Who Dares Loses: Pariah Policies

by Wayne Errington, Wayne Errington

Why does Australia go through cycles of public policy boldness and timidity? The COVID-19 crisis has shown that the Australian political system has much more tolerance for policy innovation than appeared to be the case on the evidence of the previous twenty years. As another election approaches, though, the signs are that both major parties are keen for a return to policy caution. In Who Dares Pariah Policies , Wayne Errington and Peter van Onselen explain the political constraints on policymakers and the ways in which they are changing. This book also suggests alternative sources of revenue and spending reforms. In addition, it examines the limited debates over welfare, Medicare, and public broadcasting. Some of these ideas have been around for decades. Others are the product of new technology. What they have in common is that they are good ideas that have become pariahs when it comes to government action.

96 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2021

Reviews

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discusses the problems Australia has in getting good policies developed and implemented. Our political system is simply not very interested in good policies any more. Politicians are mostly interested in scoring points off other parties and winning elections.

The authors' solution is tighter recognition of political parties, remaking the two-party system which we have outgrown and institutionalise consultation within the lawmaking process.