3. Consultation Consultation will often be the most resource-intensive stage of a review. If done well, it can generate valuable feedback for the review, as well as goodwill among stakeholders. Stakeholders are more likely to support a review if they feel their concerns were heard, even if they do not agree with the final recommendations. Detailed information on designing a consultation process is also contained in The Australian Policy Handbook. Key consideration 10: plan consultation Clarify the desired outcomes from consultation and the breadth and depth required to achieve the outcomes. Develop a consultation plan to determine appropriate communication strategies and methods for each stakeholder group. The consultation process can occur one or more phases or ‘rounds’. Each round can be formed around a dialogue in which information is sought from stakeholders. A review process should include a reasonable and appropriate timeframe for stakeholders to provide their views on the legislation. This timeframe will vary with each review and will depend on many variables. However, it is important to note that stakeholders expect consultation to end when they feel their views have been heard and understood. An appropriate timeframe and a well-managed consultation plan can ensure that this is the case. Terms such as background paper or discussion paper are commonly used to describe a review’s consultation documents; however, there is diversity in the meanings that individual agencies attribute to each term, depending on the context and the intended function (see the Glossary for more information). The desired outcomes of consultation will influence the type of consultation document used (if such a document is actually used). For example, if a review is seeking stakeholder feedback on a proposed regulatory model, it may choose to invest time and
5. Conclusion Most reviews will require a final report to conclude the process. In some cases it may be necessary or desirable for the report to be tabled in Parliament. This chapter outlines some important issues to consider during the concluding stage of a review. Key consideration 18: draft the review report The review report should communicate the key messages in an appropriate manner by taking into account the target audience. The report should clearly outline why the review was conducted; the terms of reference; how it was conducted (i.e. the methodology followed); the findings and recommendations. It can be helpful for the drafting process if the report structure is agreed by the review’s governing body before drafting begins. Details of previous review reports published by other agencies can be found in the Bibliography. A helpful guide for creating and reviewing the structure of a large document is given in Writing at Work: How to write clearly, effectively and professionally. Once drafting is underway, ensure that the style and tone are consistent with the agency’s style guide (if one exists). The final report should take into consideration the needs and expectations of the target audience, especially the review’s stakeholders. Some stakeholders may have different needs to others—where possible these needs should be catered for by additional methods of communication. For example, a detailed formal report may be appropriate for some, but unlikely to be read by others. In such cases, an additional short summary report or information leaflet could be more appropriate.
Parliamentary Counsel’s Office (PCO) guide for (2012) can be downloaded from the PCO website. Any recommended legislative amendments that repeal obsolete legislation, or that correct minor errors and do not change an existing policy, may be facilitated through an ‘Omnibus Bill’. See for more information. Summary questions Table 7: Questions relating to the post-review phase Questions 1. Has the RIA process been initiated for any recommended regulatory proposals? 2. Have Parliamentary Counsel’s guidelines been consulted for amending or drafting legislation?
Stakeholder reference group A group which advises the review governing body. A good method of managing a large number of important stakeholders. However, not all reviews choose to have a stakeholder reference group. Submission guide Also known as: Background paper A publication that outlines important questions which stakeholders should address in their submissions. Can also include the review’s terms of reference and some brief background information. Terms of reference A governance document which determines what the review will and will not do. Generally set by the receiving authority and can be either broad or specific. For statutory reviews, the terms of reference are usually based on the Act’s review clause. Value judgement An important element in political and other forms of decision-making which deals with factors that cannot be measured objectively. Value judgments often depend on the decision- maker’s personal background and priorities, including social, political, religious and philosophical values.
Appendix II: Examples of terms of reference and advertisements Example 1: The terms of reference cited in the final report for the review of the Land Information Authority Act 2006 Example 2: The terms of reference cited in the final report of the review of the Workers' Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981