Public inquiry

A public inquiry, also known as a tribunal of inquiry, government inquiry, or simply inquiry, is an official review of events or actions ordered by a government body, often by a parliamentary inquiry committee. In many common law countries, such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and Canada, this type of inquiry differs from a royal commission primarily in its public nature: it accepts evidence and conducts hearings in a more open forum, focusing on a specific occurrence rather than broad policy. Interested members of the public and organisations may submit written evidence, and they can also listen to oral testimony given by other parties.

General description

Typical events that trigger a public inquiry are those causing multiple deaths, such as public transport crashes or mass murders. Advocacy groups and opposition parties frequently request inquiries on various issues, but governments typically grant only a fraction of these requests. The decision to appoint an inquiry depends on several factors: the extent of media coverage (events with more media interest are more likely to be investigated), the involvement of government ministers (allegations of ministerial blame reduce the likelihood of an inquiry), and the cost and duration of the process, which are generally higher due to its public nature.

When a government refuses an inquiry, it usually cites one of these grounds. The inquiry’s conclusions are delivered as a written report, first to the government and soon made public. Reports typically recommend improvements to government or public management. However, a study found that such reports are not effective in changing public opinion about the event, nor do they reduce media attention.

South Africa

Public trust in a report tends to be high only when it is critical of the government, while reports that find no government fault often lose credibility. In France, major projects requiring compulsory acquisition of private property must undergo a public inquiry, usually led by the regional prefect, before receiving a formal declaration of public utility. In South Africa, several historically important public inquiries have been held since 1994, examining events such as systematic human rights abuses during apartheid or widespread corruption.