2000ABILLFORAn Act to facilitate electronic
transactions, and for other purposes
s14Electronic
Transactions (Queensland)The Parliament of Queensland
enacts—s41†CHAPTER 1—PRELIMINARY˙Short
title1.This Act may be cited as theElectronic Transactions (Queensland)Act
2000.˙Commencement2.This
Act commences on a day to be fixed by proclamation.˙Object3.The
object of this Act is to provide a regulatory framework
that—(a)recognisestheimportanceoftheinformationeconomytothefuture economic
and social prosperity of Queensland; and(b)facilitates the use of electronic
transactions; and(c)promotesbusinessandcommunityconfidenceintheuseofelectronic transactions; and(d)enablesbusinessandthecommunitytouseelectroniccommunications
in their dealings with government.˙Simplified outline4.The
following is a simplified outline of this Act—(a)a
transaction is not invalid under a State law merely because
ittook place by 1 or more electronic
communications;(b)thefollowingrequirementsimposedunderaStatelawcangenerally be met in electronic
form—(i)a requirement to give information in
writing;234567891011121314151617181920212223
s55s7Electronic Transactions (Queensland)(ii)a requirement to
provide a signature;(iii)a requirement to
produce a document;(iv)a requirement to
record information;(v)a requirement to keep a
document;(c)for a State law, provision is made for
determining the time andplace of the dispatch and receipt of
an electronic communication;(d)the
purported originator of an electronic communication is boundby
it under a State law only if the communication was sent by
thepurported originator or with the purported
originator’s authority.˙Attachment—flowchart5.(1)The
attachment to this Act shows the way in which some of thedefinitions in the dictionary and the
concepts underlying this Act are linkedwhen an
electronic communication is used for a transaction.(2)The attachment does not form part of
this Act.(3)If the Act is amended, the attachment
must be revised so that it isaccurate.(4)The revision must be made in the first
reprint of this Act after theamendments.˙Definitions6.The
dictionary in the schedule defines particular words used in
thisAct.˙Act binds all
persons7.ThisActbindsallpersonsincludingtheStateand,sofarasthelegislativepoweroftheParliamentpermits,theCommonwealthandtheother States.12345678910111213141516171819202122232425
s
86s 10Electronic
Transactions (Queensland)†CHAPTER
2—REQUIREMENTS FORELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS†PART 1—GENERAL RULE ABOUT VALIDITY
OFTRANSACTIONS FOR STATE LAWS˙Validity of electronic
transactions8.(1)A transaction is
not invalid under a State law merely because it tookplace
wholly or partly by 1 or more electronic communications.(2)However, the general rule in
subsection (1) does not apply for thevalidityofatransactiontotheextenttowhichanother,morespecific,provision of this chapter deals with its
validity.12345678910†PART
2—REQUIREMENTS UNDER STATE LAWS†Division 1—Writing˙Application9.Thisdivisionappliestoarequirementorpermissiontogiveinformation,whethertheexpressiongive,sendorserve,oranotherexpression, is
used.˙Definitions for div 110.In this division—“give
information”includes, but is not limited to, the
following—(a)make an application;(b)make or lodge a claim;(c)give, send or serve a
notification;111213141516171819202122
s
117s 12Electronic
Transactions (Queensland)(d)lodge a
return;(e)make a request;(f)make
a declaration;(g)lodge or issue a certificate;(h)make, vary or cancel an
election;(i)lodge an objection;(j)give a statement of reasons.˙Requirement to give information in
writing11.(1)If, under a
State law, a person is required to give information inwriting, the requirement is taken to have
been met if the person gives theinformation by an
electronic communication in the circumstances stated insubsection (2).(2)The
circumstances are that—(a)at the time the
information was given, it was reasonable to expectthe
information would be readily accessible so as to be useable
forsubsequent reference; and(b)thepersontowhomtheinformationisrequiredtobegivenconsentstotheinformationbeinggivenbyanelectroniccommunication.˙Permission to give information in
writing12.(1)If, under a
State law, a person is permitted to give information inwriting,thepersonmaygivetheinformationbyanelectroniccommunication in
the circumstances stated in subsection (2).(2)The
circumstances are that—(a)at the time the
information was given, it was reasonable to expectthe
information would be readily accessible so as to be useable
forsubsequent reference; and123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627
s
138s 15Electronic
Transactions (Queensland)(b)thepersontowhomtheinformationispermittedtobegivenconsentstotheinformationbeinggivenbyanelectroniccommunication.˙Other
particular laws not affected13.Sections 11 and 12 do not affect the
operation of another State lawthat makes
provision about requiring or permitting information to be
given,in accordance with particular information
technology requirements—(a)on a particular
kind of data storage device; or(b)by a
particular kind of electronic communication.†Division 2—Signatures˙Requirement for signature14.If,
under a State law, a person’s signature is required, the
requirementis taken to have been met for an electronic
communication if—(a)amethodisusedtoidentifythepersonandtoindicatetheperson’s approval of the information
communicated; and(b)having regard to all the relevant
circumstances when the methodwas used, the
method was as reliable as was appropriate for thepurposes for which the information was
communicated; and(c)the person to whom the signature is
required to be given consentsto the
requirement being met by using the method mentioned inparagraph (a).˙Other
particular laws not affected15.Section 14 does not affect the operation of
another State law thatmakes provision for or in relation to
requiring—(a)an electronic communication to contain
an electronic signature,however described; or(b)an electronic communication to contain
a unique identification inan electronic form; or12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728
s
169s 17Electronic
Transactions (Queensland)(c)a particular
method to be used for an electronic communication toidentify the originator of the communication
and to indicate theoriginator’s approval of the information
communicated.†Division 3—Production of
document˙Requirement to produce document16.(1)If, under a
State law, a person is required to produce a documentthat
is in the form of paper, an article or other material, the
requirement istakentohavebeenmetifthepersonproduces,byanelectroniccommunication, an
electronic form of the document in the circumstancesstated in subsection (2).(2)The
circumstances are that—(a)havingregardtoalltherelevantcircumstanceswhenthecommunication was sent, the method of
generating the electronicform of the document provided a
reliable way of maintaining theintegrity of the
information contained in the document; and(b)when
the communication was sent, it was reasonable to expect theinformationcontainedintheelectronicformofthedocumentwould be readily accessible so as to be
useable for subsequentreference; and(c)thepersontowhomthedocumentisrequiredtobeproducedconsents to the
production, by an electronic communication, of anelectronic form of the document.˙Permission to produce a document17.(1)If, under a
State law, a person is permitted to produce a documentin
the form of paper, an article or other material, then, instead of
producingthedocumentinthatform,thepersonmayproduce,byanelectroniccommunication, an
electronic form of the document in the circumstancesstated in subsection (2).(2)The
circumstances are that—1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829
s
1810s 19Electronic
Transactions (Queensland)(a)havingregardtoalltherelevantcircumstanceswhenthecommunication was sent, the method of
generating the electronicform of the document provided a
reliable way of maintaining theintegrity of the
information contained in the document; and(b)when
the communication was sent, it was reasonable to expect theinformationcontainedintheelectronicformofthedocumentwould be readily accessible so as to be
useable for subsequentreference; and(c)the
person to whom the document is permitted to be producedconsents to the production, by an electronic
communication, of anelectronic form of the
document.(3)Forsubsection(2)(a),theintegrityofinformationcontainedinadocument is
maintained only if the information has remained complete andunaltered, apart from—(a)the
addition of any endorsement; or(b)any
immaterial change;arising in the normal course of
communication, storage or display.˙Other
particular laws not affected18.Sections 16 and 17 do not affect the
operation of another State lawthat makes
provision for or in relation to requiring or permitting
electronicformsofdocumentstobeproduced,inaccordancewithparticularinformation
technology requirements—(a)on a particular
kind of data storage device; or(b)by a
particular kind of electronic communication.†Division 4—Recording and keeping information
and documents˙Recording information19.(1)If, under a
State law, a person is required to record information inwriting, the requirement is taken to have
been met if the person records theinformation in
electronic form in the circumstances stated in subsection
(2).1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829
s
2011s 20Electronic
Transactions (Queensland)(2)The
circumstances are that—(a)atthetimetheinformationwasrecorded,itwasreasonabletoexpect the information would be readily
accessible so as to beuseable for subsequent reference;
and(b)ifaregulationrequirestheinformationtoberecordedonaparticular kind of data storage
device, the requirement has beenmet.˙Keeping written documents20.(1)If, under a
State law, a person is required to keep, for a particularperiod, a document that is in the form of
paper, an article or other material,the requirement
is taken to have been met if the person keeps, or causesanother person to keep, an electronic form of
the document for the period inthe circumstances
stated in subsection (2).(2)The
circumstances are that—(a)having regard to
all the relevant circumstances when the electronicform
of the document was generated, the method of generatingthe
electronic form of the document provided a reliable way ofmaintainingtheintegrityoftheinformationcontainedinthedocument;
and(b)when the electronic form of the
document was generated, it wasreasonable to
expect the information contained in the electronicformofthedocumentwouldbereadilyaccessiblesoastobeuseable for subsequent reference; and(c)if a regulation requires the
electronic form of the document to bekept on a
particular kind of data storage device, the requirementhas
been met for the period.(3)Forsubsection(2)(a),theintegrityofinformationcontainedinadocument is
maintained only if the information has remained complete andunaltered, apart from—(a)the
addition of any endorsement; or(b)any
immaterial change;arising in the normal course of
communication, storage or display.1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132
s
2112s 21Electronic
Transactions (Queensland)˙Keeping electronic
communications21.(1)If, under a
State law, a person (“keeper”) is required to
keep, for aparticularperiod,informationthatwasthesubjectofanelectroniccommunication,
the requirement is taken to have been met if the keeperkeeps, or causes another person to keep, in
electronic form, the informationfor the period in
the circumstances stated in subsection (2).(2)The
circumstances for subsection (1) are that—(a)at
the commencement of the keeping of the information, it wasreasonable to expect the information would
be readily accessibleso as to be useable for subsequent
reference; and(b)havingregardtoalltherelevantcircumstancesatthecommencement of the keeping of the
information, the method ofkeeping the information in electronic
form provided a reliable wayof maintaining
the integrity of the information contained in theelectronic communication; and(c)duringtheperiod,thekeeperalsokeeps,orcausestheotherperson to keep,
in electronic form, such additional informationobtained by the
keeper as is enough to enable the identification ofthe
following—(i)the origin of the electronic
communication;(ii)the destination
of the electronic communication;(iii)when
the electronic communication was sent;(iv)when
the electronic communication was received; and(d)at
the commencement of the keeping of the additional
informationmentionedinparagraph(c),itwasreasonabletoexpecttheadditionalinformationwouldbereadilyaccessiblesoastobeuseable for subsequent reference; and(e)if a regulation requires the
information to be kept on a particularkind of data
storage device—the requirement has been met for theperiod.(3)For
subsection (2)(b), the integrity of information that was the
subjectof an electronic communication is maintained
only if the information hasremained complete
and unaltered, apart from—123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233
s
2213s 24Electronic
Transactions (Queensland)(a)the addition of
any endorsement; or(b)any immaterial change;arising in the normal course of
communication, storage or display.123†PART
3—OTHER PROVISIONS ABOUT STATELAWS†Division 1—Application˙Application of part 322.This part applies for each State
law.†Division 2—Time of dispatch and
receipt˙Time of dispatch23.(1)If
an electronic communication enters a single information
systemoutsidethecontroloftheoriginatorofthecommunication,then,unlessotherwiseagreedbetweentheoriginatorandtheaddresseeofthecommunication, the dispatch of the
communication occurs when it entersthe information
system.(2)Ifanelectroniccommunicationenterssuccessively2ormoreinformationsystemsoutsidethecontroloftheoriginatorofthecommunication, then, unless otherwise
agreed between the originator andtheaddresseeofthecommunication,thedispatchofthecommunicationoccurs when it
enters the first of the information systems.˙Time
of receipt24.(1)If the addressee
of an electronic communication has designated aninformationsystemtoreceiveelectroniccommunications,then,unlessotherwiseagreedbetweentheoriginatorofthecommunicationandthe456789101112131415161718192021222324
s
2514s 25Electronic
Transactions (Queensland)addressee,thetimeofreceiptofthecommunicationisthetimewhenitenters the information system.(2)If the addressee of an electronic
communication has not designated aninformationsystemtoreceiveelectroniccommunications,then,unlessotherwiseagreedbetweentheoriginatorofthecommunicationandtheaddressee,thetimeofreceiptofthecommunicationisthetimewhenitcomes to the attention of the
addressee.˙Place of dispatch and receipt25.(1)Unless otherwise
agreed between the originator of an electroniccommunication and
the addressee of the communication—(a)thecommunicationistakentohavebeendispatchedfromtheoriginator’s place of business;
and(b)thecommunicationistakentohavebeenreceivedattheaddressee’s place of business.(2)For subsection (1)—(a)if the originator or addressee of the
communication has more than1 place of
business, and 1 of the places (the“relevant
place”) hasacloserrelationshiptotheunderlyingtransactionthecommunicationisabout—therelevantplaceistakentobetheoriginator’s or
addressee’s only place of business; and(b)if
the originator or addressee has more than one place of
business,but paragraph (a) does not apply—the
originator’s or addressee’sprincipalplaceofbusinessistakentobetheoriginator’soraddressee’s only place of business;
and(c)iftheoriginatororaddresseedoesnothaveaplaceofbusiness—the place where the originator or
addressee ordinarilyresidesistakentobeoriginator’soraddressee’splaceofbusiness.12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728
s
2615s 27Electronic
Transactions (Queensland)†Division 3—Other
provisions˙Attribution of electronic
communications26.(1)For a State law,
unless otherwise agreed between the purportedoriginatorofanelectroniccommunicationandtheaddresseeofthecommunication, the purported originator
of the communication is bound bythe communication
only if it was sent by the purported originator or withthe
purported originator’s authority.(2)Subsection (1) does not limit a State law
that provides for—(a)conduct engaged in by a person within
the scope of the person’sactual or apparent authority to be
attributed to another person; or(b)a
person to be bound by conduct engaged in by another personwithin the scope of the other person’s
actual or apparent authority.123456789101112†CHAPTER 3—MISCELLANEOUS˙Regulation-making power27.The
Governor in Council may make regulations under this Act.13141516
16Electronic Transactions
(Queensland)S¡CHEDULE†DICTIONARYsection 6“consents”includesconsentthatcanreasonablybeinferredfromtheconduct of the person concerned, but
does not include consent givensubject to
conditions unless the conditions are complied with.“data”includesthewholeorpartofacomputerprogramwithinthemeaning of theCopyright Act
1968(Cwlth).“data storage
device”means any article or material (for example,
a disk)fromwhichinformationiscapableofbeingreproduced,withorwithout the aid of another article or
device.“electronic communication”means—(a)acommunicationofinformationintheformofdata,textorimages by guided or unguided
electromagnetic energy; or(b)a communication
of information in the form of sound by guidedor unguided
electromagnetic energy, if the sound is processed atits
destination by an automated voice recognition system.“give
information”, for chapter 2, part 2, division 1, see
section 10.“information”meansinformationintheformofdata,text,imagesorsound.“information
system”means a system for generating, sending,
receiving,storing or otherwise processing electronic
communications.“information technology requirements”includes software requirements.“non-profit body”means a body
that—(a)is not carried on for profit or gain
to its individual members; and(b)is,underthebody’sconstitution,prohibitedfrommakinganydistribution,whetherinmoney,propertyorotherwise,toitsmembers.12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728
17Electronic Transactions
(Queensland)SCHEDULE (continued)“place of
business”, for a government, an authority of a
government or anon-profit body, means a place where any
operations or activities arecarried out by
that government, authority or body.“State law”means—(a)any
law in force in the State, whether written or unwritten; or(b)any instrument made or having effect
under a law mentioned inparagraph (a);but does not
include—(c)the Corporations Law or the
Corporations Regulations; or(d)a
law of the Commonwealth, whether written or unwritten, or aninstrument made or having effect under a
written or unwritten lawof the Commonwealth.“transaction”includesanytransactioninthenatureofacontract,agreement or
other arrangement, and also includes any transaction of anon-commercial nature.12345678910111213141516
