Please note: The Lawlex database includes an AI Assistant, that can be used to explore a document you are looking at. Please note that the Library does not endorse its use. As with any database AI chatbot, use it with caution, as the information provided may vary in accuracy and consistency. The use of the built in AI should not replace your Legislation research.

This Guide provides a comprehensive overview on finding different forms of Legislation (also known as Acts or Statutes) and conducting Legislative research tasks. To the left you will find links to various Legislation Databases that are available to you. The tabs in the Guide also provide information on how how Legislation is made, Bills, how to perform various Legislation tasks, where to find Delegated Legislation, how to find Extrinsic materials such as Hansard and EM's, where to find Legislation from other jurisdictions, how to monitor legislation and keep up to date!

Legislation is a primary source of law. The Encyclopaedic Australian Legal Dictionary (Lexis+) provides a useful summary of some Legislative terms. These have been provided below. 

Bill

• A legislative document in the form of a proposed Act of Parliament that has not yet been passed by parliament or received royal assent.

Legislation

Statutes

1. A law or body of laws formally made or enacted. The term is often confined to those laws promulgated by a legislature (statute law or Acts of Parliament) but in its broadest sense it also encompasses law made by other bodies under the authority of Parliament (delegated legislation).

2. The process of making or enacting law.

Also known as 'lawmaking' or 'statute-making'.

See also Act of Parliament; Bill; Common Law; Delegated Legislation; Enactment; Legislative process; Promulgation

Legislative process

Constitutional law

The process by which laws are created and promulgated by the Commonwealth Parliament and respective State parliaments. Usually, a Bill is introduced into one of the houses of parliament, is passed by that house and agreed to in identical form by the other house, and receives the assent of the Crown, becoming an Act of Parliament.

See also Bill; Legislation

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