{"id":"qld:sl-2025-0074","name":"Right to Information Regulation 2025","slug":"right-to-information-regulation-2025","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"qld","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"74 of 2025","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":173651,"registerId":"qld-sl-2025-0074-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"pt.1","sectionType":"part","heading":"Preliminary","content":"# Preliminary","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"sec.1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Short title","content":"### sec.1 Short title\n\nThis regulation may be cited as the Right to Information Regulation 2025 .","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"sec.2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"### sec.2 Commencement\n\nThis regulation, other than sections 16 and 17 and part 8 , commences on 1 July 2025.\nSections 16 and 17 and part 8 commence on 1 July 2026.\n(sec.2-ssec.1) This regulation, other than sections 16 and 17 and part 8 , commences on 1 July 2025.\n(sec.2-ssec.2) Sections 16 and 17 and part 8 commence on 1 July 2026.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"sec.3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"### sec.3 Definitions\n\nThe dictionary in schedule 4 defines particular words used in this regulation.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"pt.2","sectionType":"part","heading":"Requirements for evidence of identity","content":"# Requirements for evidence of identity","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"sec.4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Evidence of identity— Act , sch 5 , definition evidence of identity","content":"### sec.4 Evidence of identity— Act , sch 5 , definition evidence of identity\n\nFor schedule 5 of the Act , definition evidence of identity , the evidence of identity prescribed for a person is a document that could reasonably be accepted to be evidence of the person’s identity.\nA document that could reasonably be accepted to be evidence of a person’s identity may include, for example—\na passport or a certified copy of the passport; or\na birth certificate or a certified copy of the birth certificate; or\na relevant authority in the form of a card or a certified copy of the relevant authority; or\nan electronic PDF document of a relevant authority created using the approved app under the Transport Planning and Coordination Act 1994 ; or\na digital authority for a relevant authority displayed to an agency or Minister under the Transport Planning and Coordination Act 1994 , section 29AI (2) ; or\na statutory declaration from an individual who has known the person for at least 1 year; or\nif the person is a prisoner within the meaning of the Corrective Services Act 2006 —a copy of the person’s identity card from the department administering that Act that is certified by a corrective services officer within the meaning of that Act.\nIn this section—\ncertified copy , of a document, means a copy of the document that is certified by a qualified witness as being a correct copy of the document.\npharmacist means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the pharmacy profession, other than as a student.\nqualified witness means—\na lawyer or notary public; or\na commissioner for declarations; or\na justice of the peace; or\na pharmacist.\nrelevant authority means—\na driver licence; or\na photo identification card under the Photo Identification Card Act 2008 ; or\na personal watercraft licence or recreational marine driver licence granted under the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Regulation 2016 , section 61 .\n(sec.4-ssec.1) For schedule 5 of the Act , definition evidence of identity , the evidence of identity prescribed for a person is a document that could reasonably be accepted to be evidence of the person’s identity.\n(sec.4-ssec.2) A document that could reasonably be accepted to be evidence of a person’s identity may include, for example— a passport or a certified copy of the passport; or a birth certificate or a certified copy of the birth certificate; or a relevant authority in the form of a card or a certified copy of the relevant authority; or an electronic PDF document of a relevant authority created using the approved app under the Transport Planning and Coordination Act 1994 ; or a digital authority for a relevant authority displayed to an agency or Minister under the Transport Planning and Coordination Act 1994 , section 29AI (2) ; or a statutory declaration from an individual who has known the person for at least 1 year; or if the person is a prisoner within the meaning of the Corrective Services Act 2006 —a copy of the person’s identity card from the department administering that Act that is certified by a corrective services officer within the meaning of that Act.\n(sec.4-ssec.3) In this section— certified copy , of a document, means a copy of the document that is certified by a qualified witness as being a correct copy of the document. pharmacist means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the pharmacy profession, other than as a student. qualified witness means— a lawyer or notary public; or a commissioner for declarations; or a justice of the peace; or a pharmacist. relevant authority means— a driver licence; or a photo identification card under the Photo Identification Card Act 2008 ; or a personal watercraft licence or recreational marine driver licence granted under the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Regulation 2016 , section 61 .\n- (a) a passport or a certified copy of the passport; or\n- (b) a birth certificate or a certified copy of the birth certificate; or\n- (c) a relevant authority in the form of a card or a certified copy of the relevant authority; or\n- (d) an electronic PDF document of a relevant authority created using the approved app under the Transport Planning and Coordination Act 1994 ; or\n- (e) a digital authority for a relevant authority displayed to an agency or Minister under the Transport Planning and Coordination Act 1994 , section 29AI (2) ; or\n- (f) a statutory declaration from an individual who has known the person for at least 1 year; or\n- (g) if the person is a prisoner within the meaning of the Corrective Services Act 2006 —a copy of the person’s identity card from the department administering that Act that is certified by a corrective services officer within the meaning of that Act.\n- (a) a lawyer or notary public; or\n- (b) a commissioner for declarations; or\n- (c) a justice of the peace; or\n- (d) a pharmacist.\n- (a) a driver licence; or\n- (b) a photo identification card under the Photo Identification Card Act 2008 ; or\n- (c) a personal watercraft licence or recreational marine driver licence granted under the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Regulation 2016 , section 61 .","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"pt.3","sectionType":"part","heading":"Fees and charges","content":"# Fees and charges","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"sec.5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Rounding of amounts expressed as numbers of fee units","content":"### sec.5 Rounding of amounts expressed as numbers of fee units\n\nThis section applies for working out the amount of a fee expressed in this regulation as a number of fee units.\nFor the purpose of the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , section 48C (3) , the amount is to be rounded—\nif the result is not more than $100—to the nearest multiple of 5 cents (rounding one-half upwards); or\nif the result is more than $100 but not more than $1,000—to the nearest multiple of 10 cents (rounding one-half upwards).\nIf a fee were 35 fee units and the value of a fee unit were $1.015, the number of dollars obtained by multiplying 35 by $1.015 would be $35.525. Because $35.525 is halfway between $35.50 and $35.55, it is rounded upwards, so the amount of the fee would be $35.55.\n(sec.5-ssec.1) This section applies for working out the amount of a fee expressed in this regulation as a number of fee units.\n(sec.5-ssec.2) For the purpose of the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , section 48C (3) , the amount is to be rounded— if the result is not more than $100—to the nearest multiple of 5 cents (rounding one-half upwards); or if the result is more than $100 but not more than $1,000—to the nearest multiple of 10 cents (rounding one-half upwards). If a fee were 35 fee units and the value of a fee unit were $1.015, the number of dollars obtained by multiplying 35 by $1.015 would be $35.525. Because $35.525 is halfway between $35.50 and $35.55, it is rounded upwards, so the amount of the fee would be $35.55.\n- (a) if the result is not more than $100—to the nearest multiple of 5 cents (rounding one-half upwards); or\n- (b) if the result is more than $100 but not more than $1,000—to the nearest multiple of 10 cents (rounding one-half upwards).","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"sec.6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Amount of application fee— Act , sch 5 , definition application fee","content":"### sec.6 Amount of application fee— Act , sch 5 , definition application fee\n\nFor schedule 5 of the Act , definition application fee , the application fee is 52.60 fee units.\nNo application fee is payable for a personal access application—see section 24 (5) of the Act .","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"sec.7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Amount of processing charge— Act , s 56","content":"### sec.7 Amount of processing charge— Act , s 56\n\nFor section 56 of the Act , the charge for processing an access application for a document is—\nif the agency or Minister spends no more than 5 hours processing the application—nil; or\nif the agency or Minister spends more than 5 hours processing the application—8.15 fee units for each 15 minutes or part of 15 minutes spent processing the application.\nIf the agency or Minister spends 3 hours processing an access application for a document, there is no processing charge.\nIf the agency or Minister spends 6 hours processing an access application for a document, the processing charge is—\nNo processing charge is payable in relation to a document containing personal information of the applicant—see section 59 of the Act .\nSubsection (3) applies if the document is not found in the place where, according to the filing system of the agency or of the office of the Minister (the relevant filing system ), the document ought to be located.\nAny time spent by the agency or Minister in searching for or retrieving the document (other than the time that would have been spent by the agency or Minister in searching for or retrieving the document, if the document had been found in the place mentioned in subsection (2) ) is to be disregarded in calculating the charge under subsection (1) .\nAlso, subsection (5) applies if the relevant filing system ought reasonably to have indicated, but does not indicate, the place where the document is located.\nAny time spent by the agency or Minister in searching for or retrieving the document (other than the time that would have been spent by the agency or Minister in searching for or retrieving the document, if the relevant filing system had indicated the place where the document is located and the document had been found in that place) is to be disregarded in calculating the charge under subsection (1) .\nIn this section—\nprocessing , for an access application for a document, means—\nsearching for or retrieving the document; and\nmaking, or doing things related to making, a decision on the application.\n(sec.7-ssec.1) For section 56 of the Act , the charge for processing an access application for a document is— if the agency or Minister spends no more than 5 hours processing the application—nil; or if the agency or Minister spends more than 5 hours processing the application—8.15 fee units for each 15 minutes or part of 15 minutes spent processing the application. If the agency or Minister spends 3 hours processing an access application for a document, there is no processing charge. If the agency or Minister spends 6 hours processing an access application for a document, the processing charge is— No processing charge is payable in relation to a document containing personal information of the applicant—see section 59 of the Act .\n(sec.7-ssec.2) Subsection (3) applies if the document is not found in the place where, according to the filing system of the agency or of the office of the Minister (the relevant filing system ), the document ought to be located.\n(sec.7-ssec.3) Any time spent by the agency or Minister in searching for or retrieving the document (other than the time that would have been spent by the agency or Minister in searching for or retrieving the document, if the document had been found in the place mentioned in subsection (2) ) is to be disregarded in calculating the charge under subsection (1) .\n(sec.7-ssec.4) Also, subsection (5) applies if the relevant filing system ought reasonably to have indicated, but does not indicate, the place where the document is located.\n(sec.7-ssec.5) Any time spent by the agency or Minister in searching for or retrieving the document (other than the time that would have been spent by the agency or Minister in searching for or retrieving the document, if the relevant filing system had indicated the place where the document is located and the document had been found in that place) is to be disregarded in calculating the charge under subsection (1) .\n(sec.7-ssec.6) In this section— processing , for an access application for a document, means— searching for or retrieving the document; and making, or doing things related to making, a decision on the application.\n- (a) if the agency or Minister spends no more than 5 hours processing the application—nil; or\n- (b) if the agency or Minister spends more than 5 hours processing the application—8.15 fee units for each 15 minutes or part of 15 minutes spent processing the application.\n- 1 If the agency or Minister spends 3 hours processing an access application for a document, there is no processing charge.\n- 2 If the agency or Minister spends 6 hours processing an access application for a document, the processing charge is—\n- (a) searching for or retrieving the document; and\n- (b) making, or doing things related to making, a decision on the application.","sortOrder":9},{"sectionNumber":"sec.8","sectionType":"section","heading":"Amount of access charge— Act , s 57","content":"### sec.8 Amount of access charge— Act , s 57\n\nFor section 57 of the Act , the charge in relation to giving access to a document is the total of—\nthe actual cost incurred by the agency or Minister for any of the following—\nany engagement of another entity to search for and retrieve the document;\nany relocation of the document necessary to allow access to be given to the document;\nA document may be transported from Cairns to Brisbane to give access to an applicant who lives in Brisbane.\nany written transcript of the words recorded or contained in a document mentioned in section 68 (1) (d) of the Act ;\nany creation of a written document mentioned in section 68 (1) (e) of the Act ;\notherwise giving access to the document (except by giving the applicant a black-and-white copy of the document in A4 size), including, for example, by the reproduction of the document; and\na fee payable for copying an X-ray\na fee payable for reproducing a duplicate document created using licensed software\nif the applicant is given a black-and-white copy of the document in A4 size—0.25 fee units for each page.\nThe charge calculated under subsection (1) for a document must not include the cost of—\nif access to the document is given by emailing the document to the applicant—the email; or\nif access to the document is given by giving the document to the applicant on a disc—the disc.\n(sec.8-ssec.1) For section 57 of the Act , the charge in relation to giving access to a document is the total of— the actual cost incurred by the agency or Minister for any of the following— any engagement of another entity to search for and retrieve the document; any relocation of the document necessary to allow access to be given to the document; A document may be transported from Cairns to Brisbane to give access to an applicant who lives in Brisbane. any written transcript of the words recorded or contained in a document mentioned in section 68 (1) (d) of the Act ; any creation of a written document mentioned in section 68 (1) (e) of the Act ; otherwise giving access to the document (except by giving the applicant a black-and-white copy of the document in A4 size), including, for example, by the reproduction of the document; and a fee payable for copying an X-ray a fee payable for reproducing a duplicate document created using licensed software if the applicant is given a black-and-white copy of the document in A4 size—0.25 fee units for each page.\n(sec.8-ssec.2) The charge calculated under subsection (1) for a document must not include the cost of— if access to the document is given by emailing the document to the applicant—the email; or if access to the document is given by giving the document to the applicant on a disc—the disc.\n- (a) the actual cost incurred by the agency or Minister for any of the following— (i) any engagement of another entity to search for and retrieve the document; (ii) any relocation of the document necessary to allow access to be given to the document; Example— A document may be transported from Cairns to Brisbane to give access to an applicant who lives in Brisbane. (iii) any written transcript of the words recorded or contained in a document mentioned in section 68 (1) (d) of the Act ; (iv) any creation of a written document mentioned in section 68 (1) (e) of the Act ; (v) otherwise giving access to the document (except by giving the applicant a black-and-white copy of the document in A4 size), including, for example, by the reproduction of the document; and Examples for subparagraph (v) — • a fee payable for copying an X-ray • a fee payable for reproducing a duplicate document created using licensed software\n- (i) any engagement of another entity to search for and retrieve the document;\n- (ii) any relocation of the document necessary to allow access to be given to the document; Example— A document may be transported from Cairns to Brisbane to give access to an applicant who lives in Brisbane.\n- (iii) any written transcript of the words recorded or contained in a document mentioned in section 68 (1) (d) of the Act ;\n- (iv) any creation of a written document mentioned in section 68 (1) (e) of the Act ;\n- (v) otherwise giving access to the document (except by giving the applicant a black-and-white copy of the document in A4 size), including, for example, by the reproduction of the document; and Examples for subparagraph (v) — • a fee payable for copying an X-ray • a fee payable for reproducing a duplicate document created using licensed software\n- • a fee payable for copying an X-ray\n- • a fee payable for reproducing a duplicate document created using licensed software\n- (b) if the applicant is given a black-and-white copy of the document in A4 size—0.25 fee units for each page.\n- (i) any engagement of another entity to search for and retrieve the document;\n- (ii) any relocation of the document necessary to allow access to be given to the document; Example— A document may be transported from Cairns to Brisbane to give access to an applicant who lives in Brisbane.\n- (iii) any written transcript of the words recorded or contained in a document mentioned in section 68 (1) (d) of the Act ;\n- (iv) any creation of a written document mentioned in section 68 (1) (e) of the Act ;\n- (v) otherwise giving access to the document (except by giving the applicant a black-and-white copy of the document in A4 size), including, for example, by the reproduction of the document; and Examples for subparagraph (v) — • a fee payable for copying an X-ray • a fee payable for reproducing a duplicate document created using licensed software\n- • a fee payable for copying an X-ray\n- • a fee payable for reproducing a duplicate document created using licensed software\n- • a fee payable for copying an X-ray\n- • a fee payable for reproducing a duplicate document created using licensed software\n- (a) if access to the document is given by emailing the document to the applicant—the email; or\n- (b) if access to the document is given by giving the document to the applicant on a disc—the disc.","sortOrder":10},{"sectionNumber":"pt.4","sectionType":"part","heading":"Requirements for annual reports","content":"# Requirements for annual reports","sortOrder":11},{"sectionNumber":"sec.9","sectionType":"section","heading":"Report to Speaker and parliamentary committee on operations of OIC— Act , s 184","content":"### sec.9 Report to Speaker and parliamentary committee on operations of OIC— Act , s 184\n\nFor section 184 (3) of the Act , the matters stated in schedule 1 are prescribed.\nFor each matter mentioned in schedule 1 , items 2(c) and 3(c), the details of the matter must not include details identifying the particular agencies or Ministers to which the matter relates.\n(sec.9-ssec.1) For section 184 (3) of the Act , the matters stated in schedule 1 are prescribed.\n(sec.9-ssec.2) For each matter mentioned in schedule 1 , items 2(c) and 3(c), the details of the matter must not include details identifying the particular agencies or Ministers to which the matter relates.","sortOrder":12},{"sectionNumber":"sec.10","sectionType":"section","heading":"Report to Assembly on Act’s operation— Act , s 185","content":"### sec.10 Report to Assembly on Act’s operation— Act , s 185\n\nFor section 185 (2) of the Act , the matters stated in schedule 2 are prescribed.","sortOrder":13},{"sectionNumber":"pt.5","sectionType":"part","heading":"Declarations","content":"# Declarations","sortOrder":14},{"sectionNumber":"sec.11","sectionType":"section","heading":"Public authority— Act , s 16A","content":"### sec.11 Public authority— Act , s 16A\n\nFor section 16A (1) of the Act , the Bar Association of Queensland ACN 009 717 739 is declared to be a public authority, but in relation to only the public functions given to the association under an Act.\nthe functions given to the association as a regulatory authority under the Legal Profession Act 2007","sortOrder":15},{"sectionNumber":"sec.12","sectionType":"section","heading":"Principal office— Act , sch 5 , definition principal officer","content":"### sec.12 Principal office— Act , sch 5 , definition principal officer\n\nFor schedule 5 of the Act , definition principal officer , paragraph (e) , for each public authority stated in column 1 of the table in schedule 3 , the office stated in column 2 is declared to be the principal office for the public authority.","sortOrder":16},{"sectionNumber":"pt.6","sectionType":"part","heading":"Repeal","content":"# Repeal","sortOrder":17},{"sectionNumber":"sec.13","sectionType":"section","heading":"Repeal","content":"### sec.13 Repeal\n\nThe Right to Information Regulation 2009 , SL No. 134 is repealed.","sortOrder":18},{"sectionNumber":"pt.7","sectionType":"part","heading":"Transitional provisions","content":"# Transitional provisions","sortOrder":19},{"sectionNumber":"sec.14","sectionType":"section","heading":"Continuation of s 7 of repealed regulation for report relating to 2024–2025 financial year","content":"### sec.14 Continuation of s 7 of repealed regulation for report relating to 2024–2025 financial year\n\nThis section applies in relation to a report under section 184 (2) of the Act relating to the 2024–2025 financial year.\nSection 7 of the repealed Right to Information Regulation 2009 continues to apply in relation to the report as if this regulation had not been made.\nSection 9 as in force from the commencement does not apply in relation to the report.\n(sec.14-ssec.1) This section applies in relation to a report under section 184 (2) of the Act relating to the 2024–2025 financial year.\n(sec.14-ssec.2) Section 7 of the repealed Right to Information Regulation 2009 continues to apply in relation to the report as if this regulation had not been made.\n(sec.14-ssec.3) Section 9 as in force from the commencement does not apply in relation to the report.","sortOrder":20},{"sectionNumber":"sec.15","sectionType":"section","heading":"Continuation of s 8 of repealed regulation for report relating to 2024–2025 financial year","content":"### sec.15 Continuation of s 8 of repealed regulation for report relating to 2024–2025 financial year\n\nThis section applies in relation to a report under section 185 (1) of the Act relating to the 2024–2025 financial year.\nSection 8 of the repealed Right to Information Regulation 2009 continues to apply in relation to the report as if this regulation had not been made.\nSection 10 as in force from the commencement does not apply in relation to the report.\n(sec.15-ssec.1) This section applies in relation to a report under section 185 (1) of the Act relating to the 2024–2025 financial year.\n(sec.15-ssec.2) Section 8 of the repealed Right to Information Regulation 2009 continues to apply in relation to the report as if this regulation had not been made.\n(sec.15-ssec.3) Section 10 as in force from the commencement does not apply in relation to the report.","sortOrder":21},{"sectionNumber":"sec.16","sectionType":"section","heading":"Continuation of former sch 1 for report relating to 2025–2026 financial year","content":"### sec.16 Continuation of former sch 1 for report relating to 2025–2026 financial year\n\nThis section applies in relation to a report under section 184 (2) of the Act relating to the 2025–2026 financial year.\nSchedule 1 as in force before the commencement continues to apply in relation to the report as if the amendment of the schedule by this regulation had not been made.\nSchedule 1 as in force from the commencement does not apply in relation to the report.\n(sec.16-ssec.1) This section applies in relation to a report under section 184 (2) of the Act relating to the 2025–2026 financial year.\n(sec.16-ssec.2) Schedule 1 as in force before the commencement continues to apply in relation to the report as if the amendment of the schedule by this regulation had not been made.\n(sec.16-ssec.3) Schedule 1 as in force from the commencement does not apply in relation to the report.","sortOrder":22},{"sectionNumber":"sec.17","sectionType":"section","heading":"Continuation of former s 10 and sch 2 for report relating to 2025–2026 financial year","content":"### sec.17 Continuation of former s 10 and sch 2 for report relating to 2025–2026 financial year\n\nThis section applies in relation to a report for a financial year to which section 206R of the Act applies.\nTo remove any doubt, it is declared that—\nsection 10 and schedule 2 as in force before the commencement continue to apply in relation to the report as if the amendment of the section and schedule by this regulation had not been made; and\nsection 10 and schedule 2 as in force from the commencement do not apply in relation to the report.\n(sec.17-ssec.1) This section applies in relation to a report for a financial year to which section 206R of the Act applies.\n(sec.17-ssec.2) To remove any doubt, it is declared that— section 10 and schedule 2 as in force before the commencement continue to apply in relation to the report as if the amendment of the section and schedule by this regulation had not been made; and section 10 and schedule 2 as in force from the commencement do not apply in relation to the report.\n- (a) section 10 and schedule 2 as in force before the commencement continue to apply in relation to the report as if the amendment of the section and schedule by this regulation had not been made; and\n- (b) section 10 and schedule 2 as in force from the commencement do not apply in relation to the report.","sortOrder":23},{"sectionNumber":"pt.8","sectionType":"part","heading":"Amendment of this regulation","content":"# Amendment of this regulation","sortOrder":24},{"sectionNumber":"sec.18","sectionType":"section","heading":"Regulation amended","content":"### sec.18 Regulation amended\n\nThis part amends this regulation.","sortOrder":25},{"sectionNumber":"sec.19","sectionType":"section","heading":"Replacement of s 10 (Report to Assembly on Act’s operation— Act , s 185 )","content":"### sec.19 Replacement of s 10 (Report to Assembly on Act’s operation— Act , s 185 )\n\nSection 10 —\nomit, insert—\nFor section 185(1) of the Act, information relating to an agency or Minister about the matters stated in schedule 2 is prescribed.\nFor section 185(3) of the Act, the matters stated in schedule 2 are prescribed.\n(sec.19-frag-sec.10-ssec.1) For section 185(1) of the Act, information relating to an agency or Minister about the matters stated in schedule 2 is prescribed.\n(sec.19-frag-sec.10-ssec.2) For section 185(3) of the Act, the matters stated in schedule 2 are prescribed.","sortOrder":26},{"sectionNumber":"sec.20","sectionType":"section","heading":"Amendment of sch 1 (Report to Speaker and parliamentary committee on operations of OIC)","content":"### sec.20 Amendment of sch 1 (Report to Speaker and parliamentary committee on operations of OIC)\n\nSchedule 1 , item 2—\ninsert—\nfor each agency or Minister—\nthe number of external review applications made in relation to a decision of the agency or Minister; and\nthe number of external review applications where there was no preceding internal review application to the agency or Minister; and\nfor each of section 110(1)(a), (b) and (c) of the Act—the number of decisions on external review made under the paragraph;\nSchedule 1 , item 2(g), ‘to (f)’—\nomit, insert—\nto (g)\nSchedule 1 , item 2(fa) and (g)—\nrenumber as schedule 1 , item 2(g) and (h).\nSchedule 1 , item 3—\ninsert—\nfor each agency or Minister—\nthe number of external review applications made in relation to a decision of the agency or Minister; and\nthe number of external review applications where there was no preceding internal review application to the agency or Minister; and\nfor each of section 110(1)(a), (b) and (c) of the Act—the number of decisions on external review made under the paragraph\n(sec.20-ssec.1) Schedule 1 , item 2— insert— for each agency or Minister— the number of external review applications made in relation to a decision of the agency or Minister; and the number of external review applications where there was no preceding internal review application to the agency or Minister; and for each of section 110(1)(a), (b) and (c) of the Act—the number of decisions on external review made under the paragraph;\n(sec.20-ssec.2) Schedule 1 , item 2(g), ‘to (f)’— omit, insert— to (g)\n(sec.20-ssec.3) Schedule 1 , item 2(fa) and (g)— renumber as schedule 1 , item 2(g) and (h).\n(sec.20-ssec.4) Schedule 1 , item 3— insert— for each agency or Minister— the number of external review applications made in relation to a decision of the agency or Minister; and the number of external review applications where there was no preceding internal review application to the agency or Minister; and for each of section 110(1)(a), (b) and (c) of the Act—the number of decisions on external review made under the paragraph\n- (fa) for each agency or Minister— (i) the number of external review applications made in relation to a decision of the agency or Minister; and (ii) the number of external review applications where there was no preceding internal review application to the agency or Minister; and (iii) for each of section 110(1)(a), (b) and (c) of the Act—the number of decisions on external review made under the paragraph;\n- (i) the number of external review applications made in relation to a decision of the agency or Minister; and\n- (ii) the number of external review applications where there was no preceding internal review application to the agency or Minister; and\n- (iii) for each of section 110(1)(a), (b) and (c) of the Act—the number of decisions on external review made under the paragraph;\n- (i) the number of external review applications made in relation to a decision of the agency or Minister; and\n- (ii) the number of external review applications where there was no preceding internal review application to the agency or Minister; and\n- (iii) for each of section 110(1)(a), (b) and (c) of the Act—the number of decisions on external review made under the paragraph;\n- (f) for each agency or Minister— (i) the number of external review applications made in relation to a decision of the agency or Minister; and (ii) the number of external review applications where there was no preceding internal review application to the agency or Minister; and (iii) for each of section 110(1)(a), (b) and (c) of the Act—the number of decisions on external review made under the paragraph\n- (i) the number of external review applications made in relation to a decision of the agency or Minister; and\n- (ii) the number of external review applications where there was no preceding internal review application to the agency or Minister; and\n- (iii) for each of section 110(1)(a), (b) and (c) of the Act—the number of decisions on external review made under the paragraph\n- (i) the number of external review applications made in relation to a decision of the agency or Minister; and\n- (ii) the number of external review applications where there was no preceding internal review application to the agency or Minister; and\n- (iii) for each of section 110(1)(a), (b) and (c) of the Act—the number of decisions on external review made under the paragraph","sortOrder":27},{"sectionNumber":"sec.21","sectionType":"section","heading":"Amendment of sch 2 (Report to Assembly on Act’s operation)","content":"### sec.21 Amendment of sch 2 (Report to Assembly on Act’s operation)\n\nSchedule 2 , item 2(c), ‘refusals of access’—\nomit, insert—\nconsidered decisions for access applications in which access to a document was refused in part or in full\nSchedule 2 , item 2(i) to (k)—\nomit.\nSchedule 2 , item 2(m), ‘to (l)’—\nomit.\nSchedule 2 , item 2(l) and (m)—\nrenumber as schedule 2 , item 2(i) and (j).\nSchedule 2 , item 3(h) to (j)—\nomit.\nSchedule 2 , item 4(c)—\nomit.\n(sec.21-ssec.1) Schedule 2 , item 2(c), ‘refusals of access’— omit, insert— considered decisions for access applications in which access to a document was refused in part or in full\n(sec.21-ssec.2) Schedule 2 , item 2(i) to (k)— omit.\n(sec.21-ssec.3) Schedule 2 , item 2(m), ‘to (l)’— omit.\n(sec.21-ssec.4) Schedule 2 , item 2(l) and (m)— renumber as schedule 2 , item 2(i) and (j).\n(sec.21-ssec.5) Schedule 2 , item 3(h) to (j)— omit.\n(sec.21-ssec.6) Schedule 2 , item 4(c)— omit.","sortOrder":28}],"analysis":{"summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulation stays squarely within its original purpose: updating the administrative and procedural rules supporting Queensland's right to information framework. The updates — revised fees, modernised identity verification (including digital IDs), updated reporting requirements, and the declaration of the Bar Association as a public authority for regulatory functions — are all incremental refinements rather than expansions into new territory. The core scope (fees, identity, reporting, declarations) mirrors the repealed 2009 regulation."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-references to multiple other Acts (Acts Interpretation Act 1954, Transport Planning and Coordination Act 1994, Corrective Services Act 2006, Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, Legal Profession Act 2007, Photo Identification Card Act 2008, Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Regulation 2016)","Staggered commencement dates requiring readers to track which provisions apply when","Fee calculation using 'fee units' — an abstract unit requiring conversion to dollar amounts via external indexing mechanism","Layered transitional provisions that maintain old rules for specific financial years while new rules apply prospectively","Self-amending structure (Part 8 amends the regulation itself, adding further complexity to understanding the final operative text)","Processing charge rules include nuanced carve-outs for misfiled documents and poor record-keeping, requiring careful reading to understand what time is billable","Multiple schedules referenced but not fully reproduced in the text, requiring access to external documents for complete understanding","The regulation operates as subsidiary legislation under a parent Act, meaning full comprehension requires reading both instruments together"],"plain_english_summary":"## What is this law?\n\nThis is Queensland's **Right to Information Regulation 2025** — the rulebook that supports Queensland's freedom of information system. It replaces the 2009 version of the same regulation and sets out the practical details for how Queenslanders can request access to government documents.\n\n## Who does it affect?\n\n- **Ordinary Queenslanders** who want to access government documents (e.g. your own records, or documents held by government agencies)\n- **Government agencies and Ministers** who receive and process those requests\n- **The Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC)** — the independent watchdog that oversees the system\n- **The Bar Association of Queensland**, which is declared a \"public authority\" (meaning it must comply with right to information rules) for its regulatory functions\n\n## What does it actually do?\n\n### 1. Proving your identity\nIf you apply to access documents, you may need to prove who you are. Acceptable ID includes passports, birth certificates, driver licences, photo ID cards, digital licence apps, and — for prisoners — a certified prison ID card. A statutory declaration (a formal written statement) from someone who has known you for at least a year also counts.\n\n### 2. Fees for accessing documents\n- **Application fee:** Set at 52.60 fee units (a fee unit is a dollar amount set by the government each year, roughly around $1–$1.10). No fee applies if you're asking for your **own personal information**.\n- **Processing charge:** Free if the agency spends 5 hours or less processing your request. After 5 hours, you're charged about 8.15 fee units per 15 minutes. Importantly, if a document is misfiled and harder to find because of the government's own poor record-keeping, that extra search time **cannot** be charged to you.\n- **Access charge:** Charged at cost for things like physical relocation of documents, transcripts, or special reproduction. Black-and-white A4 photocopies cost 0.25 fee units per page. Emailing documents or providing them on a disc is **free**.\n\n### 3. Reporting requirements\nGovernment agencies and the OIC must produce annual reports covering things like how many requests were made, how many were refused, and how many were reviewed. The regulation updates what information must go into these reports, including new requirements to track how often people skip the internal review step and go straight to external review.\n\n### 4. Staggered start dates\nMost of the regulation starts on **1 July 2025**. Some reporting changes (sections 16, 17 and Part 8) don't kick in until **1 July 2026**, giving agencies time to adjust.\n\n### 5. Transitional rules\nThe old 2009 regulation's reporting requirements still apply for the 2024–2025 financial year, so there's no gap in reporting obligations.\n\n## Why does it matter?\n\nThis regulation is the practical backbone of your right to access government information in Queensland. It determines **how much it costs**, **what ID you need**, and **how accountable** the government is in reporting on the system's use."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[{"type":"circular_definition","section":"sec.4","severity":"high","reasoning":"Section 4(1) states that 'the evidence of identity prescribed for a person is a document that could reasonably be accepted to be evidence of the person's identity.' The word being defined ('evidence of identity') appears in the definition itself. The regulation purports to prescribe a meaning for the Act's definition but merely restates the concept in circular terms. The examples in s4(2) provide practical guidance, but the operative definition in s4(1) is tautological and provides no independent legal content.","confidence":0.92,"description":"Circular definition of 'evidence of identity': the prescribed evidence of identity is defined as 'a document that could reasonably be accepted to be evidence of the person's identity', which is entirely circular — it defines the term using the term itself."},{"type":"other","section":"sec.7","severity":"medium","reasoning":"Section 7(1)(b) states that if the agency spends more than 5 hours processing, the charge is '8.15 fee units for each 15 minutes or part of 15 minutes spent processing the application.' The phrase 'spent processing the application' with no qualification means all time, not just time beyond 5 hours. This creates an absurd cliff-edge: 5 hours = $0, but 5 hours and 1 minute = approximately $163 (for the full 5 hours plus). The worked example for 6 hours is omitted (truncated in the text), concealing what the actual figure would be. This penalises applicants harshly for marginal additional processing time and is almost certainly unintended.","confidence":0.78,"description":"The processing charge calculation for applications exceeding 5 hours charges for ALL time spent (every 15 minutes), not just the time beyond the 5-hour threshold, creating a sharp and irrational cliff-edge penalty."},{"type":"impossible_compliance","section":"sec.5","severity":"low","reasoning":"Section 5(2) covers results of '$100 or less' (5-cent rounding) and 'more than $100 but not more than $1,000' (10-cent rounding). No rule is provided for results exceeding $1,000. While the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 s48C(3) may provide a fallback, the regulation expressly purports to prescribe the rounding rule 'for the purpose of' that provision, and the gap could create uncertainty if a large document request generates a fee above $1,000.","confidence":0.7,"description":"The rounding rules have a gap: fees resulting in exactly $100 are rounded to the nearest 5 cents, but fees resulting in exactly $1,000 are rounded to the nearest 10 cents. There is no provision for fees exceeding $1,000, leaving a potential lacuna for large fee calculations."},{"type":"retroactive_impossibility","section":"sec.16","severity":"high","reasoning":"Section 13 repeals the Right to Information Regulation 2009. The 2025 regulation is a new instrument, not an amendment. Section 16(2) purports to continue 'Schedule 1 as in force before the commencement' of this regulation, but since this regulation is new, its Schedule 1 had no existence 'before the commencement.' The reference to 'the amendment of the schedule by this regulation' in s16(2) is incoherent — this regulation does not amend a previous version of its own schedule, it creates the schedule afresh. Similarly, Part 8 (ss 19–21) purports to amend 'this regulation' after commencement, suggesting the drafters were treating this as an amending instrument in some sections but a new instrument in others.","confidence":0.82,"description":"Section 16 refers to 'Schedule 1 as in force before the commencement' and 'the amendment of the schedule by this regulation', but this regulation (the Right to Information Regulation 2025) is a new standalone regulation, not an amending regulation. It does not amend a prior schedule — it replaces the 2009 regulation entirely under s.13. There is no prior version of 'Schedule 1 of this regulation' that could have been 'in force before the commencement'."},{"type":"retroactive_impossibility","section":"sec.17","severity":"high","reasoning":"The same structural problem as s16 applies. Additionally, s17(1) applies to 'a report for a financial year to which section 206R of the Act applies', but does not specify which financial year — unlike ss14, 15 and 16 which all reference the 2024–2025 or 2025–2026 year explicitly. This vagueness could cause s17 to apply to an indeterminate range of reports, potentially conflicting with s15 and s10 for the same reporting obligations.","confidence":0.8,"description":"Section 17 similarly refers to 'section 10 and schedule 2 as in force before the commencement' and 'the amendment of the section and schedule by this regulation', which is internally incoherent for the same reason as section 16 — this is a new regulation, not an amending regulation, so there is no prior version of its own section 10 or schedule 2."},{"type":"self_contradicting","section":"sec.8","severity":"medium","reasoning":"Section 7(6) defines 'processing' to include 'searching for or retrieving the document.' Section 8(1)(a)(i) includes 'any engagement of another entity to search for and retrieve the document' as part of the access charge. If an external contractor searches for and retrieves a document, their cost appears recoverable as both: (a) a processing charge under s7 (as part of the hours spent processing, which includes searching/retrieval), and (b) an actual cost access charge under s8(1)(a)(i). This creates a double-charging risk that is not addressed by any exclusion or offset provision.","confidence":0.72,"description":"Section 8(1)(a)(i) includes 'any engagement of another entity to search for and retrieve the document' as an access charge, but section 7 defines 'processing' to include 'searching for or retrieving the document' as a processing charge. The same activity (searching and retrieval by a third party) appears to be chargeable under both the processing charge and the access charge simultaneously."},{"type":"other","section":"sec.18-sec.21 (pt.8)","severity":"medium","reasoning":"A regulation amending itself via a delayed-commencement part is legally unusual and creates interpretive difficulties. Sections 16 and 17, which preserve old versions of schedule 1 and section 10/schedule 2 for specific reports, become necessary precisely because of this self-amendment mechanism — yet as noted above, the language of those transitional provisions is drafted as if this were an amending regulation rather than a new standalone regulation. The interaction between the transitional provisions (ss 14–17) and the amending provisions (ss 19–21) is complex and creates a risk of gap or overlap for reports spanning the 2025–2026 year.","confidence":0.75,"description":"Part 8, which purports to amend 'this regulation' (the Right to Information Regulation 2025), does not commence until 1 July 2026 per section 2. However, the amendments in Part 8 (ss 19–21) amend sections and schedules of this same regulation that will already be in force from 1 July 2025. This means the regulation operates in one form from 1 July 2025, and then Part 8 retrospectively rewrites it from 1 July 2026 — a self-amending mechanism that creates uncertainty about which version of section 10 and schedules 1 and 2 applies, especially in conjunction with the transitional provisions in ss 16–17."}],"contradictions":[{"severity":"medium","section_a":"sec.2 (commencement of main regulation body)","section_b":"sec.16 and sec.17 (transitional provisions for 2025–2026 reports)","confidence":0.8,"description":"Sections 16 and 17 do not commence until 1 July 2026, yet they purport to govern reports relating to the 2025–2026 financial year (ending 30 June 2026). If these sections only commence on 1 July 2026, they cannot validly apply to govern or preserve arrangements for a report that would ordinarily be prepared during or shortly after the 2025–2026 financial year — which runs concurrently with the period before their commencement."},{"severity":"low","section_a":"sec.13 (repeal of 2009 regulation)","section_b":"sec.14 and sec.15 (continuation of provisions of repealed regulation)","confidence":0.65,"description":"Section 13 repeals the Right to Information Regulation 2009 in its entirety upon commencement (1 July 2025). Sections 14 and 15 then purport to continue specific sections (7 and 8) of that repealed regulation 'as if this regulation had not been made' for reports relating to the 2024–2025 financial year. This creates an internal contradiction: the regulation both destroys and preserves the same instrument simultaneously. While savings provisions of this kind are common in Queensland drafting, the particular phrasing 'as if this regulation had not been made' is self-referentially odd — if this regulation had not been made, neither s13 (the repeal) nor ss14–15 (the savings) would exist, raising a question about the logical baseline being posited."},{"severity":"medium","section_a":"sec.7 (processing charge — searches by agency/Minister)","section_b":"sec.8(1)(a)(i) (access charge — engagement of another entity to search)","confidence":0.73,"description":"Section 7 imposes a processing charge for time spent by the agency or Minister in 'searching for or retrieving the document.' Section 8(1)(a)(i) imposes an access charge for 'any engagement of another entity to search for and retrieve the document.' Where a third-party entity is engaged to search, it is unclear whether the time associated with that engagement is a processing charge under s7 (charged at 8.15 fee units per 15 minutes), an access charge under s8 (at actual cost), or both. The two charging regimes are not mutually exclusive and no deduction or offset is specified."},{"severity":"medium","section_a":"sec.9(2) (prohibition on identifying agencies/Ministers in OIC report)","section_b":"sec.20 (amendment inserting per-agency/Minister statistics into schedule 1)","confidence":0.77,"description":"Section 9(2) prohibits the OIC's report to the Speaker from including 'details identifying the particular agencies or Ministers to which the matter relates' for items 2(c) and 3(c) of schedule 1. Section 20 inserts new items 2(fa) and 3(f) into schedule 1 requiring reporting 'for each agency or Minister' on the number of external review applications. These new items require identification of specific agencies and Ministers by definition ('for each agency or Minister'), yet it is not clear whether the anonymisation requirement of s9(2) extends to these new items. If it does, the per-agency statistics become meaningless; if it does not, the rationale for s9(2)'s anonymisation is applied inconsistently across the same report."},{"severity":"medium","section_a":"sec.21(3) (omitting reference 'to (l)' in sch 2 item 2(m))","section_b":"sec.21(4) (renumbering items 2(l) and (m) as 2(i) and (j))","confidence":0.68,"description":"Section 21(3) omits the words 'to (l)' from schedule 2 item 2(m), but section 21(4) then renumbers item 2(m) as item 2(j). If item 2(m) is being renumbered to 2(j), the amendment to the text within item 2(m) in s21(3) may be operating on the wrong item reference — the sequence of amendments may produce an incoherent result depending on the order in which the amendments are applied, particularly when combined with the omission of items 2(i) to (k) in s21(2), which changes the numbering landscape before items are renumbered."}]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: operational details for the Right to Information Act. It covers identity verification, fees, charges, and reporting requirements — all standard subordinate legislation matters. The amendments in Part 8 update reporting requirements but do not expand the scope beyond administrative implementation of the primary Act."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross-references to the parent Act (Right to Information Act 2009) and other legislation (Transport Planning and Coordination Act 1994, Corrective Services Act 2006, etc.)","Nested conditional logic for calculating processing charges (5-hour threshold, exclusions for filing system failures, personal information exemptions)","Staggered commencement dates (1 July 2025 vs 1 July 2026) creating parallel reporting regimes","Detailed amendment instructions in Part 8 using legislative drafting shorthand ('omit, insert', 'renumber')","Fee unit calculations requiring external reference to the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 for rounding rules","Transitional provisions preserving old regulation sections for specific financial years while new provisions take effect for others"],"plain_english_summary":"This regulation sets out the practical rules for Queensland's Right to Information (RTI) system, which allows people to request access to government documents.\n\n**What it does:**\n\n*   **Identity verification:** It lists what documents you can use to prove who you are when making an information request — things like passports, driver licences, birth certificates, or even a statutory declaration (a sworn statement) from someone who has known you for a year. It also includes special rules for prisoners.\n\n*   **Fees and charges:** It sets out the costs involved:\n    *   **Application fee:** A flat fee of 52.60 fee units (the dollar amount changes yearly based on the value of a \"fee unit\" set by the government).\n    *   **Processing charge:** Free for the first 5 hours of work, then charged per 15 minutes after that. However, you don't pay if you're only requesting your own personal information, or if the government agency's poor filing system caused delays.\n    *   **Access charge:** Costs for things like photocopying (25 cents per A4 black-and-white page), transcribing audio, or moving documents between offices. Emailing documents or providing them on a disc is free.\n\n*   **Reporting:** It requires the Information Commissioner to publish detailed annual reports about how the RTI system is working, including statistics about applications, reviews, and complaints. Some sections are delayed until 2026 to allow for transitional reporting arrangements.\n\n*   **Agency declarations:** It formally declares the Bar Association of Queensland to be a \"public authority\" for RTI purposes (meaning it must follow the Act for its regulatory functions), and sets out who the \"principal officer\" is for various agencies.\n\n*   **Repeal and transition:** It replaces the 2009 regulation and includes transitional rules so that reports for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 financial years follow the old rules, while new reporting requirements kick in later.\n\n**Who it affects:** Anyone requesting information from Queensland government agencies or Ministers, the agencies themselves, and the Office of the Information Commissioner.\n\n**Why it matters:** It determines how much freedom of information requests cost, how you prove your identity to make a request, and how transparent the government is about its information-handling practices."},"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"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/right-to-information-regulation-2025","history":"/api/acts/right-to-information-regulation-2025/history","analysis":"/api/acts/right-to-information-regulation-2025/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/right-to-information-regulation-2025/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/right-to-information-regulation-2025/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/right-to-information-regulation-2025/documents"}}