“Retrospective consultation is alive and well in the ACT government. I am sure our readers have many other examples. It is simply a façade for genuine attempts to understand what people are thinking,” writes political columnist MICHAEL MOORE.

MAKING decisions and then doing the consultation is par for the course across the ACT government. It does not interfere with the decisions that have already been made. And Canberrans are subjected to retrospective consultation again and again.

The most recent example of retrospective consultation is a letter distributed to local residents regarding installation of traffic lights on Limestone Avenue near Campbell High School. The letter was distributed on July 22 and stated that work “commenced on Wednesday 19 July”. The letter used past tense! There was no map included regarding the format of the intersection and no attempt to understand if the proposed works suited the locals or those using the road as through traffic.

Even more telling is the Your Say website that boasts you can provide feedback “as we plan, develop and consult”. In fact, there is a standing invitation to be a panel member “and share your views on multiple issues and topics affecting the ACT via quick and easy surveys”. 

There are a range of issues currently subject of consultation. Safety of home swimming pools is the first example. The government is already planning to take further action to ensure safety for swimming pools in suburban areas. 

The Your Say site reveals that “among pool owners, there was strong interest in these reforms and an appetite for further information to be provided”. However, they did identify in the survey that was conducted April 3-10 of this year, there were “barriers which would make it difficult for pool owners to comply with the new requirements, including potential financial costs and timeframes”.

Swimming pool safety will remain an important issue for Canberrans. But why pretend that the outcome will be anything other than upgrading barriers to meet the latest nationwide safety standards? “The survey results will be used to inform future communications and engagement with the community on this topic”. 

However, the decision was already made – retrospective consultation. The alternative was to seek consultation on implementation of the decisions.

From 2018 the government banned wood heaters in the Molonglo Valley – except for those installed in houses in Wright. The clear intention of the government is to continue to find ways to ban them across Canberra. As far back as 2018 Greens Leader Shane Rattenbury stated: “We need to take action on wood smoke in all parts of Canberra, not just in the new Molonglo developments”. 

Despite clear intention from half a decade ago, the Your Say site has run a panel seeking views of Canberrans. Nearly 2000 people participated with just 27 per cent supporting the phasing out of wood heaters. The alternative view of some 72 per cent was that “wood heaters provide a unique source of warmth”.

The issue of Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) fits into a similar category. The government has made it clear that it intends to introduce legislation to permit VAD. Almost 3000 self-selected “panel members” took part in the survey with a strong awareness (85 per cent) of the government plans to introduce such legislation. The survey was conducted between February 7 and 21.

In this case, the issue of implementation is fundamental. However, the government’s track record on retrospective consultation on swimming pool safety, planning issues, night-life, and gender equity, for example, begs the question: “can Canberrans really believe that there is a genuine attempt to understand what the community is thinking on these issues”?

This survey was not an attempt to assess support or otherwise for VAD but rather the level of interest in details about such legislation. For example, “there was high interest in understanding the criteria for a person to be eligible (84 per cent), and the process for requesting and accessing voluntary assisted dying (76 per cent). Interest in the safeguards required to protect patient safety (64 per cent) and the role of family, friends or carers (63 per cent) also rated highly”.

The advantage of this sort of survey for the government on a range of issues is that it can be used within the Legislative Assembly to support arguments without asking if those taking part in the survey support or oppose the intention of the government.

Retrospective consultation is alive and well in the ACT government. I am sure our readers have many other examples. It is simply a façade for genuine attempts to understand what people are thinking.

Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an independent minister for health. He has been a political columnist with “CityNews” since 2006.