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Acts Interpretation Act 1901
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Attorney-General's Department
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C2004C01600 (C17)
29 October 2001
-
06 July 2003
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Table of contents
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Part I—Preliminary
1 Short title
2 Application of Act
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Part II—Commencement of Acts
3 Meaning of commencement
4 Exercise of certain powers between passing and commencing of Act
5 Commencement of Acts
6 Evidence of date of assent or proclamation
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Part III—Repeal and Expiration of Acts
7 Effect of repeal of Act
8 Effect of repeal
8A Implied repeals etc.
8B Effect of expiration of Act
8C References to part of an Act
9 Repealed Acts in force until substituted provisions operate
10 References to amended or re enacted Acts
10A References to amended or re enacted laws of States and Territories
11 Expiration of Act
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Part IV—General provisions
12 Every section a substantive enactment
13 Headings, schedules, marginal notes, footnotes and endnotes
14 Acts may be altered etc. in same session
14A Definitions inserted by amending Act
14B Commencement of paragraphs etc. in amending Act
15 Amending to be construed with amended Act
15A Construction of Acts to be subject to Constitution
15AA Regard to be had to purpose or object of Act
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
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Part V—Words and references in Acts
16 References to the Sovereign
16A References to the Governor General
16B References to the Governor of a State
16C References to Stipendiary Magistrate and Magistrate
17 Constitutional and official definitions
17AA Definitions relating to the Australian Public Service
17A Paper or document purporting to be printed by Government Printer
18 Interpretation
18A Parts of speech and grammatical forms
18B How Chairs and Deputy Chairs may be referred to
18C Portfolio Minister may authorise a non portfolio Minister or a member of the Executive Council who is not a Minister to act on his or her behalf in the performance of statutory functions or the exercise of statutory powers
19 Mention of Minister
19A References to Ministers and Departments
19B Reference to Minister, Department etc. where no longer any such Minister, or Department abolished etc.
19BA Reference to Minister, Department etc. inconsistent with changed administrative arrangements
19BAA Application of sections 19B and 19BA where Department abolished and Department with same name established
19BB Revocation of orders made under sections 19B and 19BA
19BC Orders under sections 19B, 19BA and 19BB to be published in Gazette
19C References in agreements to a Department, Minister, officer or body
20 Mention of an officer in general terms
21 Office etc. means office etc. of the Commonwealth
22 Meaning of certain words
23 Rules as to gender and number
25 References to writing, documents and records
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
25E Attainment of particular age
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Part VI—Judicial expressions
26 Judicial definitions
27 Meaning of certain words
28 Rules of Court
28A Service of documents
29 Meaning of service by post
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Part VII—Powers conferred and duties imposed by Acts
33 Exercise of powers and duties
33A Acting appointments
33B Participation in meetings by telephone etc.
34 Power to determine includes authority to administer oath
34AA Delegations
34AB Effect of delegation
34A Exercise of certain powers and functions by a delegate
34B Presentation of papers to the Parliament
34C Periodic reports
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Part VIII—Distance and time
35 Measurement of distance
36 Reckoning of time
37 Expressions of time
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Part IX—Citation of Acts
38 Reference to Acts
39 Numbering of Acts
40 Citation of Acts
40A References to the new corporations and ASIC legislation
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Part XI—Instruments and resolutions
46 Construction of rules, regulations and by laws
46A Disallowable instruments
47 Construction of resolutions
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Part XII—Regulations
48 Regulations
48A Regulations not to be re made while required to be tabled
48B Regulations not to be re made while subject to disallowance
49 Disallowed regulations not to be re made unless resolution rescinded or House approves
49A Prescribing matters by reference to other Instruments
50 Effect of repeal of 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
