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Fact Sheet - Your submission: What happens now?

This fact sheet provides information about what happens to your submission once it has been sent to the commission. The fact sheet can also be downloaded as a PDF below. 

 

Your submission – what happens now?

What is my submission used for?
The commission asks for submissions to help it understand different views and experiences of the issues it is researching. Submissions provide the commission with information it may not be able to obtain from other sources and are often quoted in our publications.

Who will read my submission?
Submissions are read and considered by commissioners and commission staff to help them develop recommendations and write reports. Public submissions are uploaded to our website and made available at our offices where they can be read by anyone.

What is put on the website?
Contact details are removed from all submissions. If you have made an anonymous submission your name will be removed as well. Submissions that contain offensive or defamatory content will not be put on the website.

How will my submission affect recommendations?
Submissions are one way the commission can gain information about an issue and learn about community views on a particular topic. Submissions that contain original information and personal opinions are more useful than form letters or petitions.

What else is taken into consideration?
When forming recommendations the commission will also look at existing research in the area and the law in other states and countries. The commission will also hold consultations with individuals and organisations with particular expertise in the matter. A Consultative Committee may also be convened to advise the commission on a specific area.

What is a public submission?
Unless otherwise stated all submissions are considered public. ‘Public’ means they can be uploaded to the commission website, quoted in reports and kept at the commission for people to look at.

What is an anonymous submission?
Anonymous submissions can be uploaded to the commission website, quoted in commission reports, and made available for the public to look at but all names and identifying features will be removed.

What is a confidential submission?
Making your submission confidential means it will only be looked at by commissioners and commission staff. It will not be quoted in reports, appear on our website or be made available to the public.

Can I change the status of my submission?
You must inform us in writing if you would like to change the status of your submission. Submissions will be uploaded to the commission website within two weeks of the submission being received.

Can I make more than one submission?
If the deadline for submissions has not passed you can make more than one submission. Please label your subsequent submission clearly.

What if I missed the deadline for submissions?
The commission sets deadlines for submissions to reach its writing and publishing deadlines. Your submission may not be considered if it arrives after the deadline.

What happens to my submission once the project has finished?
Submissions are stored at the commission and those that are public remain available for people to look at. They will stay on the website as a public resource.

After a period of time all submissions are transferred to the Public Records Office and stored permanently. Confidential submissions remain “closed” which means they can never be viewed by anyone.

How do I find out about the progress of the project?
News about the progression of a reference will be added to the commission website. If you have submitted you will be notified of major developments and receive a copy of the final report. Once a final report has been tabled it is up to government to decide how they act on the recommendations.

Where can I find out more information?
The commission website contains a range of information about current and completed projects. You can also contact the commission with any queries.

Victorian Law Reform Commission
Website: www.lawreform.vic.gov.au
Email: law.reform@lawreform.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 8619 8619, 1300 66 555 (freecall), 1300 666 557 (TTY)
Mail: GPO Box 4637, Melbourne, Vic, 3001.

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Author:	Victorian Law Reform Commission
Place of Publication:	Melbourne
Publisher:	Victorian Law Reform Commission
Date of Publication:	August 2008
Number of Pages:	2
Copyright:	Victorian Law Reform Commission, State of Victoria, 2008.