{"id":"tas:sr-2019-059","name":"Water and Sewerage Industry (Community Service Obligation) Regulations 2019","slug":"water-and-sewerage-industry-community-service-obligation-regulations-2019","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"tas","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"59 of 2019","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":184568,"registerId":"tas-tas:sr-2019-059-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 [Water and Sewerage Industry (Community Service Obligation) Regulations 2019](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/sr-2019-059) .","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"### 2 Commencement\n\n> These regulations take effect on 30 September 2019.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Interpretation","content":"### 3 Interpretation\n\n> In these regulations –\n> \n> > ***Act*** means the [Water and Sewerage Industry (Community Service Obligation) Act 2009](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-041) .","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Persons eligible for concession","content":"### 4 Persons eligible for concession\n\n> > (1)  In this regulation –\n> > \n> > > ***Gold Card*** means a card, known as the Repatriation Health Card – For All Conditions (Gold), that evidences a person’s eligibility to be provided with treatment for all injuries or diseases, under either of the following Acts:\n> > > \n> > > > > (a) the *Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986* of the Commonwealth;\n> > > > \n> > > > > (b) the *Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004* of the Commonwealth;\n> > \n> > > ***health care card*** means a health care card issued under the *Social Security Act 1991* of the Commonwealth;\n> > \n> > > ***pensioner concession card*** means a pensioner concession card issued –\n> > > \n> > > > > (a) under the *Social Security Act 1991* of the Commonwealth; or\n> > > > \n> > > > > (b) as a fringe benefit under the *Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986* of the Commonwealth.\n> \n> > (2)  For the purposes of [section 5](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-041#GS5@EN) of the Act, the following classes of persons are prescribed as classes of persons that are eligible for the concession:\n> > \n> > > > (a) persons who hold a current pensioner concession card;\n> > > \n> > > > (b) persons who hold a pensioner concession card that would be current if the persons were not temporarily out of Australia;\n> > > \n> > > > (c) persons who hold a current health care card;\n> > > \n> > > > (d) persons who hold a current Gold Card.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Prescribed institutions","content":"### 5 Prescribed institutions\n\n> For the purposes of [section 5(2)(b)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-041#GS5@Gs2@Hpb@EN) and [(3)(b)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-041#GS5@Gs3@Hpb@EN) of the Act, the following institutions are prescribed:\n> \n> > > (a) a facility providing residential care within the meaning of section 41-3 of the *Aged Care Act 1997* of the Commonwealth;\n> > \n> > > (b) a hospital providing care to nursing-home type patients, as defined in section 3 of the *Health Insurance Act 1973* of the Commonwealth;\n> > \n> > > (c) a facility providing psychiatric or psychological care to persons residing in the facility.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Base amount and concession rate","content":"### 6 Base amount and concession rate\n\n> > (1)  In this regulation –\n> > \n> > > ***Hobart CPI number*** means the Consumer Price Index: All Groups Index Number for Hobart published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.\n> \n> > (2)  For the purposes of [section 9(1)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-041#GS9@Gs1@EN) of the Act, the base amount for regulated entities for the 2019-20 financial year is $197.\n> \n> > (3)  For the purposes of [section 9(2)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-041#GS9@Gs2@EN) of the Act, the base amount for regulated entities for a financial year (a ***subsequent financial year***) after the 2019-20 financial year is to be increased by the following percentage amount:\n> > \n> > [![graphic image](/image/WSIComSerOblReg6.gif)](/image/WSIComSerOblReg6.gif)\n> > \n> > where:\n> > \n> > > ***A*** means the percentage increase for the subsequent financial year;\n> > \n> > > ***B*** means the average of the Hobart CPI number for the 4 consecutive quarters ending on 31 December immediately before the subsequent financial year;\n> > \n> > > ***C*** means the average of the Hobart CPI number for the 4 consecutive quarters ending on 31 December immediately before the 4 consecutive quarters referred to in “B”.\n> \n> > (4)  Despite [subregulation (3)](#GS6@Gs3@EN) , if the number obtained for any subsequent financial year under that subregulation is less than 0, then there is no percentage amount prescribed, for the purposes of [section 9(2)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-041#GS9@Gs2@EN) of the Act, for that subsequent financial year.\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 26 September 2019\n\nThese regulations are administered in the Department of Treasury and Finance.","sortOrder":5}],"analysis":{"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"},"summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available metadata, there is no indication the scope of these regulations changed from their original intent. The regulations appear to have remained in their original form since commencement on 30 September 2019, with no substantive amendments evident from the amending instruments table reference provided."},"complexity_factors":["Involves a specialised regulatory funding mechanism (Community Service Obligations) that requires understanding of both utility regulation and government subsidy frameworks","Sits within a broader legislative scheme (the Water and Sewerage Industry Act) requiring cross-referencing to understand fully","Financial/accounting elements related to how subsidy amounts are calculated and verified","Limited text was provided — only status/administrative metadata was available, preventing full assessment of substantive complexity","Tasmanian-specific regulatory context that interacts with state government administrative arrangements"],"plain_english_summary":"The regulations govern government-funded Community Service Obligations (CSOs) for Tasmania’s water and sewerage industry, setting the framework for how subsidies are calculated, claimed and paid to ensure essential services remain viable.  \n\nThey affect Tasmanian households and businesses (especially in rural or high-cost areas), service providers like TasWater, and the state government because CSOs keep prices affordable where delivery would otherwise be unprofitable."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations remain tightly focused on their original purpose: operationalising the concession scheme established by the 2009 Act. They prescribe eligible persons, institutions, and the calculation method for concession amounts — precisely what the empowering legislation contemplated."},"complexity_factors":["Only 6 regulations total, with minimal cross-referencing","4 defined terms in regulation 4, 1 defined term in regulation 6 — all straightforward","Single mathematical formula for CPI adjustment (regulation 6(3)) with clear variables","One simple exception (regulation 6(4)) preventing negative adjustments","Heavy reliance on external Commonwealth legislation for definitions (Social Security Act, Veterans' Entitlements Act, etc.) — user must look up those Acts to confirm card eligibility","No nested conditions or exceptions to exceptions"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this legislation does:**\n\nThese regulations set out the practical details for how water and sewerage concessions (discounts) work in Tasmania for low-income households and veterans. They operate under the main *Water and Sewerage Industry (Community Service Obligation) Act 2009*.\n\n**Who gets the concession:**\n\nThe regulations specify four groups eligible for reduced water and sewerage bills:\n\n* **Pensioner concession card holders** — including people whose cards would still be valid if they weren't temporarily overseas\n* **Health care card holders** — low-income people receiving certain government benefits\n* **Gold Card holders** — veterans with full medical coverage for all conditions\n\n**Which institutions can claim:**\n\nResidential aged care facilities, hospitals treating nursing-home type patients, and psychiatric care facilities can also receive the concession on behalf of residents.\n\n**How much the concession is worth:**\n\n* The base discount amount started at **$197 per year** in 2019-20\n* This amount automatically increases each year based on Hobart's inflation rate (Consumer Price Index)\n* If inflation goes backwards (deflation), the amount stays the same — it never decreases\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThese rules ensure vulnerable Tasmanians — pensioners, low-income earners, and veterans — get predictable, inflation-adjusted relief on essential utility bills. The automatic CPI adjustment means politicians don't need to vote every year to maintain the real value of the concession."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations implement and specify operational details required by the Act (classes of eligible persons, prescribed institutions, the 2019–20 base amount and the CPI‑based indexation method). They do not expand or narrow the Act’s statutory scope but provide the detailed criteria and arithmetic the Act relies on."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-references to the Water and Sewerage Industry (Community Service Obligation) Act 2009 for who must implement concessions (requires readers to consult both instruments).","Use of external Commonwealth concession card definitions (pensioner concession card, health care card, Repatriation Health Card) that import meanings from other Acts.","Indexation formula uses averages of Hobart CPI for two successive four‑quarter periods and arithmetic to produce a percentage change (requires quarterly CPI data and a calculation step).","Non‑negative floor: regulation prevents negative percentage adjustments, which alters automatic downward indexing (administrative rule to implement).","Prescribed institutions refer to definitions in other Commonwealth Acts (Aged Care Act 1997; Health Insurance Act 1973), adding layered legal sourcing.","Operational compliance tasks for regulated entities: identify eligible customers, verify card status (including temporarily overseas status), and apply the indexed base amount."],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations specify who can receive a community-service concession from regulated water and sewerage entities, which residential institutions count for concession purposes, and how the concession amount is set and adjusted. Eligible individuals include holders of pensioner concession cards, health care cards, and the Repatriation Health Card (Gold); prescribed institutions include certain aged‑care, nursing‑type hospital, and psychiatric/psychological residential facilities. The regulations fix the 2019–20 base concession at $197 and require annual increases based on the Hobart CPI average for specified four‑quarter periods, with no negative indexation."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/water-and-sewerage-industry-community-service-obligation-regulations-2019","history":"/api/acts/water-and-sewerage-industry-community-service-obligation-regulations-2019/history","analysis":"/api/acts/water-and-sewerage-industry-community-service-obligation-regulations-2019/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/water-and-sewerage-industry-community-service-obligation-regulations-2019/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/water-and-sewerage-industry-community-service-obligation-regulations-2019/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/water-and-sewerage-industry-community-service-obligation-regulations-2019/documents"}}