Government terms

Acts, bills and regulations

Cite titles of legislation exactly (including the year) and in italics at the first mention. Thereafter, you can write the Act (without italics).

Example

The Curtin University Act 1966 sets out the functions of the University. The Act specifies that Council is its governing body and makes provision for the Student Guild.

When you need to include the jurisdiction, use one of the following methods:

• Western Australia’s Equal Opportunity Act 1984 …
• In Western Australia, the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 …
• the Copyright Act 1968 (Cwlth) …

Do not italicise Bills (legislation that has not passed in parliament).

Example

The Family Law Reform Bill 2006 (WA) included changes to the family relationship services system.

Commonwealth

Use Australian Government when referring to Australia’s government or bureaucracy. Do not capitalise ‘federal’ unless it is part of an official title.

Government and parliament

Examples

• the Western Australian Government … the government
• the Australian Government … the government
•  Rain swept across the state
• The state government is committed to the employment of young
• The problem was first raised in the Western Australian Parliament, where 14 members of parliament joined the debate.
• The Federal Court of Australia … the Federal Court … the court

Capitalise ‘Federal’ only if it’s part of a title. Don’t capitalise the federal government, as it is an informal term for the Australian Government.

Titles

Official titles are capitalised, then lowercase.

Examples

• The Premier of Western Australia … but then the premier
• The Governor-General … the governor-general
• The Archbishop of Perth … the archbishop
• The Department of Education … the department
• The Minister for Education … the minister …

These official titles are always capitalised:

• the Queen
• the Prime Minister (incumbent, but not former prime ministers)
• the Treasurer
• Foreign heads of state