Overarching responsibilities and principal legislation
The Governor-General gives each Commonwealth minister executive responsibility. The Administrative Arrangements Order (AAO) details these responsibilities and sets out the matters and legislation each department or portfolio administers.
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet administers the AAO. Visit the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website for the Administrative Arrangements Order(Opens in a new tab/window).
The legislation we administer includes:
- A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999(Opens in a new tab/window)
- A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Budget Savings (Omnibus) Act 2016(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Business Services Wage Assessment Tool Payment Scheme Act 2015(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Business Services Wage Assessment Tool Payment Scheme Amendment Act 2016(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Charities Act 2013(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Child Support and Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Budget and Other Measures) Act 2010(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Child Support Legislation Amendment (Reform of the Child Support Scheme–New Formula and Other Measures) Act 2006(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Clean Energy (Household Assistance Amendments) Act 2011(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Data-matching Program (Assistance and Tax) Act 1990(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Disability Services Act 1986(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Disability Services and Inclusion Act 2023(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Disability Services and Inclusion (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2023(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee Act 2023(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation (2006 Budget and Other Measures) Act 2006(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Further 2008 Budget and Other Measures) Act 2008(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Family Law Act 1975(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Gambling Measures Act 2012(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Household Stimulus Package Act (No. 2) 2009(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Marriage Act 1961(Opens in a new tab/window)
- National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Act 2018(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Not-for-profit Sector Freedom to Advocate Act 2013(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Paid Parental Leave Act 2010(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Adding Superannuation for a More Secure Retirement) Act 2024(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Social Security Act 1991(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Social Security (Administration) Act 1999(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Economic Security Strategy) Act 2008(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Seniors Supplement Cessation) Act 2015(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Social Security (International Agreements) Act 1999(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Social Services Legislation Amendment (No. 2) Act 2015(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Student Assistance Act 1973(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Tax Laws Amendment (Simplified Superannuation) Act 2007(Opens in a new tab/window)
Federal Register of Legislation
The Federal Register of Legislation(Opens in a new tab/window) (FRL) is the authorised whole-of-government website for Commonwealth legislation and related documents. It contains the full legislation text. It also details the lifecycle of individual laws and the relationships between them.
The Office of Parliamentary Counsel manages the Legislation Register.
All legislation and related documents we administer appear on the FRL website.
Guides to Social Policy Law
The Guides to Social Policy Law publications help decision makers administering social policy law.
The Guides to Social Policy Law includes the following:
- Social Security Guide(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Family Assistance Guide(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Paid Parental Leave Guide(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Child Support Guide(Opens in a new tab/window)
- ABSTUDY Policy Manual(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme Guidelines(Opens in a new tab/window)
- National Redress Guide(Opens in a new tab/window).
Status of legislation
Visit the Parliament of Australia for information on the status of bills and legislation(Opens in a new tab/window).