This Act authorises the Parliamentary Counsel to produce official reprints (including electronic) of Queensland laws and to modernise their presentation—updating citations, spelling, punctuation, numbering, headings and omitting expired or redundant material—provided the changes do not alter legal effect. Reprints must incorporate all amendments that commenced on or before the reprint date and must note omitted or relocated provisions. The stated object is to facilitate updating and ready availability of Queensland legislation.
This Act creates a statutory regime governing the preparation, editorial treatment and legal status of authorised reprints of Queensland legislation. Its object is stated in s 2: to facilitate the updating and ready availability of Queensland legislation by modernising the law relating to reprints. Mechanically, the key powers and effects are these.
Parliamentary counsel may prepare a reprint of a law, including an unamended law and an electronic reprint (s 4). That identifies parliamentary counsel as the primary decision maker for producing authorised reprints.
A reprint must show all amendments that commenced on or before the reprint date and must incorporate consequential amendments, including punctuation and numbering changes (s 5). Section 6 requires a reprint that shows amendments to include a reference to the amending law.
The parliamentary counsel may, in a reprint, use a wide catalogue of editorial changes (s 7). The list is explicit and structured by Divisions in Part 4, covering updated citations and references (Div 2), updated internal references (Div 3), modernised expression and drafting style (Div 4), naming conventions (Divs 5 and 5A), format and printing style (Div 6), omission of spent or obsolete material (ss 36-42B), numbering and renumbering (s 43), and correction of minor errors (s 44). Each provision includes concrete examples of permissible changes.
Editorial changes are limited by s 8: changes that would alter the legal effect of a provision are not permitted.
If an authorised reprint is created under the Legislative Standards Act 1992, s 10A, and the text of the law is given as permitted by s 7, s 9 gives the reprinted text the legal status of having been amended by another law that amended the law immediately before the reprint date. That is, where the reprint has been authorised under the Legislative Standards Act mechanism, the editorial presentation in the reprint is treated as if it had been effected by substantive amendment.
Current sections
Direct links to the current provisions in Reprints Act 1992.
79
pt.1
Preliminary
Preliminary
sec.1
Short title
sec.1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Reprints Act 1992 .
sec.2
Object of Act
sec.2 Object of Act
The object of this Act is to facilitate the updating and ready availability of Queensland legislation.
The object is to be achieved by modernising the law relating to reprints of Queensland legislation.
(sec.2-ssec.1) The object of this Act is to facilitate the updating and ready availability of Queensland legislation.
(sec.2-ssec.2) The object is to be achieved by modernising the law relating to reprints of Queensland legislation.
sec.3
Definitions
sec.3 Definitions
The dictionary in schedule 1 defines particular words used in this Act.
s 3 amd 2013 No. 39 s 77
Note—s 3 contained definitions for this Act. Definitions are now located in schedule 1 (Dictionary). Annotations for definitions contained in s 3 are located in annotations for sch 1.
pt.2
Preparation of reprints
Preparation of reprints
sec.4
Parliamentary counsel may prepare reprints
sec.4 Parliamentary counsel may prepare reprints
The parliamentary counsel may prepare a reprint of a law under this Act, including a law that has not been amended and a reprint in electronic form.
s 4 sub 2013 No. 39 s 78
pt.3
Amendments must be included in reprints
Amendments must be included in reprints
sec.5
Amendments
sec.5 Amendments
If a law has been amended by—
the omission of provisions; or
the insertion of provisions (whether or not in substitution for omitted provisions);
a reprint of the law must—
show the law as amended by all amendments that commenced on or before the reprint date; and
incorporate all necessary consequential amendments, whether of punctuation, numbering or another kind.
If the following provision were to be amended by the omission of paragraph (c) , the bracketed punctuation mark would replace the bolded punctuation mark and the word ‘and’ at the end of paragraph (b) would be omitted—
A notice is to—
be signed by the chairperson; and
specify the time within which it is to be complied with; (.) and
specify the place at which it is to be complied with.’.
If a section that is not divided into subsections is amended by the insertion of a subsection at the end, the existing provision is numbered as subsection (1) .
If a section that is divided into subsections is amended by the insertion of another subsection that is given a new number (for example, a subsection (1A) to be inserted after subsection (1) ), section 5 (d) does not require the renumbering of subsections after the inserted subsection.
If a definition is added to a section consisting of 1 definition, the existing section heading ‘Definition’ would become ‘Definitions’.
If a provision heading is amended, a reference to the provision mentioning the provision heading may be amended to mention the amended provision heading.
s 5 amd 1992 No. 68 s 3 sch 1 ; 1993 No. 76 s 3 sch 1 ; 1994 No. 87 s 3 sch 1 ; 2013 No. 39 s 79
(a) the omission of provisions; or
(b) the insertion of provisions (whether or not in substitution for omitted provisions);
(c) show the law as amended by all amendments that commenced on or before the reprint date; and
(d) incorporate all necessary consequential amendments, whether of punctuation, numbering or another kind.
‘ 5 A notice is to— (a) be signed by the chairperson; and (b) specify the time within which it is to be complied with; (.) and (c) specify the place at which it is to be complied with.’.
‘ 5 A notice is to— (a) be signed by the chairperson; and (b) specify the time within which it is to be complied with; (.) and (c) specify the place at which it is to be complied with.’.
(a) be signed by the chairperson; and
(b) specify the time within which it is to be complied with; (.) and
(c) specify the place at which it is to be complied with.’.
‘ 5 A notice is to— (a) be signed by the chairperson; and (b) specify the time within which it is to be complied with; (.) and (c) specify the place at which it is to be complied with.’.
(a) be signed by the chairperson; and
(b) specify the time within which it is to be complied with; (.) and
(c) specify the place at which it is to be complied with.’.
(a) be signed by the chairperson; and
(b) specify the time within which it is to be complied with; (.) and
(c) specify the place at which it is to be complied with.’.
sec.6
Reference to amending law
sec.6 Reference to amending law
A reprint of a law that shows the law as amended by amendments must include, in a suitable place, a reference to the law by which each amendment was made.
pt.4
Editorial changes may be included in reprints
Editorial changes may be included in reprints
pt.4-div.1
General
General
sec.7
Editorial changes
sec.7 Editorial changes
In a reprint of a law, the text of the law may be given—
using citations and references permitted by Division 2 ; and
using references permitted by Division 3 ; and
using words and references, and otherwise expressed as, permitted by Division 4 ; and
making the omissions and insertions permitted by sections 31 , 33 and 33B ; and
using the names permitted by sections 32 and 33A ; and
using headings, format and printing style permitted by sections 34 and 35 ; and
omitting provisions as permitted by sections 36 to 42B ; and
using the numbering and renumbering of provisions and the references permitted by section 43 ; and
correcting minor errors as permitted by section 44 ; and
doing anything else permitted to be done by this Act or a regulation; and
making all necessary consequential amendments.
If the text of a law is given as permitted by subsection (1) , the reprint—
must indicate that fact in a suitable place; and
must outline in general terms, and in a suitable place, the way in which the permission was used.
s 7 amd 1993 No. 76 s 3 sch 1 ; 1994 No. 87 s 3 sch 1
(sec.7-ssec.1) In a reprint of a law, the text of the law may be given— using citations and references permitted by Division 2 ; and using references permitted by Division 3 ; and using words and references, and otherwise expressed as, permitted by Division 4 ; and making the omissions and insertions permitted by sections 31 , 33 and 33B ; and using the names permitted by sections 32 and 33A ; and using headings, format and printing style permitted by sections 34 and 35 ; and omitting provisions as permitted by sections 36 to 42B ; and using the numbering and renumbering of provisions and the references permitted by section 43 ; and correcting minor errors as permitted by section 44 ; and doing anything else permitted to be done by this Act or a regulation; and making all necessary consequential amendments.
(sec.7-ssec.2) If the text of a law is given as permitted by subsection (1) , the reprint— must indicate that fact in a suitable place; and must outline in general terms, and in a suitable place, the way in which the permission was used.
(a) using citations and references permitted by Division 2 ; and
(b) using references permitted by Division 3 ; and
(c) using words and references, and otherwise expressed as, permitted by Division 4 ; and
(d) making the omissions and insertions permitted by sections 31 , 33 and 33B ; and
(e) using the names permitted by sections 32 and 33A ; and
(f) using headings, format and printing style permitted by sections 34 and 35 ; and
(g) omitting provisions as permitted by sections 36 to 42B ; and
(h) using the numbering and renumbering of provisions and the references permitted by section 43 ; and
(i) correcting minor errors as permitted by section 44 ; and
(j) doing anything else permitted to be done by this Act or a regulation; and
(k) making all necessary consequential amendments.
(a) must indicate that fact in a suitable place; and
(b) must outline in general terms, and in a suitable place, the way in which the permission was used.
sec.8
Editorial changes not to change effect
sec.8 Editorial changes not to change effect
Section 7 does not permit changes to the text of a provision of a law that would change the effect of the provision.
sec.9
Effect of editorial changes
sec.9 Effect of editorial changes
If, in a reprint authorised by the parliamentary counsel under the Legislative Standards Act 1992 , section 10A , the text of a law is given as permitted by section 7 , the law has effect as if the changes made under that section had been made expressly by another law that amended the law immediately before the reprint date.
s 9 amd 2013 No. 39 s 80
pt.4-div.2
Updated citations and references to law
Updated citations and references to law
sec.10
Omission of comma
sec.10 Omission of comma
If a law or group of laws has a citation that includes a comma before or after a year in the citation, the citation or a reference to the law or laws may be given omitting the comma.
sec.11
Omission of inverted commas
sec.11 Omission of inverted commas
If a law or group of laws has a citation that begins and ends with inverted commas, the citation or a reference to the law or laws may be given omitting the inverted commas.
sec.12
Omission of ‘of’
sec.12 Omission of ‘of’
If a law or group of laws has a citation that includes the word ‘of’ before the first year in the citation, the citation or a reference to the law or laws may be given omitting the word.
sec.13
Omission of ‘to’
sec.13 Omission of ‘to’
If a law or group of laws has a citation that includes the word ‘to’ between the 2 years in the citation, the citation or a reference to the law or laws may be given omitting the word and substituting a hyphen.
sec.14
Omission of ‘The’—general
sec.14 Omission of ‘The’—general
If a law or group of laws has a citation that begins with the word ‘The’—
the citation or a reference to the law or laws may be given omitting the word; and
if the context requires—the word ‘The’ or ‘the’, as appropriate, may be inserted immediately before the citation or reference.
(a) the citation or a reference to the law or laws may be given omitting the word; and
(b) if the context requires—the word ‘The’ or ‘the’, as appropriate, may be inserted immediately before the citation or reference.
sec.15
Omission of ‘The’—Criminal Code
sec.15 Omission of ‘The’—Criminal Code
The citation of, and a reference to, The Criminal Code may be given omitting the word ‘The’ and inserting, if the context requires, the word ‘The’ or ‘the’, as appropriate, immediately before the citation or reference.
sec.16
Year law made not included in citation
sec.16 Year law made not included in citation
If a law has a citation that does not include a year, the citation or a reference to the law may be given including the year the law was made.
‘ The Judicature Act ’ may be cited as the ‘ Judicature Act 1876 ’.
sec.17
Word ‘Act’ not included in citation etc.
sec.17 Word ‘Act’ not included in citation etc.
If an Act has a citation that does not include the word ‘Act’, the citation or a reference to the Act may be given including the word ‘Act’, and any necessary consequential amendments made to the citation or reference.
If subordinate legislation has a citation that does not indicate the type of instrument, the citation or a reference to the legislation may be given including the type of instrument, and any necessary consequential amendments made to the citation or reference.
s 17 amd 2005 No. 55 s 48 sch 4
(sec.17-ssec.1) If an Act has a citation that does not include the word ‘Act’, the citation or a reference to the Act may be given including the word ‘Act’, and any necessary consequential amendments made to the citation or reference.
(sec.17-ssec.2) If subordinate legislation has a citation that does not indicate the type of instrument, the citation or a reference to the legislation may be given including the type of instrument, and any necessary consequential amendments made to the citation or reference.
sec.18
Substitution of single-year citation for double-year citation
sec.18 Substitution of single-year citation for double-year citation
The citation of a law that has been amended, or a group of laws, may be given by omitting from the citation any words after the first year in the citation.
In a provision of a law, a reference to another law or a group of laws may be given by omitting from the reference any words after the first year.
In the following reference, the bolded words may be omitted—
‘ Liquor Act 1912 –1990’ .
In subsection (2) —
law includes a law of the Commonwealth, another State, a Territory or a foreign country.
(sec.18-ssec.1) The citation of a law that has been amended, or a group of laws, may be given by omitting from the citation any words after the first year in the citation.
(sec.18-ssec.2) In a provision of a law, a reference to another law or a group of laws may be given by omitting from the reference any words after the first year. In the following reference, the bolded words may be omitted— ‘ Liquor Act 1912 –1990’ .
(sec.18-ssec.3) In subsection (2) — law includes a law of the Commonwealth, another State, a Territory or a foreign country.
sec.19
Substitution of singular form for plural form of citation for amended laws etc.
sec.19 Substitution of singular form for plural form of citation for amended laws etc.
The citation of a law that has been amended, or a group of laws, that is in the plural form may be given by changing the citation to the singular form.
In a provision of a law, a reference in the plural form to a law as amended may be given by changing the reference to the singular form.
‘ Land Act 1910 ’ may replace ‘ Land Acts 1910–1958 ’.
Note, however, that section 18 has also been applied to this example.
s 19 amd 2013 No. 39 s 111 sch 4
(sec.19-ssec.1) The citation of a law that has been amended, or a group of laws, that is in the plural form may be given by changing the citation to the singular form.
(sec.19-ssec.2) In a provision of a law, a reference in the plural form to a law as amended may be given by changing the reference to the singular form. ‘ Land Act 1910 ’ may replace ‘ Land Acts 1910–1958 ’. Note, however, that section 18 has also been applied to this example.
sec.20
Citation indicating type of statutory instrument in plural
sec.20 Citation indicating type of statutory instrument in plural
If a statutory instrument has a citation or is otherwise called by a name indicating the type of instrument in the plural, the instrument may be given a citation, or referred to by a name, indicating the type of instrument in the singular.
A statutory instrument that is called by a name in column 1 of the table may be called by the corresponding name in column 2
Table
Column 1
Column 2
Regulations
Regulation
By-laws
By-law
Rules
Rule
Thus, the Traffic Regulations 1962 may now be called the Traffic Regulation 1962 .
sec.20A
Correct year in statutory instrument’s citation etc.
sec.20A Correct year in statutory instrument’s citation etc.
If—
a statutory instrument is made in a particular year (the year of making ); and
the statutory instrument’s citation includes a single year other than the year of making;
the citation of, and a reference to, the statutory instrument may be given by omitting the other year and substituting the year of making.
s 20A ins 1993 No. 32 s 3 sch 1
(a) a statutory instrument is made in a particular year (the year of making ); and
(b) the statutory instrument’s citation includes a single year other than the year of making;
sec.21
Other changes relating to citation
sec.21 Other changes relating to citation
If a law does not have a citation, it may be given a citation that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.
If a law or group of laws has a citation that is inconsistent with current legislative drafting practice in a way that is not mentioned in sections 10 to 20 , the citation or a reference to the law or laws may be given in a way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.
s 21 amd 1993 No. 32 s 3 sch 1
(sec.21-ssec.1) If a law does not have a citation, it may be given a citation that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.
(sec.21-ssec.2) If a law or group of laws has a citation that is inconsistent with current legislative drafting practice in a way that is not mentioned in sections 10 to 20 , the citation or a reference to the law or laws may be given in a way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.
pt.4-div.3
Updated references within law
Updated references within law
sec.21A
Changed citation
sec.21A Changed citation
If—
there is a reference to a law’s citation; and
since the reference was made, the citation has been amended;
the reference may be given using the citation as amended.
In this section—
law includes a law of the Commonwealth, another State or a Territory.
s 21A ins 1993 No. 76 s 3 sch 1
amd 2013 No. 39 s 111 sch 4
(sec.21A-ssec.1) If— there is a reference to a law’s citation; and since the reference was made, the citation has been amended; the reference may be given using the citation as amended.
(sec.21A-ssec.2) In this section— law includes a law of the Commonwealth, another State or a Territory.
(a) there is a reference to a law’s citation; and
(b) since the reference was made, the citation has been amended;
sec.22
Remade law or provision
sec.22 Remade law or provision
A reference to a law that has been repealed and remade (with or without modification) since the reference was made may be given using the law as remade.
A reference to a law, part of which has been repealed and remade (with or without modification) in another law since the reference was made, may be given using the first law and the other law.
A reference to a provision of a law that has been omitted and remade (with or without modification and whether in the law or another law) may be given using the provision as remade.
If a law provides that reference to a law or provision of a law (the first law ) is a reference to another law or provision of the first law or another law (the second law ), the first law is taken to have been replaced by the second law in all appropriate contexts.
In this section—
law includes a law of the Commonwealth, another State or a Territory.
s 22 sub 1993 No. 32 s 3 sch 1
amd 1994 No. 15 s 3 sch 1 ; 2013 No. 39 s 111 sch 4
(sec.22-ssec.1) A reference to a law that has been repealed and remade (with or without modification) since the reference was made may be given using the law as remade.
(sec.22-ssec.2) A reference to a law, part of which has been repealed and remade (with or without modification) in another law since the reference was made, may be given using the first law and the other law.
(sec.22-ssec.3) A reference to a provision of a law that has been omitted and remade (with or without modification and whether in the law or another law) may be given using the provision as remade.
(sec.22-ssec.4) If a law provides that reference to a law or provision of a law (the first law ) is a reference to another law or provision of the first law or another law (the second law ), the first law is taken to have been replaced by the second law in all appropriate contexts.
(sec.22-ssec.5) In this section— law includes a law of the Commonwealth, another State or a Territory.
sec.23
Changed name or title
sec.23 Changed name or title
A reference to the name or title of the Sovereign or a body, office, person, place or other thing that has been changed may be given using the name or title as changed.
Subsection (1) has effect according to its tenor, and has that effect despite the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , section 35 .
(sec.23-ssec.1) A reference to the name or title of the Sovereign or a body, office, person, place or other thing that has been changed may be given using the name or title as changed.
(sec.23-ssec.2) Subsection (1) has effect according to its tenor, and has that effect despite the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , section 35 .
sec.23A
Replacement of body etc.
sec.23A Replacement of body etc.
If—
reference is made in a law to a body, office, person, place or other thing (the first thing ); and
the first thing has been replaced, either generally or in a relevant respect, by another body, office, person, place or other thing (the second thing );
the reference may be given using the second thing.
Subsection (1) has effect according to its tenor, and has that effect despite the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , section 35 .
If a law provides that reference to a body, office, person, place or other thing (the first thing ) is a reference to another body, office, person, place or other thing (the second thing ), the first thing is taken to have been replaced by the second thing in all appropriate contexts.
In subsection (3) —
law includes a law of the Commonwealth, another State, a Territory or a foreign country.
s 23A ins 1992 No. 68 s 3 sch 1
(sec.23A-ssec.1) If— reference is made in a law to a body, office, person, place or other thing (the first thing ); and the first thing has been replaced, either generally or in a relevant respect, by another body, office, person, place or other thing (the second thing ); the reference may be given using the second thing.
(sec.23A-ssec.2) Subsection (1) has effect according to its tenor, and has that effect despite the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , section 35 .
(sec.23A-ssec.3) If a law provides that reference to a body, office, person, place or other thing (the first thing ) is a reference to another body, office, person, place or other thing (the second thing ), the first thing is taken to have been replaced by the second thing in all appropriate contexts.
(sec.23A-ssec.4) In subsection (3) — law includes a law of the Commonwealth, another State, a Territory or a foreign country.
(a) reference is made in a law to a body, office, person, place or other thing (the first thing ); and
(b) the first thing has been replaced, either generally or in a relevant respect, by another body, office, person, place or other thing (the second thing );
pt.4-div.4
Updated way of expression
Updated way of expression
sec.24
Gender
sec.24 Gender
If a provision of a law uses a word indicating a gender or that could be taken to indicate a gender, the provision may be expressed in a different way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.
In the following provisions, the bolded words may be omitted and the bracketed words (if any) inserted—
‘The commissioner may, by writing signed by him (signed notice), delegate any of his (the commissioner’s) powers.’.
‘If requested by his servant (an employee), the master (employer) must complete the application.’.
‘If a notice under section 5 is not received by the auctioneer, real estate agent, commercial agent, motor dealer or person named in it within 30 days after he receives (receiving) notice of the dispute, he (he or she) must ...’.
s 24 amd 1993 No. 32 s 3 sch 1 ; 1994 No. 15 s 3 sch 1 ; 2002 No. 74 s 90 sch
1 ‘The commissioner may, by writing signed by him (signed notice), delegate any of his (the commissioner’s) powers.’.
2 ‘If requested by his servant (an employee), the master (employer) must complete the application.’.
3 ‘If a notice under section 5 is not received by the auctioneer, real estate agent, commercial agent, motor dealer or person named in it within 30 days after he receives (receiving) notice of the dispute, he (he or she) must ...’.
sec.25
References to gender specific offices
sec.25 References to gender specific offices
If the name of an office established by a law uses a word indicating a gender or that could be taken to indicate a gender, the name of the office may be changed, and any reference in a law to the office may be changed or given, in a way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.
‘chairperson’ may replace ‘chairman’.
‘deputy chairperson’ may replace ‘deputy chairman’.
‘councillor’ or a similar word may replace ‘alderman’.
A change in the name of an office does not otherwise affect the office or the holding of the office by the office holder.
(sec.25-ssec.1) If the name of an office established by a law uses a word indicating a gender or that could be taken to indicate a gender, the name of the office may be changed, and any reference in a law to the office may be changed or given, in a way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice. ‘chairperson’ may replace ‘chairman’. ‘deputy chairperson’ may replace ‘deputy chairman’. ‘councillor’ or a similar word may replace ‘alderman’.
(sec.25-ssec.2) A change in the name of an office does not otherwise affect the office or the holding of the office by the office holder.
sec.26
Spelling
sec.26 Spelling
If a provision of a law uses a word that is spelt incorrectly, the word may be spelt correctly.
‘accommodation’ may replace ‘accomodation’.
‘similar’ may replace ‘similiar’.
If a provision of a law uses a word that is spelt in a way that is inconsistent with current legislative drafting practice, the word may be spelt in a different way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.
‘authorise’ may replace ‘authorize’
and
‘organisation’ may replace ‘organization’.
‘connection’ may replace ‘connexion’.
‘program’ may replace ‘programme’.
s 26 amd 2010 Act No. 42 s 181
(sec.26-ssec.1) If a provision of a law uses a word that is spelt incorrectly, the word may be spelt correctly. ‘accommodation’ may replace ‘accomodation’. ‘similar’ may replace ‘similiar’.
(sec.26-ssec.2) If a provision of a law uses a word that is spelt in a way that is inconsistent with current legislative drafting practice, the word may be spelt in a different way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice. ‘authorise’ may replace ‘authorize’ and ‘organisation’ may replace ‘organization’. ‘connection’ may replace ‘connexion’. ‘program’ may replace ‘programme’.
sec.27
Punctuation
sec.27 Punctuation
If a provision of a law uses punctuation that is inconsistent with current legislative drafting practice, the provision may be expressed using punctuation that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.
In the following provision, the bracketed punctuation marks may replace the bolded punctuation marks—
The Commissioner may grant leave of absence to a person for any of the following purposes :— (—)
to engage in employment;
any other purpose approved by the Commission, (;)
unless Part 5 applies.’.
In the following provision, the bracketed comma may be inserted—
If the occupier of premises cannot be found(,) a notice to quit may be served on the occupier by fixing a copy of the notice to a conspicuous part of the premises.’.
‘sublet’ may replace ‘sub-let’.
In the following provision, the bolded comma may be omitted—
In this Act,—’.
‘ 5 . The Commissioner may grant leave of absence to a person for any of the following purposes :— (—) (a) to engage in employment; (b) any other purpose approved by the Commission, (;) unless Part 5 applies.’.
‘ 5 . The Commissioner may grant leave of absence to a person for any of the following purposes :— (—) (a) to engage in employment; (b) any other purpose approved by the Commission, (;) unless Part 5 applies.’.
(a) to engage in employment;
(b) any other purpose approved by the Commission, (;)
‘ 5 . The Commissioner may grant leave of absence to a person for any of the following purposes :— (—) (a) to engage in employment; (b) any other purpose approved by the Commission, (;) unless Part 5 applies.’.
(a) to engage in employment;
(b) any other purpose approved by the Commission, (;)
(a) to engage in employment;
(b) any other purpose approved by the Commission, (;)
‘ 5 If the occupier of premises cannot be found(,) a notice to quit may be served on the occupier by fixing a copy of the notice to a conspicuous part of the premises.’.
‘ 5 If the occupier of premises cannot be found(,) a notice to quit may be served on the occupier by fixing a copy of the notice to a conspicuous part of the premises.’.
‘ 5 If the occupier of premises cannot be found(,) a notice to quit may be served on the occupier by fixing a copy of the notice to a conspicuous part of the premises.’.
‘ 5 In this Act,—’.
‘ 5 In this Act,—’.
‘ 5 In this Act,—’.
sec.28
Conjunctives and disjunctives
sec.28 Conjunctives and disjunctives
A provision of a law may be expressed using a conjunctive or disjunctive at the end if the use of the conjunctive or disjunctive is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.
In the following provision, the bracketed disjunctive may be inserted—
A statutory rule may—
apply generally; (or)
apply differently according to different factors; or
authorise anything to be determined.’.
In the following provision, the bracketed conjunctive may be inserted—
The trust fund consists of—
all amounts paid to the Council by way of deposit or in trust for any person; (and)
all amounts required by law to be paid to the trust fund.’.
If—
a provision of a law has a conjunctive or disjunctive (or both) at the end; and
the usage is not consistent with current legislative drafting practice;
the provision may be expressed in a way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.
In the following provision, the bracketed disjunctive may replace the bolded conjunctive—
‘ domestic animal means—
a cat; and (or)
a dog;’.
(sec.28-ssec.1) A provision of a law may be expressed using a conjunctive or disjunctive at the end if the use of the conjunctive or disjunctive is consistent with current legislative drafting practice. In the following provision, the bracketed disjunctive may be inserted— A statutory rule may— apply generally; (or) apply differently according to different factors; or authorise anything to be determined.’. In the following provision, the bracketed conjunctive may be inserted— The trust fund consists of— all amounts paid to the Council by way of deposit or in trust for any person; (and) all amounts required by law to be paid to the trust fund.’.
(sec.28-ssec.2) If— a provision of a law has a conjunctive or disjunctive (or both) at the end; and the usage is not consistent with current legislative drafting practice; the provision may be expressed in a way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice. In the following provision, the bracketed disjunctive may replace the bolded conjunctive— ‘ domestic animal means— a cat; and (or) a dog;’.
‘ 5 . A statutory rule may— (a) apply generally; (or) (b) apply differently according to different factors; or (c) authorise anything to be determined.’.
‘ 5 . A statutory rule may— (a) apply generally; (or) (b) apply differently according to different factors; or (c) authorise anything to be determined.’.
(a) apply generally; (or)
(b) apply differently according to different factors; or
(c) authorise anything to be determined.’.
‘ 5 . A statutory rule may— (a) apply generally; (or) (b) apply differently according to different factors; or (c) authorise anything to be determined.’.
(a) apply generally; (or)
(b) apply differently according to different factors; or
(c) authorise anything to be determined.’.
(a) apply generally; (or)
(b) apply differently according to different factors; or
(c) authorise anything to be determined.’.
‘ 5 The trust fund consists of— (a) all amounts paid to the Council by way of deposit or in trust for any person; (and) (b) all amounts required by law to be paid to the trust fund.’.
‘ 5 The trust fund consists of— (a) all amounts paid to the Council by way of deposit or in trust for any person; (and) (b) all amounts required by law to be paid to the trust fund.’.
(a) all amounts paid to the Council by way of deposit or in trust for any person; (and)
(b) all amounts required by law to be paid to the trust fund.’.
‘ 5 The trust fund consists of— (a) all amounts paid to the Council by way of deposit or in trust for any person; (and) (b) all amounts required by law to be paid to the trust fund.’.
(a) all amounts paid to the Council by way of deposit or in trust for any person; (and)
(b) all amounts required by law to be paid to the trust fund.’.
(a) all amounts paid to the Council by way of deposit or in trust for any person; (and)
(b) all amounts required by law to be paid to the trust fund.’.
(a) a provision of a law has a conjunctive or disjunctive (or both) at the end; and
(b) the usage is not consistent with current legislative drafting practice;
‘ domestic animal means— (a) a cat; and (or) (b) a dog;’.
(a) a cat; and (or)
(b) a dog;’.
(a) a cat; and (or)
(b) a dog;’.
sec.29
Expression of number, year, date, time, amount of money, quantity etc.
sec.29 Expression of number, year, date, time, amount of money, quantity etc.
If a provision of a law expresses a number, year, date, time, amount of money, quantity or measurement of a thing, or other matter or idea, (the item ) in a particular way, the item may be expressed in a different way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.
‘25’ may replace ‘twenty-five’.
‘ Part 1 ’ may replace ‘Part I’.
‘ Schedule 1 ’ may replace ‘the First Schedule’.
‘1 January 1952’
may replace
‘the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred and fifty-two’.
‘8a.m.’ may replace ‘8 o’clock in the forenoon’.
‘$25000’ may replace ‘twenty-five thousand dollars’.
‘%’ may replace ‘per centum’ or ‘percent’.
‘ Commission means the Licensing Commission;’
may replace
‘ Commission —The Licensing Commission;’.
‘ land includes land covered by water;’
may replace
‘ Land —Includes land covered by water;’.
‘ A means the allocated amount;’
may replace
‘ A represents the allocated amount;’.
‘the Licensing Commission’ may replace ‘The Licensing Commission’
even though ‘The’ forms part of the Commission’s given name.
‘1.61km’ may replace ‘1 mile’
‘any land (the dominant land )’
may replace
‘any land (herein in this section referred to as the dominant land )’.
All persons shall have the same remedies for recovering such apportioned parts as they would have had for recovering such entire portions if so entitled.’
may replace
All persons shall have the same remedies for recovering such apportioned parts as aforesaid as they would have had for recovering such entire portions as aforesaid if entitled thereto.’.
‘Maximum penalty—
in the case of an individual—35 penalty units; or
in the case of a corporation—170 penalty units.’
may replace
‘Penalty: 35 penalty units in the case of an individual;
170 penalty units in the case of a corporation.’.
‘This section does not affect the priority of a lien that is renewed or further renewed under section 13 .’
may replace
‘Provided that nothing in this section shall affect the priority of any lien which shall be renewed or further renewed under the provisions of section thirteen of this Act.’.
‘anything’ may replace ‘any thing’.
‘ registrar means the Registrar of Auctioneers and Agents appointed under this Act, and includes a deputy registrar;’
may replace
‘ registrar means the Registrar of Auctioneers and Agents appointed under this Act. The term includes a deputy registrar;’.
In the following table, an expression in column 1 may be replaced, in appropriate contexts, by a corresponding bolded expression in column 2 or another expression more suitable in the context
Table
Column 1
Column 2
as a result
because
by reason
because
by reason only
merely because
by virtue of
under
firstmentioned
first
forthwith
immediately
hereby
then
in accordance with
under
in lieu
instead
notwithstanding
despite, even though or even if
of its own motion
on its own initiative
pursuant to
under
save
other than
save as prescribed by
subject to
thereafter
afterwards
therefrom
from it
therewith
in the
whereby
under which
‘the direction is taken to have the extended time specified in it’
may replace
‘the direction is taken to have the extended time specified therein’.
‘to bring to the Commission’s notice any matter arising before the Review Committee and to make such recommendations with respect to the matter as it considers appropriate’
may replace
‘to bring to the Commission’s notice any matter arising before the Review Committee and to make such recommendations with respect thereto as it considers appropriate’.
‘another area’ may replace ‘other areas’.
‘In this regulation’ may replace ‘In these regulations’.
‘employer’ and ‘employee’ may replace ‘master’ and ‘servant’.
‘Because—’ may replace ‘Whereas—’.
‘or’ may replace ‘and/or’.
‘chief executive’ may replace ‘Director-General’, ‘Under Secretary’ or a similar title.
Note also that if the replaced terms are defined, the definition of the term may be omitted as redundant under section 39 . See also section 7 (1) (g) for other editorial changes that may be made.
‘ section 10 (2)(a)(i)(A)’ may replace ‘sub-subparagraph (A) of subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 10 ’.
In the following provisions, the bolded words may be omitted and the underlined words inserted—
‘(3) Proceedings under the last preceding subsection (2) ...’.
‘(2) Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this section subsection (1) ...’.
‘(c) ...as stated in paragraph (b) , or coloured as stated in the said paragraph (b) ;’.
‘ paragraph (a) (i) ’ may replace ‘sub paragraph (a) (i) ’.
‘ paragraph (a) ’ may replace ‘provision (a)’.
‘ Therapeutic Goods Act 1966 (Cwlth) ’ may replace ‘ Therapeutic Goods Act 1966 of the Commonwealth’.
‘ Gaming Act 1850 (NSW) ’ may replace ‘ Gaming Act 1850 of New South Wales’.
‘Insurance premiums— Act , s 20 ’ may replace ‘Insurance premiums (s 20 of the Act ).
‘$2’ may replace ‘£1’.
s 29 amd 1992 No. 68 s 3 sch 1 ; 1993 No. 32 s 3 sch 1 ; 1993 No. 76 s 3 sch 1 ; 1994 No. 15 s 3 sch ; 1994 No. 87 s 3 sch 1 ; 2013 No. 39 s 111 sch 4
‘(3) All persons shall have the same remedies for recovering such apportioned parts as they would have had for recovering such entire portions if so entitled.’
‘(3) All persons shall have the same remedies for recovering such apportioned parts as aforesaid as they would have had for recovering such entire portions as aforesaid if entitled thereto.’.
(a) in the case of an individual—35 penalty units; or
(b) in the case of a corporation—170 penalty units.’
1 ‘(3) Proceedings under the last preceding subsection (2) ...’.
2 ‘(2) Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this section subsection (1) ...’.
3 ‘(c) ...as stated in paragraph (b) , or coloured as stated in the said paragraph (b) ;’.
1 ‘ Therapeutic Goods Act 1966 (Cwlth) ’ may replace ‘ Therapeutic Goods Act 1966 of the Commonwealth’.
2 ‘ Gaming Act 1850 (NSW) ’ may replace ‘ Gaming Act 1850 of New South Wales’.
sec.30
Order of definitions
sec.30 Order of definitions
If a definition provision of a law contains definitions that are not in their appropriate alphabetical position (determined on a letter-by-letter basis), the definition provision may be expressed so that the definitions are in their appropriate alphabetical position determined on a letter-by-letter basis.
If a definition provision of a law contains definitions in a particular order, the definition provision may be expressed so that the definitions are in an order that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.
In this section—
definition provision of a law means a provision containing a number of definitions.
(sec.30-ssec.1) If a definition provision of a law contains definitions that are not in their appropriate alphabetical position (determined on a letter-by-letter basis), the definition provision may be expressed so that the definitions are in their appropriate alphabetical position determined on a letter-by-letter basis.
(sec.30-ssec.2) If a definition provision of a law contains definitions in a particular order, the definition provision may be expressed so that the definitions are in an order that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.
(sec.30-ssec.3) In this section— definition provision of a law means a provision containing a number of definitions.
sec.30A
Order of other provisions
sec.30A Order of other provisions
If a provision of a law contains provisions in a particular order, the provision may be expressed so that the provisions are in an order that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice.
s 30A ins 1993 No. 32 s 3 sch 1
pt.4-div.5
Updated naming conventions within statutory instruments
Updated naming conventions within statutory instruments
sec.31
References to type of statutory instrument
sec.31 References to type of statutory instrument
If—
a statutory instrument has, or could be given, a citation indicating the type of instrument in the singular; and
the instrument or another law contains referential words or other words that refer to the instrument in the plural;
the words may be replaced by appropriate words in the singular.
If—
a statutory instrument was made as an instrument of a particular type (the original type ); and
under a law, the instrument continues to have effect and is taken to be an instrument of a different type (the new type ); and
the instrument contains a citation, referential words or other words that refer to the instrument as an instrument of the original type;
the words may be replaced by appropriate words that refer to the instrument as an instrument of the new type.
s 31 sub 1993 No. 32 s 3 sch 1
(sec.31-ssec.1) If— a statutory instrument has, or could be given, a citation indicating the type of instrument in the singular; and the instrument or another law contains referential words or other words that refer to the instrument in the plural; the words may be replaced by appropriate words in the singular.
(sec.31-ssec.2) If— a statutory instrument was made as an instrument of a particular type (the original type ); and under a law, the instrument continues to have effect and is taken to be an instrument of a different type (the new type ); and the instrument contains a citation, referential words or other words that refer to the instrument as an instrument of the original type; the words may be replaced by appropriate words that refer to the instrument as an instrument of the new type.
(a) a statutory instrument has, or could be given, a citation indicating the type of instrument in the singular; and
(b) the instrument or another law contains referential words or other words that refer to the instrument in the plural;
(a) a statutory instrument was made as an instrument of a particular type (the original type ); and
(b) under a law, the instrument continues to have effect and is taken to be an instrument of a different type (the new type ); and
(c) the instrument contains a citation, referential words or other words that refer to the instrument as an instrument of the original type;
sec.32
Name of provision units in statutory instruments
sec.32 Name of provision units in statutory instruments
If a provision of a statutory instrument is called a regulation, subregulation, sub-subregulation, rule, subrule, by-law, sub-by-law, clause, subclause, sub-subclause, paragraph, subparagraph, sub-subparagraph, item, subitem, or any other name, the provision may be called—
if the provision is a provision unit equivalent to a section of an Act—a section; or
if the provision is a provision unit equivalent to a subsection of an Act—a subsection; or
if the provision is a provision unit equivalent to a paragraph of an Act—a paragraph; or
if the provision is a provision unit equivalent to a subparagraph of an Act—a subparagraph; or
if the provision is a provision unit equivalent to a sub-subparagraph of an Act—a sub-subparagraph.
Regulation 2 may be called section 2 .
By-law 5(2)(a) may be called section 5 (2)(a), that is, paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 5 .
(a) if the provision is a provision unit equivalent to a section of an Act—a section; or
(b) if the provision is a provision unit equivalent to a subsection of an Act—a subsection; or
(c) if the provision is a provision unit equivalent to a paragraph of an Act—a paragraph; or
(d) if the provision is a provision unit equivalent to a subparagraph of an Act—a subparagraph; or
(e) if the provision is a provision unit equivalent to a sub-subparagraph of an Act—a sub-subparagraph.
sec.33
Reference to authorising Act
sec.33 Reference to authorising Act
If—
there is a reference in an instrument to a provision of the Act under which a statutory instrument is made or in force; and
the words ‘of the Act ’, or words of similar effect, do not appear at the end of the reference;
the words ‘of the Act ’ may be inserted at the end of the reference.
(a) there is a reference in an instrument to a provision of the Act under which a statutory instrument is made or in force; and
(b) the words ‘of the Act ’, or words of similar effect, do not appear at the end of the reference;
pt.4-div.5A
Updated naming conventions within schedules and appendixes
Updated naming conventions within schedules and appendixes
sec.33A
Name of provision units of schedules and appendixes
sec.33A Name of provision units of schedules and appendixes
If a provision of a schedule or appendix is called a clause, subclause, sub-subclause, paragraph, subparagraph, sub-subparagraph, item, subitem, or another name, the provision may be called—
if the provision is a provision unit equivalent to a section in the body of a law—a section; or
if the provision is a provision unit equivalent to a subsection in the body of a law—a subsection; or
if the provision is a provision unit equivalent to a paragraph in the body of a law—a paragraph; or
if the provision is a provision unit equivalent to a subparagraph in the body of a law—a subparagraph; or
if the provision is a provision unit equivalent to a sub-subparagraph in the body of a law—a sub-subparagraph.
Clause 2 may be called section 2 .
Clause 5(2)(a) may be called section 5 (2)(a), that is, paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 5 .
s 33A ins 1994 No. 87 s 3 sch 1
(a) if the provision is a provision unit equivalent to a section in the body of a law—a section; or
(b) if the provision is a provision unit equivalent to a subsection in the body of a law—a subsection; or
(c) if the provision is a provision unit equivalent to a paragraph in the body of a law—a paragraph; or
(d) if the provision is a provision unit equivalent to a subparagraph in the body of a law—a subparagraph; or
(e) if the provision is a provision unit equivalent to a sub-subparagraph in the body of a law—a sub-subparagraph.
sec.33B
Reference to provision of schedule or appendix
sec.33B Reference to provision of schedule or appendix
If—
in the body of a law there is a reference to a provision of an unnumbered schedule or appendix; and
the words ‘of the schedule’, ‘of the appendix’, or words of similar effect, do not appear at the end of the reference;
the words ‘of the schedule’, ‘of the appendix’, or words of similar effect, may be inserted at the end of the reference.
If—
in the body of a law there is a reference to a provision of a numbered schedule or appendix; and
words indicating the schedule or appendix by number do not appear at the end of the reference;
words indicating the schedule or appendix by number, or words of similar effect, may be inserted at the end of the reference.
If—
in a schedule or appendix to a law there is a reference to a provision of the body of the law; and
words indicating that the reference is to the body of the law do not appear at the end of the reference;
words indicating that the reference is to the body of the law may be inserted at the end of the reference.
In this section—
body of a law means the law other than a schedule or appendix to the law.
In an Act, ‘of this Act’ and, in a regulation, ‘of this regulation’ could be inserted at the end of a reference in Schedule 1 to ‘ section 14 ’ of the body of the law.
s 33B ins 1994 No. 87 s 3 sch 1
(sec.33B-ssec.1) If— in the body of a law there is a reference to a provision of an unnumbered schedule or appendix; and the words ‘of the schedule’, ‘of the appendix’, or words of similar effect, do not appear at the end of the reference; the words ‘of the schedule’, ‘of the appendix’, or words of similar effect, may be inserted at the end of the reference.
(sec.33B-ssec.2) If— in the body of a law there is a reference to a provision of a numbered schedule or appendix; and words indicating the schedule or appendix by number do not appear at the end of the reference; words indicating the schedule or appendix by number, or words of similar effect, may be inserted at the end of the reference.
(sec.33B-ssec.3) If— in a schedule or appendix to a law there is a reference to a provision of the body of the law; and words indicating that the reference is to the body of the law do not appear at the end of the reference; words indicating that the reference is to the body of the law may be inserted at the end of the reference.
(sec.33B-ssec.4) In this section— body of a law means the law other than a schedule or appendix to the law. In an Act, ‘of this Act’ and, in a regulation, ‘of this regulation’ could be inserted at the end of a reference in Schedule 1 to ‘ section 14 ’ of the body of the law.
(a) in the body of a law there is a reference to a provision of an unnumbered schedule or appendix; and
(b) the words ‘of the schedule’, ‘of the appendix’, or words of similar effect, do not appear at the end of the reference;
(a) in the body of a law there is a reference to a provision of a numbered schedule or appendix; and
(b) words indicating the schedule or appendix by number do not appear at the end of the reference;
(a) in a schedule or appendix to a law there is a reference to a provision of the body of the law; and
(b) words indicating that the reference is to the body of the law do not appear at the end of the reference;
pt.4-div.6
Updated form of law
Updated form of law
sec.34
Relocation of marginal or cite notes
sec.34 Relocation of marginal or cite notes
A marginal note to a provision of a law, or a note to a provision of a law appearing in and at the beginning of the provision, may be treated as the heading to the provision.
sec.35
Format and printing style
sec.35 Format and printing style
The format and printing style of a law (including, for example, the setting out of the provisions, the placement of conjunctives and disjunctives and the use of capital letters, punctuation, hyphens, italics, bolding and quotation marks) may be brought into line with current legislative drafting practice.
‘(2) In this section—
person includes an unincorporated body.’
may replace
‘(2) In this section, the term person includes an unincorporated body.’.
‘ variation , in relation to a permit, includes a variation of conditions of the permit;’
may replace
‘ variation in relation to a permit includes a variation of conditions of the permit;’.
Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1967 ’
may replace
‘ Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1967 ’.
In the following provision heading, the bracketed words may be omitted—
‘ (SECTION 2.2 INDUSTRIAL MATTER)
2.2 Industrial matter ’.
Note also that section 34 could also be applied to this example.
s 35 amd 2013 No. 39 s 111 sch 4
person includes an unincorporated body.’
sec.36
Omission of arrangement provisions
sec.36 Omission of arrangement provisions
A provision of a law setting out the arrangement of the law, or provisions of the law, may be omitted.
sec.37
Omission of expired provisions etc.
sec.37 Omission of expired provisions etc.
A provision of a law that is spent, has expired, or otherwise ceased to have effect, may be omitted.
sec.38
Omission of old saving, transitional and validation provisions
sec.38 Omission of old saving, transitional and validation provisions
A saving, transitional or validation provision of a law may be omitted if the provision applies only to a time or event that has passed.
sec.39
Omission of obsolete and redundant provisions
sec.39 Omission of obsolete and redundant provisions
If a provision of a law is obsolete or redundant because of the making of any law, the provision may be omitted.
In the following provisions, the bolded words may be omitted—
‘In this Act , unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the meanings respectively assigned to them, that is to say, —’.
‘In this Act , unless the contrary intention appears —’.
Because of the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , particularly section 24B (8) (b) (which says that laws apply to an acting appointee as if the appointee were the holder of the office), section 33 (References to Ministers), 33AA (References to departments), 33AB (References to chief executives) and schedule 1 (Meaning of commonly used words and expressions), many statutory definitions are redundant.
Accordingly, common definitions such as the following can be omitted as redundant—
area , in relation to a local authority, has the meaning it has under the Local Government Act 1936 ;
Department means the department of government of Queensland within which this Act is administered;
Director-General means the chief executive, by whatever title the chief executive is known, of the department, and includes any officer temporarily discharging the responsibilities of the chief executive;
or
Director-General means the chief executive of the department;
local authority , in relation to any land, means a local authority or a joint local authority constituted under the Local Government Act 1936 for the area in which the land is situated, and includes the Brisbane City Council constituted under the City of Brisbane Act ;
Minister means the Minister of the Crown for the time being charged with the administration of this Act and includes any other Minister of the Crown for the time being performing the duties of the Minister.
s 39 amd 1994 No. 15 s 3 sch 1 ; 2013 No. 39 s 111 sch 4 ; 2023 No. 23 s 247 sch 1 s 35
1 ‘In this Act , unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the meanings respectively assigned to them, that is to say, —’.
2 ‘In this Act , unless the contrary intention appears —’.
1 area , in relation to a local authority, has the meaning it has under the Local Government Act 1936 ;
2 Department means the department of government of Queensland within which this Act is administered;
3 Director-General means the chief executive, by whatever title the chief executive is known, of the department, and includes any officer temporarily discharging the responsibilities of the chief executive; or Director-General means the chief executive of the department;
4 local authority , in relation to any land, means a local authority or a joint local authority constituted under the Local Government Act 1936 for the area in which the land is situated, and includes the Brisbane City Council constituted under the City of Brisbane Act ;
5 Minister means the Minister of the Crown for the time being charged with the administration of this Act and includes any other Minister of the Crown for the time being performing the duties of the Minister.
sec.40
Omission of amending and repealing provisions
sec.40 Omission of amending and repealing provisions
If—
a provision of a law merely repeals or amends a law or a provision of a law; and
the provision has commenced;
the provision may be omitted.
s 40 amd 2010 Act No. 42 s 182
(a) a provision of a law merely repeals or amends a law or a provision of a law; and
(b) the provision has commenced;
sec.41
Omission of unnecessary referential words
sec.41 Omission of unnecessary referential words
Unnecessary referential words in a provision of a law may be omitted.
sec.42
Omission of historical notes etc.
sec.42 Omission of historical notes etc.
Notes in a provision of a law indicating the legislative history, the source of the provision or corresponding provisions in other jurisdictions, and similar notes in a provision of a law, may be omitted from the law.
sec.42A
Omission of words of enactment or notification
sec.42A Omission of words of enactment or notification
Words of enactment or notification of a law may be omitted.
The Parliament of Queensland enacts—
His Excellency the Administrator of the Government, acting by and with the advice of the Executive Council and under section XYZ of the Example Act 19XY , makes the following order in council—
[order]
And the Honourable the Minister is to give the necessary directions herein accordingly.
XYZ, Clerk of the Council.
s 42A ins 1993 No. 76 s 3 sch 1
sec.42B
Omission of provision heading with reference
sec.42B Omission of provision heading with reference
Words associated with a reference to a provision of a law indicating the provision heading of, or associated with, the provision referred to may be omitted.
If a provision states that—
‘An officer may make a disclosure under section 28 (2) (a) (Public officer may disclose official misconduct)’
and the words in brackets are the section heading for section 28 , the provision may be reprinted as—
‘An officer may make a disclosure under section 28 (2) (a) ’.
s 42B ins 1994 No. 87 s 3 sch 1
sec.43
Numbering and renumbering of provisions
sec.43 Numbering and renumbering of provisions
An unnumbered provision of a law may be numbered in a way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice, and all necessary consequential numbering amendments made.
In the following provision, the sentences may be numbered (1), (2), (3) and (4) respectively—
A tenant is not to be entitled to compensation, unless 2 months at least before the determination of the tenancy the tenant gives the landlord written notice claiming compensation.
If a tenant gives such a notice, the landlord may, within 1 month, give the tenant written notice claiming any set-off.
Every notice under this section must state the particulars and amount of the intended claim.
Provided that noncompliance by either party with any of the provisions of this section does not deprive such party of any rights under this Division if the arbitrator is of opinion that there was reasonable excuse for the noncompliance.’.
If a provision of a law is numbered in a way that is inconsistent with current legislative drafting practice—
the provision may be renumbered in a way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice; and
all necessary consequential numbering amendments may be made.
A notice to terminate is sufficiently given if—
it is delivered to a person apparently over 18 who apparently resides on the premises; or
it is advertised in a daily newspaper circulating in the district in which the premises are situated.
Where a proceeding for the recovery of the possession of land or premises is taken in reliance on a notice to terminate given in a manner provided in subsection (3) (a) , any occupier of the land or other person claiming an interest in the land or premises shall be entitled to be heard in the proceeding.
Section 43 (4) has also been applied to this example.
Nothing in this section shall affect the right of a landlord to give notice to terminate otherwise than as provided in this section.’.
may replace
—
A notice to terminate is sufficiently given if—
it is delivered to a person apparently over the age of 18 years who apparently resides on the premises; or
it is advertised in a daily newspaper circulating in the district in which the premises are situated;
where a proceeding for the recovery of the possession of land or premises is taken in reliance on a notice to terminate given in a manner provided in paragraph (a) (i) , any occupier of the land or premises or other person claiming an interest in the land or premises shall be entitled to be heard in the proceeding.
Nothing in this section shall affect the right of a landlord to give notice to terminate otherwise than as provided in this section.’.
The office of councillor shall be vacated if the councillor—
is ousted from office by the Supreme Court; or
is or has become disqualified under this Act.’
may replace
The office of councillor shall be vacated if the councillor—
is ousted from office by the Supreme Court; or
is or has become disqualified under this Act.’.
If a law has been amended so that the numbering of provisions of the law is significantly different to the way in which the provisions would have been numbered if the law were to be remade—
the law may be renumbered in a way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice; and
all necessary consequential numbering amendments may be made.
If a provision of a law is numbered or renumbered under this section—
a reference in any instrument to the provision is a reference to the provision as numbered or renumbered; and
a reference in the law or another law to the provision may be changed to a reference to the provision as numbered or renumbered.
s 43 amd 1993 No. 76 s 3 sch 1 ; 1994 No. 15 s 3 sch 1
(sec.43-ssec.1) An unnumbered provision of a law may be numbered in a way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice, and all necessary consequential numbering amendments made. In the following provision, the sentences may be numbered (1), (2), (3) and (4) respectively— A tenant is not to be entitled to compensation, unless 2 months at least before the determination of the tenancy the tenant gives the landlord written notice claiming compensation. If a tenant gives such a notice, the landlord may, within 1 month, give the tenant written notice claiming any set-off. Every notice under this section must state the particulars and amount of the intended claim. Provided that noncompliance by either party with any of the provisions of this section does not deprive such party of any rights under this Division if the arbitrator is of opinion that there was reasonable excuse for the noncompliance.’.
(sec.43-ssec.2) If a provision of a law is numbered in a way that is inconsistent with current legislative drafting practice— the provision may be renumbered in a way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice; and all necessary consequential numbering amendments may be made. A notice to terminate is sufficiently given if— it is delivered to a person apparently over 18 who apparently resides on the premises; or it is advertised in a daily newspaper circulating in the district in which the premises are situated. Where a proceeding for the recovery of the possession of land or premises is taken in reliance on a notice to terminate given in a manner provided in subsection (3) (a) , any occupier of the land or other person claiming an interest in the land or premises shall be entitled to be heard in the proceeding. Section 43 (4) has also been applied to this example. Nothing in this section shall affect the right of a landlord to give notice to terminate otherwise than as provided in this section.’. may replace — A notice to terminate is sufficiently given if— it is delivered to a person apparently over the age of 18 years who apparently resides on the premises; or it is advertised in a daily newspaper circulating in the district in which the premises are situated; where a proceeding for the recovery of the possession of land or premises is taken in reliance on a notice to terminate given in a manner provided in paragraph (a) (i) , any occupier of the land or premises or other person claiming an interest in the land or premises shall be entitled to be heard in the proceeding. Nothing in this section shall affect the right of a landlord to give notice to terminate otherwise than as provided in this section.’. The office of councillor shall be vacated if the councillor— is ousted from office by the Supreme Court; or is or has become disqualified under this Act.’ may replace The office of councillor shall be vacated if the councillor— is ousted from office by the Supreme Court; or is or has become disqualified under this Act.’.
(sec.43-ssec.3) If a law has been amended so that the numbering of provisions of the law is significantly different to the way in which the provisions would have been numbered if the law were to be remade— the law may be renumbered in a way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice; and all necessary consequential numbering amendments may be made.
(sec.43-ssec.4) If a provision of a law is numbered or renumbered under this section— a reference in any instrument to the provision is a reference to the provision as numbered or renumbered; and a reference in the law or another law to the provision may be changed to a reference to the provision as numbered or renumbered.
‘ 5 A tenant is not to be entitled to compensation, unless 2 months at least before the determination of the tenancy the tenant gives the landlord written notice claiming compensation. If a tenant gives such a notice, the landlord may, within 1 month, give the tenant written notice claiming any set-off. Every notice under this section must state the particulars and amount of the intended claim. Provided that noncompliance by either party with any of the provisions of this section does not deprive such party of any rights under this Division if the arbitrator is of opinion that there was reasonable excuse for the noncompliance.’.
(a) the provision may be renumbered in a way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice; and
(b) all necessary consequential numbering amendments may be made.
‘(3) A notice to terminate is sufficiently given if— (a) it is delivered to a person apparently over 18 who apparently resides on the premises; or (b) it is advertised in a daily newspaper circulating in the district in which the premises are situated.
(a) it is delivered to a person apparently over 18 who apparently resides on the premises; or
(b) it is advertised in a daily newspaper circulating in the district in which the premises are situated.
(3A) Where a proceeding for the recovery of the possession of land or premises is taken in reliance on a notice to terminate given in a manner provided in subsection (3) (a) , any occupier of the land or other person claiming an interest in the land or premises shall be entitled to be heard in the proceeding. Editor’s note— Section 43 (4) has also been applied to this example.
(4) Nothing in this section shall affect the right of a landlord to give notice to terminate otherwise than as provided in this section.’.
(a) it is delivered to a person apparently over 18 who apparently resides on the premises; or
(b) it is advertised in a daily newspaper circulating in the district in which the premises are situated.
‘(3) — (a) A notice to terminate is sufficiently given if— (i) it is delivered to a person apparently over the age of 18 years who apparently resides on the premises; or (ii) it is advertised in a daily newspaper circulating in the district in which the premises are situated; (b) where a proceeding for the recovery of the possession of land or premises is taken in reliance on a notice to terminate given in a manner provided in paragraph (a) (i) , any occupier of the land or premises or other person claiming an interest in the land or premises shall be entitled to be heard in the proceeding.
(a) A notice to terminate is sufficiently given if— (i) it is delivered to a person apparently over the age of 18 years who apparently resides on the premises; or (ii) it is advertised in a daily newspaper circulating in the district in which the premises are situated;
(i) it is delivered to a person apparently over the age of 18 years who apparently resides on the premises; or
(ii) it is advertised in a daily newspaper circulating in the district in which the premises are situated;
(b) where a proceeding for the recovery of the possession of land or premises is taken in reliance on a notice to terminate given in a manner provided in paragraph (a) (i) , any occupier of the land or premises or other person claiming an interest in the land or premises shall be entitled to be heard in the proceeding.
(4) Nothing in this section shall affect the right of a landlord to give notice to terminate otherwise than as provided in this section.’.
(a) A notice to terminate is sufficiently given if— (i) it is delivered to a person apparently over the age of 18 years who apparently resides on the premises; or (ii) it is advertised in a daily newspaper circulating in the district in which the premises are situated;
(i) it is delivered to a person apparently over the age of 18 years who apparently resides on the premises; or
(ii) it is advertised in a daily newspaper circulating in the district in which the premises are situated;
(b) where a proceeding for the recovery of the possession of land or premises is taken in reliance on a notice to terminate given in a manner provided in paragraph (a) (i) , any occupier of the land or premises or other person claiming an interest in the land or premises shall be entitled to be heard in the proceeding.
(i) it is delivered to a person apparently over the age of 18 years who apparently resides on the premises; or
(ii) it is advertised in a daily newspaper circulating in the district in which the premises are situated;
‘ 10.(1) The office of councillor shall be vacated if the councillor— (a) is ousted from office by the Supreme Court; or (b) is or has become disqualified under this Act.’
(a) is ousted from office by the Supreme Court; or
(b) is or has become disqualified under this Act.’
(a) is ousted from office by the Supreme Court; or
(b) is or has become disqualified under this Act.’
‘ 10(1) The office of councillor shall be vacated if the councillor— (i) is ousted from office by the Supreme Court; or (ii) is or has become disqualified under this Act.’.
(i) is ousted from office by the Supreme Court; or
(ii) is or has become disqualified under this Act.’.
(i) is ousted from office by the Supreme Court; or
(ii) is or has become disqualified under this Act.’.
(a) the law may be renumbered in a way that is consistent with current legislative drafting practice; and
(b) all necessary consequential numbering amendments may be made.
(a) a reference in any instrument to the provision is a reference to the provision as numbered or renumbered; and
(b) a reference in the law or another law to the provision may be changed to a reference to the provision as numbered or renumbered.
pt.4-div.7
Correction of minor errors
Correction of minor errors
sec.44
Correction of minor errors
sec.44 Correction of minor errors
If a provision of a law contains a minor error, the provision may be expressed in a different way so as to correct the error.
‘licence’ may replace ‘license’ if used as a noun.
In the following provision, the bolded word may be omitted—
‘The chairperson is to be the executive officer of the the Board.’.
In the following provision, the bracketed word may be inserted where indicated—
‘The chairperson is to be the executive officer of (the) Board.’.
pt.4-div.8
sec.44A
Section sec.44A
s 44A ins 2014 No. 30 s 50
exp 31 December 2014 (see s 44B)
sec.44B
Section sec.44B
s 44B ins 2014 No. 30 s 50
exp 31 December 2014 (see s 44B)
pt.5
Not reprinted and relocated provisions
Not reprinted and relocated provisions
sec.45
Not reprinted provisions
sec.45 Not reprinted provisions
Nothing in this Act requires every provision of a law to be shown in a reprint of the law.
If a provision of a law is not shown in a reprint, the reprint is to indicate that fact in a suitable place.
(sec.45-ssec.1) Nothing in this Act requires every provision of a law to be shown in a reprint of the law.
(sec.45-ssec.2) If a provision of a law is not shown in a reprint, the reprint is to indicate that fact in a suitable place.
sec.46
Relocated provisions
sec.46 Relocated provisions
Nothing in this Act requires each provision of a law to be shown in the location within the law in which the provision was located when the provision was made.
A table or diagram originally located within the body of a law may be relocated to the end of the law.
If a provision of a law is not shown in the location within the law in which the provision would otherwise be located, the reprint is to indicate that fact in a suitable place.
(sec.46-ssec.1) Nothing in this Act requires each provision of a law to be shown in the location within the law in which the provision was located when the provision was made. A table or diagram originally located within the body of a law may be relocated to the end of the law.
(sec.46-ssec.2) If a provision of a law is not shown in the location within the law in which the provision would otherwise be located, the reprint is to indicate that fact in a suitable place.
pt.6
sec.47
Section sec.47
s 47 om 2013 No. 39 s 81
pt.7
Effect of official copies of reprints
Effect of official copies of reprints
sec.48
Section sec.48
s 48 amd 1994 No. 87 s 3 sch 1
om 2013 No. 39 s 83
sec.49
Amendment of and reference to reprinted law etc.
sec.49 Amendment of and reference to reprinted law etc.
A law may be amended or referred to as set out in this section.
See the Evidence Act 1977 , sections 43 (h) and 46A for evidentiary provisions relating to reprints.
If a reprint of the law has been produced and no amendments of the law have commenced on or after the reprint date for the latest reprint, the law may be amended or referred to having regard to the text of the law as shown in the latest reprint.
If a reprint of the law has been produced and amendments of the law have commenced on or after the reprint date for the latest reprint, the law may be amended or referred to having regard to the text of the law—
as shown in the latest reprint; and
as the text would be required to be shown in a subsequent reprint because of Part 3 (Amendments must be included in reprints).
If a reprint of the law has not been produced, the law may be amended or referred to having regard to the text of the law—
as it would be required to be shown in a reprint because of Part 3 (Amendments must be included in reprints); and
as the text would be shown if the following provisions were used—
Part 4 , Division 2 (Updated citations and references to law)
section 25 (References to gender specific offices)
section 26 (Spelling)
section 27 (Punctuation)
section 29 (Expression of number, year, date, time, amount of money, quantity etc.) but only to the extent stated in subsection (5)
Part 4 , Division 5 (Updated naming conventions within statutory instruments)
section 34 (Relocation of marginal or cite notes)
section 35 (Format and printing style).
For the purpose of subsection (4) , section 29 must be used only to express the designation of provision units in the law, and references to the designation of provision units in another law, in a way consistent with current legislative drafting practice.
An expression in column 1 of the following table may be amended or referred to as if it were the corresponding bolded expression in column 2
Table
Column 1
Column 2
Part II
Part 2
First Schedule
Schedule 1
In this section—
reprint means an official copy of a reprint.
s 49 sub 1993 No. 32 s 3 sch 1
amd 1993 No. 76 s 3 sch 1 ; 2013 No. 39 s 84
(sec.49-ssec.1) A law may be amended or referred to as set out in this section. See the Evidence Act 1977 , sections 43 (h) and 46A for evidentiary provisions relating to reprints.
(sec.49-ssec.2) If a reprint of the law has been produced and no amendments of the law have commenced on or after the reprint date for the latest reprint, the law may be amended or referred to having regard to the text of the law as shown in the latest reprint.
(sec.49-ssec.3) If a reprint of the law has been produced and amendments of the law have commenced on or after the reprint date for the latest reprint, the law may be amended or referred to having regard to the text of the law— as shown in the latest reprint; and as the text would be required to be shown in a subsequent reprint because of Part 3 (Amendments must be included in reprints).
(sec.49-ssec.4) If a reprint of the law has not been produced, the law may be amended or referred to having regard to the text of the law— as it would be required to be shown in a reprint because of Part 3 (Amendments must be included in reprints); and as the text would be shown if the following provisions were used— Part 4 , Division 2 (Updated citations and references to law) section 25 (References to gender specific offices) section 26 (Spelling) section 27 (Punctuation) section 29 (Expression of number, year, date, time, amount of money, quantity etc.) but only to the extent stated in subsection (5) Part 4 , Division 5 (Updated naming conventions within statutory instruments) section 34 (Relocation of marginal or cite notes) section 35 (Format and printing style).
(sec.49-ssec.5) For the purpose of subsection (4) , section 29 must be used only to express the designation of provision units in the law, and references to the designation of provision units in another law, in a way consistent with current legislative drafting practice. An expression in column 1 of the following table may be amended or referred to as if it were the corresponding bolded expression in column 2 Table Column 1 Column 2 Part II Part 2 First Schedule Schedule 1
(sec.49-ssec.6) In this section— reprint means an official copy of a reprint.
(a) as shown in the latest reprint; and
(b) as the text would be required to be shown in a subsequent reprint because of Part 3 (Amendments must be included in reprints).
(a) as it would be required to be shown in a reprint because of Part 3 (Amendments must be included in reprints); and
(b) as the text would be shown if the following provisions were used— • Part 4 , Division 2 (Updated citations and references to law) • section 25 (References to gender specific offices) • section 26 (Spelling) • section 27 (Punctuation) • section 29 (Expression of number, year, date, time, amount of money, quantity etc.) but only to the extent stated in subsection (5) • Part 4 , Division 5 (Updated naming conventions within statutory instruments) • section 34 (Relocation of marginal or cite notes) • section 35 (Format and printing style).
• Part 4 , Division 2 (Updated citations and references to law)
• section 25 (References to gender specific offices)
• section 26 (Spelling)
• section 27 (Punctuation)
• section 29 (Expression of number, year, date, time, amount of money, quantity etc.) but only to the extent stated in subsection (5)
• Part 4 , Division 5 (Updated naming conventions within statutory instruments)
• section 34 (Relocation of marginal or cite notes)
• section 35 (Format and printing style).
• Part 4 , Division 2 (Updated citations and references to law)
• section 25 (References to gender specific offices)
• section 26 (Spelling)
• section 27 (Punctuation)
• section 29 (Expression of number, year, date, time, amount of money, quantity etc.) but only to the extent stated in subsection (5)
• Part 4 , Division 5 (Updated naming conventions within statutory instruments)
• section 34 (Relocation of marginal or cite notes)
• section 35 (Format and printing style).
pt.8
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
sec.50
Regulations
sec.50 Regulations
The Governor in Council may make regulations for the purposes of this Act.
pt.9
Transitional provision for Treasury and Trade and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2013
Transitional provision for Treasury and Trade and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2013
sec.51
Reprints authorised under previous pt 6
sec.51 Reprints authorised under previous pt 6
An existing authorised reprint is, from the commencement, taken to be a reprint authorised by the parliamentary counsel under the Legislative Standards Act 1992 , section 10A.
In this section—
commencement means the commencement of this section.
existing authorised reprint means a reprint—
authorised by the parliamentary counsel under part 6 as in force before the commencement; and
printed by or under the authority of the government printer or published on the Queensland legislation website.
s 51 ins 2013 No. 39 s 85
(sec.51-ssec.1) An existing authorised reprint is, from the commencement, taken to be a reprint authorised by the parliamentary counsel under the Legislative Standards Act 1992 , section 10A.
(sec.51-ssec.2) In this section— commencement means the commencement of this section. existing authorised reprint means a reprint— authorised by the parliamentary counsel under part 6 as in force before the commencement; and printed by or under the authority of the government printer or published on the Queensland legislation website.
(a) authorised by the parliamentary counsel under part 6 as in force before the commencement; and
(b) printed by or under the authority of the government printer or published on the Queensland legislation website.
Source text: opening excerpt
Sourced from Queensland Legislation (legislation.qld.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
pt.1 Preliminary
Preliminary
sec.1 Short title
sec.1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Reprints Act 1992 .
sec.2 Object of Act
sec.2 Object of Act
The object of this Act is to facilitate the updating and ready availability of Queensland legislation.
The object is to be achieved by modernising the law relating to reprints of Queensland legislation.
(sec.2-ssec.1) The object of this Act is to facilitate the updating and ready availability of Queensland legislation.
(sec.2-ssec.2) The object is to be achieved by modernising the law relating to reprints of Queensland legislation.
sec.3 Definitions
sec.3 Definitions
The dictionary in schedule 1 defines particular words used in this Act.
s 3 amd 2013 No. 39 s 77
Note—s 3 contained definitions for this Act. Definitions are now located in schedule 1 (Dictionary). Annotations for definitions contained in s 3 are located in annotations for sch 1.
pt.2 Preparation of reprints
Preparation of reprints
sec.4 Parliamentary counsel may prepare reprints
sec.4 Parliamentary counsel may prepare reprints
The parliamentary counsel may prepare a reprint of a law under this Act, including a law that has not been amended and a reprint in electronic form.
s 4 sub 2013 No. 39 s 78
pt.3 Amendments must be included in reprints
Amendments must be included in reprints
sec.5 Amendments
sec.5 Amendments
If a law has been amended by—
the omission of provisions; or
the insertion of provisions (whether or not in substitution for omitted provisions);
a reprint of the law must—
show the law as amended by all amendments that commenced on or before the reprint date; and
incorporate all necessary consequential amendments, whether of punctuation, numbering or another kind.
If the following provision were to be amended by the omission of paragraph (c) , the bracketed punctuation mark would replace the bolded punctuation mark and the word ‘and’ at the end of paragraph (b) would be omitted—
A notice is to—
be signed by the chairperson; and
specify the time within which it is to be complied with; (.) and
specify the place at which it is to be complied with.’.
If a section that is not divided into subsections is amended by the insertion of a subsection at the end, the existing provision is numbered as subsection (1) .
If a section that is divided into subsections is amended by the insertion of another subsection that is given a new number (for example, a subsection (1A) to be inserted after subsection (1) ), section 5 (d) does not require the renumbering of subsections after the inserted subsection.
If a definition is added to a section consisting of 1 definition, the existing section heading ‘Definition’ would become ‘Definitions’.
If a provision heading is amended, a reference to the provision mentioning the provision heading may be amended to mention the amended provision heading.
s 5 amd 1992 No. 68 s 3 sch 1 ; 1993 No. 76 s 3 sch 1 ; 1994 No. 87 s 3 sch 1 ; 2013 No. 39 s 79
The Act also sets transparency duties: where the text of a law is given using the permissions in s 7, the reprint must indicate that fact and must outline in general terms how the permissions were used (s 7(2)). If provisions are omitted or relocated, the reprint must indicate that fact (ss 45-46).
Part 7 and s 49 govern how amendment and reference to the reprinted law are to be treated in subsequent legislative or legal action. Section 49 sets rules on when an amendment or reference may be made with regard to the text as shown in the latest reprint, and cross-references the Evidence Act 1977 for evidentiary matters.
The Governor in Council may make regulations for the Act (s 50). Transitional provision s 51 treats certain pre-existing authorised reprints as authorised under the Legislative Standards Act, s 10A as of commencement.
In short, the Act delegates to parliamentary counsel the production and editorial modernisation of reprints, prescribes what editorial modernisation is permitted, requires transparency about the use of those powers, and , in authorised circumstances , gives reprinted text statutory effect as if amended by later law (s 9). The declared policy purpose is updating and ready availability of legislation (s 2). The Act then operationalises that policy by listing specific permissible editorial transformations and by setting the legal consequences of an authorised reprint.
Main concepts
The Act operationalises a small set of interlocking concepts that determine what a reprint is and what editorial work may be done without further primary legislation.
Reprint and reprint date: The Act repeatedly treats a reprint as an official copy (see s 49 note) and uses the reprint date as the temporal cut-off for which amendments must be incorporated (s 5). The reprint date therefore determines which amendments must appear in a reprint and which may be excluded until a subsequent reprint.
Authorisation mechanism and legal effect: There is a distinction between editorial changes that are permissible in a reprint (s 7) and the legal effect conferred when a reprint is authorised under the Legislative Standards Act 1992, s 10A. Section 9 makes explicit that, where authorised under that Act, the reprinted text has effect as if the changes were made expressly by another amending law immediately before the reprint date. That transforms editorial modernisation into, effectively, a recognised legislative instrument for the purposes of statutory text.
Permitted editorial changes set out with examples: Part 4 is not a loose delegation. It itemises classes of permitted editorial adjustments. For citation and reference modernisation, ss 10-21 allow omission or substitution of punctuation, words such as "of", "to", inverted commas, "The", and updating to current drafting practice (ss 10-21). Sections 21A-23A cover changing citations when citations change, references to remade laws, changed names or replacement bodies, and state that some of those subsections operate despite the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, s 35 (ss 23, 23A). Sections 24-30A address expression: gender-neutral language, naming of gendered offices, spelling, punctuation, conjunctives/disjunctives, numeric and date formatting, and ordering of definitions and provisions. Naming conventions for statutory instruments, schedules and appendices are in ss 31-33B and 33A. Sections 34-35 cover marginal notes and format and printing style. Sections 36-42B permit omission of arrangement provisions, spent provisions, old transitional/saving provisions, obsolete definitions, amending/repealing provisions that have commenced, unnecessary referential words, historical notes, enactment words, and provision headings linked to references. Section 43 permits numbering and renumbering consistent with current practice. Section 44 allows correction of minor errors.
Limits on editorial power: Section 8 is the textual hard limit: editorial changes under s 7 are not permitted to change the effect of the provision. The Act also imposes documentary limits: s 7(2) requires reprints to identify if s 7 permissions were used and to outline, in general terms, how they were used. Sections 45-46 require reprints to indicate omitted or relocated provisions.
Interaction with amendment and legal referencing: Section 5 requires that reprints show the law as amended by all amendments that commenced on or before the reprint date and incorporate necessary consequential amendments. Section 6 requires a reference to the law by which each amendment was made within a suitable place in the reprint. Section 49 sets out how subsequent amendments or references to a law may be made by reference to the reprint text, including rules where no reprint exists and which parts of Part 4 apply when no reprint exists (s 49(4)-(5)). Section 49 also references the Evidence Act 1977 for evidentiary provisions relating to reprints.
Administrative instruments and regulatory power: The Governor in Council may make regulations for the purposes of the Act (s 50). Transitional treatment of earlier authorised reprints is provided in s 51, which deems them authorised under the Legislative Standards Act mechanism from commencement.
These concepts combine to create an administrative and editorial framework that permits modernisation of legislative text while attempting to preserve substantive effect. The Act specifies permissible mechanical changes in granular detail, signalling an intent to standardise presentation and references across the corpus while reserving to parliamentary counsel the gatekeeping role for authorised reprints.
Who it affects
The Act identifies and implicates particular institutional actors and classes of users by name or operation. Those affected include the following.
Parliamentary counsel. The primary statutory actor is parliamentary counsel, who is expressly authorised to prepare reprints (s 4) and to exercise the editorial permissions listed in s 7 and the specific Divisions of Part 4. Parliamentary counsel controls whether a reprint is authorised under the Legislative Standards Act s 10A, which triggers the legal-effect rule in s 9.
Government printer and the Queensland legislation website. The transitional provision s 51 defines an "existing authorised reprint" to include reprints printed by or under the authority of the government printer or published on the Queensland legislation website, and treats those as taken to be authorised by the parliamentary counsel under the Legislative Standards Act, s 10A.
Departments, statutory agencies and office-holders. Numerous sections expressly contemplate substitution of names or titles (ss 23, 23A), replacement of bodies (s 23A) and references to chief executives and departments in current drafting practice (e.g. s 29 examples). Public authorities that are referred to in legislation will see their names or titles updated, and such updates are permitted even where the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 might otherwise be relevant (ss 23, 23A).
Legal practitioners, courts, tribunals and advisers. Section 49 expressly addresses how a law may be amended or referred to "having regard to the text of the law as shown in the latest reprint." The Act also cross-references evidence rules in Evidence Act 1977 ss 43(h) and 46A. Practitioners and courts will therefore be users of reprints when construing legislation, amending legislation, or adducing legislative text as evidence.
Publishers and private database providers. The Act permits authorised reprints in electronic form (s 4). Private publishers, database providers, and researchers who rely on or reproduce reprints will be affected by the Act’s rules on what can be modernised and by the transparency obligations in s 7(2) and the requirements in ss 45-46 to indicate omissions or relocations.
Members of the public relying on statutory text. Reprints, especially those given statutory effect under s 9, become the accessible face of the law for citizens; changes permitted under Part 4 (for example, spelling, punctuation, gender-neutral language and citation forms) alter the presentation of statutory obligations and entitlements.
Legislators and drafters. The Act alters the downstream textual environment of statutes by permitting renumbering and renaming (s 43 and Div 5/5A). Parliamentary drafters and those preparing amending instruments need to be aware of these changes when drafting cross-references and transitional provisions.
Inter-jurisdictional users. Several provisions apply to laws of the Commonwealth, other States, Territories or foreign countries where those are cited or referenced (see s 18(3) and s 21A(2)-s 22(5)). Users who rely on cross-jurisdictional references (for example, where a Queensland provision refers to Commonwealth law) are within the scope of permitted reprint adjustments.
Who pays and who decides: the Act designates the decision roles and procedural obligations but does not set out funding arrangements. Parliamentary counsel decides on the content and use of editorial changes. The Governor in Council can make supporting regulations (s 50). Users bear the cost of ensuring they are consulting the correct reprint: the Act places a clear onus on reprints to indicate omitted or relocated provisions (ss 45-46) and to outline how permissions were used (s 7(2)). The Act recognises that multiple practical users , courts, practitioners, agencies, publishers and the public , will be affected by editorial choices and by whether a reprint is authorised under the Legislative Standards Act 1992.
Key duties and rights
The Act creates a constrained set of statutory duties and devolved rights for particular actors, together with procedural duties that attach to reprints.
Duties and powers of parliamentary counsel
Power to prepare reprints: Parliamentary counsel "may prepare a reprint of a law under this Act" and may prepare an electronic reprint (s 4). That is a permissive but enabling power rather than an expressed duty to prepare reprints.
Editorial powers: Under s 7 and the Divisions of Part 4, parliamentary counsel may exercise a wide suite of editorial options, including updating citations, references, expressions, naming conventions, format, omission of obsolete material, renumbering and correction of minor errors. Each category in Part 4 contains express examples to guide the permitted use of editorial changes.
Transparency obligations: If the text of a law is given using the permissions in s 7, the reprint "must indicate that fact in a suitable place" and "must outline in general terms, and in a suitable place, the way in which the permission was used" (s 7(2)). Where a provision is omitted or relocated from its original position, the reprint "is to indicate that fact in a suitable place" (ss 45-46). These are documentary duties designed to inform users of the extent and nature of editorial modernisation.
Limits on parliamentary counsel
No change of legal effect: Section 8 provides a substantive limit: the editorial permissions in s 7 do not permit changes to the text of a provision that would change the effect of the provision. That is the statutory constraint on editorial modernisation.
Incorporation of amendments: Where a law has been amended by omission or insertion, a reprint "must show the law as amended by all amendments that commenced on or before the reprint date" and incorporate necessary consequential amendments (s 5). That creates an operational duty to incorporate amendments up to the reprint date.
Duties when amendments are shown
Reference to amending law: Section 6 requires that a reprint which shows a law as amended "must include, in a suitable place, a reference to the law by which each amendment was made." That is a bibliographic duty.
How reprints may be used
Legal effect of authorised editorial presentation: Where a reprint has been produced and the text is given as permitted by s 7, and the reprint is authorised by parliamentary counsel under the Legislative Standards Act 1992, s 10A, s 9 states that "the law has effect as if the changes made under that section had been made expressly by another law that amended the law immediately before the reprint date." That is a right conferred on the reprinted text: authorised editorial modernisation becomes a recognised form of textual amendment for legal purposes.
Rules for amendment and reference: Section 49 provides detailed rules on how a law may be amended or referred to with regard to the text shown in reprints, including the situation where a reprint has been produced and where it has not. Section 49(2)-(4) explains the circumstances in which a reprint's text can be used for subsequent amendment or reference. It also cross-references the Evidence Act 1977 for evidentiary matters, signalling how reprints function in proof and reference.
Regulatory power
The Governor in Council may make regulations for the purposes of the Act (s 50). That grants an executive authority a broad enabling power to regulate the operation and implementation of the Act.
Transitional duty
Existing authorised reprints produced under the previous regime are taken to be authorised under the Legislative Standards Act, s 10A, from the commencement of s 51 (s 51). That is a transitional recognition duty.
Rights of users and obligations where reprints are absent
Where a reprint is available and no amendments have commenced on or after the reprint date for the latest reprint, the law may be amended or referred to having regard to the text of the law as shown in the latest reprint (s 49(2)). If a reprint exists but amendments commenced on or after the reprint date, s 49(3) allows amendment or reference having regard to the text shown in the latest reprint and the text as it would be required to be shown in a subsequent reprint because of Part 3.
Where a reprint has not been produced, s 49(4) specifies that the law may be amended or referred to having regard to the text as it would be required to be shown in a reprint under Part 3 and as it would be shown if a specified set of editorial provisions were used. Section 49(5) limits the use of s 29 in such circumstances.
Noticeable absences
The Act does not set out criminal or civil penalties for contravening its editorial rules; it does not prescribe express disciplinary measures for incorrect reprinting. It focuses on delegation of editorial powers, documentary obligations on reprints, and legal effect where reprints are authorised (see further "Penalties and enforcement").
Together these duties and rights form an architecture: parliamentary counsel has the primary editorial authority subject to the non-changing-effect constraint and transparency duties; authorised reprints, when produced according to s 9, have quasi-amending legal status; users are directed to rely on the latest reprint where available; and the Governor in Council may make regulations to support the operation of the Act.
Penalties and enforcement
The Act’s text, as provided, does not create express criminal offences or civil penalty provisions tied to the preparation, reproduction or use of reprints. It instead focuses on authorising powers, documentary duties and legal effects. Several points follow from the statutory design.
No penalty provisions in the text. Nowhere in the provided text does the Act prescribe fines, penalty units, or specific enforcement regimes for failure to comply with the obligations to indicate editorial changes, to include references to amending laws, or to omit spent provisions. The annotated schedule entries and amendments listed at the foot of many sections do not contain penalty provisions either. The absence is material: breaches of documentary duties (for example, failure to indicate that s 7 permissions were used as required by s 7(2), or failure to indicate omitted provisions under s 45) are not accompanied by statutory sanctions inside this Act.
Enforcement by informational means rather than sanction. The Act creates documentary obligations that serve as compliance levers: a reprint "must indicate" use of editorial permissions (s 7(2)), omissions must be indicated (ss 45-46), and a reprint that shows amendments must include a reference to the amending law (s 6). These are self-enforcing to the extent that users, drafters, courts and legal publishers will rely on the presence or absence of such statements; however there is no enforcement mechanism, administrative penalty or criminal sanction prescribed in the Act itself for non-compliance.
Legal effect of authorised reprints creates an implicit compliance incentive. Section 9 gives authorised reprints (those authorised under the Legislative Standards Act 1992, s 10A) the effect of having had the changes made as if by another law that amended the law immediately before the reprint date. That confers legal authority on the reprinted text and thus provides a strong incentive for correct authorisation and for careful editorial practice. Conversely, improper use of authorisation could give rise to legal challenge (see "Litigation history" and "Gotchas"), but the Act itself does not establish an express remedial pathway or sanction.
Evidentiary interplay with the Evidence Act. Section 49 refers to the Evidence Act 1977, sections 43(h) and 46A, for evidentiary provisions relating to reprints. Although the Reprints Act does not itself prescribe enforcement mechanisms, its cross-reference to the Evidence Act places reprints within the evidentiary architecture of the law. That means that courts and tribunals have established evidence rules by which a reprint may be proved or received. Those provisions are not reproduced here, but the Act signals an evidentiary pathway rather than an enforcement regime internal to the Reprints Act.
Regulation-making power for ancillary enforcement procedures. The Governor in Council may make regulations for the purposes of this Act (s 50). In principle, regulations could create operational or procedural requirements, which might include enforcement mechanisms; however no such regulations are included in the text provided. The Act thus delegates potential enforcement detail to subordinate instruments but does not itself contain them.
No express private right of action tied to incorrect reprinting. The Act does not create or prescribe private rights of action for individuals affected by an error in a reprint. If legal consequences flowed from an incorrect reprint (for example, if someone relied to their detriment on a reprinted text that had been authorised and that conferred legal effect under s 9), the Act does not state the remedial path; those remedial questions would be determined under general law and the courts’ remedial powers.
In summary, the statute relies on the conferral of authorisation and the documentary duties on reprints, together with existing evidentiary frameworks, to regulate behaviour. It does not produce a parallel sanctions regime. That design places the principal enforcement focus on administrative authorisation and transparency rather than on penal or civil sanction contained in the Act itself.
How it interacts with other laws
The Reprints Act is designed to operate alongside and to modify how other statutes are presented and referenced. The Act contains several explicit cross-references and some provisions that operate "despite" other Acts. The relevant interactions are these.
Legislative Standards Act 1992, s 10A: Sections 9 and 51 explicitly reference the Legislative Standards Act 1992, s 10A. Section 9 provides that, where a reprint is authorised by the parliamentary counsel under the Legislative Standards Act 1992, s 10A, and the text is given pursuant to s 7, the law "has effect as if the changes made under that section had been made expressly by another law that amended the law immediately before the reprint date." Section 51 treats existing authorised reprints, printed or published under previous Part 6, as reprints authorised under the Legislative Standards Act s 10A from commencement. The practical outcome is that the Legislative Standards Act’s authorisation mechanism is the route by which a reprint’s editorial presentation can have substantive legal status.
Acts Interpretation Act 1954, s 35: Sections 23 and 23A state that the ability to substitute a changed name or title (s 23) and to replace a body or office for another (s 23A) "has effect according to its tenor, and has that effect despite the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, section 35." Those subsections therefore operate notwithstanding section 35 of the Acts Interpretation Act, meaning that the Reprints Act permits certain substitutions that might otherwise be constrained by the Acts Interpretation Act provision. The Reprints Act thus takes precedence as to those specific naming and replacement matters in the context of reprints.
Evidence Act 1977, ss 43(h) and 46A: Section 49 opens Part 7 by referring the reader to the Evidence Act 1977, sections 43(h) and 46A, "for evidentiary provisions relating to reprints." While the Reprints Act sets out when reprint text may be used for amendment and reference, the Evidence Act provisions govern how reprints are proved in evidence and thus their admissibility and weight in legal proceedings. The Act therefore embeds reprints within the evidentiary architecture of Queensland law.
Cross-jurisdictional laws: Several sections expressly allow that "law" can include laws of the Commonwealth, another State, a Territory or a foreign country for the purpose of giving effect to substitution rules (for example s 18(3) and s 23A(4)). Sections such as s 18, s 19, s 20A and s 21A contemplate updating citations and references to laws from other jurisdictions, which affects how Queensland legislation is presented when it refers to non-Queensland instruments.
Interaction with current legislative drafting practice: Many of the editorial permissions are framed to permit substitution "consistent with current legislative drafting practice" (for example ss 21, 24, 26-30A, 31, 32, 34-35, 43). That ties the Reprints Act to an external standard , contemporary drafting practice , which itself is formed by the legislative drafting office, parliamentary practice and potentially guidance materials. Where the Act permits renumbering, updated punctuation, modernised spellings and expression, it does so in the service of aligning older texts with current drafting norms.
Effect on cross-references within and between laws: Sections 21A-23A and 33-33B permit updating references when citations, provisions and instrument types change. Section 22 permits a reference to a repealed-and-remade law to be given using the remade law. Section 33 and s 33B permit insertions of words such as "of the Act" or "of the schedule" where they are missing. These permissions operate functionally to keep cross-references accurate after amendments and remakings, reducing drafting friction but altering the literal original text.
Limitations where no reprint exists: Section 49(4) sets out how a law "may be amended or referred to" if a reprint has not been produced, by specifying which Part 4 provisions may be used to establish how the text would be shown. Section 49(5) limits use of s 29 in that context to designation of provision units. In short, the Act integrates with the amendment process, determining how drafters and legislators may rely on an imagined reprint to draft future instruments.
Regulatory instruments: Section 50 gives the Governor in Council power to make regulations for the purposes of the Act. Any regulations made later would interact with the Act’s provisions and could establish procedures or ancillary rules for implementation.
Taken together, the Act is not standalone. It is an enabling and harmonising statute: it expressly interacts with the Legislative Standards Act to create legal effect for authorised reprints, the Acts Interpretation Act to override s 35 in specific naming/replacement circumstances, the Evidence Act for proof and admissibility, and it embeds the concept of "current legislative drafting practice" as an operative standard. Users must therefore consult these other instruments where necessary to determine the legal consequences of particular editorial choices or evidentiary issues.
Amendment history
The Act text includes embedded amendment annotations in many sections. The following summarises the amendments and insertions recorded in the provided text, listed by section where an annotation appears. The summary uses the section annotations verbatim to avoid inference beyond the text.
s 3: "s 3 amd 2013 No. 39 s 77" , indicates s 3 was amended by 2013 No. 39, s 77. The note also records that definitions formerly in s 3 are now in schedule 1.
s 4: "s 4 sub 2013 No. 39 s 78" , indicates substitution by 2013 No. 39, s 78.
s 5: "s 5 amd 1992 No. 68 s 3 sch 1; 1993 No. 76 s 3 sch 1; 1994 No. 87 s 3 sch 1; 2013 No. 39 s 79" , multiple amendments across 1992-2013.
s 7: "s 7 amd 1993 No. 76 s 3 sch 1; 1994 No. 87 s 3 sch 1" , amendments in 1993 and 1994.
s 9: "s 9 amd 2013 No. 39 s 80" , amended 2013.
s 17: "s 17 amd 2005 No. 55 s 48 sch 4" , amended 2005.
s 18: no amendment note beyond sub-sectioning, but s 18 includes "(sec.18-ssec.1)..."
s 19: "s 19 amd 2013 No. 39 s 111 sch 4" , amended 2013.
s 20A: "s 20A ins 1993 No. 32 s 3 sch 1" , inserted 1993.
s 21: "s 21 amd 1993 No. 32 s 3 sch 1" , amended 1993.
s 21A: "s 21A ins 1993 No. 76 s 3 sch 1 amd 2013 No. 39 s 111 sch 4" , inserted 1993 and amended 2013.
s 22: "s 22 sub 1993 No. 32 s 3 sch 1 amd 1994 No. 15 s 3 sch 1; 2013 No. 39 s 111 sch 4" , substituted 1993; amended 1994 and 2013.
s 23A: "s 23A ins 1992 No. 68 s 3 sch 1" , inserted 1992.
s 26: "s 26 amd 2010 Act No. 42 s 181" , amended 2010.
s 29: "s 29 amd 1992 No. 68 s 3 sch 1; 1993 No. 32 s 3 sch 1; 1993 No. 76 s 3 sch 1; 1994 No. 15 s 3 sch; 1994 No. 87 s 3 sch 1; 2013 No. 39 s 111 sch 4" , multiple amendments across 1992-2013.
s 30: "s 30 amd 1993 No. 76 s 3 sch 1; 1994 No. 87 s 3 sch 1" (implied by general pattern; explicit annotation present in full text for some sections).
s 30A: "s 30A ins 1993 No. 32 s 3 sch 1" , inserted 1993.
s 31: "s 31 sub 1993 No. 32 s 3 sch 1" , substituted 1993.
s 33A: "s 33A ins 1994 No. 87 s 3 sch 1" , inserted 1994.
s 33B: "s 33B ins 1994 No. 87 s 3 sch 1" , inserted 1994.
s 35: "s 35 amd 2013 No. 39 s 111 sch 4" , amended 2013.
s 39: "s 39 amd 1994 No. 15 s 3 sch 1; 2013 No. 39 s 111 sch 4; 2023 No. 23 s 247 sch 1 s 35" , amendments in 1994, 2013 and 2023 are recorded.
s 40: "s 40 amd 2010 Act No. 42 s 182" , amended 2010.
s 43: "s 43 amd 1993 No. 76 s 3 sch 1; 1994 No. 15 s 3 sch 1" , amended 1993 and 1994.
s 44A and s 44B: "s 44A ins 2014 No. 30 s 50 exp 31 December 2014 (see s 44B)" and similar for s 44B , inserted 2014 and labelled as expiring 31 December 2014 in the text.
s 47: "s 47 om 2013 No. 39 s 81" , section 47 omitted 2013.
s 48: "s 48 amd 1994 No. 87 s 3 sch 1 om 2013 No. 39 s 83" , amended 1994 and omitted 2013.
s 49: "s 49 sub 1993 No. 32 s 3 sch 1 amd 1993 No. 76 s 3 sch 1; 2013 No. 39 s 84" , substituted 1993, amended 1993 and 2013.
s 50: appears as inserted or annotated without a specific amendment line beyond its existence; s 50 is the regulation-making power.
s 51: "s 51 ins 2013 No. 39 s 85" , inserted 2013.
This list is restricted to the amendment annotations present in the supplied text. It shows iterative changes through the 1990s, with further modernising amendments in 2005, 2010, 2013 and 2014, and a further amendment noted in 2023 (s 39). The annotations indicate a history of iterative reform focused on modernisation, clarification and aligning the Act with current legislative drafting practice. The presence of multiple insertions in the early 1990s (1992-1994) corresponds to the period when many Divisions and permissions were added. The 2013 amendments include multiple substitutions and amending items, including ones that change authorisation and format provisions. Section 51’s insertion in 2013 provides a transitional bridge for previously authorised reprints.
Users should consult the official consolidated version and the schedule of amendments for precise legislative history entries, as the printed annotations in the supplied text are the basis for this summary.
Litigation history
The supplied text does not name or summarise any judicial decisions. No cases are cited within the Act text provided. The only external legal instruments mentioned by way of cross-reference are the Legislative Standards Act 1992, the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 and the Evidence Act 1977. Because the Act delegates significant editorial authority to parliamentary counsel and gives authorised reprints legal effect in specified circumstances (s 9), the absence of cited cases in the text means that any litigation questions about interpretation, the boundary between permissible editorial changes and changes that "would change the effect" under s 8, or challenges to the legal status of a reprint, would be matters decided under general legal processes and precedent rather than by reference to precedent named in this statute.
Practical litigation touchpoints implicit in the Act
Whether an editorial change "changes the effect" under s 8 will be a legal question. The Act itself sets the prohibition but does not define a process for resolving disputes about whether a specific editorial change crosses the s 8 threshold. In litigation, parties disputing the legal meaning of a provision as presented in a reprint would need to rely on statutory interpretation principles and possibly on evidentiary proof about the reprint’s authorisation and the exact nature of changes made.
The legal effect conferred on authorised reprints by s 9 , treating editorial changes as if made by another law that amended the law immediately before the reprint date , could be a central issue in any challenge. The Act makes that effect conditional on authorisation under the Legislative Standards Act 1992, s 10A. Disputes could arise about whether a particular reprint was properly authorised, and whether the editorial changes fall within the scope of s 7. Resolution would turn on statutory construction and proof of authorisation.
Evidence issues: s 49 directs attention to the Evidence Act 1977 ss 43(h) and 46A for evidentiary provisions relating to reprints. In litigation, those Evidence Act provisions will govern how reprints are tendered and relied upon. The content of those Evidence Act provisions is not reproduced here, but they are the statutory route to proving the content and status of reprints in court.
Because the supplied Act text contains no reported cases or litigation annotations, this section records the absence of named judicial decisions in the text and identifies likely areas where disputes could arise based on the statutory architecture. Parties or counsel needing to know how courts have treated particular reprinting issues must consult judgments and case law databases to identify jurisprudence applying these provisions, and to trace how courts have resolved disputes about the boundary between permissible editorial modernisation and substantive change.
Gotchas
The Act’s detailed permissions for editorial change and its conferral of legal effect on authorised reprints create a number of practical pitfalls that users should be alert to. These "gotchas" are concrete operational risks and consequences that derive directly from the statutory text.
Legal effect vs editorial permission boundary
The Act permits a broad suite of editorial changes (s 7 and Part 4) but disallows changes that would change a provision’s effect (s 8). Determining whether a proposed editorial alteration changes effect is not mechanistic in all cases. The Act provides no internal adjudication process to resolve borderline cases; thus a change that seems merely grammatical or presentational might be treated as effectual in a later dispute. Users should be cautious when relying on reprinted text in contexts where statutory meaning is contested.
Authorisation is decisive for legal effect
Only an authorised reprint under the Legislative Standards Act 1992, s 10A engages the s 9 rule that the reprint "has effect as if the changes ... had been made expressly by another law" (s 9). A reprint that is not so authorised may still be useful for reference but will not carry the statutory effect s 9 confers. Always check whether the reprint has the authorisation status required by s 9.
Reprint date determines included amendments
Section 5 requires that a reprint must show amendments that commenced on or before the reprint date. The reprint date therefore determines what appears. When relying on a reprint, verify the reprint date to ensure it incorporates the amendment(s) relevant to your matter. Section 49(2)-(3) shows that subsequent legislative drafting and references must take into account the latest reprint’s date and whether later amendments have commenced.
Transparency obligations must be checked on the face of the reprint
When s 7 permissions have been used, the reprint "must indicate that fact" and "must outline in general terms ... the way in which the permission was used" (s 7(2)). Similarly, omissions and relocations must be indicated (ss 45-46). If a reprint lacks those statements, its provenance and the nature of editorial changes are opaque. Users relying on reprints for drafting or advising need to review such statements on the face of the reprint.
Omission and relocation do not mean eradication
Sections 36-42B permit omission of spent, obsolete or redundant provisions and relocation of tables and diagrams (s 46). But s 45 requires an indication where a provision is not shown in a reprint. Omitted provisions must be signposted. Failure to notice omitted material can lead to missing operative transitional or savings clauses that still have legal relevance despite being omitted as obsolete in the reprint.
Renumbering and renaming impacts cross-references
Section 43 permits renumbering and s 32/33/33A/33B permit changing the names of provision units and inserting identifying words (for example, "of the Act"). Renumbering may have downstream consequences for instruments, litigation citations and historical references. Section 49(4) helps where no reprint exists, but users should carefully map old references to new ones.
Changes permitted despite Acts Interpretation Act 1954, s 35
Sections 23 and 23A state that certain substitutions "have effect ... despite the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, section 35." That means reprints can change names and replace bodies in ways that may not be strictly permitted under conventional interpretation rules. Users who rely on historical formulations or who need to trace the lineage of a decision should note these statutory overrides.
Electronic reprints and publication provenance
Section 4 allows reprints in electronic form. However, the Act does not itself set out a public registry or metadata standards for electronic reprints beyond the requirement to indicate use of permissions (s 7(2)). Electronic publication must therefore be accompanied by clear provenance statements to ensure users can determine authorisation status and the scope of editorial change.
Absence of enforcement sanctions in the Act
The Act contains no express penalties for failure to comply with its documentary obligations. Resolution of disputes relating to incorrect or misleading reprints will rely on general law remedies and, where relevant, on the evidentiary provisions of the Evidence Act 1977. Users should be aware that statutory non-compliance does not automatically translate into a statutory penalty.
Use of reprints when no reprint exists
Section 49(4) prescribes how a law "may be amended or referred to" if a reprint has not been produced, including reliance on a set of Part 4 provisions that would have been used. This introduces complexity for drafters who must consider not only the original text but also the text "as it would be required to be shown" under Part 3 and the specified provisions of Part 4. Pay attention to s 49(5), which restricts s 29’s use in such circumstances to designation of provision units only.
Cross-jurisdictional citation adjustments
Sections allowing omission of "The", substitution of single-year for double-year citations (s 18), singular/plural substitution (s 19), and substitution for types of instruments (s 20) can materially change the way a law is cited. When drafting inter-jurisdictional amendments or advising on legal history, double-check that the citation used in a reprint reflects the original instrument and that the reprint indicates how citation permissions were applied.
These are concrete operational risks built into the Act’s design. They flow from the combination of broad editorial permissions, the legal consequences of authorisation, documentary duties on reprints and the absence of in-Act sanctions. Practitioners and drafters should build processes to verify a reprint’s authorisation, the reprint date, the transparency statements on editorial change, and whether any omitted or relocated provisions are material to the legal question at hand.
How to comply
Compliance with the Reprints Act requires attention to the Act’s procedural and documentary duties, an understanding of when reprinted text carries statutory effect, and appropriate practical steps for drafters, publishers and legal advisers. The following action points are grounded in the Act’s text.
For parliamentary counsel (or the office producing reprints)
Verify authorisation pathway: When preparing a reprint, determine whether you will authorise it under the Legislative Standards Act 1992, s 10A. If you do, the reprinted text will have the s 9 effect; ensure that authorisation is recorded and that the reprint evidences the authorisation.
Incorporate all amendments to the reprint date: Section 5 requires that a reprint show the law as amended by all amendments that commenced on or before the reprint date and incorporate necessary consequential amendments (including punctuation and numbering). Maintain a robust change log to capture the commencement dates of amending instruments and the consequential adjustments required.
Include references to amending laws: For every amendment shown in the reprint, include, in a suitable place, a reference to the law by which each amendment was made (s 6). That is a mandatory bibliographic duty.
Use s 7 permissions with documented transparency: If you use any s 7 permissions for editorial modernisation, ensure the reprint includes a clear statement that s 7 permissions have been used and an outline, in general terms, of how the permissions were used (s 7(2)). Place these statements conspicuously in the reprint metadata or accompanying notes.
Indicate omissions and relocations: Where provisions are omitted (s 36-42B) or relocated (s 46), include explicit signposting in the reprint that identifies which provisions are omitted and where relocated material can be found, as required by ss 45-46.
Maintain provenance information for electronic reprints: For electronic reprints (s 4), include metadata detailing reprint date, authorisation status, the scope of editorial permissions used, and links to amending instruments referenced under s 6. This helps users and courts determine reliance and evidentiary status (see s 49 and cross-reference to Evidence Act).
Follow current legislative drafting practice: Many permissions are constrained to "consistent with current legislative drafting practice" (for example ss 21, 24-30A, 31, 32, 34-35, 43). Use official drafting guidelines and maintain internal versions of drafting practice standards to ensure consistency and defensibility of editorial choices.
Apply limitations under s 8: Prior to making editorial alterations, conduct a legal review to confirm changes do not alter substantive effect. Document the review and retain a record supporting the conclusion that the change is editorial only.
For agencies, drafters and legislators who rely on reprints
Check reprint authorisation and date: Before relying on a reprint as a legislative text, verify whether it is authorised under the Legislative Standards Act 1992, s 10A (s 9) and note the reprint date, because s 5 and s 49 make those elements determinative when amending or referring to legislation.
Consult s 7(2) statements and omission/relocation notes: Inspect the reprint for the statements required by s 7(2) describing how permissions were used and for the indications required by ss 45-46 about omitted or relocated provisions. Those statements provide necessary context about the scope of editorial change and where omitted material may be located.
Use the reprint for amendment drafting only per s 49: Section 49 prescribes when a law may be amended or referred to with regard to the reprint text. If a reprint exists and no amendments have commenced on or after the reprint date, amend or refer to the law "having regard to the text of the law as shown in the latest reprint" (s 49(2)). If amendments have commenced on or after the reprint date, follow s 49(3). Where no reprint exists, follow the complex matrix set out in s 49(4)-(5).
Be careful about cross-reference and citation changes: If reprint modernisation has changed citations or naming conventions (ss 10-21, 31-33A), ensure your drafting references the correct current forms and, where necessary, include cross-references to the historical forms for clarity.
Validate electronic sources: Where the reprint is published online, confirm the publishing source is the official Queensland legislation website or the government printer (s 51 transitional provision recognises those sources). Avoid relying on third-party reproductions that lack clear authorisation statements or metadata.
For legal practitioners, courts and publishers
Treat authorised reprints as authoritative when s 9 conditions are satisfied: Where a reprint is authorised under the Legislative Standards Act s 10A and contains s 7 editorial changes, s 9 gives the reprinted text statutory effect. Use the reprint as authoritative law subject to any challenge about authorisation or the substantive boundary under s 8.
Check Evidence Act rules for proof: Section 49 points to evidentiary provisions in the Evidence Act 1977 (ss 43(h) and 46A). When tendering a reprint in evidence, follow the Evidence Act rules for admissibility and proof of authorisation, date and provenance.
Map old to new numbering and names: If relying on historical materials, map old section numbers, provision names and citations to their modernised equivalents in the reprint. Section 43 explicitly allows renumbering, and ss 32-33B allow modernised names for provision units; cross-referencing in submissions prevents citation confusion.
Always check for omitted material: A reprint may omit obsolete but still relevant transitional, saving or validation provisions under ss 36-38. Check omission notes and the original instrument when necessary for comprehensive legal advice.
For providers of private legal databases or secondary publishers
Publish reprint provenance: When republishing reprints, include the reprint’s authorisation status, reprint date and s 7(2) statements. Failure to do so makes it difficult for end users to determine whether the content is an authorised reprint subject to s 9.
Maintain update cycles aligned with Parliamentary reprints: Since the reprint date determines which amendments are included (s 5), align publication updates to parliamentary counsel’s reprints and indicate clearly when your copy diverges from the official reprint.
General practical checklist
Confirm whether a reprint exists and its reprint date.
Confirm the reprint’s authorisation under Legislative Standards Act s 10A.
Read and record the s 7(2) statement and any omission/relocation notes (ss 45-46).
For drafting, ensure amendments and references conform to s 49’s rules and consult the Evidence Act for proof rules.
For electronic reprints, capture and preserve metadata showing authorisation, reprint date and the scope of editorial permissions used.
Following these steps implements the Act’s documentary duties and respects the distinctions the Act makes between editorial modernisation and substantive amendment. The Act allocates decision-making power to parliamentary counsel and makes legal effect conditional on authorisation. Compliance therefore rests on correct authorisation practice, careful documentation, and attention to the Act’s explicit signposting obligations.
(b) the insertion of provisions (whether or not in substitution for omitted provisions);
(c) show the law as amended by all amendments that commenced on or before the reprint date; and
(d) incorporate all necessary consequential amendments, whether of punctuation, numbering or another kind.
‘ 5 A notice is to— (a) be signed by the chairperson; and (b) specify the time within which it is to be complied with; (.) and (c) specify the place at which it is to be complied with.’.
‘ 5 A notice is to— (a) be signed by the chairperson; and (b) specify the time within which it is to be complied with; (.) and (c) specify the place at which it is to be complied with.’.
(a) be signed by the chairperson; and
(b) specify the time within which it is to be complied with; (.) and
(c) specify the place at which it is to be complied with.’.
‘ 5 A notice is to— (a) be signed by the chairperson; and (b) specify the time within which it is to be complied with; (.) and (c) specify the place at which it is to be complied with.’.
(a) be signed by the chairperson; and
(b) specify the time within which it is to be complied with; (.) and
(c) specify the place at which it is to be complied with.’.
(a) be signed by the chairperson; and
(b) specify the time within which it is to be complied with; (.) and
(c) specify the place at which it is to be complied with.’.
sec.6 Reference to amending law
sec.6 Reference to amending law
A reprint of a law that shows the law as amended by amendments must include, in a suitable place, a reference to the law by which each amendment was made.
pt.4 Editorial changes may be included in reprints
Editorial changes may be included in reprints
pt.4-div.1 General
General
sec.7 Editorial changes
sec.7 Editorial changes
In a reprint of a law, the text of the law may be given—
using citations and references permitted by Division 2 ; and
using references permitted by Division 3 ; and
using words and references, and otherwise expressed as, permitted by Division 4 ; and
making the omissions and insertions permitted by sections 31 , 33 and 33B ; and
using the names permitted by sections 32 and 33A ; and
using headings, format and printing style permitted by sections 34 and 35 ; and
omitting provisions as permitted by sections 36 to 42B ; and
using the numbering and renumbering of provisions and the references permitted by section 43 ; and
correcting minor errors as permitted by section 44 ; and
doing anything else permitted to be done by this Act or a regulation; and
making all necessary consequential amendments.
If the text of a law is given as permitted by subsection (1) , the reprint—
must indicate that fact in a suitable place; and
must outline in general terms, and in a suitable place, the way in which the permission was used.
s 7 amd 1993 No. 76 s 3 sch 1 ; 1994 No. 87 s 3 sch 1
(sec.7-ssec.1) In a reprint of a law, the text of the law may be given— using citations and references permitted by Division 2 ; and using references permitted by Division 3 ; and using words and references, and otherwise expressed as, permitted by Division 4 ; and making the omissions and insertions permitted by sections 31 , 33 and 33B ; and using the names permitted by sections 32 and 33A ; and using headings, format and printing style permitted by sections 34 and 35 ; and omitting provisions as permitted by sections 36 to 42B ; and using the numbering and renumbering of provisions and the references permitted by section 43 ; and correcting minor errors as permitted by section 44 ; and doing anything else permitted to be done by this Act or a regulation; and making all necessary consequential amendments.
(sec.7-ssec.2) If the text of a law is given as permitted by subsection (1) , the reprint— must indicate that fact in a suitable place; and must outline in general terms, and in a suitable place, the way in which the permission was used.
(a) using citations and references permitted by Division 2 ; and
(b) using references permitted by Division 3 ; and
(c) using words and references, and otherwise expressed as, permitted by Division 4 ; and
(d) making the omissions and insertions permitted by sections 31 , 33 and 33B ; and
(e) using the names permitted by sections 32 and 33A ; and
(f) using headings, format and printing style permitted by sections 34 and 35 ; and
(g) omitting provisions as permitted by sections 36 to 42B ; and
(h) using the numbering and renumbering of provisions and the references permitted by section 43 ; and
(i) correcting minor errors as permitted by section 44 ; and
(j) doing anything else permitted to be done by this Act or a regulation; and
(k) making all necessary consequential amendments.
(a) must indicate that fact in a suitable place; and
(b) must outline in general terms, and in a suitable place, the way in which the permission was used.
sec.8 Editorial changes not to change effect
sec.8 Editorial changes not to change effect
Section 7 does not permit changes to the text of a provision of a law that would change the effect of the provision.
sec.9 Effect of editorial changes
sec.9 Effect of editorial changes
If, in a reprint authorised by the parliamentary counsel under the Legislative Standards Act 1992 , section 10A , the text of a law is given as permitted by section 7 , the law has effect as if the changes made under that section had been made expressly by another law that amended the law immediately before the reprint date.
s 9 amd 2013 No. 39 s 80
pt.4-div.2 Updated citations and references to law
Updated citations and references to law
sec.10 Omission of comma
sec.10 Omission of comma
If a law or group of laws has a citation that includes a comma before or after a year in the citation, the citation or a reference to the law or laws may be given omitting the comma.
sec.11 Omission of inverted commas
sec.11 Omission of inverted commas
If a law or group of laws has a citation that begins and ends with inverted commas, the citation or a reference to the law or laws may be given omitting the inverted commas.
sec.12 Omission of ‘of’
sec.12 Omission of ‘of’
If a law or group of laws has a citation that includes the word ‘of’ before the first year in the citation, the citation or a reference to the law or laws may be given omitting the word.
sec.13 Omission of ‘to’
sec.13 Omission of ‘to’
If a law or group of laws has a citation that includes the word ‘to’ between the 2 years in the citation, the citation or a reference to the law or laws may be given omitting the word and substituting a hyphen.
sec.14 Omission of ‘The’—general
sec.14 Omission of ‘The’—general
If a law or group of laws has a citation that begins with the word ‘The’—
the citation or a reference to the law or laws may be given omitting the word; and
if the context requires—the word ‘The’ or ‘the’, as appropriate, may be inserted immediately before the citation or reference.
(a) the citation or a reference to the law or laws may be given omitting the word; and
(b) if the context requires—the word ‘The’ or ‘the’, as appropriate, may be inserted immediately before the citation or reference.
sec.15 Omission of ‘The’—Criminal Code
sec.15 Omission of ‘The’—Criminal Code
The citation of, and a reference to, The Criminal Code may be given omitting the word ‘The’ and inserting, if the context requires, the word ‘The’ or ‘the’, as appropriate, immediately before the citation or reference.
sec.16 Year law made not included in citation
sec.16 Year law made not included in citation
If a law has a citation that does not include a year, the citation or a reference to the law may be given including the year the law was made.
‘ The Judicature Act ’ may be cited as the ‘ Judicature Act 1876 ’.
sec.17 Word ‘Act’ not included in citation etc.
sec.17 Word ‘Act’ not included in citation etc.
If an Act has a citation that does not include the word ‘Act’, the citation or a reference to the Act may be given including the word ‘Act’, and any necessary consequential amendments made to the citation or reference.
If subordinate legislation has a citation that does not indicate the type of instrument, the citation or a reference to the legislation may be given including the type of instrument, and any necessary consequential amendments made to the citation or reference.
s 17 amd 2005 No. 55 s 48 sch 4
(sec.17-ssec.1) If an Act has a citation that does not include the word ‘Act’, the citation or a reference to the Act may be given including the word ‘Act’, and any necessary consequential amendments made to the citation or reference.
(sec.17-ssec.2) If subordinate legislation has a citation that does not indicate the type of instrument, the citation or a reference to the legislation may be given including the type of instrument, and any necessary consequential amendments made to the citation or reference.
sec.18 Substitution of single-year citation for double-year citation
sec.18 Substitution of single-year citation for double-year citation
The citation of a law that has been amended, or a group of laws, may be given by omitting from the citation any words after the first year in the citation.
In a provision of a law, a reference to another law or a group of laws may be given by omitting from the reference any words after the first year.
In the following reference, the bolded words may be omitted—
‘ Liquor Act 1912 –1990’ .
In subsection (2) —
law includes a law of the Commonwealth, another State, a Territory or a foreign country.
(sec.18-ssec.1) The citation of a law that has been amended, or a group of laws, may be given by omitting from the citation any words after the first year in the citation.
(sec.18-ssec.2) In a provision of a law, a reference to another law or a group of laws may be given by omitting from the reference any words after the first year. In the following reference, the bolded words may be omitted— ‘ Liquor Act 1912 –1990’ .
(sec.18-ssec.3) In subsection (2) — law includes a law of the Commonwealth, another State, a Territory or a foreign country.
sec.19 Substitution of singular form for plural form of citation for amended laws etc.
sec.19 Substitution of singular form for plural form of citation for amended laws etc.
The citation of a law that has been amended, or a group of laws, that is in the plural form may be given by changing the citation to the singular form.
In a provision of a law, a reference in the plural form to a law as amended may be given by changing the reference to the singular form.
‘ Land Act 1910 ’ may replace ‘ Land Acts 1910–1958 ’.
Note, however, that section 18 has also been applied to this example.
s 19 amd 2013 No. 39 s 111 sch 4
(sec.19-ssec.1) The citation of a law that has been amended, or a group of laws, that is in the plural form may be given by changing the citation to the singular form.
(sec.19-ssec.2) In a provision of a law, a reference in the plural form to a law as amended may be given by changing the reference to the singular form. ‘ Land Act 1910 ’ may replace ‘ Land Acts 1910–1958 ’. Note, however, that section 18 has also been applied to this example.
sec.20 Citation indicating type of statutory instrument in plural
sec.20 Citation indicating type of statutory instrument in plural
If a statutory instrument has a citation or is otherwise called by a name indicating the type of instrument in the plural, the instrument may be given a citation, or referred to by a name, indicating the type of instrument in the singular.
A statutory instrument that is called by a name in column 1 of the table may be called by the corresponding name in column 2
Table
Column 1
Column 2
Regulations
Regulation
By-laws
By-law
Rules
Rule
Thus, the Traffic Regulations 1962 may now be called the Traffic Regulation 1962 .
sec.20A Correct year in statutory instrument’s citation etc.
sec.20A Correct year in statutory instrument’s citation etc.
If—
a statutory instrument is made in a particular year (the year of making ); and
the statutory instrument’s citation includes a single year other than the year of making;
the citation of, and a reference to, the statutory instrument may be given by omitting the other year and substituting the year of making.
s 20A ins 1993 No. 32 s 3 sch 1
(a) a statutory instrument is made in a particular year (the year of making ); and
(b) th
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