12. Policy analysis

Snapshot: Australia’s policy climate change—ratifying the Kyoto protocol
What is public policy?—Policy analysis—Contemporary policy issues

1. Who is involved in the policy process? What are some of the factors that determine the relative influence of policy actors?

2. How big a role can community groups, lobby groups, institutions and the media play in generating public policy? Think of some examples.

3. Discuss the case study of the Kyoto Protocol ratification. What are the reasons for the new government policy?

4. The authors outline the concept of policy processes as rational or interactional. What do you think? Do you agree with the authors that it is more helpful to think in terms of ‘structured interaction’? Why?

5. What are some of the major contemporary policy issues as outlined by the authors?

6. Pick one of these issues and discuss the policy process—what are the major factors influencing policy on this issue? Who is involved in the policy-making process?

7. How does the delegation of responsibility for policy-formulation affect the evaluation of policy and accountability?

Resources

Law Society Submission on Ratification of Kyoto Protocol

Federal ALP Government Kyoto Protocol Policy Announcement

2004 Federal Election Snapshot