Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/226496

Title

'Politics not policies' re-visited

Author(s)

Barr, Trevor

Abstract

The Australian government's Convergence Review: Final Report, released in April 2012, is analysed as a case study of public policy process about media and telecommunications. Several key perspectives are addressed- the accuracy of the mass media coverage of the report before and after its release, the effectiveness of public participation in the creation of the findings by the committee, how the government framed the enquiry in advance, and how it responded when the report was released. This paper cites examples of grossly inaccurate press reporting. The contrast of this government's approach to making policy in 2012 is contrasted with what has come to be regarded as a seminal public policy report for telecommunications in the mid 1980s. At this stage it is too early to judge whether the government might implement the long term key recommendations, or opt for short term pragmatic decisions. The Convergence Review presents a fascinating story of the complex interactions between government, policy makers, media, industry stakeholders and the public at large.

Publication type

Journal article

Research centre

Swinburne University of Technology

Source

Telecommunications Journal of Australia, Vol. 62, no. 3 (Jun 2012), pp. 41.1-41.9

Publication year

2012

FOR Code(s)

1005 Communications Technologies;  1801 Law;  2001 Communication and Media Studies

Keyword(s)

Australia;  Convergence Review;  Government;  Media;  Public policy;  Telecommunications

Publisher

Swinburne University of Technology

ISSN

1835-4270

Publisher URL

http://tja.org.au/index.php/tja/article/view/329

Copyright

Copyright © 2012 the author.

Peer reviewed