers","content":"### sec.7 Provisions in respect of printing and publishing newspapers\n\nA person who prints a newspaper shall, at the time of the printing, print on the front or first or last page of the newspaper—\nhis or her name or, if the person carries on business under a name registered on the Business Names Register or held under business names legislation, that name, and the address of the person’s place of business; and\nthe name and address of the publisher of the newspaper.\nMaximum penalty—10 penalty units.\nSubject 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.\nMaximum penalty—10 penalty units.\nIt shall be a defence if a person charged with an offence under subsection (2) proves that the newspaper concerned was not printed in this State.\nFor subsection (1) (a) , a name is held under business names legislation only if it is held under—\nthe Business Names Registration Act 2011 (Cwlth) , section 54 ; or\nthe Business Names Registration (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 2011 (Cwlth) , schedule 1 , item 5.\ns 7 amd 1995 No. 58 s 4 sch 1 ; 2011 No. 34 s 31 sch 1\n(sec.7-ssec.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— his or her name or, if the person carries on business under a name registered on the Business Names Register or held under business names legislation, that name, and the address of the person’s place of business; and the name and address of the publisher of the newspaper. Maximum penalty—10 penalty units.\n(sec.7-ssec.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. Maximum penalty—10 penalty units.\n(sec.7-ssec.3) It shall be a defence if a person charged with an offence under subsection (2) proves that the newspaper concerned was not printed in this State.\n(sec.7-ssec.4) For subsection (1) (a) , a name is held under business names legislation only if it is held under— the Business Names Registration Act 2011 (Cwlth) , section 54 ; or the Business Names Registration (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 2011 (Cwlth) , schedule 1 , item 5.\n- (a) his or her name or, if the person carries on business under a name registered on the Business Names Register or held under business names legislation, that name, and the address of the person’s place of business; and\n- (b) the name and address of the publisher of the newspaper.\n- (a) the Business Names Registration Act 2011 (Cwlth) , section 54 ; or\n- (b) the Business Names Registration (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 2011 (Cwlth) , schedule 1 , item 5.","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"sec.8","sectionType":"section","heading":"Evidentiary provision","content":"### sec.8 Evidentiary provision\n\nA document or newspaper on which is printed a name purporting to be the name of—\nthe printer of the document or newspaper; or\nthe person for whom or on whose instructions the document was printed; or\nthe publisher of the newspaper;\nshall 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—\nthe printer of the document or newspaper; or\nthe person for whom or on whose instructions the document was printed; or\nthe publisher of the newspaper;\nas the case may be.\n- (a) the printer of the document or newspaper; or\n- (b) the person for whom or on whose instructions the document was printed; or\n- (c) the publisher of the newspaper;\n- (d) the printer of the document or newspaper; or\n- (e) the person for whom or on whose instructions the document was printed; or\n- (f) the publisher of the newspaper;","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"pt.3","sectionType":"part","heading":"Miscellaneous","content":"# Miscellaneous","sortOrder":9},{"sectionNumber":"sec.9","sectionType":"section","heading":"Offences","content":"### sec.9 Offences\n\nA person who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of this Act shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.\nA person who aids, abets, counsels or procures or is in any way knowingly concerned in the commission of an offence against this Act shall be deemed to have committed that offence and shall be punishable accordingly.\n(sec.9-ssec.1) A person who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of this Act shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.\n(sec.9-ssec.2) A person who aids, abets, counsels or procures or is in any way knowingly concerned in the commission of an offence against this Act shall be deemed to have committed that offence and shall be punishable accordingly.","sortOrder":10},{"sectionNumber":"sec.10","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"### Section sec.10\n\ns 10 om 2013 No. 51 s 128","sortOrder":11},{"sectionNumber":"sec.11","sectionType":"section","heading":"General penalty","content":"### sec.11 General penalty\n\nA person guilty of an offence against a provision of this Act shall be liable, if no specific penalty is provided for that offence, to a penalty not exceeding 7 penalty units.\ns 11 amd 1995 No. 58 s 4 sch 1","sortOrder":12},{"sectionNumber":"sec.12","sectionType":"section","heading":"Summary proceedings","content":"### sec.12 Summary proceedings\n\nAll offences against this Act may be prosecuted in a summary way under the Justices Act 1886 on complaint of—\na police officer; or\na person authorised in writing by the Minister.\n- (a) a police officer; or\n- (b) a person authorised in writing by the Minister.","sortOrder":13},{"sectionNumber":"sec.13","sectionType":"section","heading":"Time for commencement of prosecution","content":"### sec.13 Time for commencement of prosecution\n\nA prosecution for an offence against this Act may be instituted at any time within 12 months after the commission of the offence or within 12 months after the commission of the offence comes to the knowledge of the complainant, whichever is the later period.\nIn a proceeding for the purposes of this Act it shall not be necessary to prove the authority of any person to prosecute an offence against this Act unless evidence is given to the contrary.\n(sec.13-ssec.1) A prosecution for an offence against this Act may be instituted at any time within 12 months after the commission of the offence or within 12 months after the commission of the offence comes to the knowledge of the complainant, whichever is the later period.\n(sec.13-ssec.2) In a proceeding for the purposes of this Act it shall not be necessary to prove the authority of any person to prosecute an offence against this Act unless evidence is given to the contrary.","sortOrder":14},{"sectionNumber":"sec.14","sectionType":"section","heading":"Discovery in cases of defamation in newspapers","content":"### sec.14 Discovery in cases of defamation in newspapers\n\nWhere any person in an action in respect of defamatory matter alleged to be contained in a newspaper seeks the discovery of the name of a person concerned in the property of or in that newspaper as proprietor, printer, publisher or otherwise of any matter relating to the printing or publishing thereof, in order to enable the person the more effectually to carry on that action, the defendant shall be compellable to make the discovery required.","sortOrder":15},{"sectionNumber":"sec.15","sectionType":"section","heading":"Power to exempt","content":"### sec.15 Power to exempt\n\nA regulation may exempt a document from the application of this Act.\ns 15 sub 1995 No. 58 s 4 sch 1","sortOrder":16},{"sectionNumber":"sec.16","sectionType":"section","heading":"Regulation making power","content":"### sec.16 Regulation making power\n\nThe Governor in Council may make regulations under this Act.\ns 16 sub 1995 No. 58 s 4 sch 1","sortOrder":17}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The text includes amendment and omission notes indicating changes since the original enactment. Notable changes recorded in the text: insertion of references to a Commonwealth Business Names Register and related transitional provisions (sec.5; notes: 2011 No.34 s.31 sch.1; sec.6 and sec.7 cross-references to business names legislation), and historical omissions of sections (sec.3 omitted; sec.10 omitted). These recorded amendments alter how the Act treats business names (making compliance depend on an external federal register) and show later deletions of provisions, so the Act as presented has a different statutory footprint than the original 1981 text (see amendment/omission notes adjacent to sec.1, sec.3, sec.6, sec.7 and sec.10)."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple distinct obligations (imprint content, timing, retention) placed on printers (sec.6(1))","Separate but overlapping obligations on sellers/distributors and newspaper publishers/printers (sec.6(2), sec.7(1)–(2))","Numerous and specific statutory exemptions for categories of documents (sec.6(4))","Cross-references to external legislation and a federal Business Names Register for determining valid business names (sec.5; sec.6(1)(d)(i); sec.7(1)(a))","Evidentiary presumption that printed names are prima facie evidence (sec.8) with potential litigation impacts","Criminalisation and accessory liability (sec.9) combined with summary prosecution procedures and a 12‑month limitation rule (sec.12–13)","Executive discretion through regulation and exemption powers (sec.15–16) that can alter practical scope","Amendments and omissions noted in the text (s.3 and s.10 omitted; amendment notes) which create interpretive history to consider"],"plain_english_summary":"What this law does, who it affects, and how it works\n\n- What it requires, mechanically:\n  - Printers must add identifying information to printed documents and keep a copy for inspection. If a person prints a document they know (or have reason to believe) will be sold, distributed or publicly displayed, they must: print the name and address of the person who commissioned the printing on at least one copy (at or within 24 hours of printing); print the printer’s name (or registered business name), business address and the year on the front/first/last page; and retain a copy with that printed information for 6 months and produce it to a police officer on request without payment (sec.6(1), (4)).\n  - Similar obligations apply specifically to newspapers: the printer must print their name (or registered business name) and address, and the name and address of the publisher on the front/first/last page at the time of printing (sec.7(1)).\n  - Selling, distributing or otherwise exposing to public view a document or newspaper that lacks the required printed details is an offence (sec.6(2), sec.7(2)).\n  - A document or newspaper that bears a printed name purporting to be the printer, commissioner or publisher is admissible in courts and tribunals as prima facie evidence that the printed person filled that role (sec.8).\n\n- Who is affected:\n  - Commercial and private printers who produce documents or newspapers intended for sale, distribution or public display (sec.6(1), sec.7(1)).\n  - People who sell, offer for sale, distribute or otherwise expose such documents or newspapers to public view (sec.6(2), sec.7(2)).\n  - Publishers of newspapers (sec.7(1)).\n  - Police and authorised complainants, who can request retained copies and commence summary prosecutions (sec.6(1)(c), sec.12).\n\n- Penalties and enforcement:\n  - Specific imprinting offences carry a maximum penalty of 10 penalty units (sec.6(1) penalty note; sec.6(2); sec.7). If no specific penalty is provided elsewhere, a general penalty of up to 7 penalty units applies (sec.11).\n  - A person who aids or is knowingly concerned in an offence under the Act is treated as having committed the offence (sec.9(2)).\n  - Offences may be prosecuted summarily under the Justices Act 1886 on complaint by a police officer or a person authorised in writing by the Minister (sec.12). Prosecutions must generally be instituted within 12 months after the offence or within 12 months after the complainant becomes aware of it, whichever is later (sec.13(1)).\n\n- Defences, exemptions and limits:\n  - It is a defence to a selling/distribution offence to prove the document or newspaper was not printed in this State (sec.6(3), sec.7(3)).\n  - The Act lists specific categories of documents that are not covered (e.g. Crown/Parliament/Government Printer material, certain commercial-only documents, bank notes, court process forms, corporate circulars that already bear the company officer’s name and address, representations of works of art) (sec.6(4)).\n  - The Governor in Council may make regulations under the Act and regulations may exempt documents from the Act (sec.15, sec.16).\n\n- Legal effects on evidence and disclosure:\n  - A printed name on a document or newspaper creates a prima facie (rebuttable) evidentiary presumption that the named person was the printer, commissioner or publisher; courts and tribunals must receive the document as such prima facie evidence in proceedings (sec.8).\n  - In defamation actions, a defendant may be compelled to disclose the names of persons concerned in the paper’s property or printing/publishing where required to enable the plaintiff to pursue the action (sec.14).\n\nPurpose-claims stated in the text and how that maps to costs, incentives and trade-offs\n\n- Purpose-claim in the Act (as implemented by its mechanics): the Act creates traceability and accountability for printed material by requiring identifiable information on printed matter and by making printed names prima facie evidence of responsibility (see sec.6, sec.7, sec.8). The regulation and exemption powers (sec.15–16) allow the executive to refine the categories covered.\n\n- Costs and compliance burden (mechanisms):\n  - Printers must allocate time and systems to: add legible imprint information to copies, retain a copy for 6 months, and produce it to police on demand (sec.6(1)(a)–(c)). That imposes a record-keeping, production and operational cost on printers (sec.6(1)(b)–(c)).\n  - Sellers/distributors must check for required imprinting before exposing documents/newspapers to public view or risk penalties (sec.6(2), sec.7(2)).\n  - Legal uncertainty and administrative cost arise from determining whether an item falls within the listed exemptions (sec.6(4)) or is outside the State (defence: sec.6(3), sec.7(3)).\n\n- Incentives and behavioural effects (mechanisms):\n  - The prima facie evidentiary rule (sec.8) increases legal risk for printers/publishers whose names appear on material; that creates an incentive to ensure accuracy of imprints and to avoid imprinting materials where the person does not wish to bear that legal association.\n  - The existence of a statutory defence if not printed in the State (sec.6(3), sec.7(3)) can create an incentive to have material printed outside the State to avoid compliance and liability.\n  - Regulation and exemption powers (sec.15–16) shift some substantive scope decisions from the legislature to the executive, creating administrative discretion about which documents are exempt.\n\n- Trade-offs and implementation risks (mechanisms):\n  - The law trades off anonymity of printed material against traceability and investigatory ease: the record-retention and prima facie evidence rules make identifying responsible parties easier (sec.6(1)(b)–(c); sec.8), but add compliance cost and may reduce willingness to commission or print some material.\n  - Enforcement depends on police action and summary proceedings (sec.12). Time limits for prosecution (sec.13) and the defence for out-of-State printing (sec.6(3), sec.7(3)) create practical limits on enforcement reach.\n  - The Act’s cross-references to an external Business Names Register (definitions in sec.5 and references in sec.6(1)(d)(i), sec.7(1)(a)) mean compliance depends in part on rules and records maintained under other legislation (sec.5). This creates dependency and some complexity in determining who may properly use a business name.\n\nWho pays, who decides, and what changes behaviour (plain declarative statements):\n- Who pays: printers and publishers pay compliance and record-keeping costs and risk financial penalties for breaches; sellers/distributors bear risk and potential compliance checking costs (sec.6, sec.7, sec.11). Police and courts bear enforcement and adjudication duties (sec.6(1)(c), sec.12, sec.13).\n- Who decides: the Governor in Council can make regulations and exempt documents (sec.15–16); police and Minister-authorised complainants decide whether to lay charges (sec.12); courts decide whether the evidentiary presumption is rebutted (sec.8).\n- Behavioural change required: printers must imprint specified details and retain a copy for 6 months; sellers/distributors must not expose un‑imprinted documents/newspapers to public view; defendants in litigation can seek discovery of names associated with newspapers (sec.6, sec.7, sec.14).\n\nConcentrated benefits and diffuse costs (mechanism-based observation):\n- The Act concentrates investigatory benefits for police, publishers and litigants who need to identify responsible parties (sec.6(1)(c), sec.8, sec.14). The compliance costs and administrative effort fall more broadly on printers and distributors of printed material (sec.6(1)–(2), sec.7(1)–(2)).\n\nSummary of key practical points to watch for compliance:\n- Ensure imprint elements (commissioner’s name/address on at least one copy; printer’s name/address/year on front/first/last page) are added at or within 24 hours of printing (sec.6(1)).\n- Retain one imprinted copy for 6 months and be prepared to surrender it to police without payment (sec.6(1)(b)–(c)).\n- For newspapers, include the printer’s and publisher’s name and addresses on the front/first/last page at time of printing (sec.7(1)).\n- Check whether any exemption in the Act applies to the document (sec.6(4)) or whether printing occurs outside the State (sec.6(3), sec.7(3)).\n- Note the evidentiary consequence that a printed name is prima facie evidence of the role claimed (sec.8).\n\n(Primary sections cited: sec.5, sec.6, sec.7, sec.8, sec.9, sec.11–13, sec.14–16.)"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Act has remained focused on its original purpose: requiring identification of printers and publishers on documents and newspapers. Amendments have been administrative in nature — updating penalty unit references and aligning definitions with the Commonwealth Business Names Registration Act 2011 — rather than expanding or narrowing the substantive scope of the legislation."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple layered obligations applying to different parties (printers, distributors, publishers) with distinct requirements for each","Extensive list of exceptions requiring careful reading to determine if a document falls within scope","Cross-references to Commonwealth legislation (Business Names Registration Act 2011) requiring understanding of an external statutory scheme","Distinction between 'documents' and 'newspapers' carrying different legal obligations","Evidential provisions (prima facie evidence rule) that have procedural implications in court proceedings","Interplay between state offence provisions and Commonwealth business names registration system"],"plain_english_summary":"## What This Law Does\n\nThis is a Queensland law from 1981 that sets rules about **identifying who printed and published documents and newspapers**. Think of it as a transparency law for the printing industry.\n\n## Who It Affects\n\n- **Printers** (people or businesses who physically print documents or newspapers)\n- **Publishers** (people who publish newspapers)\n- **Distributors** (anyone who sells, hands out, or publicly displays printed material)\n\n## Key Rules\n\n### For Printed Documents (leaflets, pamphlets, magazines, posters, circulars, etc.)\n\nIf you print something intended to be sold, handed out, or publicly displayed, you **must**:\n1. Print the name and address of whoever ordered the printing on at least one copy within 24 hours\n2. Keep that copy for **6 months** and hand it over to police if asked\n3. Print your own name, business address, and the year of printing on the front or last page\n\nYou also **cannot** distribute or display any document that doesn't have the printer's name, business address, and year printed on it.\n\n### For Newspapers\n\nPrinters of newspapers must print on the front or last page:\n- Their own name and business address\n- The name and address of the **publisher**\n\nAnyone distributing or selling a newspaper without this information is breaking the law.\n\n### Exceptions (things this law does NOT cover)\n- Government documents and parliamentary papers\n- Works of art\n- Simple business cards or name/address listings\n- Real estate sale notices\n- Banknotes, financial securities, shares, receipts\n- Court documents (summonses, warrants, etc.)\n- Company newsletters/circulars that already show the sender's name and address\n\n## If You Break the Rules\n\nBreaking these rules can result in a **fine of up to 10 penalty units** (roughly $1,500+ in Queensland as of recent years). Police or a ministerially authorised person can prosecute. Prosecutions must be started within 12 months of the offence being discovered.\n\n## Why It Matters\n\nThis law exists so that if defamatory (damaging and false), illegal, or misleading material is printed and distributed, there is a clear paper trail to identify who was responsible. It also helps in defamation lawsuits — if you're suing over something published in a newspaper, the defendant can be legally required to reveal who owns or runs the paper."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: requiring imprinting on printed documents and newspapers. While it has been updated to reference modern business names registration (2011 amendments) and penalty units (1995 amendments), it has not expanded beyond physical printing. Notably, it has not been extended to cover digital publishing, websites, or electronic documents, meaning its scope has actually narrowed in practical effect as print media has declined."},"complexity_factors":["Short statute—only 16 sections, with 2 repealed","Straightforward structure: definitions, imprinting rules for documents, imprinting rules for newspapers, miscellaneous provisions","Multiple nested exceptions in section 6(4)—11 separate exemption categories for documents","Some cross-referencing to Commonwealth Business Names Registration Act 2011","Extremely broad definition of 'sell' that lists 15+ specific activities","Minimal conditional logic—mostly 'if X then Y' without deep nesting"],"plain_english_summary":"This Queensland law requires anyone who prints documents or newspapers for sale or distribution to put their name and address on them—essentially a 'who made this' label. It helps track down who's responsible for printed material if there's a problem, like defamation or illegal content.\n\n**Key rules:**\n- **Printers must imprint** their business name, address, and year on documents and newspapers they print\n- **They must also record** who commissioned the printing and keep a copy for 6 months\n- **Police can demand** to see these records\n- **Sellers can't sell** documents missing this imprinting information\n- **Lots of exceptions** apply—government documents, court papers, receipts, artworks, and simple business cards don't need this\n\n**Who it affects:** Commercial printers, publishers, and anyone selling printed materials in Queensland. It doesn't apply to documents printed outside Queensland.\n\n**Why it matters:** This is old-school accountability legislation from 1981, updated occasionally. In the internet age, it looks increasingly quaint—it regulates physical printing presses while ignoring digital publishing entirely. The penalties are modest (up to 10 penalty units, roughly $1,500)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/printing-and-newspapers-act-1981","history":"/api/acts/printing-and-newspapers-act-1981/history","analysis":"/api/acts/printing-and-newspapers-act-1981/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/printing-and-newspapers-act-1981/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/printing-and-newspapers-act-1981/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/printing-and-newspapers-act-1981/documents"}}