Policy Development Process

Policy Development Committee Process
The PDC utilises the following policy development process. Conception Any member of the party may propose a policy idea by contacting a PDC member, sending an email to policydev@pirateparty.org.au, or by posting to the #PPAU-PDC IRC channel. All ideas, including those proposed by PDC members, are recorded in a Pad by the Policy Development Officer (PDO) as a document for reference.

Development Any member of the PDC may propose a motion to form a working group to develop or research any idea. This motion must include a deadline and name a chair for the working group. The designated working group chair will oversee development of the policy, and will have responsibility to: Policy documents should include an initial explanatory text with full citations explaining the need and purpose of the policy. The policy text itself should follow and maintain a factual and structured dot point form. The PDO will provide regular updates and invitations to party members to participate in the development process.
 * Arrange meeting times and chair meetings
 * Disseminate information on meeting times through the wiki, the PDC Calendar, or other methods as appropriate, and invite participation from members
 * Respond to any expressions of interest from any party member seeking to join the working group or provide assistance
 * Collaborate with working group members to develop MAUT tables and policy text
 * Present policy to a full PDC meeting in line with agreed deadlines

Approval Upon presentation of a policy proposal, the PDC will vote by motion to modify, approve, or reject the policy as presented.

Feedback Committee chairs will be responsible for placing approved policies on the PDC wiki page for feedback. All external and internal feedback received in relation to policy drafts will be be considered at the March 20 PDC meeting, and any policy may be revised subject to a motion.

Changes to the platform In cases where approved policies are not covered under the existing platform, the PDO will be required to draft modifications to the platform. These modifications should be limited to what is directly required to cover approved policy text, and should be drafted in consultation with relevant working groups and the originator of the policy idea. The PDC will vote by motion to change or approve modifications to the platform at its March 20 meeting.

Presentation Once feedback has been incorporated, policy documents and related platform amendments will be presented to the Congress.