Sub sections:
Australian Government publications at UNE
This site provides Internet users with information on Australian government publications held by the University of New England, and Internet sites where some of these and other government publications are available.
Government Publications by Jurisdiction
Government publications are published in both hard copy and electronic format. Click on any of the jurisdictions below to see a list of government publications available either at the University of New England or through the Internet.
| Australia | Northern Territory | Tasmania |
| Australian Capital Territory | Queensland | Victoria |
| New South Wales | South Australia | Western Australia |
Alphabetical Index of Terms
Act
A Bill which has passed through Parliament becomes an Act after receiving the royal assent.
Bill
A Bill is a draft of a law. Most bills have an Explanatory Memorandum.
Budget Paper
Budget Papers are the official documents related to the annual budget of a state or country.
By-law
A By-law is a piece of subordinate regulation made by a local government or statutory authority to regulate the use of their services or the conduct of their staff.
Census
A Census is an official enumeration of inhabitants of a country with details such as age, sex, occupation, etc.
Constitution
The system or body of fundamental principles according to which a nation, state of body governed is constituted and organised
Debate
The verbatim record of Parliamentary debates are usually known as Hansard.
Delegated legislation
see Subordinate legislation
Electoral roll
An electoral roll is a list of people registered to vote.
Explanatory Memorandum
Explanatory memoranda set out the content and purpose of a Bill. They are often used by the courts as a guide for the interpretation of legislation.
Government Directory
Government directories are generally issued by Federal and State governments in Australia and other jurisdictions. They list members of parliament, government departments, statutory and non-statutory authorities and their senior personnel.
Government Gazette
Government Gazettes contain legal notices with information about government appointments, decisions and actions. They also include notices and actions by individuals and companies such as bankruptcy and liquidation which must be publicly announced.
Other information in Government Gazettes includes administrative decisions, proclamation of acts, texts and notification of regulations, notification of local laws, public holidays, wills registered in courts, unclaimed moneys, private notices and certain types of public advertisements.
Special issues may be required for urgent matters or for the publication of the names of members of registered professions.
Government publications
Government publications include annual reports, published reports, series and serials and other papers produced by deparments and agencies.
Hansard
see Debate
Journal
A journal is the daily record of Parliamentary business. Some jurisdictions use minutes of proceedings and votes and proceedings instead.
Minutes of Proceeding
Some jurisdictions use this term instead of journals or votes and proceedings.
Notice Paper
A notice paper lists the business proposed to be done on a certain day in each house of parliament. It should be used in conjunction with journals, minutes of proceedings and votes and proceedings.
Order
An Order announces legal decisions and is used to define major functions of government departments and acts administered by Ministers. It may be used to extend the coverage of empowering legislation to groups not originally mentioned.
Ordinance
An ordinance is the primary form of legislation for non-self governing Australian territories.
Parliamentary Debate
See Debate
Parliamentary Paper
A Parliamentary Paper is any document tabled in Parliament. If it is considered to be important and of lasting value, it will appear as part of the Parliamentary Papers series.
Regulation
A regulation is the most common way used to enact the rules required by an Act. The term is often used to cover all forms of subordinate legislation.
Reprint
An Act and subordinate legislation can be reprinted to include amendments up to a certain date.
Rule
A rule regulates practices and procedures in the courts. A notice stating that they have been made must be gazetted and they must be tabled in Parliament for review.
Sessional paper
See Parliamentary paper
Statute
See Act
Statutory Instrument
A statutory instrument is a piece of subordinate legislation made by ministers or government departments by the authority of the statute involved.
Statutory Rule
A statutory rule is a piece of subordinate legislation made under the authority of an act and must be numbered. A notice stating that a Statutory rule has been made and details as to where copies may be obtained must be printed in government gazettes. They are required to be tabled in both houses of parliament.
Subordinate legislation
Subordinate legislation consists of regulations or similar rules which are made under the authority of the empowering Act.
Types of subordinate legislation include Statutory rules or regulations, orders, rules, by-laws and ordinances. These can also be called statutory instruments.
Treaty
A treaty is an agreement between countries or international organisations which has been ratified by Parliament.
Votes and proceedings
A daily record of business in the order in which it is dealt, see also journals and minutes of proceedings.