Royal Commissions Regulations 2019

made under the

Royal Commissions Act 1902

Compilation No. 4

Compilation date:                              12 April 2023

Includes amendments up to:            F2023L00402

Registered:                                         14 September 2023

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Royal Commissions Regulations 2019 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 12 April 2023 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the Register for the compiled law.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Editorial changes

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the Register for the compiled law.

Self‑repealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

  

  

  

Contents

Part 1—Preliminary                                                                                                                                        1

1............ Name............................................................................................................................. 1

3............ Authority....................................................................................................................... 1

4............ Definitions..................................................................................................................... 1

Part 2—Service of documents and witnesses’ expenses and allowances                        3

5............ Service of notices and summonses................................................................................ 3

6............ Witnesses’ expenses and allowances............................................................................. 4

Part 3—Private sessions                                                                                                                                6

7............ Royal Commissions for which private sessions may be held........................................ 6

Part 4—Custody and use of records                                                                                                     7

Division 1—General                                                                                                                                7

8............ General.......................................................................................................................... 7

Division 2—Custody of Royal Commission records                                                              8

9............ Custody of historical Royal Commission records......................................................... 8

10.......... Custody of future Royal Commission records.............................................................. 8

11.......... Custody of Royal Commission records of listed Royal Commissions.......................... 8

Division 3—Copying and accessing records of Royal Commissions during interim access period        10

12.......... Requests for copies of, or access to, records of Royal Commissions during interim access period         10

13.......... Requests on behalf of States or Territories etc for certain Royal Commissions........... 11

14.......... Way in which requests under section 12 or 13 are responded to................................. 12

Part 5—Application, saving and transitional provisions                                                        14

15.......... Application of this instrument as made........................................................................ 14

16.......... Application of the Royal Commissions Amendment (Witness Allowances) Regulations 2021 14

17.......... Application of the Royal Commissions Amendment (Custody of Records) Regulations 2022 14

Schedule 1—Historical Royal Commissions                                                              15

Endnotes                                                                                                                                                               20

Endnote 1—About the endnotes                                                                                                      20

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key                                                                                                          21

Endnote 3—Legislation history                                                                                                       22

Endnote 4—Amendment history                                                                                                     23

Part 1—Preliminary

  

1  Name

                   This instrument is the Royal Commissions Regulations 2019.

3  Authority

                   This instrument is made under the Royal Commissions Act 1902.

4  Definitions

                   In this instrument:

Act means the Royal Commissions Act 1902.

Aged Care Royal Commission means the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, established by Letters Patent dated 6 December 2018 (as amended by Letters Patent dated 13 September 2019).

Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Royal Commission means the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry, established by Letters Patent dated 14 December 2017.

Child Sexual Abuse Royal Commission has the same meaning as in Part 4 of the Act.

Defence and Veteran Suicide Royal Commission has the same meaning as in Part 4 of the Act.

Disability Royal Commission means the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, established by Letters Patent dated 4 April 2019 (as amended by Letters Patent dated 13 September 2019).

Home Insulation Royal Commission means the Royal Commission into the Home Insulation Program, established by Letters Patent dated 12 December 2013.

interim‑access period for a Royal Commission: see subsection 10(2) and paragraph 11(a).

listed Royal Commission means a Royal Commission mentioned in the table in section 11.

Natural Disaster Royal Commission means the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, established by Letters Patent dated 20 February 2020.

NT Royal Commission means the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory, established by Letters Patent dated 1 August 2016 (as amended by Letters Patent dated 9 February 2017, 27 June 2017 and 7 September 2017).

Oil‑for‑Food Inquiry means the inquiry into Certain Australian Companies in relation to the UN Oil‑for‑Food Programme that was established by Letters Patent dated 10 November 2005 (as amended by Letters Patent dated 6 February 2006, 10 March 2006, 17 March 2006, 22 June 2006 and 21 September 2006).

Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption means the Royal Commission into matters relating to the affairs of various entities, mainly employee organisations, that was established by Letters Patent dated 13 March 2014 (as amended by Letters Patent dated 30 October 2014).

Part 2—Service of documents and witnesses’ expenses and allowances

  

5  Service of notices and summonses

             (1)  For the purposes of subsections 2(3A), 2(3C), 3(1), 3(2) and 6AA(3) of the Act, a notice or summons (the document) may be served, for the purposes of a Commission, on a person (the named person) named in the document in a way set out in this section.

             (2)  The document may be served on a named person who is an individual by:

                     (a)  handing the document to the named person; or

                     (b)  if on tender of the document to the named person the person refuses to accept it—putting it down in the person’s presence after the person has been told of the nature of the document.

             (3)  The document may be served on a named person which is a corporation by:

                     (a)  handing the document to a person (the served person) apparently an officer of, or in the service of, the corporation and apparently of or above the age of 16 years:

                              (i)  at the registered office of the corporation; or

                             (ii)  if there is no registered office, at the principal place of business or the principal office of the corporation; or

                     (b)  if on tender of the document to the served person the person refuses to accept it—putting it down in the person’s presence after the person has been told of the nature of the document.

             (4)  The document may be served on a named person (whether an individual or a corporation) by handing the document to a legal practitioner who:

                     (a)  has authority to accept service of the document on the named person’s behalf; and

                     (b)  accepts service of the document on the named person’s behalf.

             (5)  The document may be served on a named person (whether an individual or a corporation), or any other person, in a particular way if:

                     (a)  before the document is served, the named person has agreed in writing to accept service for the purposes of the Commission in that way; and

                     (b)  the agreement is still in force.

Note:          This subsection extends to electronic ways of serving the document.

             (6)  If a member of the Commission has previously served the named person with a notice for the purposes of subsection 2(3A) or (3C) or 6AA(3) of the Act under any of the ways set out in subsections (2) to (5) of this section, that member (or another member) of the Commission may later serve another notice for those purposes on the person by sending the notice by pre‑paid post addressed to the person at:

                     (a)  an address provided by the named person to the Commission; or

                     (b)  the named person’s residential or business address last known to the member of the Commission serving the later notice.

6  Witnesses’ expenses and allowances

Expenses for attending a Commission

             (1)  For the purposes of subsection 6G(1) of the Act, the following scale is prescribed for a witness attending a Commission in the circumstances set out in subsection (2) of this section:

                     (a)  an initial amount of:

                              (i)  if the witness is attending because of the witness’ professional, scientific or other special skill or knowledge—$1,174.90 per day; or

                             (ii)  otherwise—$250.00 per day;

                     (b)  if attending on a day causes the witness to lose wages, salary or fees otherwise payable to the witness for that day—a further amount equal to what an authorised person considers to be a reasonable loss of wages, salary or fees for that day by the witness;

                     (c)  if:

                              (i)  the witness is attending because of the witness’ professional, scientific or other special skill or knowledge; and

                             (ii)  preparing on a day for the attendance causes the witness to lose wages, salary or fees that are otherwise payable for that day;

                            a further amount equal to what an authorised person considers to be a reasonable loss of wages, salary or fees for that day by the witness.

             (2)  Subsection (1) applies to a witness in either of the following circumstances:

                     (a)  the witness attends the Commission in answer to a summons under the Act;

                     (b)  the witness attends the Commission without being summoned under the Act, and a member of the Commission decides that the scale in subsection (1) is to apply for the witness.

Allowances for travelling expenses and maintenance

             (3)  For the purposes of subsection 8(1) of the Act, the following scale of allowances is prescribed for a witness summoned under the Act to attend a Commission:

                     (a)  if the witness’ usual place of abode is more than 50 kilometres from the location of the Commission—an amount worked out, for the witness, by an authorised person as a reasonable allowance for the witness’:

                              (i)  travelling expenses for that attendance; and

                             (ii)  maintenance while absent from that place of abode;

                     (b)  otherwise—a nil amount.

Definition

             (4)  In this section:

authorised person means:

                     (a)  the Secretary of the Attorney‑General’s Department; or

                     (b)  an SES employee, or acting SES employee, in that Department authorised, in writing, by that Secretary for the purposes of this section.

Part 3—Private sessions

  

7  Royal Commissions for which private sessions may be held

                   For the purposes of paragraph 6OAB(b) of the Act, the following Royal Commissions are prescribed:

                     (a)  the Aged Care Royal Commission;

                     (b)  the Disability Royal Commission;

                     (c)  the Defence and Veteran Suicide Royal Commission.

Part 4—Custody and use of records

  

Division 1—General

8  General

Parts of Royal Commission records

             (1)  To avoid doubt, a reference in this Part to a Royal Commission record includes a reference to a part of a Royal Commission record.

Note:          For Royal Commission record, see subsection 9(1) of the Act.

No limitation on circumstances or operation of Act

             (2)  For the purposes of section 9 of the Act, this Part does not limit the circumstances in which a custodian of a Royal Commission record may:

                     (a)  give a copy of the Royal Commission record to a person or body; or

                     (b)  allow access to the Royal Commission record to a person or body.

             (3)  This Part does not limit subsections 9(6) and (7) of the Act.

Division 2—Custody of Royal Commission records

9  Custody of historical Royal Commission records

                   For the purposes of paragraph 9(2)(a) of the Act, Royal Commission records of a Royal Commission mentioned in the table in Schedule 1 are to be kept in the custody of the National Archives of Australia.

Note:          The National Archives of Australia is a custodian of these Royal Commission records for the purposes of section 9 of the Act (see the definition of custodian in subsection 9(1) of the Act).

10  Custody of future Royal Commission records

             (1)  For the purposes of paragraph 9(2)(a) of the Act, this section applies in relation to Royal Commission records of a Royal Commission for which the Final Report is presented to the Governor‑General after the commencement of this section.

             (2)  The records are to be kept in the custody of the Secretary of the Attorney‑General’s Department during the 20‑year period beginning on the day the Final Report for the Royal Commission is presented to the Governor‑General (the interim‑access period for that Royal Commission).

             (3)  After the end of the interim‑access period, the records are to be kept in the custody of the National Archives of Australia.

             (4)  However, this section does not apply in relation to a Royal Commission record if a direction under subsection 22(3) of the Archives Act 1983 is in force in relation to the record.

Note 1:       Subject to subsection (4), the Secretary of the Attorney‑General’s Department or the National Archives of Australia is a custodian of these Royal Commission records for the purposes of section 9 of the Act (see the definition of custodian in subsection 9(1) of the Act).

Note 2:       A person who, or a body that, has custody of a Royal Commission record under a direction under subsection 22(3) of the Archives Act 1983 is a custodian of the record for the purposes of section 9 of the Act (see the definition of custodian in subsection 9(1) of the Act).

11  Custody of Royal Commission records of listed Royal Commissions

                   For the purposes of paragraph 9(2)(a) of the Act, the following person or body has custody of the Royal Commission records mentioned in column 1 of an item of the following table:

                     (a)  during the 20‑year period beginning on the day the Final Report for that Royal Commission was presented to the Governor‑General (the interim access period for that Royal Commission)—the person mentioned in column 2 of that item;

                     (b)  after the end of the interim access period for that Royal Commission—the National Archives of Australia.

Note:          This person or body is a custodian of these Royal Commission records (see the definition of custodian in subsection 9(1) of the Act).

 

Item	Column 1 Royal Commission records of listed Royal Commission	Column 2 Custodian during interim access period
1	Royal Commission records of the Oil‑for‑Food Inquiry other than Royal Commission records mentioned in item 2	Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
2	Royal Commission records relating to the administration or financial management of the Oil‑for‑Food Inquiry	Secretary of the Attorney‑General’s Department
2A	Royal Commission records of the Home Insulation Royal Commission	Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
3	Royal Commission records of the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption	Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
4	Royal Commission records of the NT Royal Commission	Secretary of the Attorney‑General’s Department
5	Royal Commission records of the Child Sexual Abuse Royal Commission	Secretary of the Attorney‑General’s Department
6	Royal Commission records of the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Royal Commission	Secretary of the Attorney‑General’s Department

 

Note 1:       The Final Report for the Oil‑for‑Food Inquiry was presented to the Governor‑General on 24 November 2006 and tabled in the Parliament on 27 November 2006.

Note 1A:    The Final Report for the Home Insulation Royal Commission was presented to the Governor‑General on 29 August 2014 and tabled in the Parliament on 1 September 2014.

Note 2:       The Final Report for the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption was presented to the Governor‑General on 28 December 2015 and tabled in the Parliament on 30 December 2015.

Note 3:       The Final Report for the NT Royal Commission was presented to the Governor‑General on 17 November 2017 and tabled in the Parliament on the same day.

Note 4:       The Final Report for the Child Sexual Abuse Royal Commission was presented to the Governor‑General on 15 December 2017 and tabled in the Parliament on the same day.

Note 5:       The Final Report for the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Royal Commission was presented to the Governor‑General on 1 February 2019 and tabled in the Parliament on 4 February 2019.

Division 3—Copying and accessing records of Royal Commissions during interim access period

12  Requests for copies of, or access to, records of Royal Commissions during interim access period

Requesting copies of records given to Royal Commission

             (1)  For the purposes of paragraphs 9(2)(c) and (d) of the Act, if:

                     (a)  a person or body requests a copy of a Royal Commission record of a listed Royal Commission, or a Royal Commission to which section 10 applies, or access to such a record; and

                     (b)  the request is made during the interim access period for the Royal Commission;

circumstances in which the custodian of the record may give the person or body a copy of, or access to, the record are that:

                     (c)  free access to the record is not publicly available (for example, by being published on a website); and

                     (d)  the requesting person or body:

                              (i)  gave the Royal Commission the record, or information or matter that the record contains or that can be obtained from it; or

                             (ii)  in the case of a record of a private session of a Royal Commission to which Part 4 of the Act applies—appeared at the private session; or

                            (iii)  is an authorised representative of a person or body to whom subparagraph (i) or (ii) applies; and

                     (e)  the custodian is reasonably satisfied of the identity of the requesting person or body, and (for a representative) that the representative’s authorisation is genuine and currently effective; and

                      (f)  in the case of a record to which section 13 applies—the request is not made on behalf of a State or Territory, or a Department of State or agency of a State or Territory.

Access to records for law enforcement purposes

             (2)  For the purposes of paragraphs 9(2)(c) and (d) of the Act, circumstances in which the custodian of a Royal Commission record of a listed Royal Commission, or a Royal Commission to which section 10 applies, may give a copy of the record to a person or body during the interim‑access period for the Royal Commission, or allow a person or body access to the record during that period, are that:

                     (a)  free access to the record is not publicly available (for example, by being published on a website); and

                     (b)  the person or body performs a function relating to law enforcement purposes; and

                     (c)  a copy of, or access to, the record is requested for those purposes; and

                     (d)  in the case of a record of a Royal Commission to which Part 4 of the Act applies—the record does not:

                              (i)  contain information or a matter, or enable information or a matter to be obtained, that was given or obtained at a private session under section 6OB of the Act, unless the information or matter is included under section 6OJ of the Act in a report or recommendation of the Royal Commission; or

                             (ii)  identify a natural person, or enable a natural person to be identified, as a person who appeared at any private session under section 6OB of the Act; or

                            (iii)  contain information mentioned in subsection (3), unless the information is included under section 6OJ of the Act in a report or recommendation of the Royal Commission.

             (3)  For the purposes of subparagraph (2)(d)(iii), the information is the following:

                     (a)  information that was given by a natural person to a member, or member of the staff, of the Royal Commission for the purposes of a private session under section 6OB of the Act (whether or not a private session was held for the Commission) and identifies the person who gave the information;

                     (b)  information to which section 6ON, 6OP or 6OQ of the Act applies.

Note 1:       For law enforcement purposes, see subsection 9(1) of the Act.

Note 2:       In 2019, archived versions of the Oil‑for‑Food Inquiry website could be viewed at the National Library of Australia’s Trove website (https://trove.nla.gov.au/website).

Note 3:       In 2019, archived versions of the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption website could be viewed at the National Library of Australia’s Trove website (https://trove.nla.gov.au/website).

Note 4:       In 2019, the NT Royal Commission website could be viewed at https://childdetentionnt.royalcommission.gov.au.

Note 5:       In 2019, the Child Sexual Abuse Royal Commission website could be viewed at https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au.

Note 6:       In 2019, the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Royal Commission website could be viewed at https://financialservices.royalcommission.gov.au.

Note 7:       In 2022, the Aged Care Royal Commission website could be viewed at https://agedcare.royalcommission.gov.au.

Note 8:       In 2022, the Natural Disaster Royal Commission website could be viewed at https://naturaldisaster.royalcommission.gov.au.

Note 9:       In 2022, archived versions of the Home Insulation Royal Commission website could be viewed at the National Library of Australia’s Trove website (https://trove.nla.gov.au/website).

13  Requests on behalf of States or Territories etc for certain Royal Commissions

Scope

             (1)  For the purposes of paragraphs 9(2)(c) and (d) of the Act, this section applies in relation to:

                     (a)  Royal Commission records of the NT Royal Commission; and

                     (b)  Royal Commission records of the Child Sexual Abuse Royal Commission; and

                     (c)  Royal Commission records of the Natural Disaster Royal Commission; and

                     (d)  Royal Commission records of a Royal Commission:

                              (i)  that has conducted an inquiry by virtue of a commission issued by the Governor of a State in conjunction with its inquiry under a commission issued by the Governor‑General; and

                             (ii)  that is established after the commencement of this paragraph.

Requesting copies of records given to Royal Commission

             (2)  If:

                     (a)  a person, on behalf of a State or Territory, or a Department of State or agency of a State or Territory, requests a copy of, or access to, a Royal Commission record of a Royal Commission; and

                     (b)  the request is made during the interim access period for the Royal Commission;

circumstances in which the custodian of the record may give the person a copy of, or access to, the record are that:

                     (c)  free access to the record is not publicly available (for example, by being published on a website); and

                     (d)  the record, or information or matter that the record contains or that can be obtained from it, was given to the Royal Commission by any person on behalf of:

                              (i)  that State or Territory; or

                             (ii)  any Department of State or agency of that State or Territory.

Note 1:       In 2019, the NT Royal Commission website could be viewed at https://childdetentionnt.royalcommission.gov.au.

Note 2:       In 2019, the Child Sexual Abuse Royal Commission website could be viewed at https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au.

Note 3:       In 2022, the Aged Care Royal Commission website could be viewed at https://agedcare.royalcommission.gov.au.

Note 4:       In 2022, the Natural Disaster Royal Commission website could be viewed at https://naturaldisaster.royalcommission.gov.au.

14  Way in which requests under section 12 or 13 are responded to

                   For the purposes of paragraphs 9(2)(c) and (d) of the Act, the custodian of a Royal Commission record of a listed Royal Commission or a Royal Commission to which section 10 applies may:

                     (a)  respond to a request by a person or body under section 12 or 13 for a copy of the record by allowing the person or body access to the record; or

                     (b)  respond to a request by a person or body under section 12 or 13 for access to the record by giving a copy of the record to the person or body; or

                     (c)  give a copy of the record, or allow access to the record, to a person or body in any form reasonably considered by the custodian to allow access to information or a matter contained in the record, or that can be obtained from it.

Example:    For a record that is an audio recording, a copy of, or access to, the record may be given in the form of a transcript of the recording.

Part 5—Application, saving and transitional provisions

  

15  Application of this instrument as made

             (1)  Part 2 applies in relation to:

                     (a)  a Commission established on or after the commencement day; and

                     (b)  the Disability Royal Commission.

             (2)  For the purposes of the Aged Care Royal Commission:

                     (a)  section 5 applies in relation to serving a notice or summons on or after the commencement day; and

                     (b)  section 6 applies in relation to the attendance of a witness on or after the commencement day; and

                     (c)  despite the repeal of the Royal Commissions Regulations 2001, section 7 of those Regulations, as in force immediately before the commencement day, continues to apply in relation to the attendance of a witness before the commencement day.

             (3)  In this section:

commencement day means the day this instrument commences.

16  Application of the Royal Commissions Amendment (Witness Allowances) Regulations 2021

                   The amendment of section 6 of this instrument by the Royal Commissions Amendment (Witness Allowances) Regulations 2021 applies in relation to the attendance of a witness on or after 4 November 2019 at:

                     (a)  the Disability Royal Commission; or

                     (b)  the Defence and Veteran Suicide Royal Commission; or

                     (c)  a Commission established on or after the day those Regulations commence.

Note:          This section means that a non‑expert witness who attended the Disability Royal Commission or the Defence and Veteran Suicide Royal Commission before the commencement of the Royal Commissions Amendment (Witness Allowances) Regulations 2021 will be entitled to an additional $126.10 in expenses for each day attended.

17  Application of the Royal Commissions Amendment (Custody of Records) Regulations 2022

                   The amendments of this instrument by the Royal Commissions Amendment (Custody of Records) Regulations 2022 apply in relation to requests made on or after the commencement of that instrument for copies of, or access to, Royal Commission records (whether the Royal Commission to which the records relate was established before, on or after that commencement).

Schedule 1—Historical Royal Commissions

Note:       See section 9.

  

 

Item	Historical Royal Commissions
1	Royal Commission appointed to inquire into and report upon the arrangements made for the transport of troops returning from service in South Africa in the S.S. Drayton Grange, established by Letters Patent dated 12 August 1902
2	Royal Commission on sites for the seat of government of the Commonwealth, established by Letters Patent dated 14 January 1903
3	Royal Commission on the Bonuses for Manufactures Bill, established by Letters Patent dated 15 January 1903
4	Royal Commission on the butter industry, established by Letters Patent dated 11 April 1904
5	Royal Commission on the Navigation Bill, established by Letters Patent dated 29 June 1904
6	Royal Commission on the affray at Goaribari Island, British New Guinea, on the 6th of March, 1904, established by Letters Patent dated 25 July 1904
7	Royal Commission on customs and excise tariffs, established by Letters Patent dated 12 December 1904
8	Royal Commission on old‑age pensions, established by Letters Patent dated 27 February 1905
9	Royal Commission on the tobacco monopoly, established by Letters Patent dated 30 December 1905
10	Royal Commission on ocean shipping service, established by Letters Patent dated 11 January 1906
11	British New Guinea—Royal Commission of inquiry into the present conditions, including the method of government, of the Territory of Papua, and the best means of their improvement, established by Letters Patent dated 27 August 1906
12	Royal Commission on secret drugs, cures, and foods, established by Letters Patent dated 11 December 1906
13	Royal Commission on postal services, established by Letters Patent dated 22 June 1908
14	Royal Commission on insurance, established by Letters Patent dated 15 December 1908
15	Royal Commission on stripper harvesters and drills, established by Letters Patent dated 15 December 1908
16	Royal Commission on Tasmanian customs leakage, established by Letters Patent dated 30 December 1910
17	Royal Commission on the sugar industry, established by Letters Patent dated 24 October 1911
18	Royal Commission on the pearl‑shelling industry, established by Letters Patent dated 3 April 1912
19	Royal Commission on the fruit industry, established by Letters Patent dated 12 April 1912
20	Royal Commission appointed to inquire into certain charges against Mr. Henry Chinn, established by Letters Patent dated 4 January 1913
21	Royal Commission on Northern Territory railways and ports, established by Letters Patent dated 28 March 1913
22	Royal Commission on powellised timber, established by Letters Patent dated 19 December 1913
23	Royal Commission upon the Commonwealth electoral law and administration, established by Letters Patent dated 20 January 1914
24	Royal Commission on meat export trade, established by Letters Patent dated 5 June 1914
25	Royal Commission on food supplies and trade and industry during the war, established by Letters Patent dated 31 August 1914
26	Royal Commission on mail services and trade development between Australia and the New Hebrides, established by Letters Patent dated 31 March 1915
27	Royal Commission on Liverpool Military Camp, New South Wales, established by Letters Patent dated 12 July 1915
28	Royal Commission on the charges made by D. L. Gilchrist concerning the construction of the western section of the Kalgoorlie to Port Augusta Railway, established by Letters Patent dated 23 March 1916
29	Royal Commission to inquire into and report upon certain charges against the Administrator and other officers of the Northern Territory Administration, established by Letters Patent dated 11 May 1916
30	Royal Commission on Federal Capital Administration, established by Letters Patent dated 14 June 1916
31	Royal Commission on Java and the East Indies, Singapore and the Straits Settlements, established by Letters Patent dated 7 February 1917
32	Royal Commission on Navy and Defence Administration, established by Letters Patent dated 2 July 1917
33	Royal Commission on the war—Australian Imperial Force. Report as to number of members fit for active service and number of reinforcements and enlistments required, established by Letters Patent dated 6 March 1918
34	Royal Commission on Public Service administration, Commonwealth of Australia, established by Letters Patent dated 2 October 1918
35	Royal Commission upon the public expenditure of the Commonwealth of Australia with a view to effecting economies, established by Letters Patent dated 21 November 1918
36	Royal Commission on taxation of leasehold estates in Crown lands, established by Letters Patent dated 18 December 1918
37	Royal Commission on the sugar industry, established by Letters Patent dated 31 March 1919
38	Royal Commission on industrial troubles on Melbourne wharfs, established by Letters Patent dated 7 June 1919
39	Royal Commission on late German New Guinea, established by Letters Patent dated 12 August 1919
40	Royal Commission to inquire into complaints by the munition worker passengers to Australia by the transport Bahia Castillo, established by Letters Patent dated 15 October 1919
41	Royal Commission on Northern Territory Administration, established by Letters Patent dated 12 November 1919
42	Royal Commission on the basic wage, established by Letters Patent dated 6 December 1919
43	Royal Commission on the matter of uniform railway gauge, established by Letters Patent dated 8 February 1921
44	Royal Commission on pillaging of ships’ cargoes, established by Letters Patent dated 12 February 1921
45	Royal Commission on Cockatoo Island Dockyard, established by Letters Patent dated 25 April 1921
46	Royal Commission upon the loyalty to the British Crown of German Nationals resident in Australia whose property is liable to a charge created by the Treaty of Peace Regulations made under the Treaty of Peace (Germany) Act 1919–1920, established by Letters Patent dated 7 July 1921
47	Royal Commission on the circumstances attending the supposed loss at sea of the steamship Sumatra, established by Letters Patent dated 25 July 1923
48	Royal Commission in connection with sugar purchases by the Commonwealth through Mr. W. E. Davies in September and October, 1920, established by Letters Patent dated 24 August 1923
49	Royal Commission in connection with joinery supplied to the War Service Homes Commissioner in March, 1920, established by Letters Patent dated 7 September 1923
50	Royal Commission on the Navigation Act, established by Letters Patent dated 7 September 1923
51	Royal Commission on national insurance, established by Letters Patent dated 7 September 1923
52	Royal Commission on the method for determining the unimproved value of land held under Crown leases, established by Letters Patent dated 12 July 1924
53	Royal Commission on the assessment of war service disabilities, established by Letters Patent dated 27 August 1924
54	Royal Commission to inquire into extracts from the reports in Parliamentary Debates of speeches made by Mr. Scullin in the House of Representatives on 7th and 19th August, 1924, in relation to land tax matters, established by Letters Patent dated 9 September 1924
55	Royal Commission on the finances of Western Australia, as affected by Federation, established by Letters Patent dated 5 November 1924
56	Royal Commission on health, established by Letters Patent dated 7 January 1925
57	Royal Commission on Norfolk Island affairs, established by Letters Patent dated 20 January 1926
58	Royal Commission on certain matters in connexion with the British Phosphate Commission, established by Letters Patent dated 13 June 1926
59	Royal Commission on wireless, established by Letters Patent dated 28 January 1927
60	Royal Commission on the Edie Creek (New Guinea) leases, established by Letters Patent dated 2 March 1927
61	Royal Commission on the moving picture industry in Australia, established by Letters Patent dated 28 May 1927
62	Royal Commission on the Constitution, established by Letters Patent dated 18 August 1927
63	Royal Commission on child endowment or family allowances, established by Letters Patent dated 28 September 1927
64	Royal Commission of inquiry into fatalities at Bundaberg, established by Letters Patent dated 1 February 1928
65	Royal Commission appointed to inquire into statements in the press in regard to offers alleged to have been made to members to resign seats in the Federal Parliament, established by Letters Patent dated 28 May 1928
66	Royal Commission on the finances of South Australia, as affected by Federation, established by Letters Patent dated 28 July 1928
67	Royal Commission on the coal industry, established by Letters Patent dated 3 June 1929
68	Royal Commission appointed to inquire into allegations affecting members of the Parliamentary Joint Committee of Public Accounts in connexion with claims made by broadcasting companies against the Commonwealth Government, established by Letters Patent dated 15 May 1930
69	Royal Commission on Jacob Johnson, established by Letters Patent dated 29 August 1931
70	Royal Commission on performing rights, established by Letters Patent dated 19 September 1932
71	Royal Commission on taxation, established by Letters Patent dated 6 October 1932
72	Royal Commission on mineral oils and petrol and other products of mineral oils, established by Letters Patent dated 6 April 1933
73	Royal Commission on the wheat, flour and bread industries, established by Letters Patent dated 25 January 1934
74	Royal Commission appointed to inquire into and report upon the circumstances associated with the retirement of Lieutenant‑Commander Alan Dermot Casey from the Royal Australian Navy, established by Letters Patent dated 11 July 1934
75	Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the monetary and banking systems at present in operation in Australia, established by Letters Patent dated 15 November 1935
76	Royal Commission on doctors’ remuneration for national insurance service and other contract practice, established by Letters Patent dated 18 July 1938
77	Royal Commission regarding the contract for the erection of additions to the General Post Office, Sydney, established by Letters Patent dated 7 June 1939
78	Royal Commission to inquire into and report upon the contract or contracts with Abbco Bread Co. Pty. Limited for the supply of bread to the Department of the Army, and other matters, established by Letters Patent dated 28 March 1941
79	Royal Commission to inquire into circumstances under which certain public monies were used and to whom, and for what purposes such moneys were paid, established by Letters Patent dated 27 September 1941
80	Royal Commission in the matter of an inquiry into a statement that there was a document missing from the official files in relation to The Brisbane Line, established by Letters Patent dated 29 June 1943
81	Royal Commission to inquire into and report upon certain transactions of the Sydney Land Sales Control Office, and the Canberra Land Sales Control Office of the Treasury, established by Letters Patent dated 13 June 1947
82	Royal Commission appointed to inquire into certain transactions in relation to timber rights in the Territory of Papua New Guinea, established by Letters Patent dated 11 January 1949
83	Royal Commission on the Port Augusta to Alice Springs Railway, established by Letters Patent dated 14 December 1950
84	Royal Commission on television, established by Letters Patent dated 11 February 1953
85	Royal Commission on espionage, established by Letters Patent dated 3 May 1954
86	Royal Commission on alleged improper practices and improper refusal to co‑operate with the Victoria Police Force on the part of persons employed in the Postmaster‑General’s Department in Victoria in relation to illegal gambling, established by Letters Patent dated 23 May 1962
87	Royal Commission on loss of H.M.A.S. Voyager, established by Letters Patent dated 14 February 1964
88	Royal Commission on the statement of Lieutenant Commander Cabban and matters incidental thereto, established by Letters Patent dated 31 May 1967
89	Aboriginal Land Rights Commission, established by Letters Patent dated 8 February 1973
90	Australian Post Office Commission of inquiry, established by Letters Patent dated 22 February 1973
91	Commission of inquiry into land tenures, established by Letters Patent dated 4 May 1973
92	Royal Commission on petroleum, established by Letters Patent dated 12 September 1973
93	Commission of Inquiry into the maritime industry, established by Letters Patent dated 25 September 1973
94	Independent Inquiry into Frequency Modulation Broadcasting, established by Letters Patent dated 27 November 1973
95	Commission of Inquiry into transport to and from Tasmania, established by Letters Patent dated 10 April 1974
96	Royal Commission on Australian Government Administration, established by Letters Patent dated 6 June 1974
97	Royal Commission on human relationships, established by Letters Patent dated 21 August 1974
98	Royal Commission on intelligence and security, established by Letters Patent dated 21 August 1974
99	Royal Commission into alleged payments to maritime unions, established by Letters Patent dated 5 September 1974
100	Royal Commission into Matters Relating to Norfolk Island, established by Letters Patent dated 15 May 1975
101	Royal Commission of inquiry into matters in relation to electoral redistribution Queensland, 1977, established by Letters Patent dated 24 April 1978
102	Commission of inquiry into the viability of the Christmas Island phosphate industry, established by Letters Patent dated 20 December 1979
103	Royal Commission into Australian meat industry, established by Letters Patent dated 12 September 1981
104	Royal Commission on the use and effects of chemical agents on Australian personnel in Vietnam, established by Letters Patent dated 13 May 1983
105	Commission of inquiry into compensation arising from social security conspiracy prosecutions, established by Letters Patent dated 9 February 1984
106	Royal Commission into British nuclear tests in Australia, established by Letters Patent dated 16 July 1984
107	Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Leasing by the Commonwealth of Accommodation in Centenary House, established by Letters Patent dated 16 May 1994
108	Commission of Inquiry into the Relations Between the CAA and Seaview Air, established by Letters Patent dated 25 October 1994
109	Royal Commission to Inquire into the Centenary House Lease, established by Letters Patent dated 24 June 2004

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Abbreviation key—Endnote 2

The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.

If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and “(md not incorp)” is added to the amendment history.

 

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

ad = added or inserted	o = order(s)
am = amended	Ord = Ordinance
amdt = amendment	orig = original
c = clause(s)	par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)
C[x] = Compilation No. x	/sub‑subparagraph(s)
Ch = Chapter(s)	pres = present
def = definition(s)	prev = previous
Dict = Dictionary	(prev…) = previously
disallowed = disallowed by Parliament	Pt = Part(s)
Div = Division(s)	r = regulation(s)/rule(s)
ed = editorial change	reloc = relocated
exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have	renum = renumbered
effect	rep = repealed
F = Federal Register of Legislation	rs = repealed and substituted
gaz = gazette	s = section(s)/subsection(s)
LA = Legislation Act 2003	Sch = Schedule(s)
LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003	Sdiv = Subdivision(s)
(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given	SLI = Select Legislative Instrument
effect	SR = Statutory Rules
(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment	Sub‑Ch = Sub‑Chapter(s)
cannot be given effect	SubPt = Subpart(s)
mod = modified/modification	underlining = whole or part not
No. = Number(s)	commenced or to be commenced

 

Endnote 3—Legislation history

 

Name	Registration	Commencement	Application, saving and transitional provisions
Royal Commissions Regulations 2019	20 Sept 2019 (F2019L01224)	21 Sept 2019 (s 2(1) item 1)
Royal Commissions Amendment (Defence and Veteran Suicide Private Sessions) Regulations 2021	5 Oct 2021 (F2021L01395)	6 Oct 2021 (s 2(1) item 1)	—
Royal Commissions Amendment (Witness Allowances) Regulations 2021	12 Nov 2021 (F2021L01553)	13 Nov 2021 (s 2(1) item 1)	—
Royal Commissions Amendment (Custody of Records) Regulations 2022	14 Dec 2022 (F2022L01645)	15 Dec 2022 (s 2(1) item 1)	—
Royal Commissions Amendment (Enhancing Engagement) Regulations 2023	3 Apr 2023 (F2023L00402)	12 Apr 2023 (s 2(1) item 1)	—

 

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

Provision affected	How affected
Part 1
s 2.............................................	rep LA s 48D
s 4.............................................	am F2021L01395; F2022L01645
	ed C3
	am F2023L00402
Part 2
s 6.............................................	am F2021L01553
Part 3
s 7.............................................	am F2021L01395; F2023L00402
Part 4
Division 2
s 10...........................................	am F2022L01645
s 11...........................................	am F2022L01645
Division 3
Division 3 heading....................	am F2022L01645
s 12...........................................	am F2022L01645
	ed C3
	am F2023L00402
s 13...........................................	am F2022L01645
s 14...........................................	am F2022L01645
Part 5
s 15...........................................	am F2021L01553
s 16...........................................	ad F2021L01553
	ed C3
	am F2023L00402
s 17...........................................	ad F2022L01645
	ed C3