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Interpretation Act 1978
19ADefinitions of certain domestic relationships
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19A Definitions of certain domestic relationships
(1) In any Act:
spouse, of a person, means:
(a) a person to whom the person is validly married under the
Marriage Act 1961 of the Commonwealth; or
(b) if the person is an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander – an
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander to whom the person is
married according to the customs and traditions of the
particular community of Aboriginals or Torres Strait Islanders
with which either person identifies.
(2) In any Act, marriage, husband, wife, widow and widower have
the meanings that correspond with the meaning of spouse.
(3) In any Act, de facto partner and de facto relationship have the
meanings in section 3(1) of the De Facto Relationships Act.
(4) In any Act:
stepchild, of a person, means a child who is:
(a) if the person is married – a child of the person's spouse but
not a child of the person; or
(b) if the person is in a de facto relationship – a child of the
person's de facto partner but not a child of the person.
Interpretation Act 1978 19
(5) In any Act, a reference to a step-relative of a person is read as
having the meaning that corresponds with the meaning of
stepchild.