Requirements (Must haves)

When starting any communications or marketing project, there are some key principles and legislative requirements that must be considered and applied to all Tasmanian Government communications:

Legal requirements

Legal requirements

The Tasmanian Government has a responsibility to ensure information about its policies, programs, services and opportunities is readily available and in accessible formats.

In addition to legal obligations, information produced must be catalogued, easily retrievable, secure and maintained.

The public has a right to request all Tasmanian Government information and the Tasmanian Government is legally obliged to ensure the information it produces is readily available. To do this, there are formal processes that must be complied with.

Important links:

A list of Routine Disclosures is available on the Department of Premier and Cabinet’s website.

Additional requirements

Additional requirements

Tasmanian Government agencies must:

  • maintain a register or record of all publications (including digital publications such as electronic direct mail ) for publishing each year in their annual reports or made available on each agency’s website
  • archive or record website content prior to it being retired or removed
  • maintain a current, comprehensive, and well-structured identification or classification records system that provides an effective means for organising, locating and retrieving published information
  • ensure all publications feature:
    • contact details for the originating agency and division/unit so that questions, comments, feedback, requests for further information or complaints can be received and dealt with promptly by the responsible people
    • acknowledgement of copyright
    • the title of the publication
    • the date of publication
  • ensure information about an agency's mission, structure, programs, and services is publicly accessible through the agency’s website and/or through www.tas.gov.au.
  • provide one copy of all publications to the State Library of Tasmania within one month after publication, as per the Tasmanian Libraries Act 1984.
  • within one month of publication, deliver one copy of all publications to the Legal Deposit Unit of the National Library of Australia in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968.
  • deposit copies of all electronic publications in the National edeposit service (NED) to fulfil the legal deposit obligations under the Libraries Act 1984.
Recommendations

Recommendations

In addition, it is recommended that, where applicable, agencies include the following details in publications:

  • authoring names (the name of the department, not the name/s of individual employee/s)
  • volume/issue number and International Standard Book Number (ISBN) or International Standard Series Number (ISSN).

Check with your agency’s Communications Manager if you have any questions.

Summary of relevant legislation

Summary of relevant legislation

Legislation referenced in the Tasmanian Government Corporate Brand Identity and Communications Policy includes: