Heard the government's taking courses of action (5)

I believe the answer is:

tacks

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'courses of action' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

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(Other definitions for tacks that I've seen before include "Short nails" , "Approaches" , "They fix" , "Small broad-headed nails" , "Changes course" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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