In almost every consultation we analyse there is one recurring cry – “will we be listened to?”
It seems people worry there is no point making the effort. But do the public grasp what consultations are actually for?
Recently, Radio New Zealand (RNZ) took a look at what happens to submissions when the public provides feedback on a new bill or piece of legislation. The story, Submission rising: Parliament’s feedback flood, discussed the submissions received on the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill, which garnered over 107,000 responses, tripling the previous record for the most submissions received on a bill in New Zealand.
The host, Phil Smith, spoke to Dylan Hanna, Clerk of the Justice Committee, and Ginny Anderson, Chair of the Justice Committee, about the processes involved in dealing with community feedback on a bill – from the initial release of the bill for public feedback, to any amendments that are made to the bill as a result of this feedback.
When discussing the impact or the purpose of public submissions, Anderson pointed out what people sometimes misunderstand about consultations:
“Providing submissions is not a referendum, or a poll, or a vote, it’s a way for MPs to fully understand the depth of the issues, the contentious issues, and to try and really get into the nitty gritty of what the bill is trying to do and how that might play out in the future. So, I would say it’s more about good quality submissions that further nourish our understanding of it as opposed to having a whole lot of people one after another registering their view.”
Though there are differences between central and local government processes, when it comes to public submissions, we feel this is an important point to note. Sometimes people assume that their submission will work to sway the decision in favour or opposition of a proposed change, and that if enough people submit for or against, that will be the end result. But this is not the true purpose of public engagement. After all, we elect officials to make these decisions on our behalf, in consultation with the relevant experts and professionals.
That being said, even though your submission might not be the deciding vote on whether or not a change happens in your community, it is still important. Not only does public engagement help keep the public engaged with what’s going on in their communities, which, as Anderson states, is always good for democracy, it is also an opportunity for you to shed some light on issues that may have been missed or overlooked by the decision-makers. Your local knowledge and your experience of living, working, visiting, studying, or playing in a specific area gives you a perspective that decision-makers might not have. Ultimately, it’s these bits of knowledge or well-formulated recommendations that are likely to make the biggest impact in your submission.
Here at Global Research, we love to see engaged communities sharing their thoughts on issues that affect them and their futures. We’ve put together a guide on how you can get the most out of your opportunity to submit on an issue, and make sure your voice is heard – read it here.