New South Wales Consolidated Acts

INTERPRETATION ACT 1987

- As at 9 August 2024 
- Act 15 of 1987 

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

           Long Title

   PART 1 - PRELIMINARY

   1.      Name of Act
   2.      Commencement
   3.      Definitions
   4.      Act binds Crown
   5.      Application of Act

   PART 2 - WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS

   6.      Definitions to be read in context
   7.      Cognate words
   8.      Gender and number
   9.      Meaning of may and shall
   10.     Construction of amending Acts and instruments
   11.     Words etc in instruments under an Act have same meanings as in the Act
   12.     References to New South Wales to be implied
   13.     Sovereign and Crown
   13A.    NSW Government agencies and statutory bodies representing the Crown
   14.     Governor
   15.     Minister
   16.     British subjects and aliens
   17.     Public Seal of the State
   18.     Sitting days
   18A.    Tabling of documents
   19.     Holders of offices
   20.     References to statutory rules etc
   21.     References to Colony and punishments for offences
           21A, 21B. (Repealed)
   21C.    References to de facto partners and de facto relationships
   21D.    References to health practitioners

   PART 3 - COMMENCEMENT OF ACTS AND INSTRUMENTS

   22.     References to enactment etc of Acts
   23.     Commencement of Acts
   24.     Time of commencement of Acts and statutory rules
   25.     References to commencement of Acts and instruments
   26.     Exercise of certain powers between enactment and commencement of Acts and making and commencement of instruments

   PART 4 - AMENDMENTS AND REPEALS

   27.     Acts may be amended etc in the same session of Parliament
   28.     Repealed Acts and statutory rules not revived
   29.     Repealed Acts and statutory rules continue in force
   29A.    Revocation of repeal of Acts and instruments
   30.     Effect of amendment or repeal of Acts and statutory rules
   30A.    Transferred provisions
   30B.    Effect of amendment of instrument by an Act
   30C.    Automatic repeal of amending Acts that have commenced
   30D.    Time of repeal of Acts and instruments

   PART 5 - CONSTRUCTION OF ACTS AND INSTRUMENTS

   31.     Acts and instruments to be construed so as not to exceed the legislative power of Parliament
   32.     Instruments to be construed so as not to exceed the powers conferred by the Acts under which they are made
   33.     Regard to be had to purposes or objects of Acts and statutory rules
   34.     Use of extrinsic material in the interpretation of Acts and statutory rules
   34A.    Declaration of validity of certain laws
   35.     Headings etc
   36.     Reckoning of time
   37.     Age
   38.     Measurement of distance

   PART 6 - STATUTORY RULES AND CERTAIN OTHER INSTRUMENTS

   39.     The making of statutory rules
   40.     Notice of statutory rules to be tabled
   41.     Disallowance of statutory rules
   42.     Matters for which statutory rules may make provision
   43.     Implied power to amend or repeal statutory rules and orders
   44.     (Repealed)
   45.     Presumption of validity of certain instruments
   45A.    Tabling of instruments

   PART 6A - PUBLICATION OF LEGISLATION

   45B.    Definitions
   45C.    Publication on NSW legislation website
   45D.    (Repealed)
   45E.    Style changes, roman numerals, colons and dashes

   PART 7 - EXERCISE OF STATUTORY FUNCTIONS

   46.     Appointments may be made by name or by office
   47.     Powers of appointment imply certain incidental powers
   48.     Exercise of statutory functions
   49.     Delegation of functions

   PART 8 - STATUTORY BODIES

   50.     Statutory corporations
   51.     (Repealed)
   52.     Proceedings of statutory bodies
   53.     Alterations of names and constitutions
   53A.    Extension of age limit for part-time members of statutory bodies

   PART 9 - (Repealed)
   None

   PART 10 - APPLICATION OF STATE LAWS TO COASTAL WATERS

   58.     Definitions
   59.     Application of laws of the State to coastal waters
   60.     Laws with specific application not to apply
   61.     Extent of jurisdiction in relation to coastal waters
   62.     Constitutional basis
   63.     Saving

   PART 11 - MISCELLANEOUS

   64.     Every section of an Act a substantive enactment
   64A.    Schedules
   65.     References to Acts generally
   66.     Citation of particular Acts
   67.     Citation of instruments etc
   68.     References to amended or repealed Acts and instruments
   69.     References to publications other than Acts or instruments
   69A.    Evidence of publication of Australian standards or other publications
   69B.    (Repealed)
   70.     References to changed short titles, names and citations
   71.     Time of expiry of temporary Acts and instruments
   72.     Retrospective commencement of continuing Acts
   73.     Private Acts not to affect rights of the Crown etc
   74.     Private Acts amended by Public Acts do not thereby become Public Acts
   75.     Publication of statutory notices
   76.     Service by post
   77.     Registered post etc not necessary in the case of Acts and statutory rules passed etc before 24.4.1969
   78.     Rules of court
   79.     Authority to administer oaths
   80.     Compliance with forms
   80A.    Maximum monetary penalty Local Court may impose in certain circumstances
   81.     (Repealed)
   82.     Repeals
   83.     Savings and transitional provisions

   PART 12 - (Repealed)
   None
           SCHEDULE 1
           SCHEDULE 2
           SCHEDULE 3
           SCHEDULE 4