845 research outputs found
Models of Government-Business Relations: Industry Policy Preferences versus Pragmatism
Full text linkIn a podcast for John’s Festschrift, I interviewed John and asked him to reflect on his career (De Percy, 2019). During the discussion, John suggested that the great ideological battles between the two major political parties were a thing of the past, and that there had been significant convergence (outside of perhaps climate change and immigration or socially divisive issues such as same-sex marriage and euthanasia) to the point where the major political parties tend to agree on the role of the state in the economy. In this chapter, I want to consider the nature of this convergence, from the perspective of the interactions of government and business since the 2007 election. I draw on Stilwell’s model of capitalism to frame the concept of government-business relations and to establish a framework for analysing the convergence of the major parties’ preferences in dealing with businesses. The empirical discussion follows with a comparison of the various Labor and Coalition2 governments since 2007, focusing on four areas of industry policy: the telecommunications industry, the automotive manufacturing industry, trade policy, and reducing carbon emissions. I have chosen these industry policies because each represented significant policy challenges for the major parties following John Howard’s 11 years in office, two involving particular industries and two having broader or horizontal impact. I conclude by examining the extent of convergence in the major political parties’ preferences toward the role of the state in the economy and argue that short-term governments face powerful policy legacies that are difficult to remake in the space of one or two electoral terms. The analysis suggests that the convergence in ideas about the role of the state in the economy is the result of pragmatism in response to rapidly changing circumstances rather than inherent ideological preferences
Opportunities and Challenges for Social Policy: Engaging Youth Online
No full textThe benefits ofa free, globally available and rapidly expanding communication network waits for the next generation ofsocial policy practitioners who dare to challenge the traditional approaches to citizen engagement. Michael de Percy. Michael de Percy Michael de Percy lectures in politics at the University of Canberra and his research focuses on communications technologies and citizen engagement in Canada and Australia. In this article I outline some of the opportunities and challenges presented to social policy practitioners considering the use of social networking tools to engage with youth online. At present, most government uses of online social networking tools are IimitedlO placing advertisements on banners in applications such as Google's 'Blogger', Microsoft's 'My Space ' and the latest and most popular application, 'Facebook'. However, little research has been conducte
Henry Percy, first earl of Northumberland: ambition, conflict and cooperation in late mediaeval England
No full textThis thesis examines the political career of Henry Percy, 1st earl of
Northumberland. Chapter one examines the background of the Percy
family, and Henry Percy's career in the years leading to his elevation to
the earldom of Northumberland. Chapter two considers his
relationships with John of Gaunt and the Neville family both at times of
crisis and during times of relative stability. It also examines his
relationship with the wider political community in the north of England
and his role on the Scottish border during the late fourteenth century.
Chapter three focuses on the turbulent years of 1399-1403. It offers
new interpretations of Percy's participation in the revolution of 1399
and in the events leading to the 1403 rebellion led by his son Henry
'Hotspur'. Chapter four traces the final years of Percy's life from 1404-8.
It re-interprets the events leading to his flight to Scotland in 1405, his
years there, in Wales and on the continent and his final, fatal return to
England in 1408
The Great Conversation, not The Great Battle...
Full text linkThe Great Books of the Western World were the subject of political controversary within the Australian university sector recently when a bequest by the late Paul Ramsay went looking for an institutional home. Instead of selling the intellectual tradition that includes what Harold Bloom referred to as the Western Canon, conservatives talked up a paternalistic, colonising, right-wing culture war waged against, well, against everything that was not considered "Western" I suppose. But why? Here I examine the efficacy of a Great Books degree from the perspective of the political flâneur. My aim is to outline the importance of the liberal arts tradition, but without the populist sentiment of defending an elusive "way of life" that I apparently share because of the geographical and temporal accident of my birth
Canberra's Transport Conundrum: Either Way, You Pay!
Full text linkRecently, I spoke with Tom Maddocks from ABC News Canberra about transport policy and the impact of light rail, buses, and road usage in the ACT. Although light rail is yet to make an impact on car usage, I am of the view that any infrastructure is better than no infrastructure, and a mix of transport modes, supported by appropriate pricing and charging mechanisms, is key to transport policy success
Indigenising the Curriculum; or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love My Heritage
Full text linkIt hit me like a bomb. We are Indigenising the curriculum, and that's that. I have to attend Indigenous cultural awareness training. But I have Aboriginal heritage from my maternal grandmothers. I've just never identified as Aboriginal. Until now
What does it mean to have self-respect?
Full text linkWhile effective approaches to dealing with "high conflict individuals" are accessible, there is an assumed level of calmness and patience of those dealing with angry people. It does not explain, however, why even self-reflective individuals might feel the after-effects of dealing with these angry people
Stop comparing Australia's EV uptake with Norway's
Full text linkNumerous lobby groups, transport journalists, academics, and even political satirists have argued that Australia should follow Norway's example in encouraging the take-up of electric vehicles. But even the Secretary General of the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association admits it would be difficult for other countries to emulate Norway's approach
Road pricing and road provision in Australia:Where are we and how did we get here?
No full textIn the Beginning.Road pricing is not a new concept—toll roads have existed in Australia since Governor Macquarie established one from Sydney to Parramatta in 1811—and distance-based charging schemes have been trialled and implemented with varying success overseas.But how would full market reform of roads look in a federation like Australia? In its responses to the 2016 Australian Infrastructure Plan and the 2015 Competition Policy Review, the Australian Government explicitly supported investigating cost-reflective road pricing as a long-term reform option, and has committed to establishing a study chaired by an eminent Australian to look into the potential impacts of road pricing reform on road users. The challenges we face in this space are manifold and complex, and we still have a long road ahead of us. However, with advocacy for reform coming from interest groups as diverse as governments, private transport companies, peak industry bodies, policy think tanks and state motoring clubs, there is now more support than ever before for changing the way we provide for and fund our roads. consumer charging.1 Arguably, command-driven public provision and the arbitrary governmental regulation of transport infrastructure came at a cost to the overall productivity and efficiency of each type of infrastructure and the interconnectivity between them. And we are still living with the legacy of this pattern of state activism in the funding and provision of transport infrastructure.<br/
We need a Plan B for our future energy needs
No full textDr Michael de Percy, a respected political scientist and political commentator, recently delivered an insightful presentation to the Crookwell Rotary Club and their invited guests. The topic of discussion was nuclear energy, a subject that has become increasingly pertinent in global and local energy debates. As a resident of Gunning in the Upper Lachlan Shire, Dr de Percy provided a unique perspective on the potential role of nuclear power in addressing energy security and climate challenges. His talk was well received, sparking engaging conversations among attendees about the future of energy production in Australia. A brief extract of his presentation follows
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