Australian Politics and Policy - Senior, 2019a

Australian Politics and Policy
often undertaken by groups without ‘insider’ knowledge or contacts, whether from
lack of resources or exclusion from consultation. 41
A group or movement’s choice of strategies depends largely on its resources,
butalsoonthepoliticalsystemanditsconventions,andonthegoal. 42 A lack of
power does not preclude successful lobbying by less-resourced pressure groups,
particularly where a pressure group boasts experience and evidence to persuade
policy makers of an argument. As a result, such pressure groups may become more
formally involved in the policy system. 43
Excluding electoral tactics, focusing a lobbying effort on an individual politician
canbeeffective. 44 It prevents some difficulties encountered when lobbying parliamentary
groups, where party discipline dominates responses. Although contact with
a member of parliament is usually referred to the relevant minister or at times to
Cabinet, it can also become a ‘fast track’ to raising the issue in a policy area. 45 Of
course, lobbying also involves garnering support from others, including the media. 46
Participation and involvement within policy-making institutions
Placing an issue on the policy agenda, lobbying and developing policy is a timeconsuming
process of ‘continuous contestation’. It often involves participation from
a number of pressure groups to reach policy decisions. 47 Negotiation is important
in policy making, as is ongoing interaction within the policy cycle. 48 Ideally, the
policy process engages local communities and an array of voluntary groups, but for
decades governments have preferred to deal with one ‘umbrella’ group, rather than
a number of smaller organisations. 49
Although some political lobbying is secretive, 50 most pressure group attempts to
intervene in the polity are part of broad public consultation on the public record.
Pressure groups are useful to governments, offering representation, lending authority,
and providing knowledge – often gathered through close involvement with the subject
at hand. 51 This can assist policy bureaucrats to gather invaluable information and
arguments about a particular policy before a decision is made, and is useful for
policy specialists providing briefing or advice. 52 Governments use this expertise and
the advice of pressure groups in policy development, 53 so engagement yields mutual
41 Vromen, Gelber and Gauja 2009, 244–5.
42 Rozell and Wilcox 1999, 2–3.
43 Vromen, Gelber and Gauja 2009, 236–7.
44 Barnett 2010, 47.
45 Matthews 1980, 467.
46 Barnett 2010, 73.
47 Vromen, Gelber and Gauja 2009, 322, 344.
48 Colebatch 2002.
49 Giddens 1998, 75–6; Matthews 1980, 458.
50 Warhurst 2007a, 9.
51 Warhurst 1986a, 311.
52 Barnett 2010, 17; OECD 2008, 8.
53 Warhurst 1986a, 313.
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