POL2127 Lec 7 - Lecturer- Kay Hearn PDF

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Lecturer- Kay Hearn...

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POL2127 Lec 7 Pressure Groups

Plebiscite 

Weekly estimates of the running total will be published by the ABS



No results, just a tally of how many have responded

The influence of lobbyists 

“Some of these factional warlords have commercial interest in dealing with politicians whose pre- selections they can influence. Now this is a potentially corrupt position,” Tony Abbot

What is a pressure group? 

“A pressure group is an organisation which seeks as ones of its functions to influence the formulation and implementation of public policy” (Grant 2000)



As fewer people vote and join political parties, the number and size of pressure groups seems to rise and rise



The ‘informal force’ of politics

Conservative leadership foundation 

Values o

Limited government

o

Personal responsibility

o

Free enterprise

o

Traditional values

Get up 

“GetUp is one of Australia’s largest campaigning communities, with a membership of over 800 000 people. We’re an independent, grassroots, community advocacy organisation that seeks to build a more progressive Australia and hold politicians to account.”



The Board is made up of academics, activists, legal professionals



“Members take action on maters which are important to them. Whether it is campaigning on climate actions, economic fairness, environmental sustainability or issues of social justices, GetUp members combine to demand beter from our government, big business and media.”

Differ from parties 

Party wants to win control of government or at least a share off office to implement policies



Parties are broad coalitions that have to aggregate interests, groups often single issue



Parties run candidates in elections, but note ‘interest parties’

Think tanks 

Grant’s definition encompasses think tanks even though they do not engage in lobbying



May have a close relationship with a political party, e.g. Fabian Society



Can be influential

Changing terminology 

A search for ‘hurrah words’ to describe pressure or interest groups



Stakeholders- used by government and EU



Non- governmental organisations



Campaigning groups



Advocacy groups

Pressure groups share 3 main features 

They seek to exert influence from outside, rather than to win or exercise government power



They typically have a narrow issue focus



In some cases, they may focus on a single issue



Their members are united by either a shared belief in a particular cause or a common set of interests

Types of pressure groups 

There are many ways categorising pressure groups o

Greenpeace

o

Bye planet

Causal/ sectional groups 

Sectional groups represent a section of the community



Cause groups represent a belief or principle

Insider/ outsider typology 

Developed by Grant (1978)



Insider/ outsider groups cuts across traditional sectional/ cause distinction



Insider groups recognise as legitimate by government



But had to abide by rules of the political game which imposed constraints

Outsider groups 

A more disparate category



Include ‘would be’ insider groups outside groups by necessity



Ideological or protest groups who do not want to be drawn into embrace of government



Implication of typology that insider groups more likely to succeed- but not always

Easier to become an insider 

Reinforced by work of page- insiders outnumbered pure outsiders by nine to one



Not that hard to be places on a consultation list. Blair Govt. has consultation code



Internet lowers costs of formation, mobilisation and involvement



Being involved in consultation is not same as real access to policy makers

Tim Wilson 

Director of the Institute of Public Affairs for 7 years



Director of Climate Change Policy and Intellectual Property and Free Trade



Human Rights Commissioner



Now the member of Goldstein

Pursuing both strategies 

One can pursue both strategies simultaneously- Greenpeace



But does set up tensions within a group, Greenpeace very hierarchical and hence can control them



In some areas now insider and outsider groups- National Farmer Unions and Farmers for Action

Most important criticism 

Nature of society and political process has changed



Far more groups representing a more fragmented society



Outsider groups becoming more successful, hence undermining one of key points of distinction

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Growth of direct action

Ways to influence . . . 

These include: o

Ministers and civil servants

o

Parliament

o

Political parties

o

Public opinion

o

Direct action

Success may mean: 

Affecting government policy- policy making power



Pushing an issue up the political agenda- agenda setting power



Changing people’s values, perceptions and behaviour- ideological power

Lobbying 

Serious professional lobbying has spread way beyond the lobbies of the buildings of parliaments to such activities as

o

Cup of coffee in cafes

o

Dinners in fancy restaurants

o

Christmas drinks parties

o

Hospitality tents at golf comps

o

Private boxes at AFL matches

o

Travel and donations to political parties and individual candidates

National reform summit 

The Australian, The Australian financial Review and KPMG



Convened by former federal Labor trade minister Craig Emerson and Nick Cater, director of the Menzies Research Centre

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Business groups, unions, welfare group etc

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“Every proposal that is put up it immediately opposed by an interest groups and that then gives encouragement to the other political party to seek to harvest the support of the interest group and oppose the reform” said Craig Emerson...