Open consultations
-
Community survey to inform the development of the Second Action Plan under the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse...
⚠️ We understand that child sexual abuse is a sensitive and challenging issue. Completing this survey may bring up strong feelings for some people. Please take care as you complete this survey and ask for help if you need it. A detailed list of support services can be found in the Additional Support Services section below and on our Get Support page. If you or a child are in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000). Lifeline is a crisis support service for people who...
Closes 31 July 2026
Closed consultations
-
Australia's draft Seventh Periodic Report under the ICCPR
The Australian Government is currently preparing Australia’s Seventh Periodic Report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Australia’s report will detail actions Australian governments have taken in response to the List of Issues Prior to Reporting (LOIPR) provided...
Closed 19 June 2026
-
Notice of proposed agreement under section 47C of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth)
The Australian Government is proposing to make an agreement that would allow for the prior extinguishment of native title to be disregarded on Albany Rock and Eastern Hannibal Islet in the waters east of far-north Queensland. The proposed agreement is one contemplated by section 47C of the Native...
Closed 18 May 2026
-
Statutory Review of the Statutory Declarations Act 1959
The Attorney-General’s Department is seeking views on the operation of the Statutory Declarations Act 1959 (the Act) and the Statutory Declarations Regulations 2023 (the Regulations) as part of a statutory review (the review). Section 16 of the Act requires a review of the operation of the Act...
Closed 1 March 2026
We asked, you said, we did
See what we've consulted on. See all outcomes
We asked
Between 28 November 2025 and 27 January 2026, the Administrative Review Council consulted on:
- procedures for Administrative Review Tribunal (Tribunal) review of migration and protection decisions
- aspects of the Department of Home Affairs’ primary decision-making processes.
You said
The Council received 13 submissions from a range of stakeholders, including:
- advocacy groups and research centres
- community legal centres and other legal organisations
- members of the public
- government agencies.
Responses identified matters relevant to primary decision-making for migration and protection applications and the special procedures for reviewing those decisions. These included ways to:
- improve access to review and support effective participation
- reduce reliance on written requests and increase the use of interviews during primary decision-making
- improve communication between primary decision-makers, the Tribunal and applicants
- adopt a trauma‑informed approach when engaging with applicants
- improve the timeliness and quality of decisions.
We did
The Council will use the feedback provided through the public consultation to inform its report and any associated recommendations. We have published submissions from authors who gave their permission.
The Council aims to publish its inquiry report by the end of the year. We thank everyone who engaged with this consultation process.
We asked
Between 9 October and 28 November 2025, we held a public consultation on the operation of amendments made by the Native Title Legislation Amendment Act 2021 (Cth) (the 2021 Amendment Act), as required by section 209A of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth). We sought views from native title sector participants to gauge support for the changes made by 2021 Amendment Act, and whether the changes are operating as intended or require any adjustments.
You said
The department received a total of 11 submissions during the consultation period from a range of stakeholders, including:
- industry stakeholders
- state and statutory government bodies
- First Nations representative bodies
- native title representative bodies
- members of the public.
Our consultation did not reveal any widespread or systemic concerns with the changes made by the 2021 Amendment Act.
Some participants suggested technical adjustments, including:
- resolving legislative ambiguity
- modifying procedural design to avoid unintended consequences
- providing resources and support for key system stakeholders involved in implementing the changes.
We did
The feedback collected through this consultation informed our report, Evaluation of the Operation of Amendments Made by the Native Title Legislation Amendment Act 2021. The report was tabled in parliament on 12 May 2026. It contains details of the evaluation’s findings and concluding remarks.
Thank you to everyone involved in the consultation for your engagement, and for sharing your views and ideas.
We asked
Between 10 September and 1 October 2025, we held a public consultation on the government’s stage 2 reforms to improve the accessibility, operation and administration of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 (PID Act). We sought views from interested stakeholders on an exposure draft of the Public Interest Disclosure and Other Legislation Amendment (Whistleblower Protections) Bill 2025, to ensure the draft legislation is fit for purpose.
You said
We received 16 submissions during the consultation period.
Submissions covered themes such as:
- the importance of having an independent body to protect whistleblowers
- the functions of such a body to enable it to adequately protect whistleblowers
- ensuring whistleblowers receive appropriate protections and immunities under the PID Act
- taking a ‘no wrong doors’ approach to making a public interest disclosure
- appropriate resourcing for the Whistleblower Ombudsman.
We did
Your submissions informed our approach in further developing this Bill.
We have published submissions received through the public consultation process in accordance with our publication policy.
Thank you to everyone involved in the consultation for your engagement and for sharing your views and ideas.