Academics in the Policy Process: Engagement with Australian Media Policy Inquiries 2011–2013

Abstract

Why did Australia's efforts to create a uniform converged broadband policy in 2011–2013 fail? Despite an extensive consultative process that identified 55 “broken concepts” in broadcast and telecommunications policy, Professor Flew contends that political factors made it impossible to reach a consensus and the “policy window” closed. The heated discourse around media freedom proved unexpectedly complex, and the positions of media reform advocates were diverse. Academics participated both as critics and as policy implementers, but questions remain as to whether it is possible to fulfill both roles effectively.