The Law Society Journal October, 2025 In a polarised world where many feel increasingly removed from government decision-making, does deliberative democracy offer a way to restore faith in democratic processes? By Vincent Barry. Read more.
Punter’s Politics: Renewing Australia’s democracy with Citizens’ Assemblies
What do Freddo Frogs, Cadbury Dairy Milks and Caramello Koalas have to do with democracy? newDemocracy Foundation Executive Director Iain Walker joins Konrad Benjamin on the Punter’s Politics Podcast to discuss how the major parties use electoral incentives to sway your vote and explains how everyday citizens can help strengthen our democracy in between elections....Continue reading
LIVE from the United Nations on International Day of Democracy 2025
From the Goals Lounge at the United Nations in New York, newDemocracy’s Iain Walker shared a stage with the UN Permanent Representative of Malawi Dr. Agnes Mary Chimbiri-Molande and Ireland’s Ambassador Fergal Mythen to discuss how democracy can be strengthened using innovative participatory methods. The event “From Voice to Action” was convened by the Office...Continue reading
In Australia, citizen juries have achieved what parliamentarians alone could not. Would they work in NZ?
“When we were standing up in 2011, saying, ‘Our democracy is about to get a lot worse’, people laughed at us. People thought we were out of our minds. You can probably guess we don’t hear that any more.” newDemocracy’s Iain Walker reflects on two decades of citizens’ assemblies in Australia and the slow dawning...Continue reading
Submission – Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Community Consultation Practices, August 2025
Read our submission here. We thank the Victorian Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee for this opportunity to contribute to the inquiry investigating community consultation practices by government and certain non-government entities, and your invitation to appear. This paper addresses the six key terms of reference and endeavours to highlight opportunities for improvement to achieve...Continue reading
Research note: Why is the American Government Unable to Balance Social Security?
In 2024, about eight in ten polled American adults believed that the Social Security system should either be kept the same or expanded; however, the Social Security Trust Fund, the monetary base for the Social Security program, is projected to become insolvent by 2034. The Research Question: ‘Why is the American government unable to balance...
OPINION: Could citizens’ assemblies do what parliament won’t on tax reform?
OPINION | Australia’s next tax reform needs more than Treasury and the teals. Experts argue citizens’ assemblies could rebuild momentum and public trust in tough tax decisions. LUCA BELGIORNO-NETTIS | Jul 29, 2025 ‘Would a child’s birthday cake be GST-free?’ That was the question Mike Willesee put to John Hewson in the 1993 election. Paul...
Big Ideas: The Place for Citizens Assemblies in Australia
Australia faces many big challenges, but is our democracy up to the job of solving these, or are we experiencing a decision deadlock? One process that could help governments meet the moment is known as citizen jury or assembly, where a cross-section of ordinary people deliberate together over a thorny policy issue then provide advice....Continue reading
Press Release: Democrazia Deliberativa Europea / European Deliberative Democracy
PRESS RELEASE June 2025 Democrazia Deliberativa Europea/ European Deliberative Democracy A debate at the Literary Society in Verona “Democrazia Deliberativa Europea. Come difendere la democrazia rafforzando la voce dei cittadini” (’European Deliberative Democracy. How to defend democracy by strengthening the voice of citizens’). This is the theme and title of the meeting to be held...Continue reading
ABC Saturday Extra with Nick Bryant
How Healthy is Australia’s Democracy? newDemocracy’s Executive Director Iain Walker joined ANU’s Jill Sheppard for an election morning interview with Nick Bryant on ABC Radio National’s Saturday Extra, Saturday 3rd May 2025. Listen here.