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australian-law-mcp

Servidor MCP para el Registro Federal de Legislación. Pregunta qué decía la ley australiana en cualquier fecha y comprueba las citas contra el registro oficial antes de confiar en ellas. Sin clave de API, sin nada que configurar.

Todo se sirve en directo desde la propia API de legislación de la Commonwealth: más de 130.000 leyes e instrumentos legislativos, cada compilación de cada uno, desde 1901. Ese registro es la fuente autorizada de la ley de la Commonwealth y publica versiones puntuales de forma nativa, por lo que get_law_as_at devuelve el texto que estaba realmente en vigor en la fecha que indiques, no una reconstrucción.

Inicio rápido

Claude Code:

claude mcp add australian-law -- npx -y australian-law-mcp

Claude Desktop, Cursor o cualquier otro cliente MCP stdio:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "australian-law": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "australian-law-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Requiere Node 20 o más reciente. No hay nada más que instalar: npx descarga el paquete en la primera ejecución.

Hay un Dockerfile si prefieres no tener Node en el host. El servidor habla stdio, así que el contenedor necesita -i:

docker build -t australian-law-mcp .
docker run -i --rm australian-law-mcp

Related MCP server: au-eli-mcp

Herramientas

herramienta

qué hace

search_law

Encuentra leyes y documentos por nombre. Devuelve los IDs de título que usan las demás herramientas.

get_law_text

La compilación actual: la tabla de disposiciones, una sección o el texto completo paginado. Los anexos también se pueden abordar (section="Schedule 7"), que es donde suelen estar las tablas de tarifas y los formularios.

get_law_as_at

Lo mismo, pero como estaba la ley en cualquier fecha pasada.

verify_citations

Extrae citas de estatutos del texto y comprueba cada una contra el registro: ¿existe la ley, está en vigor, existe la sección citada? Los fallos de la fuente se devuelven como UNVERIFIED, nunca como una ley inexistente.

get_amendment_status

En vigor o derogada, qué incorpora la última compilación, si las enmiendas iniciadas siguen sin incorporarse y qué la ha modificado.

compare_versions

Qué cambió entre dos fechas: secciones añadidas, eliminadas, reformuladas, o un diff de líneas de una sección.

search_full_text

Búsqueda por relevancia sobre el texto completo de todos los títulos del registro.

check_frl_health

Haz un ping a la API del registro para poder atribuir fallos en otros lugares.

docs/tools.md tiene los parámetros y un ejemplo práctico de cada uno, incluido lo que hace cada herramienta cuando no puede responder.

Por qué importa el punto en el tiempo

Las disputas fiscales, las decisiones de visado, los contratos y los asuntos judiciales dependen de la ley vigente en un día pasado, y los modelos responden de forma fiable con la ley de hoy. El registro conserva cada compilación con ventanas de vigencia exactas:

get_law_as_at titleId=C2004A03348 date=2017-01-05 section=3A
→ As at 2017-01-05: Income Tax Rates Act 1986, Compilation No. 48
  s 3A  Working holiday makers and working holiday taxable income ...

Y verify_citations es la barrera de seguridad para la otra dirección: modelos que inventan secciones que nunca se promulgaron:

verify_citations text="See s 3A and s 999 of the Income Tax Rates Act 1986."
→ [OK] Income Tax Rates Act 1986 [C2004A03348] — in force.
    [OK] s 3A exists: "Working holiday makers and working holiday taxable income"
    [NOT FOUND] s 999 — Provision 999 was not found in this compilation. It has
      28 sections and 6 schedules. Closest by number: s 30, s 29, s 28

Una ley real que se informe como inexistente es el peor fallo que puede tener una herramienta como esta, por lo que los errores de red y de API siempre se informan como UNVERIFIED en lugar de NOT FOUND, y una sección solo se comprueba contra una ley cuando la cita realmente vincula a ambos.

La misma regla rige el texto en sí. El registro ha publicado en tres formatos diferentes desde 1901, y el más antiguo de ellos — los escaneos de las leyes de la era de la federación — no lleva ningún marcado estructural, solo la numeración en la prosa. Se leen a partir de su propia numeración, y el resultado solo se acepta cuando los números de sección que se recuperan van en orden desde la sección 1. Cuando no es así, la herramienta dice que la compilación no se pudo leer en lugar de informar de una ley sin secciones o de archivar las palabras de una sección bajo el número de otra.

Alcance

Solo legislación de la Commonwealth, por diseño. Los registros estatales o no tienen API pública (Vic), o están detrás de desafíos de bots (NSW), o requieren registro (Qld). Las bases de datos de jurisprudencia (AustLII, Jade) no permiten el acceso automatizado, por lo que no hay herramienta de jurisprudencia. Las resoluciones de la ATO no son accesibles por máquina. Si algo de eso cambia, el alcance puede crecer.

Fuente de datos y licencia

El contenido legislativo proviene de la API del Registro Federal de Legislación y está licenciado CC BY 4.0 por la Commonwealth de Australia; cada respuesta que reproduce el contenido del registro lleva la atribución requerida por el registro. Este proyecto es independiente: no está afiliado ni respaldado por la Oficina del Consejo Parlamentario ni por el Gobierno australiano. La salida es información legal, no asesoramiento legal: la versión autorizada de cualquier ley es la publicada en el registro.

El código es MIT.

Desarrollo

npm install
npm test                        # build + unit tests (offline)
node scripts/smoke.mjs          # live API smoke test
node scripts/protocol-test.mjs  # stdio round trip against the live API

Available Tools

8 tools
check_frl_healthCheck the register APIA
Read-only

Pings the Federal Register of Legislation API and reports latency, so failures elsewhere can be attributed.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault

No parameters

TDQS

A4.4/5.0
Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true and openWorldHint=true, so the safety profile is covered. The description adds behavioral insight (pings, reports latency, purpose of attribution) beyond annotations. However, it doesn't specify the exact return format or what 'latency' includes, so it's slightly incomplete.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single sentence, front-loaded with the verb 'Pings' and directly stateful. Every word earns its place with no redundancy.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a zero-parameter health check, the description communicates the tool's purpose and use case well. However, without an output schema, it would benefit from specifying what 'latency' entails (e.g., milliseconds, status indicator) to fully guide an agent interpreting results.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters4/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

There are zero parameters, and schema coverage is trivially 100%. With no parameters to document, the baseline of 4 applies; the description appropriately omits parameter details.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the tool pings the Federal Register of Legislation API and reports latency, which is a specific verb+resource+outcome. It distinguishes itself from sibling data-retrieval tools by focusing on API health rather than legal content.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description provides clear context for use as an attribution/diagnostic tool ('failures elsewhere can be attributed'), implying use for health checks. It does not explicitly name alternatives or exclusions, but the sibling list makes the distinction obvious.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

compare_versionsCompare an act between two datesA
Read-only

Shows what changed in an act between two dates: which sections were added, removed or reworded. Give a section number for a line-by-line diff of that provision.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
pageNo
dateAYesyyyy-mm-dd, the earlier date
dateBYesyyyy-mm-dd, the later date
sectionNo
titleIdYes

TDQS

A4/5.0
Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With readOnlyHint and openWorldHint annotations already indicating a safe read operation, the description adds valuable behavioral context by explaining the output nature (sections added/removed/reworded) and the optional line-by-line diff behavior. It does not contradict annotations and provides extra clarity beyond them.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Two sentences, front-loaded with the primary purpose and followed by the optional behavior. No redundant wording; every sentence contributes meaningful information.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

The description covers the core functionality and optional section behavior, which is reasonably complete for a read-only diff tool with no output schema. However, it does not mention what output to expect without a section (summary vs. details) or how it relates to sibling tools like get_amendment_status, leaving slight gaps.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 40%, with only dateA and dateB described. The description clarifies the 'section' parameter ('Give a section number for a line-by-line diff'), but titleId and page remain underspecified. It partially compensates for the coverage gap but leaves key parameter meanings implicit.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states what the tool does: 'Shows what changed in an act between two dates' with specific detail on the types of changes (added, removed, reworded). It also distinguishes itself by specifying an optional section-level diff, which differs from sibling tools that retrieve single-version text or amendment status.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines3/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description implies usage for comparing versions of an act over time, but it does not explicitly state when to use this tool versus alternatives like get_law_as_at or get_amendment_status. It gives context but no exclusions or alternative guidance, leaving the agent to infer the appropriate scenario.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

get_amendment_statusAmendment status of an actA
Read-only

Reports whether a title is in force, what its latest compilation incorporates, whether commenced amendments are still unincorporated, and which acts have amended it.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
titleIdYes

TDQS

A4/5.0
Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

The annotations already indicate read-only and open-world behavior. The description further clarifies exactly what status questions the tool answers, including details about compilation and unincorporated amendments, going beyond the basic annotations. No contradiction with annotations is present.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is one sentence and front-loaded with the verb 'Reports'. Every listed item adds value and the sentence is free of fluff, repetition, or unrelated background.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

The description sufficiently covers the tool's purpose and key output dimensions for a simple one-parameter tool. However, it does not clarify the titleId input semantics or what the return structure looks like, which is a mild gap given that no output schema is provided.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The only parameter titleId has no schema description, and the tool description does not explicitly explain titleId's value format or scope. The description's repeated use of 'title' makes the parameter's intent inferable, but the tool still relies on the parameter name for meaning.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description uses a specific verb ('Reports') and names distinct outcomes: in-force status, latest compilation contents, unincorporated commenced amendments, and amending acts. This clearly identifies the tool's primary function and differentiates it from sibling tools like compare_versions or get_law_text.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines3/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

No explicit when-to-use or when-not-to-use guidance is provided, nor are alternative sibling tools named. The description implies that this tool is appropriate when amendment/status information is needed, but it does not specify exclusions or preferred alternatives.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

get_law_as_atRead an act as it stood on a dateA
Read-only

Returns the compilation of a Commonwealth act that was in force on the given date — the register keeps every historical version. Same output shape as get_law_text.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
dateYesyyyy-mm-dd
fullNo
pageNo
sectionNo
titleIdYes

TDQS

A3.9/5.0
Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true and openWorldHint=true, so the tool is known to be a safe read operation. The description adds context that the register retains every historical version and that the output shape matches get_law_text, providing useful behavioral details beyond the annotations.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is two sentences, with the core purpose in the first sentence and a cross-reference in the second. It is front-loaded, concise, and free of superfluous text.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness2/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given 5 parameters and no output schema, the description is incomplete. It does not explain pagination (page), section filtering (section), or the 'full' flag, nor does it define 'compilation' in detail. The reference to get_law_text hints at output structure but does not fully convey the behavior for all parameters.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters2/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

With schema coverage only at 20%, the description is expected to explain parameter meanings. It only hints at the 'date' parameter ('on the given date') and does not address 'titleId', 'full', 'page', or 'section'. This leaves agents without guidance for most inputs, failing to compensate for the schema's lack of detail.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the verb 'Returns' and the resource 'Commonwealth act' with the specific temporal qualifier 'as it stood on the given date'. It also distinguishes from siblings by noting 'Same output shape as get_law_text', which signals a relationship to a likely current-version tool.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description implies when to use this tool—when needing a historical version on a specific date—and contrasts it with get_law_text via 'Same output shape as get_law_text'. However, it does not explicitly state when not to use it or mention alternatives like compare_versions or search_full_text.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

get_law_textRead the current text of an actA
Read-only

Returns the latest compilation of a Commonwealth act or instrument. Without a section number it lists the table of sections; with one it returns that provision. Set full=true for the whole text, paginated.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
fullNoReturn the full text instead of the table of sections
pageNo
sectionNoSection number, e.g. "3A" or "90-5"
titleIdYesRegister title id, e.g. C2004A03348

TDQS

A4.4/5.0
Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already cover read-only and open-world behavior. The description adds meaningful behavioral context: default table of sections, section-specific provision retrieval, and paginated full-text mode. It does not contradict the annotations.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Two sentences, no filler, and the most important information is front-loaded. Every clause contributes meaning.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

The tool is simple and well-annotated, and the description covers default behavior, section mode, and full-text mode. Minor gap: the page parameter's semantics are only implied by 'paginated' and not explicitly tied to request/response mechanics.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters4/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema covers 75% of parameters but leaves 'page' undocumented. The description explains the interplay of section and full parameters, and 'paginated' hints at the page parameter's purpose, adding value beyond the schema.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description uses a specific verb ('Returns') and clearly identifies the resource ('the latest compilation of a Commonwealth act or instrument'). It distinguishes itself from siblings like get_law_as_at by emphasizing 'latest' and from search tools by describing structured text retrieval.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description clearly implies this is for current text retrieval, not historical or as-at versions, by saying 'latest compilation.' However, it does not explicitly name alternative tools or state when not to use this tool, so it stops short of full usage guidance.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

search_full_textFull-text search across all legislationA
Read-only

Searches the body text of every act and instrument on the register for a phrase, ranked by relevance. Slower and broader than search_law.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
limitNo
matchNoexact = the phrase verbatim (default), all = every word, any = any word
phraseYes

TDQS

A4/5.0
Behavior3/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already indicate readOnlyHint=true, so the description's 'slower' note adds performance context beyond the annotation. However, it does not mention potential rate limits, result size limitations, or other side effects, which might be relevant given the 'slower' warning. It is not contradictory, but additional transparency could be given.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single concise sentence that directly states the purpose and a key comparative attribute. There is no redundancy or fluff; every word contributes to clarity.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the tool's simplicity and the presence of annotations (read-only) and a straightforward schema, the description adequately covers the core context. It does not need to explain return values since there is no output schema, and the 'slower and broader' hint provides performance context useful for agent decision-making.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The description only explicitly covers the 'phrase' parameter ('for a phrase'), while 'limit' and 'match' are not addressed. The schema partially covers 'match' via its description, but 'limit' is left with no context beyond its name. The description adds some value by stating the search target, but it does not meaningfully enhance understanding of the other parameters, staying at a baseline level.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states a specific action (searches) on a specific resource (body text of every act and instrument) and includes a distinct scope (all legislation). It differentiates from siblings like search_law and get_law_text by emphasizing the full-text, cross-document nature and relevance ranking.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description explicitly contrasts with the sibling tool search_law by noting it is 'slower and broader', which tells the agent when to prefer this tool over the alternative. It does not provide exhaustive usage scenarios, but the comparative hint is actionable.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

search_lawSearch Australian legislation by nameA
Read-only

Finds Commonwealth acts and legislative instruments on the Federal Register of Legislation by title. Returns title ids for the other tools. Falls back to full-text matching when nothing matches by name.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
limitNo
queryYesWords from the title, e.g. "income tax rates"

TDQS

A4.3/5.0
Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations declare readOnlyHint and openWorldHint, and the description adds value beyond that by disclosing that the tool returns title IDs and falls back to full-text matching. This provides practical operational context without contradicting the annotations.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is three concise sentences with no wasted words. It front-loads the core purpose and includes only essential additional details about return values and fallback behavior.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness5/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a straightforward search tool with two parameters and no output schema, the description fully covers the tool's purpose, return values, and matching behavior. It leaves no critical gaps for an agent to understand when and how to use it.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The schema already describes the query parameter with an example ('income tax rates'), covering 50% of parameters. The description reinforces the 'by title' semantics but does not add significant new meaning for the limit parameter, making the guidance adequate yet not exceptional.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the tool 'Finds Commonwealth acts and legislative instruments on the Federal Register of Legislation by title', using a specific verb and resource. It distinguishes itself from the sibling search_full_text by noting it searches by title and falls back to full-text matching.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description provides clear context, explaining that it returns title ids for other tools and falls back to full-text when name matching fails. However, it does not explicitly name alternatives or state conditions to avoid using this tool, so it stops short of full explicit guidance.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

verify_citationsCheck statute citations against the registerA
Read-only

Extracts Australian statute citations from text and checks each against the Federal Register of Legislation: does the act exist, is it still in force, does the cited section exist in the current compilation. Use before presenting legal citations to a user. An upstream failure is reported as UNVERIFIED, never as a missing law.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
textYesText containing the citations to check

TDQS

A4.4/5.0
Behavior5/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint and openWorldHint, so they convey safety. The description goes beyond by disclosing critical behavioral semantics: it retrieves from an open world ('openWorldHint' context), and crucially, it specifies the failure mode: 'An upstream failure is reported as UNVERIFIED, never as a missing law.' This adds essential behavioral context beyond annotations and is crucial for correct interpretation.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is three sentences, each earning its place: the first states the core action, the second provides a usage guideline, and the third adds a critical caveat. No wasted words, front-loaded with the verb.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the tool's moderate complexity (checking citation existence and status), the description covers the key behavioral expectations without going into excessive detail. It does not detail the return format or edge cases with multiple citations, but the read-only nature and the explicit UNVERIFIED rule cover the most important usage aspects.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

There is only one parameter, `text`, and schema description coverage is 100%, so the baseline of 3 applies. The description's mention of 'text' aligns with the parameter, but it does not add detail beyond what the schema already documents (e.g., no format, length, or examples).

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description uses a specific verb+resource construction: 'Extracts Australian statute citations from text and checks each against the Federal Register of Legislation.' It clearly details what is checked (act existence, in-force status, section existence) and distinguishes this from siblings by focusing on verification against the register.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description explicitly states when to use the tool: 'Use before presenting legal citations to a user.' This provides clear usage context, but it does not explicitly mention alternatives or when not to use the tool, though the sibling list implies alternatives exist.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

Tool Schema Changelog

Recent tool additions, removals, and schema changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

  1. 8 tool updatesv0.1.3
    • First observedcheck_frl_health
    • First observedcompare_versions
    • First observedget_amendment_status
    • First observedget_law_as_at
    • First observedget_law_text
    • First observedsearch_full_text
    • First observedsearch_law
    • First observedverify_citations

TDQS

A4.3/5.0

Scored across 8 tools

Disambiguation4/5

Most tools have clearly distinct purposes. The only mild ambiguity is between get_law_text and get_law_as_at, but the descriptions make the current-versus-historical distinction explicit. search_law and search_full_text are also separable by title-search versus full-text-search.

Naming Consistency5/5

All tool names follow a consistent snake_case verb_noun pattern, such as search_law, get_law_text, compare_versions, and verify_citations. The get_ and search_ prefixes group related operations predictably, with no mixed conventions.

Tool Count5/5

Eight tools is well-scoped for a legal research server. Each tool provides a distinct capability without redundancy, and the count feels neither thin nor bloated for the domain.

Completeness5/5

The toolset covers the core legislative research workflow: finding laws, retrieving current and historical text, checking amendment status, comparing versions, and verifying citations. There are no obvious dead ends or missing operations for the stated purpose of working with the Federal Register of Legislation.

Maintenance

ActivityMaintained
ResponsivenessNo issues

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