Ten Expert policy advisory bodies
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Jenny Stewart
Abstract
This chapter offers an overview of government established and supported expert policy advisory bodies at the federal level in Australia from the 1970s to 2010. It considers firstly, why were these specialised bodies established outside the formal permanent bureaucracy? Secondly, what has given these bodies their ‘expertness’? Thirdly, what processes have they employed and how have these processes contributed both to perceptions of their expertness and their value in policy development? Fourthly, what has been their impact on policy; has it gone beyond the specific issues on which they have provided advice and affected the wider debate and agenda? Last, what do the operations and perceived success or failure of these bodies tell us about the nature of policy development in Australia and the role of expertise?
Abstract
This chapter offers an overview of government established and supported expert policy advisory bodies at the federal level in Australia from the 1970s to 2010. It considers firstly, why were these specialised bodies established outside the formal permanent bureaucracy? Secondly, what has given these bodies their ‘expertness’? Thirdly, what processes have they employed and how have these processes contributed both to perceptions of their expertness and their value in policy development? Fourthly, what has been their impact on policy; has it gone beyond the specific issues on which they have provided advice and affected the wider debate and agenda? Last, what do the operations and perceived success or failure of these bodies tell us about the nature of policy development in Australia and the role of expertise?
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
