Australian Politics and Policy - Senior, 2019a

Pressure groups and social movements
part of government processes or advisory committees. Rather, single-issue lobby
groups focus on raising awareness of their particular issue so it is adopted by
more powerful pressure groups or the community itself. Ultimately, single-issue
groups require politicians to identify themselves as either for or against their cause,
and advocate for people to support or oppose the political candidate in turn.
Such groups are often criticised by their opponents for a perceived or attributed
negative effect on democracy, because they promote imposing a minority view
on the majority – an accusation ‘levelled at non-party organisations on both the
right and the left of politics’. 102 This view may be reinforced by political parties,
who often dismiss the views or work of such groups. Parties are often unsettled by
promotional groups, and unwilling to identify themselves with groups that could
potentially deprive them of support. 103 That said, a number of single-issue groups,
particularly in advocacy roles, play an important role in drawing attention to an
injustice or setting an agenda for policy change.
Multi-issue groups promote several, usually interconnected or themed, issues.
They are generally better resourced and therefore better able to promote their causes
and concerns. At times, the delineation between single- and multi-issue groups is
ambiguous. For example, an environmental group could be dismissed by politicians
and policy makers as a single-issue group, yet such groups frequently campaign on
related concerns such as greenhouse gas emissions, preservation of wilderness areas,
and recycling. Similarly, the Australian Christian Lobby may engage on a number
of issues including refugees, school curriculum and euthanasia, but is primarily
concerned with ‘Christian principles and ethics [being] accepted and influencing
the way we are governed, do business and relate as a society. We want Australia to
become a more just and compassionate nation.’ 104 An example of a demonstrably
multi-issue pressure group campaigning on interconnected issues is GetUp!, which
describes itself as a not-for-profit, grassroots advocacy organisation. 105 GetUp!
pursues change to a variety of government policies, yet many of the issues Getup!
advocatesoriginatefromthesameprogressiveviewpoint.
Conclusions
While the political sphere undergoes change from digital disruption and disaffection
with democracy, pressure groups and social movements form an important conduit
to ensure citizens’ voices are heard and reflected in policy. Theories of pressure
group formation can help explain why some groups emerge and last. An individual’s
decision to join a pressure group or social movement can be influenced by a variety
102 Warhurst 1986b, 107.
103 Warhurst 1984, 2–3.
104 Australian Christian Lobby n.d.
105 Get Up! n.d.
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