Interpretation Act Explained

Interpretation Act (with its variations) is a stock short title used for legislation in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, Singapore and the United Kingdom relating to interpretation of legislation. The Bill for an Act with this short title will have been known as the Interpretation Bill during its passage through Parliament.

Interpretation Acts may be a generic name either for legislation bearing that short title or for all legislation which relates to interpretation.

List

Australia

Commonwealth

• The Acts Interpretation Act 1901

States and territories

• Interpretation Act 1967 (ACT)
• Legislation Act 2001 (ACT)
• Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW)
• The Acts Interpretation Act 1931 (Tas.)
• Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984 (Vic.)

Canada

• The Interpretation Act, RSC 1985, c I-21

Hong Kong

• The Interpretation and General Clauses and Ordinance 1966^[1]

Republic of Ireland

• The Interpretation Act 1923^[2]
• The Interpretation Act 1937^[3]
• The Interpretation (Amendment) Act 1993
• The Interpretation (Amendment) Act 1997
• The Interpretation Act 2005

Malaysia

• The Interpretation Acts 1948 and 1967

New Zealand

• The Legislation Act 2019 (No 58)^[4]

United Kingdom

• The Interpretation Act 1889
• The Laying of Documents Before Parliament (Interpretation) Act 1948
• The Interpretation Act 1978

Lord Brougham's Act has been described as an interpretation Act.^[5]

Act of the Scottish Parliament

• The Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 10)

Act of the Parliament of Northern Ireland

• The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954

Measure of the Church Assembly

• The Interpretation Measure 1925

See also

• List of short titles

Notes and References

1. Web site: Hong Kong e-Legislation. www.elegislation.gov.hk.
2. Web site: electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB). electronic Irish Statute Book. (eISB). www.irishstatutebook.ie.
3. Web site: electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB). electronic Irish Statute Book. (eISB). www.irishstatutebook.ie.
4. Web site: Legislation Act 2019 No 58 (as at 12 April 2022), Public Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation . www.legislation.govt.nz.
5. Loveland, Ian. Constitutional Law, Administrative Law and Human Rights. Third Edition. Butterworths. 2003. Page 67.