Commonwealth act

Seat of Government Acceptance Act 1938

RepealedCTH

This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.

Jurisdiction

Commonwealth

Act Number

12 of 1938

Collection

act

Plain English Summary

1/10 complexity

This law officially names Australia's capital territory the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

Before this Act, the area was called the "Territory for the Seat of Government" (or sometimes the Federal Capital Territory). This legislation amended the original 1909 Act to add a simple rule: the Territory shall be known as the Australian Capital Territory.

Who it affects: Anyone dealing with the legal status of the ACT, including the Commonwealth government, territory residents, and property owners.

Why it matters: This created the official legal name we use today for the territory that contains Canberra, Parliament House, and national institutions like the High Court and national museums. It replaced the clunky "Territory for the Seat of Government" with the name we all recognise.

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Current sections

Direct links to the current provisions in Seat of Government Acceptance Act 1938.

Seat of Government Acceptance Act 1938

SEAT OF GOVERNMENT ACCEPTANCE.

No. 12 of 1938.

An Act relating to the Territory for the Seat of Government.

[Assented to 1st July, 1938.]

[Date of commencement, 29th July, 1938.]

BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title and citation.

1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the Seat of Government Acceptance Act 1938.

(2.) The Seat of Government Acceptance Act 1909, as amended by the Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1910, by the Judiciary Act 1927, and by the Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1933 (as amended by the Statute Law Revision Act 1934), is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Seat of Government Acceptance Act 1909–1938.

Acceptance of Territory.

Section five of the Principal Act is amended by adding at the end thereof the following sub-section:—

“(3.) The Territory shall be known as the Australian Capital Territory.”.

Source text

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.

1 Seat of Government Acceptance Act 1938