COVID-19: Comparing jurisdictions - opportunities for policy borrowing?

Black Swans? Leveraging Western Australia’s public and private sector capacity in a post-COVID-19 world

Jessica Shaw MLA

It seems almost trite to observe that the COVID-19 pandemic is the most profound and enduring disruption to our society and economy since the Second World War. Many describe the emergence of COVID-19 as a ‘Black Swan’ event – something unexpected and of enormous magnitude and consequence, likely to completely reshape our society. While challenges undeniably lie ahead, Jessica Shaw MLA, argues that Western Australia, the Black Swan state, is well positioned for recovery, relative to other Australian states. 

COVID-19: Comparing jurisdictions - opportunities for policy borrowing?

Policy ‘borrowing’ among the states

Adam Hannah

Adam Hannah highlights the opportunities and risks of policy borrowing across different Australian jurisdictions in tackling the COVID-19 crisis, drawing on the example of rental assistance packages offered in different states. 

COVID-19: Comparing jurisdictions - opportunities for policy borrowing?

Policy learning in a pandemic: The UK perspective

Patrick Diamond

Patrick Diamond dissects the UK’s response to the COVID-19 crisis so far and how it has been determined by a number of underlying weaknesses within its policy-making systems – among other things, the British Government’s reluctant attitude towards policy learning and borrowing.

Literature and Politics

The House of Representation

Robert Wood

Robert Wood invites us to think about the value literature and storytelling can add to the expression of true representation, by giving voice to those who may otherwise be un- or under-represented, and in turn supporting better public policy.