BOOK REVIEW: Making Progress: How good policy happens

To turn a great idea into real-world change, you need effective policies.

Writer Jenny Macklin He has a wealth of experience in developing and implementing public policy. He spent 15 years as a researcher, 11 years in the opposition and six years as a minister in the Labor government.

In Macklin’s book Progress Record: How does good policy happen?It presents the lessons learned during those years for the benefit of anyone interested in the policy development process and implementation.

The first half of this book is a memoir: born in Brisbane, Macklin grew up in New South Wales and Victoria, then spent a year in Japan as an exchange student before heading to Melbourne to study for a degree in economics. The following decades were spent as a researcher or a member of parliament.

While a common criticism of the Labor Party is that MPs do not spend enough time in the “real world” – which often means employment in the private sector – I have found it difficult to imagine better preparation for government work than time spent on policy research.

In the second half, Jenny presents a series of interviews with individuals who offer their particular insights; I have summarized some of them below.

Big ideas are all great, but turning them into the real world requires the development of policies covering legislation, administration and budgets. The truly challenging problems are often those that develop over decades; It is unrealistic to expect these to be reversed in a single election cycle.

The opportunity for real, transformative change occurs when three things come together: a problem to solve, a policy to solve that problem, and a conducive political environment. Retired former MP Brian HoweAs a mentor, Macklin taught the importance of having policy well developed and ready for implementation, waiting for the political moment when it could be enacted into legislation.

Sometimes a change made by one government is diluted or reversed by the next government. It takes time to bring people with you, which is essential for democracy. Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke (according to the economist Ross Garnot) had ‘High self-confidence that he is the leader of a good government who will be re-elected and re-elected. And so you can do long-term things…’

And politicians can’t make changes stick just by changing legislation or handing out cash:

‘Transformative change…requires the sustained and coordinated effort of a battalion of interconnected individuals (researchers, advocates, administrators, politicians) over a generation or more. ‘This is a challenging job that requires strong leaders with the ability to tell a story that explains what they are going for and why.’

It seems critical to tell this story, whether it’s talking to coal miners about it. Clean Energy Bill or engaging with groups representing disabled Australians and their carers about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

As a retired civil servant, I am not surprised to read about journalists. Laura Tingle‘s view of the current state of the public service: “This whole contract business has made it worse.” Labor Party chairman Wayne Swan accepted this more sympathetically “It’s harder to do [real change] “Initially it happens when you are dealing with people who are tired and demoralized from working for people who think the public sector is just a waste of space.”

President of the Future Fund Greg Combet I saved you “I don’t want [the public service] “To be your friend…they have to give you good, fearless advice based on sound policy principles.”.

Former Prime Minister John HowardStrong election victories in 2001 and 2004 – and I think, Invoice Shortening‘s loss in 2019 reinforced the belief that good policy is bad policy. Laura Tingle says a former National Party lobbyist told her: “The difference between lobbying [Hawke/Keating] Labor government [and] Howard’s government was saying you accept voting, not econometric modelling.”.

I wonder what the lobbyists bring to the Albanian Government.

Macklin writes:

‘Show me a lucky politician and I’ll show you someone who does the job.’

Whether or not you agree with Jenny Macklin’s policies, if you have a big idea you want to see become reality, read this book.

Progress Record: You can find out how well Jenny Macklin is executing policies at: University of Melbourne Press.

This book was reviewed by an IA Book Club member. If you want to buy free get high quality books and your review It was published On IA, subscribe to receive your email free IA Book Club membership.

Elizabeth Spiegel is a freelance editor and retired public servant.

Support independent journalism Subscribe to IA.