Industry Policy for a Productive Australia

-Industrial policy; protectionism; R&D; innovation

Public inquiries, public policy and the public interest

Professor Gary Banks AO, Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, Dean of the Australian and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG), and prior to that, head of the Productivity Commission for nearly 15 years, speaks about the role of public inquiries in developing public policy. Based on theory and evidence, including insights gained at first hand, Professor Gary Banks addressed two key questions: Why might public inquiries contribute to better policy outcomes? And what determines their ‘success’? Professor Banks\u27 talk was the inaugural Peter Karmel Lecture in Public Policy for the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.Both the video of the lecture and the report are on the Academy\u27s website.&nbsp

Australia's antidumping experience

One side of the debate about anti-dumping argues that dumping is not a problem in international trade - that it is a normal business practice which benefits the importing country's consumers and user industries - and that anti-dumping is inherently protectionist. The other side argues that an anti-dumping system has a legitimate role to play in maintaining a liberal trading order, but that the process is being abused for protectionist ends. Three sets of conclusions about reforms to anti-dumping have emerged from this dual debate: (a) tighten anti-dumping procedures to reduce scope for abuse; (b) broaden their focus, to take into account wider economic interests; and (c) abandon anti-dumping altogether. The purpose of this paper is to use the Australian experience over the past decade to shine some light on the issues raised internationally. The paper begins by briefly outlining the varied history of Australia's anti-dumping arrangements and activity since the late 1970s. It then looks at the Australian experience from the perspectives of the debate just referred to and ends with some conclusions relevant to that debate.Markets and Market Access,Access to Markets,Trade Policy,Engineering,Economic Theory&Research

Building Authentic Biblical Community at the Pine Forge Seventh-day Adventist Church

Problem A spirit of division at the Pine Forge Seventh-day Adventist Church is adversely affecting its ability to agree on mission and ministry focus. Method Over the course of 12 months, an investigation of the source of division was conducted through pastoral observation, surveys of the adult members, and a focus group of pastors of churches on boarding academy campuses. The data from the focus group and surveys was compared to that of the Pine Forge Seventh-day Adventist church. A Bible study series on building authentic biblical community was also conducted that taught biblical principles focusing on putting aside differences and dwelling together in spiritual unity. The success of the Bible study was measured by the positive changes in the attitudes of the members during discussions of ministry focus. Results It was discovered that the division over the ministry focus was promoted mostly by those who felt that they were unjustly terminated by the Academy. At one church, the surveys revealed that seven of 31 people who were asked if their departure from the institution was negative said, Yes. Of that group of seven, six indicated that they were against the church\u27s focusing its ministry primarily toward the academy and its students. The focus group also revealed a high level of apathy among those who had been terminated. Conclusion The study reveals that an examination of the history and demographics of the church assists the church in returning to its original student-focused ministry. There is also a need for a specific ministry for teaching biblical community principles as well as ministry care for those who suffered job loss in the community. Finally, churches that have polarizing missions need to find a ministry activity around which the members can build their ministry focus

The Productivity Commission's gambling inquiry: 3 years on

In a presentation in November 2002 to the Annual Conference of the National Association for Gambling Studies in Melbourne, Productivity Commission Chairman Gary Banks provided an update on key developments in Australia’s gambling industries, three years after publication of the Commission’s 1999 inquiry report. While progress has been made in addressing problem gambling, it remains unclear whether problem gambling and its impacts have moderated. There is a need for more research on the effectiveness of consumer protection measures. Further reforms are also needed to ensure the independence of regulators and better regulatory enforcement.gambling - poker machines; Canadian Problem Gambling Index; Consumers; Dickerson method; Gambling; Internet gambling; Policy; Problem gamblers; Regulations; Social costs; SOGS; South Oaks Gambling Screen; Wagering;

The Productivity Commission's gambling inquiry: 3 years on

In a presentation in November 2002 to the Annual Conference of the National Association for Gambling Studies in Melbourne, Productivity Commission Chairman Gary Banks provided an update on key developments in Australia’s gambling industries, three years after publication of the Commission’s 1999 inquiry report. While progress has been made in addressing problem gambling, it remains unclear whether problem gambling and its impacts have moderated. There is a need for more research on the effectiveness of consumer protection measures. Further reforms are also needed to ensure the independence of regulators and better regulatory enforcement.gambling - poker machines; Canadian Problem Gambling Index; Consumers; Dickerson method; Gambling; Internet gambling; Policy; Problem gamblers; Regulations; Social costs; SOGS; South Oaks Gambling Screen; Wagering;

Advancing the reform agenda: selected speeches

In the decade and a half since the Productivity Commission was formally established, it has completed 110 inquiries and other commissioned studies and made some 1500 policy recommendations to governments. All of these recommendations were made because the Commission judged that their implementation would enhance Australians’ living standards and quality of life.   In many cases, they would do so by raising the capacity of Australia’s economy to produce valued goods and services — in other words, by raising its ‘productivity’. On a rough reckoning, around two-thirds of the Commission’s recommendations over the years have been accepted and (more or less) implemented by governments. That is not a bad strike rate, given that our reports typically deal with complex and politically contentious areas of public policy, where benefits to the majority can necessitate withdrawing advantages from (vocal) minorities. It nevertheless leaves a sizeable residual, to which Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens was no doubt alluding in his much-reported remarks. Many in the media took him literally though, and were disappointed that the Commission did not in fact have a ‘list’ at the ready

L1 libration point manned space habitat

Second generation stations or Manned Space Habitats (MSHs) are discussed for an Earth-Moon libration point and in lunar orbit. The conceptual design of such a station is outlined. Systems and subsystems described reflect anticipation of moderate technology growth. The evolution of the L1 environments is discussed, several selected subsystems are outlined, and how the L1 MSH will complete some of its activities is described