Inside the Welfare Lobby A History of the Australian Council of Social Service The Role of Interest Groups in Australian Social Policy
Philip Mendes
Author text to follow
“Philip Mendes has written an important book about
an important organisation. The debate about fairness in Australia
has been hijacked by the Coalition and their army of supporters
in the right-wing think tanks and sections of the media. ACOSS helps
to reframe that debate. In our common quest to make Australia a
fairer and more prosperous country, Mendes's book reminds us of
the importance of a strong voice for the most vulnerable.” Wayne
Swan, Australian Labor Party member for Lilley, and ALP Shadow Treasurer
“This book helps to fill an acute shortage in academic writing
about the major interest groups that play such a large role in Australian
policy-making and politics. ACOSS stands alongside the BCA, the
ACTU, the NFF and other large peak organisations; without an understanding
of ACOSS our knowledge of contemporary politics is incomplete. In
particular, ACOSS’ role in welfare politics is central. Mendes
has the best credentials of anyone I know to write such a book.
His knowledge of ACOSS is up to date and detailed. This book will
be a major resource for all university courses in contemporary Australian
politics and a necessary guide for all informed political commentators.” John
Warhurst, Professor of Politics, School of Social Sciences, Australian
National University
“Philip Mendes offers us a study of how ACOSS has built and
developed its messages along with its tactics in seeking to influence
policy to tackle poverty. Politicians, organisations, and researchers
will all find something of interest in this examination of the case
of the ACOSS and its relation to the policy making process. By studying
the organisation, tensions in its role and its ability to adapt
to its circumstances, alongside evaluating its successes, both around
agenda setting and specific policy change to improve the position
of those most disadvantaged in society, Mendes gives us not only
a view into the ‘black box’ of policy change but an
example of the strengths and weaknesses of campaigning organisations
and of how their success can be judged.” Dr.
Paul Dornan, Child Poverty Action Group
The Australian welfare lobby group –
the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) – has played
a central role in the welfare politics debate as the foremost defender
of the Australian welfare state. ACOSS is widely recognized as
one
of the most important lobby groups in Australia, and enjoys regular
access to the media and key policy makers in government and the
bureaucracy. Relevant case studies and source material are used
to draw attention to:
The role that interest groups play in the formation of government policy agendas
The lobbying strategies used by welfare advocacy groups to influence welfare state outcomes
The relationship between the welfare sector and other key lobby groups and political parties
The impact of key contemporary influences such as neo-liberalism and economic globalization which have arguably transformed the political context within which welfare advocacy groups operate
