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Company names that are not available for registration are:

• names that are already reserved or registered; 

• of a kind that are declared as unacceptable by the regulations; or 

• those substantially identical to an existing name. 

In determining whether a proposed name is substantially identical to an existing name, the use of 'the', 'proprietary', 'no liability', 'limited', abbreviations, spacing or punctuation is to be disregarded (section 149). 

Prohibited names that will not be allowed: 

•         Names that are similar to and that are likely to be confused with or mistaken for the name of an incorporated associate Building Society, Co-operative Company or Society, Co-operative Housing Society, Credit Union or Friendly Society. 

•         Names containing the following words or phrases or any abbreviations of same require ministerial approval for use: 

          'Aboriginal Corporation'

          'Aboriginal Council'

          'Building Society'

'Chamber of Commerce'

'Chamber of Manufacturers'

'Chartered'

'College of Advanced Education'

'Consumer'

'Co-operative'

'Credit Union'

'Executor'

'Friendly Society'

'Guarantee'

'Incorporated'

'Institute of Advanced Education'

'Made in Australia'

'Savings'

Starr Bowkett'

Stock Exchange'

'Torres Strait Islander Corporation'

Trust'

Trustee'

University' 

•         The following list of words, abbreviations and phrases in a company name relating to the Sydney Olympics and/or Paralympics require ministerial approval prior to registration:

                    24th' or 'Twenty-fourth' or 'XXIVth'

                    'Olympic' or 'Olympics'

                    27th' or 'Twenty-seventh' or 'XXVIlth'

                    'Olympiad' or 'Olympics'

                    'Share the Spirit'

                    'Sydney'

                    2000' or 'Two Thousand'

                    Gold' or 'Games'

                    Games City'

                    Summer Games'

                    Paralympic', 'Paralympics' or 'Paralympian'

                    Sydney Games'

                    Millennium Games'

                    Commonwealth' or 'Federal'

 •         Any name that suggests a connection with: 

the Crown; the Commonwealth Government; the Government of a State or Territory; a municipal or other local authority; the Government or any other part of the Queen's dominions; possessions or territories; a department, authority or instrumentality of the Commonwealth Government; 

                  a department, authority or instrumentality of the Government of a State or Territorty;

                  the Government of a foreign country;

                  a member of the Royal Family;

                  the receipt of Royal patronage; or

                  an ex-servicemen's organisation where that connection does not exist.

•         Any name that in the opinion of the Commission is undesirable or

          likely to be offensive to the public or any section of the public.

•         Names which include the following words without authority:

 'United Nations', without consent from the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade;

 'Bank', 'Banker', 'Banking', 'Savings Bank', without the written consent of the Treasurer of the Commonwealth and unless a Corporate Body in Australia;

 'Anzac', without the authority of the Minister for Veteran Affairs;

 'Red Cross', 'Geneva Cross', 'Red Crescent', 'Red Lion' and 'Sun', without consent from the Minister for Defence. 

•         Names substantially identical to an existing name. For example:

          ABC Specialty Products Holdings Ltd and ABC Specialty

          Products Investments Ltd, would be regarded as two separate and

          distinct names. However, ABC Specialty Products Holdings

          Limited and the ABC - Specialty Products Holdings Limited

          would be regarded as the same as the original company.