In addition to OPC’s participation in major plain language projects such as the Tax Law Improvement Project and the Corporate Law Economic Reform Program, we have incorporated plain language drafting into all of our work.

The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel is a group of government lawyers who specialise in drafting legislation. 1 3 Clarity is one principle of good drafting, but there are others, such asŠ Ł effectiveness: fundamentally, your draft must do the job it is intended to do.

It is meant to help them in their task of making it as easy as possible for readers to understand the Bills that we produce. The guidance is for members of the office. Please refer to the Guide to making legislation (see the chapters about drafting the bill). What is said here draws on material produced elsewhere, in particular the Tax Law Rewrite guidelines and the manual of the Australian Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

We draft Bills for introduction into the Parliament, and a wide range of subordinate legislation such as regulations and proclamations for Government agencies. Office of the Parliamentary Counsel drafting guidance Guidance for members of the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) who are drafting bills to be considered in Parliament. The Office of Parliamentary Counsel is responsible for drafting and publishing the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia. Parliamentary Counsel.

Preface to the second edition by Andy Beattie, Chief Parliamentary Counsel Why drafting matters by Andy Beattie, Chief Parliamentary Counsel Background Parliamentary Counsel Office (PCO) About this manual: status and use Part 1: Drafting technique.

The Office of Parliamentary Counsel is active in encouraging the use of plain language in legislation and in developing and using plain language techniques. Parliamentary Counsel. The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel is a group of government lawyers who specialise in drafting legislation.