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In January 2011 we introduced a new version of ComLaw. We would like you to tell us what you think about it and how we can build a better ComLaw over the next 12-24 months. If you can spare 60 seconds, please click here This link will take you away from ComLaw to go to the survey website.

Your answers will remain confidential. No information will be provided to us in a way that enables us to identify any particular user. The only exception is if you give us your email so we can send you more information about ComLaw. In this case, your email address is all we receive.



ComLaw may be slow or unavailable during periods of scheduled maintenance. Please let us know if you experience any significant performance issues outside these hours.

Next scheduled maintenance: Saturday 11 February, 7:00 - 10:00 (AEDT).
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Looking for information on recent changes in the law? New and amended laws on ComLaw that are attracting significant community interest right now include:

Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (formerly known as the Trade Practices Act 1974)
Corporations Act 2001
Fair Work Act 2009
Fair Work Regulations 2009
Healthcare Identifiers Act 2010
Healthcare Identifiers Regulations 2010
Healthcare Identifiers (Consequential Amendments) Act 2010
National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (incorporating the Consumer Credit Code)
National Consumer Credit Protection Regulations 2010
National Consumer Credit Protection (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 2009
Paid Parental Leave Act 2010
Paid Parental Leave Rules 2010
Paid Parental Leave (Consequential Amendments) Act 2010
Personal Property Securities Act 2009
Personal Property Securities (Consequential Amendments) Act 2009

For more information on what’s new, go to the Find It Fast bar now at the top of every page. You can also use Advanced Search to locate all the laws that come into force on particular day.

Want to nominate a title for this page? Please contact us with the details.


Some laws are more significant than others, in that they set out enduring legal principles and frameworks that affect a large part of the Australian community. Among the most significant laws on ComLaw are:

The Constitution Family Law Act 1975
Administrative Arrangements Order Family Law Regulations 1984
Acts Interpretation Act 1901 Federal Court Rules 2011
Acts Publication Act 1905 Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997
Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 Freedom of Information Act 1982
Aged Care Act 1997 Income Tax Assessment Act 1936
Bankruptcy Act 1966 Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 High Court Rules 2004
Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988 Legislative Instruments Act 2003
Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 Legislative Instruments Regulations 2004
Competition and Consumer Act 2010 Migration Act 1958
Corporations Act 2001 Migration Regulations 1994
Crimes Act 1914 Migration Agents Regulations 1998
Criminal Code Act 1995 Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991
Customs Act 1901 Personal Property Securities Act 2009
Customs Regulations 1926 Privacy Act 1988
Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 Public Service Act 1999
Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 1958 Racial Discrimination Act 1975
Disability Discrimination Act 1992 Sex Discrimination Act 1984
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Social Security Act 1991
Evidence Act 1995 Trade Practices Act 1974 (now the Competition and Consumer Act 2010)
Fair Work Act 2009 Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986

To find one of the many other titles available on ComLaw, use the Find It Fast bar now at the top of every page.


Australia's ten Territories are home to over half a million Australians. Each territory has different legal origins, and a different relationship with the Australian Government. Choose the territory you are interested in for details of its laws and governance:

Ashmore and Cartier Islands Coral Sea Islands
Australian Antarctic Territory Heard and McDonald Islands
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Jervis Bay Territory
Christmas Island* Norfolk Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands* Northern Territory (NT)

In the past, the Australian Government has also administered territory in Nauru, New Guinea and Papua. These territories have since become the independent nations of Nauru and of Papua New Guinea.

For more information about how Australia acquired its external territories - that is, all territories except the ACT, the NT and Jervis Bay Territory - please see Alan Kerr's book A Federation In These Seas This link will take you away from ComLaw.

*these two territories are jointly administered and are also known as the Indian Ocean Territories (IOTs)



ComLaw contains a huge amount of current and historical information - but it does not cover ALL sources of Australian law. To browse other sources of Australian law, choose the jurisdiction and type of information that interests you:

Commonwealth of Australia Parliament This link will take you away from ComLaw Legislation Caselaw This link will take you away from ComLaw Gazettes More This link will take you away from ComLaw
New South Wales Parliament This link will take you away from ComLaw Legislation This link will take you away from ComLaw Caselaw This link will take you away from ComLaw Gazettes This link will take you away from ComLaw More This link will take you away from ComLaw
Victoria Parliament This link will take you away from ComLaw Legislation This link will take you away from ComLaw Caselaw This link will take you away from ComLaw Gazettes This link will take you away from ComLaw More This link will take you away from ComLaw
Queensland Parliament This link will take you away from ComLaw Legislation This link will take you away from ComLaw Caselaw This link will take you away from ComLaw Gazettes This link will take you away from ComLaw More This link will take you away from ComLaw
Western Australia Parliament This link will take you away from ComLaw Legislation This link will take you away from ComLaw Caselaw This link will take you away from ComLaw Gazettes This link will take you away from ComLaw More This link will take you away from ComLaw
South Australia Parliament This link will take you away from ComLaw Legislation This link will take you away from ComLaw Caselaw This link will take you away from ComLaw Gazettes This link will take you away from ComLaw More This link will take you away from ComLaw
Tasmania Parliament This link will take you away from ComLaw Legislation This link will take you away from ComLaw Caselaw This link will take you away from ComLaw Gazettes This link will take you away from ComLaw More This link will take you away from ComLaw
Australian Capital Territory Parliament This link will take you away from ComLaw Legislation This link will take you away from ComLaw Caselaw This link will take you away from ComLaw Gazettes This link will take you away from ComLaw More This link will take you away from ComLaw
Northern Territory Parliament This link will take you away from ComLaw Legislation This link will take you away from ComLaw Caselaw This link will take you away from ComLaw Gazettes This link will take you away from ComLaw More This link will take you away from ComLaw
Norfolk Island Parliament This link will take you away from ComLaw Legislation This link will take you away from ComLaw Caselaw This link will take you away from ComLaw Gazettes This link will take you away from ComLaw More This link will take you away from ComLaw

Many jurisdictions are working together to harmonise their legislation, and harmonised or 'model' laws have been developed and enacted on more than 60 issues. Work is continuing on other issues through bodies including the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) This link will take you away from ComLaw and the Standing Council on Law and Justice (SCLJ, formerly known as the Standing Committee on Attorneys-General or SCAG) This link will take you away from ComLaw.

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