ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Public consultation

Public consultation is when important decisions are made by people in charge, like politicians or city leaders, and they ask normal people like you and me for our opinion about it. They want to hear from us because they want to make sure they're making the best decisions for everyone involved.

When there's a big decision to be made, like building a new park or changing a law, the people in charge will often hold a public consultation to get feedback from the community. They might hold meetings where anyone can come and share their thoughts, or they might ask people to fill out a survey online or in person.

During the consultation, it's important for everyone to share their honest opinions so that the people in charge can get a good idea of what the community as a whole wants. They might listen to the concerns of people who live near the proposed park or to the thoughts of people who use the city's public transportation system every day. All of this feedback helps them make a decision that is best for everyone involved.

So, public consultation is basically when big people ask little people what they think about important decisions so they can make sure they're making the right choices. It's a way to hear from everyone and make sure that everyone's voice is being heard.