20Availability of statutory rules

20 Availability of statutory rules S. 20(1) amended by No. 47/2024 s. 17(1). (1) The Government Printer must make every effort to ensure that a copy of a statutory rule can be purchased on demand by any member of the public by purchase online or by purchase during normal office hours from a bookshop approved under subsection (1A). S. 20(1A) inserted by No. 47/2024 s. 17(2). (1A) On the recommendation of the Minister, the Governor in Council, by order published in the Government Gazette, may approve a bookshop for the purposes of subsection (1). (2) The responsible Minister must ensure that a copy of a statutory rule— S. 20(2)(a) amended by No. 47/2024 s. 17(3). (a) is available for inspection by any member of the public without charge during normal office hours at the office of the Department of the responsible Minister or other entity that supports the responsible Minister in the administration of the statutory rule, as the case requires, or on an Internet site maintained by that Department or entity; or (b) can be inspected without charge or purchased on demand by any member of the public during normal office hours at a public office specified by the responsible Minister by a notice published in the Government Gazette. (3) In addition to and without limiting section 16, despite the coming into operation of a statutory rule or of a provision of a statutory rule, a person cannot— (a) be convicted of an offence against the statutory rule or provision; or (b) be prejudicially affected or made subject to any liability by the statutory rule or provision— if it is proved that at the relevant time a copy of the statutory rule could neither be purchased or inspected as provided by subsections (1) and (2). (4) In this section ***copy of a statutory rule*** means a copy of— (a) a statutory rule printed in accordance with section 17 or, if a reprint of the statutory rule has been prepared in accordance with section 18, the reprint; and (b) any subsequent statutory rule which amends that statutory rule. Pt 5 (Heading) amended by No. 78/2010 s. 33.