Hazlehurst, David2003-05-062004-05-192011-01-052004-05-192011-01-052001http://hdl.handle.net/1885/41750http://digitalcollections.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/41750Traditional approaches to policy-making, in Australia and elsewhere, have assumed that policy-making processes are, and ought to be, centralised and hierarchical. However, policy networks have emerged as an alternative model of policy-making, particularly in Europe. Policy networks have been a regular feature of Australian policy-making, though usually under government sponsorship and on the government’s terms. Recent developments suggest that governments may be encouraging a more independent and less ‘top-down’ approach to the use of policy networks. The Coalition Government’s engagement of a ‘social coalition’ in welfare reform, particularly through the Reference Group on Welfare Reform, provides an interesting case study of this trend.252164 bytes359 bytesapplication/pdfapplication/octet-streamen-AUpolicy networkspolicy formationsocial policywelfare reform2001