{"id":"tas:sr-2021-052","name":"Commissions of Inquiry Regulations 2021","slug":"commissions-of-inquiry-regulations-2021","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"tas","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"52 of 2021","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":182311,"registerId":"tas-tas:sr-2021-052-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 [Commissions of Inquiry Regulations 2021](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/sr-2021-052) .","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":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Interpretation","content":"### 3 Interpretation\n\n> In these regulations –\n> \n> > ***Act*** means the [Commissions of Inquiry Act 1995](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1995-070) ;\n> \n> > ***Child Abuse Commission of Inquiry*** means the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings, as established under the Act on 15 March 2021.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Certain Acts do not apply","content":"### 4 Certain Acts do not apply\n\n> > (1)  For the purposes of the Child Abuse Commission of Inquiry, the following provisions do not apply in respect of any information to be collected by or on behalf of, or provided to, the Child Abuse Commission of Inquiry:\n> > \n> > > > (a) [section 16](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1997-028#GS16@EN) of the [Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1997](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1997-028) ;\n> > > \n> > > > (b) [section 8](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1997-051#GS8@EN) of the [Corrections Act 1997](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1997-051) ;\n> > > \n> > > > (c) [section 24(1)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2016-030#GS24@Gs1@EN) of the [Custodial Inspector Act 2016](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2016-030) ;\n> > > \n> > > > (d) [section 86](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1995-044#GS86@EN) of the [Guardianship and Administration Act 1995](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1995-044) ;\n> > > \n> > > > (e) [section 37](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1995-095#GS37@EN) of the [Health Complaints Act 1995](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1995-095) ;\n> > > \n> > > > (f) section 216 of the *Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Tasmania)*;\n> > > \n> > > > (g) [section 54](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2010-012#GS54@EN) of the [Health Practitioners Tribunal Act 2010](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2010-012) ;\n> > > \n> > > > (h) [section 12(1)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1998-001#GS12@Gs1@EN) of the [Magistrates Court (Children’s Division) Act 1998](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1998-001) ;\n> > > \n> > > > (i) [section 134](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2013-002#GS134@EN) of the [Mental Health Act 2013](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2013-002) ;\n> > > \n> > > > (j) [section 15](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1994-031#GS15@EN) of the [Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity Act 1994](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1994-031) ;\n> > > \n> > > > (k) [section 26(1)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1978-082#GS26@Gs1@EN) of the [Ombudsman Act 1978](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1978-082) ;\n> > > \n> > > > (l) all provisions of the [Personal Information Protection Act 2004](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2004-046) ;\n> > > \n> > > > (m) [section 42(4)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2003-075#GS42@Gs4@EN) and [(11)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2003-075#GS42@Gs11@EN) of the [Police Service Act 2003](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2003-075) ;\n> > > \n> > > > (n) [section 54](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2013-065#GS54@EN) of the [Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Act 2013](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2013-065) ;\n> > > \n> > > > (o) [section 9(6)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2000-085#GS96@Gs6@EN) , [(7)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2000-085#GS96@Gs7@EN) and [(14)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2000-085#GS96@Gs14@EN) of the [State Service Act 2000](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2000-085) ;\n> > > \n> > > > (p) [section 14(3)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2018-001#GS14@Gs3@EN) of the [Tasmanian Health Service Act 2018](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2018-001) ;\n> > > \n> > > > (q) [section 22D](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2000-098#GS22D@EN) of the [Teachers Registration Act 2000](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2000-098) ;\n> > > \n> > > > (r) [section 22(1)(b) and (c)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1997-081#GS22@Gs1@Hpb@EN) of the [Youth Justice Act 1997](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1997-081) .\n> \n> > (2)  For the purposes of the Child Abuse Commission of Inquiry, the following provisions do not apply in respect of any information collected, or used, by or on behalf of the Child Abuse Commission of Inquiry:\n> > \n> > > > (a) [section 8(b)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2016-030#GS8@Hpb@EN) of the [Custodial Inspector Act 2016](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2016-030) ;\n> > > \n> > > > (b) the provisions within [Division 5 of Part 3](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2016-051#HP3@HD5@EN) of the [Education Act 2016](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2016-051) ;\n> > > \n> > > > (c) [sections 26](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1995-095#GS26@EN) , [45(2)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1995-095#GS45@Gs2@EN) and [46](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1995-095#GS46@EN) of the [Health Complaints Act 1995](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1995-095) ;\n> > > \n> > > > (d) the provisions of the [Ombudsman Act 1978](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1978-082) ;\n> > > \n> > > > (e) all provisions of the [Personal Information Protection Act 2004](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2004-046) ;\n> > > \n> > > > (f) all provisions of the [Right to Information Act 2009](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-070) .\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 14 July 2021\n\nThese regulations are administered in the Department of Justice.","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"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":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument sets out a targeted scope: it expressly disapplies specified provisions for the Child Abuse Commission of Inquiry. The regulations themselves do not indicate any change from an earlier scope or instrument; they define their scope as the listed exceptions for that named Commission."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive cross-references to many different statutes and specific sections (see regulation 4(1) and 4(2)), which requires checking multiple external acts to understand the net effect.","Differentiated treatment of information depending on whether it is collected, provided to, or used by the Commission (two separate lists in 4(1) and 4(2)).","Interaction with privacy, health, education, policing, employment and freedom-of-information regimes (several Acts listed), raising interpretive questions about residual obligations.","Narrow, commission-specific scope simplifies application but increases the need for practitioners to identify whether a matter falls within the Commission’s remit.","Operational impact on third parties (agencies, professionals, individuals) who must determine changed disclosure and confidentiality duties when responding to Commission requests."],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations disapply specified provisions of a range of Tasmanian laws so the Child Abuse Commission of Inquiry can collect, use and receive information without being constrained by the listed privacy, reporting or procedural rules. The rule is limited to the Commission named (established 15 March 2021) and takes effect when notified in the Gazette.\n\nPublic agencies, service providers and people with relevant records are affected because statutory limits on disclosure, confidentiality and some review pathways are suspended for the Commission’s information-handling under these regulations."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available content, there is no evidence of scope change from the original intent. The regulation appears to have remained in its original form since commencement on 14 July 2021, with no substantive amendments apparent from the metadata provided."},"complexity_factors":["The document as provided is largely metadata and status information — the substantive regulatory provisions are absent, making full analysis impossible","Commissions of Inquiry legislation generally involves procedural law which can have moderate complexity","Regulations of this type typically interact with a parent Act, requiring cross-referencing to understand full effect","Limited amendment history visible (no amending instruments described), suggesting relatively stable and simple scope","Tasmanian-specific context means it applies only within one jurisdiction, limiting complexity of geographic application"],"plain_english_summary":"The Commissions of Inquiry Regulations 2021 (Tas.) prescribe the practical procedures for running formal government inquiries under the Commissions of Inquiry Act. They govern how inquiries operate and affect witnesses, legal representatives, agencies and members of the public tied to an inquiry.\n\nThey matter because these rules shape how evidence is handled, rights and duties of participants, and the fairness and efficiency of investigatory processes."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations remain tightly scoped to their original purpose: facilitating the specific Child Abuse Commission of Inquiry by removing specified legal impediments to information sharing. There is no evidence of scope creep; the instrument does exactly what its title and structure suggest."},"complexity_factors":["Only 2 substantive sections (4(1) and 4(2)) with straightforward purpose","18 specific statutory cross-references, but each is a simple 'this section does not apply' carve-out","No conditional logic, exceptions to exceptions, or operative machinery","Minimal defined terms (only 2: 'Act' and 'Child Abuse Commission of Inquiry')","Single-purpose instrument with no ongoing administrative or procedural complexity"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations create special rules for a specific investigation — the **Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government's Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings** (established March 2021).\n\n**What it does:**\nNormally, many Tasmanian laws protect sensitive information from being shared. These laws include privacy protections, health confidentiality rules, restrictions on sharing information about children in care, and limits on what government employees can disclose.\n\nThis regulation **switches off** those protections — but **only for this specific Commission of Inquiry**. It means people and organisations can hand over confidential information to the Commission without breaking the law.\n\n**Two types of exemptions:**\n- **Section 4(1):** Removes legal barriers that would normally *prevent* information from being given **to** the Commission (e.g., privacy laws, health confidentiality, child protection secrecy provisions).\n- **Section 4(2):** Removes legal barriers that would normally restrict how the Commission can *use* information once it has it (e.g., freedom of information laws, ombudsman reporting restrictions).\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Government agencies (health, education, child safety, corrections)\n- Professionals bound by confidentiality (doctors, teachers, social workers)\n- The Commission itself — it can now receive and handle information that would normally be legally protected\n\n**Why it matters:**\nRoyal commissions and inquiries often need to see documents that are legally restricted. Without this regulation, witnesses could face penalties for sharing confidential records, or the Commission could be blocked from accessing critical evidence. This ensures the inquiry can fully investigate institutional child sexual abuse without legal obstacles — though it raises important questions about what happens to privacy protections during and after the inquiry."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/commissions-of-inquiry-regulations-2021","history":"/api/acts/commissions-of-inquiry-regulations-2021/history","analysis":"/api/acts/commissions-of-inquiry-regulations-2021/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/commissions-of-inquiry-regulations-2021/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/commissions-of-inquiry-regulations-2021/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/commissions-of-inquiry-regulations-2021/documents"}}