What's the difference between a Legislative Act and a Regulation?

 

Hi Matt, thanks for your question!

A Legislative Act is a law made by the Australian Parliament. In the Australian Parliament, a law is made after a bill – a proposed law – is passed in the same form by the Senate and House of Representatives and is given Royal Assent by the Governor-General. It is then called an Act of Parliament.

Regulations are a type of delegated law. They are called delegated law because the power has been delegated – given – to a minister or government department by Parliament. These laws can be made or changed without having to be debated and passed by Parliament.