{"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":{"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)."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Act has not changed significantly in scope since its original enactment. Amendments have been minor, primarily updating references to business names legislation and removing obsolete sections. The core requirements for imprinting and exemptions remain largely as originally drafted."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple definitions with specific inclusions and exclusions (e.g., 'document', 'newspaper', 'print', 'sell')","Extensive list of exemptions in section 6(4) with 11 sub-paragraphs","Cross-references to the Business Names Registration Act 2011 (Cwlth) for determining business names","Conditional requirements with time limits (e.g., 24 hours, 6 months retention)","Provisions with multiple sub-requirements and maximum penalties","Evidentiary rule in section 8 creating prima facie evidence","Limitation period of 12 months for prosecutions with knowledge trigger"],"plain_english_summary":"This Queensland law requires printers of documents (like pamphlets, leaflets, and magazines) and newspapers to include their name, business address, and the year of printing on the first or last page. For documents, the printer must also add the name and address of the person who ordered it. Printers must keep a copy for six months and show it to a police officer if asked. Newspapers must also include the publisher's name and address. These rules do not apply to government documents, works of art, simple business cards, property sale notices, banknotes, court documents, and letters from companies to shareholders that already show the company's name. Breaking the rules can result in a fine of up to 10 penalty units (currently about $1,300). The law also requires defendants in defamation cases involving newspapers to disclose the names of owners or publishers. This law mainly affects commercial printers and publishers, imposing a compliance burden for transparency purposes."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[{"type":"impossible_compliance","section":"sec.6(1)(a) and sec.6(1)(d)","severity":"medium","reasoning":"The printer's own details must be on the document at the exact time of printing (s6(1)(d)), but the client's details can be added within 24 hours after (s6(1)(a)). However, the retention obligation in s6(1)(b) says the printer must retain 'a copy of the document on which that name and address are so printed' — if the client details aren't required until 24 hours post-printing, it's unclear whether the copy retained immediately at printing would satisfy the retention obligation or whether a second annotation is required on the retained copy.","confidence":0.72,"description":"Section 6(1)(a) requires the printer to print the client's name and address 'at the time of, or within 24 hours after, printing the document', while section 6(1)(d) requires the printer's own details to be printed 'at the time of printing'. This creates two different temporal obligations for the same act of printing, meaning the printer must simultaneously print two different things at potentially different times on the same document."},{"type":"self_contradicting","section":"sec.6(1)(b) and sec.6(1)(c)","severity":"medium","reasoning":"The Act requires retention for 6 months (s6(1)(b)) and also requires surrender upon police request at any time during that period (s6(1)(c)). If surrendered, the printer is no longer retaining the document, yet the retention obligation continues for the balance of the 6 months. There is no savings provision protecting the printer from a breach of the retention obligation upon lawful surrender.","confidence":0.78,"description":"Section 6(1)(c) requires the printer to 'produce or surrender' a copy of a document upon police request. 'Surrender' implies permanent transfer of possession, yet s6(1)(b) imposes a 6-month retention obligation on that same copy. Once surrendered, the printer cannot continue to retain it, making simultaneous compliance with both obligations impossible if a police officer demands surrender before the 6-month period expires."},{"type":"other","section":"sec.5 (definition of 'document') and sec.5 (definition of 'newspaper')","severity":"low","reasoning":"The printer of a pamphlet cannot know at the time of printing whether the publication frequency will satisfy the 31-day newspaper threshold, since future publication schedules may be uncertain. This makes it impossible for a printer to know with certainty whether they are printing a 'document' (governed by s6) or a 'newspaper' (governed by s7) at the time compliance obligations arise.","confidence":0.65,"description":"The definition of 'document' expressly excludes a newspaper, and the definition of 'newspaper' includes pamphlets containing public news published periodically. However, the definition of 'document' also includes 'pamphlet'. A pamphlet containing public news published periodically at intervals not exceeding 31 days would qualify as a 'newspaper', yet pamphlets are simultaneously included in the definition of 'document'. The mutual exclusion clause ('does not include a newspaper') in the 'document' definition attempts to resolve this, but a pamphlet that does NOT meet the newspaper threshold (e.g., published every 40 days) falls into 'document', creating a definitional boundary that depends on publication frequency — an inherently variable fact not determinable at the time of printing."},{"type":"self_contradicting","section":"sec.6(2) and sec.6(4)(k)","severity":"low","reasoning":"The section exempts documents from the imprinting regime on the condition that they already contain identifying information. The exemption is thus conditional on partial compliance with the very regime from which the exemption is granted, blurring the line between exemption and requirement.","confidence":0.7,"description":"Section 6(2) prohibits distributing any document that does not bear the printer's imprint. Section 6(4)(k) exempts 'a circular or letter from any company... to the directors, shareholders or members thereof, which bears the true name and address... of the secretary or other officer thereof'. This creates an absurdity where a circular is exempt from imprinting requirements under s6(4) — meaning s6(1) imposes no obligation on the printer — yet the exemption itself requires the circular to bear a name and address, effectively imposing an imprinting-like requirement through the exemption clause itself."},{"type":"circular_definition","section":"sec.9(1) and sec.11","severity":"medium","reasoning":"The offence-creating provision (s9(1)) applies to contraventions of 'any provision of this Act', which includes s9(1) itself. Committing an offence under s9(1) is itself a contravention of s9(1), which creates another offence, and so on recursively. While courts would likely read this purposively, the drafting is logically circular.","confidence":0.68,"description":"Section 9(1) states that a person who contravenes 'any provision of this Act' is guilty of an offence. Section 11 provides a general penalty where 'no specific penalty is provided'. Sections 6(1), 6(2), 7(1) and 7(2) each provide a specific penalty of 10 penalty units. However, s9(1) is itself a 'provision of this Act', and contravening it (i.e., committing an offence) would itself be an offence under s9(1), creating an infinite regress of offences."},{"type":"other","section":"sec.8","severity":"low","reasoning":"The prima facie evidence rule in s8 is premised on compliance with the very obligation it enforces. In cases of non-compliance (e.g., a false name is printed), the provision operates perversely by creating prima facie evidence against an innocent person.","confidence":0.6,"description":"Section 8 provides that a document bearing a name purporting to be the printer's name is prima facie evidence that the named person IS the printer. Combined with s6(1)(d) requiring the printer to print their own name, this creates a circular evidentiary mechanism: the document is evidence of its own compliance. A fraudulent printer could print a false name, and that document would then be prima facie evidence that the false person is the printer, effectively making the provision useful for prosecuting innocent named parties rather than actual offenders."},{"type":"other","section":"sec.13(1)","severity":"low","reasoning":"While not logically impossible, the open-ended knowledge-based limitation is disproportionate for a minor regulatory offence and creates practical absurdity — a printer could face prosecution decades later for failing to include a year on a pamphlet.","confidence":0.75,"description":"The limitation period provides for prosecution '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.' Where a complainant never gains knowledge of an offence, the second limb never triggers, meaning the first limb (12 months from commission) operates alone. However, where knowledge is gained more than 12 months after commission, the second limb extends time indefinitely — theoretically, if a complainant learns of an offence 20 years later, prosecution could be commenced 20 years and 12 months after the original offence, for what is essentially a minor regulatory printing matter carrying a maximum of 10 penalty units."}],"contradictions":[{"severity":"low","section_a":"sec.6(1)","section_b":"sec.6(4)(a), (b), (c)","confidence":0.6,"description":"Section 6(1) imposes imprinting obligations on 'a person who prints any document', with s6(4) exempting Crown, Parliamentary and Government Printer documents. However, the definition of 'print' in s5 includes 'representing or reproducing in any document'. The Government Printer exemption in s6(4)(c) means documents printed BY the Government Printer are exempt, but s6(4)(a) also exempts documents printed FOR the Crown. If a private printer prints for the Crown, s6(4)(a) exempts the document, but s6(1)(d) would have required the printer's own name on the document at the time of printing — before any exemption determination. There is no mechanism to reconcile the timing of the obligation with the timing of establishing the exemption."},{"severity":"high","section_a":"sec.6(2)","section_b":"sec.6(3)","confidence":0.85,"description":"Section 6(2) prohibits distributing a document without the printer's imprint. Section 6(3) provides a defence for a person charged under s6(2) if they prove the document 'was not printed in this State'. This defence is available to a distributor, not the printer. However, this means a person can lawfully distribute in Queensland a document printed interstate without any imprint — completely undermining the transparency purpose of the imprinting regime for all imported documents. A document printed in New South Wales without any imprint can be freely distributed throughout Queensland."},{"severity":"high","section_a":"sec.7(2)","section_b":"sec.7(3)","confidence":0.85,"description":"The same contradiction exists for newspapers: s7(2) prohibits distributing newspapers without the printer's imprint, but s7(3) provides a complete defence if the newspaper was not printed in Queensland. This creates a two-tiered regime where Queensland-printed newspapers must comply with imprinting requirements but interstate-printed newspapers (including all major national mastheads) face no such obligation, directly contradicting the stated regulatory purpose."},{"severity":"medium","section_a":"sec.6(1)(d)","section_b":"sec.6(2)","confidence":0.8,"description":"Section 6(1)(d) requires the printer to print their details including 'the year in which the document is printed' on the document. Section 6(2) requires that a document must bear these same details before it can be distributed. However, s6(1) only applies to printers who 'know, or have reason to believe' the document is intended for sale or distribution. If a printer has no such knowledge or belief, they have no obligation under s6(1)(d) to include the year. Yet the distributor would subsequently be liable under s6(2) for distributing a document lacking that information, even though the printer committed no offence. The distributor is thus penalised for the lawful omission of the printer."},{"severity":"medium","section_a":"sec.9(1)","section_b":"sec.11","confidence":0.73,"description":"Section 9(1) states that contravening 'any provision of this Act' is an offence. Section 11 provides that a person guilty of an offence under a provision of this Act is liable to 7 penalty units 'if no specific penalty is provided'. Sections 6(1), 6(2), 7(1) and 7(2) specify 10 penalty units. This means offences under s6 and s7 attract 10 penalty units per the specific penalty, but if prosecuted under s9(1) (the general offence provision), arguably only 7 penalty units would apply under s11 — creating uncertainty about which penalty applies to the same underlying conduct depending on which section is charged."},{"severity":"medium","section_a":"sec.5 (definition of 'newspaper')","section_b":"sec.5 (definition of 'newspaper') — exclusion of Government Printer publications","confidence":0.67,"description":"The definition of 'newspaper' excludes 'any document published in the course of his or her duty by the Government Printer'. However, the definition of 'document' also excludes 'newspaper'. If a Government Printer publishes what would otherwise be a newspaper, it is excluded from the newspaper definition by this carve-out. It then potentially falls back into the definition of 'document' (subject to the newspaper exclusion not applying since it has been carved out). This creates ambiguity as to whether Government Printer publications that would otherwise be newspapers are 'documents' subject to s6, or neither, subject to nothing."}]}},"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"}}