{"id":"sr:relationships-regulations-2016","name":"Relationships Regulations 2016","slug":"relationships-regulations-2016","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"vic","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":181313,"registerId":"vic-sr:relationships-regulations-2016-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Relationships Regulations 2016","content":"Version No. 001\n\n**Relationships Regulations 2016**\n\n**S.R. No. 57/2016**\n\nVersion as at  \n1 July 2016\n\n**TABLE OF PROVISIONS**\n\n*Regulation Page*\n\n1 Objective 1\n\n2 Authorising provision 1\n\n3 Commencement 1\n\n4 Laws prescribed to be corresponding laws 1\n\n═══════════════\n\nEndnotes 3\n\n1 General information 3\n\n2 Table of Amendments 5\n\n3 Amendments Not in Operation 6\n\n4 Explanatory details 7\n\n**Version No.** **001**\n\n**Relationships Regulations 2016**\n\n**S.R. No. 57/2016**\n\nVersion as at  \n1 July 2016\n\n\t1 Objective\n\nThe objective of these Regulations is to prescribe laws to be corresponding laws for the purpose of paragraph (a) of the definition of ***corresponding law*** in section 33A of the **Relationships Act 2008**.\n\n\t2 Authorising provision\n\nThese Regulations are made under section 71 of the **Relationships Act 2008**.\n\n\t3 Commencement\n\nThese Regulations come  into operation on 1 July 2016.\n\n\t4 Laws prescribed to be corresponding laws\n\nFor the purpose of paragraph (a) of the definition of ***corresponding law*** in section 33A of the **Relationships Act 2008**, the following are prescribed laws—\n\n(a) Book 1, Civil Code  of Québec, Canada;\n\n(b) Book 1, Dutch Civil Code  of the Netherlands;\n\n(c) Chapter 572 Marriage, Part 1 and Chapter 572B Civil Unions, Hawaii Revised Statutes of the State of Hawaii, United States of America;\n\n(d) Civil Marriage Act 2005  of Canada;\n\n(e) Civil Partnership Act 2004  of the United Kingdom;\n\n(f) Civil Partnerships Act 2011  of Queensland;\n\n(g) Civil Union Act 2004 of New Zealand;\n\n(h) Civil Union Act 2006 of South Africa;\n\n(i) Civil Unions Act 2012 of the Australian Capital Territory;\n\n(j) Division 3 Marriage, Family Code of the State of California, United States of America;\n\n(k) Domestic Relations Law of the State of New York, United States of America;\n\n(l) Domestic Relationships Act 1994 of the Australian Capital Territory;\n\n(m) Marriage Act 1955  of New Zealand;\n\n(n) Marriage Act 1949  of the United Kingdom;\n\n(o) Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014  of Scotland;\n\n(p) Relationships Register Act 2010 of New South Wales;\n\n(q) Section 4 and Part 2 of the Relationships Act 2003 of Tasmania;\n\n(r) Vital Statistics Act, Revised Statutes 1989, c. 494  of Nova Scotia, Canada.\n\n═══════════════\n\nEndnotes\n\n1 General information\n\nSee [www.legislation.vic.gov.au](http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au) for Victorian Bills, Acts and current authorised versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.\n\nThe Relationships Regulations 2016, S.R. No. 57/2016 were made on 15 June 2016 by the Administrator of the State of Victoria as the Governor's deputy, with the advice of the Executive Council under section 71 of the **Relationships Act 2008**, No. 12/2008 and came into operation on 1 July 2016: regulation 3.\n\nThe Relationships Regulations 2016 will sunset 10 years after the day of making on 15 June 2026 (see section 5 of the **Subordinate Legislation Act 1994**).\n\nINTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)\n\nStyle changes\n\nSection 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.\n\nReferences to ILA s. 39B\n\nSidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided regulation, rule or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subregulations, subrules or subclauses the original regulation, rule or clause becomes subregulation, subrule or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression \"(1)\" at the beginning of the original regulation, rule or clause.\n\nInterpretation\n\nAs from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:\n\n• Headings\n\nAll headings included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any heading inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nThis includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; Orders; Parts into which an Order is divided; clauses; regulations; rules; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms.  \nSee section 36(1A)(2A)(2B).\n\n• Examples, diagrams or notes\n\nAll examples, diagrams or notes included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Statutory Rule. See section 36(3A).\n\n• Punctuation\n\nAll punctuation included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 forms part of that Statutory Rule. Any punctuation inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nSee section 36(3B).\n\n• Provision numbers\n\nAll provision numbers included in a Statutory Rule form part of that Statutory Rule, whether inserted in the Statutory Rule before, on or after  \n1 January 2001. Provision numbers include regulation numbers, rule numbers, subregulation numbers, subrule numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs. See section 36(3C).\n\n• Location of \"legislative items\"\n\nA \"legislative item\" is a penalty, an example or a note. As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of a Statutory Rule is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision. For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision. See section 36B.\n\n• Other material\n\nAny explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of a Statutory Rule. See section 36(3)(3D)(3E).\n\n2 Table of Amendments\n\nThere are no amendments made to the Relationships Regulations 2016 by statutory rules, subordinate instruments and Acts.\n\n3 Amendments Not in Operation\n\nThere are no amendments which were Not in Operation at the date of this publication.\n\n4 Explanatory details\n\nNo entries at date of publication.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument implements the specific, narrow purpose stated in its objective: it prescribes which external statutes are to be treated as 'corresponding laws' for paragraph (a) of the definition in s.33A of the Relationships Act 2008 (regulation 1 and 4). It does not extend or broaden the Relationships Act itself, nor add substantive rights or obligations beyond recognising relationships under the listed laws. The Regulations therefore do not change the original statutory scope; they simply enumerate the laws that fall within the designated part of the existing definition. The only material scope-related feature is that the list (a delegated, easily amended instrument) determines which foreign/interstate relationships are caught — that is an intended administrative effect rather than a substantive enlargement of the parent Act."},"complexity_factors":["Very short instrument: 4 regulations (Objective, Authorising provision, Commencement, Prescribed laws)","Single external cross-reference to the definition of 'corresponding law' in s.33A of the Relationships Act 2008 (the Regulations rely on that definition for effect)","List of 18 prescribed laws spanning multiple foreign and domestic jurisdictions (regulation 4(a)–(r))","No selection criteria or substantive rules included — the instrument is a mechanical list rather than rule-heavy","Dependence on external statutes (foreign/state laws) for substantive effect increases practical complexity when applying the law","Endnotes include administrative details (commencement, made-by, and a 10-year sunset) that affect longevity and review requirements","References to Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984 technical provisions in endnotes add marginal interpretive detail"],"plain_english_summary":"**What these Regulations do (mechanically):**\n\n- These Regulations (the \"Relationships Regulations 2016\") list specific foreign and interstate laws that are to be treated as \"corresponding laws\" for the purposes of paragraph (a) of the definition of \"corresponding law\" in section 33A of the Relationships Act 2008 (regulation 4).  \n- They are made under the authority of section 71 of the Relationships Act 2008 (regulation 2) and came into operation on 1 July 2016 (regulation 3).  \n- The list includes statutes from a number of foreign jurisdictions and Australian States/Territories (for example: Quebec Civil Code; Dutch Civil Code; Civil Partnership/Union and Marriage statutes from the UK, New Zealand, Canada, several Australian jurisdictions; selected U.S. state statutes) (regulation 4(a)–(r)).  \n\n**Who this affects:**\n\n- Individuals whose relationships were created, registered, or recognised under any of the listed laws: those relationships are treated as arising under a \"corresponding law\" for the specific legal purposes set out in the Relationships Act 2008 (see reg 4 read with s.33A of the Relationships Act 2008).  \n- Public agencies, courts and officials who apply the Relationships Act 2008 when deciding whether to recognise a relationship formed under another law: they use this list as the prescribed set of \"corresponding laws.\"\n\n**Why it matters (functional effect):**\n\n- By prescribing particular foreign and interstate statutes as \"corresponding laws,\" the Regulations provide a clear catalogue of jurisdictions whose relationship instruments will be treated as equivalent for the relevant parts of the Relationships Act 2008 (reg 4).  \n- The Regulations do not themselves set substantive rules about what those relationships mean; they operate to trigger recognition under the Relationships Act 2008 where that Act relies on the concept of a \"corresponding law.\"  \n\n**Source's stated purpose and practical test against costs and incentives:**\n\n- The objective clause says the Regulations are \"to prescribe laws to be corresponding laws\" for s.33A paragraph (a) (regulation 1). That is a straightforward, administrative purpose: to identify which external laws count as \"corresponding.\"  \n- Costs and implementation burden: the Regulations are short and administrative. There is minimal direct compliance cost on government to maintain the list, and no new taxes or fines. Indirect costs could arise where recognition under the Relationships Act 2008 creates obligations or entitlements for individuals that public agencies must administer — those costs stem from the parent Act, not the Regulations themselves (see reg 4 read with s.33A).  \n- Incentives and private behaviour: making particular foreign/state laws officially \"corresponding\" creates legal certainty for people who formed relationships under those laws (they will know their relationship is treated as falling within the Relationships Act framework). That certainty can affect private choices (for example, choices about where to register a relationship), but the Regulations do not create substantive entitlements — they only identify which external laws trigger recognition.  \n\n**Trade-offs, discretion and implementation risk:**\n\n- The Regulations are a subordinate instrument (made under s.71), so the Executive can add or remove laws from the list without amending the primary Act. This is efficient for updating but concentrates decision-making power at the regulation level (regulation 2).  \n- The instrument lists specific statutes but does not set criteria for including laws. That leaves administrative discretion in future decisions about which laws to prescribe and may create gaps if relevant foreign or interstate laws change or are omitted (regulation 4).  \n- The endnotes record that the instrument will sunset 10 years after making (i.e. it will expire unless remade), which imposes a time limit on this delegated list and requires affirmative action to continue it beyond that date (Endnotes).  \n\n**Concrete behavioral effects (who pays, who decides, what changes):**\n\n- Who decides: the Executive (under s.71) prescribed the list in this subordinate instrument (regulation 2).  \n- Who pays: there is no specific fee or charge created by these Regulations. Any administrative cost of applying the Relationships Act to recognised relationships will fall on public agencies and on the individuals who engage with those agencies (indirect costs).  \n- What behaviour changes: officials will treat relationships created under the listed laws as \"corresponding\" for the limited purposes in s.33A, which reduces legal uncertainty for affected individuals and may influence where people seek formal relationship recognition.\n\n**Practical points to note:**\n\n- The Regulations are narrowly framed and technical: they do not define the substantive content of recognition, only which external laws count as corresponding laws (regulation 4).  \n- Because the list spans different legal systems, substantive consequences for recognised relationships may still vary depending on the originating law's content; the Regulations do not harmonise those substantive differences.  \n- The instrument’s short form and delegated status make it easy to update the list, but that also concentrates discretion and reduces parliamentary scrutiny compared with primary legislation (regulation 2)."},"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Insufficient content was provided to assess whether the scope of this instrument changed from its original intent. The document contains only administrative metadata (title, version status, rule number) and no substantive provisions."},"complexity_factors":["Only metadata and version history are present — no substantive regulatory content was provided for analysis","Regulations (as a document type) typically add a layer of complexity by operating beneath a parent Act, requiring readers to cross-reference both instruments","Consolidated versions may incorporate multiple amendments, which can make tracking changes difficult without a change log","The relationships law area can involve nuanced eligibility criteria and procedural requirements, but this cannot be assessed from the document provided"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument is a 2016 statutory rule made under the ACT’s Relationships Act framework (rule no. 57/2016) and is currently in force. The provided file contains only metadata — title, version history and administrative details — not the substantive regulatory text, so the specific rules, who precisely is affected, and any obligations or procedures cannot be determined from it."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations perform exactly the narrow function intended: prescribing specific external laws as 'corresponding laws' for recognition purposes. The scope has not expanded beyond this original purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Only 4 substantive regulations, with just 1 operative provision (regulation 4)","No defined terms within the instrument itself – relies entirely on definitions in the parent Act (Relationships Act 2008)","Simple list structure with no conditional logic, exceptions, or cross-references beyond the single reference to section 33A of the Act","No penalties, enforcement mechanisms, or procedural requirements","Straightforward commencement provision with fixed date","No amendments or complex legislative history"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this does:**\n\nThese regulations create a list of overseas and interstate laws that Victoria will recognise as \"corresponding laws\" for relationship recognition purposes. Essentially, if you have a registered relationship, civil union, or marriage under any of these 18 listed laws (from places like Canada, the Netherlands, Hawaii, New Zealand, the UK, Queensland, NSW, Tasmania, and the ACT), Victoria will treat that relationship as equivalent to a domestic relationship registered under Victorian law.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n- **Couples who registered their relationship overseas or interstate** – if your relationship is covered by one of these laws, you get automatic recognition in Victoria without having to re-register.\n- **Victorian government agencies and courts** – they use this list to determine whether to treat an out-of-state relationship as valid for things like property division, inheritance, or next-of-kin rights.\n- **Same-sex couples** particularly benefited at the time, as this included civil union and civil partnership laws from jurisdictions that offered these before Australian federal marriage equality (2017).\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nBefore federal same-sex marriage was legalised in Australia, these regulations were crucial for recognising relationships that couldn't be formalised under Victorian law. Even now, they remain important for:\n- **International couples** moving to Victoria\n- **Property and financial disputes** where courts need to determine if a relationship existed\n- **Succession law** (who inherits when someone dies without a will)\n- **Avoiding duplication** – couples don't need to re-register if already covered\n\nThe list includes a mix of marriage laws, civil union acts, civil partnership schemes, and relationship registers from 10 different countries/jurisdictions."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/relationships-regulations-2016","history":"/api/acts/relationships-regulations-2016/history","analysis":"/api/acts/relationships-regulations-2016/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/relationships-regulations-2016/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/relationships-regulations-2016/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/relationships-regulations-2016/documents"}}