Overton window

There are opportunities for Australian citizens to participate in several stages of the policy cycle. In the following essay I argue that there are various avenues for private citizens to have their voice heard in the area of policy making while perhaps fewer opportunities in the area of policy implementation. I discuss the role of parliamentary committees, think tanks and interest groups as potential avenues for policy influence. Recognising that public servants and politicians are citizens as well, however, I conclude that there are many different ways citizens of Australia can influence public policy. If the 'Australian policy cycle ' as proposed by Althaus, Bridgman and Davis is a good approximation for how Australian public policy is crafted (Althaus et al 2013: 37-40), then it is at the 'identifying issues ' and 'evaluation ' stages of the cycle where everyday citizens outside of parliament and the public service have the greatest opportunity to influence policy (Hawker 2015: 7). The most obvious way that citizens of a representational democracy make their opinion known and their voice heard in regard to public policy is at the ballet box, but it is not the only way. Nor, perhaps, is it the clearest and most effective way. When one party is elected to government over another it is not always clear, for example, that the voting public have necessarily supported and provided a mandate to government for all policies that the party campaigned on (Nethercote 1999).…

blogger, blogged that a person has these memories when their past collides with their future. Another article dismissed it as something similar in a past life, having happened to someone, and triggering the memory in this life. When I finish, with my research, I still don’t understand these déjà vu experiences, but at least they were starting to be less alarming. I’ve begun to play with them, thereby completely changing what I’m remembering, and what is happening. Yet, I feel like I’m in…

worth it, do I have to do this?” Billy grabbed the hanging rope dangled from her window sill and made his way to the second floor of the Trechfield’s home. Consequently, the four cheeseburgers he had for dinner, did not agree with the exercise he was not used to. “Billy, only two more feet, you are almost here. Keep pulling yourself up, but watch your shins of the pointy fence wire.” Obviously her warning was not enough because when he fell through her window, blood covered his ripped jeans.…

REPORTER: The reporter/anonymous called to report neglect for the victims, Izabella, Arianna, and an unknown child. According to the reporter, there is a history of bedbugs in the home, but it is unknown if there are currently bedbugs in the home. Two or three weeks ago, Izabella had bite marks on her legs, and the reporter has pictures of the bite marks. It is unknown if the child was bitten from ants or bedbugs. It is unknown if the other children have bed bug bites. The reporter said Lakeisha…

that then accidently flies out of the character’s apartment window so he nearly risks his life not only to save the paper, but his own career as well. In the process of getting this paper, Tom reflects on the fact that he is always so full of himself and his work so much and he doesn’t leave any room for others in his life and this causes him to become more appreciative and caring for those…

Margarita’s face turn crimson and she did a quick walkthrough of NSL to ascertain the extent of the damage. She found no further evidence of damage to the office or the lab. Repairing the broken window was inconsequential financially to NSL's budget since business insurance coverage would discharge the required expenses. If not, she could dip into NSL’s rainy-day fund to replace the window pane. Nevertheless, as a precaution, Margarita dialed 911 to report the vandalism at NSL. She did this…

Fragments of broken glass from sources like windowpanes, and plate glass doors, have slightly different densities. (Bureau of Forensic Services, 2011) If a burglary has occurred, and glass has fallen onto the floor, and the suspect burglar was near the glass when it shattered, perhaps small fragments of glass can be found ensconced in the suspect clothing, particularly in the lower trouser leg areas or the soles of his shoes. (Bureau of Forensic Services, 2011) When a suspect is apprehended and…

Four stories high, four stories is what currently separates me from the concrete ground out side. For so long I have been on bed rest in hospitals filled with people constantly giving me empathic looks. Now, I can do anything! I longer have a time frame of how long I live for or to live my life with so many limitations. Now I have no limits. Nothing can stop me now, for I’m limitless. I start to move from my stationary position and start running towards the glass window, cancelling out all of…

traveling in my veins. Once I got out of the well they asked me what the light was and I told them that it was just an old flashlight but it had died once I got down there. I suggested we all go home and call it a night. The next morning, I felt like a different person, only I was the same person. I started getting ready and realized that I had a mark on my wrist, it was shaped as an upside down triangle. I didn’t tell anyone about the light going inside me or about the triangle on my wrist. I…

perhaps open windows or remove items of heavy clothing such as jumpers or jackets. However, if the office then becomes too cold once the…