Paper 3
Can attending to local discourses increase policy effectiveness? A case study of fire management in Cape York, Australia
David Ockwell 2005

Submitted to Policy Sciences

of complete Paper 3

Abstract

Policy debates are often characterised by opposing discourses based on conflicting knowledge claims. An increasing number of studies suggest that more effective policy solutions might be achieved through explicit consideration of the knowledge claims and discourses of all relevant actors. This includes those lay actors directly affected by a policy problem. This paper uses Q Methodology to analyse empirically what discourses exist amongst stakeholders in Cape York, Queensland, Australia regarding anthropogenic burning. This is a land management technique of relevance to important areas of contemporary policy concern including biodiversity loss, climate change and indigenous land rights. The discourses revealed through Q Methodology are then analysed to question whether they provide any insights into potentially more effective policy solutions. Four key discourses are shown to exist namely: discourse A - Rational fire management; discourse B - Fire-free conservation; discourse C - Pragmatic, locally controlled burning; and discourse D - Indigenous controlled land management. At present only discourses A and C are reflected in fire policy in Cape York. Discourses B and D both highlight issues that might contribute to improving the effectiveness of existing policy in achieving environmental and social sustainability. Whilst the conflicting nature of the four discourses suggests that resolving policy solutions might be difficult, several areas of existing consensus are identified which could provide a useful starting point for facilitating constructive deliberation amongst stakeholders in Cape York enabling them to capitalise on opportunities for increased policy effectiveness.