How government communicates in a complex world

The Australian National University is holding a forum on "How government communicates in a complex world", in Canberra, 5:30pm, 22 July 2013. This features Andrew Hockley, Executive Coordinator, Strategic Policy, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet; Katharine Murphy, Deputy political editor for Guardian Australia; James Button, Communications Manager, Grattan Institute; Michael Wesley, Professor of National Security, ANU.

Politics and the media move fast. But the longer-term work of democracy and government goes on, often dealing with complex policy issues of major importance.
The ways in which we understand changes in geopolitics, demographics, equality and the environment have long histories and will shape the future of the nation for decades to come. This public event focuses on the public service and the changing ways in which it communicates and engages with the community about complex, long-term policy.
How does the public service communicate about its work and role? How has the relationship between the public service and media changed, and what does this mean for public understanding and debate of major policy issues? And what role can academics and think-tanks play?
This forum brings together leading figures from the public service, academia and policy think-tanks for a discussion of these important questions.
-Michael Wesley, Professor of National Security, ANU and 2011 winner of the John Button Prize;
-James Button, Communications Manager, Grattan Institute and board member, John Button Foundation;
-Andrew Hockley, Executive Coordinator, Strategic Policy, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet;
-Katharine Murphy, Deputy political editor for Guardian Australia;
-Chaired by Mark Matthews, Executive Director, HC Coombs Policy Forum, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU
It is presented in partnership with the John Button Foundation - johnbuttonprize.org.au
REGISTRATION REQUIRED. This forum is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided after the forum