UTS Institute for Public Policy and Governance (UTS:IPPG) researchers Dr Bligh Grant and Dr Joseph Drew’s new book Local Government in Australia offers a general introduction to and analysis of the history, theory and public policy of Australian local government systems.
Due for publication in April 2017, the book is conceived in an international comparative context and written from the perspective of political studies, incorporating elements of economics and public administration.
In 12 chapters, it covers four broad topics. First, it provides a history of local government in the individual colonies and states and traces Commonwealth engagement with local government as an element of Australian regionalism. Second, it outlines theories of local government (philosophy, politics, economics) and examines their application to the Australian context. Third, a range of policy issues – state-local relations, community engagement, finance, leadership, governance, amalgamations and the global city thesis – are examined in comparative perspective across the Australian federation. Fourth, it canvasses the future of local government in the Australian federation.
The book, published by Springer, will be available in April 2017 and can be pre-ordered online.