Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au
Australian Capital Territory
Public Place Names Act 1989
A1989-31
Republication No 8
Effective: 29 September 2022
Republication date: 29 September 2022
Last amendment made by A2022-15
Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au
About this republication
The republished law
This is a republication of the Public Place Names Act 1989 (including any amendment made
under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 (Editorial changes)) as in force on 29 September 2022.
It also includes any commencement, amendment, repeal or expiry affecting this republished law
to 29 September 2022.
The legislation history and amendment history of the republished law are set out in endnotes 3
and 4.
Kinds of republications
The Parliamentary Counsel’s Office prepares 2 kinds of republications of ACT laws (see the ACT
legislation register at www.legislation.act.gov.au):
• authorised republications to which the Legislation Act 2001 applies
• unauthorised republications.
The status of this republication appears on the bottom of each page.
Editorial changes
The Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 authorises the Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial
amendments and other changes of a formal nature when preparing a law for republication.
Editorial changes do not change the effect of the law, but have effect as if they had been made by
an Act commencing on the republication date (see Legislation Act 2001, s 115 and s 117). The
changes are made if the Parliamentary Counsel considers they are desirable to bring the law into
line, or more closely into line, with current legislative drafting practice.
This republication does not include amendments made under part 11.3 (see endnote 1).
Uncommenced provisions and amendments
If a provision of the republished law has not commenced, the symbol U appears immediately
before the provision heading. Any uncommenced amendments that affect this republished law
are accessible on the ACT legislation register (www.legislation.act.gov.au). For more
information, see the home page for this law on the register.
Modifications
If a provision of the republished law is affected by a current modification, the
symbol M appears immediately before the provision heading. The text of the modifying
provision appears in the endnotes. For the legal status of modifications, see the Legislation
Act 2001, section 95.
Penalties
At the republication date, the value of a penalty unit for an offence against this law is $160 for an
individual and $810 for a corporation (see Legislation Act 2001, s 133).
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Public Place Names Act 1989
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contents 1
Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at
Australian Capital Territory
Public Place Names Act 1989
Contents
Page
1 Name of Act 2
1A Dictionary 2
1B Notes 2
2 Meaning of public place 2
3 Minister to determine names 2
4 Regard given to certain names 3
4A Guidelines about naming of public places 4
5 Regulation-making power 4
Section 1 - PUBLIC PLACE NAMES ACT 1989 - PUBLIC PLACE NAMES ACT 1989 | Zoe
Contents
Page
contents 2 Public Place Names Act 1989
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Dictionary 5
Endnotes
1 About the endnotes 6
2 Abbreviation key 6
3 Legislation history 7
4 Amendment history 9
5 Earlier republications 10
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Australian Capital Territory
Public Place Names Act 1989
Act to provide for the naming of divisions and public places
Section 1
page 2 Public Place Names Act 1989
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1 Name of Act
This Act is the Public Place Names Act 1989.
1A Dictionary
The dictionary at the end of this Act is part of this Act.
Note 1 The dictionary at the end of this Act defines certain terms used in this
Act, and includes references (signpost definitions) to other terms defined
elsewhere in this Act.
For example, the signpost definition ‘public place—see section 2.’ means
that the term ‘public place’ is defined in that section.
Note 2 A definition in the dictionary (including a signpost definition) applies to
the entire Act unless the definition, or another provision of the Act,
provides otherwise or the contrary intention otherwise appears (see
Legislation Act, s 155 and s 156 (1)).
1B Notes
A note included in this Act is explanatory and is not part of this Act.
Note See the Legislation Act s 127 (1), (4) and (5) for the legal status of notes.
2 Meaning of public place
In this Act:
public place includes an avenue, road, street, geographical feature or
place that the public is entitled to use, and any unleased land.
3 Minister to determine names
(1) The Minister—
(a) must determine the name of a division of Territory land; and
(b) may determine the name of a public place that is Territory land.
Section 4
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(2) If the Minister is making a determination about the naming of a
division, or the naming of a public place after a person mentioned in
section 4 (2) (a) or (b), the Minister must consider—
(a) the number of women and men after whom divisions or public
places have been named in the last 10 years; and
(b) whether the names of women are well-represented.
(3) If the Minister is making a determination about the naming of a public
place, the Minister must consider any guideline made under—
(a) section 4A (Guidelines about naming of public places); and
(b) the Districts Act 2002, section 14 (Guidelines about allocation
of street addresses).
(4) A determination is a disallowable instrument.
Note A disallowable instrument must be notified, and presented to the
Legislative Assembly, under the Legislation Act 2001.
4 Regard given to certain names
(1) When making a determination in respect of the naming of a division,
the Minister shall have regard to the names of persons who have made
notable contributions to the existence of Australia as a nation.
(2) When making a determination in respect of the naming of a public
place, the Minister shall have regard to—
(a) the names of persons famous in Australian exploration,
navigation, pioneering, reconciliation, administration, politics,
education, science or letters;
(b) the names of persons who have made notable contributions to
the existence of Australia as a nation;
(c) the names of Australian flora;
Section 4A
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(d) the names of things characteristic of Australia or Australians;
and
(e) Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander vocabulary.
(3) Before having regard to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
vocabulary under subsection (2) (e), the Minister must take
reasonable steps to consult an appropriate cultural group.
4A Guidelines about naming of public places
(1) The Minister may make guidelines about the naming of public places.
(2) A guideline may make provision about a matter by applying, adopting
or incorporating an Australian Standard, or a provision of an
Australian Standard, as in force from time to time.
(3) The Legislation Act, section 47 (5) or (6) does not apply to an
Australian Standard, or a provision of an Australian Standard,
applied, adopted or incorporated in a guideline.
Note An Australian Standard does not need to be notified under the Legislation
Act because s 47 (5) and (6) do not apply (see Legislation Act, s 47 (7)).
The standard may be purchased at www.standards.org.au.
(4) A guideline is a notifiable instrument.
Note A notifiable instrument must be notified under the Legislation Act.
5 Regulation-making power
The Executive may make regulations for this Act.
Note Regulations must be notified, and presented to the Legislative Assembly,
under the Legislation Act 2001.
Dictionary
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Dictionary
(see s 1A)
Note 1 The Legislation Act contains definitions and other provisions relevant to
this Act.
Note 2 For example, the Legislation Act, dict, pt 1, defines the following terms:
• Executive
• Minister (see s 162)
• territory land.
division, in relation to land means a division under the Districts
Act 2002, section 6.
public place—see section 2.
Endnotes
1 About the endnotes
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Endnotes
1 About the endnotes
Amending and modifying laws are annotated in the legislation history and the
amendment history. Current modifications are not included in the republished law
but are set out in the endnotes.
Not all editorial amendments made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 are
annotated in the amendment history. Full details of any amendments can be
obtained from the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office.
Uncommenced amending laws are not included in the republished law. The details
of these laws are underlined in the legislation history. Uncommenced expiries are
underlined in the legislation history and amendment history.
If all the provisions of the law have been renumbered, a table of renumbered
provisions gives details of previous and current numbering.
The endnotes also include a table of earlier republications.
2 Abbreviation key
A = Act NI = Notifiable instrument
AF = Approved form o = order
am = amended om = omitted/repealed
amdt = amendment ord = ordinance
AR = Assembly resolution orig = original
ch = chapter par = paragraph/subparagraph
CN = Commencement notice pres = present
def = definition prev = previous
DI = Disallowable instrument (prev...) = previously
dict = dictionary pt = part
disallowed = disallowed by the Legislative r = rule/subrule
Assembly reloc = relocated
div = division renum = renumbered
exp = expires/expired R[X] = Republication No
Gaz = gazette RI = reissue
hdg = heading s = section/subsection
IA = Interpretation Act 1967 sch = schedule
ins = inserted/added sdiv = subdivision
LA = Legislation Act 2001 SL = Subordinate law
LR = legislation register sub = substituted
LRA = Legislation (Republication) Act 1996 underlining = whole or part not commenced
mod = modified/modification or to be expired
Endnotes
Legislation history 3
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3 Legislation history
This Act was originally a Commonwealth ordinance—the Public Place Names
Ordinance 1989 A1989-31 (Cwlth).
The Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cwlth), s 34 (4)
converted most former Commonwealth ordinances in force in the ACT into ACT
enactments. This allowed the ACT Legislative Assembly to amend and repeal the
laws. This Act was converted into an ACT enactment on 11 May 1989 (self-
government day).
As with most ordinances in force in the ACT, the name was changed from
Ordinance to Act by the Self-Government (Citation of Laws) Act 1989 A1989-21,
s 5 on 11 May 1989 (self-government day).
Public Place Names Act 1989 A1989-31
notified 10 May 1989
s 1, s 2 commenced 10 May 1989 (s 2 (1))
remainder (ss 3-7) commenced 11 May 1989 (s 2 (2) and Gaz 1989
No S164)
as amended by
Legislation (Consequential Amendments) Act 2001 A2001-44 pt 314
notified 26 July 2001 (Gaz 2001 No 30)
s 1, s 2 commenced 26 July 2001 (IA s 10B)
pt 314 commenced 12 September 2001 (s 2 and Gaz 2001 No S65)
Statute Law Amendment Act 2001 (No 2) A2001-56 pt 1.5
notified 5 September 2001 (Gaz 2001 No S65)
s 1, s 2 commenced 5 September 2001 (IA s 10B)
amdts 1.42, 1.43, 1.46 commenced 12 September 2001 (s 2 (2))
pt 1.5 remainder commenced 5 September 2001 (s 2 (1))
Public Place Names Amendment Act 2002 A2002-54
notified LR 20 December 2002
s 1, s 2 commenced 20 December 2002 (LA s 75 (1))
remainder commenced 21 December 2002 (s 2)
Statute Law Amendment Act 2007 A2007-3 sch 3 pt 3.79
notified LR 22 March 2007
s 1, s 2 taken to have commenced 1 July 2006 (LA s 75 (2))
sch 3 pt 3.79 commenced 12 April 2007 (s 2 (1))
Endnotes
3 Legislation history
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Planning, Building and Environment Legislation Amendment
Act 2013 A2013-15 pt 9
notified LR 21 May 2013
s 1, s 2 commenced 21 May 2013 (LA s 75 (1))
pt 9 commenced 22 May 2013 (s 2)
Planning, Building and Environment Legislation Amendment
Act 2013 (No 2) A2013-40 pt 7
notified LR 6 November 2013
s 1, s 2 commenced 6 November 2013 (LA s 75 (1))
pt 7 commenced 27 January 2014 (s 2 and CN2014-1)
Planning, Building and Environment Legislation Amendment
Act 2017 (No 2) A2017-20 pt 10
notified LR 15 June 2017
s 1, s 2 commenced 15 June 2017 (LA s 75 (1))
pt 10 commenced 16 June 2017 (s 2)
Public Place Names Amendment Act 2022 A2022-15
notified LR 28 September 2022
s 1, s 2 commenced 28 September 2022 (LA s 75 (1))
remainder commenced 29 September 2022 (s 2)
Endnotes
Amendment history 4
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4 Amendment history
Name of Act
s 1 sub A2001-56 amdt 1.41
Dictionary
s 1A ins A2007-3 amdt 3.417
Notes
s 1B ins A2007-3 amdt 3.417
Meaning of public place
s 2 om A2001-44 amdt 1.3459
ins A2001-56 amdt 1.42
am A2013-15 s 17
Minister to determine names
s 3 orig s 3 om A2001-56 amdt 1.42
pres s 3 (prev s 4) am A2001-44 amdt 1.3460, amdt 1.3461
renum A2001-56 amdt 1.43
am A2002-54 s 4, s 5; A2013-15 s 18; A2013-40 s 17;
ss renum R6 LA
Regard given to certain names
s 4 orig s 4 am A2001-44 amdt 1.3460, amdt 1.3461
renum as s 3 A2001-56 amdt 1.43
pres s 4 (prev s 6) am A2001-56 amdt 1.44, amdt 1.45
renum A2001-56 amdt 1.46
am A2017-20 s 18; A2022-15 s 4
Guidelines about naming of public places
s 4A ins A2013-40 s 18
Regulation-making power
s 5 orig s 5 om A2001-44 amdt 1.3462
ins A2001-56 amdt 1.47
Regard given to certain names
s 6 renum as s 4 A2001-56 amdt 1.46
Savings
s 7 om A2001-56 amdt 1.47
Dictionary
dict ins A2007-3 amdt 3.418
def division ins A2013-15 s 19
def public place ins A2007-3 amdt 3.418