Policy Lecture

7/28/2019 Policy Lecture

1/23

OK lets move on to what is

policy


2/23

Oxford Dictionary Definition of

policy

Political Sagacity (mentally penetrating)

Prudent conduct

Craftiness

Course of action followed by agovernment


3/23

Not just governments that

have policy

ANU has many including a policy onpolicies! Seehttp://info.anu.edu.au/policies/Policies/Governance/Other/Policy_on_Policies.asp
http://info.anu.edu.au/policies/Policies/Governance/Other/Policy_on_Policies.asphttp://info.anu.edu.au/policies/Policies/Governance/Other/Policy_on_Policies.asphttp://info.anu.edu.au/policies/Policies/Governance/Other/Policy_on_Policies.asphttp://info.anu.edu.au/policies/Policies/Governance/Other/Policy_on_Policies.asp


4/23

Policy, bureaucrats,

politicians and you

Another definition of policy

Australian political system

Policy and the public

Policy and politicians Policy and bureaucrats


5/23

An un-named public servants

definition

Policy is a flimsy raft drifting in apolitical and administrative current


6/23

Implications of this definition

It does not matter how good your idea is it will

sink without a trace if it is launched at the wrong

time in the wrong current the converse is true unfortunately as well - some

pretty stupid poorly thought ideas have become

policy as a result of them being launched at theright time


7/23

Some definitions from Davis et al1993, Public

policy in Australia,

Allen & Unwin, Sydney

Public policy is the interaction of values, interests and

resources, guided through institutions and mediated bypolitics. Page 15

Policy and politics are not easily separated, since each

informs the other. But neither should policy simply bereduced to consideration of the politics of the moment.Page 16
http://library.anu.edu.au/search/rGEOG3028/rgeog3028/1,1,1,E/frameset~2263237&FF=rgeog3028&1,1,http://library.anu.edu.au/search/rGEOG3028/rgeog3028/1,1,1,E/frameset~2263237&FF=rgeog3028&1,1,http://library.anu.edu.au/search/rGEOG3028/rgeog3028/1,1,1,E/frameset~2263237&FF=rgeog3028&1,1,http://library.anu.edu.au/search/rGEOG3028/rgeog3028/1,1,1,E/frameset~2263237&FF=rgeog3028&1,1,http://library.anu.edu.au/search/rGEOG3028/rgeog3028/1,1,1,E/frameset~2263237&FF=rgeog3028&1,1,http://library.anu.edu.au/search/rGEOG3028/rgeog3028/1,1,1,E/frameset~2263237&FF=rgeog3028&1,1,http://library.anu.edu.au/search/rGEOG3028/rgeog3028/1,1,1,E/frameset~2263237&FF=rgeog3028&1,1,http://library.anu.edu.au/search/rGEOG3028/rgeog3028/1,1,1,E/frameset~2263237&FF=rgeog3028&1,1,http://library.anu.edu.au/search/rGEOG3028/rgeog3028/1,1,1,E/frameset~2263237&FF=rgeog3028&1,1,http://library.anu.edu.au/search/rGEOG3028/rgeog3028/1,1,1,E/frameset~2263237&FF=rgeog3028&1,1,http://library.anu.edu.au/search/rGEOG3028/rgeog3028/1,1,1,E/frameset~2263237&FF=rgeog3028&1,1,http://library.anu.edu.au/search/rGEOG3028/rgeog3028/1,1,1,E/frameset~2263237&FF=rgeog3028&1,1,http://library.anu.edu.au/search/rGEOG3028/rgeog3028/1,1,1,E/frameset~2263237&FF=rgeog3028&1,1,http://library.anu.edu.au/search/rGEOG3028/rgeog3028/1,1,1,E/frameset~2263237&FF=rgeog3028&1,1,http://library.anu.edu.au/search/rGEOG3028/rgeog3028/1,1,1,E/frameset~2263237&FF=rgeog3028&1,1,http://library.anu.edu.au/search/rGEOG3028/rgeog3028/1,1,1,E/frameset~2263237&FF=rgeog3028&1,1,http://library.anu.edu.au/search/rGEOG3028/rgeog3028/1,1,1,E/frameset~2263237&FF=rgeog3028&1,1,


8/23

Politics is the essential ingredient for producing

workable policies, which are more publiclyaccountable and politically justifiable . . . While

some are uncomfortable with the notion that

politics can enhance rational decision-making,

preferring to see politics as expediency, it isintegral to the processes of deciding defensible

outcomes. We are unable to combine values,

interests and resources in ways which are notpolitical.


9/23

Policy is many things

a goal -- what you're trying to achieve

official strategy to achieve something

legal framework to manage a resource

conscious use of resources to achieve the goal

statements/guidelines to follow a goal structure by which you can work (can be for

individuals, government or NGOs)


10/23

Policy learning

Policy-making is a process of successive

approximation to some desired objective in which whatis desired itself continues to change under

reconsideration.

Charles Lindblom 1959:86 The science of muddling

through, Public administration review, 19, 2: 79 -- 88


11/23

Two crucial issues in making policy

work

important to know what you're trying to achieve

democracy and social capital are important to

policy process -- policies tend not to work if a

dictator just decides what needs to be done


12/23

Policy can be ambiguous

A parliamentary bill states policy that may not

passed Parliament

a White Paper states government policy intentionsbut these may not be realised

a ministerial statement might be policy, or might

just be one view on the way to the Govt forming a

position


13/23

Policy can be ambiguous (cont)

election platforms describe the political party'sintentions, but do they state the policy of the resultinggovernment?

Is it 'policy' when departmental activities proceedwithout explicit statement of intent, continuing fromgovernment to government, never exciting publicinterest or political scrutiny?


14/23

Policy, bureaucrats, politicians and you

What is policy

Australian political system Policy and the public

Policy and politicians

Policy and bureaucrats


15/23

Policy development is an interactive

and iterative process between

the public

(but more commonly) special interest groupsrepresenting elements of the public

industry lobby groups

bureaucrats

politicians (remembering that in Aust we have politiciansin three different spheres of Govt, 650 local Govts, 8state and territory governments and the federal one


16/23

Agenda setting is an important part of

influencing the policy process outside initiative model - community groups gain broad public support and get

an issue onto the formal agenda

issues are the initiative of government which places them on the public

agenda in order to successfully implement them

inside-access model where policy proposals come from so called policy

communities with easy access to government with support from particular

interest groups but little public involvement nor often support

R. Cobb et al 1976 Agenda building as a comparative political process

American Political Science Review70: 126-138.


17/23

Policy and politicians

My experience in government is that when things

are non-controversial and beautifully

coordinated, there's not much going on John F. Kennedy

Politics is not the art of the possible. It consists

in choosing between the disastrous and theunpalatable.

John Kenneth Galbraith


18/23

I am extraordinarily patient, providing I get my own wayin the end.

Policy is the means by which the lives of individuals,families and communities are shaped. It is the meansby which we reshape the character and future of thenation. It is the purpose of political life, the onlyworthwhile measure of political success, and by far themost significant measure of the worth of politicians and

political parties.


19/23

I am extraordinarily patient, providing I get my own wayin the end. Margaret Thatcher PM of UK 1979-1990

Policy is the means by which the lives of individuals,families and communities are shaped. It is the meansby which we reshape the character and future of thenation. It is the purpose of political life, the onlyworthwhile measure of political success, and by far themost significant measure of the worth of politicians and

political parties. Paul Keating PM of Australia 20 Dec1991 to 11 March 1996


20/23

Policy and bureaucrats

A cynical public servants viewpoint.

There are only three types of policy

Policies developed

before,

during or

after the event that they are trying to influence


21/23

What is the role of Governmentdepartments in policy?


22/23

The role of Governmentdepartments in policy

to formalise the proposal into policy documents

to turn the proposal into legislation and

to implement the proposal


23/23

How is policy put in place

Policy through advocacy

Policy though money Policy through government action

Policy through law

Documents

Policy Lecture