Complicating the picture even further are what Peter Shergold describes as ‘wicked problems’—complex and intractable issues, such as the health and economic well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, balancing environmental protection and economic growth, social under classes and welfare dependency and national security; problems that are seemingly resistant to government intervention. ^[1]

These are the sorts of problems that urgently need to be both the focus of new thinking (informed by past experience) and subject to leadership that employs dynamic and citizen focussed techniques—that are integrated and coordinated across agencies and jurisdictions. On top of that, there needs to be a commitment to directing the right level of resources to the task.

It is in this context that we have seen, in Australia and around the world, a focus on connecting government; on whole of government solutions to hard problems; on working across agencies and across jurisdictions; and on horizontal governance that involves stakeholders in the design, planning and implementation of government programs.

We are, of course, also seeing new and innovative approaches in many areas, but the point is that there is more to do, and there are no one-size-fits-all solutions. Many of these ‘wicked’ problems—addiction, obesity, welfare dependence—require behavioural change. Much of the recent policy design in these areas is underpinned by notions of shared responsibility and self reliance, and an acknowledgement that governments cannot achieve their objectives without the support and involvement of the community, or without increased cooperation and collaboration between sectors and agencies—more ‘co-productions’ (as ANZSOG is known to describe them).

This approach is evident, for example, in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities where communities make commitments (to improve school attendance, reduce drug and alcohol use, for example) and governments undertake to provide services or funding to assist the community to achieve their objectives (through Regional Partnership Agreements and Shared Responsibility Agreements).