Right to Information Act 2009 (Tas)

Right to Information Act 2009

An Act to give members of the public the right to obtain information contained in the records of the Government and public authorities and for related purposes [Royal Assent 7 December 2009]

Be it enacted by His Excellency the Governor of Tasmania, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and House of Assembly, in Parliament assembled, as follows:

PART 1 - Preliminary

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Right to Information Act 2009 .

2. Commencement This Act commences on 1 July 2010 or on such earlier day as may be proclaimed.

3. Object of Act (1) The object of this Act is to improve democratic government in Tasmania – (a) by increasing the accountability of the executive to the people of Tasmania; and (b) by increasing the ability of the people of Tasmania to participate in their governance; and (c) by acknowledging that information collected by public authorities is collected for and on behalf of the people of Tasmania and is the property of the State. (2) This object is to be pursued by giving members of the public the right to obtain information held by public authorities and Ministers. (3) This object is also to be pursued by giving members of the public the right to obtain information about the operations of Government. (4) It is the intention of Parliament – (a) that this Act be interpreted so as to further the object set out in subsection (1) ; and (b) that discretions conferred by this Act be exercised so as to facilitate and promote, promptly and at the lowest reasonable cost, the provision of the maximum amount of official information.

4. Act binds Crown This Act binds the Crown in right of Tasmania and, so far as the legislative power of Parliament permits, the Crown in all its other capacities.