General

Title Documents
opc drafting manual

OPC Drafting Manual

Edition 3.2. OPC’s Drafting Manual gives an overview of drafting legislation. It covers technical aspects, such as titles, numbering and formatting, as well as matters relating to the content of laws, including constitutional issues and the use of various expressions.

pdf file, s05pq37.v27.pdf, file size 196.89 KB docx file, s05pq37.v27.docx, file size 174.66 KB
OPC’s Guide to Reducing Complexity in Legislation

OPC’s Guide to Reducing Complexity in Legislation

OPC’s Guide to Reducing Complexity in Legislation.

This Guide looks at the causes of complexity in legislation and sets out ways in which those causes can be addressed and legislation made less complex.

pdf file, reducingcomplexity.pdf, file size 495.09 KB docx file, reducingcomplexity.docx, file size 123.1 KB
Amending Forms Manual

Amending Forms Manual

Fifteenth edition. This manual sets out the amending forms that OPC drafters use in amending Bills and instruments, and in amendments to Bills before Parliament. All drafters are required to follow the forms set out in the manual. This ensures a consistent approach is taken to amendments.

pdf file, s05pu518.v81.pdf, file size 644.45 KB docx file, s05pu518.v81.docx, file size 301.73 KB
Plain English Manual

Plain English Manual

The Office of Parliamentary Counsel is active in encouraging the use of plain language in legislation and in developing and using plain language techniques. In addition to OPC’s participation in major plain language projects such as the Tax Law Improvement Project and the Corporate Law Economic Reform Program, we have incorporated plain language drafting into all of our work. This Manual outlines some of the techniques we use.

pdf file, plain_english_0_0.pdf, file size 757.61 KB docx file, s05pu511.v18_0.docx, file size 417.2 KB
Reporting and Assurance

Drafting reporting or external assurance requirements - information from the AASB and AUASB

Information about the importance of consistency with AASB Standards or AUASB Standards where legislation requires reporting or external assurance over information.

pdf file, 10 Points for OPC - Reporting and Assurance - FINAL.pdf, file size 298.97 KB docx file, 10 Points for OPC - Reporting and Assurance - FINAL.docx, file size 2.18 MB