4Interpretation

4 Interpretation

(1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

Australia includes the Territories.

election includes a by‑election (other than a by‑election for a local government authority of a State or a Territory).

election period means:

(a) in relation to an election to the Legislative Council of the State of Tasmania, or an ordinary election to the Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory—the period that starts 33 days before the polling day for the election and ends at the close of the poll on that day; and

(b) in relation to any other election to a Parliament—the period that starts on:

(i) the day on which the proposed polling day for the election is publicly announced; or

(ii) the day on which the writs for the election are issued;

whichever happens first, and ends at the close of the poll on the polling day for the election; and

(c) in relation to an election to a local government authority—the period that starts 33 days before the polling day for the election and ends at the close of the poll on that day; and

(d) in relation to a referendum whose voting day is the same as the polling day for an election to the Parliament of the Commonwealth—the period that is the same as the election period in relation to that election; and

(e) in relation to any other referendum—the period that starts 33 days before the voting day for the referendum and ends at the close of voting on that day.

exempt matter means any of the following:

(a) matter directly relating to warnings of impending natural disasters or military or civil disorders;

(b) matter relating to measures (including relief measures) taken to deal with such disasters or disorders and with their consequences;

(c) matter provided by the authorities responsible for the conduct of an election to a Parliament or a local government authority, or of a referendum, including material relating to the procedures and polling places for the election or referendum and the promotion of participation in the election or referendum;

(d) advertisements of goods and services offered for sale by or on behalf of:

(i) the government, or a government authority, of the Commonwealth; or

(ii) the government, or a government authority, of a Territory; or

(iii) the government, or a government authority, of a State;

being advertisements that do not contain a political reference;