Legislation Act 2001

The dictionary at the end of an Act usually defines certain terms used in the Act, and includes references (signpost definitions) to other terms defined elsewhere in the Act. However, in this Act the dictionary is divided into 2 parts.

Pt 1 defines terms commonly used in Acts (including this Act) and statutory instruments. For example, because of the definition ‘calendar month means one of the 12 months of the year.’, the term ‘calendar month’ has the defined meaning wherever the term is used in an Act or statutory instrument unless the Act or instrument provides otherwise or the contrary intention otherwise appears (see s 144 and s 155).

Pt 2 defines certain terms used in this Act. For example, the signpost definition ‘administrator, for part 19.5 (Service of documents)—see section 246.’ means that the term ‘administrator’ is defined in s 246 for this Act, pt 19.5. A definition in pt 2 applies to all of this Act unless the definition, or another provision of this Act, provides otherwise or the contrary intention otherwise appears (see s 155 and s 156 (1)).