{"id":"tas:sr-2017-073","name":"Australian Consumer Law (Tasmania) (Code of Practice for Fuel Price Boards) Regulations 2017","slug":"australian-consumer-law-tasmania-code-of-practice-for-fuel-price-boards-regulations-2017","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"tas","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"73 of 2017","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":186095,"registerId":"tas-tas:sr-2017-073-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Short title","content":"### 1 Short title\n\n> These regulations may be cited as the [Australian Consumer Law (Tasmania) (Code of Practice for Fuel Price Boards) Regulations 2017](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/sr-2017-073) .","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"### 2 Commencement\n\n> These regulations take effect on the one hundred and eightieth day after the day on which their making is notified in the *Gazette*.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Prescribed code of practice","content":"### 3 Prescribed code of practice\n\n> For the purposes of [section 37(1) of the](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2010-040#GS37@Gs1@EN) [Australian Consumer Law (Tasmania) Act 2010](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2010-040) , the code of practice set out in [Schedule 1](#JS1@EN) is prescribed as the code of practice for fuel price boards within the meaning of that Schedule.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"SCHEDULE 1 - Code of Practice ","sectionType":"part","heading":"SCHEDULE 1 - Code of Practice for Fuel Price Boards","content":"# SCHEDULE 1 - Code of Practice  SCHEDULE 1 - Code of Practice for Fuel Price Boards\n\n[Regulation 3](#GS3@EN)\n\n> **1.   **Interpretation****\n> \n> > In this code –\n> > \n> > > ***fuel*** has the same meaning as in the *Fuel Quality Standards Regulations 2001* of the Commonwealth;\n> > \n> > > ***fuel price board*** means a board, sign or notice at the business premises of a fuel retailer that displays information regarding the prices of the types of fuel for retail sale by that fuel retailer;\n> > \n> > > ***fuel pump display*** means the numerical display of the standard retail price of fuel that is dispensed by the fuel pump on which the display appears at the business premises of a fuel retailer;\n> > \n> > > ***fuel retailer*** means a person who carries on the business of retail sale of fuel;\n> > \n> > > ***standard retail price***, in relation to a type of fuel, means the price per litre at which fuel of that type is available to consumers at the business premises of a fuel retailer not including any discounts or special offers that may be applied to that price.\n\n> **2.   **Fuel price board display****\n> \n> > A fuel retailer may display information on a fuel price board about discounts and special offers being offered by the fuel retailer, provided that the only fuel prices displayed on the board are the standard retail prices for the types of fuel being offered for sale by the fuel retailer.\n\n> **3.   **Display of standard retail prices on fuel price board and fuel pump display****\n> \n> > > (1) If a fuel retailer increases the standard retail price for a type of fuel, the fuel retailer must change the standard retail price displayed on any fuel price board to reflect the increase in standard retail price before, or at the same time as, changing the standard retail price displayed on any fuel pump display for that type of fuel.\n> > \n> > > (2) If a fuel retailer decreases the standard retail price for a type of fuel, the retailer must change the standard retail price displayed on any fuel price board to reflect the decrease in standard retail price after, or at the same time as, changing the standard retail price displayed on any fuel pump display for that type of fuel.\n\nDisplayed and numbered in accordance with the *[Rules Publication Act 1953](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1953-050)*.\n\nNotified in the *Gazette* on 8 November 2017\n\nThese regulations are administered in the Department of Justice.","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose of regulating fuel price board displays. The scope has not expanded beyond the specific consumer protection goal of ensuring price transparency at Tasmanian petrol stations."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 400 words total)","Only 5 defined terms in the interpretation section","Simple conditional logic with only two scenarios (price increases vs decreases)","No nested exceptions or cross-references to other legislation beyond a single reference to Commonwealth fuel quality regulations for the definition of 'fuel'","Straightforward temporal sequencing rules ('before/at the same time' vs 'after/at the same time')","Single purpose legislation with no subsidiary provisions or delegated powers"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this does:**\n\nThese regulations set simple rules for petrol stations in Tasmania about how they display fuel prices on their roadside signs (\"fuel price boards\").\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n- **Fuel retailers** (petrol station owners/operators) in Tasmania\n- **Consumers** who buy fuel in Tasmania\n\n**The three key rules:**\n\n1. **What prices can be shown:** Petrol stations can only display the **standard retail price** (the full price before any discounts) on their main price boards. They *can* mention that discounts exist, but they can't show the discounted price as the main price.\n\n2. **Price increases:** If petrol prices go *up*, the roadside sign must be updated **before or at the same time** as the price on the actual pump. This stops stations from showing a lower price on the sign to lure drivers in, then charging more at the pump.\n\n3. **Price decreases:** If petrol prices go *down*, the roadside sign can be updated **after or at the same time** as the pump. This gives stations a bit of flexibility to lower pump prices immediately while updating their main signs later.\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThis stops \"bait and switch\" tactics where drivers see a cheap price on the big sign but get charged more at the bowser. It ensures the price on the roadside board matches (or is lower than) what you'll actually pay, protecting consumers from misleading advertising while still allowing stations to promote their discount programs."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This regulation prescribes a code of practice under section 37(1) of the Australian Consumer Law (Tasmania) Act 2010 (regulation 3 and Schedule 1). It does not expand or contract the population covered by the Act; it imposes display and timing obligations on fuel retailers rather than changing the Act's statutory scope."},"complexity_factors":["Short, narrowly focused instrument with few provisions and clear definitions (fuel, fuel price board, fuel retailer, standard retail price) — lowers legal complexity.","Asymmetric timing rule for increases (board updated before/at same time as pump) versus decreases (board updated after/at same time as pump) creates operational nuance for retailers.","Relies on cross-references to other instruments (Australian Consumer Law (Tasmania) Act 2010 and Commonwealth Fuel Quality Standards Regulations 2001) — minor external dependency.","No penalties or enforcement mechanisms set out in the regulation itself; enforcement and sanctions are left to the parent Act, adding delegated-practice complexity.","Commencement delayed (180 days after Gazette notice) — straightforward but adds an implementation timetable that retailers must track."],"plain_english_summary":"**This regulation prescribes a Code of Practice that requires fuel retailers to display the 'standard retail price' on fuel price boards and pump displays, and sets rules about when board prices must be updated relative to pump displays when prices change.**\n\nIt affects fuel retailers (who must maintain and update displays) and consumers (who rely on displayed prices), and matters because it standardises public price information while imposing modest operational and compliance costs on retailers."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulation appears to have remained consistent with its original intent since commencement in November 2017. It has been in force without substantive amendment through to at least April 2026, suggesting the scope — governing how fuel prices are displayed on price boards in Tasmania — has not materially shifted from what was originally enacted."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow and specific subject matter (fuel price board display requirements only) keeps complexity low","Operates within a well-established dual-layer legal framework (national Australian Consumer Law applied through Tasmanian legislation), which adds a small layer of structural complexity","Technical specifications for signage (e.g. size, format, visibility standards) may require some industry knowledge to interpret correctly","No significant amendments since commencement in 2017, suggesting the regulation is stable and straightforward","Limited text available for full analysis, meaning some complexity may be obscured"],"plain_english_summary":"This Tasmanian code of practice requires petrol stations and other fuel retailers to display clear, accurate fuel prices on roadside and forecourt boards. It affects fuel retailers and Tasmanian motorists, ensuring the price you see is the price you pay at the pump. By standardising visibility and accuracy, the regulation protects consumers from misleading or hard-to-read pricing and supports informed choices under Tasmania’s consumer law framework."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/australian-consumer-law-tasmania-code-of-practice-for-fuel-price-boards-regulations-2017","history":"/api/acts/australian-consumer-law-tasmania-code-of-practice-for-fuel-price-boards-regulations-2017/history","analysis":"/api/acts/australian-consumer-law-tasmania-code-of-practice-for-fuel-price-boards-regulations-2017/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/australian-consumer-law-tasmania-code-of-practice-for-fuel-price-boards-regulations-2017/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/australian-consumer-law-tasmania-code-of-practice-for-fuel-price-boards-regulations-2017/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/australian-consumer-law-tasmania-code-of-practice-for-fuel-price-boards-regulations-2017/documents"}}