Citizens juries: ancient idea for participation in a modern world

In pockets around the world, democracy is being reinvented as it was conceived in ancient Athens – not modern Greece, I hasten to add! Elections and referenda are all most of us know of democracy, yet elections were never really part of ancient democratic Athens. The Athenian parliament – the Council – was constituted of...

Radio National. Shaping democracy for the people

Presented by Jonathan Green. Sunday 5 July 2015. Winston Churchill once said, “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others”. 70 years on, with a world facing unprecedented challenges including climate change and growing inequality, could our democratic system use a bit of tweaking? In the UK last week, a major...

RADIO NATIONAL | Citizen juries – leadership for a new democracy

How would you like to actively participate shaping government policies, not just indirectly through your vote? Citizen juries allow just that. State and local governments have started to use citizen juries to address issues like infrastructure, budgeting or reforming the electoral system. These participatory democracy projects could radically alter the way all tiers of Australian...Continue reading

Ideas for SA shouldn’t be preserve of elites

InDaily, Adelaide Independent NewsJay Weatherill 25 May 2015 It is true that the power of our ideas will help to drive and sustain South Australia’s future. But when we think about “the next big things” it is important to ask who gets to decide what these are – and who gets included in the discussion. As...Continue reading

True democracy lies in the hands of everyday people

Luca Belgiorno-Nettis, Comment | Sydney Morning Herald10 May 2015 On display in Canberra’s Parliament House is a 13th century copy of a famous agreement. In 1215, King John acceded to the demands of his rebellious barons and signed the ‘Articles’ at Runnymede, near Windsor. This year marks the 800th anniversary of that event and there are celebrations...Continue reading

ABC LATELINE: Voters should have more say in policy

Australian Broadcasting Corporation | Broadcast: 02/09/2014 | Reporter: Margot O’Neill Australians could be encouraged to re-engage with the political system if they were given more say in big policy decisions. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL REPORT AND VIDEO

Darebin’s citizen jury calls for Preston community house

The Weekly Review Melbourne Times. By Sian Watkins| 10:08:AM 02/09/2014 A group of Darebin residents given $2 million by Darebin Council have recommended that it be spent on establishing a community house in East Preston and improving the hilltop area of All Nations Park. The “citizens’ jury” also recommended that the council install exercise equipment...

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