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APA 7th Referencing Guide

Legal sources - General information

  • The APA 7 Publication Manual refers to The Bluebook: A uniform system of citation (20th ed, 2015) for referencing legal publications. However, this does not cover Australian materials. Check with your faculty or discipline for any specific requirements. 
  • The Australian Guide to Legal Citation (AGLC) should be consulted when referencing Australian legislation.
  • SCU has their own AGLC LibGuide for easy reference.
  • Secondary sources: if you do not read the actual Case or Act, but only read about them in another source, only include that source in your reference list.

Act

  • Pinpoint reference: This refers to the particular section or division or other part of the named Act. See AGLC4 p. 69-72 for how the different sections or parts of Acts are abbreviated.
  • Include the jurisdiction the first time the act is cited. Leave it out of subsequent citations.
  • Long title should only be used if there is no short title. See AGLC4 p. 67.
Elements of the reference
Title of the Act Year (Jurisdiction abbreviation), pinpoint reference - if applicable.
In-text citation
(Aged Care Act 1997 (Cth) s. 3) OR Aged Care Act 1997 (Cth) states that ....
Reference list
Aged Care Act 1997 (Cth).
EndNote reference type
Book
EndNote tips
  • EndNote in text citation: In "Edit & Manage Citations", choose "Exclude Year" in "Formatting". Then in "Suffix" field, type space (Qld) and click on "OK".
  • Add Act title & year to Title field
  • Add Jurisdiction abbreviation to Year field

Bill

  • Include the jurisdiction the first time the bill is cited. Leave it out of subsequent citations.
  • Long title should only be used if there is no short title. See AGLC4 p. 67.
Elements of the reference
Short Title of the Bill Year (Jurisdiction abbreviation) pinpoint reference - if applicable.
In-text citation
Healthy Futures Commission Queensland Bill 2017 (Qld) s. 23 OR As found in the Healthy Futures Commission Queensland Bill (2017, s. 23) ...
Reference list
Healthy Futures Commission Queensland Bill 2017 (Qld) s. 23.
Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 (Cth).
EndNote reference type
Web page
EndNote tips
  • Endnote in-text citation: In "Edit & Manage Citations", add comma space s. 23 in "Suffix" box. Convert to Plain Text as last step. Edit in-text reference to remove quotation marks and add bracket around jurisdiction.
  • Add jurisdiction abbreviation to "Year" field
  • Add section to "Edition" field

Cases - reported, organised by volume

  • Round brackets are used when the report series is organised by volume numbers.
  • Include the year the first time the case is cited. Leave it out of subsequent citations.
Elements of the reference
Case name - italicised (Year) Volume Law Report Abbreviation Starting Page Number.
In-text citation
(Montevento Holdings Pty Ltd v Scaffidi, 2012) OR As found in Montevento Holdings Pty Ltd v Scaffidi (2012)...
Reference list
Montevento Holdings Pty Ltd v Scaffidi (2012) 246 CLR 325. 
EndNote reference type
Webpage - add Volume, Law Report Abbreviation, Starting Page Number to Publisher field

Cases - reported, organised by year

  • Square brackets are used when the reports are organised by year
  • Include the year the first time the case is cited. Leave it out of subsequent citations.
Elements of the reference
Case name - italicised [Year] Volume Law Report Abbreviation Starting Page Number.
In-text citation
(Nothdurft & Anor v QGC Pty Limited & Ors, 2017) OR As found in Nothdurft & Anor v QGC Pty Limited & Ors (2017)....
Reference list
Nothdurft & Anor v QGC Pty Limited & Ors [2017] QLC 41.
EndNote reference type
Web page
EndNote tips
  • Add Volume, Law Report Abbreviation, Starting Page Number to Publisher field
  • When document finalised, convert to plain text and change Year brackets to square [ ]

Cases - unreported with medium neutral citation

  • Unreported cases have not been published in a law report series.

  • The year is entered in square brackets.

Elements of the reference
Case name - italicised [Year] Court abbreviation Decision number.
In-text citation

In the case of Kozik v Redland City Council (2021), the judgment ...

Reference list

Kozik v Redland City Council [2021] QSC 233.

EndNote reference type
Web page
EndNote tips
  • Add Court Abbreviation, Decision number to Publisher field
  • When document finalised, convert to plain text and change Year brackets to square [ ]

Parliamentary debates (Hansard)

Elements of the reference
Jurisdiction. Parliamentary debates. Chamber. Day Month Year, Page number/s. (Full name of Speaker and position if applicable)
In-text citation
(Commonwealth, 2010, 1)

(New South Wales, 2022, 9158)

Reference list
Commonwealth. Parliamentary debates. Senate. 2 February 2010, 1.

New South Wales. Parliamentary debates. Legislative Assembly. 22 December 2022, 9158 (Dominic Perrotet, Premier)

EndNote reference type
Unpublished work
EndNote tips
  • Endnote in-text citation: Go to "Edit and Management Citations" in Word and add , Year to "Suffix" text box
  • Add Chamber to "Department" field
  • Add Day Month Year to "Date" field

Treaties and international conventions

Elements of the reference
Name of Treaty or Convention, signing or approval month day, year.
In-text citation
(United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989)
Reference list
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, November 20, 1989.
EndNote reference type
Web page

Report - Coroner

Elements of the reference
Group author or Individual author(s) - last name, initial(s) - use & for multiple authors. (Year). Title of report - italicised (Report number - if available). Publisher - include if different to author. URL
In-text citation
The inquest found that ... (Queensland Courts, 2011)
Reference list
Queensland Courts. (2011). Inquest into the death of Ross Philip Schumacher (2006/16). https://www.courts.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/110259/Schumacher-findings.pdf
EndNote reference type
Report

Australian jurisdiction abbreviations

Jurisdiction Abbreviation
Commonwealth Cth
Australian Capital Territory ACT
New South Wales NSW
Northern Territory NT
Queensland Qld
South Australia SA
Tasmania Tas
Victoria Vic
Western Australia WA

Source: (Melbourne University Law Review Association & Melbourne Journal of International Law, 2010, p. 65).

Subjects: Referencing
Tags: referencing
    
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