Western Australian Consolidated Acts

INTERPRETATION ACT 1984 - NOTES

Notes

¹ This reprint is a compilation as at 21 January 2011 of the Interpretation Act 1984 and includes the amendments made by the other written laws referred to in the following table. The table also contains information about any reprint.

Compilation table

Short title	Number and year	Assent	Commencement
Interpretation Act 1984	12 of 1984	31 May 1984	1 Jul 1984 (see s. 2)
Acts Amendment (Financial Administration and Audit) Act 1985 s. 3	98 of 1985	4 Dec 1985	1 Jul 1986 (see s. 2 and Gazette 30 Jun 1986 p. 2255)
Acts Amendment (Public Service) Act 1987 s. 32	113 of 1987	31 Dec 1987	16 Mar 1988 (see s. 2 and Gazette 16 Mar 1988 p. 813)
Acts Amendment (Children’s Court) Act 1988 Pt. 3	49 of 1988	22 Dec 1988	1 Dec 1989 (see s. 2 and Gazette 24 Nov 1989 p. 4327)
Corporations (Western Australia) Act 1990 s. 97	105 of 1990	2 Jan 1991	1 Jan 1991 (see s. 2)
Children’s Court of Western Australia Amendment Act (No. 2) 1991 s. 21	15 of 1991	21 Jun 1991	9 Aug 1991 (see s. 2(2) and Gazette 9 Aug 1991 p. 4101)
Financial Institutions (Western Australia) Act 1992 s. 21	30 of 1992	19 Jun 1992	1 Jul 1992 (see s. 2 and Gazette 26 Jun 1992 p. 2643)
Reprint of the Interpretation Act 1984 as at 4 Nov 1992 (includes amendments listed above)
Financial Administration Legislation Amendment Act 1993 s. 11	6 of 1993	27 Aug 1993	1 Jul 1993 (see s. 2(1))
Acts Amendment (Public Sector Management) Act 1994 s. 15	32 of 1994	29 Jun 1994	1 Oct 1994 (see s. 2 and Gazette 30 Sep 1994 p. 4948)
Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Act 1994 s. 4	73 of 1994	9 Dec 1994	9 Dec 1994 (see s. 2)
Interpretation Amendment (Australia Acts) Act 1994	85 of 1994	20 Dec 1994	3 Mar 1986 (see s. 2 and Gazette 28 Feb 1986 p. 683)
Acts Amendment (Fines, Penalties and Infringement Notices) Act 1994 s. 15	92 of 1994	23 Dec 1994	1 Jan 1995 (see s. 2(1) and Gazette 30 Dec 1994 p. 7211)
Sentencing (Consequential Provisions) Act 1995 Pt. 41	78 of 1995	16 Jan 1996	4 Nov 1996 (see s. 2 and Gazette 25 Oct 1996 p. 5632)
Reprint of the Interpretation Act 1984 as at 15 Mar 1996 (includes amendments listed above except those in the Sentencing (Consequential Provisions) Act 1995)
Local Government (Consequential Amendments) Act 1996 s. 4	14 of 1996	28 Jun 1996	1 Jul 1996 (see s. 2)
Acts Amendment (Auxiliary Judges) Act 1997 Pt. 3	23 of 1997	18 Sep 1997	18 Sep 1997 (see s. 2)
Acts Amendment and Repeal (Family Court) Act 1997 s. 33	41 of 1997	9 Dec 1997	26 Sep 1998 (see s. 2 and Gazette 25 Sep 1998 p. 5295)
Sunday Observance Laws Amendment and Repeal Act 1997 s. 4 6	49 of 1997	10 Dec 1997	10 Dec 1997 (see s. 2)
Interpretation Amendment Act 1997	54 of 1997	12 Dec 1997	12 Dec 1997 (see s. 2)
Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Act (No. 2) 1998 s. 40	10 of 1998	30 Apr 1998	30 Apr 1998 (see s. 2(1))
Reprint of the Interpretation Act 1984 as at 1 Jan 1999 (includes amendments listed above)
Acts Amendment and Repeal (Financial Sector Reform) Act 1999 s. 89	26 of 1999	29 Jun 1999	1 Jul 1999 (see s. 2(1) and Gazette 30 Jun 1999 p. 2905)
Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Act 2000 s. 19	24 of 2000	4 Jul 2000	4 Jul 2000 (see s. 2)
Acts Amendment (Lesbian and Gay Law Reform) Act 2002 Pt. 14	3 of 2002	17 Apr 2002	21 Sep 2002 (see s. 2 and Gazette 20 Sep 2002 p. 4693)
Taxation Administration (Consequential Provisions) Act 2002 s. 16	45 of 2002	20 Mar 2003	1 Jul 2003 (see s. 2(1) and Gazette 27 Jun 2003 p. 2383)
Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Act 2003 s. 69	74 of 2003	15 Dec 2003	15 Dec 2003 (see s. 2)
Reprint 4: The Interpretation Act 1984 as at 6 Feb 2004 (includes amendments listed above)
Criminal Code Amendment Act 2004 s. 58	4 of 2004	23 Apr 2004	21 May 2004 (see s. 2)
Acts Amendment (Court of Appeal) Act 2004 s. 33	45 of 2004	9 Nov 2004	1 Feb 2005 (see s. 2 and Gazette 14 Jan 2005 p. 163)
State Administrative Tribunal Act 2004 s. 175	54 of 2004	23 Nov 2004	1 Jan 2005 (see s. 2 and Gazette 31 Dec 2004 p. 7129)
Courts Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2004 s. 141	59 of 2004	23 Nov 2004	1 May 2005 (see s. 2 and Gazette 31 Dec 2004 p. 7128)
Criminal Law Amendment (Simple Offences) Act 2004 s. 36(12)	70 of 2004	8 Dec 2004	31 May 2005 (see s. 2 and Gazette 14 Jan 2005 p. 163)
Criminal Procedure and Appeals (Consequential and Other Provisions) Act 2004 s. 78	84 of 2004	16 Dec 2004	2 May 2005 (see s. 2 and Gazette 31 Dec 2004 p. 7129 (correction in Gazette 7 Jan 2005 p. 53))
Reprint 5: The Interpretation Act 1984 as at 12 Aug 2005 (includes amendments listed above)
Oaths, Affidavits and Statutory Declarations (Consequential Provisions) Act 2005 Pt. 13	24 of 2005	2 Dec 2005	1 Jan 2006 (see s. 2(1) and Gazette 23 Dec 2005 p. 6244)
Planning and Development (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2005 s. 15	38 of 2005	12 Dec 2005	9 Apr 2006 (see s. 2 and Gazette 21 Mar 2006 p. 1078)
Criminal Investigation (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006 s. 73	59 of 2006	16 Nov 2006	1 Jul 2007 (see s. 2 and Gazette 22 Jun 2007 p. 2838)
Land Information Authority Act 2006 s. 183	60 of 2006	16 Nov 2006	1 Jan 2007 (see s. 2(1) and Gazette 8 Dec 2006 p. 5369)
Financial Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2006 Sch. 1 cl. 92	77 of 2006	21 Dec 2006	1 Feb 2007 (see s. 2(1) and Gazette 19 Jan 2007 p. 137)
Reprint 6: The Interpretation Act 1984 as at 25 May 2007 (includes amendments listed above except the amendments in the Criminal Investigation (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006)
Criminal Law Amendment (Homicide) Act 2008 s. 35	29 of 2008	27 Jun 2008	1 Aug 2008 (see s. 2(d) and Gazette 22 Jul 2008 p. 3353)
Surrogacy Act 2008 Pt. 4 Div. 6	47 of 2008	10 Dec 2008	1 Mar 2009 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 27 Feb 2009 p. 512)
Acts Amendment (Bankruptcy) Act 2009 Pt. 2	18 of 2009	16 Sep 2009	17 Sep 2009 (see s. 2(b))
Interpretation and Reprints Amendment Act 2010 Pt. 2	31 of 2010	25 Aug 2010	26 Aug 2010 (see s. 2(b))
Public Sector Reform Act 2010 s. 78	39 of 2010	1 Oct 2010	1 Dec 2010 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 5 Nov 2010 p. 5563)
Reprint 7: The Interpretation Act 1984 as at 21 Jan 2011 (includes amendments listed above)

² Under s. 77(2), the Interpretation Act 1918 s. 11 continues to apply to Acts passed before 1 July 1984. Section 11 reads as follows:

11. Exercise of statutory power between passing and coming into operation of an Act or any provision thereof.

(1) Where an Act is not to come into operation immediately on the passing thereof, and confers power or will, upon its coming into operation, amend another Act so as to confer power under the other Act as so amended, to make any appointment, to hold any election, to make, grant or issue any instrument that is to say any proclamation, Order in Council, order, warrant, scheme, letters patent, rules, regulations, or by-laws, to give notices, to prescribe forms, or to do any other thing for the purposes of the Act, the power that is or will be conferred may, unless the Act otherwise provides, be exercised at any time after the passing of the first-mentioned Act but the exercise of the power does not confer a right or impose an obligation upon a person before the coming into operation of the first-mentioned Act except in so far as is necessary or expedient for the purpose of making the first-mentioned Act fully effective upon its coming into operation or the other Act fully effective when so amended.

(2) A power purporting to have been exercised at a time before the date of the coming into operation of the Interpretation Act Amendment Act 1975 for the purposes of an Act that came into operation before that date, shall be deemed to have been exercised as validly and effectually as it would have been if this section as re-enacted by the Interpretation Act Amendment Act 1975 had been in operation at that time.

(3) In this section a reference to an Act includes a reference to a provision or provisions of an Act.

³ Now see the Public Sector Management Act 1994.

⁴ Repealed by the Australian Citizenship (Transitionals and Consequentials) Act 2007 s. 42. Now see the Australian Citizenship Act 2007.

All informations, complaints, and proceedings in respect of offences against this Act hereby made summarily punishable upon conviction before a Justice or Justices of the Peace in Petty Sessions shall be heard and determined, and the penalties and forfeitures in respect of the same be enforced and appropriated (if not hereinbefore otherwise appropriated) according to the provisions of the Justices Act 1902.

B.

The complaint in respect of an offence against this Act shall be made and the proceedings commenced within one month after the offence thereby charged shall have been committed.

C.

The complaint in respect of an offence against this Act shall be made and the proceedings commenced within three months after the offence thereby charged shall have been committed.

D.

The complaint in respect of an offence against this Act shall be made and the proceedings commenced within six months after the offence thereby charged shall have been committed.

E.

The complaint in respect of an offence against this Act shall be made and the proceedings commenced within twelve months after the offence thereby charged shall have been committed.

F.

No order, judgment, warrant, or other proceeding made, or purporting to be made under or concerning the conviction of any offender against this Act shall be quashed or vacated for want of form only, or be removed or removable by certiorari, or by any writ or process whatsoever into any superior Court of the State.

G.

And, for the protection of persons acting in execution of this Act, where an action is commenced against any one of such persons for anything done under this Act, in every such action the defendant may plead the general issue and give this Act and the special matter in evidence at any trial to be had hereupon, and no plaintiff shall recover in any such action if tender of sufficient amends shall have been made before such action brought, or if a sufficient sum of money shall have been paid into Court, after such action brought, by, or on behalf of the defendant, together with costs incurred up to that time; and if a verdict shall pass for the defendant or the plaintiff become non-suited or discontinue such action after issue joined, or if, upon demurrer or otherwise, judgment shall be given against the plaintiff, the defendant shall recover his full costs as between solicitor and client, and have the like remedy for the same as any defendant hath by law in other cases; and, though a verdict shall be given for the plaintiff in any such action, such plaintiff shall not have costs against the defendant unless the Judge before whom the trial is held shall certify his approbation of the action and of the verdict obtained thereon.

H.

No action shall lie against any Justice of the Peace, Officer of Police, Policeman, Constable, Peace Officer, or any other person in the employ of the Government authorised to carry the provisions of this Act, or any of them, into effect, or any person acting for, or under such persons, or any of them, on account of any act, matter, or thing done, or to be done, or commanded by them, or any of them, in carrying the provisions of this Act into effect again any parties offending or suspected of offending against the same, unless there is direct proof of corruption or malice; and if any such person shall be sued for any act, matter, or thing which he shall have so done, or shall so do, in carrying the provisions of this Act into effect, he may plead the general issue and give the special matter in evidence; and in case of judgment after verdict, or by a Judge sitting as a jury, or on demurrer being given for the defendant, or of the plaintiff discontinuing, or becoming non-suit in any such action, the Court before which the action was brought may award treble costs to the defendant or such portion of those costs as the Court thinks fit.

⁶ The Sunday Observance Laws Amendment and Repeal Act 1997 s. 4(2) is a transitional provision that is of no further effect.

Defined Terms

[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]

Defined Term Provision(s)
act 5
Act 5
Act of the Commonwealth 5
affidavit 5
alternative offence 5
amend 5
ASIC Law 5
ASIC Regulations 5
association 54(2)
Auditor General 5
Australia 5
Australia Acts 5
bank holiday 5
bankrupt 5
bankrupt or a person whose affairs are under insolvency laws 5
book 5
British possession 5
by-law 5
cause 52(2)
chief executive officer 5
Children’s Court 5
commencement 5
Commissioner of State Revenue 5
Commonwealth 5
Commonwealth Act 5, 13(1)
Consolidated Account 5
contravene 5
Corporations Law 5
Corporations Regulations 5
Court of Appeal 5
court of summary jurisdiction 5
Crown 5
death 5
de facto partner 5
de facto relationship 5
definition 5
District Court 5
District Court judge 5
document 5
enactment 5
estate 5
excluded day 61(2)
Family Court 5
Family Court of Western Australia 5
fee 45A(4)
financial year 5
first person 13A(5)
function 5
Gazette 5
Government 5
Government Gazette 5
Government Printer 5
Governor 5
Her Majesty 5
His Majesty 5
Imperial Act 5
indictable offence 5
individual 5
issue 45A(4)
JP 5
judge 5
justice 5
justice of the peace 5
King 5
land 5
law of the State 13(1)
licence 45A(4)
local government 5
local government district 5, 13CA(1)
local law 5
magistrate 5
Magistrates Court 5
may 56(1)
Minister 5
Minister for Public Sector Management 5
month 5, 62(1)
oath 5
or 17
other 17
otherwise 17
paragraph 15A(1)
parent 5
Parliament 5
penalty 5

perform 5
person 5
police officer 5
power 5
prescribed 5
proclamation 5
public half-holiday 5
public holiday 5
Public Sector Commissioner 5
Public Service 5
public service holiday 5
public service officer 5
publication 5
Queen 5
regional local government 5
regulation 5
regulations 42(8)(b)
repeal 5
Royal Assent 5
rule 5
rules of court 5, 66(1)
sell 5
shall 56(2)
sign 5
simple offence 5
sitting days 5
specified 43(9)
spouse 5
Standards Australia 5
State 5
State Administrative Tribunal 5
statutory declaration 5
subsidiary legislation 5
summary conviction 5
summary conviction penalty 5
Supreme Court 5
swear 5
Territory 5
the Act 44(2)
the State 5
this State 5
under 5
United Kingdom 5
Valuer-General 5
will 5
words 5
writing 5
written law 5
year 5