{"id":"tas:act-1953-050","name":"Rules Publication Act 1953","slug":"rules-publication-act-1953","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"tas","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"50 of 1953","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":110495,"registerId":"tas-act-1953-050-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Short title and commencement","content":"### 1 Short title and commencement\n\n> > (1)  This Act may be cited as the [Rules Publication Act 1953](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1953-050) .\n> \n> > (2)  This Act shall commence on the first day of January 1954.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Interpretation","content":"### 2 Interpretation\n\n> > (1)  *\\[Section 2 Subsection (1) amended by No. 36 of 1958, s. 4 and Sched. 3 \\]*In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears –\n> > \n> > > [*\\[Section 2 Subsection (1) amended by No. 63 of 1997, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#AT@EN) ***print*** means produce under [section 6(10)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1996-017#GS6@Gs10@EN) of the [Legislation Publication Act 1996](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1996-017) ;\n> > \n> > > ***rule-making authority*** means a person (other than the Governor) or a body of persons, whether incorporated or unincorporated, authorized by or under an Act to make statutory rules, however described in that Act;\n> > \n> > > ***statutory rule*** means –\n> > > \n> > > > > (a) a regulation, rule, or by-law made under the authority of an Act by the Governor or by a rule-making authority;\n> > > > \n> > > > > (b) a proclamation or notice, or an order-in-council, order, or other instrument that fixes the date of commencement of an Act or enactment or that –\n> > > > > \n> > > > > > > (i) repeals or amends; or\n> > > > > > \n> > > > > > > (ii) extends, restricts, varies, modifies, or affects the operation of –\n> > > > > \n> > > > > the provisions, scope, or application of an Act or enactment; and\n> > > > \n> > > > > (c) an instrument of a legislative character made in the exercise of the prerogative rights of the Crown and having force in this State –\n> > > \n> > > but does not include a regulation, rule, or by-law, or any other instrument of a legislative character, that is made by a local authority or by a person or body of persons having jurisdiction limited to a district, locality, or part of the State.\n> \n> > (2)  [*\\[Section 2 Subsection (2) amended by No. 63 of 1997, Sched. 1, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#JS1@Ja2@GC1@Hpb@EN) If a question arises as to whether an instrument or class of instruments is a statutory rule for the purposes of this Act, that question shall be determined by the Attorney-General, whose decision thereon is final.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3.","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"### 3.\n\n*\\[Section 3 Repealed by No. 5 of 1990, s. 3 and Sched. 1 \\]*","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Exemptions","content":"### 4 Exemptions\n\n> > (1)  *\\[Section 4 Subsection (1) amended by No. 39 of 1957, s. 2 and Sched. 1 \\]**\\[Section 4 Subsection (1) amended by No. 46 of 1991, s. 5 and Sched. 3 \\]**\\[Section 4 Subsection (1) amended by No. 68 of 1994, s. 3 and Sched. 1 \\]*This Act does not apply to –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a notice under [subsection (2)](#GS4@Gs2@EN) of this section or a notice under [subsection (2)](#GS5@Gs2@EN) of section five;\n> > > \n> > > > (b) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  \n> > > \n> > > > (c) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  \n> > > \n> > > > (d) [*\\[Section 4 Subsection (1) amended by No. 9 of 2003, Sched. 1, Applied:16 Apr 2003\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2003-04-16/act-2003-009#JS1@Ja48@GC1@EN) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  \n> > > \n> > > > (e) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  \n> > > \n> > > > (f) an order or award, or a decree or decision, of a judicial tribunal; or\n> > > \n> > > > (g) an instrument that is exempted from the operation of this Act by the Attorney-General pursuant to [subsection (2)](#GS4@Gs2@EN) of this section.\n> \n> > (2)  The Attorney-General may, by notice in writing under his hand, exempt from the operation of this Act any instrument or class of instruments specified in the notice, if, in his opinion, it is unnecessary or undesirable that the instrument or class of instruments should be numbered and printed in accordance with this Act.\n> \n> > (3)  An instrument that is exempted, by or under this section, from the operation of this Act, shall, if so required by or under the Act under or for the purposes of which it is made, given, issued, or published, be published or notified in the *Gazette* in accordance with that requirement as if this Act had not been enacted.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Printing, numbering, and publication of statutory rules","content":"### 5 Printing, numbering, and publication of statutory rules\n\n> > (1)  [*\\[Section 5 Subsection (1) substituted by No. 63 of 1997, Sched. 1, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#JS1@Ja2@GC2@Hpa@EN) After a statutory rule is made, it is to be –\n> > \n> > > > (a) numbered in a manner approved by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) sent to a person approved in writing by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel under [section 6(10)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1996-017#GS6@Gs10@EN) of the [Legislation Publication Act 1996](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1996-017) for the purposes of production or distribution.\n> \n> > (2)  Where, by or under an Act, statutory rules (however described in that Act) are required to be published or notified in the *Gazette*, a notice in the *Gazette* of those statutory rules having been made and of the place where copies of them can be obtained and containing a statement indicating the general purport or effect of the statutory rules is a sufficient compliance with that requirement.\n> \n> > (3)  [*\\[Section 5 Subsection (3) substituted by No. 63 of 1997, Sched. 1, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#JS1@Ja2@GC2@Hpb@EN) A statutory rule that is produced with the omission of any formal or introductory parts is to contain, in a form the Chief Parliamentary Counsel approves –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a reference to the Act or other authority under which it was made; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) the date on which it was made; and\n> > > \n> > > > (c) the date on which it takes effect.\n> \n> > (4)  *\\[Section 5 Subsection (4) amended by No. 99 of 1982, s. 3 and Sched. 2, Pt. II \\]*[*\\[Section 5 Subsection (4) substituted by No. 63 of 1997, Sched. 1, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#JS1@Ja2@GC2@Hpb@EN) A statutory rule, or a reprint of a statutory rule under the [Legislation Publication Act 1996](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1996-017) , that is produced in accordance with subsection (3) is taken in all circumstances and for all purposes to be a copy of that statutory rule or reprint, despite any omission of the formal or introductory parts.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Citation of statutory rules","content":"### 6 Citation of statutory rules\n\n> Without prejudice to any other mode of citation, a statutory rule may be cited –\n> \n> > > (a) by its short title, if any;\n> > \n> > > (b) by reference to the year in which it is printed and the number given to it pursuant to this Act; or\n> > \n> > > (c) by the expression \"Statutory Rules\" or the expression \"S.R.\", followed by the year in which it is made and the number given to it pursuant to this Act.","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"7.","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"### 7.\n\n*\\[Section 7 Subsection (1) amended by No. 99 of 1982, s. 3 and Sched. 2, Pt. II \\]* [*\\[Section 7 Repealed by No. 63 of 1997, Sched. 1, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#JS1@Ja2@GC3@EN)","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"8.","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"### 8.\n\n*\\[Section 8 Repealed by No. 11 of 1979, s. 10 \\]*","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"9","sectionType":"section","heading":"Regulations","content":"### 9 Regulations\n\n> *\\[Section 9 Amended by No. 10 of 1992, s. 17 \\]*[*\\[Section 9 Substituted by No. 63 of 1997, Sched. 1, Applied:23 Mar 1998\\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-23/act-1997-063#JS1@Ja2@GC4@EN)\n> \n> > (1)  The Governor may make regulations for the purposes of this Act, and, in particular and without prejudice to the generality of this section, may make regulations –\n> > \n> > > > (a) regulating the form and manner in which statutory rules are to be printed;\n> > > \n> > > > (b) providing for the producing of all or any statutory rules with the omission of any formal or introductory parts the Chief Parliamentary Counsel or a person authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel may approve or direct;\n> > > \n> > > > (c) providing for the appointment, and regulating the functions and proceedings, of a committee to advise the Attorney-General with respect to questions relating to –\n> > > > \n> > > > > > (i) the numbering, printing, or publication of statutory rules or any class or description thereof;\n> > > > > \n> > > > > > (ii) the exemption of instruments from the operation of this Act;\n> > > > > \n> > > > > > (iii) the preparation and publication of annual volumes of statutory rules; and\n> > > > > \n> > > > > > (iv) the administration of this Act generally;\n> > > \n> > > > (d) providing for and regulating the preparation and publication of annual volumes of statutory rules and the tables and indices (if any) to be included therein;\n> > > \n> > > > (e) prescribing the cases or classes of cases in which the exercise of a statutory power by a rule-making authority constitutes or does not constitute the making of a statutory rule for the purposes of this Act; and\n> > > \n> > > > (f) [*\\[Section 9 Subsection (1) amended by No. 18 of 2013, s. 8, Applied:20 Jun 2013\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-20/act-2013-018#GS8@Hpa@EN) providing for and regulating the examination and revision of drafts of statutory rules proposed to be made, and prohibiting the making of statutory rules until the drafts of those statutory rules have been examined and, if necessary or desirable, revised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel.\n> > > \n> > > > (g) [*\\[Section 9 Subsection (1) amended by No. 18 of 2013, s. 8, Applied:20 Jun 2013\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-20/act-2013-018#GS8@Hpb@EN) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  \n> \n> > (2)  The regulations may authorise any matter to be determined from time to time, applied or regulated by the Minister or the Chief Parliamentary Counsel.","sortOrder":8}],"analysis":{"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on available information, the Act appears to have maintained its original narrow purpose of regulating the publication of government rules since 1953. The minimal amendment history and the fact that the version has been current and stable since at least 20 June 2013 suggest no material expansion or contraction of its original scope."},"complexity_factors":["The Act is a short procedural/administrative instrument with a narrow, well-defined purpose","The subject matter (publication of rules) is conceptually straightforward","Limited operative text was available for analysis — only status and metadata were provided, preventing assessment of any technical provisions within the Act itself","The Act dates from 1953 and has had minimal amendments, suggesting it has remained relatively simple over time","No cross-jurisdictional elements or complex definitions appear to be present"],"plain_english_summary":"## Rules Publication Act 1953 (Tasmania)\n\nThis is a Tasmanian law that sets out **how and when certain government-made rules must be published** so that the public can access them.\n\n### Who does this affect?\n- **Government agencies and rule-makers** who create subordinate legislation (rules, regulations, and other legal instruments made under the authority of a parent Act)\n- **Members of the public** who need to know what rules apply to them\n- **Lawyers and courts** who rely on properly published rules being legally valid\n\n### Why does it matter?\nIn a democracy, people can only be expected to follow rules they can actually find out about. This Act ensures that when government bodies make rules (rather than Parliament passing full Acts), those rules are **formally published** — giving the public notice and creating a public record. Without such a law, rules could theoretically exist and be enforced without people ever having a fair chance to know about them.\n\n### Practical effect\nThe Act is a **housekeeping/procedural** law. It doesn't create rights or obligations in everyday life directly — instead, it backstops the entire system of subordinate rule-making in Tasmania by requiring transparency in how those rules reach the public.\n\n> **Note:** The version available for analysis contains primarily status and administrative information rather than the full operative text of the Act, which limits the depth of this analysis."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[{"type":"other","section":"Status Information - Currency of version","severity":"low","reasoning":"The administrative promise of currency within 3 working days sits awkwardly against a version date frozen at 2013, raising questions about whether the currency guarantee applies prospectively only or whether it has been breached historically.","confidence":0.45,"description":"The legislation states it is 'usually updated within 3 working days after a change to the legislation,' yet the file was last modified 14 October 2025 while the version currency date is stated as 20 June 2013. This implies either no amendments have occurred in over 12 years (plausible but notable for a publication rules instrument), or the update guarantee is meaningless as applied to this instrument."},{"type":"self_contradicting","section":"Status Information - Authorisation vs Currency","severity":"low","reasoning":"A file modification date of 2025 is inconsistent with an unchanged currency date of 2013 unless the modification was purely administrative (e.g., metadata, formatting). The legislation provides no mechanism to distinguish substantive from non-substantive modifications, creating ambiguity about the actual legal state of the instrument.","confidence":0.55,"description":"The file is stated to have been last modified on 14 October 2025, yet the version is described as 'current from 20 June 2013 to date.' If the file was modified in October 2025 but the legal currency date remains 2013, the modification either introduced no substantive legal change (raising the question of why it was modified) or the currency date is inaccurate."},{"type":"other","section":"Rules Publication Act 1953 - General","severity":"low","reasoning":"While this is likely a rendering/scraping artefact rather than a legislative drafting flaw per se, it is logically ironic that the Rules Publication Act is itself published in a format that violates basic publication clarity standards. It does not create a legal contradiction but is a meaningful structural absurdity.","confidence":0.7,"description":"An Act governing the publication of rules is itself presented in a format with massively duplicated headings and metadata blocks (every heading appears at least twice, some three or four times). An Act designed to regulate how rules are published is internally presented in a chaotic, redundant manner, undermining the very principle of clear publication it ostensibly promotes."}],"contradictions":[{"severity":"low","section_a":"Status Information - Currency of version (20 June 2013 to date)","section_b":"Status Information - Authorisation (File last modified 14 October 2025)","confidence":0.6,"description":"The version currency date of 20 June 2013 implies no legislative change since that date, but the file modification date of 14 October 2025 implies something changed in the document over 12 years later. These two statements cannot both be fully accurate without explanation of what was modified and why it did not alter the currency date."}]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original 1953 Act was about physically printing and numbering rules in a paper-based system. Over 70 years of amendments, it has evolved into a framework for digital production and distribution under the Legislation Publication Act 1996. Section 3 was repealed in 1990, sections 7-8 were repealed, and the core machinery has been replaced with references to electronic production. The 2013 amendments added draft examination requirements, expanding the Act's role into pre-making scrutiny of regulations, not just post-making publication."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple defined terms in section 2 (print, rule-making authority, statutory rule) with nested definitions — 'statutory rule' has a 3-tier definition with sub-paragraphs (a), (b)(i)-(ii), and (c), plus an exclusion clause","Cross-references to the Legislation Publication Act 1996 (sections 6(10)) for modern production methods","Several repealed sections (3, 7, 8) and amended subsections scattered throughout, creating fragmentation","Conditional exemptions in section 4 — the Attorney-General has discretionary power to exempt instruments, creating uncertainty until a determination is made","Delegated legislative power in section 9 allowing regulations to prescribe further details, meaning the full scheme isn't contained in the Act itself","Finality clause in section 2(2) — Attorney-General's determination on whether something is a statutory rule is 'final' (no appeal)"],"plain_english_summary":"This law sets up a system for publishing and numbering **statutory rules** — the regulations, by-laws, and other legal instruments made by government bodies under powers given to them by Acts of Parliament.\n\n**What it does:**\n- Requires that when someone makes a statutory rule (like a regulation), it must be **numbered** and **printed/produced** in an official format\n- Defines what counts as a \"statutory rule\" — basically any regulation, rule, by-law, proclamation, or order that changes how an Act works, but **not** local council rules or court decisions\n- Lets the **Attorney-General** decide if something is a statutory rule when there's doubt, and allows them to **exempt** certain instruments from these requirements\n- Sets out how statutory rules can be **cited** in legal documents (by year and number, or as \"S.R. 2023 No. 5\" for example)\n- Allows the Governor to make **regulations** about the details — like the format, annual volumes, and requiring drafts to be checked by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel before being made\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Government departments and agencies who make regulations\n- The Chief Parliamentary Counsel (who oversees the numbering and production)\n- The Attorney-General (who has final say on exemptions and disputes)\n- Anyone who needs to find or cite regulations\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis ensures that **subordinate legislation** (rules made under Acts) is properly documented, numbered, and accessible to the public. Without this system, it would be chaotic to track which regulations exist and what they say. It's the machinery that keeps the statute book organised."},"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/rules-publication-act-1953","history":"/api/acts/rules-publication-act-1953/history","analysis":"/api/acts/rules-publication-act-1953/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/rules-publication-act-1953/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/rules-publication-act-1953/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/rules-publication-act-1953/documents"}}