Inside the Welfare Lobby – A History of the Australian Council of Social Services, the Role of Inte

The Australian welfare lobby group - the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) - has played a central role in the welfare politics debate as the foremost defender of the Australian welfare state. ACOSS is widely recognized as one of the most important lobby groups in Australia, and enjoys regular access to the media and key policy makers in government and the bureaucracy. Inside the Welfare Lobby examines ACOSS through relevant case studies and source material to draw attention to: -- the role that interest groups play in the formation of government policy agendas -- the lobbying strategies used by welfare advocacy groups to influence welfare state outcomes -- the relationship between the welfare sector and other key lobby groups and political parties -- the impact of key contemporary influences such as neo-liberalism and economic globalization which have arguably transformed the political context within which welfare advocacy groups operate.