Task 1: Parliamentary Inquiry Briefing Paper

Your Task

Identify a current policy area (climate, health, welfare, tax etc) and prepare a discussion and critique on that policy area with the application of the themes and concepts we have covered through Weeks 1 - 5.

This is not an essay. Prepare your piece as a briefing to the panel of a parliamentary inquiry that is about to take submissions from a variety of lobby groups, politicians, researchers, bureaucrats, and others with a vested interest in the policy domain. This panel will use your briefing to help their preparations for the review of those submissions.

Your briefing will include:

• An overview of the current policy area (10 points)
• Identification of the type/s of evidence that is used by those with a vested interest  (15 points)
• A discussion of the types of evidence and issues for that evidence in light of the themes and concepts covered in weeks 1 - 5 (20 points)
• Editing for expression, grammar and spelling, clarity and focus, and for style guide (APA) accuracy (5 Points)

Course Learning Outcomes

• Interpret and critique the evidence associated with a particular policy issue
• Effectively use existing data and research findings to advocate for a policy position in a range of genres
• Scope and manage the production of policy evidence