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Law

State Library has a wide range of Queensland and Commonwealth current and historical law resources. Resources are available in print, on microfilm and online through databases and websites.

Legal Resources

Explore legal information including general legal resources, legislation and government gazettes. Our legal resources cover Queensland and Commonwealth law. You will find legal resources in print, microfilm and online. Many print resources are now available online. Databases can be accessed onsite and from home for State Library members (who live in Queensland).

Click on the section you are interested in. The information will appear below that section. Find out what resources are available at State Library and online. 

Law Courts, Brisbane, ca. 1902. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.

Queensland legislation

Online

The Queensland Legislation website contains:

In print

  • Current Acts - in print on level 2 at REF 346.9431
  • Reprints (1828-1962) arranged alphabetically by subject
  • Annual bound volumes of Acts passed each year

Historical legislation

  • Queensland Legislation website – Acts from 1901, repealed legislation, historical information
  • Queensland Law on QUT Digital Collections – Queensland Statute Reprints 1962-1992, Queensland Acts 1828–1936, Queensland Commencement legislation 1793-1867, Queensland Land Legislation 1833-1910, Letters Patent establishing boundaries for Queensland, Queensland Criminal Code 1879-1899

Bills

Regulations/Subordinate legislation

Explanatory Notes

Hansard

Queensland Hansard was established in 1864, five years after separation from New South Wales. In the first few years, the Moreton Bay Courier published long reports of parliamentary proceedings.  The first official Hansard was published for the sittings on 26 April 1864. Queensland Hansard originally included the debates of both the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly. The Legislative Council was abolished in 1922, so Queensland Hansard from that date only reports the debates of the Legislative Assembly.

Commonwealth Legislation

Commonwealth Hansard

Hansard has been published under a variety of titles over the years (Parliamentary Debates, Official Record of the Debates etc). It is now published separately for the Senate and the House of Representatives.

What is in the Queensland Government Gazette?

Government gazettes provide proclamations by the Governor, and official notice of actions taken by government authorities, departments, local councils and companies.

The Queensland Government Gazette can help you find information about:

  • appointments to government positions and resignations of senior officers
  • notices of medals and decorations, awards granted etc.
  • brands (registration and transfer)
  • electoral divisions: establishment and changes to electoral district boundaries
  • declarations of insolvencies
  • lands:
    • assessments and transfers of runs
    • agricultural reserves
    • land orders
    • land repossession
    • land reserves
    • land sales and leases
  • legislation notices: announcements of new Acts of Parliament, regulations and amendments
  • lighthouses (appointments of keepers, lighthouse closures)
  • naturalisations
  • patent registrations
  • police notices
  • registration lists of medical practitioners, builders, publicans, justices of the peace etc.
  • registrations of companies and firms
  • tenders for public works, schools, roads, etc.
  • unclaimed letters
  • wills, intestacies and transmission of real estate by death.

Finding Queensland Government Gazettes

1859-1900

1901-1998

1999-2002

2003-2006

2007-2012

2012-

Consolidated indexes to Queensland Government Gazettes

1850-1858

1859-1907

1908-1919

1920-1961

1973-1982

Specialised indexes

Various specialised indexes also exist. These include indexes to timber licences, publicans’ licences and proclamations of boundaries.

Find the specialised indexes in the catalogue by typing “government gazette” index in the search box.

New South Wales Government Gazettes 

Victoria Government Gazettes

Commonwealth Government Gazettes 1901-