| Abbreviation | Meaning |
| (Am) | Amendment |
| (Rep) | Repeal |
| Regs | Regulations |
| SR | Statutory Rules |
| prev | "previously known as" (used where the instrument has had a citation change to indicate the previous name/s of the instrument) |
| orig | "originally made under" (used where the enabling legislation under which an instrument was made is no longer in force and the instrument is in force under a new piece of enabling legislation) |
| cl, cls | clause, clauses |
| regs | regulations |
| r, rr | regulation or subregulation, regulations or subregulations |
| s, ss | section or subsection, sections or subsections |
| HR | House of Representatives |
| Sen | Senate |
| n/m | notice of motion |
| GN | Government Notices Gazette |
| S | Special Gazette |
| V&P | Votes and Proceedings (of the House of Representatives) |
| J | Journals (of the Senate) |
| ECO | Export Control Order |
| AFFA | Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry |
| AG | Attorney-General's Department |
| Defence | Department of Defence |
| DEST | Department of Education, Science and Training |
| DEWR | Department of Employment and Workplace Relations |
| DFAT | Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |
| DFCS | Department of Family and Community Services |
| DIMIA | Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs |
| DITR | Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources |
| DOCITA | Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts |
| DOEH | Department of the Environment and Heritage |
| DTRS | Department of Transport and Regional Services |
| DVA | Department of Veterans' Affairs |
| Finance | Department of Finance and Administration |
| Health | Department of Health and Ageing |
| PM&C | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |
| Treasury | Department of the Treasury |
The following abbreviations only apply to instruments on the Register that have ceased.
