Engaging citizens to solve major public policy challenges

Abstract

This chapter discusses the interactive forms of citizen engagement in developing and implementing public policy. Public policy-making in Australia suffers from a lack of opportunities for citizens to engage with policy-makers. Governments spend considerable resources on informing the citizenry of their entitlements and obligations in a one-way transfer of information. Policy-makers often, but not universally, consult with citizens in the formulation of policy. The typical policy-development process in Australia does not include provision for citizens to deliberate over the most appropriate options and to be involved actively in policy implementation. A reason for a lack of involvement in politics could be the widespread lack of confidence most citizens have in Australian political institutions. Governments or public servants in Australia, for the most part, do seek active forms of direct citizen participation in policy-making. Policy-makers prefer to deal with stakeholders in the form of non-government organisations.