
Right to Information
Access to personal information
You can lodge an application to access your personal records, patient files or other personal information held by the Department of Health (Tasmania).
Right to Information Act
The Right to Information Act 2009 (the Act) commenced on 1 July 2010 and provides far greater access to information held by public authorities by:
- authorising and encouraging greater routine disclosure of information held by public authorities without the need for requests or applications
- authorising and encouraging greater active disclosure of information held by public authorities in response to informal requests without the need for applications
- giving members of the public an enforceable right to information held by public authorities
- providing that access to information held by public authorities is restricted in only limited circumstances, which are defined in the Act.
The Act replaces the former Freedom of Information Act 1991.
Why do we have a Right to Information Act?
Section 3 of the Act includes a statement of the objects of the 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.
- A person has a legally enforceable right to be provided, in accordance with the Act, with official information in the possession of the Department of Health and Human Services unless the information is exempt information.
- The Act sets out the processes for the release of information, where requests may be refused and how to seek a review of a decision by a public authority about the release of information.
What is exempt information?
The Right to Information Act recognises that some information held by a public authority should not be released. The types of information that may be withheld from release include:
- Executive Council information
- Cabinet information
- internal briefing information of a Minister in connection with the official business of a public authority and in connection with the Minister's Parliamentary duty
- information not relating to official business
- information affecting national or state security, defence or international relations
- information relating to the enforcement of the law*
- information that is protected by Legal professional privilege*
- information related to a closed meeting of a Council*
- information communicated by other government jurisdictions*
- internal deliberative (working) information*
- personal information*
- information relating to business affairs of third party*
- information relating to the business affairs of a public authority*
- information obtained in confidence*
- information about procedures and criteria used in financial, commercial and labour negotiations, the execution of contracts, the defence prosecution and settlement of cases and similar activities*
- information that is likely to affect the State’s economy*
- information that is likely to affect the cultural heritage and natural resources of the State*
*These exemptions are subject to a public interest test. The matters which must be considered in deciding whether disclosure of information is contrary to the public interest are set out in Schedule 1 of the Right to Information Act. The matters that are irrelevant in deciding if the disclosure of the information is contrary to the public interest are specified in Schedule 2 of the Right to Information Act.
Making an application for assessed disclosure
Please email your completed application form to [email protected] or post to:
Department of Health
GPO Box 125
HOBART TAS 7001
Right to information application form
If you have any questions or need assistance filling in this form please contact Legal Services:
Phone: (03) 6166 3525
Email: [email protected]
Right to Information Disclosure Log
Year 2022-23
Category of applicant | Summary of request | Information released |
---|---|---|
Member of Parliament | Breast Reconstruction Surgery Patients and Waiting Times | RTI202023-014 |
Journalist | Hyperbaric Diving and Medicine Unit Report | RTI202223-044 |
Law Firm | Illicit Drug Diversion Initiative Information | RTI202223-054 |
Private Citizen | COVID-19 Vaccination Data and Information | RTI202223-063 |
Member of Parliament | COVID-19 Isolation Requirement Removal Information | RTI202223-071 |
Private Citizen | COVID-19 Public Health Directions Data and Information | RTI202223-118 |
Member of Parliament | Departmental Expenditure and Vacancy Information | RTI202223-130 |
Private Citizen | Cardiac or Cardiac Related Symptoms or Conditions Data | RTI202223-161 |
Law Firm | COVID-19 Public Health Directions Data and Information | RTI202223-171 |
Member of Parliament | Royal Hobart Hospital Tasmanian Gender Service | RTI202223-173 |
Department | Launceston General Hospital Helipad | Active Disclosure |
Year 2021-22
Category of applicant | Summary of request | Information released |
---|---|---|
Member of Parliament | Locums and visiting medical officers | RTI202122-132 PDF |
Private Citizen |
Funding agreement for a charity |
RTI202122-101 PDF |
Member of Parliament | Publication of COVID information and contact tracing | RTI202122-095 PDF |
Member of Parliament | LGH maintenance | RTI202122-091 PDF |
Member of Parliament | Ambulance Tasmania Resilience Scan Report | RTI202122-072 PDF |
Member of Parliament | Emergency Department Triage Category One | RTI202122-066 PDF |
Member of Parliament | Oral Health | RTI202122-039 PDF |
Industry body | COVID-19 Exposure Sites and Local Transmissions | RTI202122-025 PDF |
Journalist | Refurbishment of Ambulance Station at Dodges Ferry | RTI202122-012 PDF |
Member of Parliament | Patients applying for NDIS and Aged Care packages | RTI202122-011 PDF |
Department | RHH Acoustic Design Report | RHH Acoustic Design Report PDF |
Year 2020-21
Category of applicant | Summary of request | Information released |
---|---|---|
Union | Contracted security costs for hospitals | RTI202021-043 PDF |
Member of Parliament | COVID-19 check in numbers | RTI202021-042 PDF |
Journalist | K-Block power outages | RTI202021-035 PDF |
Member of Parliament | Locums | RTI202021-014 PDF |
Private citizen | COVID-19 tests | RTI202021-011 PDF |