Let's count the red tape.

Changes since yesterday

Since 12 October 2026: 2 new in force, 1 no longer in force (repealed, sunsetted or ceased). Acts no change, instruments +1, pages +500.

Daily tracking started on 13 October 2026.

By administering department

As at 13 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.

New South Wales

NSW has 877 Acts, 559 statutory instruments and 192 environmental planning instruments in force (1,628 in total, as at 13 October 2026). See NSW by department.

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 It counts the laws in force and records the changes each day: what was made, what was repealed, and the net result.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 Once their changes take effect they are usually repealed automatically.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.