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Acts Interpretation Act 1901
No. 2, 1901
In force
Administered by
Attorney-General's Department
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C2024C00838 C38
11 December 2024
-
27 March 2026
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Table of contents
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Part 1—Preliminary
1 Short title
1A Simplified outline
2 Application of Act
2A Binding the Crown
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Part 2—Definitions
2B Definitions
2C References to persons
2CA References to spouses
2D References to de facto partners
2E Registered relationships
2F De facto relationships
2G Months
2H References to law of the Commonwealth
2J Documents commencing proceedings
2K Rules of court
2L References to Australian Standards
2M Sitting day
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Part 3—Commencement of Acts
3 When Acts come into operation
3A Commencement of Acts
4 Exercise of powers between enactment and commencement of Act
6 Evidence of date of assent
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Part 4—Amendment, repeal and expiry of Acts
7 Effect of repeal or amendment of Act
10 References to amended or re enacted Acts
10A References to amended or re enacted laws of States and Territories
11 Acts may be altered etc. in same session
11A Inserting definitions into provisions or inserting items into lists or tables
11B Amending Act to be construed with amended Act
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Part 5—General interpretation rules
12 Every section a substantive enactment
13 Material that is part of an Act
15A Construction of Acts to be subject to Constitution
15AA Interpretation best achieving Act’s purpose or object
15AB Use of extrinsic material in the interpretation of an Act
15AC Changes to style not to affect meaning
15AD Examples
15B Application of Acts in coastal sea
15C Jurisdiction of courts
16 References to the Sovereign
16A References to the Governor General
16B References to the Governor of a State
16BA References to judge
16C References to Stipendiary Magistrate and Magistrate
17A Paper or document purporting to be printed by Government Printer
18A Parts of speech and grammatical forms
18B Titles of Chairs and Deputy Chairs
19 References to Ministers in Acts
19A References to Departments in Acts
19B Machinery of government—substituted reference orders
19C Machinery of government—references to authorities in Commonwealth agreements
19D Machinery of government changes—saving the validity of acts done by authorities
19E Validity of acts done by Ministers
20 References to holders of appointments, offices and positions in Acts and Commonwealth agreements
21 Office etc. means office etc. of the Commonwealth
23 Rules as to gender and number
25A Production of records kept in computers etc.
25B Alterations of names and constitutions
25C Compliance with forms
25D Content of statements of reasons for decisions
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Part 6—Service of documents
28A Service of documents
29 Meaning of service by post
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Part 7—Powers, functions and duties
33 Exercise of powers and performance of functions or duties
33AA Power to appoint includes power to reappoint
33AB Validity of things done under appointments under Acts
33A Acting in offices or positions
33B Participation in meetings by telephone etc.
34 Power to hear and determine a matter includes power to receive evidence and examine witnesses etc.
34AAA Exercise of powers etc. by holders etc. of offices or positions
34AAB Minister may authorise others to perform functions or duties or exercise powers on his or her behalf
34AA Delegation to persons holding, occupying or performing the duties of an office or position
34AB Effect of delegation
34A Exercise of powers and performance of functions or duties that depend upon the opinion etc. of delegates
34B Presentation of papers to the Parliament
34C Periodic reports
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Part 8—Distance, time and age
35 Measurement of distance
36 Calculating time
37 Expressions of time
37A Attainment of particular age
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Part 9—Citation of Acts and instruments
38 Reference to Acts
39 Numbering of Acts
40 Citation of Acts and instruments
40A References to the new corporations and ASIC legislation
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Part 10—Instruments not covered by the Legislation Act 2003, and parliamentary resolutions
46 Construction of instruments
46AA Prescribing matters by reference to other instruments
47 Construction of resolutions
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Part 11—Regulations
51 Regulations
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Endnotes
Endnote 1—About the endnotes
Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
Endnote 3—Legislation history
Endnote 4—Amendment history
