Conceiving of Telecom: The Politics of Australian Telecommunications Reform 1967–1972. (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Doyle, John
• Is Part Of: Australian journal of politics & history. Volume 61:Number 2(2015:Jun.)
• Page Start: 201
• Page End: 216
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Political science -- Periodicals; Australia -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; Australia -- History -- Periodicals; 320
• DOI: 10.1111/ajph.12096
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0004-9522

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>This article explores the politics of telecommunications reform between 1967 and 1972, during which time Labor developed a new policy approach that included committing to reconstitute the Postmaster‐General's Department as a relatively independent statutory authority. This represented the first serious attempt to reconcile the conflicting objectives of Australian policy: to provide affordable universal services by a government department expected to operate as a "business‐like" enterprise, and ended the political consensus about how national telecommunications should be delivered. The paper contrasts Labor's policy with the Liberal‐Country government's more incremental approach; and highlights a significant public policy shift that has received insufficient attention.</p> </abstract>