{"id":"tas:sr-2020-053","name":"Australian Consumer Law (Tasmania) (Code of Practice for Fuel Price Reporting) Regulations 2020","slug":"australian-consumer-law-tasmania-code-of-practice-for-fuel-price-reporting-regulations-2020","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"tas","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"53 of 2020","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":182519,"registerId":"tas-tas:sr-2020-053-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 Reporting) Regulations 2020](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/sr-2020-053) .","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"### 2 Commencement\n\n> These regulations take effect on the day on which their making is notified in the *Gazette*.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"2A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Interpretation","content":"### 2A Interpretation\n\n> [*\\[Regulation 2A Inserted by No. 1 of 2026, s. 10, Applied:02 Apr 2026\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-02/act-2026-001#GS10@EN) Unless otherwise specified, a term used in these regulations has the same meaning in these regulations as it has in the code of practice for fuel price reporting prescribed in [Schedule 1](#JS1@EN) .","sortOrder":2},{"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 reporting.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Additional reporting requirements","content":"### 4 Additional reporting requirements\n\n> [*\\[Regulation 4 Inserted by No. 1 of 2026, s. 11, Applied:02 Apr 2026\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-02/act-2026-001#GS11@EN)\n> \n> > (1)  If a fuel retailer runs out of a relevant fuel that is offered for sale by the fuel retailer, the fuel retailer must report that fact in accordance with [subregulation (2)](#GS4@Gs2@EN) .\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 1 000 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) a natural person, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units\n> \n> > (2)  A report required under [subregulation (1)](#GS4@Gs1@EN)  –\n> > \n> > > > (a) must be made within 30 minutes after the fuel retailer has run out of the relevant fuel to which the report relates; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) must be made in such a manner, and include such information, as is determined by the Director and published on the website operated by, or on behalf, of the Department; and\n> > > \n> > > > (c) is to, where possible, include details as to when the fuel retailer is likely to be resupplied with the relevant fuel.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"SCHEDULE 1 - Code of Practice ","sectionType":"part","heading":"SCHEDULE 1 - Code of Practice for Fuel Price Reporting","content":"# SCHEDULE 1 - Code of Practice  SCHEDULE 1 - Code of Practice for Fuel Price Reporting\n\n[Regulation 3](#GS3@EN)\n\n> **1.   **Interpretation****\n> \n> > In this code –\n> > \n> > > ***commencement day*** means the day on which the [Australian Consumer Law (Tasmania) (Code of Practice for Fuel Price Reporting) Regulations 2020](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/sr-2020-053) commence;\n> > \n> > > ***fuel price reporting website*** means the website maintained for the purpose of fuel price reporting by, or on behalf of, the department responsible for the administration of the [Australian Consumer Law (Tasmania) Act 2010](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2010-040) ;\n> > \n> > > ***fuel retailer*** means a person who carries on the business of retail sale of a relevant fuel;\n> > \n> > > ***relevant fuel*** means the following types of fuel:\n> > > \n> > > > > (a) regular unleaded petroleum (RON 91);\n> > > > \n> > > > > (b) E10 (RON 94);\n> > > > \n> > > > > (c) premium unleaded petroleum of an octane rating of RON 95;\n> > > > \n> > > > > (d) premium unleaded petroleum of an octane rating of RON 98;\n> > > > \n> > > > > (e) E85 (RON 105);\n> > > > \n> > > > > (f) diesel;\n> > > > \n> > > > > (g) premium diesel;\n> > > > \n> > > > > (h) liquefied petroleum gas (LPG);\n> > > > \n> > > > > (i) compressed natural gas or natural gas for vehicles (CNG or NGV);\n> > > > \n> > > > > (j) liquefied natural gas (LNG);\n> > > > \n> > > > > (k) B20 (biodiesel and diesel blend);\n> > \n> > > ***standard retail price***, in relation to a relevant fuel, means the price per litre at which fuel of that type is available to consumers, not including any discounts or special offers that may be applied to that price.\n\n> **2.   **Registration of fuel retailer****\n> \n> > > (1) A fuel retailer must register his or her business –\n> > > \n> > > > > (a) if the fuel retailer commences trading on or before the commencement day, within 14 days after that day; or\n> > > > \n> > > > > (b) if the fuel retailer commences trading after the commencement day, before any relevant fuel is sold by that business to a retail customer.\n> > \n> > > (2) A fuel retailer is to register the business using the form provided on the fuel price reporting website for that purpose.\n\n> **3.   **Reporting of fuel prices****\n> \n> > > (1) A fuel retailer registered in accordance with [clause 2](#JS1@GC2@EN) must report, on the fuel price reporting website, the standard retail price of each of the relevant fuels offered for sale by the fuel retailer.\n> > \n> > > (2) A report required under [subclause (1)](#JS1@GC3@Gc1@EN) must –\n> > > \n> > > > > (a) be made –\n> > > > > \n> > > > > > > (i) on commencement of trading by the fuel retailer; and\n> > > > > > \n> > > > > > > (ii) within 30 minutes after  a change of the standard retail price of a relevant fuel offered for sale by the fuel retailer; and\n> > > > \n> > > > > (b) include the date and time from which a relevant fuel is offered for sale by the fuel retailer.\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 1 September 2020\n\nThese regulations are administered in the Department of Justice.","sortOrder":5}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: real-time fuel price transparency. The 2026 amendments added stock-out reporting (Regulation 4) but this is a logical extension of the existing price reporting system rather than scope creep. The instrument has not expanded into unrelated areas such as fuel quality standards, environmental regulation, or broader consumer protection."},"complexity_factors":["Short, focused instrument with only 4 regulations plus a schedule","11 defined terms in Schedule 1, all straightforward (fuel types, website, retailer)","Simple conditional structure: registration requirements split by timing (before/after commencement day)","Clear reporting obligations with specific timeframes (30 minutes)","No nested exceptions or complex cross-referencing — primarily refers back to the parent Act for enforcement framework","2026 amendments added only one new obligation (stock-out reporting) without complicating existing structure"],"plain_english_summary":"This is a Tasmanian regulation that forces petrol stations to tell the government exactly what they're charging for fuel and when they run out.\n\n**What it does:**\n- Creates a mandatory **code of practice** (basically, a set of rules) that all fuel retailers in Tasmania must follow\n- Requires petrol stations to **register** with a government website within 14 days of the rules starting (or before they open if they start later)\n- Forces them to **report their fuel prices** within 30 minutes of any price change\n- Requires them to **report when they run out of fuel** within 30 minutes, including when they expect more fuel to arrive\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **Fuel retailers** — anyone selling petrol, diesel, LPG, or other vehicle fuels to the public\n- **Consumers** — who get access to accurate, real-time fuel price information through the government website\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis stops petrol stations from advertising cheap prices to lure drivers in, then charging more at the bowser. It also helps drivers avoid wasted trips to stations that have run out of fuel. Breaking these rules can result in heavy fines — up to 1,000 penalty units for companies (roughly $300,000+) and 100 penalty units for individuals (roughly $30,000+).\n\n**The fuels covered:**\nRegular unleaded, premium unleaded (95 and 98 octane), E10, E85, diesel, premium diesel, LPG, compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, and B20 biodiesel blend."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The regulations were expanded by later insertions: Regulation 2A (2026) ties interpretation to Schedule 1 definitions; Regulation 4 (2026) adds a mandatory stock‑out reporting obligation with a 30‑minute deadline, prescribed penalties (up to 1,000 penalty units for bodies corporate and 100 for individuals), and a requirement that report format and content be determined by the Director and published on the Department website. These additions extend obligations beyond the original registration and price‑reporting duties set out in Schedule 1 (cl.2–3)."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple defined terms and a long list of 'relevant fuel' types in Schedule 1 (affects who must report and what to report).","Strict timing requirements: registration deadlines and a 30‑minute reporting window for price changes and stock‑outs (Sch.1 cl.2–3; Reg 4(2)(a)).","Monetary penalties expressed in penalty units with different caps for corporations and natural persons (Reg 4(1)).","Director discretion to determine report manner and required information, published on the Department website (Reg 4(2)(b)), creating administrative variability.","Dependence on a central fuel price reporting website as the reporting mechanism (Sch.1 definition; Reg 4(2)(b)).","Insertion and amendment history noted in the text (Reg 2A and Reg 4 inserted in 2026) which alters scope and obligations over time."],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations require fuel retailers in Tasmania to register and to report standard retail prices for specified fuels and to report when they run out of a fuel, using a government-maintained website; non‑compliance attracts fines (Sch.1 cl.2–3; Reg 4). The measure is presented as improving price transparency, but it creates clear reporting deadlines and formats set by the Director, imposing compliance costs and operational timing constraints on retailers."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available information, the regulations appear to remain focused on their original purpose: establishing fuel price reporting obligations for Tasmanian fuel retailers. There is no indication from the provided text that the scope has expanded or contracted from its original intent, though the 2026 amendment date suggests at least one revision has occurred."},"complexity_factors":["Operates within a layered legal framework — Tasmanian state law built on top of the national Australian Consumer Law, requiring understanding of both levels","Regulatory instrument (subordinate legislation) rather than primary legislation, meaning its authority derives from a parent Act that must also be understood","Code of Practice model adds an interpretive layer — codes of practice can have varying legal enforceability depending on how they are incorporated","Full operative provisions not visible in the provided text, limiting assessment of technical complexity within the regulations themselves","Has been amended since 2020, so compliance requires awareness of the current consolidated version rather than just the original"],"plain_english_summary":"The Tasmanian Fuel Price Reporting Regulations 2020 set a Code of Practice requiring petrol retailers in Tasmania to report their fuel prices, creating clearer, comparable pricing information for consumers. \n\nThis state-level rule (operating with national consumer law) affects station operators, drivers and oversight bodies by improving transparency and competition around a major household expense; it remains current, last updated 2 April 2026."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/australian-consumer-law-tasmania-code-of-practice-for-fuel-price-reporting-regulations-2020","history":"/api/acts/australian-consumer-law-tasmania-code-of-practice-for-fuel-price-reporting-regulations-2020/history","analysis":"/api/acts/australian-consumer-law-tasmania-code-of-practice-for-fuel-price-reporting-regulations-2020/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/australian-consumer-law-tasmania-code-of-practice-for-fuel-price-reporting-regulations-2020/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/australian-consumer-law-tasmania-code-of-practice-for-fuel-price-reporting-regulations-2020/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/australian-consumer-law-tasmania-code-of-practice-for-fuel-price-reporting-regulations-2020/documents"}}