Graduate Diploma in Migration Law : AGLC4 Referencing (Migration Law Sources)

AGLC4 Referencing in the Graduate Diploma in Migration Law

This guide contains information about how to reference migration law materials including Acts, regulations, reported cases, unreported cases, PAM3, ministerial directions and instruments.  It also contains advice for students enrolled in the Graduate Diploma in Migration Law about repeated references.

Please see the VU AGLC4 Guide for more information about AGLC4 referencing, including information about how to reference books, journal articles, internet materials, and other sources.

 

On this Page

Act, Regulation, Reported Case, Unreported Case, PAM3, Ministerial Direction, Instrument

Frequently Asked Questions
Check the most frequently asked questions (and answers) about referencing migration law sources

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AGLC4 Examples

 

When referring to an Act, follow this format:​

Migration Act 1958 (Cth).

Two important things to note:

  • The title of the Act including the year is in italics.
  • This is a Commonwealth Act.  Commonwealth is abbreviated as Cth.  The abbreviation is enclosed within round brackets.

 

Pinpoint references are often to a specific section within the Act.  If you are making a reference to a specific section of the Act, then the reference should be as follows:​

Migration Act 1958 (Cth) s 5C.
 
Title Year Jurisdiction Pinpoint
Migration Act 1958 (Cth) s 5C

Four important things to note:

  • A specific section is called a pinpoint reference. In this instance, it is section 5C.
  • Use the abbreviation s for section (when referring to one section).
  • Use the abbreviation ss for sections (when referring to more than one section).
  • Footnotes may include pinpoints, but a bibliography should not.

 

IMPORTANT:  You may use the Migration legislation Collection textbook, but you must reference the legislation directly – not the book. 

You can find more information about referencing Acts in our main AGLC4 guide.

 

The Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) is legislation that is delegated from the Migration Act 1958 (Cth).​

To reference regulations, follow this format:​

Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth).

Two important things to note:

  • The title of the regulations and year is in italics.
  • These are Commonwealth regulations.  Commonwealth is abbreviated as Cth.  The abbreviation is enclosed within round brackets.

 

When referring to a Regulation and a specific reference within the Regulations (a pinpoint reference), follow this format:​

Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) sch 2 cl 010.211.  ​
 
Title Year Jurisdiction Pinpoint
Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) sch 2 cl 010.211.

In this example, the pinpoint reference for schedule 2 clause 010.211 of the Migration Regulations1994 (Cth) is abbreviated to sch 2 cl 010.211.

 
Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) sch 1 item 1104BA(2)(a).
Title Year Jurisdiction Pinpoint
Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) sch 1 item 1104BA(2)(a).

In this example, the pinpoint reference for schedule 1 item 1104BA paragraph (2)(a) of the Migration Regulations1994 (Cth) is abbreviated to sch 1 item 1104BA(2)(a).  (note that item is not abbreviated, and paragraph or para is not used - only the number appears for the paragraph).

 

The introduction of the Australian Migration Legislation Collection includes useful information about the format of the schedules in the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth).

 

Migration (Migration Agents Code of Conduct) Regulations 2021 (Cth) s 10.​
Title Year Jurisdiction Pinpoint
Migration (Migration Agents Code of Conduct) Regulations 2021 (Cth) s 10.

NOTE: The pinpoint reference for  the Migration (Migration Agents Code of Conduct) Regulations 2021 (Cth) is abbreviated to s for section.

 

Remember​, footnotes may include pinpoints, but a bibliography should not.

IMPORTANT: You may use the Migration legislation Collection textbook, but you must reference the legislation directly – not the book. 

You can find more information about referencing Acts in our main AGLC4 guide.

 

A reported case is one that has been published in a law report.  A law report is a publication that publishes cases.  

The required format is:  

Al-Kateb v Godwin (2004) 219 CLR 562, 571.​

 

Case Name (italic font) Year Volume Abbreviation for Law Report Starting Page Pinpoint
Al-Kateb v Godwin (2004) 219 CLR 562, 571.

In this example, the pinpoint reference to to page 571.

Two important things to note:

  • The case name should always be in italic font, wherever it appears in your assignment.
  • The pinpoint points the reader to a particular page within the case.
  • Footnotes may include pinpoints, but a bibliography should not.

You can find more information about referencing case law in our main AGLC4 guide.

 

An unreported case is one that has not been published in a law report.  A law report is a publication that publishes cases.  

The required format is:  
 

Zhang v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2021] FCCA 2030, [23].
Case Name Year Unique Court Identifier Judgment Number Pinpoint
Zhang v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2021] FCCA 2030 [33].

The case in this example was the 2030th case delivered by the Federal Circuit Court of Australia in 2021.  

Four important things to note:

  • The case name should always be in italic font, wherever it appears in your assignment.
  • The pinpoint points the reader to a particular paragraph within the case (unreported judgments do not have page numbers).
  • Footnotes may include pinpoints, but a bibliography should not.

You can find more information about referencing case law in our main AGLC4 guide.

 

To reference the Procedures Advice Manual, follow this format:​
 

Department of Home Affairs (Cth), Procedures Advice Manual 3: Refugee and Humanitarian – Complementary Protection Guidelines (27 February 2021) [3.3.2].

 

Author Publication Tile Policy Title Stack Date Paragraph Pinpoint.
Department of Home Affairs (Cth) Procedures Advice Manual 3: Refugee and Humanitarian – Complementary Protection Guidelines 27 February 2021 [3.3.2]

Four things to note:

  • Where the author is a government department, the name should be followed by the abbreviation for the jurisdiction.  
  • The publication and policy titles should be in italic font.
  • The paragraph number must be enclosed within square brackets.
  • Footnotes may include pinpoints, but a bibliography should not.
  • If there isn't a paragraph number to use for a pinpoint, then use the title of the paragraph as the pinpoint.  E.g. ('Content of Notification')

 

Follow this format to reference ministerial directions:
 

Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs (Cth), Direction No 90: Visa Refusal and Cancellation under Section 501 and Revocation of a Mandatory Cancellation of a Visa under Section 501CA (15 April 2021) para 9.4.1.

 

Author Title Date Pinpoint
Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs (Cth) Direction No 90: VIsa Refusal and Cancellation under Section 501 and Revocation of a Mandatory Cancellation of a Visa under Section 501CA  (15 April 2021) para 9.4.1.

Four things to note:

  • Where the author is a government minister, the minister's title should be followed by the abbreviation for the jurisdiction.  
  • The title should be in italic font.
  • The title should be in title case.  It should not be in all uppercase or in sentence case.
  • The pinpoint will usually be to a paragraph use the abbreviation para for paragraph.

 

Follow this format to reference legislative instruments:
 

Department of Home Affairs (Cth), Migration (LIN 20/102: Arrangements for Student (Temporary) (Class TU) Visa Applications) Instrument 2020 (24 February 2020) s 6(1)(a).

 
Author Title Date Pinpoint
Department of Home Affairs (Cth) Migration (LIN 20/102: Arrangements for Student (Temporary) (Class TU) Visa Applications) Instrument 2020  (24 February 2020) s 6(1)(a).

Five things to note:

  • Where the author is a government department, the department name should be followed by the abbreviation for the jurisdiction.  
  • The title should be in italic font.
  • The title should be in title case.  It should not be in all uppercase or in sentence case.
  • The date should be the date of commencement. If you are not sure what the date of commencement is then check the endnotes when available.
  • The pinpoint will often be to a section - use the abbreviation s for section.

Ibid and Repeated References - Specific advice for students enrolled in the Graduate Diploma in Migration Law

It is recommended that students enrolled in the Graduate Diploma in Migration Law not use the rule for ibid (AGLC4 1.4.3), or the general rule for subsequent references (AGLC4 1.4.1).  Instead, it is recommended that students completing assessments in the Graduate Diploma in Migration Law repeat citations in full.

Repeated Citations - Example
BACHELOR OF LAWS GRADUATE DIPLOMA ON MIGRATION LAW

1  Al-Kateb v Godwin (2004) 219 CLR 562, 567 ('Al-Kateb').
2  Migration Act 1958 (Cth) s 5C.
3  Ibid s 73.
4  Ibid s 97A.
5  Al-Kateb (n 1) 580.
 

1  Al-Kateb v Godwin (2004) 219 CLR 562, 567.
2  Migration Act 1958 (Cth) s 5C.
3  Migration Act 1958 (Cth) s 73.
4  Migration Act 1958 (Cth) s 97A.
5  Al-Kateb v Godwin (2004) 219 CLR 562, 580.

VU EasyRef

VU EasyRef is an easy-to-use, interactive, mobile based referencing tool for AGLC4, and other referencing styles. Scan the QR code to access VU EasyRef on your mobile.