Commonwealth legislation

Online resources

Current and recent legislation (Acts and regulations) is freely available online through two major websites.

Federal Register of Legislation

The Federal Register of Legislation (the Legislation Register) is the authorised whole-of-government website for Commonwealth legislation and related documents. It provides not only the latest versions of Commonwealth law but also gives access to the acts as they were passed each year from 1901. You can find all versions of an act; other legislation which interacts with the act; and any subordinate legislation (e.g. regulations) which the act authorises.

A list of frequently asked questions can help you navigate and use the legislation register.

AustLII

AustLII includes both legislation and law reports from all states and territories and the Commonwealth. It also provides links to overseas law sites. This site contains a wealth of legal information. However, due to the large amount of content it is not always completely up-to-date.

To find Commonwealth legislation, go to the tab for Commonwealth (Cth) found on the AustLII home page and then the tab for Cth Legislation.

Print resources

Older Australian legislation (Acts and regulations) is also available in print. It can be found at the Library, as can most officially published current legislation. Use the online catalogue to find and retrieve material using your library login.

Key resources include:

Finding ‘point-in-time’ Commonwealth legislation

‘Point-in-time’ legislation allows you to access a version of the law as it appeared at a particular point in the past.

If you are researching a legal issue from ten years ago you will need to use the legislation as it was ten years ago, not the legislation as it is today – as it may have been amended.

You will need to track changes to the legislation in order to reconstruct its history to find the relevant ‘point-in-time’ version of the legislation for the issue you are researching.

To locate the most recent version of the act prior to the date you are researching:

If you are researching earlier dates than those available on the Federal Register, you will need to consult the paper copy of the original Act (see 'Print resources' above).

Once you have located the most relevant version of the Act, you will then need to consider any subsequent amendments prior to the date you are researching.

  • Try Federal statutes annotations (or its earlier titles) to trace amendments to an Act from the date of the reprint to the date relevant for your research.
Black and white photo of a white building surrounded by trees and roads

R. C. Strangman, Canberra buildings, West Block, 1930s, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-140358666

R. C. Strangman, Canberra buildings, West Block, 1930s, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-140358666

Reprints and compilations

Reprinted Acts will incorporate all amendments to an act at the point of reprinting.

Acts of the Parliament, Commonwealth of Australia: [reprints of laws in force] (reprinted Acts) is the series of pamphlet reprints of the revisions of individual Acts. They include all amendments in operation at the date shown on the reprint.

When requesting to view in the Library ensure you include the title of the Act and the date of reprint in your request.

Reprinted Acts are similar to online compilations except that they can become out-of-date over time if subsequent amendments are made to the Act.

Online compilations of Acts incorporate all amendments up to the present time. They are available online from 1973 on the Federal Register of Legislation. New compilations are produced every time an amendment is made to the Act. Both current and historical compilations are available. Use the historical compilation to track the legislative history of the Act.

Consolidations

A consolidated Act repeals and re-enacts existing legislation and statutory instruments relating to a particular subject.

The main purpose of a consolidation is to draw together different enactments on a topic into a single Act and so simplify the presentation of the law. The Act usually replaces provisions in different Acts (and often statutory instruments) passed over a period of years.

A consolidated Act contains only those sections that are in force at the time of consolidation. Consolidations also include schedules (list of all changes made to the legislation since it was introduced). This is very useful when tracing the history of a pre-1973 Act.

Consolidations are a large undertaking, so do not occur often. Commonwealth Acts were consolidated in 1973. This is the most recent multi-volume consolidation of Commonwealth Acts, in 12 volumes, containing the latest revisions of all laws, as they were in force in 1973. Earlier consolidations had been published in 1911, 1931, 1935 and 1950.

Disclaimer

Staff at the National Library of Australia are not able to provide legal advice.

Every effort is made to provide accurate and relevant information, but this does not constitute qualified legal advice.

In this guide

Photo of Old Parliament House, Canberra, with pink blossoms on surrounding trees

William James Mildenhall, Parliament House, Canberra, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-141452790

Australian legislation research guide

This guide will help you find information about Commonwealth and State/Territory law, both at the National Library and online.

Research guide
Books on Australian legislation

Books on legal research. Image: National Library of Australia

The legal system

Legislation, also known as statutes or Acts of Parliament, is the written law made by Parliament. In any year the Parliament may vote on new Acts of Parliament to create new laws or vote to change, or amend, older Acts of Parliament. 

Research guide
Canberra coat of arms

William James Mildenhall, Canberra Coat of Arms, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-141452193

Australian Capital Territory (ACT) legislation

From 1911 until self-government in May 1989, the laws of the Australian Capital Territory were made by Acts of the federal Parliament or by ordinances made by the Governor-General. From 1974 to 1986 these ordinances were passed after consultation with the House of Assembly and Legislative Assembly.

Research guide
black and white photo of old buildings with old cars in the street out the front

Fairfax Corporation, New South Wales State Parliament House with automobiles parked outside, Sydney, ca. 1930, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-162790401

Other states and territories legislation

The printed collections at the National Library contain substantial collections of older legislation in print, though these may not be complete sets. 

Research guide
Black tile
Bills and explanatory memoranda

A bill is a proposal for a law or a change to an existing law. A Commonwealth bill can be introduced into either house of Parliament, unless it is a money bill which must be introduced in the lower house.

Research guide
Blue tile
Subordinate legislation

Regulations are the most common form of subordinate legislation. These are the guidelines that dictate how the provisions of a specific Act are applied.

Research guide
Page published: 15 Jan 2025

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