Two Policy professionals in context: advisors and ministers
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Patrick Weller
Abstract
This chapter argues that to understand the role of the policy professionals in government today, the best strategy is to contrast their role forty or more years ago with what it is now. It contrasts the Australian policy advisory system in 1972, when the Whitlam Labor government came to power, with the system in 2013, when the Abbott Coalition government came to power. It finds that the system today is entirely changed.It is more professional, more apolitical, and more equitable, but senior officials are less secure and more exposed in their jobs, which have become more complex in a more complex environment. The comparatively closed environment of the 1970s has burst open with more advisers and greater connections with the policy world outside.
Abstract
This chapter argues that to understand the role of the policy professionals in government today, the best strategy is to contrast their role forty or more years ago with what it is now. It contrasts the Australian policy advisory system in 1972, when the Whitlam Labor government came to power, with the system in 2013, when the Abbott Coalition government came to power. It finds that the system today is entirely changed.It is more professional, more apolitical, and more equitable, but senior officials are less secure and more exposed in their jobs, which have become more complex in a more complex environment. The comparatively closed environment of the 1970s has burst open with more advisers and greater connections with the policy world outside.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Contents v
- List of tables and figures vii
- List of abbreviations viii
- Australian states and territories; Australian governments from 1972; and map of Australian states and territories xi
- Notes on contributors xiii
- Editors’ introduction to the series xvii
- Foreword xix
- Preface xxiv
- Policy analysis in Australia: context, themes and challenges 1
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The ‘policy advising’ context
- Policy professionals in context: advisors and ministers 23
- The economic context of policy analysis in Australia 37
- Policy analysis and public sector capacity 53
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Analysis and advice within government
- Policy analysis at the federal government level 71
- Policy and policy analysis in Australian states 87
- Policy analysis capacity and Australian local government 105
- Reflections on policy advice in Australia 121
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Policy analysis beyond executive government
- Parliamentary committees and inquiries 137
- Expert policy advisory bodies 151
- Consultants, think tanks and public policy 167
- Media influence on public policy 183
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Parties and interest groups in policy analysis
- Policy development in political parties 201
- Business associations and policy analysis 217
- Policy and the labour movement 231
- Policy capacity in the community sector 245
-
Policy analysis instruction and research
- Policy analysis instruction in Australia 261
- Academic research and public policy 283
- Index 303
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Contents v
- List of tables and figures vii
- List of abbreviations viii
- Australian states and territories; Australian governments from 1972; and map of Australian states and territories xi
- Notes on contributors xiii
- Editors’ introduction to the series xvii
- Foreword xix
- Preface xxiv
- Policy analysis in Australia: context, themes and challenges 1
-
The ‘policy advising’ context
- Policy professionals in context: advisors and ministers 23
- The economic context of policy analysis in Australia 37
- Policy analysis and public sector capacity 53
-
Analysis and advice within government
- Policy analysis at the federal government level 71
- Policy and policy analysis in Australian states 87
- Policy analysis capacity and Australian local government 105
- Reflections on policy advice in Australia 121
-
Policy analysis beyond executive government
- Parliamentary committees and inquiries 137
- Expert policy advisory bodies 151
- Consultants, think tanks and public policy 167
- Media influence on public policy 183
-
Parties and interest groups in policy analysis
- Policy development in political parties 201
- Business associations and policy analysis 217
- Policy and the labour movement 231
- Policy capacity in the community sector 245
-
Policy analysis instruction and research
- Policy analysis instruction in Australia 261
- Academic research and public policy 283
- Index 303
