Ha ha! Gotcha.

You've come to this page to find out all about the Blended Names legislation, haven't you?

Well, given that the announcement was made on 1 April, you have been the victim of an April Fools prank. Sorry about that.

Click here to read the "official media release".

A few things to note within the media release that might have given you a bit of a clue:

• The spokesperson for the department was Dr Robert Dickson-Whitehead who we reduced to Dr Robert Whiteson, rather than the other option we could have created!
• The spokesperson for the Australian Personal Referencing Institute of Learning (APRIL) was April Nichols and her betrothed's surname is Ford. Rather than becoming April Ford-Nichols, under this proposal, she would have her surname reduced to April Fools.
• The original surnames of the couple who were proposing a four-barrelled name were McCartney-Richards and Harrison-Watts. Those surnames are quite familiar if you are a fan of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
• The new department will be called the Department of Mirth (a reduction of the two words Marriages and Births).