Good research, informing policy
August 2015
A high-level panel discussion on drugs, policy and politics, featuring former high-ranking politicians with intimate knowledge of the decision making process, was a fitting culmination to the Drugs, Policy and Public Health program.
Staged by the National Drug Research Institute, the week-long professional development course and postgraduate unit aimed to give participants a framework to improve integration of research into drug policy formulation.
The program concluded with an absorbing panel discussion featuring:
- Professor Carmen Lawrence, Australia’s first woman State Premier and former Federal Health Minister
- Former Federal Minister Judi Moylan, who was the Member for Pearce for 20 years, and
- Michael Moore, Public Health Association of Australia CEO and former ACT Health Minister.
The panel, chaired by Professor of Public Health and former WA Director General of Health Mike Daube, provided insights about the intersection between policy and politics and practical tips on how to influence decision makers.
The wide-ranging discussion outlined some of the factors that influence the policy agenda and the content of policy, including ideology, political manoeuvring for short term advantage, special interest groups, the media and community attitudes.
