NZ a step closer to making plain language law
The New Zealand Government is looking to pass legislation that will make it a legal requirement to use plain language for official documents and websites. It’s time we did the same in Australia.
In an earlier Red Pony Express article, we noted that similar legislation has existed in the US since 2010. Public submissions for the New Zealand legislation closed at the end of March 2022, and a committee will now consider this material and provide a report in August.
What is plain language?
As a quick refresher, plain language (also sometimes referred to as ‘plain English’) is communication that is written in the simplest way possible without compromising the meaning.
The plainlanguage.gov website says something is written in plain language if the audience can:
find what they need
understand what they find the first time they read or hear it
use what they find to meet their needs.
Why is this important?
The stated purpose of the US’s Plain Language Act is to ‘enhance citizen access to Government information and services by establishing that Government documents issued to the public must be written clearly.’ The term ‘citizen access’ is particularly important.
To fully participate in society, you must have access to the information necessary to do so – whether this is to get the healthcare you need, the payments you are entitled to or to be able to vote for the people you want to run things. These all require a person being able to read and understand the information being provided to them by their government.
Another reason is time. Things are quicker and easier to understand when they are written in plain language. People make fewer mistakes filling out forms, and they can comply with requests more easily. That saves the government money and shows respect for the people it exists to serve.
Where is the Australian version?
To date, there is no Australian bill equivalent to what is being proposed in New Zealand. The release of the updated Australian Government Style manual in 2020 was a step in the right direction, with its inclusion of content on literacy and access, but this is still well short of making the use of plain language a mandatory, legal requirement for anyone producing content for government.
If we, as a country, truly care about the concept of ‘citizen access’, then perhaps we should consider passing our own plain language legislation.
