Legislative design and scrutiny
The department has a whole-of-government responsibility for issues relating to legislation in key areas such as clearer Commonwealth laws, constitutional law, international law, human rights law, administrative law, criminal law, information law, private international law, federal courts and federal jurisdiction.
The department is committed to working with agencies including the Office of Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) to develop laws that are clear, fair, simple, effective, principles-based and consistent with our Constitution and human rights obligations.
The following guides may be of assistance:
- Developing clearer Commonwealth laws
- Guide to framing Commonwealth offences, infringement notices and enforcement powers
- Public sector guidance sheets on human rights obligations and tools for assessing human rights compatibility.
Further information about legislation design and drafting is available from the OPC website.
Instructing agencies may particularly benefit from OPC's drafting directions series, including Drafting Direction 4.2 Referral of Drafts to Agencies, which identifies the agencies to be consulted in relation to provisions of particular kinds.