Institutions on the Edge?: Capacity for Governance

Description

Australia faces major challenges to its forms of governance. Changing expectations of citizens, global pressures on the economy and technological innovation all impact on government operations. This text explores how institutions changed over the 20th century and how they will adapt in future. Experienced academics and practitioners examine each of the institutions in terms of their ability to meet new challenges and provide some hope that Australia's institutions, even if at times slow to move and dominated by internal interests, have a capacity to adapt and govern effectively. The book shows Australia's political institutions in a new light, as dynamic, often flexible organisms; it provides insights into they way the country is governed and how the system of governance might develop in the future.

Michael Keating was the secretary of the departments of Industrial Relations, Finance and Prime Minister and Cabinet between 1983 and 1996. He is adjunct professor of politics and public policy at Griffith University. John Wanna teaches public policy and politics at Griffith University. He is a co-author of the highly successful Public Policy in Australia with Patrick Weller. Patrick Weller is the author of several books on Australian politics, in particular the area of executive government. They include First Among Equals (1985), Malcolm Fraser PM (1989), New Ideas? Better Government? (1995) and Dodging Raindrops: John Button (1999).