Researching Legislation

Search for Acts in Lawlex Premium:

1. Go to the Lawlex Premium database homepage via the Library A-Z Databases.
2. Type the title of the Act in the search box. This example searches for a Principal Act, the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic). Do not include the date. Use the dropdown box to select the jurisdiction – do not include it in the search box. Press Search.
   
    
3. Select the Act from the results list:
   
    
4. This takes you to the Core Document Homepage for the Act.
   

   
   The following information is available:

• View Legislation links to the authorised version of the Act on the relevant government webpage.

• Status Detail displays the date of the current version of the Act.

• Document Type identifies whether it is a Principal Act or Amending Act.

• Index Categories provides subject classifications that link to other Acts under the same subject category.

• Lawlex Premium Research contains links to the following legislative information:

  • View the Commencement Information: Details the date of commencement of the Act.

  • View the History of Amendments to this Title: This displays a section-by-section analysis of amendments to the Act.

  • View Regulations under the Act: Lists any delegated legislation under the Act.

  • Check for Amendments since the last Consolidation: This displays a section-by-section analysis of amendments to the Act since the last consolidation of a Principal Act

  • Read the Alert Summaries: Provides a summary of amendments to the Act.

  • View Gazette Notice References made under this Title: Lists any notices that have been published in a government gazette under this Act.

• LexConnect links to any Australian standards related to the Act.

Browse for Acts in Lawlex Premium:

1. Go to the Lawlex Premium database homepage via the Library A-Z Databases.
2. Click on the link to Browse Legislation.
   
    
3. Select a Practice Area, for example Criminal Law.
   
    
4. You have the option to filter by jurisdiction, document type, areas of practice or year range.
   
   
    
5. This example filters by Principal Acts in the Criminal Law - Evidence Practice Area.
   

Follow the steps above to either browse or search for legislation. This example demonstrates how to view the legislation record for the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic).

1. Once you have navigated to the Core Document Homepage for the Act, click on the View the History of Amendments to this Title link to view individual amendments to sections of the Act. These amendments may be in force or not yet proclaimed.
   
    
2. Note the Legend at the top of the table:
   
    
3. Scroll to the Part, section or schedule you are researching. This example looks at section 14 of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic).
   
    

   This table shows that section 14 was amended by section 12 of amending Act 2022/20. The link to 2022/20 displays that the name of the amending Act is the Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2022 (Vic). The commenced column displays that this amendment came into force on 31/05/2022.