POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANCE
AGS has extensive experience in assisting clients to develop
policy, and implement that policy in legislation and legislative
instruments for all kinds of Australian Government initiatives.
We have been the primary legal adviser in relation to
many
of the Australian Government’s major policy initiatives.
To note just a few examples, we played a major role in
the
development and implementation of the Public Service
Act 1999, the Workplace Relations Act 1996 and
the Work Choices amendments,
the
Gene Technology Act 2000 and the Native Title
Act 1993.
The experience of AGS lawyers in core government activities
and our knowledge of Commonwealth law and law-making equip
us to provide these services. In particular, AGS lawyers
can help with the policy process and investigate the current
legal context in Australia and overseas; help identify
and articulate policy objectives; develop options; balance
competing
aims; ensure the policy is consistent, structured and integrated;
advise on the practical effect of legal policy options
and
the range of regulatory tools; act as advocates and mediators
during and after the process; and buttress the policy
against
challenge, in particular by ensuring the legality of the
policy. We can develop drafting instructions and other
support
materials. We work closely with the Office of Parliamentary
Counsel and the Office of Legislative Drafting in the
Attorney-General’s
Department, and where appropriate can provide drafting
services. We can assist with passage through the Federal
Parliament,
and other legal processes.
Much of our work with government agencies has been to
translate policy initiatives into legal forms, not only
in various types of legislation, but also administrative
processes and decisions, litigation strategies and commercial
arrangements. We generally work as key members of a policy
team to develop an integrated policy and legal product.
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