Australian Politics and Policy - Senior, 2019a

Australian Politics and Policy
Australia could fall easily into these two categories; the categories may also
overlap. 83
Sectional groups
Sectional interest groups represent significant sections of the community and the
economy, and are usually integrated into party politics and government. Some are
frequentlyinvolvedinpolicydevelopment,oftenasadvisors. 84 Despiteagoalof
representing issues of their sector to influence policy, some sectional groups remain
aligned to particular political parties, even to the disadvantage of their interests. 85
Sectional interests represent a ‘fixed’ clientele, 86 and professional groups tend
to be well-resourced sectional interests. Somewhat lesser resourced are producer
groups who generate goods or services. This includes unions, which represent
labour services. Groups representing the interests of state welfare service clients
are more inclined to represent groups of individuals who are the clientele of the
welfare provider groups. When banded together, conglomerations of interests may
be called ‘collectivist’ pressure groups. 87
Such groups prefer to lobby government through direct contact and raising
awareness in the community, and typically defend their own particular interests.
Labour organisations, business interests, primary producers’ associations, professional
and consumer associations are all characterised as sectional interests. Groups
representing localised issues, migrant and Aboriginal organisations and churches
are also typical sectional interests. 88
The major sectional interest organisations operate under established conventions
of participating in the policy-making process. Large sectional organisations
such as the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the National Farmers’
Federation, and the Australian Council of Trade Unions are involved in the policy
process, and are often represented on government advisory committees. Sectional
groups often employ highly qualified individuals to act for them; businesses
frequently recruit former senior public servants for such roles. 89 In fact, business
groups are significant sectional interests representing their views to government in
Australia. The business lobby tends to be privileged because its resources, significantsectionalinterestsanditsproductioncapabilityafforditpowerinamarketbased
economy, described as structural power. 90
83 Maddox 1996, 411; Warhurst 2006, 330.
84 Warhurst 1986a, 313.
85 Davis et al. 1993, 139; Warhurst 1984, 24.
86 Beer 1958, 133.
87 Beer 1958, 133–4.
88 Matthews 1980, 450–6.
89 Warhurst 1984, 5, 9.
90 Lindblom 1977; Warhurst 2007b, 53.
444