Policy
The purpose of this policy is to provide information and support for staff participating in parliamentary inquiries and royal commissions.
Summary
- School staff must comply with Victorian Government protocols for participating in parliamentary inquiries and royal commissions.
- Staff preparing a submission must follow the Victorian Government Guidelines for submissions and responses to and any relevant department policy and the Code of Conduct. Refer to related policies below.
- Staff required to appear before or produce documents to parliamentary inquiries and royal commissions must follow the Victorian Government Guidelines for appearing before and producing documents to Victorian .
- Staff participating in parliamentary inquiries or royal commissions should contact the nominated departmental lead policy area, that is coordinating a response, for advice and support. When information is not available on whether a lead policy area has been allocated or which area has been nominated, contact Assurance, Knowledge and Executive Services who will help direct the inquiry and provide general advice and support at parliament.education@education.vic.gov.au
Details
Parliamentary inquiries and royal commissions seek input from government departments and agencies and the wider community to inform investigations of particular issues. They may also seek input from private individuals, subject matter experts and non-government organisations.
School staff may be asked to participate in a parliamentary inquiry or royal commission if an investigation relates to school-based education and learning, or the health and wellbeing of students. This may be in the capacity of an expert, or in relation to specific incidents or experiences.
Parliamentary inquiries and royal commissions may invite written submissions, require information to be provided, compel school staff to appear and take evidence from witnesses under oath. They can conduct their activities in public hearings and private deliberations. They may also ask for staff and student participation in roundtables and forums, and hold community consultations and school site visits.
If school staff are approached by a committee or commission about participation in an inquiry, they should contact the nominated lead policy area in the department for advice and support, or if this information is not known, in the first instance, contact the Director, Executive and Ministerial Services Branch, Assurance, Knowledge and Executive Services Division via parliament.education@education.vic.gov.au
Participating in inquiries and commissions
School staff must comply with Victorian Government protocols for participating in parliamentary inquiries and royal commissions.
If participating in an inquiry or commission, school staff must:
- provide full and accurate information about factual and technical background to policies and their implementation
- refrain from providing personal opinion, defending or making judgments about government policies
- seek the appropriate approvals for written submissions, which may include ministerial and Cabinet level approval
Protocols are set out in:
- the Victorian Government Guidelines for submissions and responses to
- the Victorian Government Guidelines for appearing before and producing documents to Victorian
Witnesses at parliamentary inquiries and royal commissions have certain protections. For example, their evidence cannot be used against them in legal proceedings and a witness generally cannot be sued (e.g. for defamation or breach of confidence). Evidence rejected for not addressing the terms of reference or for being frivolous or offensive is not covered by these protections.
Support from Assurance, Knowledge and Executive Services Division
Assurance, Knowledge and Executive Services Division provides general background guidance and support to nominated lead policy areas coordinating submissions and responses, and a ‘first point of contact’ function to departmental staff (including school staff) participating in parliamentary inquiries and royal commissions, where the departmental lead area is not known. This includes:
- procedural advice about making submissions, appearances, and responding to requests for information and other assistance, such as site visit requests
- providing advice on co-ordination and liaison with key program areas and stakeholders, including program areas who might take the ‘policy lead’ for drafting briefings or responses and supporting departmental officials appearing at hearings, the Legal Division, the Department of Premier and Cabinet, committee and commission secretariats.
For general information and advice about participating in parliamentary inquiries or royal commissions, contact Director, Executive and Ministerial Services Branch, Assurance, Knowledge and Executive Services Division via parliament.education@education.vic.gov.au
Current parliamentary inquiries and royal commissions
For information about current parliamentary inquiries and royal commissions relating to the Department of Education, contact parliament.education@education.vic.gov.au
Related policies
- Code of Conduct
- Privacy and Information Sharing
- Requests for Information about Students
- Schools' privacy
Relevant legislation
Reviewed 14 April 2025