11 and  tested  proposals  with  interest  groups  and  affected  parties.²¹    All  these  factors produce a document that political decisions makers can accept as community tested, before implementation of the reform proposals. Law  Reform  Commissions  use  a  number  of  methods  to  ensure  that  the  public  are aware of law reform references and have an opportunity to participate in the decision making process.  These include public consultations, the media (television, print and radio) and websites.  The extent to which such tools are used varies, depending on the nature  of  the  reference  and  budget  and  staff  constraints.    There  will  be  some references  in  which  particular  interest  groups  may  be  easily  identifiable,  or  where only certain very specific organisations will be interested and affected.  In contrast, there are also references in which the public is extremely interested. I  shall  use  specific  examples  from  the  experience  of  the  Queensland  Law  Reform Commission (the “QLRC”) to illustrate the various means by which law reform can be made accessible to the public.  I do so because it is the Commission of which I am a member and so it is its work I know best.  However, I do not do so with any sense of complacency, or make any claim that our procedures are necessarily ‘best practice’.   However, it is only by examining what we do that we can suggest how it can be done better. 3.1 Initial Consultation The QLRC undertakes a two step consultation process.  The first step is to publicise references  and  begin  the  research  process.    Occasionally,  even  at  this  preliminary stage,  the  QLRC  will  make  a  public  call  for  submissions  to  assist  it  in  the identification  of  relevant  issues  for  consideration.²²    After  the  production  of  a discussion paper, the QLRC again participates in consultation, this time by doing two things:  making  a  public  call  for  submissions  and  conducting  consultation  meetings, often  with  specifically  targeted  groups  or  individuals.    The  procedures  are  flexible, depending on the nature of the reference.                                                 21   Kirby Michael “The ALRC: A Winning Formula” (2003) 82Reform   58 at 60. 22   Queensland  Law  Reform  Commission  The  Receipt  of  Evidence  by  Queensland  Courts:  The Evidence of Children Discussion Paper No. 53 (1998) at 2.