VCE Outdoor & Environmental
Studies
Unit 4
– Methods used to
influence decisions over the use
of natural environments
Methods used to influence decisions
Introduction
•
When a conflict occurs over use of a natural environment, it is the
responsibility of governments to make decisions and create laws
regarding the use of the natural environment
•
The government could be federal (Australia), State (Victoria) or
Local (Mornington Peninsula Shire) depending on the environment
in conflict
•
Members of governments are elected to represent the community,
so community members can apply pressure to influence their
decisions
•
Interest groups and individuals adopt a range of methods to
influence the decision making process
4.2.2 – Methods used to influence decisions
Work
•
•
•
•
Summarise 2 conflicts of interest:
Case Study ‘The Franklin River
Case study Cattle crazing in The Alpine National Park
Know table ‘Methods for influencing decision-making
processes’
4.2.2 – Methods used to influence decisions
Strategy
Explanation
Advantages
Disadvantages
Lobbying
Direct contact with
those making decisions
or their representatives
•Conducted directly by
individual/interest group
•Ensures decision makers have
clear understanding of your
position
•Can be difficult to access
decision makers
•Time consuming
Letters and
Petitions
Letters sent to
newspapers or decision
makers Petitions signed
by many and sent to
decision makers
•Hand written letters show
high level of commitment
•Letters to newspapers often
published and inform the
public/generate support
•Good way to get media
attention on small issues in
community newspapers
•Petitions easy to conduct and
gain a lot of support
•Pre-pared letters and
petitions have little impact as
they require minimal effort
from those involved
•People sign petitions with
little knowledge about issue
so petition has little impact
unless numbers are high
4.2.2 – Methods used to influence decisions
Strategy
Explanation
Advantages
Disadvantages
Use of
Media
Using media to
promote position
through interviews,
newspapers, on the
news or advertising
•Get clear message and
information to a large number
of people
•Interviews hard to organise
•Advertising is very
expensive
Telephone
Calls
To politicians or
companies
•A more personal impact
•Many calls can disrupt a
company can encourage a
compromise if profits are
affected
•Time consuming
•Requires large number of
people to make an impact
Forming
Partnership
Partnerships between
groups aiming to
achieve a similar
outcome on the issue
•Greater number of people
supporting a position
•Greater resources pooled to
influence decision
•Gives arguments/positions
increased public credibility
when there is diversity of
groups involved
•Different groups may need
to compromise on some
issues or strategies
•Wide number of groups with
different agendas may
become different to
coordinate
4.2.2 – Methods used to influence decisions
Strategy
Explanation
Advantages
Disadvantages
Gathering
own
evidence /
Presenting
reports
Scientific or social
reports gathered to
provide evidence for an
interest group’s
position
•Provides credibility to group’s
position
•Arguments for position can be
clearly understood
•Time consuming and
expensive
•Opposing groups/companies
may gather opposing
evidence negating your work
Use of
prominent
people
Groups seek support
from well known
people in the
community
•Media attention raises profile •May be argued that
of group’s position
prominent person has little
•Provides credibility to group’s understanding of the issue
position
Meetings
and
Information
Evenings
Take issue to
community to engage
individuals and gather
support
•Members of wider
community are able to ask
questions and become better
informed
•Shows level of support on the
issue
•Time consuming to organise
•Often poorly attended
Use of Prominent People