In April this year, the legal firm Norton Rose Australia undertook a survey to identify trends in dispute resolution among federal government agencies. The survey examined:

• The use of alternative dispute resolution (or ADR) procedures in agencies.
• The effects of technology on dispute resolution processes.
• How agencies presently respond to disputes.

The survey included responses from large agencies covering a broad range of industries, and personnel in legal departments. Its results, alongside the recently introduced pre-litigation requirements, highlight that ADR techniques will play a greater role in either settling or narrowing disputes before resorting to litigation.

How do agencies use ADR?

The federal Attorney-General recently launched Your Guide to Dispute Resolution, a user guide on ADR techniques to raise awareness about the variety of dispute resolution processes available.

Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/rules-have-...