We are a team of dedicated specialists, with deep expertise in drafting and publishing legislation. With our focus on the statute book as a whole, we have the opportunity to work across all subject matters for which the Commonwealth has legislative power under the Constitution, and the privilege of working with many Commonwealth agencies.
Our work is at the centre of Australia’s democracy. We enable the government to implement its legislative program by drafting Commonwealth Acts and Executive Council and other legislative instruments; and ensure Commonwealth laws are freely available and accessible to all Australians by publishing Commonwealth laws on the Federal Register of Legislation.
Our drafters work in partnership with agencies across the Australian Public Service to deliver on government objectives. Our drafters work with agencies to help them to develop their policy, simplify their policy to the extent possible, and ensure that legislation is legally effective. Through this process our drafters aim to draft legislation in a way that is as clear and easy to understand as possible.
As a drafter, you will watch your work be debated by the parliament, making amendments as the debate continues. As a publications officer, you will play an integral role in getting bills ready for tabling in parliament, and in obtaining the Governor-General’s assent to a new Act.
It will not be uncommon to see what you have been working on featured in the media. Examples of particularly interesting and impactful recent work include the instruments under the Biosecurity Act prepared at great speed during the COVID pandemic, the proposed changes to the Constitution for the Voice referendum, the National Anti-Corruption Commission Act, the Digital ID Act and the Administrative Review Tribunal Act.
As a publications officer, you will also play an integral role in preparing compilations of amendments to Acts, ensuring that a complete version of the current law is accessible for all Australians. You may work behind the scenes on the Federal Register of Legislation, which holds over 30,000 items currently in force, and has 13.3 million visitors each year.
If you are working in Corporate Services team, you will have a unique opportunity to genuinely influence the way work is done at OPC, as we are small and work collaboratively. You will be able to use your expertise to make a difference for good.