Acts (Australian)

The APA style guide refers readers wishing to reference legal materials to The Bluebook: A uniform system of citation; however, The Bluebook is unsuitable for use in Australia.  The fourth edition of the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (AGLC4) should be used for reference list entries for Australian and international legal materials.  The examples in this guide are based on AGLC4 style.

In-text citation

In-text citation template

(Name of Act Year (Jurisdiction) s #(#)

*see the list of AGLC jurisdiction abbreviations

In-text citation examples

Monies levied may then be used by ministers (Major Bank Levy Act 2017 s 3)...

OR

Under the Major Bank Levy Act 2017 (Cth) s 3 ministers may calculate the sum...

OR

In accordance with the Building Act 1993 (Vic) s 53(2), the ….​

Note: s # in the citation refers to the section number, so section 55 is  s 55 in the citation

See AGLC4 rule 3.1.4 p.69

Reference list

Reference list template

Short Title of Act Year (Jurisdiction abbreviation)

*see the list of AGLC jurisdiction abbreviations

Reference list examples

Major Bank Levy Act 2017 (Cth) 

AND

Building Act 1993 (Vic) 

Make sure you read the style notes below

Tips

• AGLC is a footnoting style. We have adapted it for APA.  The reference list follows AGLC style, but the citations are formatted in APA style.
• Use short titles only if a case is well known.
• Case names and legislation in the text should be italicised
• See AGLC4 Rule 3.1.3 for a list of Jurisdiction abbreviations
• Refer to the following rules in AGLC4 :
  • Pinpoint References Rule 1.1.6, p.4
  • Case Law Rule 2, p.39
  • Case Law pinpoints Rule 2.2.5, p.52
  • Legislation Rule 3 p.67,
  • Legislation pinpoints Rule 3.1.4, p.69
  • Bibliography Rule 1.13, p.35