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Australian Government Documents

Learn how to find and access Australian Government Documents online

  Introduction

Welcome to the Australian Government Documents Library Guide

This guide provides advice for finding Australian government documents online.

Government documents covers a range of materials, but essentially refers to any documents or laws produced in Parliament, and policy or regulatory documents produced by Government Departments.

Check the Finding Government Documents section for core databases and websites. For state or territory specific information, click on the interactive map below.


  Finding Government Documents

Three things you can do to start your government documents research:                    

Note: The buttons below will open resources in new windows.

undefined State, territory and federal

Resources that search across federal, state and territory government documents.

Note: check geographic and date coverage.

Federal

Queensland

Western Australia

South Australia

Victoria

Tasmania

New South Wales

Northern Territory

Australian Capital Territory

  Glossary

Bills

A draft or proposed Act that is introduced and debated in parliament.

Budget Papers

Documentation produced by the government that outlines the projected income and expenditure for the next financial year. Usually released in May.

Chamber Documents

Documents that outline the order of business in each parliamentary chamber. They usually include an agenda for each sitting day, the items before each chamber,  and meeting minutes.

Extrinsic Materials

In the context of government documents and legislation, this is the documentation designed to explain legislation; Hansard, Explanatory Memoranda/Statements, Committee Reports.

Gazettes

An official government publication which gives information about government matters and makes government announcements.

Hansard
Transcripts of Parliamentary proceedings, also known as Parliamentary debates.

Tabled Papers

Documents or items that have been presented in parliament. Can include committee reports, legislative instruments, annual reports, etc.

V & P

Votes and Proceedings made in each parliamentary chamber.

  Further help

Quick question?

Chat online with a librarian.

Accessing physical items in the Collection
The Library holds many physical copies of government documents in a variety of formats. For help use library chat.
Complex question?


Contact a specialist librarian using our research request form.
 

  Response is via email.

  In-person consults for staff and research higher degree students.
 


  Research consultation form

 

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