Drafting Directions are instructions that are issued by First Parliamentary Counsel. They cover a wide range of topics related to drafting. All drafters are required to comply with the directions. This ensures a consistent approach is taken to amendments.
The Drafting Directions have been reorganised into a subject-based series and you can download individual documents from the following table.
| No. |
Title |
Date of issue |
PDF |
RTF |
| |
Index of Drafting Directions |
1 May 2013 |
32k |
159k |
| |
Presentation and form of legislation |
|
|
|
| 1.1 |
Long and short title of Bills and references to proposed Acts |
1 May 2006 |
48k |
160k |
| 1.1A |
Names of instruments and provision units of instruments |
4 December 2012 |
527k |
520k |
| 1.2 |
Portfolio for cover page of Bill |
1 May 2013 |
46k |
127k |
| 1.3 |
Commencement provisions |
16 May 2011 |
184k |
612k |
| 1.4 |
Amending Forms Manual |
1 May 2006 |
9k |
96k |
| 1.5 |
Definitions |
2 October 2012 |
447k |
269k |
| 1.6 |
Asterisking to identify defined terms |
1 May 2006 |
49k |
200k |
| 1.7 |
Numbering and lettering |
2 October 2012 |
269k |
113k |
| 1.8 |
Special rules for Tax Code drafting |
1 May 2006 |
140k |
528k |
| |
Usage (including plain English)
|
|
|
|
| 2.1 |
English usage, gender-specific and gender-neutral language, grammar, punctuation and spelling |
29 October 2012 |
389k |
211k |
| 2.2 |
Use of various expressions in draft legislation |
17 December 2012 |
479k |
298k |
| |
Content |
|
|
|
| 3.1 |
Constitutional law issues |
2 October 2012 |
511k |
318k |
| 3.2 |
Taxation |
1 May 2013 |
81k |
192k |
| 3.3 |
Application of legislation in relation to various maritime and external areas |
2 October 2012 |
304k |
177k |
| 3.4 |
Conferral and exercise of powers (including by Governor-General) |
2 October 2012 |
303k |
148k |
| 3.5 |
Offences, penalties, self-incrimination, secrecy provision and enforcement powers |
13 February 2013 |
471k |
289k |
| 3.6 |
Statutory and other bodies |
2 October 2012 |
777k |
787k |
| 3.7 |
Tribunals and other administrative bodies--various matters |
2 October 2012 |
286k |
166k |
| 3.8 |
Subordinate instruments |
1 April 2008 |
62k |
247k |
| 3.9 |
Evidence and proof (including oaths and affirmations) |
2 October 2012 |
297k |
149k |
| 3.10 |
Legislation that refers to or affects Australian governments or jurisdictions |
2 October 2012 |
386k |
191k |
| 3.11 |
Implementing Commonwealth agreements (including treaties and conventions etc.) |
2 October 2012 |
292k |
155k |
| 3.12 |
Provisions that make the Commonwealth liable to make a pament |
4 March 2008 |
34k |
126k |
| 3.13 |
References to cases in notes |
2 October 2012 |
82k |
100k |
| 3.14 |
References to the Parliament |
2 October 2012 |
263k |
102k |
| |
Procedural matters |
|
|
|
| 4.1 |
Dealings with instructors |
2 October 2012 |
285k |
127k |
| 4.1A |
Complexity Flag System |
13 May 2013 |
84k |
198k |
| 4.2 |
Referral of drafts to agencies |
12 February 2013 |
464k |
434k |
| 4.3 |
Amendments requiring consultation with States and Territories under an intergovernmental agreement |
2 October 2012 |
415k |
310k |
| 4.4 |
Statute law revision amendments |
27 August 2008 |
48k |
865k |
| 4.5 |
Legal advice on issues arising during drafting |
2 October 2012 |
372k |
179k |
| 4.6 |
Legislation Approval Process |
2 October 2012 |
520k |
372k |
| 4.7 |
Clerk's and Chairman's amendments |
12 October 2010 |
35k |
162k |
| 4.8 |
Parliamentary amendments--various matters |
1 May 2013 |
51k |
136k |
| 4.9 |
Sections 53 and 56 of the Constitution--Bills and parliamentary amendments |
1 May 2006 |
61k |
1016k |
| 4.10 |
Presentation of Bills for Royal Assent |
14 December 2009 |
46k |
822k |
