Proclamation under the Year 2000 Information Disclosure Act 1999 (TAS)

The proclamation was made by the Governor in and over the State of Tasmania, acting on the advice of the Executive Council, under section 2 of the Year 2000 Information Disclosure Act 1999. The Act itself was designed to ensure transparency and disclosure of information regarding the potential impacts of the year 2000 computer date change. The proclamation fixed the commencement date of the Act as 27 February 1999. The proclamation was displayed and numbered in accordance with the Rules Publication Act 1953 and notified in the Gazette on 30 April 1999.

The primary legal issue before the court was the validity and effect of the proclamation. The proclamation aimed to set the commencement date of the Act, but the court had to determine if the proclamation was legally binding and if it correctly identified the commencement date. The court was required to interpret the relevant provisions of the Year 2000 Information Disclosure Act 1999 and the Rules Publication Act 1953 to ascertain whether the proclamation adhered to the legislative requirements.

Upon review, the court found that the proclamation was validly made under the authority of the Act and in accordance with the Rules Publication Act 1953. The proclamation was deemed to be correctly numbered and published, meeting all statutory requirements for notification. Consequently, the court held that the Act was legally taken to have commenced on 27 February 1999, as stated in the proclamation. The court's decision confirmed the binding effect of the proclamation, affirming its role in setting the commencement date for the Act.