Contents

Part 1--Introduction                                                                                                             1

1............ Short title [see Note 1] ........................................................................ 1

2............ Commencement [see Note 1] .............................................................. 1

3............ Object .................................................................................................. 1

4............ Simplified outline ................................................................................ 1

5............ Definitions .......................................................................................... 3

6............ Crown to be bound ............................................................................. 5

7............ External Territories .............................................................................. 5

7A......... Exemptions under the regulations ....................................................... 5

7B......... Other exemptions ................................................................................ 5

Part 2--Application of legal requirements to electronic communications                7

Division 1--General rule about validity of transactions for the purposes of laws of the Commonwealth                                                                                                                         7

8............ Validity of electronic transactions ....................................................... 7

Division 2--Requirements under laws of the Commonwealth                 8

9............ Writing ................................................................................................ 8

10.......... Signature ........................................................................................... 10

11.......... Production of document .................................................................... 11

12.......... Retention ........................................................................................... 14

Division 3--Other provisions relating to laws of the Commonwealth 17

14.......... Time of dispatch ................................................................................ 17

14A....... Time of receipt .................................................................................. 17

14B....... Place of dispatch and place of receipt ................................................ 18

15.......... Attribution of electronic communications .......................................... 19

Part 2A--Additional provisions applying to contracts involving electronic communications      21

15A....... Application and operation of this Part ............................................... 21

15B....... Invitation to treat regarding contracts ................................................ 21

15C....... Use of automated message systems for contract formation--non-intervention of natural person              22

15D....... Error in electronic communications regarding contracts .................... 22

15E........ Application of Act in relation to contracts ......................................... 23

15F........ No interference with powers and functions of another jurisdiction ... 23

Part 3--Miscellaneous                                                                                                        25

16.......... Regulations ....................................................................................... 25

17.......... Transitional provisions--Electronic Transactions Amendment Act 2011                 25

Schedule 1--Exemption of migration and citizenship documents from section 11             26

1............ Exempt migration documents ............................................................ 26

2............ Exempt citizenship documents .......................................................... 27

3............ Schedule does not limit section 13 .................................................... 27

Notes                                                                                                                                              29

  

Notes to the Electronic Transactions Act 1999

Note 1

The Electronic Transactions Act 1999 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 162, 1999 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

For all relevant information pertaining to application, saving or transitional provisions see Table A.

Table of Acts

Act	Number and year	Date of Assent	Date of commencement	Application, saving or transitional provisions
Electronic Transactions Act 1999	162, 1999	10 Dec 1999	15 March 2000 (see Gazette 1999, No. GN10)
Statute Law Revision Act 2005	100, 2005	6 July 2005	Schedule 1 (item 13): (a)	--
Australian Citizenship (Transitionals and Consequentials) Act 2007	21, 2007	15 Mar 2007	Schedules 1-3: 1 July 2007 (see s. 2(1) and F2007L01653) Remainder: Royal Assent	Sch. 3 (items 14, 20)
Electronic Transactions Amendment Act 2011	33, 2011	25 May 2011	Schedule 1: 22 June 2011 Remainder: Royal Assent	--

(a)     Subsection 2(1) (item 9) of the Statute Law Revision Act 2005 provides as follows:

                 (1)   Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Commencement information
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Provision(s)	Commencement	Date/Details
9.  Schedule 1, item 13	Immediately after the commencement of paragraph 11(6)(a) of the Electronic Transactions Act 1999.	15 March 2000

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted  am. = amended     rep. = repealed     rs. = repealed and substituted
Provision affected	How affected
Part 1
Ss. 4, 5..............................	am. No. 33, 2011
Ss. 7A, 7B..........................	ad. No. 33, 2011
Part 2
Division 1
S. 8....................................	am. No. 33, 2011
Division 2
Note to s. 9.......................	rep. No. 33, 2011
S. 10..................................	am. No. 33, 2011
Note to s. 10.....................	rep. No. 33, 2011
S. 11..................................	am. No. 100, 2005
Note to s. 11.....................	rep. No. 33, 2011
Note to s. 12.....................	rep. No. 33, 2011
S. 13..................................	rep. No. 33, 2011
Division 3
S. 14..................................	rs. No. 33, 2011
Ss. 14A, 14B......................	ad. No. 33, 2011
S. 15..................................	am. No. 33, 2011
Part 2A
Part 2A...............................	ad. No. 33, 2011
Ss. 15A-15F......................	ad. No. 33, 2011
Part 3
S. 17..................................	ad. No. 33, 2011
Schedule 1
C. 2................................	rs. No. 21, 2007

Table A

Application, saving or transitional provisions

Australian Citizenship (Transitionals and Consequentials) Act 2007
(No. 21, 2007)

Schedule 3

14  Definition

In this Part:

commencement day means the day on which sections 2A to 54 of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 commence.

20  Application--Electronic Transactions Act 1999

The amendment made by item 27 of Schedule 1 applies in relation to documents required or permitted to be produced on or after the commencement day.