Table Of ContentTRIM SIZE: 152 x 241mm
Statutory Interpretation
in Australia
Ninth Edition
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Previous Editions
Statutory Interpretation in Australia, D C Pearce, Butterworths, Sydney, 1974
Statutory Interpretation in Australia, 2nd ed, D C Pearce, Butterworths, Sydney, 1981
Statutory Interpretation in Australia, 3rd ed, D C Pearce & R S Geddes, Butterworths, Sydney, 1988
Statutory Interpretation in Australia, 4th ed, D C Pearce & R S Geddes, Butterworths, Sydney, 1996
Statutory Interpretation in Australia, 5th ed, D C Pearce & R S Geddes, Butterworths, Sydney, 2001
Statutory Interpretation in Australia, 6th ed, D C Pearce & R S Geddes, LexisNexis Butterworths, Sydney, 2006
Statutory Interpretation in Australia, 7th ed, D C Pearce & R S Geddes, LexisNexis Butterworths, Sydney, 2011
Statutory Interpretation in Australia, 8th ed, D C Pearce & R S Geddes, LexisNexis Butterworths, Sydney, 2014
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Statutory Interpretation
in Australia
Ninth Edition
(previous editions by D C Pearce and R S Geddes)
Emeritus Professor Dennis C Pearce AO, FAAL
LLB (Adelaide), LLM (ANU), PhD (ANU)
Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Courts of South Australia and
Australian Capital Territory and the High Court
Solicitor, Supreme Court of New South Wales
Emeritus Professor of Law, Australian National University
Consultant, HWL Ebsworth, Lawyers
LexisNexis Butterworths
Australia
2019
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LexisNexis
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isBn: 9780409350562 (hbk).
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Contents
Preface xv
Table of Cases xvii
Table of Statutes xci
Abbreviations ci
Chapter 1 Introduction 1
Background 1
Interpretation 1
Legislation Defined 1
Magnitude of the Task 3
Difficulties for Drafters and Interpreters of Legislation 4
Interpretation of Other Documents 5
Duties of the Courts in Relation to Legislation 6
Court Not Bound by Counsel’s Argument on Interpretation 7
Binding Precedent and the Interpretation of Legislation 8
Persuasive Authority of Decisions Interpreting Legislation 10
Factors Influencing Adherence to Previous Interpretations 13
Persuasive Authority of Decisions Interpreting
Commonwealth Legislation 14
Persuasive Authority of Previous Interpretations of Uniform
Legislation 16
Uniform Interpretation of Legislation Enacted to Give Effect
to International Agreements 21
Prospective Overruling 22
Relationship Between Legislative Innovation and
the Common Law 23
Duty of Executive to Follow Court’s Interpretation
of Legislation 25
Preliminary Matters 25
Classification of Acts 25
Parts of a Statute 29
Drafting Style 32
Chapter 2 Approaches to the Interpretation of Legislation 33
Contemporary Approach 33
Discovering the Meaning of Documents 34
Intention of the Legislature 35
Common Law Approaches 38
Background 38
Literal Approach 38
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STATUTORY INTERPRETATION IN AUSTRALIA
Golden Rule 39
Purposive Approach 40
Interpretation in Context 42
Constructional Choice 44
Statutory Requirements 45
Introduction 45
Section 15AA and Equivalent Provisions 46
Meaning and Operation of s 15AA and Equivalent Provisions 48
Statements of Purpose in Legislation 50
Inferences of Purpose in Legislation 51
Limitations of Interpretation by Reference to Purpose 53
‘Strained Construction’ 53
Section 15AA, its Equivalents and Legislative Drafting 55
Australian Capital Territory Equivalent of s 15AA 55
Queensland Equivalent of s 15AA 56
South Australian Equivalent of s 15AA 56
Australian Capital Territory, Queensland and Victorian
Equivalents of s 15AA and
Compatibility with Human Rights 57
Interpretation and International Agreements 57
Interpretation of Legislation Giving Effect to International
Agreements 57
International Law Interpretive Principles 59
Taxation Cases and International Law 63
Interpretation of International Agreements 65
Specific Common Law Principles of Interpretation 66
Status of Common Law Principles 66
General Words to be Given their Primary and
Natural Significance 66
General Words to be Given their Legal Meaning 67
All Words Have Meaning and Effect 67
Words of Limitation to be Given Effect 69
Correction of Printing and Drafting Errors 69
Modification of ‘and’ and ‘or’ 70
Words Used in Error 70
Disjunctive Interpretation of ‘and’ and Conjunctive
Interpretation of ‘or’ 71
Statutory Affirmation that ‘or’ is to be Interpreted Disjunctively 73
Implying Words in Legislation 73
High Court Decision in Taylor v Owners — Strata Plan No 11564 75
Consequences of a Particular Interpretation 77
Limits of Argument by Reference to Consequences 80
Interpretation Permitting a Person to Take Advantage of
His or Her Own Wrong Resisted 81
Interpretation to Ensure Validity and Attainment of Object of
Legislation: Ut Res Magis Valeat Quam Pereat 82
Plain English Drafting 83
Interpretation of Legislation Drafted in Plain English 83
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CONtENtS
Chapter 3 Extrinsic Aids to Interpretation 85
Interpretation by Reference to Other Documents 85
United States’ Use of Legislative History 86
Parliamentary, Executive and Related Materials 87
Common Law Principles Governing Reference to
Parliamentary and Executive Materials 87
Uses of Extrinsic Materials in the Interpretive Process 92
Constitutional Convention Debates and Referendum Materials 93
Common Law Principles Governing Reference to
International Agreements 94
Section 15AB and Equivalent Provisions 97
Operation of s 15AB and Equivalent Provisions 99
Interpretation by Reference to International Agreements
Under s 15AB and Equivalent Provisions 103
Australian Capital Territory Equivalent of s 15AB 104
Victorian Equivalent of s 15AB 105
Limitations on the Uses of Extrinsic Material 106
Practice Directions Relating to Proposed Reliance on
Extrinsic Material 110
Other Extrinsic Materials 110
Possible Application of s 15AB and Equivalent Provisions
to Other Extrinsic Materials 110
Dictionaries 110
Prior Statutory Provisions 113
Repealed Provisions 115
Subsequent Amending Acts 116
Interpretation where Parliament Takes View of
Meaning of Act 118
Similar Acts — General 119
Definitions in Like Legislation 121
Reference to Legislative Scheme 122
Legislation Enacted Pursuant to Cooperative
Federalism Schemes 124
Reference to Delegated Legislation for Purpose
of Interpreting Act 124
Reference to Regulations that are to be Treated
as if Enacted in Act 127
Re-Enactment of Provision After Judicial Decision
as to Meaning 127
Chapter 4 Intrinsic or Grammatical Aids to Interpretation 136
Introduction 136
Act to be Read as a Whole 136
Context where Act Divided into Parts 140
Order in which Sections to be Read 140
Words are Assumed to be used Consistently 141
Words to be Interpreted in Accordance with their
Ordinary and Current Meaning 146
Interpretation of Composite Phrases 148
vii
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STATUTORY INTERPRETATION IN AUSTRALIA
Legislation Deemed to be Always Speaking 149
Interpretation of Legal Technical Words 156
Interpretation of Non-Legal Technical Words 158
Words to be Interpreted in Accordance with their
Customary Usage 162
Interpretation Having Regard to Nature of Instrument 163
De Minimis Non Curat Lex: The Law Does Not Pay
Heed to Trifling Matters 165
Syntactical Presumptions 165
Introduction 165
Noscitur a Sociis: The Meaning of a Word or Phrase is to
be Derived from its Context 166
Ejusdem Generis: General Matters are Constrained by
Reference to Specific Matters 167
Superior Class Limitation 174
Expressio Unius Est Exclusio Alterius: An Express
Reference to One Matter Indicates that Other Matters
are Excluded 174
Expressum Facit Cessare Tacitum 178
Generalia Specialibus Non Derogant: Where there is a
Conflict between General and Specific Provisions,
the Specific Provisions Prevail 181
Later Section Prevails over Earlier 183
Reddendo Singula Singulis: Where Two or More Subjects
are Qualified by Two or More Matters, the
Qualifications Attach to the Subjects in the
Order in which they Appear 184
Hendiadys 184
Device of ‘Deeming’ 185
Framework of the Act 188
Introduction 188
Long Title 189
Short Title 190
Preamble 191
Statement of Intention or Objects Clause 192
Part and Division Headings 194
Schedules 196
Provisos 197
Marginal Notes and Headings to Sections 199
Notes Generally 201
Examples 203
Punctuation 203
Paragraphing of Sections 205
Tenses 206
Chapter 5 Legal Assumptions: Principle of Legality 207
Introduction 207
Application and Displacement of Legal Assumptions 211
Rights Falling within Principle of Legality 214
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CONtENtS
Fundamental Rights and Principles 216
Presumption that Law is Constitutional 217
Legislation is Presumed Not to have Extraterritorial Effect 218
General Words are Presumed Not to Extend to
Cases Governed by Foreign Law 221
Crown Presumed Not to be Bound by Statutes 223
Legislation is Presumed Not to Limit Prerogative Powers or
Property Rights of Crown 227
Legislation is Presumed Not to Impose Penal Sanctions
on the Crown 227
Legislation is Presumed Not to Interfere with Equality
of Religion 227
Legislation is Presumed Not to Violate the Rules of
International Law 227
Legislation is Presumed Not to Alienate Vested Proprietary
Interests without Adequate Compensation 229
Legislation is Presumed Not to Interfere with
Vested Proprietary Interests 230
Statutory Rights and Presumption Against Interference
with Vested Proprietary Interests 232
Statutory Exemption for Government Bodies
Narrowly Construed 233
Conferral of Power Carries Power of Performance 234
Minister May Delegate Power: The Carltona Principle 236
Legislation is Presumed Not to Operate Retrospectively 236
Legislation is Presumed Not to Alter Common
Law Doctrines: Legislation is Presumed
Not to Invade Common Law Rights 236
Statements of Presumption Against Alteration of
Common Law Doctrines 237
Statements of Presumption Against the Invasion of
Common Law Rights 243
Upholding of Statutory Rights 245
Legal Representation 246
Legislation is Presumed Not to Oust
Established Jurisdictions 246
Investment of a Court with Jurisdiction is Intended
to Include all the Procedure of the Court 248
If Legislation Includes a Remedy for Breach
No Other Remedy is Available 250
The Future of the Principle of Legality 250
Human Rights Acts 252
Introduction 252
Relationship Between Human Rights and
Presumptions 253
Table of Principles, Rights and Privileges
Recognised by Courts 255
ix
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STATUTORY INTERPRETATION IN AUSTRALIA
Chapter 6 Interpretation Acts and Sections 261
Introduction 261
Contrary Intention 261
Interpretation Sections 262
Interpretation of Definitions 262
General Issues 263
Use of Expressions ‘Means’ and ‘Includes’ 265
Other Definitional Forms 270
Derivatives of Definitions 271
Definitions to Apply ‘Unless the Contrary Intention Appears’ 271
Definitions Not to be Treated as Substantive Provisions 274
Amendment of Definitions 274
Chapter 7 Interpretation of Repealing Acts, Amending Acts and
Acts Incorporating Other Legislation 275
Repealing Acts 275
Distinction Between Repealing and Amending Provisions 275
Classification of Provision that Limits Section Amended 277
Effect of Classifying Provision as ‘Repealing’ or ‘Amending’ 278
Invalidity of Repealing Legislation 279
Repeal of Imperial Act 280
Date of Effect of Repealing Statute 280
Expired Act 281
Reference to Repealed Legislation for Interpretation Purposes 281
Implied Repeal By Later Statute 281
Later Acts Repeal Earlier Inconsistent Acts 281
Reference to ‘Repeal’ 282
Limitation on Implication of Repeal 283
Test of Inconsistency 285
Application of Implied Repeal Approach: Different Penalties 285
Test of Reading Competing Acts Together 286
Attempts to Limit Later Legislation 287
Implied Repeal of Imperial Act 287
Implied Repeal: Delegated Legislation 288
Overriding of State Act by Commonwealth Act 288
General Provision Does Not Impliedly Repeal Specific
Provision: Generalia Specialibus Non Derogant 289
Amending Acts 292
Introduction 292
Reference to ‘this Act’ 295
Statute Law Revision Acts 295
Amendment of Imperial Act 296
Acts Incorporating Other Statutory Provisions 296
Introduction 296
Unnecessary for Incorporated Act to be in Force for the
Incorporating Provision to be Effective 297
Incorporation of Unconstitutional Provisions 297
Date of Effect of Incorporation 298
x
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