Advanced Government Decision-Making

Government Specific Program

Government and Ministerial decision-making is becoming increasingly complex. Recent developments continue to highlight the complexity of administrative law principles and the liability issues relating to administrative decision-making.

This workshop is designed to assist senior government officers who are making advanced decisions or who are involved in providing advice to Ministers or senior decision-makers.

Agenda

The workshop will examine and highlight the key issues facing government officers, including:

• Establishing proper authority for the decision-making process
• The fundamental steps to be followed in developing a lawful decision-making process
• The identification, gathering and analysis of relevant evidence
• The difficulties arising from the receipt of confidential or informant information
• The proper handling of legal advice and inadvertent waiver of legal professional privilege
• The obligations imposed by the rules of natural justice and the development of practical procedures to comply with these obligations
• Legal issues in relation to briefing notes
• Processes and drafting of statements of reasons
• The avoidance of liability issues including negligence, damages and misfeasance in public office
• Recent legislative developments.

Learning outcomes

• Update on recent developments in administrative law
• Practical skill development in preparing briefing notes and statements of reasons.

Who should attend?

• Personnel who exercise statutory discretions
• Advisers who prepare briefing notes for statutory decision-makers.

Recent participant feedback

“The course was very well done, and very relevant to those of us dealing with statutory processes in our work activities. I would definitely recommend this course to my colleagues.”

“The use of real-life examples to illustrate theory was excellent!”

“I enjoyed that the presentation was free-flowing and not tightly structured.”