Good decisions resources
We have a suite of practical, relevant resources to help you make fair, defensible and consistent decisions in public administration:
Using a decision-making framework guides us to consider all relevant factors, such as:
Prepare for the decision:
- What is the decision-making power?
- Do you have the authority?
- Should you be the decision-maker?
- What is the timeframe to make the decision?
- What are the key issues?
- Identify the applicable procedures
Develop the decision:
- Follow procedures
- Gather all necessary information
- Observe procedural fairness
Make the decision:
- Find the facts
- Apply the law
- Reasonably exercise discretion
Communicate the decision:
- Give meaningful and accurate reasons
By following a decision-making framework, others can clearly see how you make decisions. This transparency helps build trust and provide assurance that you have:
- ensured decisions are compatible with human rights
- followed relevant laws, policies and procedures
- kept good records at every stage of the process.
Use the resources above to learn how to embed these steps into your practices.
Our annual Casebooks provide a sample of outcomes that we achieved for Queenslanders through our investigations. Casebooks provide advice on making and communicating good decisions, conducting genuine reviews of decisions, keeping records, and improving policy and procedures.
Good decision-making lies at the heart of good public administration. Even a decision about a seemingly simple matter can have a serious impact on the community. So, it is important that Queensland agencies have systems in place to support fair and consistent decision-making. Decision-making in public sector agencies can be complicated.
In the good decisions resources, we explore working ethically by:
- following the four key ethics principles
- ensuring your decisions are compatible with human rights
- keeping good records for transparent decision-making.
From this basis, methodically go through the stages of decision-making:
- STAGE 1: Prepare for the decision
- clarify your legal authority and decision-making power
- identify conflicts of interest
- understand timeframes
- recognise key issues
- follow proper procedures.
- STAGE 2: Develop the decision
- follow lawful and fair procedures
- gather all necessary information relevant to the decision
- provide procedural fairness to people affected by an adverse decision.
- STAGE 3: Make the decision
- find the material facts
- correctly apply the relevant law to the facts
- reasonably apply discretion (where applicable).
- STAGE 4: Communicate the decision
- give meaningful and accurate reasons for your decision.