Incomplete wording updates
A limited concern was that, although the bill removes some outdated and offensive language, it does not finish the job in all veterans’ legislation, leaving some terminology still needing reform.
Statute Law Amendment (Prescribed Forms and Other Updates)
Current status
This bill became law on Sep 20th, 2023.
Policy area
Law, justice & rights
What does this bill do?
Australian laws will rely less on rigid regulation-made forms, making it easier to update paperwork while still keeping control over what information people must provide.
Why was it introduced?
Rigid regulation-made forms slowed even minor paperwork updates, while outdated disability terms, old Northern Territory citations and drafting errors remained in Commonwealth laws. The bill lets forms be updated more flexibly, replaces outdated wording and references, and cleans up obsolete or mistaken provisions without major legal change.
Broader context
Since 1934, Parliament has periodically used statute law revision bills to keep Commonwealth law accurate, but many older Acts still tied routine paperwork to regulation-made forms and kept outdated disability language, Northern Territory citations and obsolete provisions on the books. The 2023 bill responded by updating 85 Acts to let forms be changed more flexibly while retaining control over required information, modernising terminology and references, and repealing spent or mistaken provisions before Parliament passed it in September 2023.
Key criticism
The only clear criticism was that the bill’s language clean-up may still leave some outdated or insensitive veterans’ terminology in Commonwealth law, so the drafting work is incomplete rather than fully finished. That concern was raised narrowly by Greens senator David Shoebridge while still supporting the bill, and no party represented in the debate opposed it overall.
Who supported it?
Mark Dreyfus MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Introduced in House 01 June 2023
Passed House 14 June 2023
Passed Senate 06 Sept 2023
Became law 20 Sept 2023
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 20 Sept 2023
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
Members called out ‘aye’ or ‘no’ — no individual votes were recorded.
Passage speed
111 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
What does this bill do?
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Australian laws will rely less on rigid regulation-made forms, making it easier to update paperwork while still keeping control over what information people must provide.
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People with disability will see more respectful person-first languageWords that put the person before the disability, such as saying a person has a disability rather than defining them by it. in family law, social security and veterans' laws, without changing who qualifies for payments or rights.
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Commonwealth laws will update how they cite Northern Territory laws so the references match the Northern Territory's current naming style, without changing the legal effect.
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Federal law will remove drafting mistakes and repeal outdated Acts and old spent provisions, making the statute book easier to read and use.
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Most of the updates start 28 days after Royal AssentThe formal step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament., but the form-related changes in ScheduleA numbered part of the Act that contains the actual amendments; here different schedules handle forms, language updates, citation fixes and clean-up changes. 1 can start by ProclamationA government notice used to switch some parts of the Act on at a later date, instead of starting them immediately. or automatically after 6 months.
Show source excerpts
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The effect of these amendments will be that well-targeted requirements will apply, taking into account the best modern practices available in the relevant circumstances. The effect and impact will be that there is still oversight of the information to be provided while enabling there to be flexibility as to how to provide it and for there to be an agile response to the need for updating and improving forms. The amendments are minor in nature. The amendments either make no change or only minor changes to the substance of the law.
Statute Law Amendment (Prescribed Forms and Other Updates) explanatory memorandum -
The main purpose of Schedule 2 to this Bill is to update language relating to persons with disability to focus on the person, rather than the disability. The object of each update is to prevent negative impacts on the lives of people with disability resulting from the way they are referred to in the Family Law Act 1975, the Social Security Act 1991 and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986.
Statute Law Amendment (Prescribed Forms and Other Updates) explanatory memorandum -
The main purpose of Schedule 3 to this Bill is to update references in Commonwealth Acts to Northern Territory Acts, to make those references consistent with the way the Northern Territory now cites its Acts.
Statute Law Amendment (Prescribed Forms and Other Updates) explanatory memorandum -
The amendments also enhance readability, facilitate interpretation and administration, and promote consistency across the Commonwealth statute book. The amendments are minor and technical in nature. The amendments either make no change or only minor changes to the substance of the law.
Statute Law Amendment (Prescribed Forms and Other Updates) explanatory memorandum -
Item 2 of the table in subclause 2(1) provides that Schedule 1 to the Act commences on a single day to be fixed by Proclamation. However, if the provisions do not commence within the period of 6 months beginning on the day the Act receives the Royal Assent, they are to commence on the day after the end of that period. Providing for this type of commencement will enable associated changes being made to the regulations to commence at the same time. This commencement is in keeping with current Commonwealth drafting practice, which is to avoid retrospective commencements where practicable and provide that periods allowing for Proclamation should be capped.
Statute Law Amendment (Prescribed Forms and Other Updates) explanatory memorandum
Context
Broader context for this bill
Since 1934, Parliament has periodically used statute law revision bills to keep Commonwealth law accurate, but many older Acts still tied routine paperwork to regulation-made forms and kept outdated disability language, Northern Territory citations and obsolete provisions on the books. The 2023 bill responded by updating 85 Acts to let forms be changed more flexibly while retaining control over required information, modernising terminology and references, and repealing spent or mistaken provisions before Parliament passed it in September 2023.
- 1934
Statute law revision bills become a regular part of federal lawmaking
Hansard says Parliament has passed statute law revision and stocktake Acts since 1934 to remove obsolete provisions and correct drafting mistakes across the Commonwealth statute bookThe full body of federal Australian laws, which this bill is tidying up and modernising..
Hansard ↗ - 2021
A similar clean-up bill lapses at the end of the 46th Parliament
Opposition speakers said the former Coalition government had introduced a similar bill in 2021, but it did not pass before that Parliament ended.
Hansard ↗ - 01 June 2023
Explanatory memorandumThe official document that explains what a bill does and why the government says it is needed. identifies rigid prescribed forms as a practical problem
The explanatory memorandumThe official document that explains what a bill does and why the government says it is needed. says many laws still required forms to be prescribed by regulation, so even minor updates or improvements could only be made through further regulationsDetailed rules made under an Act; on this page they are the old way many forms had to be set and later updated..
Australian Parliament House ↗ - 01 June 2023
Government introduces a new bill to update 85 Commonwealth Acts
The Attorney-General said the bill would reduce reliance on regulation-made forms, modernise disability language, update Northern Territory references and repeal obsolete or spent provisions.
Hansard ↗ - 06 Sept 2023
Parliament passes the bill
Both Houses agreed to the same text, completing the bill's parliamentary passage as a largely technical statute-book update.
Parliamentary timeline ↗ - 20 Sept 2023
Royal AssentThe formal step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. turns the bill into law
Royal AssentThe formal step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. completed the measure, allowing the statute-book updates and form reforms in the Act to take legal effect under its commencement rules.
Parliamentary timeline ↗
Legislative route
How did it move through Parliament?
House Senate
Introduced 01 June 2023
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
Second reading opened 01 June 2023
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Second reading debate 14 June 2023
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House second reading agreed 14 June 2023
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
House third reading agreed 14 June 2023
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Introduced 14 June 2023
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
Second reading opened 14 June 2023
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Second reading debate 06 Sept 2023
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate second reading agreed 06 Sept 2023
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
Senate third reading agreed 06 Sept 2023
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Passed both houses 06 Sept 2023
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
Assent 20 Sept 2023
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe formal step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The main case against this bill
The only clear criticism was that the bill’s language clean-up may still leave some outdated or insensitive veterans’ terminology in Commonwealth law, so the drafting work is incomplete rather than fully finished. That concern was raised narrowly by Greens senator David Shoebridge while still supporting the bill, and no party represented in the debate opposed it overall.
No broader public case against the bill is recorded so far beyond this limited drafting reservation.
Further sources
Votes
Recorded votes
How the bill itself passed
The bill passed both chambers on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage.
Passed House passed the bill
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed
House passed the bill
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Passed Senate passed the bill
Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed
Senate passed the bill
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Parliamentary debate
Who spoke, and what they said
Start here — lead voices
Sponsor speech Supports
Mark Dreyfus
Dreyfus supports the bill, saying it makes minor and technical updates that keep the Commonwealth statute bookThe full body of federal Australian laws, which this bill is tidying up and modernising. accurate, modern and easier to use.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead supporting voice Supports
David Shoebridge
Shoebridge says the Greens support the bill and will commend it to the Senate because it tidies up the statute book, improves flexibility in prescribed forms, and removes outdated and offensive language.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead voice Supports
Shayne Neumann
Neumann supports the bill, saying it is sensible legislative housekeeping that updates outdated references, improves clarity, and removes obsolete provisions.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead voice Supports
Murray Watt
Watt supports the bill, saying it makes minor and technical updates to the Commonwealth statute bookThe full body of federal Australian laws, which this bill is tidying up and modernising., modernises prescribed formA form that the law says must be used, often set out in regulations, so the government can control the exact information collected. requirements, and improves clarity, consistency, and readability without changing the substance of the law.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
Labor
4 speakers · 4 support
Labor
4 speakers · 4 support
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Shayne Neumann ★ Neumann supports the bill, saying it is sensible legislative housekeeping that updates outdated references, improves clarity, and removes obsolete provisions.
“I am pleased we're doing this today, because it makes sense. It literally makes sense to get rid of redundant legislation, to make sure it reflects the modern mores of Australian society. People living with disabilities should not be called handicapped. We should not have legislation on the statute books that says that. If there are acts of parliament that make it difficult for people to interact with the Commonwealth government because they're hard to read and outdated, get rid of them. Do it in a sensible, respectful, mature way.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Murray Watt ★ Watt supports the bill, saying it makes minor and technical updates to the Commonwealth statute bookThe full body of federal Australian laws, which this bill is tidying up and modernising., modernises prescribed formA form that the law says must be used, often set out in regulations, so the government can control the exact information collected. requirements, and improves clarity, consistency, and readability without changing the substance of the law.
“These ongoing improvements to legislation are important to ensure that the Commonwealth statute book remains up-to-date, accurate and user-friendly.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Mark Dreyfus ★ Dreyfus supports the bill, saying it makes minor and technical updates that keep the Commonwealth statute bookThe full body of federal Australian laws, which this bill is tidying up and modernising. accurate, modern and easier to use.
“These ongoing improvements to legislation are important to ensure that the Commonwealth statute book remains up to date, accurate and user friendly. I commend the bill to the House.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Anthony Chisholm Chisholm supports the bill and says it will improve the Commonwealth statute bookThe full body of federal Australian laws, which this bill is tidying up and modernising. by updating forms, disability language, Northern Territory references, and technical errors, as well as removing obsolete provisions.
“The government recognises the importance of maintaining the integrity of the Commonwealth statute book. The Statute Law Amendment (Prescribed Forms and Other Updates) Bill 2023 will amend 85 Commonwealth acts to enhance administration and promote consistency across the statute book.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Coalition
2 speakers · 2 support
Coalition
2 speakers · 2 support
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Rick Wilson Rick Wilson says the opposition supports the bill because it makes minor, technical updates across Commonwealth laws without changing their intent, and he commends it to the House.
“In conclusion, as we know, from time to time drafting errors occur or obsolete provisions of acts do not get repealed when they are replaced. Provisions to clean up these errors are routine. The amendments in schedules 4 to 6 enhance readability, facilitate interpretation and administration and promote consistency across the Commonwealth statute book. The changes in this bill are minor and technical and do not impact the intent of any statute. Accordingly, they will not change the meaning of the relevant legislation except to the extent that they reduce the reliance on forms prescribed in regulations. I commend the bill to the House.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Anne Ruston Ruston says the coalition will support the bill because it makes minor, technical updates across Commonwealth laws, modernises form requirements, and cleans up outdated wording and drafting errors without changing the substance of the law.
“I rise to state that the coalition will be supporting this bill. The bill makes minor amendments across 85 Commonwealth acts. These types of bills come before parliament from time to time. Indeed, the former coalition government introduced a very similar bill in 2021 which lapsed at the end of the 46th Parliament.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Greens
1 speaker · 1 support
Greens
1 speaker · 1 support
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David Shoebridge ★ Shoebridge says the Greens support the bill and will commend it to the Senate because it tidies up the statute book, improves flexibility in prescribed forms, and removes outdated and offensive language.
“I want to thank those, largely in the AG's Department, who have taken the time to identify and escalate these corrections and for making the laws clearer. I commenced this in a lighthearted way, but it must be bloody hard work. It must be genuinely hard work—not exactly glorious work but important work—to go through and tidy up the statute book, and the Greens support the bill and commend it to the Senate.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
Full record
- Act title
- Statute Law Amendment (Prescribed Forms and Other Updates) Act 2023
- Act number
- Act No. 74, 2023
- Became law
- 20 Sept 2023
- Takes effect
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- Sections 1 to 3 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table 20 Sept 2023
- Schedule 1 A single day to be fixed by Proclamation. However, if the provisions do not commence within the period of 6 months beginning on the day this Act receives the Royal Assent, they commence on the day after the end of that period.
- Schedules 2 to 6 18 Oct 2023
- Registered
- 22 Sept 2023
- Administered by
- Attorney-General's Department
- Final law metadata was collected from the APH progress table; commencement rows were parsed from the bill text.
- Status
- Act -- Collected from the APH bill page.
- Originating house
- House of Representatives
- 01 June 2023
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
- 01 June 2023
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
- 14 June 2023
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 14 June 2023
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
- 14 June 2023
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
- 14 June 2023
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
- 14 June 2023
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
- 06 Sept 2023
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 06 Sept 2023
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
- 06 Sept 2023
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
- 06 Sept 2023
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
- 20 Sept 2023
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe formal step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.