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When Can You Participate During the Government Policy-Making Process?
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When Can You Participate During the Government Policy-Making Process?
There are critical key moments in the policy and law-making process when it is best to lobby. These are linked to:
- the stage in the process of developing policy or law
- knowing the institution and person involved who has the power to make changes
| Policy Stage | Institution/Role-Players | Opportunity for Lobbying | ||
| 1. Government Decides it Needs a New Policy | – Government Departments/Clusters – Cabinet Committees – Minister – Advisors to the Minister | – Media Pressure – Alert Government to the Need for New Policy it is Considering – Meet with Ministers and Advisors – Alert Parliament to the Need for New Policy (via Parliamentary Committees) | ||
| 2. Government Begins to Identify Key Issues | – Government Departments/Clusters – Departmental Task Forces – Advisory Committees | – Become Part of Advisory Committees or Task Forces – Meet with Relevant Departments – Comment on Discussion Documents – Attend Workshops | ||
| 3. Government Explores Options | – Government Departments/Clusters – Departmental Task Forces – Parliamentary Committees | – Comment on Draft Policy – Meet with Department – Attend Parliamentary Hearings and Make Submissions – Attend Workshops – Media Pressure | ||
| 4. Finalising Policy | – Minister – Government Departments/Clusters (Upper Level Officials) – Minister’s Advisors – Parliamentary Committees | – Comment on Revised Draft Policy – Meet with Department or Minister – Lobby Parliament and Attend Committee Meetings – Use Media to Stimulate Public Debate |
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