SWB108: Australian Society, Social Justice and Policy Essay Report

Assessment Task 1

Task overview

Assessment name:Critique (Written)

Task description:

A critical approach to social problems and social policy responses helps to make sense of what's happening and identify alternatives to current policy.

In this task, you will be required to undertake an analysis and critique (using Bacchis abridged WPR framework) ofoneoffour choicesof a media or policy speech and the associated policy area. This topic will be the focus of your essay.

Your analysis and critique using Bacchis abridged (WPR) framework should critically analyze and discuss the representation of the issue in the article that you have chosen and examine the underpinning policy agenda, ideology and assumptions about the nature of structural and social relations or groups within society from acritical perspective.You can use either a specific critical theory to support your analysis e.g. critical theorist (Bourdieu, Gramsci, Morely) or apply critical theory perspective broadly. (See Garrett 2018 for theorists and also Van Krieken et al. 2020).

A Note on Bacchi and the Task

Policies are often considered to be solutions to social problems. Bacchis (2009) Whats the problem represented to be?(WPR) approach challenges this idea, through analysis, poses an alternative option. The WPR approach suggests that policy solutions actuallycreateorgive shapeto problems byrepresentingthem in particular ways. When wecritically analyzea solution that is offered by political parties and other stakeholders (policy actors) to fix a problem,we can learn something about how the problem is being thought about, that is,being represented.The WPR approach provides a series of questions that can be used as a framework to critically analyze policy solutions and uncoverwhat the problem is represented to bewithin them.

Learning outcomes measured:

1. Describe essential normative, structural and institutional foundations ofAustralian society in relation to global context and the welfare state
2. Critically analyze important contemporary Australian social issues, discoursesand social policy responses in relation to global context using critical theory.
3. Critique popular perceptions and constructions of social policy and Australiansociety.

Task details

What you need to do:

1. Read theCriterion Reference Assessment Sheet.
2. Pickoneof theoptionsfrom the list. There is capacity to negotiatewith your tutor, a different option/medium.
3. Using the below outline, which employs an approach to critical discourse analysis based on Carol Bacchis WPR framework, explain the Bacchi approach and apply it to critically analyze and discuss social policy and the representation of the issue in the option that you havechosen.
   • Specifically, you will use WPR questions 1, 2 and 4 to analyze the underpinning policy agenda, ideology and assumptions about the nature of structural and social relations or groups within societyfrom acritical perspective.
   • Hint: The journal article on education (Citation in Wk 2 Bb after videos) using Bacchis approach is the best source for thisassessment piece.

4. Your critique must respond to the following structure and questions:
   1. Introduction
      1. Identify your topic and chosen option, including political party
      2. Outline the purpose of the paper and what will be covered in the paper
   2. Brief overview of Bacchis (2009) WPR approach
      1. Explain the aims ofBacchis WPRapproach, its key elements and how it is used to critically analyze policy issues and representations
   3. Discuss and apply Question 1 of the WPR approach to your chosen option.
      1. Explain the goal/purpose of question 1 by identifying what isconsidered to be the problem and how it is represented in theoption by the political party or mainstream media (Whats theproblem represented to be in a specific policy)
      2. Hint:At a minimum, use Bacchi and your chosen policystatement for this section.
   4. Discuss and apply Question 2 of the WPR approach to yourchosen option.
      1. What presuppositions and assumptions underlie thisrepresentation of the problem?
      2. Explain the goal/purpose of question 2. Then apply question 2to the option. In your answer:
         • Identify the conceptual logic that supports the statementabout policy by analyzing the assumptions that underpinthe problem representation
         • Discuss how language, binaries, metaphors, key conceptsand categories are used to shape the way in which the issue is represented by the political party or mainstreammedia
      3. Hint:At a minimum, use Bacchi and your chosen policy optionhere. Additional reading on values and ideologies will beuseful for this section.
   5. Discuss and apply Question 4 of the WPR approach to yourchosen option.
      1. What is left unproblematic in this problem representation?
      2. Explain the goal/purpose of question 4. Apply question 4 tothe policy option. In your answer:
         • Consider what has been left unproblematic in the problemrepresentation. This involves considering the silences orthe issues that have been ignored in the representation ofthe problem
         • Identify an alternative counter-hegemonic conceptualization by a different political party or policyactor/policy commentator
         • Discuss how the alternative framings challenges theassumptions that lead to the silences in your chosenoptions representation of the issue
      3. Hint:Bacchi, alternative options, additional media articles,policy reports (The Australian Institute, ACOSS), policy booksandacademic journal articles about the framing of your issuewill assist you in this section
      4. You can useimages, political cartoons and figures to illustratepoints
   6. Conclusion
   7. Reference list
      1. You must reference Bacchi
      2. You must include a reference or link for the options
      3. You must have aminimum 8 authoritative sourcesthat arecarefully chosen academic books, journal articles, policyreports (Australian Institute or ACOSS UNSW), and news media
      4. This assessment task must use the above outline to frame headings and use APA referencing.

Assessment Task 1 Options

We have provided you with four options for this assessment task. Carefully read through the options and selectONEfor the basis of your policy analysis and critique.

Option 1: Economy and the Budget

Stimulus:

1.Treasurer Jim Chalmers speaks about the economy, rising interest rates | ABC News Click on the link to view the Federal Governments media statement:Economy and rising interestrates

Key points:

• Treasurer Jim Chalmers spoke to the media in Canberra about Australia's economic challenges. The Federal Labor Government inherits debt.
• See also Nationals Senator Matt Cannavan in mainstream media: Senator Matt Canavan admits Coalition overspent during its last year in power as he calls on Labor to end 'blame game' 7 June 2022Sky News

Option 2: Welfare is not your money! Parliament Speech 2018.

Stimulus:

1. Media snapshot from Parliament mainstream news: [Former]Senator Leyonhjelm talks about his reasons for supporting the previous Government's cashless welfare card 2018.
2. View the snapshot. Click onWelfare is not your Money.
3. In a circa 2018 speech, former Senator for New South Wales, Leyonhjelm of theLiberal Democrats(Australia)(20143-2019), provided support for the Cashless Welfare Card.
4. The Commonwealth Labor Government put through the bill in Parliament on 27 July 2022. SeeABCmedia report Labor's bill to end cashless debit card sparks mixed feelings, alcohol misuse fears in remote WA, for differing perspectives.

Option 3: Smells like rent control: Housing affordability inquiry chair rubbishes affordable housing

Stimulus:

1. Media snapshot from mainstream newspaperSydney Morning Herald9 September 2021.
2. The then Federal Government Liberal MP leading the Commonwealths inquiry into housing affordability has equated social housing with housing commission and criticized affordable schemes as rent fixing that drive up prices and limit supply elsewhere.
3. Former Mackellar MP Jason Falinski also said federal money should be withheld if real and sustainable housing reforms werent achieved..
4. Mr Falinski added, the issue that you have is social housing is housing commission. It has lowered the price of housing in the private sector, its increased the price of it, and its handed administration of affordable housing to the least transparent and, its simply a fact, the most venal level of government we have.
5. See also Parliament of Australia media release:The House of Representatives Standing Committeeon Tax and Revenue report titledThe Australian Dream: inquiry into housing affordability and supply in Australia, 18 March 2022.

Option 4: Own Choice

Stimulus:

You can select your own piece for analysis from eithermedia(print, online, newspaper or television) orpolicy speech(transcript) in an associated social policy area such as housing, child protection, young people, climate energy, taxation, inequality, disability, education, neoliberalism, climate change, employment, community service, or privatization. Discuss this option with your tutor.

You can access an item from:

• Media such as The Guardian, ABC News online, or mainstream media: Courier Mail, The Australian, Sydney Morning Herald, The Daily Mail Australia or
• Television: Populist e.g. A Current Affair, Sunrise or public media ABC or SBS or
• Radio e.g. ABC Radio National (Public) or 2GB (Populist)
• Policyspeech:Hansardor Press Club Doorstep Interview