An Act to standardize the terminology used in legislation in regard to the great office of state and the Lord High Treasurer, and for purposes connected therewith

Preface

1. The short title for this Act is the Lord High Treasurer (Standardization) Act, 2025, Bill 9103.

Lord High Treasurer

2. The office of Lord High Treasurer and neither any of the Great Offices of Baustralia including their precedence and functions shall not be affected by this act, unless specifically stated by this Act.
3. The Lord High Treasurer may be referred to in official contexts as the “prime minster”, alternatively as the “prime minister and Lord High Treasurer”.
4. A Minister of the Crown may, on behalf of the Government, designate that another Minister of the Crown shall be referred to as the “prime minister”. This process shall formally take effect once gazetted in the official gazette as established by law.
5. The Lord High Treasurer, or another Minister of the Crown when designated as the “prime minister” under Section 4 of this Act, shall act as the primary liaison between the Government and the Sovereign in terms of supplying proper advice and consent to the Sovereign in relation to the executive functions of government and other such purposes.
6. Other Ministers of the Crown shall supply the Sovereign with supplying proper advice and consent to the Sovereign in relation to the government ministry, department or other such body that they are administering but which shall not be used for the purposes of giving advice and consent contrary to Section 5 of this Act.

Amendments

7. Within Section 4d of the Baustralian Realms Act, 8 John 1 c. 14, the reference to the “Prime Minister of Baustralia” shall be replaced with “Government”.
8. The following amendments shall be made to the Crown and Ministerial Powers Act, 8 John 1 c. 19:-
1. Within Section 6a, the reference to the “Prime Minister” shall be replaced with “Government”.
2. Within Section 6b, the reference to the “Prime Minister” shall be replaced with “Ministers of the Crown within the boundaries of their commission”.
3. Within Section 6d, the reference to “the advice and consent of the Prime Minister” shall be replaced with “the correct ministerial advice”.
4. Within Section 6g, the reference to “and the leadership of the Privy Council” shall be removed.
5. Within Section 6h, the reference to the “Prime Minister” shall be replaced with “Government”.
6. Within Section 6i, the reference to the “Prime Minister as head of the government at the time.” shall be replaced with “Government”.
7. Within Section 8a, the reference to the “Prime Minister” shall be replaced with “Minister of the Crown empowered under Section 5 of the Lord High Treasurer (Standardization) Act, 2025”.
8. Within Section 9, the reference to the “Prime Minister” shall be replaced with “Minister of the Crown empowered under Section 5 of the Lord High Treasurer (Standardization) Act, 2025”.
9. Within Section 10b, the reference to “(1) Prime Minister or (2) the Cabinet and Government” shall be replaced with “Government”.
9. Within Section 4 of the Honours and Precedence (Reform) Act, 8 John 1 c. 22, the reference to the “Prime Minister and Cabinet, with the recommendation of the Honours Commission being binding for those so nominated to such positions.” shall be replaced with “Government”.
10. Within Section 4 of the Judiciary Act, 8 John 1 c. 24, the reference to “the prime minister and” shall be removed.
11. The following amendments shall be made to the Parliamentary Reform Act, 8 John 1 c. 29:-
1. Within Section 17, the reference to the “Prime Minister” shall be replaced with “Minister of the Crown empowered under Section 5 of the Lord High Treasurer (Standardization) Act, 2025”.
2. Within Section 37, the reference to the “Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition” shall be replaced with “Minister of the Crown empowered under Section 5 of the Lord High Treasurer (Standardization) Act, 2025 and the Leader of His Majesty’s Most Loyal Opposition”.
3. Within Section 38, the reference to the “Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition” shall be replaced with “Minister of the Crown empowered under Section 5 of the Lord High Treasurer (Standardization) Act, 2025 and the Leader of His Majesty’s Most Loyal Opposition”.
12. The following amendments shall be made to the Peerages and Honours Act, 8 John 1 c. 30:-
1. Section 12a shall be removed.
2. Section 12b shall be amended to read “four members of Cabinet; and”.
13. The following amendments shall be made to the Succession to the Crown Act, 8 John 1 c. 35:-
1. Within Section 5a, the reference to the “Prime Minister” shall be replaced with “Lord High Treasurer”.
2. Section 12b shall be removed.
14. Any further legislation containing the term “Prime Minister” shall be understood based on context to either relate to the Government or to the Minister of the Crown empowered under Section 5 of this Act.