Place Names Act 2020

In this section – document includes a brochure, map, notice, sign, billboard, advertisement, promotion and banner, whether in print, digital or other format.

A person must not, in a document, identify a place by all, or any part of, an approved name that is not the approved name for the place if the person knows, or reasonably ought to know, that identifying the place in that manner is likely to, or has the capacity to, mislead or deceive another person as to the approved name for the place. In the case of – a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units and, in the case of a continuing offence, a further fine not exceeding 5 penalty units for each day during which the offence continues; and an individual, a fine not exceeding 20 penalty units and, in the case of a continuing offence, a further fine not exceeding 2 penalty units for each day during which the offence continues.

A person must not, in a document, represent a place as having an approved name if the person knows, or reasonably ought to know that – there is no approved name for the place; and representing the place as having an approved name is likely to, or has the capacity to, mislead or deceive another person as to the fact that – the place has an approved name; or the name used is the approved name for the place. In the case of – a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units and, in the case of a continuing offence, a further fine not exceeding 5 penalty units for each day during which the offence continues; and an individual, a fine not exceeding 20 penalty units and, in the case of a continuing offence, a further fine not exceeding 2 penalty units for each day during which the offence continues.

A person must not, in a document, identify a place, that has an approved name, by another name that is not an approved name for the place if the person knows, or reasonably ought to know, that identifying the place by the other name is likely to, or has the capacity to, mislead or deceive another person as to the approved name for the place. In the case of – a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units and, in the case of a continuing offence, a further fine not exceeding 5 penalty units for each day during which the offence continues; and an individual, a fine not exceeding 20 penalty units and, in the case of a continuing offence, a further fine not exceeding 2 penalty units for each day during which the offence continues.

For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this section prevents the use of a traditional, colloquial or comedic name for a place if such a name is used in good faith in circumstances where the use of such a name is unlikely to mislead or deceive another person.