The consultation process

The Queensland Law Reform Commission conducts extensive research and undertakes wide consultation before reporting to the Attorney-General as to how the law could be improved.

The Commission’s commitment to inclusive consultation in this review was recently recognised in the Disability Action Week Awards in the category of Human Rights and Justice. www.disability.qld.gov.au/actionweek/awards2007.html

Consultation will aid the Commission in:

identifying all of the key issues for the Commission to consider
finding out how the law works in practice, including what is causing problems
generating suggestions for how the law could be improved
refining, developing and testing proposed recommendations.

The types of consultation include:

Reference Group

The Commission has established an informal Reference Group to assist with the review. The role of the Reference Group is to widen the expertise of the Commission and to provide advice on the review. In particular, it is hoped that the group will help ensure that the Commission has identified all of the relevant issues and perspectives, and assist in making suggestions for how the law could be improved. Those who are not members of the Reference Group will be invited to participate in the Commission's other consultation processes.

Public forums

The Commission proposes to hold public forums at key stages of the review to promote widespread community participation.

Following the release of the Discussion Paper on the confidentiality provisions in August 2006, the Commission held a series of public forums in September and October 2006 to seek people’s views on the issues raised in that paper. Forums were held in Brisbane, Bundaberg, Cairns, the Gold Coast, Mackay, Mt Isa, Rockhampton, the Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and Townsville. The forums provided an invaluable opportunity for the Commission to hear the views of people with an interest in these issues. The Commission would like to thank all those people who gave of their time and shared their experiences.

Details of future public forums will be posted on this website and advertised widely.

Focus groups

The Commission will hold meetings to hear the views of different groups of people from particular interests or backgrounds.

Informal consultation

The Commission will speak to and meet with persons with expertise and interest in the area throughout the review process.

Have your say

If you wish to contribute to the review you may Have your say.

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Updated 13 November 2006