Think Tanks in Australia: Policy Contributions and Influence

Abstract

The Australian think tank industry has grown substantially over the past two decades. Previously considered ‘small and relatively unimportant’ (Marsh and Stone, 2004, p. 262), these institutes are now at the forefront of political debates. Some have cultivated significant public profiles, and scholars have pointed to their important role in setting the public policy agenda. It has also become commonplace for think tanks to claim they have influenced (or seek to influence) the deliberations and proposals of Australia’s major political parties. But can these influence claims be substantiated? This thesis is the most comprehensive study of the Australian think tank industry to date and systematically examines think tanks’ contributions and influence across the ideological spectrum. The research first investigates the structure of the Australian think tank industry, the characteristics of the participants, the targets of think tanks’ influence efforts, the methods used to persuade policymakers (and public opinion), and policymaker and journalist perceptions of think tanks’ effectiveness. The thesis then proceeds to examine three unique policy cases to empirically assess think tank influence on policymaking. The study finds that think tanks can and do play important roles in Australia’s policy process, but their impacts vary depending on their approach and objectives. Many think tanks target, and some succeed, in setting policy agendas. Others legitimate policymakers’ proposals in the public sphere. And some prominent institutes more directly influence policy development and formulation. This thesis also finds that policymakers diverge in their assessments of think tanks’ utility, and in their perceptions of think tanks’ influence. Left-leaning parliamentarians see think tanks as important contributors to policymaking while those on the right are less-inclined to value think tank outputs. This thesis shows that the Australian think tank industry defies generalisations, but its constituents are increasingly important components of Australia’s political landscape.