Dr Christopher Sheil | UNSW Research

My Expertise

Labour history (specialising in labourers and the stevedoring industry); political economy (specialising in globalisation and economic inequality); public policy (specialising in economic and social policy); Australian politics and political history.

Keywords

Fields of Research (FoR)

Australian History (excl. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander History), Australian Government and Politics, Business and Labour History, Globalisation and Culture, History of Philosophy and History of Ideas, Political Economy, Social Policy

Biography

Christopher Sheil, BA (Hons), PhD, is a social historian whose principal interest is in the history of labour. He is also an Adjunct Professor in social policy at Boston University (Sydney Academic Centre), and a former member of the Senior Executive Service in the NSW Cabinet Office. He has been a senior policy official under six governments (four Labor and two Liberal-National), has served on over 60 national and state government social and economic policy committees (including a dozen cabinet committees), and is the author or editor of well over 200 academic and government publications. A member of the Australian Society of Authors, he was a monthly columnist for the Australian Financial Review from 2001 to 2003 and his main books are: (ed.) Globalisation: Australian Impacts (UNSW Press: 2001); Water’s Fall: Running the Risks with Economic Rationalism (Pluto Press: 2000) (short-listed for the 2001 NSW Premier’s Literary Award for Literary or Cultural Criticism); War on the Wharves: A Cartoon History (Pluto Press: 1998); and (ed.) Turning Point: The State of Australia (Allen & Unwin: 1997). He served for 17 years as an executive member of the Evatt Foundation (affiliated with the University of Sydney), including a record 13 years as President. His current research is focused on historical aspects of Australian politics and policy, maritime labour, and economic inequality.

My Qualifications

BA (Hons) UNSW, PhD Wollongong

My Engagement

Publications in other journals & magazines

'The continuing redistribution of Australia's wealth, upwards, Evatt Journal, 18 (2), September 2019 (co-author with Frank Stilwell).
'It's not just the ABS: It's also the Productivity Commission downplaying inequality', The Conversation, 29 August 2019 (co-author with Frank Stilwell).
'What the Bureau of Statistics didn't highlight: our continuing upward redistribution of wealth', The Conversation, 21 August 2019 (co-author with Frank Stilwell), republished in The New Daily and elsewhere.
'Wealth inequality in Australia: 2012 to the present', Evatt Journal, 18 (1) May 2019 (co-author with Frank Stilwell).
'Inequality stocktake ... or snowjob?', Evatt Journal, 17 (3), November 2018.
'The "middle class" squeeze', Progress in Political Economy, 23 December 2017 (co-author with Frank Stilwell), republished in Healey, J. (ed.), Global Poverty and Wealth Inequality: Issues in Society, vol. 441, Spinnney Press, Thirroul, 2019, 35-7.
'The cutting edge of inequality', Evatt Journal, Vol. 16, No. 5, December 2017.
'Data collection means we don't know how much the middle class is being squeezed by the wealthy', The Conversation, 20 December 2017 (co-author with Frank Stilwell).
'The ABS is wrong: inequality is getting worse in Australia', ABC News Online, 15 September 2017 (co-author with Frank Stilwell).
With Rodgers, Daniel T., 'Whither the ‘social’ in society?', Evatt Journal, Vol. 16, No. 3, July 2017.
'Vale Bill Leak: Don't remember him as just a reactionary cultural warrior', ABC News Online, 18 March 2017.
'Engaging with the IMF on inequality', Progress in Political Economy,10 March 2017 (co-author with Frank Stilwell).
'The IMF is showing some hypocrisy on inequality', The Conversation, 13 February 2017 (co-author with Frank Stilwell), republished by the Huffington Post, The Wire (India), The Independent (Singapore), and many other outlets.
'Is Piketty's Capital in the Twenty-First Century really the most unread bestseller?', The Conversation, 26 October 2016.
‘Land of the “fair go” no more’: wealth in Australia is becoming more unequal’, The Conversation, 9 August 2016 (co-author with Frank Stilwell); republished on ABC News Online and numerous other outlets.
‘What was it like? Tom Uren and Richard Flanagan on the Burma-Thailand railway’, Evatt Journal, 14 (2), 2015.
‘Abbott, Piketty and the Spirit of the Times’, JAPE Blogspot, Department of Political Economy, University of Sydney, June 17, 2014.
‘Piketty inequality tome could spark left’, Challenge, Winter, 2014.
‘Problems of privatisation: the case of water’, Good Government: A Journal of Political, Social and Economic Comment, August 2005, pp. 4-8.
‘In the era of perpetual war: Globalisation revisited’, Evatt Journal, 5 (3), 2005.
‘Blog fast, die young’, Famous Reporter, 30, 2004, pp. 90-97.
‘Before 2004 enters political mythology’, Uniken (‘Last Word’), UNSW Magazine, November 2004.
‘Partnerships, politics and the English language’, Dissent, 11, 2003, pp. 46-49.
‘The trouble with PPPs: An un-holy alliance’, Evatt Journal, 2 (7), 2002.
‘Tabloid TV meets the ghost of Ern Malley: Struggle Street and the Dole Army’, Evatt Journal, 2 (1), 2002.
‘Political leadership: Looking to the led’, Show Cause, Journal of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, UNSW, 7, 2002, pp. 21-22.
‘Patrick Troy looks into water’s future: review article’, Evatt Journal, 2 (1), 2002.
‘What will Labor do for its next trick?’, Show Cause, Journal of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, UNSW, 6, 2001, pp. 24-5.
‘Last Word’, Uniken, UNSW Magazine, 4, June 2001.
‘Economic rationalism: well past high noon’, Show Cause, Journal of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, UNSW, 5, 2001, pp. 14–16.
‘Telstra: what happens after the sell off?’, Show Cause, Journal of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, UNSW, 3, 2000, p. 41.
‘Water’s Fall?’, Ingovernment, 2 (4), 2000, pp. 14–15.
‘The rich v. poor divide: As good as it gets?’, Show Cause, Journal of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, UNSW, 2, 1999, pp. 3–6.
‘Cartooning the dispute’, Evatt Journal, 2 (4), 1999.
‘What happens to these citizens? Putting the national data collection into context’, Parity, Journal of the Council to Homeless Persons, 11 (1), March 1998, pp. 10–12.
‘Heart of Darkness: New Managerialism and its Contradictions’, Inner Voice, Journal of the Inner Sydney Regional Council for Social Development, 80, 1997, pp. 39–42.
Report of the Committee of Inquiry into Sale of NSW Electricity Assets (‘Hogg Report’), New South Wales Government, Sydney, 1997 (contributing author).

Major government social policy publications

Social Justice Budget Statement, 1996–97, NSW Government, Budget Papers, May 1996.
Valuing Cultural Diversity, Report of the Review of the Ethnic Affairs Act, 1979, NSW Premiers’ Department, 1996 (contributing author).
Discussion Paper on Proposed National Framework for Children’s Services in Australia, Council of Australian Governments Child Care Working Group, October 1995 (contributing author).
‘Reform of Health and Community Services,’ Interim Report from Health and Community Services Ministers to Heads of Government, Council of Australian Governments Working Group, November 1995 (contributing author).
Social Justice Budget Statement 1995–96, NSW Government, Budget Papers, October 1995.
‘Possible Areas of Reform and Data Collection in the General Area of Child Care’, Report to the Council of Australian Governments, 19 August 1994 (contributing author).
‘Roles and Responsibilities in Community Services: Report of the Working Group on National Objectives in Community Services’, Report to the Council of Australian Governments, June 1994 (contributing author).
‘New South Wales Government Submission to the Industry Commission Public Housing Inquiry’, NSW Government, October 1993.
Strategic Review of Service Improvement for the Home and Community Care Program in NSW (2 Vols.), KPMG Peat Marwick on behalf of the HACC Review Steering Committee, NSW Government, October 1993 (contributing author).
‘Report to the Minister for Housing’, Building Services (‘Dodd Report’) Implementation Task Force, NSW Premier’s Department, July 1993 (contributing author).

Major government economic policy publications

‘New South Wales Government Submission to the National Competition Policy Review’, NSW Government, March 1993.
‘One Nation: Report on the Policy Implications for NSW’ (2 Vols.), Business Economics Analysis and Policy Group, NSW Department of State Development, July 1992.
Investing in Infrastructure: Guidelines for Private Sector Investment in the Provision of Public Infrastructure, WA Government, Perth, 1992 (contributing author).
‘A National Registration, Regulation and Charging Scheme for Light Vehicles and Related Issues’, Report of the Commonwealth–State Overarching Working Group on Land Transport, Special Premiers’ Conference, November 1991 (contributing author).
‘Report of the Commonwealth–State Committee on Regulatory Reform to Heads of Government’, Commonwealth–State Committee on Regulatory Reform, Special Premiers’ Conference, November 1991 (contributing author).
The Mutual Recognition of Standards and Regulations in Australia, A Discussion Paper, published by Australia’s Heads of Government, Special Premiers’ Conference, Sydney, 1991 (contributing author).
‘Report on Road Transport’, Report of the Commonwealth–State Overarching Working Group on Land Transport to Heads of Government, Special Premiers’ Conference, Sydney, 1991 (contributing author).
Reform and Renewal: A Policy Discussion Paper on the Corporatisation of Government Trading Enterprises, WA Government, Perth, 1991 (principal author).
Progress and Priorities: The Western Australian Government’s Approach to Microeconomic Reform, WA Government, Perth, 1990.
‘Regulatory Reform’, Report of the Commonwealth–State Working Party on Regulatory Reform to Heads of Government, Special premiers’ Conference, October 1990 (contributing author).
‘Duplication of Services’, Report of the Commonwealth–State Working Party on Duplication of Services to Heads of Government, Special premiers’ Conference, October 1990 (contributing author).
‘Reform of Government Trading Enterprises’, Paper endorsed by the Governments of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, Northern Territory and the ACT, Special Premiers’ Conference, Brisbane, 30-31 October 1990 (contributing author).
‘Southern Aerospace Project’, Commercial-in-confidence proposal for the establishment of the Southern Aerospace Helicopter Plant at Albion Park Aerodrome, Shellharbour (NSW), NSW Department of State Development, Sydney, 1989 (joint author).
The Airport Needs of the Sydney Basin, Joint Report of the Commonwealth and NSW Governments, Sydney and Canberra, 1988 (editor and principal author).
‘The NSW Processed Foods Industry: A Report on Recent Assessments of Growth Prospects’, major internal report, NSW Department of Industrial Development and Decentralisation, Sydney, 1988.
Agriculture Development Strategy, NSW Government, Sydney, 1988 (editor and principal author).
Australian Agriculture: Investment Brief, Export Development Unit, NSW Department of Agriculture, Sydney, 1987.
New South Wales Fruit & New South Wales Vegetables, NSW Department of Agriculture, Sydney, 1987 (editor).
Australia–Europe Trade Promotion Tour, Export Development Unit Report, NSW Department of Agriculture, Sydney, 1987.
Cattle Tick in New South Wales, Cattle Tick Review Committee Report, NSW Department of Agriculture, Sydney, 1980 (editor and principal author).

Select other government publications, major speeches, etc

New South Wales Facing the World, Statement by the Premier, NSW Government, Sydney, 1992 (contributing author).
‘Communiqué: Meeting of Premiers and Chief Ministers’, published by the Heads of Australia’s State and Territory Governments, Adelaide, 22 November 1991 (contributing author).
‘Mutual Recognition’, Address by C.M. Lawrence (Premier), Western Australian Mutual Recognition Seminar, Perth, 17 September 1991.
‘Communiqué: Special Premiers’ Conference—Towards a Closer Partnership’, published by Australia’s Heads of Government, Sydney, 31 July 1991 (contributing author).
‘Economic Reform in Western Australia’, Keynote address by C.M. Lawrence (Premier), Conference on Commercialisation and Corporatisation in Western Australia, Perth, 23 July 1991.
‘Towards a Closer Partnership: New Directions in Commonwealth–State Relations’, Address by C.M. Lawrence (Premier) to Heads of Commonwealth Departments, Perth, 13 February 1991.
‘Issues and Challenges in Microeconomic Reform in Western Australia’, Address by C.M. Lawrence (Premier), Western Australian Conference on Microeconomic Reform, Perth, 19 October 1990.
‘Speech to the National Press Club’, Address by C.M. Lawrence (Premier), National Press Club, Canberra, 1 April 1990 (contributing author).
Regionalisation of the New South Wales Department of Agriculture, Working Party on Regionalisation Report, NSW Department of Agriculture, Sydney, 1981 (editor and principal author).
Staffing Aspects of the Tick Quarantine Area and Queensland Border Sections, Report to the Cattle Tick Review Committee, NSW Department of Agriculture, Sydney, 1988.

Newspaper columns & features

‘Online opinion is good news for Labor’, The Age, 22 August 2005.
‘The shine has come off PPPs’, Australian Financial Review, 20 November 2003.
‘Terrorism and Tampa saved Howard‘, Australian Financial Review, 4 Sept. 2003.
‘For optimum results, kill off the patients’, Australian Financial Review, 16 May 2003.
‘Howard sets conservative benchmark’, Australian Financial Review, 15 March 2003.
‘Competition push needs safeguards’, Australian Financial Review, 17 January 2003.
‘Coonan’s next can of worms: PPPs’, Australian Financial Review, 6 December 2002.
‘Privatisation by any other name’, Australian Financial Review, 18 October 2002.
‘Macfarlane hugs limelight, ignores risk’, Australian Financial Review, 13 Sept. 2002.
‘Debt compromise no-one wants to back’, Australian Financial Review, 24 June 2002.
‘Superficial appeal of PPPs falling apart’, Australian Financial Review, 24 May 2002.
‘Productivity Commission under fire’, Australian Financial Review, 5 April 2002.
‘Let’s drop the PPP: it’s simply a deal’, Australian Financial Review, 15 February 2002.
‘Muddy waters as tail tries to wag dog’, Australian Financial Review, 7 December 2001.
‘Mainstream flows to the Left’, The Australian, 9 November 2001.
‘Competition law ripe for revamp’, Australian Financial Review, 26 October 2001.
‘Telstra privatisation: making it harder’, Australian Financial Review, 12 October 2001.
‘Why Labor shouldn’t be written off yet’, The Australian, 1 October 2001.
‘Self-interest spells disaster in sell-offs’, Australian Financial Review, 7 Sept. 2001.
‘Exposing the rocks in the rhetoric’, Australian Financial Review, 31 August 2001 (Review, feature article).
‘History puts powerful argument’, Australian Financial Review, 3 August 2001.
‘Costello and the march of globalisation’, Australian Financial Review, 30 July 2001.
‘Globalisation scandal keeps us in the dark’, Australian Financial Review, 24 July 2001.
‘Need to return to the social contract’, Australian Financial Review, 6 July 2001.
‘How business booms in the town that banned Bob Dylan’, Australian Financial Review, 29 June 2001.
‘No vision may beat rear vision’, Australian Financial Review, 27 June 2001.
‘When transparency goes slightly cloudy’, Australian Financial Review, 1 June 2001.
‘Coming up with the public goods’, Australian Financial Review, 29 May 2001.
‘Common sense returns to basic services’, Australian Financial Review, 11 May 2001.
‘Jobs: things can only get worse’, Australian Financial Review, 14 March 2001.
‘Grim prospect for Howard’, Australian Financial Review, 14 February 2001.
‘Government in US for the people not by them’, Australian Financial Review, 17 Nov 2000.
‘Coming clean on our dirty drinking water’, Sydney Morning Herald, 29 August 2000.
‘The true cost of calamity’, Sydney Morning Herald, 8 June 2000.
‘On the move—down’, The Age, 25 June 1999.
‘Nothing wrong with a fair go for all’, Sydney Morning Herald, 12 November 1998.
‘No democracy, no statehood’, Sydney Morning Herald, 8 July 1998.
‘Privatisation’s thin air of inevitability’, Australian Financial Review, 13 January 1998.
‘Shuffling the deck chairs’, Sydney Morning Herald, 6 December 1997.
‘Housing reform an illusion’, Australian Financial Review, 25 November 1996.
‘Reverse reaps its own reward’, Australian Financial Review, 25 September 1996.
‘The anatomy of a botched operation’, Australian Financial Review, 5 July 1996.
‘The first organiser: Australia’s Peter Pan’, Federation News, 12 (2) March 1985.
‘The silent organiser’, Federation News, 11 (4) November 1984.
‘Ray Gietzelt: an historical perspective’, Federation News, 11 (2), May 1984.
‘Women in the FMWU’, Federation News, 10 (2), March 1983.