How can I use Australian Government copyright material?
Who owns the copyright in material produced by Australian Government agencies?
In most cases, the Australian Government owns the copyright in material produced by its employees, or under its direction or control. Australian Government copyright material (also called Crown copyright material) includes:
- website content
- legislation
- publications
- maps
- literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works
- sound recordings, and
- films.
How can I use Australian Government copyright material?
The Attorney-General’s Department no longer provides licences to use Australian Government copyright material produced by Australian Government agencies. Each agency is now responsible for managing copyright for material it produces. If the agency that produced the material no longer exists, then the successor to that agency will be responsible for the material.
Australian Government copyright material should be published by agencies under a Creative Commons BY Licence as a default to encourage public use and easy access. Where this licence is applied to material, you can distribute, change and add to the content as long as you acknowledge the Australian Government as the material’s creator.
Where material is published under a Creative Commons licence, you do not need to seek separate permission from Australian Government agencies or bodies to use material but you must comply with the conditions of the licence.
Website material
The copyright statement for each agency’s website will include licensing information for using their website material. You will usually find the copyright statement at the bottom of the agency’s homepage.
If the copyright statement refers to the Commonwealth Copyright Administration (which no longer exists), contact the agency directly to find out their copyright arrangements.
The www.australia.gov.au website has agencies’ contact details.
Other material
For all other Australian Government material, refer to the copyright statement included in that material. For example, a print publication will usually include its own copyright statement. If you can’t find information for specific material, or if the copyright statement refers to the Commonwealth Copyright Administration (which no longer exists), contact the agency that produced it.
Government material available under a statutory licence or exception
You may also use Australian Government copyright material where your use would come within one of the exceptions or statutory licences in the Copyright Act. In these circumstances, you do not need to contact Australian Government agencies or bodies regarding use of that material.
Use of Australian Government copyright material produced by the Attorney General’s Department
For use of copyright material on the Attorney-General’s Department website, please refer to the copyright statement.
If you have further enquiries, or if you wish to use other material that the Attorney-General’s Department is responsible for, please contact:
Business Law Branch
Attorney-General’s Department
Robert Garran Offices
3–5 National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6141 3556
Email: copyright@ag.gov.au
State and Territory government copyright material
Each state or territory government controls its own copyright. Enquiries about state or territory government copyright material should be addressed to the state or territory authorities concerned, not to the Commonwealth.