ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights the value of developing historical explanations to address the simple, yet vitally important, question of why readers have the kind of welfare state they have. The overall pattern of social policy that was consolidated in the Federation period is what might be called, in current language, a 'social investment state'. Francis Castles argues that the Hawke and Keating governments carried out a credible refurbishment of the 'wage-earner's welfare state'. Supporters could also argue that this 'fitted' with the other aspect of the traditional Australian approach: the 'wage-earner's welfare state'. If readers take a closer look at the policy record of the Howard government, they will see more of the complexity involved in establishing continuities and differences between the ALP and Coalition governments' policy framework. Paul Kelly suggests that much of the history of twentieth century Australian social policy can be considered in terms of an attempt to protect Australians from the global marketplace.
