The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet has put out a guide to help those responsible for implementing its new policies.

The Guide to Implementation Planning (PDF) lays guidelines for bringing in new policies, encouraging Departments and Agencies to think about changes as an opportunity to improve services.

“Implementation plans are essential to provide assurance to the Cabinet that the policy, program or service is delivered on time, on budget and to expectations,” the guide reads.

It describes an implementation plan as a way to map out the risks and challenges of installing any new piece of policy.

With significant changes expected in the politico-legal landscape over coming years, the 30-page document aims to explain best practice for installing reform.

The PM’s Department says that there is no single format for such plans, but the Cabinet Implementation Unit (CIU) says its toolkit lays out seven guiding principles; planning, governance, engaging stakeholders, managing risk, monitoring and evaluation, resources management, and management strategy.

The guidelines warn of risks around certain new policies.

It says proposals can be made particularly sensitive by a number of conditions including; having several conflicting stakeholders(e.g. unions vs. business interests), requiring urgent implementation (fast-tracking or emergency measures), involving new or complex delivery systems, or had being developed over only a short period.

The Cabinet says any new policy proposal that had a Risk Potential Assessment Tool pre-mitigation rating of medium or higher does require an implementation plan, which is often a separate attachment to the submission or new policy proposal.

The Cabinet Implementation Unit (CIU) says should it find that a new policy proposal or submission contains “significant implementation challenges” but does not include an implementation plan, it would not be considered.