AbstractThe policy-making process is characterised by uncertainty, complexity and the need for political agreement. Language plays a central role in politics, especially the symbolic forms of political myth and ritual. Political myth is a widely-believed set of unquestioned political beliefs that gives events and actions a particular meaning. Ritual is the practical ‘acting-out’ of the beliefs and values expressed in myth. Political myths about technology exist in western societies, one of which is the Silicon Valley model.It is argued here that the Silicon Valley myth — a narrative about the origins, growth and future of high technology companies in Silicon Valley — was influential in Australian technology policy in the early 1980s. It contributed to the ritual of technology parks — property developments, often associated with a university, designed to promote the growth of clusters of high technology companies. Some conclusions about the policy-making process are drawn from this analysis.