Lobbying and interest groups
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Civics Topic 2: the role of interest groups in AustraliaCovers the following topics;
What are the aims of particular interest groups?
What are some of the strategies particular interest groups use to promote their causes?
How do interest groups influence governments?
Are they good for democracy?
How does a particular interest group operate? -
Lobbying 101: How interest groups influence;politicians and the publicOver the past 20 years, lobbying activities in Australia have expanded dramatically. Following the United States’ lead, where a radical shift in ideology in the 1970s led to a re-evaluation of the way corporations view their role in society, the notion of corporate “civic duty” has been replaced by a belief that governments and the public are fair game for special interests.
Wesites
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The Conversation :Articles on Australian lobby groupsA collection of various groups and articles related to those groups and topics.
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Australian Government Register of LobbyistsIn 2008, the Australian Government introduced the Lobbying Code of Conduct (the Code) and established the Register of Lobbyists (Register). The intent of the Code is to ensure that contact between lobbyists and Australian Government representatives is conducted in accordance with public expectations of transparency, integrity and honesty.
Media resources
Source: What is an interest group?, 2016, August 12,Virginia Public Access Project, https://youtu.be/UAZXFELMd2w
Source: Who runs the country? Lobbying in Australia/The Drum, 2019, September 1. ABC News (Australia) https://youtu.be/TJUJIY3UwdY
Environmental Action Groups
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GreenpeaceGreenpeace is an independent campaigning organisation that uses non-violent
direct action to expose global environmental problems and to force solutions
which are essential to a green and peaceful future. -
World Wildlife FundWWF Australia’s missions and goals for biodiversity protection and environmental conservation are the same as WWF’s Global missions and goals. As part of a global conservation network, our Australian work focuses on the environmental issues that are most relevant to our region as well as the issues where Australia is best placed to take a lead.
Definitions and terms
Action group
Lobby group
'Lobbying' (also 'lobby') is a form of advocacy with the intention of influencing decisions made by the government by individuals or more usually by lobby groups; it includes all attempts to influence legislators and officials, whether by other legislators, constituents, or organized groups. Wikipedia
Stakeholder
Stakeholders are the people who stand to lose or gain in your topic.The advantage of knowing the stakeholders is that when you evaluate information a stakeholder produces, you already understand why they produced information, so you understand their bias, or perspective.
Global
Australian
Social Action groups
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Get UpGetUp! is working towards a thriving democracy in Australia led by the values and hopes of everyday people.
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Refugee Action GroupRefugee Action Coalition Sydney (RAC) was established in 1999 to campaign for the rights of refugees trying to seek asylum in Australia.
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Refugee Council : changing policies and attitudesLooks at how they advocate for their cause.