What is Draft Legislation and what happens to it when a Government Changes?

Draft Legislation is a way of releasing a bill or regulation in a format available for public comment before it is formally introduced into the Parliamentary and Legislative processes.

While it has no legal force, Draft Legislation may be indicative of the areas of law covered and the legislation proposed to be amended by a particular bill or regulation when it is formally introduced. Draft Legislation, sometimes called Exposure Drafts, can also be useful extrinsic materials for referencing the purpose of legislation.

As Draft Legislation has no legal force and is attached to the Ministry and Minister who proposes its introduction, when a government changes, a ministry changes or the Minister's priorities change, the introduction of the Draft Legislation may be delayed, or may be permanently removed from the Ministerial priorities.

Some pieces of Draft Legislation may remain so indefinitely.