Policy Press

Australian Public Policy

Progressive Ideas in the Neoliberal Ascendency

Edited by Chris Miller and Lionel Orchard

Published

Feb 17, 2016

Page count

392 pages

ISBN

978-1447312680

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Aug 21, 2014

Page count

392 pages

ISBN

978-1447312673

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Feb 17, 2016

Page count

392 pages

ISBN

978-1447321101

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Feb 17, 2016

Page count

392 pages

ISBN

978-1447321118

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press
Australian Public Policy

At a time when neoliberal and conservative politics are again in the ascendency and social democracy is waning, Australian public policy re-engages with the values and goals of progressive public policy in Australia and the difficulties faced in re-affirming them. It brings together leading authors to explore economic, environmental, social, cultural, political and indigenous issues. It examines trends and current policy directions and outlines progressive alternatives that challenge and extend current thinking. While focused on Australia, the contributors offer valuable insights for people in other countries committed to social justice and those engaged in the ongoing contest between neo-liberalism and social democracy. This is essential reading for policy practitioners, researchers and students as well those with an interest in the future of public policy.

Chris Miller was Professor of Social Work in the School of Social and Policy Studies, Flinders University, Adelaide. He has researched and written extensively on social policy and community development, most recently on water reform in the Murray-Darling Basin.

Lionel Orchard is Associate Professor of Public Policy in the School of Social and Policy Studies at Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia. He teaches and writes on issues in political theory, public policy and housing policy.

Part 1 -Setting the Scene;

Toward a new progressive policy agenda ~ Chris Miller and Lionel Orchard;

Neoliberalism, the culture wars and public policy ~ Mark Davis;

Part 2 - Economics and Work;

Macroeconomic policy after the Global Financial Crisis ~ John Quiggin;

Putting together work and care in Australia: time for a new settlement?’ ~ Barbara Pocock, Janine Chapman and Natalie Skinner;

Welfare Reform ~ Ben Spies-Butcher;

“Choice” and “fairness”: The hollow core in industrial relations policy ~ John Buchanan and Damian Oliver;

Part 3 - Culture and Society;

Indigenous policy: Canberra consensus on a neoliberal project of improvement ~ Jon Altman;

Culture and Diversity ~ George Crowder;

The business of care: Australia’s experiment with the marketization of childcare ~ Deborah Brennan;

Mixed messages in the new politics of education ~ Louise Watson and Charlotte Liu;

The accidental logic of health policy in Australia ~ Fran Baum and Judith Dwyer;

Loose Moorings: Debate and directions in Australian housing policy ~ Lionel Orchard;

Part 4 - Environment, Population and Cities;

Population Policy ~ Ian Lowe;

Australian Cities: In pursuit of a national urban policy ~ Paul Burton and Jago Dodson;

Natural resource management: Steering not rowing against the current in the Murray-Darling Basin ~ Daniel Connell;

International Perspectives: Low carbon urban Australia in a time of transition ~ Ralph Horne and Colin Fudge;

Part 5 - Politics and Government;

Politics and Government ~ James Walter and Zareh Ghazarian;

Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations ~ Robyn Hollander;

Citizen engagement in Australian policy-making ~ Chris Miller;

On Escaping Neo-Liberalism: Concluding Reflections ~ Chris Miller and Lionel Orchard.