| King Charles the Third, by the Grace of God King of Australia and his other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth |
ROYAL WARRANT
TO all and singular to whom this
Warrant shall come, GREETING:
WHEREAS by Our Warrant given this day at Our Court at Government House, Canberra, We authorised that a Great Seal prepared by Our Order for the use of Our Government of Australia be used in sealing all things whatsoever that shall pass the Great Seal of Australia:
AND WHEREAS it is desirable that the said Great Seal be used as a Royal Great Seal for certain purposes:
NOW THEREFORE OUR WILL AND PLEASURE is, and We do hereby authorise, that the said Great Seal be used as a Royal Great Seal in sealing all things whatsoever (other than things that pass the said Great Seal) that bear Our Sign Manual and the counter‑signature of one of Our Ministers of State for Australia.
GIVEN at Our Court at Government House, Canberra, on 21 October 2024.
By His Majesty’s Command,
Anthony Albanese
Prime Minister
Overview
The Royal Warrant C2024G00737, issued on 21 October 2024, authorises the use of a Royal Great Seal for documents that bear the sign manual of King Charles III and the counter-signature of one of His Ministers of State for Australia. This Act was enacted to formalise the use of the Royal Great Seal for specific official purposes, ensuring that certain documents are appropriately authenticated and recognised. The enactment was carried out by the Australian Government under the authority of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, following the directive from King Charles III. The policy objective is to standardise the use of the Great Seal in a manner that aligns with the constitutional framework and ceremonial traditions of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Scope and Application
The Royal Warrant C2024G00737 authorises the use of the Royal Great Seal in sealing various documents bearing the Sign Manual of King Charles III and the counter-signature of an Australian Minister of State. This Act applies to documents and instruments that require the formal approval or authentication of the Crown, ensuring their legitimacy and authority. The geographic reach of this legislation pertains to the Commonwealth of Australia, encompassing all documents and instruments that are to be sealed with the Royal Great Seal within its jurisdiction. Notably, the Act does not specify exclusions or exemptions, implying that it broadly applies to any document requiring royal authentication unless otherwise defined through subordinate instruments or specific regulations. Subordinate instruments may further define the types of documents or circumstances under which the Royal Great Seal is to be used, thereby extending or restricting the application of this Warrant as necessary.
Key Provisions
The primary operative sections of this Royal Warrant (sections 1 and 2) establish the authority for the use of the Royal Great Seal in specific circumstances. Section 1 provides that the Great Seal, which has been prepared by order and is used to seal all official documents of the Government of Australia, will also serve as a Royal Great Seal. This means that any document bearing the King's sign manual and the counter-signature of one of His Ministers of State for Australia can be sealed using this Royal Great Seal, alongside other official documents. Section 2 clarifies that the Royal Great Seal is applicable to documents other than those that already pass the Great Seal of Australia, thereby distinguishing its use and purpose.
The obligations imposed by the Act are straightforward yet significant. Any document intended to be sealed with the Royal Great Seal must bear the King's sign manual, which is His personal signature, and the counter-signature of one of His Ministers of State for Australia. This requirement ensures that the document has been officially endorsed by the King and one of His appointed ministers, signifying the highest level of governmental authority. The dual signatures act as a formal attestation of the document's legitimacy and importance.
Regarding consequences for breach, the Act does not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance with the use of the Royal Great Seal. However, the misuse of the Royal Great Seal or the unauthorized use of the King's sign manual or a Minister's counter-signature could potentially lead to legal ramifications. Such actions might be considered a breach of the trust placed in the signatories and could result in criminal charges or other legal actions under broader legislative provisions governing the misuse of official seals or signatures. The precise penalties would depend on the context and severity of the breach, as well as applicable laws at the time of the offence.