Environmental policy-making in New South Wales 1979-2010: A quantitative analysis

This article presents a quantitative analysis of the environmental policy agenda in New South Wales between 1979 and 2010, using 505 policies. Analysis of the number of environmental policies made during that time shows a three-fold increase in activity from 1995 to 2010 under Labor. During this time, the Carr government (1995-2005) made 235 environmental policies, but the Iemma government (2005-2008) provided the most intense period of environmental policy-making, making 99 policies in three years. This is likely to be the result of a high level of capacity at the ministerial and agency level, the success of policy entrepreneurs, public opinion and new venues for policy. Prior to 1995, Liberal governments (1988-1995) made fewer environmental policies on an annual basis, but at a similar rate to the Wran-Unsworth Labor government (based on 1979-1988 data). Elections had a small negative impact on the making of environmental policy, decreasing the number of policies made during election years. It is argued that large-scale quantitative policy research, such as comparing policy counts over time, can lead to a fuller understanding of the policy agenda.