Statutory Instruments Act 1992

An Act relating to statutory instruments and for other purposes related to legislation

1Short title

This Act may be cited as the Statutory Instruments Act 1992.

2Purposes of Act

The purposes of this Act are to—

(a)facilitate the interpretation of statutory instruments; and

(b)facilitate improvement in the presentation of statutory instruments; and

(c)rationalise notification, publication, tabling and disallowance requirements for subordinate legislation; and

(d)generally ensure that Queensland subordinate legislation is of the highest standard.

3Act applies to all statutory instruments

This Act applies to all statutory instruments.

4Displacement of Act by contrary intention

The application of this Act may be displaced, wholly or partly, by a contrary intention appearing in any instrument.

s 4 amd 2012 No. 25 s 176

5Dictionary

The dictionary in schedule 3 defines particular words used in this Act.

s 5 sub 1994 No. 83 s 3

5AAct binds the State

This Act binds the State.

s 5A ins 1994 No. 83 s 3

6Meaning of instrument

An instrument is any document.

7Meaning of statutory instrument

(1)A statutory instrument is an instrument that satisfies subsections (2) and (3).

(2)The instrument must be made under—

(a)an Act; or

(b)another statutory instrument; or

(c)power conferred by an Act or statutory instrument and also under power conferred otherwise by law.

Example of paragraph (c)—

an instrument made partly under an express or implied statutory power and partly under the Royal Prerogative

(3)The instrument must be of 1 of the following types—

•a regulation

•an order in council

•a rule

•a local law

•a by-law

•an ordinance

•a subordinate local law

•a statute

•a proclamation

•a notification of a public nature

•a standard of a public nature

•a guideline of a public nature

•another instrument of a public nature by which the entity making the instrument unilaterally affects a right or liability of another entity.

(4)However, to remove doubt, an Executive Council minute is not itself a statutory instrument.

s 7 amd 1992 No. 68 s 3 sch 1

sub 1993 No. 76 s 3 sch 1

amd 1993 No. 70 s 804 sch; 1999 No. 30 s 98 sch 3

8Meaning of statutory rule

A statutory rule is a statutory instrument—

(a)that is made by the Governor or the Governor in Council; or

(b)that is made by another person or body, but—

(i)is required by law to be approved, confirmed or otherwise consented to by the Governor or Governor in Council; or

(ii)is subject to being disapproved or otherwise disallowed by the Governor or Governor in Council.

9Meaning of subordinate legislation

(1)Subject to subsection (2), the following instruments are subordinate legislation—

(a)a statutory rule that is a regulation, rule, by-law, ordinance or statute;

(b)a statutory rule that is an order in council or proclamation of a legislative character;

(c)any statutory instrument (including an order in council or proclamation) that is declared to be subordinate legislation by an Act or a regulation made under this Act;

(d)any other statutory instrument that fixes or otherwise determines the commencement of—

(i)an Act or a provision of an Act; or

(ii)an instrument, or a provision of an instrument, mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c).

(2)The following instruments are not subordinate legislation—

(a)a local law or other statutory instrument made by a local government;

(b)a rule, order, direction or practice of the Legislative Assembly;

(c)a statutory rule (other than a regulation) that is mentioned in schedule 1A or declared not to be subordinate legislation by—

(i)an Act; or

(ii)in the case of a statutory rule made under a provision commencing before the commencement of this Act—a regulation made under this Act.

s 9 amd 1993 No. 70 s 804 sch; 1998 No. 42 s 4

10Meaning of order in council

An order in council is an order made by the Governor in Council and—

(a)in the case of an order that is subordinate legislation—notified under section 47; or

(b)in any other case—published in the gazette.

s 10 amd 2013 No. 39 s 88

11Meaning of proclamation

A proclamation is a proclamation made by the Governor and—

(a)in the case of a proclamation that is subordinate legislation—notified under section 47; or

(b)in any other case—published in the gazette.

s 11 amd 2013 No. 39 s 89

12Meaning of rules of court

Rules of court, in relation to a court or tribunal, are rules made by the person or body having power to make rules regulating the practice and procedure of the court or tribunal.

13Power to do matter by instrument

If—

(a)an Act or statutory instrument (the authorising law) authorises or requires a matter to be done; and

(b)the matter is capable of being done by instrument;

the authorising law authorises the matter to be done by instrument.

14Applicable provisions

(1)Subject to this division, a provision of the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 mentioned in schedule 1 applies to a statutory instrument, and to matters authorised or required to be done by a statutory instrument, in the same way as it applies to an Act, and matters authorised or required to be done by an Act, as if—

(a)a reference to an Act included a reference to a statutory instrument; and

(b)a reference to enactment or passage included a reference to making.

(2)A copy of the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 showing the text of the Act as it applies to a statutory instrument because of this Act may be authorised by the parliamentary counsel.

(3)If a copy mentioned in subsection (2) is authorised under that subsection, the copy—

(a)is to indicate that fact in a suitable place; and

(b)is a reprint authorised by the parliamentary counsel under the Legislative Standards Act 1992, section 10A.

s 14 amd 2013 No. 39 s 90

14AModified application—s 6

For the purposes of applying the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, section 6(1), after ‘In an Act’, insert ‘or statutory instrument’.

s 14A ins 2005 No. 70 s 154

14BModified application—s 14

For the purposes of applying section 14(7) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, add the following example—

‘Example of an endnote to subordinate legislation—

ENDNOTES

1Made by the Governor in Council on 9 December 2004.

2Notified in the gazette on 10 December 2004.

3Laid before the Legislative Assembly on 22 February 2005.

4The administering agency is the Department of Education and the Arts.’.

s 14B ins 2005 No. 70 s 154

15Modified application—s 14B

For the purposes of applying section 14B of the Acts Interpretation Act 1954—

extrinsic material means relevant material not forming part of the statutory instrument or the Act under which the statutory instrument was made, including, for example—

(a)material that is extrinsic material, within the meaning of that section, in relation to the Act under which the statutory instrument was made; and

(b)material set out in—

(i)if the statutory instrument is subordinate legislation—an official copy of the subordinate legislation; or

(ii)otherwise—a document containing the text of the statutory instrument as printed by or under the authority of the government printer; and

(c)a report of a Royal Commission, Law Reform Commission, commission or committee of inquiry, or a similar body, that was laid before the Legislative Assembly—

(i)if the statutory instrument is subordinate legislation—before the end of 14 sitting days after the statutory instrument was laid before the Legislative Assembly; or

(ii)in any other case—before the statutory instrument was made; and

(d)a report of a committee of the Legislative Assembly that was made to the Legislative Assembly—

(i)if the statutory instrument is subordinate legislation—before the end of 14 sitting days after the statutory instrument was laid before the Legislative Assembly; or

(ii)in any other case—before the statutory instrument was made; and

(e)a treaty or other international agreement that is mentioned in the statutory instrument; and

(f)if the statutory instrument is subordinate legislation—an explanatory note or memorandum relating to the statutory instrument, or any other relevant document, that was laid before, or given to the members of, the Legislative Assembly—

(i)before the end of 14 sitting days after the statutory instrument was laid before the Legislative Assembly; and

(ii)by the clerk of the Parliament or the member who laid the statutory instrument before the Legislative Assembly; and

(g)material in an official record of proceedings in the Legislative Assembly; and

(h)a document that is declared by an Act or statutory instrument to be a relevant document for the purposes of this section; and

(i)if the statutory instrument was made under another statutory instrument—material that is extrinsic material within the meaning of this section in relation to the other statutory instrument.

s 15 amd 1993 No. 32 s 3 sch 1; 2013 No. 39 s 91

15AModified application—section 14F

For the purposes of applying section 14F(1) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, omit the examples and insert—

‘Examples of citations—

1Statutory Instruments Regulation 2002

2Statutory Instruments Regulation 2002, SL No. 218

3SL No. 218 of 2002

42002 SL No. 208’.

s 15A ins 2005 No. 70 s 155

16Modified application—s 27A

For the purposes of applying section 27A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, omit subsection (12) and insert—

‘(12)If a statutory instrument authorises the delegation of a power, the power may be subdelegated only if the statutory instrument, or the Act under which the statutory instrument is made, expressly authorises the power to be subdelegated.’.

17Modified application—s 36 and sch 1 (definition provision)

For the purposes of applying section 36 and schedule 1 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, insert after paragraph (c) of the definition provision in schedule 1—

‘(d) any words of notification.’.

s 17 sub 2013 No. 39 s 92

18Modified application—s 49A

For the purposes of applying section 49A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, a reference to an Act includes a reference to a statutory instrument that is a statutory rule.

s 18 amd 2000 No. 46 s 3 sch

19Non-applicable provisions

A provision of the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 mentioned in schedule 2 does not apply to a statutory instrument.

20Presumption of validity

All conditions and preliminary steps required for the making of a statutory instrument are presumed to have been satisfied and performed in the absence of evidence to the contrary.

20ARegulation may be used instead of another type of subordinate legislation

(1)If—

(a)an Act authorises or requires the Governor, the Governor in Council, a Minister, an officer of the public service or the holder of a prescribed office established by or under an Act to make provision with respect to a matter by subordinate legislation; and

(b)the Act or another Act—

(i)does not specify the type of subordinate legislation to be used; or

(ii)specifies that a type of subordinate legislation other than a regulation is to be used;

the Governor in Council may make provision with respect to the matter by regulation made under the Act.

(2)Subsection (1) applies even though the Act would not, apart from this section, confer power on the Governor in Council to make a regulation for the purposes of the Act.

Example 1—

If an Act provides that provision may be made with respect to a matter by order in council, provision may now be made by regulation.

Example 2—

If provision has already been made with respect to a matter by order in council, the order in council may be repealed or amended by a regulation.

(3)If subsection (1) applies to a provision of an Act, a reference in a law (including the Act) to subordinate legislation of a particular type made under the provision, or the Act generally, includes a reference to a regulation that makes provision with respect to a matter for the purposes of the provision.

Example—

If a provision of an Act refers to orders in council made under section 6 of the Act and subsection (1) applies in relation to section 6, the reference includes a reference to a regulation that makes provision with respect to a matter for the purposes of section 6.

s 20A ins 1992 No. 68 s 3 sch 1

amd 1993 No. 32 s 3 sch 1

20BCorrect year in statutory instrument’s short title etc.

If—

(a)a statutory instrument is made in a particular year (the year of making); and

(b)apart from this section, the statutory instrument’s citation would include a single year other than the year of making;

the citation of, and a reference to, the statutory instrument may be given by omitting the other year and inserting the year of making.

s 20B ins 1993 No. 32 s 3 sch 1

20CContinuance etc. of statutory instruments made under amended provisions

(1)This section applies if—

(a)a provision of a law expressly or impliedly authorises or requires a statutory instrument to be made for a purpose; and

(b)the provision is amended; and

(c)under the amended provision—

(i)a type of instrument is no longer specified for the purpose; or

(ii)another type of instrument is specified for the purpose; or

(iii)the same type of instrument is specified for the purpose.

(2)If subsection (1)(c)(i) applies, a statutory instrument that was in force immediately before the commencement of the amendment—

(a)continues to have effect after the commencement; and

(b)may be amended or repealed by an instrument of the type specified in the provision before the amendment.

(3)If subsection (1)(c)(ii) applies, a statutory instrument that was in force immediately before the commencement of the amendment—

(a)continues to have effect after the commencement; and

(b)is taken to be an instrument of the type specified in the amended provision.

(4)If subsection (1)(c)(iii) applies, a statutory instrument that was in force immediately before the commencement of the amendment continues to have effect after the commencement as if it had been made under the amended provision.

(5)In this section—

amend includes omit and re-enact in the same law (with or without modification), but does not include omit and re-enact in another law.

s 20C ins 1993 No. 32 s 3 sch 1

21Statutory instrument to be interpreted not to exceed powers conferred by authorising law

(1)A statutory instrument is to be interpreted as operating—

(a)to the full extent of, but not to exceed, the power conferred by the law under which it is made (the authorising law); and

(b)distributively.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1), if a provision of a statutory instrument would, apart from this section, be interpreted as exceeding power—

(a)the provision is valid to the extent to which it does not exceed power; and

(b)the remainder of the statutory instrument is not affected.

(3)Without limiting subsection (1), if the application of a provision of a statutory instrument to a person, matter or circumstance would, apart from this section, be interpreted as exceeding power, the provision’s application to other persons, matters or circumstances is not affected.

(4)This section applies to a statutory instrument in addition to, and without limiting, any provision of the statutory instrument or authorising law.

s 21 amd 1992 No. 68 s 3 sch 1

sub 1993 No. 32 s 3 sch 1

22Power to make statutory instrument under Act etc.

(1)If an Act or statutory instrument (the authorising law) authorises or requires the making of a statutory instrument under the authorising law or an Act or statutory instrument (the other law), the power enables a statutory instrument to be made with respect to any matter that—

(a)is required or permitted to be prescribed by the authorising law or other law; or

(b)is necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to the authorising law or other law.

(2)Subsection (1) applies to the authorising law even though the authorising law also authorises the making of a statutory instrument for a particular purpose.

(3)Power conferred by the authorising law to make a statutory instrument for a particular purpose is in addition to, and does not limit the effect of, power conferred by the authorising law to make a statutory instrument under the authorising law or other law unless the authorising law expressly provides otherwise.

s 22 amd 1993 No. 76 s 3 sch 1

23Statutory instrument may make provision by applying another document

(1)If an Act or statutory instrument (the authorising law) authorises or requires the making of a statutory instrument with respect to a matter, a statutory instrument made under the authorising law may make provision for the matter by applying, adopting or incorporating (with or without modification) the provisions of—

(a)an Act, statutory instrument or other law; or

(b)another document (whether of the same or a different kind);

as in force at a particular time or from time to time.

(2)If a statutory instrument made after 1 January 1992 applies, adopts or incorporates the provisions of a document, the provisions applied, adopted or incorporated are the provisions as in force from time to time unless the statutory instrument expressly provides otherwise.

(3)In this section—

law includes a law of the Commonwealth, another State, a Territory or a foreign country.

23AStatutory instrument may make provision in relation to land by reference to map, plan or register

(1)This section applies if an Act authorises or requires provision to be made by statutory instrument in relation to land, whether the expression ‘declare’, ‘dedicate’, ‘set apart’, ‘specify’ or another expression is used.

(2)Provision may be made by reference to—

(a)a map or plan held by a person, department or body; or

(b)a particular entry in a register kept by a person, department or body;

if the map, plan or register is available for inspection by members of the public.

(3)In this section—

land includes Queensland waters.

s 23A ins 1992 No. 68 s 3 sch 1

24Statutory instrument may be of general or limited application

A statutory instrument may—

(a)apply generally throughout the State or be limited in its application to a particular part of the State; or

(b)apply generally to all persons and matters or be limited in its application to—

(i)particular persons or matters; or

(ii)particular classes of persons or matters; or

(c)otherwise apply generally or be limited in its application by reference to specified exceptions or factors.

25Statutory instrument may make different provision for different categories

A statutory instrument may—

(a)make different provision in relation to—

(i)different persons or matters; or

(ii)different classes of persons or matters; or

(b)apply differently by reference to specified exceptions or factors.

26Statutory instrument may authorise determination etc. by specified person etc.

A statutory instrument may authorise any matter to be determined, applied or regulated, from time to time, by any specified person or body.

Example—

If an Act provides that an application is to be in a prescribed form, the regulation concerned may provide that the prescribed form is to be that approved, or made available for use, by the Minister.

27Statutory instrument may prohibit

If an Act or statutory instrument authorises or requires a matter to be regulated by statutory instrument, the power may be exercised by prohibiting by statutory instrument the matter or any aspect of the matter.

28Relationship between authorising law and statutory instrument concerning the same matter

If an Act or statutory instrument (the authorising law) authorises or requires provision to be made with respect to a matter by statutory instrument, a statutory instrument made under the authorising law may make provision with respect to a particular aspect of the matter despite the fact that provision is made by the authorising law in relation to another aspect of the matter or in relation to another matter.

29Statutory instrument may provide review

(1)A statutory instrument may provide for the review of, or a right of appeal against, a decision made under—

(a)the statutory instrument; or

(b)the Act or other statutory instrument under which the statutory instrument is made or in force.

(2)A statutory instrument that is a statutory rule may, for the purpose of subsection (1), confer jurisdiction on any court, tribunal, person or body.

30Statutory instrument may require verification of form etc.

A statutory instrument may require a form prescribed by or under the statutory instrument, or information or documents (whether or not included in, attached to or given with a form), to be verified by statutory declaration.

30AReasonable cost etc. may be prescribed as fee

If a power is conferred by a law for a statutory instrument to be made with respect to a fee for doing a thing, the power includes a power to prescribe the fee as an amount—

(a)that a specified person or body considers to be reasonable; and

(b)that is not more than the reasonable cost of doing the thing.

s 30A ins 1993 No. 32 s 3 sch 1

30BStatutory instrument may exempt from fee

(1)If a power is conferred under a law for a statutory instrument to prescribe a fee, the power includes a power to—

(a)exempt any person or matter from payment of all or part of the fee; or

(b)waive payment of all or part of the fee for any person or matter; or

(c)refund all or part of an amount of the fee paid by a person; or

(d)provide for a stated person to grant an exemption, or make a waiver or refund, mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c).

(2)If—

(a)a law requires payment of a fee prescribed under a statutory instrument by a person or for a matter; and

(b)either—

(i)the person or matter is exempted under the statutory instrument from payment of all or part of the fee; or

(ii)all or part of the fee is waived for the person or matter under the statutory instrument;

the requirement to pay the fee is taken to have been satisfied to the extent of the exemption or waiver.

(3)A provision of a statutory instrument under which a fee is refunded, or a person may refund a fee, does not authorise the payment of an amount from the consolidated fund.

s 30B ins 1993 No. 76 s 3 sch 1

sub 2023 No. 23 s 207

31Statutory instruments purporting to be made under a particular power

A statutory instrument is taken to be made under all powers under which it may be made, even though it purports to be made under a particular Act or another statutory instrument (the authorising law) or a particular provision of the authorising law.

32Prospective commencement

(1)Subject to section 34, a statutory instrument commences—

(a)if it is required to be notified under section 47 or published in the gazette—on the day on which it is notified or published; or

(b)if it is not required to be notified under section 47 or published in the gazette—on the day on which it is made; or

(c)if a later day or time is fixed in the statutory instrument—on that day or at that time.

(2)If a statutory instrument that is required to be notified under section 47 or published in the gazette is notified or published on a day after the day or time fixed by the statutory instrument for its commencement, the statutory instrument is valid, but commences on the day on which it is notified or published.

s 32 amd 2013 No. 39 s 93

33Commencement of citation and commencement provisions

(1)The provisions of a statutory instrument providing for its citation and commencement commence, by force of this subsection—

(a)if the statutory instrument is required to be notified under section 47 or published in the gazette—on the day on which it is notified or published; or

(b)if it is not required to be notified under section 47 or published in the gazette—on the day on which it is made.

(2)A reference—

(a)in an Act to the commencement of a statutory instrument (the law concerned); or

(b)in a statutory instrument to the commencement of an Act, the statutory instrument, or another statutory instrument, (also the law concerned);

is a reference to—

(c)if the provisions of the law concerned (other than those providing for its citation and commencement) commence, or are required to commence, on a single day or at a single time—the commencement of the remaining provisions; or

(d)if paragraph (a) does not apply and the reference is in a provision of the law concerned—the commencement of the provision; or

(e)in any other case—the commencement of the relevant provision of the law concerned.

(3)Subsection (1) applies to a statutory instrument despite anything in the statutory instrument unless the statutory instrument expressly provides that it does not apply.

s 33 amd 2013 No. 39 s 94

34Beneficial retrospective commencement

(1)A beneficial provision of a statutory instrument may be given retrospective operation if the statutory instrument expressly provides for that operation.

(2)In this section—

beneficial provision means a provision that does not operate to the disadvantage of a person (other than the State, a State authority or a local government) by—

(a)decreasing the person’s rights; or

(b)imposing liabilities on the person.

s 34 amd 1992 No. 68 s 3 sch 1

35Subdivision does not apply until necessary Governor or Governor in Council action taken

If—

(a)an Act or statutory instrument provides for the making of a statutory instrument by a person or body other than the Governor or Governor in Council; but

(b)the instrument is required by law to be approved, confirmed or otherwise consented to by the Governor or Governor in Council;

this subdivision does not apply to the instrument until the approval, confirmation or consent has been given.

pt 4 div 2 sdiv 4 hdg prev sdiv 4 hdg om 2013 No. 39 s 95

pres sdiv 4 hdg (prev sdiv 5 hdg) reloc to before s 371992 No. 68 s 3 sch 1

renum 2013 No. 39 s 96

37Words and expressions

Words and expressions used in a statutory instrument have the same meanings as they have, from time to time, in the Act or statutory instrument (the authorising law), or relevant provisions of the authorising law, under which the statutory instrument is made or in force.

38References to certain instruments

In a statutory instrument—

Act or the Act, without mentioning a particular Act, means the Act under which the statutory instrument is made or in force.

s 38 def Act or the Act ins 1994 No. 87 s 3 sch 1

the Act ...

s 38 def the Act om 1994 No. 87 s 3 sch 1

these rules of court includes any statutory instrument made under the rules.

this by-law includes any statutory instrument made under the by-law.

this order in council includes any statutory instrument made under the order.

this ordinance includes any statutory instrument made under the ordinance.

this regulation includes any statutory instrument made under the regulation.

this rule includes any statutory instrument made under the rule.

s 38 amd 1994 No. 87 s 3 sch 1

39Reference to enactment etc. of Acts

In a statutory instrument, a reference to the enactment of an Act or the passing of an Act is a reference to the fact of the Act’s having received the royal assent.

pt 4 div 2 sdiv 5 hdg (prev sdiv 6) ins 1994 No. 87 s 3 sch 1

renum 2013 No. 39 s 97

39AAutomatic repeal of commencement instrument

A statutory instrument made after 31 December 1994 that merely provides for the commencement of a law (including a provision of a law) is automatically repealed at the beginning of the day after the commencement, or, if different commencements are provided for, at the beginning of the day after the last commencement.

s 39A ins 1994 No. 87 s 3 sch 1

pt 6 hdg sub 1994 No. 83 s 4

pt 6 div 1 hdg ins 1994 No. 83 s 4

amd 2013 No. 39 s 98

47Notification

(1)Subordinate legislation other than exempt subordinate legislation must be notified by publication on the Queensland legislation website (normal publication) of—

(a)the subordinate legislation; and

(b)the date of publication.

(2)However, if subordinate legislation can not for technical or other reasons be conveniently notified by normal publication, it may be notified (alternative publication) by—

(a)publishing it and the date of publication in another way decided by the parliamentary counsel; and

(b)normal publication as soon as practicable.

(3)Notification of subordinate legislation by alternative publication happens on publication under subsection (2)(a).

(4)Exempt subordinate legislation must be notified by publication of the subordinate legislation in the gazette.

Note—

Exempt subordinate legislation is subordinate legislation that is not drafted by the Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel. See the Legislative Standards Act 1992, section 7(e) and schedule 1, definition exempt subordinate legislation.

s 47 ins 1994 No. 15 s 3 sch 1

sub 1994 No. 83 s 4; 2013 No. 39 s 99

pt 6 div 2 hdg ins 1994 No. 83 s 4

49Subordinate legislation must be tabled

(1)Subordinate legislation must be tabled in the Legislative Assembly within 14 sitting days after it is notified under section 47.

Notes—

1Under the Legislative Standards Act 1992, section 22, explanatory notes must be tabled with subordinate legislation.

2Under the Human Rights Act 2019, section 41, a human rights certificate must be tabled with subordinate legislation.

(2)If subordinate legislation is not tabled under subsection (1), it ceases to have effect.

(3)In this section—

subordinate legislation includes a form required, under an Act or a regulation under this Act, to be tabled in the Legislative Assembly.

s 49 ins 1994 No. 83 s 4

amd 2013 No. 39 s 101; 2019 No. 5 s 181

pt 6 div 3 hdg ins 1994 No. 83 s 4

50Disallowance

(1)The Legislative Assembly may pass a resolution disallowing subordinate legislation if notice of a disallowance motion is given by a member within 14 sitting days after the legislation is tabled in the Legislative Assembly.

(2)If the disallowance motion is not moved on the day for its consideration, the motion lapses.

(3)If the resolution is passed, the subordinate legislation ceases to have effect.

(4)Also, if the resolution has not been disposed of at the end of 14 sitting days after notice is given (whether by withdrawal or lapsing of the disallowance motion or in another way), the subordinate legislation ceases to have effect.

(5)In this section—

subordinate legislation includes—

(a)a provision of subordinate legislation; and

(b)a form required, under an Act or a regulation under this Act, to be tabled in the Legislative Assembly.

s 50 ins 1994 No. 83 s 4

pt 6 div 4 hdg ins 1994 No. 83 s 4

51Limited saving of operation of subordinate legislation that ceases to have effect

(1)This section applies if subordinate legislation ceases to have effect because it is not tabled or is disallowed.

Note—

Section 49 deals with tabling of subordinate legislation and section 50 deals with disallowance of subordinate legislation.

(2)The subordinate legislation is taken never to have been made or approved and any law or provision of a law repealed or amended by the legislation is revived.

(3)However, subsection (2) does not affect anything done or suffered under the legislation before it ceased to have effect.

(4)In this section—

subordinate legislation includes—

(a)a provision of subordinate legislation; and

(b)a form required, under an Act or a regulation under this Act, to be tabled in the Legislative Assembly.

s 51 ins 1994 No. 83 s 4

amd 2013 No. 39 s 111 sch 4

52Other notification, gazettal, tabling or disallowance provisions of no effect

A provision of another Act that provides for, or to the extent that it provides for, the notification, gazettal, tabling or disallowance of a particular type of subordinate legislation is of no effect.

s 52 ins 1994 No. 83 s 4

pt 7 hdg ins 1994 No. 83 s 4

53Purposes of part

The purposes of this part are to—

(a)reduce substantially the regulatory burden on the people of Queensland without compromising law and order and essential economic, environmental and social objectives; and

(b)ensure subordinate legislation is relevant to the economic, social and general wellbeing of the people of Queensland; and

(c)otherwise ensure the part of the Queensland statute book consisting of subordinate legislation is of the highest standard.

s 53 ins 1994 No. 83 s 4

54When subordinate legislation expires

(1)Subordinate legislation expires on 1 September first occurring after the 10th anniversary of the day of its making unless—

(a)it is sooner repealed or expires; or

(b)a regulation is made exempting it from expiry.

Note—

Sections 56 and 56A specify the subordinate legislation that may be exempted from expiry, and how long the exemption lasts.

(2)Subordinate legislation exempted from expiry under a regulation under this Act expires when the exemption ends.

s 54 ins 1994 No. 83 s 4

amd 1998 No. 42 s 5; 2013 No. 39 s 111 sch 4

55Notice by parliamentary counsel of impending expiry

(1)The parliamentary counsel must notify administering departments and agencies of when the following subordinate legislation will expire under this Act—

(a)subordinate legislation, other than exempt subordinate legislation, published on the Queensland legislation website;

(b)subordinate legislation prescribed by regulation.

(2)The notice must be given at least 1 year before the expiry.

(3)Failure to give the notice does not affect the expiry.

s 55 ins 1994 No. 83 s 4

amd 2013 No. 39 s 102

56Exemptions from expiry—uniform subordinate legislation

(1)A regulation under this Act made before uniform subordinate legislation expires under this part may exempt the legislation from expiry for a stated period of not more than 5 years after the uniform subordinate legislation would otherwise expire.

(2)If a regulation is made under subsection (1), the period of exemption stated in the regulation may be extended by regulation made under subsection (1) for further periods of not more than 5 years each.

s 56 ins 1994 No. 83 s 4

sub 1998 No. 42 s 6; 1999 No. 24 s 3

56AExemptions from expiry—other subordinate legislation

(1)A regulation under this Act made before subordinate legislation, other than uniform subordinate legislation, expires under this part may exempt the legislation from expiry, for a stated period of not more than 1 year after the subordinate legislation would otherwise expire—

(a)for either of the following reasons—

(i)replacement subordinate legislation is being drafted and is proposed to be made before the stated period ends;

(ii)the subordinate legislation is not proposed to be replaced by other subordinate legislation made under the Act under which or in relation to which it was made or preserved when it expires at the end of the stated period; or

(b)for the stated reason that the Act or provision under which or in relation to which the subordinate legislation, or part of the subordinate legislation, is made or preserved is subject to review.

(2)If a regulation is made under subsection (1), the period of exemption stated in the regulation may be further extended by regulation (extension regulation) for further periods of not more than 1 year each.

(3)However, an extension regulation—

(a)must be made before the subordinate legislation expires; and

(b)may be made only for the stated reason under subsection (1)(b).

(4)Within 7 sittings days after the extension regulation is made, the responsible Minister for the subordinate legislation being exempted must table in the Legislative Assembly a report stating—

(a)how the Act or provision is subject to review; and

(b)if subsection (6)(a) applies—

(i)the extent to which the Act or provision is being reviewed; and

(ii)when the Minister expects the review to end.

(5)However, failure to comply with subsection (4) does not affect the validity of the extension regulation.

(6)For this section, an Act or provision is subject to review if—

(a)the Act or provision is being reviewed by any Minister; or

(b)because of a review of an Act or provision by any Minister, a Bill for an Act to repeal or amend the Act or provision is being drafted or has been introduced into the Legislative Assembly; or

(c)an Act repealing or amending the Act or provision has been enacted because of a review of an Act or provision by any Minister, but the repeal or amendment has not yet entirely commenced.

(7)In this section—

responsible Minister, for subordinate legislation, means the Minister responsible for administering the Act or provision under which or in relation to which the subordinate legislation is made or preserved.

s 56A ins 1999 No. 24 s 3

57Part does not apply to some subordinate legislation

(1)This part does not apply to subordinate legislation requiring a resolution of the Legislative Assembly before it may be repealed or the status of land to which it applies may be changed.

Note—

Under some Acts, for example, the Nature Conservation Act 1992, a resolution of the Legislative Assembly is necessary before action can be taken to revoke a dedication of land or change its status to a lesser category of protection.

(2)Also, this part does not apply to subordinate legislation mentioned in schedule 2A.

(3)A regulation may list subordinate legislation to which subsection (1) applies.

(4)However, the application of subsection (1) to subordinate legislation is not affected by whether or not it is listed in a regulation under subsection (3).

s 57 ins 1994 No. 83 s 4

amd 1997 No. 48 s 55; 2013 No. 39 s 103

pt 9 hdg ins 1994 No. 83 s 4

59Regulation-making power

(1)The Governor in Council may make regulations under this Act.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1), a regulation may declare subordinate legislation to be uniform subordinate legislation for this Act if there are reasonable grounds for considering the subordinate legislation to be uniform subordinate legislation.

s 59 ins 1994 No. 83 s 4

amd 1999 No. 24 s 4

pt 10 hdg ins 1994 No. 83 s 4

pt 10 div 1 hdg ins 1999 No. 24 s 5

62Transitional provisions about expiry of amending subordinate legislation

(1)If subordinate legislation (the expired legislation) made before 1 July 1994 expires under this Act, any subordinate legislation made before 1 July 1994 (the amending legislation) that amends the expired legislation, and consists only of provisions of the following types, expires at the same time—

(a)words of notification;

(b)a provision about the amending legislation’s citation;

(c)a provision about the amending legislation’s commencement;

(d)a provision providing for the amendment or repeal of an Act, subordinate legislation or other instrument (including a provision identifying the amended or repealed instrument);

(e)a provision declaring subordinate legislation or a provision of subordinate legislation to be a law to which section 20A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 applies;

(f)a provision that is spent, has expired or otherwise ceased to have effect;

(g)a savings, transitional or validating provision relating only to—

(i)the expired legislation or an instrument amending the expired legislation; or

(ii)a time or event that has passed.

Editor’s note—

Under the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, section 22C as applied to subordinate legislation, amending subordinate legislation notified or published after 30 June 1994 is automatically repealed on the day after the last of its provisions takes effect.

(2)If subordinate legislation (the unexpired legislation) made before 1 July 1994 does not expire under this Act because it has been exempted from expiry, then, while the unexpired legislation is exempted from expiry, any subordinate legislation made before 1 July 1994 that amends the unexpired legislation, and includes provisions not of a type mentioned in subsection (1)(a) to (g), is also exempted from expiry.

s 62 ins 1994 No. 83 s 4

amd 1999 No. 24 s 6

pt 10 div 2 hdg ins 1999 No. 24 s 7

amd 2000 No. 46 s 3 sch

62ATransitional provisions for exemptions

(1)Section 56A(6)(b) and (c) apply even though the review mentioned in the provisions started or happened before the commencement of the provisions.

(2)For the period from the commencement of this section—

(a)for section 56(1), subordinate legislation mentioned in the Statutory Instruments Regulation 1992, schedule 2A is taken to have been exempted under a regulation made under section 56(1); and

(b)for section 56A(1)(a), subordinate legislation mentioned in the Statutory Instruments Regulation 1992, section 8 or schedule 3 or 4 is taken to have been exempted under a regulation made under section 56A(1)(a).

s 62A ins 1999 No. 24 s 7

amd 2000 No. 46 s 3 sch

pt 10 div 3 hdg ins 2009 No. 50 s 18 sch

sub 2013 No. 39 s 106

63Tabling of subordinate legislation

(1)This section applies to subordinate legislation, other than exempt subordinate legislation, that—

(a)was notified or published in the gazette before the commencement of this section; and

(b)at the commencement, has not been tabled under section 49.

(2)Section 49 applies in relation to the subordinate legislation as if the reference to notified under section 47 were a reference to notified or published in the gazette.

Note—

See also the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, section 57 in relation to references to subordinate legislation notified in the gazette.

s 63 orig s 63 ins 1994 No. 83 s 4

exp 1 December 1995 (see orig s 63(2)(a))

AIA s 20A applies (see orig s 63(2)(b))

prev s 63 ins 1998 No. 42 s 7

amd 2000 No. 46 s 3 sch

exp 1 July 2003 (see s 63(5))

pres s 63 ins 2009 No. 50 s 18 sch

sub 2013 No. 39 s 106

64Notice of impending expiry

Section 55 as in force before the commencement of this section continues to apply to subordinate legislation expiring, under this Act, on 1 September first occurring after the commencement.

s 64 ins 2013 No. 39 s 106

section 9(2)(c)

1a statutory rule under the Constitution of Queensland 2001, section 15, 40, 41, 43 or 44

2a proclamation under the Senate Elections Act 1960, section 3

sch 1A ins 1998 No. 42 s 8

sub 2001 No. 80 s 94 sch 2

section 14(1) of this Act

section 6

section 7

sections 9 and 9A

section 13A

section 13B

sections 14–14D

sections 14F–14J

section 15B

section 15D(1)

section 15E

section 17

sections 18–25

sections 27A–29B

part 8 and schedule 1 (other than schedule 1, definitions enactment and passing)

parts 9–11

parts 12A and 12B

sections 49 and 49A

section 52

sch 1 amd 1993 No. 32 s 3 sch 1; 1993 No. 85 s 181; 1994 No. 15 s 3 sch 1; 1995 No. 58 s 4 sch 1; 2000 No. 46 s 3 sch; 2000 No. 58 s 2 sch; 2005 No. 70 s 156; 2013 No. 39 s 107; 2021 No. 12 s 153

section 19 of this Act

part 1

sections 10–13

sections 15–15A

section 15C

section 16

section 17A

sch 2 amd 2005 No. 70 s 157; 2013 No. 39 s 111 sch 4

section 57

Drugs Misuse Regulation 1987

Traffic Regulation 1962

Weapons Categories Regulation 1997

a management plan under the Wet Tropics World Heritage Protection and Management Act 1993

a proclamation under the Fair Work (Commonwealth Powers) and Other Provisions Act 2009

a proclamation under the Help to Buy (Commonwealth Powers) Act 2024

rules of court made under any of the following—

•the Childrens Court Act 1992

•the Industrial Relations Act 2016

•the Land Court Act 2000

•the Magistrates Courts Act 1921

•the Mental Health Act 2016

•the Planning and Environment Court Act 2016

Note—

See also the Supreme Court of Queensland Act 1991 for rules of court made under that Act and the QCAT Act for rules of court made under that Act.

sch 2A ins 1997 No. 48 s 56

amd 1999 No. 24 s 8; 2000 No. 44 s 41; 2000 No. 52 s 34; 2005 No. 53 s 153; 2009 No. 49 s 72; 2012 No. 17 s 50; 2013 No. 39 s 108; 2013 No. 35 s 164; 2016 No. 63 s 1157 sch 6; 2016 No. 5 s 923 sch 4; 2016 No. 27 s 549; 2021 No. 20 s 59 sch 1; 2024 No. 31 s 10

section 5 of this Act

benefits includes—

(a)advantages; and

(b)direct and indirect economic, environmental and social benefits.

costs includes—

(a)burdens and disadvantages; and

(b)direct and indirect economic, environmental and social costs.

exempt subordinate legislation ...

sch 3 def exempt subordinate legislation om 2013 No. 39 s 111 sch 4

government entity means—

(a)the Commonwealth, a State or a local government; or

(b)an instrumentality or agency of the Commonwealth, a State or a local government.

instrument see section 6 of this Act.

make includes prepare.

order in council see section 10 of this Act.

proclamation see section 11 of this Act.

rules of court see section 12 of this Act.

State includes Territory.

statutory instrument see section 7 of this Act.

statutory rule see section 8 of this Act.

subordinate legislation see section 9 of this Act.

uniform subordinate legislation means subordinate legislation that is substantially uniform or complementary with legislation of the Commonwealth or another State or declared under a regulation under section 59(2) to be uniform subordinate legislation.

sch 3 def uniform subordinate legislation ins 1999 No. 24 s 9

sch 3 ins 1994 No. 83 s 5