This course will explore the dynamics of the Australian political system - at national, state and local levels – and how this intersects with natural resource and environmental policy and management. This will be explored through a series of case studies that will include the Murray-Darling Basin, the Great Barrier Reef, endangered species protection, fisheries reform and coastal communities, the live animal trade, the population debate, the development of northern Australia, Aboriginal land and water rights, bushfires, drought relief, biohazards and national energy policy.
Using a workshop approach, the course will investigate how the issues in dispute are defined. What options are available to governments? How should the costs and benefits for different stakeholders be assessed? What strategies are used by national and state governments to promote and defend their agendas? How can the wider public beyond the inner group of established policy practitioners and decision makers influence policy debates? In addition, this course will provide external perspectives in the treatment of similar issues in other multi-jurisdictional political systems – Europe, North America, Brazil, India, China etc.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- present a range of perspectives in a policy forum to stimulate critical discussion of policy options
- take a whole-of-system approach to analyzing policy processes and outcomes (taking account of both government and non-government actors),
- define and explain the benefits for policy makers about how other countries manage similar issues
- write a substantial research essay examining policy debates relevant to a major policy issue of their choice.
Indicative Assessment
- Power Point presentation to class re a major resource or environmental issue or cross cutting subject (eg NGOs, policy capture, fiscal federalism etc) (10) [LO 1]
- Presentation essay reflecting on challenges involved in stimulating critical discussion and encouraging different perspectives re the relevant issue/subject (10) [LO 1]
- Weekly commentaries re upcoming issues any 8 from the 11 weekly sessions week 1 (to be submitted the day before the subject is discussed in the on-campus class or in the online tutorial) (8x5% = 40%) (40) [LO 2,3]
- A major research essay (40) [LO 4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
On-campus students will be expected to attend twelve weekly sessions of about three hours in length. Online students will be expected to pre-listen to lectures and recordings of the on-campus class discussions and take part in a weekly 90 minute tutorial on ZOOM. The power point presentation will be 7-8 minutes in duration, the presentation essay about 1000 words, the eight weekly commentaries about 3000 words in total and the research essay about 4000 words.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Prescribed Texts
No prescribed text. Reference material will be prepared for each session depending on the selected case study and related issues (drawn from a range of disciplines)
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $4110 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $5880 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
