Under the Right to Information Act 2009, you have the right to obtain information held by public authorities and ministers, and this includes WorkSafe Tasmania and WorkCover Tasmania.
WorkSafe Tasmania is an organisational division of the Department of Justice. The WorkCover Tasmania Board is a separate entity, incorporated under the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988.
WorkSafe Tasmania and the WorkCover Tasmania Board release information in four ways, in accordance with the the Right to Information Act 2009:
Required Disclosure: where disclosure is required by the law. For example, the WorkCover Tasmania Board must publish its annual report each year
Routine Disclosure: where information is released because it may be of interest to the public. For example, the latest return to work survey is published on the Safe Work Australia website
Active Disclosure: where information is released because it has been requested (except where information needs to be requested by making an application for assessed disclosure; see the next point). For example, where a worker has asked to be given their own workers compensation claims history information; or where a worker is seeking a copy of their own statement made to a WorkSafe Tasmania inspector
Assessed Disclosure: where information is released because it has been requested through an application for assessed disclosure. For example, a solicitor may ask for workers compensation claims history information on behalf of a third party (for example, an insurance company) by submitting a right to information application to WorkCover Tasmania. Where someone is seeking details relating to a WorkSafe Tasmania investigation, requests for assessed disclosure must be directed to the Department of Justice's Right to information Office.
We are subject to some privacy and secrecy requirements in legislation. These may the limit the information that can be provided.
To make an application for assessed disclosure (commonly known as a right to information application), follow the instructions provided by the Department of Justice's Right to information Office. A fee may be payable. Follow this procedure for applications made to WorkSafe Tasmania and the WorkCover Tasmania Board.
Right to Information Act 2009 (external link).
Updated: 25th August 2022