Principles of decision-making

Who should attend

This course is for decision-makers and advisers to decision-makers making decisions with respect to rights, privileges, benefits, obligations and penalties affecting members of the public.

Course outline

In this course, we will discuss:

• the principles which must be applied to the process of decision-making
• natural justice, legitimate expectations, unreasonableness, inflexible application of policy and many other specific principles
• the structure of a statement of reasons so as to ensure that the requirements laid down by the legislation are met, namely relevant facts, findings on material questions of fact and reasons for decision.

We will work through these and other issues by discussion and table exercises in respect of a factual case study. A manual written in clear non-legal language will be given to each participant for use as future reference material.

Objectives

Decision-makers and their advisers will gain a full appreciation of the legal requirements for public sector decision-making and the ways of meeting them.

Presenters

Our presenters are AGS lawyers who have a great depth of knowledge of the government environment and who practise extensively in the areas of information access and administrative law.