• Specific Year
    Any

INTERPRETATION ACT 1978

Table of Provisions

PART I--PRELIMINARY

  • 1 Short title  
  • 2 Repeal and savings  
  • 3 Application of this Act  
  • 4 Application to statutory instruments  

PART II--COMMENCEMENT OF ACTS

  • 5 Date of commencement  
  • 6 Proposed laws reserved for Governor-General  
  • 6A Time of commencement  
  • 6B References to commencement  
  • 7 Evidence of assent etc.  
  • 8 Exercise of powers before commencement  
  • 9 Amendment before commencement  

PART III--REPEAL AND EXPIRATION OF ACTS

  • 11 Repeal does not revive previous Act  
  • 12 Effect of repeal  
  • 13 Effect of State laws ceasing to apply  
  • 14 Continuance of repealed provisions  
  • 15 References to repealed provisions  
  • 16 Expiration of Acts  

PART IV--WORDS AND REFERENCES IN ACTS

  • 17 Definitions  
  • 18 Definitions to be read in context  
  • 18A References relating to an Agency  
  • 19 Ministerial references  
  • 19A Definitions of certain domestic relationships  
  • 20 Construction of statutory instruments  
  • 21 By, under or pursuant to Act  
  • 22 Construction of amending Acts  
  • 23 Parts of speech and grammatical forms  
  • 23A Defined words in Acts and references in other legislation  
  • 24 Gender and number  
  • 24A Range of numbers, words or other things  
  • 24AA References to persons generally  
  • 25 Service of documents  
  • 26 References to writing  
  • 27 Measurement of distance  
  • 28 Reckoning of time  
  • 29 24 hour clock  
  • 30 Reckoning of age  
  • 31 References to the Sovereign  
  • 34 References to Administrator  
  • 34A References to Administrator in Council  
  • 35 Administrative Arrangements Order  
  • 36 Publication and commencement of Administrative Arrangements Order  
  • 37 References in agreements  
  • 38 References to offices etc.  
  • 38A Reference to Commonwealth ministers etc.  

PART IVA--PENALTIES

PART V--POWERS, FUNCTIONS AND AUTHORITIES

  • 39 Confirmation of appointments not required  
  • 40 Continuing to act during vacancy in office  
  • 41 Occasions for exercise of powers etc.  
  • 42 How power may be exercised  
  • 43 Power to take action or make statutory instrument includes power to revoke, amend etc.  
  • 44 Power to appoint includes power to remove  
  • 44A Acting appointment  
  • 46 Power to authorise another person to exercise power or perform function  
  • 46A Power of delegation  
  • 48 Discretions  
  • 48A Participation in meetings by telephone etc.  
  • 48B Power to correct minor errors  

PART VI--MECHANICS OF LEGISLATION

  • 49 Citation  
  • 50 References to other legislation  
  • 51 Reference to Act includes reference to statutory instruments under Act  
  • 52 References to Imperial, Commonwealth and State Acts  
  • 53 References in an Act to provisions of that Act  
  • 54 Every section a substantive enactment  
  • 55 Material that is, and is not, part of an Act  
  • 56 Numbering of Acts  
  • 57 Numbering of subordinate legislation  
  • 57A Amendment of instruments by Act  
  • 57B Definitions automatically inserted in alphabetical order  

PART VII--GENERAL

Division 1--Construction

  • 58 Amending act to be construed with amended Act  
  • 59 Act to be construed subject to power  
  • 59A Public places etc. on Aboriginal land  
  • 61 Construction of statutory instruments  
  • 62 Construction of resolutions of Legislative Assembly  
  • 62A Regard to be had to purpose or object of Act  
  • 62B Use of extrinsic material in interpreting Act  
  • 62C Changes in drafting practice do not affect meaning  
  • 62D Examples  
  • 62E Notes  

Division 2--Statutory instruments

Division 3--General

PART VIIA--INCORPORATION OF AMENDMENTS

  • 72A Meaning of reprint  
  • 72B Reprint of legislation in force at stated date  
  • 72C Omission of making words in reprint  
  • 72D Inclusion of tables of amendments in reprints  

PART VIII--TRANSITIONAL MATTERS

Division 1--Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2006

Division 2--Interpretation Legislation Amendment Act 2018

  • 75 Short titles and cross references taken to include year of enactment or making  
  • 76 Disapplication of section 50(1) in certain circumstances  

Division 3--Interpretation Amendment Act 2021

  • 77 Administrative Arrangements Orders  
  • 78 Tabling requirements for subordinate legislation  

Navigate