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INTERPRETATION ACT 1978

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     Continuance of repealed provisions  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     References to repealed provisions  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

   38B.    Penal provisions include bodies corporate  
   38C.    Penalties at foot of sections and subsections  
   38DC.    Body corporate fines under provision authorising subordinate legislation  
   38F.    Penalties for breach of subordinate legislation  
   38G.    Civil 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

   63.     Procedure for making regulations  
   63A.     Procedure for making rules or by-laws  
   63B.    Commencement of subordinate legislation  
   63C.    Tabling and disallowance requirements  
   64.     Subordinate legislation not to be made in terms of disallowed subordinate legislation  
   65.     Power to make subordinate legislation  
   65A.    Subordinate legislation may prohibit  
   65B.    Subordinate legislation may provide for review or appeal  
   65C.    Subordinate legislation may provide for exemption, waiver or refund of fees  
   65D.    Subordinate legislation may provide for infringement notice offences  
   65E.    Statutory instrument may require making of statutory declaration  
   65F.    Simultaneous actions  
   66.     Prescribing matters by reference to other instruments  

           Division 3--General

   66A.    Gazette publication requirements  
   67.     Tabling documents in Legislative Assembly  
   68.     Compliance with forms  
   69.     Civil proceedings  
   70.     Powers of persons authorised to adjudicate  
   71.     Amendment in same session  
   72.     Sunday observance  

   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

   73.     Subordinate legislation  
   74.     Numbering of subordinate legislation  

           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  
           SCHEDULE
           ENDNOTES