The Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) ^{[note 1][note 2]} is the single Act mandating copyright policy for government and non-government works in Australia. Sections 176(2) and 177 of the Act provide that the Australian Government or a government of an Australian state or territory owns copyright in an original literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work:

• made by or under the direction or control of that government, or
• first published in Australia by or under the direction or control of that government.

Copyright in such copyright material subsists until 50 years after the calendar year in which the material is made.