Let's count the red tape.

State and territory legislation in force

Counts only, in alphabetical order. Each figure comes from that state’s own register and is not directly comparable between states or with the Commonwealth figures above: for example, NSW automatically repeals amending laws once they commence (Interpretation Act 1987, section 30C), so it mostly counts only principal laws, and Victoria’s register does not keep amending Acts and amending statutory rules as separate in-force titles, and does not list other legislative instruments (for example many made by notice in the Government Gazette). Western Australia’s Acts collection leaves out Appropriation, Loan, Supply, Reserves and Road Closure Acts (by the register’s own description) and includes ‘Laws’ published as Acts, and its register does not flag amending titles, so some older amending or repealing Acts are counted. South Australia’s figures are a manual count made on 26 Oct 2026 from the register’s default A to Z lists (ceased legislation and Acts of limited application are hidden, and amending Acts are included because the register lists them); they are not an official total and are not updated daily. The Northern Territory’s register does not flag amending titles either, so its in-force lists are counted as listed (they include an Appropriation Act). Each state’s page has its own details. Sources: NSW Legislation website (Parliamentary Counsel’s Office); NT Legislation (Office of the Parliamentary Counsel); Queensland Legislation (Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel); South Australian Legislation (Attorney-General's Department); Tasmanian Legislation (Office of Parliamentary Counsel); Victorian Legislation (Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel); WA Legislation (Parliamentary Counsel's Office).

By administering department

As at 26 October 2026, from the "administering department" recorded for each title in the Federal Register of Legislation. 68 Acts and 24 instruments are administered by more than one department and are counted under each, so the rows add up to more than the totals above. More on departments.

Every day: what was made, what was cut, and the net result.

What this is

Cut The Red Tape is an independent, non-partisan tracker of Australian legislation. It counts the laws in force and records the changes each day: what was made, what was repealed, and the net result.

We're starting with the Commonwealth because it publishes good open data. The states and territories come next. The aim is simple: to make the size of the rulebook visible, so anyone can see whether it's growing or shrinking.

We don't take a view on whether any particular law is good or bad. We just count.

How we count

Principal Acts, not amending Acts

Most Acts passed by Parliament only change other Acts. Once their changes take effect they are usually repealed automatically. We count the principal Acts that actually hold the law, so the number isn't inflated by paperwork.

Legislative instruments

Regulations, rules and determinations are made by ministers and agencies under Acts. There are far more of these than Acts, and we count them separately.

Sunsetting

Most Commonwealth instruments expire after about 10 years unless they are remade. When an old instrument is replaced by a new one, we show it as remade rather than as new red tape.

Count isn't everything

A two-page Act and a 5,000-page Act each count as one. We plan to add page counts so size is visible too.

Roadmap

1. Phase 1: Commonwealth. A daily count of Acts and instruments in force, a list of the day's changes, and a history chart.
2. Phase 2: More detail. Page counts, a breakdown by government department, and a daily update on X.
3. Phase 3: States and territories. NSW and Queensland first, then the rest, with a side-by-side comparison.

Follow along

Contact and social links are coming soon. In the meantime, check back here.