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Policy‐Based Evidence Making in Local Government: The New South Wales’ Municipal Merger Program, 2011 to 2017

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  • Brian Dollery

Abstract

Contemporary public policymaking relies heavily on commercial consultants for specialised advice. In this paper, we examine the problematic nature of this phenomenon by considering the controversial forced amalgamation programme in New South Wales (NSW) local government over the period 2011 to 2017. By way of a critical examination of two key consultant reports underlying the NSW municipal mergers, we show that the failure of this programme to achieve its intended aims is due in large measure to the nature of the externalised advice on which it was based and the manner in which that advice was solicited from commercial consultants.

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  • Brian Dollery, 2018. "Policy‐Based Evidence Making in Local Government: The New South Wales’ Municipal Merger Program, 2011 to 2017," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 37(4), pages 363-373, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:econpa:v:37:y:2018:i:4:p:363-373
    DOI: 10.1111/1759-3441.12231
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Brian Bell & Brian Dollery & Joseph Drew, 2016. "Learning from Experience in NSW?," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 35(2), pages 99-111, June.
    2. David Murray & Brian Dollery, 2005. "Local Government Performance Monitoring In New South Wales: Are ‘At Risk’ Councils Really At Risk?," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 24(4), pages 332-345, December.
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