AbstractsLaw & Legal Studies

Institutions, interest groups and marine resources policy : the development of fisheries – oil and gas policy in Bass Strait

by Marcus (Marcus Geoffrey) Haward




Institution: University of Tasmania
Department:
Year: 1986
Keywords: Marine resources; Pressure groups; Scallop fisheries; Petroleum in submerged lands; Natural gas in submerged lands
Record ID: 1032176
Full text PDF: http://eprints.utas.edu.au/20259/1/whole_HawardMarcusGeoffrey1988_thesis.pdf


Abstract

This study examines the development of marine resource policy highlighting the interaction between resource management institutions and resource user interest groups, and the effect of this interaction on both the policy process and policy output concerned with fisheries and offshore oil and gas policy in Bass Strait. It is argued that this interaction, and policy development, can best be explained as ocurring within issue communities composed of a range of policy actors (the institutions and interest groups) concerned with specific aspects of fisheries and/or offshore hydrocarbons policy. It is claimed that this interaction between actors cannot be adequately treated using the existing institutionalised structures concerned with the formulation of fisheries and/or oil and gas policy, and that such interaction within an issue community is likely to result in the emergence of specific accomodating institutions- in the policy environment. This proposition is developed through the examination of two case studies dealing with policies developed in the period 1983-85, first, the introduction of a management regime for the Bass Strait scallop fishery, and second, the introduction of a resource rent tax and cash bidding policies in the offshore petroleum sector. The thesis examines specific issues from Australia's emergent marine policy agenda, which although increasing in significance, given both international and domestic political developments in the period 1965-1985, has tended to be ignored by most commentators on Australian public policy. The impact of international developments such as the United Nations Third Conference on the Law of the Sea, (UNCLOS III), in providing extended (200 mile) jurisdiction over marine areas for coastal states, has increased the visibility of issues concerned with marine resources policy. This impetus from UNCLOS HI has coincided with domestic issues which provide the background of this thesis, the developments associated with what is termed the evolution of Australian offshore federalism. The impact of inter-governmental relations between the Commonwealth and States on fisheries and offshore oil and gas policy, provides the policy environment within which the interaction between various institutions and interest groups takes place.