Abbreviations and acronyms in common parlance in Australia:
other definitions = Click here
2PP = two-party-preferred
A'asia = Australasia
A-G(***) = Attorney-General (State)
A-G(Cth) = Attorney-General (Commonwealth)
AA => Environmentspeak
AAG => Businesspeak
AAS => Businesspeak
AASB => Businesspeak
AAP = Australian Associated Press
AARF => Businesspeak
AAU => Environmentspeak
AAPMN = Australian-Asian Pacific Mining Network
AAT = Administrative Appeals Tribunal
AATA = Administrative Appeals Tribunal
ABA = Australian Bar Association
ABA = Australian Broadcasting Authority
ABARE => Environmentspeak
ABC = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
ABCC = Australian Building & Construction Commissioner
ABN = Australian Business Number
ABS = Australian Bureau of Statistics
ABT = Australian Broadcasting Tribunal
ACCC = Australian Competition (and) Consumer Commission
ACCRA => Environmentspeak
ACF = Australian Conservation Foundation
ACGG => Environmentspeak
ACJ = Acting Chief Justice
ACMA = Australian Communications (and) Media Authority
ACN = Australian Company Number
ACOSS = Australian Council Of Social Service
ACT = Australian Capital Territory
ACTTLC = Australian Capital Territory Trades (and) Labour Council
ACTSC = ACT Supreme Court
ACTU = Australian Council (of) Trade Unions
ADI = Authorised deposit-taking institution
ADT = Administrative Decisions Tribunal
ADV = apprehended domestic violence
Adv.Op. = advisory opinion
ADF = Approved Deposit Fund
ADF = Australian Defence Force
ADF = Australian Drug Foundation
AEC = Australian Electoral Commission
AEU = Australian Education Union
AEU => Environmentspeak
AFC = Australian Film Commission
AFL = Australian Football League
AFP = Australian Federal Police
AFPA = Australian Federal Police Association
AFR = Australian Financial Review
AFSL = Australian Financial Services Licence
Age = The (Melbourne) Age (newspaper)
AGM => Businesspeak
AGS = Australian Government Solicitor
AIS = Australian Institute (of) Sport
AIDS = acquired immune deficiency virus
AIF = Automated Information Facility (international banking)
AIRC = Australian Industrial Relations Commission
AJ = Acting Justice
AKA = also known as
ALP = Australian Labor Party
ALRC = Australian Law Reform Commission
am = ante meridiem ("in the morning"); See m; See pm;
AMA = Australian Medical Association
AMAA = Australian Media Accreditation Authority
AMIEU = Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union
AMWU = Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union
AMOU = Australian Maritime Officers Union
ANAO = Australian National Audit Office
ANF = Australian Nursing Federation
APESB => Businesspeak
ASPI = Australian Strategic Policy Institute
Annot. = annotation
Antn = annotation
ANSTO = Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
AO = adults only
AP6 = Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate
APAIS = Australian Public Affairs Information Service
APEC = Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (21 economies: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Phillippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, USA, Viet Nam)
APESB => Businesspeak
APESMA = Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia
App. = appendix
apptd = appointed
APRA => Businesspeak
APS = See Human Resources Glossary
APV = Apprehended Personal Violence
Arb. = Arbitrator
ARC = Australian Research Council
ARBN = Australian Registered Body Number
ARSN = Australian Registered Scheme Number
Art. = article
ASADA = Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority
ASC = Australian Securities Commission
ASC = Australian Sports Commission
ASEAN = Association (of) South East Asian Nations (9 nations: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam)
ASEAN Plus Three = (12 nations: ASEAN members plus China, Japan and South Korea)
ASIC => Businesspeak
ASIC = Australian Securities (&) Investments Commission
ASMOF = Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation
Assn = Association
Assoc. = Associate
ASU = Australian Services Union
ASX = Australian Stock Exchange
ATM = automatic teller machine
ATO = Australian Taxation Office
ATSI = Aboriginal (and) Torres Strait Islander (peoples)
AUSFTA = Australia United States Free Trade Agreement
AUSTEL = Australian Telecommunications Authority
ASIO = Australian Secret Intelligence Organisation
AVO = Apprehended Violence Order
AWA = Australian Workplace Agreement
AWRIS = Australian Water Resources Information System
AWU = Australian Workers' Union
BAS => Businesspeak
BEP => Businesspeak
BERD = business expenditure (on) research (and) development
BFA = Binding Financial Agreement
bk = book
BoQ = Bank of Queensland
BRAG = Business Regulation Advisory Group
Bros = Brothers
BCA = Business Council (of) Australia
BOP = Balance Of Payments
C of Petty Sessions = Court of Petty Sessions
CA2001 => Businesspeak
CAA = Community Aid Abroad (now Oxfam)
CAC = corporate affairs commission (State)
CAMAC = Corporations And Markets Advisory Committee
CAN = Community Action Network
CASAC = Corporations And Security Advisory Committee
CBD = central business district
CCAF => Environmentspeak
CCC = Competitive Carriers Coalition (Macquarie Telecom, Verizon Business, PowerTel, Primus Telecom and iiNet)
CCF => Environmentspeak
CCS => Environmentspeak
CDM => Environmentspeak
CEO => Businesspeak
CER => Environmentspeak
CFC => Environmentspeak
CFL => Environmentspeak
CFMEU = Construction, Forestry, Mining (and) Energy Union
CGS = Commonwealth Government Securities
CGT => Businesspeak
CEPU = Communications, Electrical, (and) Plumbing Union
Ch. = Chancellor
ch. = chapter
CHESS = Clearing House Electronic Sub-register System
CIE = Centre (for) International Economics
CJ = Chief Justice
CIA = Central Intelligence Agency (USA)
CFMEU = Construction, Forestry, Mining (and) Energy Union
cl. = clause
CLERP => Businesspeak
CLS = Continuous Linked Settlement
Co. = Company
Co-op. = Co-operative
COAG = Council of Australian Governments
COC = code of conduct
COE = code of ethics
Commn = Commission
controller apptd = Controller appointed
COP = code of practice
COP => Environmentspeak
Corp. = Corporation
COSS = Council of Social Service
Coy = Company
CPA = Certified Practising Accountant
CPA = Communist Party (of) Australia
CPI = Consumer Price Index
CPM => Businesspeak
CPSU = Community (and) Public Sector Union
CR => Businesspeak
CPRS => Environmentspeak
CSAB => Environmentspeak
CSAS => Environmentspeak
CSHA = Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement
CSIRO = Commonwealth Scientific (and) Industrial Research Organisation
CSP => Environmentspeak
CSR => Businesspeak
Cth = Commonwealth (of Australia)
CTS = Children's Television Standards
CTTT = Consumer Trader (and) Tenancy Tribunal
CTV = Cable Television
CV = curriculum vitae
CVP => Businesspeak
D-G = Director-General
DC = District Court
DCJ = Judge (of the) District Court
DCT = Deputy Commissioner (of) Taxation
dec'd = deceased
def. = definition
Democrats = Australian Democrats
Dept = Department
DFCT = Deputy Federal Commissioner (of) Taxation
DFDAT = Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal
DLP = Democratic Labour Party
Div. = division
Div. Ct = Divisional Court
DOB = date of birth
DOCA = Deed of Company Arrangement (Part 5.3A (Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)) See SOA
Doha = not an achronym; called the Doha Round because the negotiations were launched in Doha, Qatar in 2001 and concluded 2006; see also Canc?n 2003, Geneva 2004, Hong Kong 2005, Geneva 2006, Potsdam 2007; see WTO
DPP = Director (of) Public Prosecutions
DR => Businesspeak
DTA = Double Tax Agreement
E&O = errors and omissions
E&OE = errors and omissions excepted
e.g. = exempli gratia (example)
EC = European Commission
ED => Businesspeak
ed. = edition
ed. = editor
EER => Environmentspeak
EFTPOS = Electronic Funds Transfer (at the) Point of Sale
EGM => Businesspeak
EITE => Environmentspeak
EMTR = Effective Marginal Tax Rate
EL = See Human Resources Glossary
env. = environment
environ. = environment
EOC = Equal Opportunity Commission
EOI => Tenderspeak
EOM => Businesspeak
EOP => Businesspeak
EOQ => Businesspeak
EOY => Businesspeak
EPBC => Environmentspeak
EPS = earnings per share
ERA = Economic Regulation Authority
ERA = Excellence (in) Research (for) Australia
ERP = IT-speak
ERP => Riskspeak
ERPS = IT-speak
ERU => Environmentspeak
ESAS => Environmentspeak
ESC => Environmentspeak
ESRI => Environmentspeak
ESS => Environmentspeak
etc. = et cetera (and the rest)
ETP = Eligible Termination Payment
ETS => Environmentspeak
ETU = Electrical Trades Union (of) Australia
Ex. = exhibit
EU = European Union
f. = folio
FAAA = Flight Attendants Association of Australia
FACTS = Federation (of) Australian Commercial Television Stations
Fam C of A = Family Court of Australia
FamCA = Family Court (of) Australia
FAO = Food (and) Agriculture Organization (of the United Nations)
FARB = Federation (of) Australian Radio Broadcasters
FBEU = (NSW) Fire Brigade Employees' Union
FBT => Businesspeak
FCA = Federal Court (of) Australia
FCT = Federal Commissioner (of) Taxation
FEC = Federal Electorate Council (of the ALP)
Fed. = Federal
Fed C of A = Federal Court of Australia
ff = folios
FIFO => Businesspeak
fig. = figure
Fed C of Bkty = Federal Court of Bankruptcy
Fin Review = Australian Financial Review
FIP = Families In Partnership
FMCG = fast-moving consumer goods (industry)
FOI = freedom of information (Federal)
FOI = freedom of information (States)
FOI = freedom of information
FPLP = Federal Parliamentary Labor Party
FSU = Finance Sector Union
FTA = Free Trade Agreement
G9 = now TERRiA
G-20 = Group (of) Twenty (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, UK, USA, EU, plus IMF and the World Bank)
GA Res = Resolution of United Nations General Assembly
GABBA, the = Brisbane Cricket Ground
GATT = General Agreement (on) Tariffs (and) Trade
Gaz. = gazette
GDP = Gross Domestic Product
Gen X = Generation X (those born 1965 to 1979)
Gen Y = Generation Y (those born 1980 to 1994)
Gen Z = Generation Z (those born 1995 to present)
GHG => Environmentspeak
GhGE => Environmentspeak
GhGR => Environmentspeak
GIC = General Interest Charge
GIO = Government Insurance Office
GIS => Environmentspeak
GG = Governor-General
GJ => Environmentspeak
Govt = Government
GPO = "General" (i.e. main city/State) Post Office
GPO = Government Printing Office
GST => Businesspeak
GRB => Environmentspeak
Greens = The Australian Greens
Gt => Environmentspeak
GTEM => Environmentspeak
Gtoe => Environmentspeak
HACSU = Health And Community Services Union
HC of A = High Court of Australia
HCA = High Court (of) Australia
HCFCs = hydrochlorofleurocarbons
HECS = Higher Education Contribution Scheme
HFC => Environmentspeak
HGWP => Environmentspeak
HIV = human immunodeficiency virus
HREOC = Human Rights (and) Equal Opportunity Commission
HSU = Health Services Union (of Australia)
IAS => Businesspeak
ICAC = Independent Commission Against Corruption
ICT = information (and) communications technology
id. = identical
IEU = Independent Education Union (of Australia)
IFRS => Businesspeak
ILO = International Labour Organization
IMG = interest-motivated group
IMF = International Monetary Fund
in liq. = in liquidation
Inc. = Incorporated
in prov. liq. = in provisional liquidation
insrt = inserted
Int. = International
Int'l = International
in vol. liq. = in voluntary liquidation
IOC = International Olympic Committee
IOU = "I owe you"
IP = intellectual property
IPCC => Environmentspeak
IPO = Initial Public Offering
IR = industrial relations
IRC = Industrial Relations Commission
IRCA = Industrial Relations Court (of) Australia
ISBN = International Standard Book Number
IT = information technology
ITT => Tenderspeak
J = Justice
JA = Judge (of the Court of) Appeal
JDRF = Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
JJ = Justices
JJA = Judges (of the Court of) Appeal
JP = Justice (of the) Peace
KPI => Businesspeak
KSI => Businesspeak
Labor = Australian Labor Party
LAFHA = Living Away From Home Allowance
LCJ = Lord Chief Justice
LEC = Land (and) Environment Court
Liberals = Liberal Party
Libs = Liberal Party
LIFO => Businesspeak
LJ = Lord Justice
LJA = Lord Justice (of) Appeal
LHC = Lord High Chancellor
LHMU = Liquor, Hospitality (and) Miscellaneous Union
LL = Law Lord
Loc Ct = Local Court
Loc Govt = Local Government
Ltd = Limited
m = meridian ("midday" or "12.00 m" or "12.00 noon"or "12-noon"); See am; See pm;
MAD = mutually assured destruction
MC = Municipal Council
MagCt = Magistrate's Court
MAKPI => Businesspeak
MCG = Melbourne Cricket Ground
MEAA = Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance
MEP => Environmentspeak
MEPS => Environmentspeak
Mfg = Manufacturing
min. = Minister (of State)
Minister for = Minister of State for
MIS => Businesspeak
MLC = Member (of the) Legislative Council
MOU = memorandum of understanding
MP = Member (of) Parliament
MPI = matter (of) public importance
MR = Master (of the) Rolls
MS = manuscript
MSS = manuscripts
MUA = Maritime Union (of) Australia
MV = motor vessel
MYEFO = Mid-Year Economic (&) Fiscal Outlook (a federal government mid year economic planning document)
NAFTA = North American Free Trade Agreement (3 countries: Canada, Mexico and the USA)
Nationals = National Party
NATO = North Atlantic Treaty Organization (26 countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Potugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, UK, USA)
NB = nota bene ("Please take note")
NBN = National Broadband Network
NCC = National Civic Council
NCOS => Environmentspeak
NCSC = National Companies (&) Securities Commission (now ASIC and CAC (State))
NEMMCO => Environmentspeak
NESB = non-English speaking background
NFFE => Environmentspeak
NFP => Businesspeak
NGCC => Environmentspeak
NGER => Environmentspeak
NGO = non-governmental organisation
NGR => Environmentspeak
NIDA = National Institute (of) Dramatic Art
NL = No Liability
NMV => Businesspeak
NMVOC => Environmentspeak
no = number
No = number (of Act)
NP = National Party
NPI => Environmentspeak
NPV => Businesspeak
NREU => Environmentspeak
NSW = New South Wales
NSWSC = NSW Supreme Court
NT = Northern Territory
NTEU = National Tertiary Education Union
NTSC = Northern Territory Supreme Court
NUS = National Union (of) Students
NUW = National Union (of) Workers
NWC = National Water Commission
O. = order
OAS = Organization (of) American States (35 member States: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, USA, Uruguay, Venezuela)
OECD = Organisation (for) Economic Co-operation (and) Development (30 countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, USA)
OGC => Environmentspeak
OPEC = Organization (of the) Petroleum Exporting Countries (12 countries: Algeria, Angola, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela)
Ord. = ordinance
OTAN = NATO
OTC = Overseas Telecommunications Commission
Oxfam = used to be Ox(ford Committee for )Fam(ine Relief) now Oxfam
P. = President (of the Court of Appeal)
p. = page
para. = paragraph
PAE = post admission experience
Parl. = Parliament
PASA = Police Association of South Australia
PBS = Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
PAYE = pay as you earn
PAYG = pay as you go
PBS = Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
PDF = Pooled Development Fund
PFC => Environmentspeak
PINOP = Person In Need Of Protection
PLC = Public Limited Company
pm = post meridiem ("in the evening"); See m; See am; (Note: midnight is "12:00 pm")
pp. = pages
PPP = public-private partnership
PRC = Priorities Review Committee
Pres. = President
Pr. = Precedent
PS => Businesspeak
PSA = Public Service Association
PST = Pooled Superannuation Trust
Pt = part
PTD => Businesspeak
Pte = Private
Pty = Proprietary
Pty Ltd = Proprietary Limited
PTYlarge => Businesspeak
PTYsmall => Businesspeak
PV => Environmentspeak
QA = quality assurance
QC = quality control
QC = Queen's Counsel
QCA = Queensland Court (of) Appeal
QCU = Queensland Council (of) Unions
QIEU = Queensland Independent Education Union
Qld = Queensland
QNU = Queensland Nurses Union
QPSU = Queensland Public Sector Union
QSC = Queensland Supreme Court
QSU = Queensland Services Union
QTU = Queensland Teachers' Union (of Employees)
r. = rule
R&D = research and development
RAAF = Royal Australian Air Force
RBA = Reserve Bank (of) Australia
REC => Environmentspeak
RECA => Environmentspeak
receiver and manager apptd = receiver and manager appointed
REDD => Environmentspeak
reg. = regulation
reg'd = registered
regs = regulations
REOI => Tenderspeak
Repat. = Repatriation
RER => Environmentspeak
RFI => Tenderspeak
RFP => Tenderspeak
RFR => Tenderspeak
RFROI => Tenderspeak
RFT => Tenderspeak
RITS = Reserve (Bank) Information (and) Transfer System
RM = risk management
RMU => Environmentspeak
ROI => Tenderspeak
rr. = rules
RSL = Returned (&) Services League (of Australia)
RTBU = Australian Rail, Tram (and) Bus Union
RTGS = Real Time Gross Settlement
RV => Businesspeak
s. = section
S-G = Solicitor General
SA = South Australia
SAC => Businesspeak
SAI => Environmentspeak
SASC = South Australia Supreme Court
SOA = Scheme of Arrangement (Part 5.1 (Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)) See DOCA
SBS = Special Broadcasting Service
SC Res. = Security Council (of the United Nations) Resolution
SC = Senior Counsel
SCG = Sydney Cricket Ground
sch. = schedule
SDA = Shop Distributive (and) Allied (Employees Association)
SDRs = special drawing rights (IMF)
SEER => Environmentspeak
Sen. = Senator
SEO (pronounced letter by letter) => IT
SES = socioeconomic status
SES = State Emergency Services
SES = See Human Resources Glossary
SGM => Businesspeak
SLA Service Level Agreement
SM = Stipendiary Magistrate
SME = small (to) medium enterprise
SMEs = small (to) medium enterprises
SMH = Sydney Morning Herald
SMSF = self-managed superannuation fund
Soc. = Society
SOR => Tenderspeak
SP => Environmentspeak
SPS = satellite program services
ss. = sections
SSAT = Social Security Appeals Tribunal
SSTUWA = State School Teachers' Union (of) Western Australia
STD = sexually transmitted disease
STD = subscriber trunk dialling
STP => Environmentspeak
subcl. = subclause
subdiv. = subdivision
subpara. = subparagraph
subr. = subrule
subreg. = subregulation
subs. = subsection
supp. = supplement
SWIFT = Society (for) Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications
t/as = trading as
TAFE = Technical And Further Education
Tas. = Tasmania
TASSC = Tasmanian Supreme Court
TCFUA = Textile Clothing (and) Footwear Union (of) Australia
TCF = textile, clothing (and) footwear
TD-MI = TD (Securities) - Melbourne Institute (of Applied Economic and Social Research) (Experimental Monthly Inflation Gauge)
TECAP => Environmentspeak
TERRiA = Not an acronym but the name of a consortium (Optus, Telecom New Zealand (AAPT/PowerTel), iiNet, Macquarie Telecom, Internode, Primus, Soul and TransACT)
TFN => Businesspeak
TLCWA = Trades & Labour Council of Western Australia
TOT = Terms Of Trade
TPV = Temporary Protection Visa
Treas. = Treasurer
TRIP = trade-related intellectual property
TRIPS = trade-related intellectual property (right)s
TSD = Trilateral Security Dialogue (3 countries: Australia, Japan, and the US)
TTWT => Tenderspeak
TWU> = Transport Workers' Union (of Australia)
UAE = United Arab Emirates
UAP = United Australia Party
UFU = United Firefighters Union
UK = United Kingdom
Un-Inc. = Un-Incorporated
UN = United Nations
UNAIDS = (Joint) United Nations (Programme on HIV/)AIDS
UNDP = United Nations Development Programme
UNEP = United Nations Environment Programme
UNESCO = United Nations Educational Scientific (and) Cultural Organization
UNFCCC = United Nations Framework Convention (on) Climate Change
UNHCR = United Nations High Commissioner (for) Refugees
Uni. = university/universities (Australia)
uni. = university (related)
UNICEF = United Nations Children's Fund
UNICEF Australia = United Nations Children's Fund (Australia)
UNIFEM = United Nations Development Fund for Women
UNYA = United Nations Youth Association
US = United States (of America)
USA = United States (of) America
USU = United Services Union
UTLC = United Trades (and) Labor Council (of South Australia)
v. = versus (used in case names)
VC = venture capital
VCS => Environmentspeak
VCU => Environmentspeak
Vic. = Victoria
VIEU = Victorian Independent Education Union
VOC => Environmentspeak
Vol. = volume
vol admin apptd = voluntary administrator appointed
vs = versus
VSC = Victorian Supreme Court
VSCA = Victorian Court (of) Appeal
VTHC = Victorian Trades Hall Council
WA = Western Australia
WACA = Western Australia Cricket Association
WAPOU = Western Australia Prison Officers Union
WDV => Businesspeak
WEF = World Economic Forum
WFP = (UN) World Food Programme
WHO = World Health Organization (UN)
WIP => Businesspeak
WMD = weapons (of) mass destruction
WMS => Environmentspeak
WTO = World Trade Organization (UN)