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APA (7th ed.) Reference Style

An introduction to the APA (American Psychological Association) 7th ed. referencing system with reference formats & examples.

Legislation & cases: reference format

The basics of a reference list entry for an Act:

  • Short Title of Act (in italics).
  • Year (in italics).
  • Jurisdiction abbreviation (in round brackets).
  • Section number and subdivision if applicable.
  • Country abbreviation (in round brackets).
  • The first line of each citation is left adjusted. Every subsequent line is indented 5-7 spaces.

Example: Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018 (Cth) s. 60.1 (Austl.).

 

The basics of a reference list entry for a Bill:

  • Short title of bill (no italics).
  • Year.
  • Jurisdiction abbreviation (in round brackets).
  • Country abbreviation (in round brackets).
  • The first line of each citation is left adjusted. Every subsequent line is indented 5-7 spaces.

Example: Disability Services Safeguards Bill 2018 (Vic) (Austl.).

 

The basics for a reference list entry for a Case:

  • Popular title of Case (in italics).
  • Year (in round brackets).
  • Volume number.
  • Reporter abbreviation.
  • First page number.
  • Country abbreviation (in round brackets).
  • The first line of each citation is left adjusted. Every subsequent line is indented 5-7 spaces.

Example: Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v Kumar (2017) 260 CLR 367 (Austl.).

Legislation & cases: Examples

Material Type In-Text Example Reference List Example
Acts & Bills According to s. 60.1 of the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018 (Cth)...

The Disability Services Safeguards Bill 2018 (Vic) aims to address...

Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018 (Cth) s. 60.1 (Austl.).

Disability Services Safeguards Bill 2018 (Vic) (Austl.).

Reference should cite the print source unless an electronic source is designated as the official version.
Acts & Bills: Online

... according to s. 23 of the Advancing the Treaty Process with Aboriginal Victorians Act 2018 (Vic).

The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Lottery Betting) Bill 2018 (Cth) extends this to...

Advancing the Treaty Process with Aboriginal Victorians Act 2018 (Vic) s. 23 (Austl.). Retrieved from http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/

Interactive Gambling Amendment (Lottery Betting) Bill 2018 (Cth) (Austl.). Retrieved from LawOne.
Cases ...case such as Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v Kumar (2017).

Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v Kumar (2017) 260 CLR 367 (Austl.).
Cases: Online ...for example Director of Public Prosecutions v Stanojlovic and Another (2017).

Director of Public Prosecutions v Stanojlovic and Another (2017) 53 VR 90 (Austl.).

If a case was retrieved from a library database, reference it like the print version (as above). If the case was retrieved online, include the direct URL following the country.

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