Table of Contents

Introduction PART 1: CONCEPTUAL AND CONSTIUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 1. Understanding liberal-democratic politics "Andrew Parkin" 2. Understanding ideologies "Alan Fenna" PART 2: GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS 3. The constitutional framework "Andrew Parkin and John Summers" 4. Parliament and responsible government "John Summers" 5. Executive government "Geoff Anderson" 6. The public sector and its management "Jenny Stewart" 7. The federal system "John Summers" 8. The High Court "Haig Patapan" PART 3: PARTY AND ELECTORAL POLITICS 9. Political Parties and the Party System "Dennis Woodward" 10. The electoral system "Brian Costar" 11. Liberal Party "Judith Brett" 12. Labor Party "Nick Economou" 13. National Party "Dennis Woodward" 14. Greens, Democrats, minor parties and independents "Jenny Tilby Stock" 15. Voting behaviour "Haydon Manning" PART 4: GOVERNANCE, POWER AND SOCIETY 16. Political leadership "James Walter" 17. Interest groups and political lobbying "John Warhurst" 18. Government-business relations "Andrew Parkin" "& Leonie Hardcastle" 19. Media power "Ian Ward" 20. Class and elite analysis "Michael Gilding" 21. Feminism, Power and the Representation of Women "Jennifer Curtin" PART 5: POLICY 22. Economic policy "Dennis Woodward" 23. Tax policy "Alan Fenna" 24. Welfare policy "Jane Robbins" 25. Health policy "Gwen Gray" 26. Indigenous Affairs Policy "Jane Robbins and John Summers" 27. Environmental policy "Jenny Stewart"

About the Author

Andrew Parkin is Professor of Political and International Studies, Flinders University, and editor of the Australian Journal of Political Science. John Summers is a Senior Lecturer in Political and International Studies, Flinders University Dr. Dennis Woodward is a Senior Lecturer in Politics in the School of Political and Social Inquiry at Monash University. He is the author of Australia Unsettled': The legacy of Neo-liberalism' and has published extensively on Australian party politics and political economy.