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	Style Guide for Citing Legal Materials
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Style Guide for Citing Primary Legal Materials

Last updated: 4 August 1999

The following are some guidelines that may be useful for citing legal materials on AustLII. There are two main types of citation: legislation and case law.

Citing Legislative Sections

The following are typical examples for citing an Act or a section of an Act:

• Citing an Act
  • Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth)
• Citing a section of an Act
  • Section 10 of the Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth) ...
  • The Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth), s33 details the powers of ...
  • As for New South Wales, the Industrial Relations Act 1996 requires that ... As for the Commonwealth, the following sections are relevant: ss31-36, Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth).

To assist the markup software, please ensure that if there might be a possible ambiguous reference then the full name of the Act should be cited again. This becomes important when sections of multiple Acts are being referred to in close proximity.

Citing Cases and Decisions

When citing cases, it is important to note the citation that are generally used. The following provides examples dealing with some typical case law databases. It is preferrable to use the medium neutral citation if available as this will be consistent with both print and electronic versions of the decision.

High Court of Australia Decisions

As medium neutral citation was only adopted from 1998, it is necessary to consider two types of citations: CLR references (pre 1998) and HCA references (post 1998). For example:

• CLR reference: Dey v Victorian Railways Commissioners (1949) 78 CLR 62
• HCA reference: Patrick Stevedores Operations No 2 Pty Ltd v Maritime Union of Australia [1998] HCA 30

Also, it is important that the citation is used for references that require a link. In other words, it is necessary to refer to 'Patrick Stevedores No 2 [1998] HCA 30' and not just 'Patrick Stevedores No 2' if a link to the case is desired.

Federal Court of Australia Decisions

Federal Court of Australia decisions can be cited using the medium neutral citation mechanism from 1998. For example:

• FCA reference: Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union v Australian Industrial Relations Commission [1999] FCA 847

Industrial Relations Court of Australia Decisions

Industrial Relations Court of Australia decisions can be cited using the medium neutral citation mechanism from 1998. For example:

• IRCA reference: Logan v Otis Elevator Co Pty Ltd [1999] IRCA 4

Australian Industrial Relations Commission Decisions

As the Commission has yet to decide on adopting a medium neutral citation, it is appropriate to cite a decision from the Commission by using the Print Number. For example:

• Print Number as reference: Rode v Burwood Mitsubishi, Print R4471

New South Wales Compensation Court Decisions

For decisions prior to 1999, the NSWCCR citation can be used. Medium neutral citation can be used for 1999 decisions. For example:

• NSWCCR reference: Young v Coles Myer Ltd (1997) 15 NSWCCR 243
• NSWCC reference: Yeo v Western Sydney Area Health Service [1999] NSWCC 1

New South Wales Industrial Relations Commission Decisions

For databases that have not adopted medium neutral citation officially or for those decisions that pre-dated the adoption of medium neutral citation, AustLII are working progressively to assign them with an appropriate medium neutral citation. For effective use of the citation mechanism, it is necessary to check the contents of the database held on AustLII. For example, 'Davis v Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd' has been assigned [1998] NSWIRComm 131.

If the medium neutral citation is not yet available for a particular decision, it may be advisable to identify a unique reference such as a print number or matter number and a date so that these references may be located once a citation is available.

Copyright Tribunal

Copyright Tribunal decisions may be cited using the medium neutral citation convention. For example:

• ACopyT reference: Copyright Agency Ltd v University of Adelaide [1999] ACopyT 1

Australian Designs Office

Australian Designs Office decisions after 1999 may be cited using the medium neutral citation convention. Earlier decisions may be cited using AIPC or IPR references.

• IPR reference: BARRY J WARNER v. COMMERCIAL SYSTEMS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD 33 IPR 534
• ADO reference: GENIE ELECTRONICS PTY LTD v BRIAN RZEK [1999] ADO 1

Australian Patent Office

Australian Patent Office decisions may be cited using AIPC or IPR references before 1999. Subsequent decisions may be cited using the medium neutral citation convention.

• AIPC reference: ROYDEN GEORGE MAYFIELD v. COLIN RADCLIFFE (1993) AIPC 90-962
• APO reference: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION v BHP STEEL (JLA) PTY LTD [1999] APO 44

Australian Trade Marks Office

Australian Trade Marks Office decisions may be cited using IPR references prior to 1999. Medium neutral citations may be used for subsequent decisions.

• IPR reference: Paul Francis Cox v The Coca-Cola Company 25 IPR 429
• ATMO reference: Calvin Klein Trademark Trust v Calvin Corporation Limited [1999] ATMO 70