Don’t care about politics? Regardless of your political persuasion (or lack thereof), the fact is that the decisions the government makes on your behalf have a massive influence on what happens in your everyday life. 

From the price of groceries to how much you’re paying at the petrol pump, if nothing else, these issues – and the public policies that drive them – should be things you care about. 

The hard truth? Even if you don’t follow politics, the public policies implemented by the people governing us should and do matter to you. So, if you’re feeling out of the loop, it’s time to start reading.

Social Matters: How Public Policy Influences Society’s Behaviour

If you have a social conscience, you should care about public policy. If you don’t know much about it, you can always complete an online course such as a Graduate Certificate in Policy Evaluation online to help you understand more.

So, what does the concept of public policy refer to? That is to say, what is public policy? In simple terms, public policy refers to policies that are made on behalf of the public. These can also be thought of as the social laws which are implemented by the government. These laws are then enforced to regulate the behaviours of society as a whole. Some good examples of public policies are: 

Public Health 

Policies regarding public health relate to both a nation’s medical system, and also, national health initiatives. In Australia, for example, public policy has recently been implemented around smoking. Also known as the National Tobacco Campaign, this health initiative has been remarkably successful in dramatically reducing country-wide smoking rates and tobacco-related illnesses in Australia. 

Firearm Regulations 

Gun control is another example of public policy. It is not without contention (especially in places such as the United States, where citizens argue for the ‘right to bear arms’). However, in places like Australia, the regulation of weapons and firearms has had overwhelmingly positive results in terms of reducing gun-related deaths and injuries. 

Taxation Matters

How citizens are taxed is also part of public policy. In Australia, tax brackets are determined by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) based on an individual’s income. Low-income earners, in particular, are taxed proportionally less than individuals who earn much higher salaries. Of course, this is a touchy topic, with many more affluent citizens arguing that they should be taxed considerably less. 

Cost of Living Crisis: Public Policy and Inflation

Whichever way you look at it, our cost of living is in crisis. With inflation on the rise and prices for just about everything soaring exponentially, there seems to be virtually no way out of this sticky situation. 

On the contrary, however, the government can and should implement strategic public policy decisions to help alleviate the pain of high price points. According to the Australian government, though, active measures have already been taken to ease common cost of living concerns. Some of these include:

Injection of Funds into Medical Support

In light of the rising costs of medical treatments in Australia, the government has pledged to invest $3.5 million into bulk billing initiatives. Under the bulk billing program, government subsidies cover all, or most of, the cost of attending a medical appointment with a General Practitioner (GP). The program also offers rebates for other medical treatments and services.

Assistance with Energy Bills

A national energy relief initiative was also recently implemented by the Australian Government to help with the rising costs of energy bills. This involved the implementation of an energy bill relief fund of up to $3 billion, that provided citizens with one-off rebates towards these costs. 

Increases in Welfare Payments

In Australia, increases in government welfare payments, including rent assistance and single-parent payments, have been promised. However, many recipients of these payments argue that this is not enough, with a vast number of welfare recipients still living well below the poverty line. 

When it comes to public policy, the truth is, that it matters to everyone. As a citizen, regardless of which state you are residing in, you have rights. Most importantly, you have the right to be aware of what decisions the government is making for you. 

Of course, if you choose to stay uninformed, that is your prerogative. If you do, however, you will find it very hard to understand why things are happening the way they are, and why the world is the way it is today.