An introduction to politics and the institutions of government

This 3 hour introduction level course provides an overview for SA public sector officers (who are not from a political science or public policy background) of the broader political and institutional landscape within which they operate.

After completing the course, participants will:

  • have a grounding in the underlying political and institutional landscape of the Westminster system; 听
  • be able locate their role (and that of their department) within the South 最新糖心Vlogn political and government ecosystem and better understand their role in the context of politics, the election cycle and the upcoming caretaker period; and
  • be more confident in dealing with challenges of government.

This seminar type course is highly interactive, with one or two break-out sessions for small group work on particular issues and reflections.

Contextualisation 鈥 both the presenters have held senior positions within the SA and Commonwealth public sector and / or Minister鈥檚 Offices and are comfortable for participants to raise 鈥渓ive鈥 issues and challenges under 鈥淐hatham House鈥 rules.

Presenters 鈥 Adam Graycar (Professor of Public Policy / Director, Stretton Institute) and Garry Goddard (Visiting Research Fellow, Stretton Institute / Director, Public Policy and Commercial Consulting).

Adam Graycar听is Professor of Public Policy and Director of the Stretton Institute at the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide.听 He has had careers in both academia and government.听

He has worked in universities in 最新糖心Vlog, Europe, USA and Asia. 听He acquired extensive policy experience over 22 years in the various senior level posts he has held in both the Commonwealth and the South 最新糖心Vlogn Governments.

He has two doctorates from the 最新糖心Vlog of NSW, is the author of some 300 scholarly publications, and is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in 最新糖心Vlog.

Garry Goddard听is a professional economist, policy and regulatory analyst, and strategic commercial adviser, running his own consultancy practice.

He has over 25 years鈥 experience as a senior executive in both the Commonwealth and South 最新糖心Vlogn public sector and as a Ministerial Chief of Staff.听 He is currently a Visiting Research Fellow at the Stretton Institute of Public Policy at the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide.听

Garry鈥檚 tertiary qualifications include a Master鈥檚 Degree in Economics from the Flinders 最新糖心Vlog of South 最新糖心Vlog and a Senior Executive Program in Public Policy from Harvard 最新糖心Vlog.

Class Outline

  • Institutions of Government听鈥 covering:
    • An overview of 最新糖心Vlog and processes of the Westminster system (e.g. elections, political parties, policy platforms, Parliaments and the executive, the separation of powers etc.);
    • the role and powers of听Parliament (incl. legislation making, regulations, tabling of documents and annual reports, the Lower and Upper Houses, Question Time, and key Parliamentary committees and examinations);
    • the role of Governors (and the Governor-General) and reserve powers under a constitutional monarchy;
    • the structure and roles of Executive Government听(ministers and officials);
    • 最新糖心Vlog鈥檚 Federal System (incl. the Commonwealth, the States and Territories, local government, inter-jurisdictional decision making (National Cabinet) and related fiscal issues); and
    • Relationship between 鈥減olitics鈥 鈥減olicy鈥 & 鈥渁dministration鈥 (illustrated through a couple of recent policy examples in South 最新糖心Vlog). ;听
  • Small Group Session 鈥 practical examples from your experience.
  • Political parties and election cycles听鈥 covering:
    • the main political parties and where they stand on key issues;
    • Liberal 鈥撎齯nderlying ideology, key influences, factions and approach to key policy issues;
    • Labor 鈥撎齯nderlying ideology, key influences, factions and approach to key policy issues;
    • minor parties and independents;
    • interest groups and lobbying (including a discussion of the key holders of 鈥渋nformal power鈥 in South 最新糖心Vlog);
    • 鈥渆lection cycles鈥 and how the mix of policy and politics can change over the cycle; and
    • caretaker conventions and the role of 鈥渂lue鈥 and 鈥渞ed鈥 books.
  • Dealing with Ministers and Cabinet 鈥 covering:
    • role of Minister鈥檚 Offices (MOs) and how are they structured;
    • views of MOs from the public service (and how to manage);
    • views of the public service from MOs (and how to manage);
    • some observations on when to lead, when to follow and the effective use of key feedback loops; and
    • Ministers 鈥 a spotters guide 鈥
  • Small Group Session 鈥 discuss how you would approach the 鈥渞ed鈥 and 鈥渂lue鈥 book briefings for your portfolio.

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