‘Authorised legislation’ refers to legislation which has been certified as accurate by the relevant Office of Parliamentary Counsel. Authorised legislation is required for use in court.
This guide lists the government legislation website for each jurisdiction and notes whether or not the content is authorised (and if so, provides the relevant legislative authority). Where the online version is not authorised, the printed legislation published by the Government Printer is the only official copy.
Commonwealth
| ComLaw |
- Only some of the content is authorised.
- The Acts and Legislative Instruments which are authorised are identified with the Comlaw ‘tick’ logo. Note that only the pdf version is authorised.
- Source: ComLaw Disclaimer.
- Authorising legislation:
- Authoritative Acts Database Declaration 2011, Gazette No S7, 17 January 2011.
- Legislative Instruments Act 2003 (Cth) Pt 4 Div 1. This covers the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments (FRLI) which is part of Comlaw.
|
Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
| NSW Legislation |
- Only some of the content is authorised:
- The consolidated versions of Acts, Regulations and EPIs in the ‘in force’ database, but only in html format (i.e. not pdf). Note that the ‘in force’ database contains current and historical versions of legislation, as well as repealed legislation in the form in which it operated immediately prior to repeal.
- The ‘as made’ database from 2000 onwards, in pdf format
- The Gazettes from 2001 onwards, in pdf format.
- Source: NSW Legislation – status
- Authorising legislation: Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) s 45C.
|
Northern Territory
Queensland
| Queensland Legislation |
- Only some of the content is authorised:
- All current reprints (‘current legislation’ menu tab).
- Legislation as made from 2013 onwards.
- Bills passed from 2013 onwards
- Historical versions of reprints and pre-2013 legislation are being authorised progressively.
- Authorised versions have the words ‘Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel’ under the copyright statement at the end of the document.
- Unauthorised historical versions of reprints have a note on the front cover: ‘Warning—This reprint is not an authorised copy’.
- Source: Queensland Legislation FAQs.
- Authorising legislation: Evidence Act 1977 (Qld) s 46A.
|
South Australia
Tasmania
Tasmanian Legislation
|
- Online legislation is not authorised.
- For more information, see the Government’s disclaimer. (There is a link to this site from the Tasmanian legislation site saying “You are directed to a disclaimer and copyright notice governing the information provided”.)
|
Victoria
Victorian Legislation & Parliamentary Documents
|
- Only some of the content is authorised:
- Acts as passed and Statutory Rules as made from 1 January 2011.
- Selected consolidated Acts and Statutory rules from 1 January 2011.
- Authorised versions are located in a blue shaded box on the page for the relevant Act or Statutory Rule. They have the words ‘authorised version’ at the beginning of the item and in the footer of each page. They have the word ‘authorised’ in their file names, plus a digital signature stating that the version is authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel of Victoria.
- Source: ‘About this site‘ (link in the dark blue banner).
- Authorising legislation: Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984 (Vic) Pt V.
|
Western Australia
Last updated 14 March 2015
