{"id":"tas:sr-2021-036","name":"Right to Information Regulations 2021","slug":"right-to-information-regulations-2021","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"tas","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"36 of 2021","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":182165,"registerId":"tas-tas:sr-2021-036-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 [Right to Information Regulations 2021](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/sr-2021-036) .","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 [Right to Information Act 2009](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-070) ;\n> \n> > ***proof of identity***, in relation to a person making an application under [section 13](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-070#GS13@EN) of the Act, means –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a certified copy, or an extract, of a birth certificate for the applicant that shows the name of the applicant; or\n> > > \n> > > > (b) a certified copy of a certificate, declaration, notice or other instrument in respect of the applicant’s status as an Australian citizen or British subject, or otherwise in respect of the applicant’s nationality, issued under –\n> > > > \n> > > > > > (i) the *Australian Citizenship Act 2007* of the Commonwealth; or\n> > > > > \n> > > > > > (ii) the *Australian Citizenship Act 1948* of the Commonwealth; or\n> > > \n> > > > (c) a passport, issued to the applicant in any country or territory, that shows the name of the applicant; or\n> > > \n> > > > (d) a drivers licence, issued to the applicant in Australia, that shows the name of the applicant.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Information to be available to members of the public","content":"### 4 Information to be available to members of the public\n\n> A public authority must publish the following information, in respect of an application for assessed disclosure of information under [section 13](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-070#GS13@EN) of the Act, in a manner that is accessible to the public:\n> \n> > > (a) the address to which the application may be sent;\n> > \n> > > (b) the application fee payable in respect of the application under [section 16(1)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-070#GS16@Gs1@EN) of the Act;\n> > \n> > > (c) the grounds on which the application fee for the application may be waived under [section 16(2)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-070#GS16@Gs2@EN) of the Act;\n> > \n> > > (d) a statement to the effect that the application must –\n> > > \n> > > > > (i) be made in writing; and\n> > > > \n> > > > > (ii) contain the minimum information required by [section 13(3)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-070#GS13@Gs3@EN) of the Act; and\n> > > > \n> > > > > (iii) be signed by the applicant;\n> > \n> > > (e) details of the minimum information, that must be contained in the application, as prescribed under [regulation 5](#GS5@EN) .","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Minimum information to be contained in application for assessed disclosure","content":"### 5 Minimum information to be contained in application for assessed disclosure\n\n> For the purposes of [section 13(3)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-070#GS13@Gs3@EN) of the Act, the following information is prescribed as the minimum information that must be contained in an application for assessed disclosure of information under that section:\n> \n> > > (a) the name of the applicant;\n> > \n> > > (b) a postal address, or email address, for the applicant, to be used for communication on matters relating to the application;\n> > \n> > > (c) the contact details of the applicant where the applicant may be contacted during ordinary business hours;\n> > \n> > > (d) the general subject matter of the application;\n> > \n> > > (e) details of the information sought by the applicant under the application, including all relevant dates and time periods that may relate to the information being sought, if known by the applicant;\n> > \n> > > (f) details of efforts undertaken by the applicant, if any, before the application was made, to obtain from publicly available sources the information sought;\n> > \n> > > (g) the date on which the application was signed by the applicant;\n> > \n> > > (h) if the application includes a request for personal information of the applicant, proof of identity of the applicant.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Minimum information to be provided to applicant by public authority","content":"### 6 Minimum information to be provided to applicant by public authority\n\n> For the purposes of [section 13(5)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-070#GS13@Gs5@EN) of the Act, the following information is prescribed as the minimum information that a public authority must provide to a person applying for assessed disclosure of information under that section about the public authority’s assessment procedure for such an application:\n> \n> > > (a) an outline of the object of the Act as specified in [section 3](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-070#GS3@EN) of the Act;\n> > \n> > > (b) the application fee payable under [section 16(1)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-070#GS16@Gs1@EN) of the Act;\n> > \n> > > (c) the grounds on which the application fee may be waived under [section 16(2)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-070#GS16@Gs2@EN) of the Act;\n> > \n> > > (d) the period, under [section 15](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-070#GS15@EN) of the Act, within which an application is to be decided;\n> > \n> > > (e) information to the effect that an applicant may apply, under [section 45(1)(f)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-070#GS45@Gs1@Hpf@EN) of the Act, to the Ombudsman for a review of a decision if the applicant has not received notice of the decision within the period specified in, or calculated under, [section 15](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-070#GS15@EN) of the Act;\n> > \n> > > (f) information specifying that the public authority, in accordance with [sections 13(6)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-070#GS13@Gs6@EN) , [(7)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-070#GS13@Gs7@EN) and [(8)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-070#GS13@Gs8@EN) of the Act –\n> > > \n> > > > > (i) must take reasonable steps to assist the person to make an application that complies with [section 13](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-070#GS13@EN) of the Act; and\n> > > > \n> > > > > (ii) may negotiate with an applicant to refine or redirect an application; and\n> > > > \n> > > > > (iii) if requested, must make available general details of information in possession of the public authority.","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Corresponding laws","content":"### 7 Corresponding laws\n\n> For [the definition of ***corresponding law*** in section 34(3)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-070#GS34@Gs3@Nd297200928516@EN) of the Act, the following laws are declared to be laws that correspond to the Act:\n> \n> > > (a) the *Freedom of Information Act 2016* of the Australian Capital Territory;\n> > \n> > > (b) the *Freedom of Information Act 1982* of the Commonwealth;\n> > \n> > > (c) the *Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009* of New South Wales;\n> > \n> > > (d) the *Information Act 2002* of the Northern Territory;\n> > \n> > > (e) the *Right to Information Act 2009* of Queensland;\n> > \n> > > (f) the *Freedom of Information Act 1991* of South Australia;\n> > \n> > > (g) the *Freedom of Information Act 1982* of Victoria;\n> > \n> > > (h) the *Freedom of Information Act 1992* of Western Australia.","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"8","sectionType":"section","heading":"Legislation rescinded","content":"### 8 Legislation rescinded\n\n> The legislation specified in [Schedule 1](#JS1@EN) is rescinded.","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"SCHEDULE 1 - Legislation resci","sectionType":"part","heading":"SCHEDULE 1 - Legislation rescinded","content":"# SCHEDULE 1 - Legislation resci SCHEDULE 1 - Legislation rescinded\n\n[Regulation 8](#GS8@EN)\n\n| Right to Information Regulations 2010 (No. 51 of 2010) |\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 16 June 2021\n\nThese regulations are administered in the Department of Justice.","sortOrder":8}],"analysis":{"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Insufficient substantive content was provided to assess whether the regulation's scope changed from its original intent. The document contains only status and metadata information. Based on what is visible, the regulation appears to be a standard supporting instrument for the Right to Information Act 2009 (Tas), consistent with its expected purpose of prescribing procedural and administrative details."},"complexity_factors":["The document provided contains almost exclusively metadata and formatting — no substantive regulatory content is present for analysis","Regulations of this type are generally straightforward procedural instruments rather than complex substantive law","No amending instruments or substantive provisions were included, limiting complexity assessment","The underlying Right to Information Act framework is moderately complex, but regulations typically just fill in procedural detail"],"plain_english_summary":"This regulation supports Tasmania’s Right to Information Act by setting the practical rules—fees, forms, timeframes and administrative details—that let people request government-held information and make the Act work in practice. It affects Tasmanians seeking documents, agencies that must respond, and journalists, researchers and advocates who rely on access to public records. Note: the supplied document contains little substantive text, so specific regulatory details cannot be confirmed from the material provided."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations do not alter the substantive scope of the Right to Information Act. They prescribe administrative and procedural requirements (identity proofs, minimum application content, publication and assistance duties), designate corresponding laws and rescind earlier regulations, thereby clarifying implementation but not expanding or narrowing statutory rights."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-references to the Act for key duties and timeframes (see sections referenced throughout regs, notably sections 13, 15 and 16) — requires coordinaton between statute and regs.","Prescribed proof-of-identity options (regulation 3) — multiple document types and certification requirements increase verification steps for agencies.","Detailed list of minimum application contents (regulation 5, items a–h) — creates a checklist applicants must meet and agencies must validate.","Public authority publication obligations (regulation 4) — operational task to make fee, address and guidance accessible.","Minimum information public authorities must provide to applicants about assessment procedures (regulation 6, including duty to assist and negotiation powers) — adds procedural duties and administrative discretion.","Inter-jurisdictional alignment via corresponding laws list (regulation 7) — affects transfer/recognition of documents and cross-border procedural comparability.","Rescission of prior regulations (regulation 8 and Schedule 1) — transitional and housekeeping effects for agencies familiar with earlier rules."],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set out procedural rules for Right to Information applications: what counts as proof of identity, the minimum information an application must include, what public authorities must publish about fees and assessment procedures, which other information laws are treated as corresponding laws, and the rescission of the 2010 regulations.\n\nThe instrument is presented as improving assessed-disclosure handling; practically, applicants must provide specified contact, date and identity details (and pay any fee), while agencies must publish fee/contact/assistance information, creating verification and publication tasks for agencies and an information-and-fee burden on applicants."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations remain tightly focused on their original purpose: operationalising the Right to Information Act 2009 by prescribing procedural details (application requirements, proof of identity, corresponding laws). The 2021 version replaces the 2010 regulations without expanding into new policy areas."},"complexity_factors":["Only 8 regulations plus a single-item schedule, totalling approximately 1,500 words","Minimal defined terms — only 2 ('Act' and 'proof of identity')","Straightforward structure with no nested exceptions or conditional logic beyond basic 'if' scenarios","Cross-references are explicit and limited to the parent Act and specific sections","No delegated powers or sub-delegation provisions","Single purpose instrument that operationalises existing Act provisions rather than creating new substantive rights or obligations"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set out the practical rules for how Tasmanian government agencies handle freedom of information requests under the Right to Information Act 2009.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Defines what counts as 'proof of identity'** when someone asks for their own personal information — things like a certified birth certificate, passport, driver's licence, or citizenship papers.\n- **Tells agencies what information they must publish** about how to make an information request, including where to send it, what it costs, when fees can be waived, and what details must be included.\n- **Sets out the minimum details required in an application** — name, contact details, what information is being sought, dates involved, and what the applicant has already tried to find publicly.\n- **Requires agencies to explain their assessment process** to applicants, including timeframes, fees, waiver grounds, and the right to complain to the Ombudsman if things take too long.\n- **Lists equivalent freedom of information laws** in other Australian states and territories, which matters for how information can be shared across jurisdictions.\n- **Repeals the old 2010 regulations** and replaces them with these updated rules.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Anyone asking Tasmanian government agencies for documents or information\n- Public authorities (government departments, agencies, and bodies) that must respond to these requests\n- The Ombudsman's office, which handles complaints about delays\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThese regulations make the freedom of information process actually work in practice. Without them, applicants wouldn't know what to put in their request, and agencies wouldn't know what help they must give people. The proof of identity rules also protect personal information from being wrongly released to the wrong person."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"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-regulations-2021","history":"/api/acts/right-to-information-regulations-2021/history","analysis":"/api/acts/right-to-information-regulations-2021/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/right-to-information-regulations-2021/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/right-to-information-regulations-2021/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/right-to-information-regulations-2021/documents"}}