Citing and referencing: Government publications

A guide to the styles recommended by Monash schools and departments for students and researchers

Warning

Warning symbolThis guide is no longer being maintained as the 7th edition of the MLA Handbook has been replaced by the 8th edition. Only use the 7th edition under direction of your lecturer or tutor. Please click here to go to the MLA 8th library guide.

Tips from the MLA Guide

For government sources where author is unknown, cite the government agency that issued it as author. First state the name of the government followed by the agency. If the agency has a high public profile then naming the government is unnecessary.

Government publications

Report - Print

Name of Government. Name of Government Agency. Title of Work. Place of Publication: Publisher, Date of Publication. Medium of Publication.

Example

Victorian Government Dept. of Sustainability and Environment. Code of Practice for Bushfire Management on Public Land. East Melbourne: Vic. Govt. 2012. Print.


Report - Online

Name of Government. Name of Government Agency. Title of Work. Place of Publication: Publisher, Date of Publication. Medium of Publication. Date of Access.

Example

Australian Government. Dept of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Indigenous Television Review Report. Canberra: Australian Govt, 2005. Web. 5 Dec 2012.

In text citation

It is noted by the Australian Film Commission that no Indigenous language is heard on the national broadcasts or major networks in Australia (Australian Government. Dept of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts 21).

or

The Indigenous Television Review Report refers to the lack of representation of Indigenous languages currently in the major Australian networks and broadcasting media (21).

Announcement from a Government website

Name of Government (if applicable). Name of Government Agency. Title of Work. Date. Medium of Publication. Date of Access.

Example

Consumer Affairs Victoria, Music festivals ticketing and cancellations - News Alert. 23 Nov 2012. Web. 11 Dec 2012.

Australian Bureau of Statistics

Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Social Trends. June 2011. Catalogue no.
4102.0, Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics. Web. 4 Jun 2012.