Office of Parliamentary Counsel  
    Home | About | News | Site Map | Contact Us | Search
" "
About OPC
FAQs
Legislation
OPC Documents
Drafting Directions series
Drafting manuals
Selection of OPC Word Notes
List of document files created
Lists of OPC contracts
Lists of OPC consultancy contracts
OPC Legal Services Expenditure
Plain Language
Employment
Other Drafting Offices
CALC
Links

OPC Drafting Directions Series

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 18 February 2009 Download PDF version
31k
Download RTF version
118k
  Presentation and form of legislation      
1.1 Long and short title of Bills and references to proposed Acts 1 May 2006 Download PDF version
61k
Download RTF version
107k
1.2 Portfolio for cover page of Bill 5 December 2008 Download PDF version
24k
Download RTF version
77k
1.3 Commencement provisions 2 May 2007 Download PDF version
220k
Download RTF version
326k
1.4 Amending Forms Manual 1 May 2006 Download PDF version
13k
Download RTF version
67k
1.5 Definitions 18 January 2008 Download PDF version
83k
Download RTF version
167k
1.6 Asterisking to identify defined terms 1 May 2006 Download PDF version
73k
Download RTF version
132k
1.7 Numbering and lettering 1 May 2006 Download PDF version
25k
Download RTF version
77k
1.8 Special rules for Tax Code drafting 1 May 2006 Download PDF version
253k
Download RTF version
410k
  Usage (including plain English)
     
2.1 English usage, gender-specific and gender-neutral language, grammar, punctuation and spelling 16 September 2008 Download PDF version
29k
Download RTF version
3.2M
2.2 Use of various expressions in Bills 16 September 2008 Download PDF version
110k
Download RTF version
2.3M
  Content      
3.1 Constitutional law issues 29 September 2008 Download PDF version
161k
Download RTF version
209k
3.2 Taxation 1 May 2006 Download PDF version
70k
Download RTF version
122k
3.3 Application of Acts in relation to various maritime and external areas 1 May 2006 Download PDF version
44k
Download RTF version
90k
3.4 Conferral and exercise of powers (including by Governor-General) 1 May 2006 Download PDF version
42k
Download RTF version
97k
3.5 Offences, penalties, self-incrimination, secrecy provision and enforcement powers 13 November 2007 Download PDF version
93k
Download RTF version
150k
3.6 Statutory and other bodies 26 September 2008
Download PDF version
401k
Download RTF version
522k
3.7 Tribunals and other administrative bodes--protection and liabilities of witness and contempt 15 January 2008 Download PDF version
28k
Download RTF version
85k
3.8 Subordinate instruments 1 April 2008 Download PDF version
89k
Download RTF version
448k
3.9 Evidence and proof (including oaths and affirmations) 1 May 2006 Download PDF version
42k
Download RTF version
98k
3.10 Bills that refer to or affect Australian governments or jurisdictions 1 May 2006 Download PDF version
81k
Download RTF version
121k
3.11 Implementing Commonwealth agreements (including treaties and conventions etc.) 1 May 2006 Download PDF version
44k
Download RTF version
394k
3.12 Mentioning money appropriated by the Parliament 4 March 2008 Download PDF version
41k
Download RTF version
87k
3.13 References to cases in notes 1 May 2006 Download PDF version
16k
Download RTF version
69k
3.14 References to the Parliament 2 May 2007
Download PDF version
18k
Download RTF version
75k
  Procedural matters      
4.1 Dealings with instructors 2 May 2007 Download PDF version
34k
Download RTF version
87k
4.2 Referral of Bills to other agencies 26 June 2009 Download PDF version
54k
Download RTF version
4.7M
4.3 Amendments requiring consultation with States and Territories under an intergovernmental agreement 1 May 2006 Download PDF version
104k
Download RTF version
166k
4.4 Statute law revision amendments 27 August 2008 Download PDF version
68k
Download RTF version
128k
4.5 Legal advice on issues arising during drafting 4 December 2008 Download PDF version
103k
Download RTF version
135k
4.6 Legislation Approval Process 17 February 2009 Download PDF version
158k
Download RTF version
223k
4.7 Clerk's and Chairman's amendments 17 January 2008 Download PDF version
32k
Download RTF version
85k
4.8 Parliamentary amendments--various matters 15 November 2007 Download PDF version
32k
Download RTF version
91k
4.9 Sections 53 and 56 of the Constitution--Bills and parliamentary amendments 1 May 2006 Download PDF version
84k
Download RTF version
387k
4.10 Presentation of Bills for Royal Assent 1 May 2006 Download PDF version
60k
Download RTF version
103k

 

 
 


Copyright | Privacy | Disclaimer | Contact Us | Feedback | Search | Top