Lessons to be learned: Reviving advocacy organisations after the neo-con men

Abstract

The article assesses the impact of the Howard years on non-government advocacy organisations in Australia. It stresses the importance of advocacy in civil society, and in representative democracy. It outlines how this role was undermined, including with regard to the manipulation of contracting-out arrangements. It argues that to regain their former role advocacy organisations will need to reassess their relationships with government—including their funding relationships—and reassert their role as independent analysts and legitimate critics of government power and policy.

Keywords

• Advocacy
• Democracy
• Non-Government Organizations
• Government regulation
• Service provision
• Funding arrangements