Consultation
Both the Australian Government and the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) have made a commitment to improve the mechanisms for consultation with business and supporting appropriate consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
Consultation ensures that both those affected by the regulation and the regulator have a good understanding of what the problem is, alternative options to solve the problem, possible administrative mechanisms, possible compliance mechanisms and associated benefits, costs and risks. Lack of consultation can lead to regulation that is inappropriate to the circumstances, costly to comply with and poorly adhered to.
Both the Australian Government and COAG have adopted seven principles of best practice consultation.
Australian Government Consultation Policy
To implement the Australian Government’s consultation policy, there are three specific consultation mechanisms – the requirement for policy options ‘green papers’ and exposure drafts, publishing Annual Regulatory Plans and a business consultation website.
COAG Consultation Guidelines
COAG requires a Consultation RIS for significant regulatory proposals being developed by a ministerial council, national standard-setting body or related body. COAG has endorsed a set of Consultation Guidelines to ensure that effective consultation with stakeholders occurs at all stages of the regulatory cycle.
If you need guidance in relation to a specific policy proposal, contact the OBPR.Contact for information on this page: OBPR contacts page