What police want from liquor licensing legislation: the Australian perspective

Qualitative interviews were undertaken with 53 Australian police officers with specialist expertise in liquor law enforcement to ascertain their perspectives concerning the liquor licensing legislation in Australia’s eight states and territories. Respondents generally indicated that current arrangements favoured the interests of the alcohol industry and did not sufficiently empower them to reduce alcohol-related harms. Other key themes included: ambiguity surrounding the police role in liquor licensing; difficulties in enforcing drunkenness-related offences; partnerships; strategies to enhance enforcement; data/intelligence gathering; and the separation of Ministerial responsibilities for liquor licensing and policing. Overall, police in Australia are not currently being given the tools they require to effectively reduce alcohol-related harms.     

Agency, Structure, and Social Chance as Cross-Disciplinary Concepts

It is appropriate that social scientists should develop explicit conceptualisations of agency, structure and social chance, these being three major dimensions of social and political life. The agency–structure debate, which refers to theoretical and ontological issues that tend not to be explicitly discussed by political scientists, is an important interdisciplinary starting point for conceptual and empirical work involving collaboration between political scientists and sociologists. Following a theoretical review of agency, structure and chance, it is argued that empirical research concerned with the study of politics and policy – indeed, social scientific research on any topic – should employ an ontology and methodology that focuses on the dynamics of interaction between agency, structure and social chance.     

Technical decisions and public accountability

Abstract. The paper focuses on Canadian decisions involving technical issues. The inherent difficulties associated with the application of technical advice and the need to secure public accountability for related government action are both discussed. It is suggested specifically that although there has been a significant governmental response to the problem of man-made hazards, much remains to be achieved. The general difficulties with the concepts of ‘public accountability’ and ‘technical advice’ are reviewed, and some observations are made on the idea of ‘risk’ The particular Canadian problems dealt with include those derived from the constitutional and overall political situation. The case of asbestos is introduced especially to illustrate inter-provincial inadequacies. Intra-provincial shortcomings are brought out by reference to the dangers resulting from lead. Note is taken of the limitations imposed by the legal system, and of the issues precipitated by Canada's industrial structure. The foreign policy dimension is recognized. The vinyl chloride issue is used to illustrate the long-term and yet fundamental nature of many risks. Recommendations are finally made concerning the roles of the Environmental Advisory Council and of the National Research Council's Associate Committee on Scientific Criteria for Environmental Quality, and an attempt is made to identify the detailed responsibilities which should fall to the federal government, both in regard to general and occupational standards covering man-made hazards, and more generally in regard to all the ways in which the general and specific publics can be safeguarded. Sommaire. L'auteur traite plus particulièrement des décisions relatives aux questions techniques. Il expose les difficultés inhérentes à l'application des conseils techniques et le besoin d'assurer le droit de regard du public sur les mesures gouvernementales. Il considère en particulier, qu'en dépit de la réaction positive du gouvernement face au problème des risques d'origine humaine, il reste encore beaucoup a faire. Il examine les difficultés générales que présentent les concepts du « droit de regard du public » et des « conseils techniques » et il présentent certaines observations sur la notion de » risque ». Les problèmes plus particulièrement canadiens dont il s'occupe sont la consequence de la situation constitutionnelle et de la situation politique générale. Il utilise le cas de l'amiante pour illustrer les carences interprovinciales. Ces mêmes carences sont évidentes, également, si l'on considère les dangers que présente le plomb. Il prend note des limites imposées par la loi et les problèmes posés par la structure industrielle du Canada. Il reconnait aussi la dimension politique étrangère. L'auteur se sert de la question du chlorure de vinyle pour illustrer le caractère à long terme et pourtant fondamental d'un grand nombre de dangers. Il fait des recommandations quant aux rôles du Conseil consultatif sur l'environnement et du comité du cnr sur les normes scientifiques pour la qualité de l'environnement. Il dégage enfin les différentes responsabilités du government fédéral, quant aux normes générales et professionnelles couvrant les risques créés par l'homme et, d'une façon plus large, quant aux moyens de protéger le public, qu'il s'agisse du grand public ou de groupes particuliers.