Write a briefing note on whether QLD should raise the drinking age back to 21.
Some background: Laws concerning legal drinking age are state-based in Australia. The details of what is permitted by each State or Territory’s laws vary; however, since 1974 all Australian states and territories have a drinking age of 18. In some cases this has been reduced from 21. In Queensland it is the Age of Majority Act (1974) that lowered the age of majority from 21 to 18 across the board, in combination with the Liquor Act (1992) that regulates the purchase and sale of alcohol, that together mean the drinking age in QLD is 18.
To complete this assessment you will have to do some independent research to support your briefing note recommendation. While you’ll need to look further, and for stronger references than just news articles/opinion, here are two pieces that might serve to get you thinking about the issues involved:
The Canberra Times with a piece on the drinking age in the Australian context: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/lift-the-drinking-age-says-expert-20140512-zrabc.html
And as a comparison, a ‘debate’ forum at the New York Times about lowering the drinking age in the US from 21 to 18:
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2015/02/10/you-must-be-21-to-drink
Purpose/Learning Objectives:
The purpose of the Briefing Note is to build your skills in writing in the format of public service documentation and evaluating and succinctly stating informed positions in relation to a real world policy issue.
This assessment relates to Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4:
1. describe the policy cycle and prepare policy documents with a social justice orientation (Discipline Knowledge; Communication and Collaboration)
2. explain and analyse issues that relate to the development of policy in the Australian and Queensland governments (Discipline Knowledge; Professional Ethics; Critical Thinking and Basic Research Skills)
3. compare and contrast alternatives to establish whether they are effective or even valid policy options (Critical Thinking and Basic Research Skills; Problem Solving)
4. present logical arguments in the format of public service documentation using written communication skills, time management and independent working skills (Communication and Collaboration).
Task:
For this assessment you are required to write a briefing note in the format described below. The topic of the assessment will be announced in the lecture and posted on Blackboard.
The first two pages, the ‘body’, should engage the topic in the format of a briefing note. The third page is to be used as an appendix to describe in more detail the pros and cons of the option that you recommended in your briefing note. [see ‘layout/structure’ below]
Students should take note of the marking criteria for this assessment, as it is very specific to the style and form of the Briefing Note as well as the content.
Academic Sources:
You are required to reference throughout the briefing note. These should be used to validate facts, provide evidence of ‘best practice’ elsewhere, and support your discussion in your appendix. You should attach a 4th page with the references-cited list.
You can use course readings or other useful sources to support your argument. There is no limit on the number of sources you may include in this assessment but all sources must be correctly cited in text and a correctly formatted reference list must be provided using Harvard style.
Layout/structure:
Format
[see file “Format of a Briefing Note”, under ‘Assessment’ on Blackboard, to use as a template for your assessment]
[what should be included on pages 1 and 2]:
TO: PREMIER
FROM: (YOUR NAME)
SUBJECT: 3-10 words outlining the issue
PURPOSE
1. To inform you of issues arising from
2. To obtain an indication from you of which of the following options, if any, you wish to proceed upon.
BACKGROUND
This should be about 1/3 of your briefing note.
It should include all facts that are relevant to the Premier making a decision:
? What brought about the writing of this briefing note, e.g. a request from the Premier;
? The factual background to the issue;
? What are the current laws;
? What is happening in other jurisdictions;
? Who the stakeholders are and a brief statement of their opinion.
Do not analyse the issue or answer the question in this section.
ISSUES
This section should be about 2/3 of your paper. This is also the section in which you must meet the requirements of critical analysis.
Start with one paragraph stating:
? What the issue is; and
? Why is it an issue?
In an assessment item you should stick to one issue. If you attempt to cover two issues you will severely limit your ability to provide sufficient information to meet the other selection criteria.
Having identified your issue, next you need to present options to resolve it. The easiest and best method of determining options is the following:
Option 1: do nothing new, that is, continue with the status quo
Under each of these headings present both sides of the argument in favour and against proceeding with that option. To keep the briefing note brief, the argument presented here should be a summary (1-2 paragraphs) of the detailed argument which is presented as an appendix (1 page appendix per option).
Do not try to be too clever. Make sure your suggestions resolve the issue you have raised.
Option 2: address the issue in full, that is, try and solve all aspects of the issue
Option 3: present a compromise between doing nothing and everything
End this section with a lengthy paragraph explaining which of the above options you prefer and why. Make sure you include the reasons why the other options are not as good.
RECOMMENDATION
This section is very short. It is simply a restatement of the option titles and the recommendation.
That you note the above information and please indication which, if any, of the following options you prefer:
Option 1:
Option 2:
Option 3:
Recommendation: Option <>
(your name)
Policy Officer
[what should be included on page 3]:
APPENDIX
Begin with a short paragraph outlining, in detail, the option you have chosen to recommend.
The second paragraph should provide the pros and cons of the option. Describe them only, do not analyse them here. These are pros and cons of this Option only (do not compare this Option to the two you have not chosen above (you have done this already)).
Write a paragraph or two analysing the pros and cons. As this is the option that you have recommended above, explain how the pros outweigh the cons.
Finish with a very brief statement succinctly summarising why this option is recommended.
Reference List
Your reference list should be in Harvard format, be single spaced and listed alphabetically. Do NOT divide into type of source (i.e books, journal articles, web sources). Your reference list should be titled as such and be tidily presented. The reference list is not included in the word count.
[FORMAT OF A BRIEFING NOTE]
TO: PREMIER
FROM: (YOUR NAME)
SUBJECT: 3-10 words outlining the issue
PURPOSE
1. To inform you of issues arising from
2. To obtain an indication from you of which of the following options, if any, you wish to proceed upon.
BACKGROUND
This should be about 1/3 of your briefing note.
It should include all facts that are relevant to the Premier making a decision:
? What brought about the writing of this briefing note, e.g. a request from the Premier;
? The factual background to the issue;
? What are the current laws;
? What is happening in other jurisdictions;
? Who the stakeholders are and a brief statement of their opinion.
Do not analyse the issue or answer the question in this section.
ISSUE
This section should be about 2/3 of your paper. This is also the section in which you must meet the requirements of critical analysis.
Start with one paragraph stating:
? What the issue is; and
? Why is it an issue?
You should stick to one issue. If you attempt to cover two issues you will severely limit your ability to provide sufficient information to meet the other selection criteria.
Having identified your issue, next you need to present options to resolve it. The easiest and best method of determining options is the following:
Option 1: do nothing new, that is, continue with the status quo
Under each of these headings present both sides of the argument in favour and against proceeding with that option. To keep the briefing note brief, the argument presented here should be a summary (1-2 paragraphs).
Do not try to be too clever. Make sure your suggestions resolve the issue you have raised.
Option 2: address the issue in full, that is, try and solve all aspects of the issue
Option 3: present a compromise between doing nothing and everything
End this section with a lengthy paragraph explaining which of the above options you prefer and why. Make sure you include the reasons why the other options are not as good.
RECOMMENDATION
This section is very short. It is simply a restatement of the option titles and the recommendation.
That you note the above information and please indication which, if any, of the following options you prefer:
Option 1:
Option 2:
Option 3:
Recommendation: Option <>
(your name)
Policy Officer
APPENDIX 1
Begin with a short paragraph outlining the recommended option in detail.
The second paragraph should provide the pros and cons of the option. Describe them only, do not analyse them here. These are pros and cons of this Option only (do not compare this Option to the two you have not chosen above (you have done this already)).
Write a paragraph or two analysing the pros and cons. As this is the option that you have recommended above, explain how the pros outweigh the cons.
Finish with a very brief statement succinctly summarising why this option is recommended.
REFERENCE LIST
You need to reference throughout your briefing note. Referencing in text should follow the Harvard format. In the reference list you will include here you should include all sources you reference in the text; it should be single spaced and listed alphabetically. This should also conform to the Harvard format. Your reference list does not count towards your word limit.
BACKGROUND SECTION
Criteria Marks Score
Background must contain an accurate coverage of the policy doctrine issues that can include:
• Current law
• Existing government policy and/or statements
• Stakeholders
• Resource implications
• Activity in other jurisdictions
• World’s best practice if relevant 10
ISSUES SECTION
Criteria Marks Score
Clear identification of and discussion of implications of one issue 2
Three distinct options logically address issue clearly and comprehensively (2 marks each option) 6
Clear paragraph making a recommendation and explaining why other Options are inadequate 3
Recommendation matches options and resolves the issue 1
TOTAL 12
APPENDIX FOR RECOMMENDED OPTION
Criteria Marks Score
Demonstrate accurate and thorough knowledge of the issues in this option. 3
Discuss and analyse both pros and cons of this Option 8
Convincing argument for why this Option is recommended considering the pros and cons discussed 3
Succinct, clear statement of why this Option is supported 1
TOTAL 15
The 1000 word word-limit should be used as a guide. Some of you will find it suffices, while some will find they are exceeding it within the template. It is more important that you follow the 3 page template requirement. You should be writing absolutely no more than two (2) pages in your body and no more than one (1) page for your appendix. If you look at the CRA you will notice there are several criteria points for following the template and formatting of the briefing note. There is no penalty for going over the word limit. You will be penalised if you are over the 3 pages, but not the 1000 words.
Your appendix does count into the three page overall limit. Your references should be on a fourth page which does not count to the page total.