Law reports - Australia - Legal abbreviations - Subject guides at University of Sydney

Please note Westlaw AU update:

Please use this link to access all Westlaw Australia cases.

Current Westlaw AU links are being undated and will not currently work due to the old platform being discontinuing on 30 June, 2022.

Law reports A-Z

A Crim R - Australian Criminal Reports
Access via Westlaw AU (1979- )
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
A Def R - Australian Defamation Reports
Limited online coverage available via the Case Law folder within the Australian Defamation Law & Practice (Lexis Advance) service.
Hard-copy available in the Law Library via the looseleaf service (1973-1996)
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
AAR - Administrative Appeals Reports
Access via Westlaw AU (vol. 38, 2003- )
Hard-copy available in the Law Library from vol. 1, 1984 and onwards (Reports AUS-AAR)
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
ABC (NS) - Australian Bankruptcy Cases (New Series)
Hard-copy available in the Law Library (vol. 1, 1999- )
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
ABC - Australian Bankruptcy Cases
Hard-copy available in the Law Library (vol.1, 1928 - v.20, 1964)
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
ACCR - Australian Consumer Credit Reports
Access via Lexis Advance (2 vols. 1994-1997)
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
ACLC - Australian Company Law Cases
Access via CCH IntelliConnect (vol. 1, 1982- )
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
ACLR - Australian Corporations & Securities Reports
Access via Lexis Advance (vol. 1, 1974 - v. 15, 1989)
Hard-copy available in the Law Library.
Continued by the Australian Corporation & Securities Reports (ACSR)
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
ACSR - Australian Corporations and Securities Reports
Access via Lexis Advance (vol. 1, 1990- )
Preceded by the Australian Company Law Reports (ACLR)
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
ACTLR - Australian Capital Territory Law Reports
Hard-copy available in the Law Library (vol. 1, 2007- )
Authorised report series for the ACT
ACTR - Australian Capital Territory Reports
Access via Lexis Advance (vol. 1, 1973- )
Hard-copy formerly published at the back of the Australian Law Report series.
Generalist (unauthorised) report series
AIPC - Australian Intellectual Property Cases
Access via CCH IntelliConnect (1998- )
Hard-copy available in the Law Library (1982- )
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
AITR - Australian and New Zealand Income Tax Reports
Preceded by the Australian Income Tax Reports
Continued by the Australasian Tax Reports
Hard-copy available in the Law Library (vol. 3, 1948 - vol. 10, 1968)
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
AITR - Australian Income Tax Reports
Continued by the Australian and New Zealand Income Tax Reports
Hard-copy available in the Law Library (vol. 1, 1940 - vol. 2, 1944)
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
ALD - Administrative Law Decisions
Access via Lexis Advance (vol. 1, 1976- )
Authorised report series for the Administrative Appeals Tribunal
ALJR - Australian Law Journal Reports
Access via Westlaw AU (vol. 77, 2002- )
Hard-copy available in the Law Library (vol. 1, 1927- )
Previously issued as part of the Australian Law Journal.
Generalist (unauthorised) report series
ALR - Argus Law Reports
Alternative abbreviations = ArgusLawRp ; Argus LR
Continued by the Australian Argus Law Reports.
Access via AustLII (1895-1950)
Hard-copy available in the Law Library (vol. 1, 1895 - v. 66, 1959)
Generalist (unauthorised) report series
ALR - Australian Argus Law Reports
Continued by the Australian Law Reports.
Hard-copy available in the Law Library (1960-1973)
Generalist (unauthorised) report series
ALR - Australian Law Reports
Preceded by the Australian Argus Law Reports
Access via Lexis Advance (vol. 1, 1973- )
Generalist (unauthorised) report series
ALT - Australian Law Times (Vic)
Continued by the Victorian Law Reports.
Access via HeinOnline (vol. 1, 1879 - vol. 49, 1928)
Generalist (unauthorised) report series
ANZ Insurance Cases - Australian & New Zealand Insurance Cases
Jurisdiction: Australia and New Zealand
Alternative abbreviation = ANZ Ins Cas
Access via CCH IntelliConnect (1979- )
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
ASTLR - Australian Succession and Trusts Law Reports
Access via Westlaw AU (vol. 1, 2005- )
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
ATC - Australian Tax Cases
Preceded by the Australasian Tax Decisions
Access via CCH IntelliConnect (1969- )
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
ATD - Australasian Tax Decisions
Preceded by Australian Tax Decisions
Continued by Australian Tax Cases
Access via CCH IntelliConnect (vol. 7, 1943 - v. 15, 1969)
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
ATD - Australian Tax Decisions
Continued by the Australasian Tax Decisions
Access via CCH IntelliConnect (vol. 1, 1930 - v. 6, 1942)
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
ATPR - Australian Competition and Consumer Cases
Formerly named Australian Trade Practices Reports.
Access via CCH IntelliConnect (1974- )
Hard-copy available in the Law Library (vol. 1, 1974 - vol. 32, 2010)
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
ATR - Australian Tax Reports
Access via Westlaw AU and Checkpoint (vol. 1, 1969- )
Named the Australasian Tax Reports until 1988
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
Aust Contract R - Australian Contract Reports
Alternative abbreviation = Aust Contract Reports
Access via CCH IntelliConnect (2000- )
Hard-copy available in the Law Library (1991-2009)
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
Aust Torts Reports - Australian Torts Reports
Access via CCH IntelliConnect (1998- )
Hard-copy available in the Law Library (1984- )
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
BPR - Butterworths Property Reports
Access via Lexis Advance (vol. 1, 1970s- )
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
CLR - Commonwealth Law Reports
Access via Westlaw AU (vol. 1, 1903- )
Authorised report series for the High Court of Australia
CTBR (NS) - Commonwealth Taxation Board of Review Decisions (New Series)
Hard-copy available in the Law Library (vol. 1, 1950 - vol. 29, 1986)
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
CTBR - Commonwealth Taxation Board of Review Decisions
Alternative abbreviation = CTBR (OS)
A reprint of selected cases from the ‘Decisions of the Boards of Review’. Continued by the Commonwealth Taxation Board of Review Decisions (New Series)
Hard-copy available in the Law Library (vo1. 1, 1925 - vol. 4, 1949)
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
DCLR (NSW) - Lawbook Co.'s District Court Law Reports (NSW)
Access via Westlaw AU (vol. 1, 2003-)
Generalist (unauthorised) report series
DCR (NSW) - District Court Reports (NSW)
Alternative abbreviation = DCR
Hard-copy available in the Law Library (3 vols). Covers cases from 1952-1975.
Generalist (unauthorised) report series
Fam LR - Family Law Reports
Access via Lexis Advance (vol. 1, 1976- )
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
FCR - Federal Court Reports
Access via Westlaw AU (vol. 1, 1984- )
Authorised report series for the Federal Court of Australia
FLC - Australian Family Law Cases
Access via CCH IntelliConnect (1976- )
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
FLR - Federal Law Reports
Access via Westlaw AU (vol. 1, 1956- )
Generalist (unauthorised) report series
IPR - Intellectual Property Reports
Access via Lexis Advance (vol. 1, 1983- )
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
IR - Industrial Reports
Access via Westlaw AU (vol. 1, 1981- )
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
LGERA - Local Government and Environmental Reports of Australia
Access via Westlaw AU (vol. 78, 1992- )
Preceded by the Local Government Reports of Australia (LGRA).
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
LGRA - Local Government Reports of Australia
Access via Westlaw AU (vol. 1, 1956 - vol. 77, 1992)
Continued by the Local Government and Environmental Reports of Australia (LGERA)
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
MVR - Motor Vehicle Reports
Access via Lexis Advance (vol. 1, 1983- )
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
NSWLR - New South Wales Law Reports
Access via Westlaw AU (1971- )
Authorised report series for the courts of NSW
QCLLR - Queensland Crown Lands Law Reports
Access via Lexis Advance (vol. 1, 1864 - vol. 40, 1973)
Continued by the Queensland Land Court Reports
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
Qd R - Queensland Reports
Access via Lexis Advance (1974- )
Hard-copy available in the Law Library (1958- )
Preceded by the State Reports, Queensland (1902-1957)
Authorised report series for the Supreme Court of Queensland
QLCR - Queensland Land Court Reports
Access via Lexis Advance (vol. 1, 1974 - vol. 21, 1999)
Preceded by the Queensland Crown Lands Law Reports
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
QPELR - Queensland Planning and Environmental Law Reports
Access via Lexis Advance (1996- )
Preceded by the Queensland Planning Law Reports
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
QPLR - Queensland Planning Law Reports
Access via Lexis Advance (1982-1995)
Continued by the Queensland Planning and Environment Law Reports
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
QSR - Queensland State Reports
Alternative abbreviation = St R Qd
Hard-copy available in the Law Library (1902-1957)
Continued by the Queensland Reports (1958- )
Authorised report series for the Supreme Court of Queensland
SASR - South Australian State Reports
Access via Westlaw AU (vol. 1, 1971- )
Preceded by The State Reports, South Australia
Authorised report series for the Supreme Court of SA
SR (NSW) - State Reports (New South Wales)
Access via AustLII (vol. 1, 1901 - vol. 51, 1950).
Hard copy available in Law Library (vol.1, 1901 - vol.72, 1970)
Followed and preceded by the New South Wales Law Reports
Authorised report series for the Supreme Court of NSW.
Tas R - Tasmanian Reports
Access via AustLII (1979-1991)
Preceded by the Tasmanian State Reports (Tas SR)
Authorised report series for the Supreme Court of Tasmania
Tas R - Tasmanian Reports
Access via Westlaw AU (vol. 1, 1992- )
Preceded by the Tasmanian State Reports (Tas SR)
Authorised report series for the Supreme Court of Tasmania
VAR - Victorian Administrative Reports
Hard-copy available in the Law Library (vol. 1, 1985- )
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
VLR - Victorian Law Reports
Alternative abbreviation = VicLawRp
Access via AustLII (1874-1956)
Continued by the Victorian Reports
Authorised report series for the Supreme Court of Victoria
VR - Victorian Reports
Access via Lexis Advance (1957- )
Preceded by the Victorian Law Reports
Authorised report series for the Supreme Court of Victoria

Which version of a case should I cite?

It's common for leading cases to be published in several law report series.

According to rule 2.7 in the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (AGLC), the "most authoritative available version of a case should be cited."

When deciding which version of a case to cite, rule 2.3.1 sets out the following hierarchy:

Authorised report series
Generalist (unauthorised) report series
Subject-specific (unauthorised) report series
The unreported (AustLII) version of the judgment

Tip #1: To find out if a case has been 'reported', look up the judgment in a case citator (e.g. CaseBase and FirstPoint).

Tip #2: For Australian judgments, CaseBase always lists the most authoritative case citation first.

Legal abbreviations: Law reports - Australia

Please note Westlaw AU update:

Law reports A-Z

Which version of a case should I cite?