OPINION | Real democratic change may not come from louder slogans, but from quietly handing ordinary citizens a formal voice inside the machinery of power. By Luca Belgiorno-Nettis in The Mandarin. Wednesday 18th February, 2026 Upon winning the leadership of the Liberal Party, Angus Taylor said bluntly, “Change or die, and I choose change.” It’s...Continue reading
Amid the chaos, broken trust and desperate lack of leadership, voters are abandoning the major parties in droves. Is a citizens’ assembly the only way to fix this mess now? By Dennis Shanahan in The Australian 7th February, 2026
Deliberative democracy advocates regularly use the jury system as an analogy to explain why randomly selected citizens can be trusted to make complex public decisions. In this article by The Rule of Law Institute, the author makes the case for juries in the justice system. It argues that by bringing together ordinary citizens to assess...Continue reading
A small corner of Belgium is recruiting ordinary citizens to help create policies. Participants say it’s renewed their faith in government. By Jenny Gross Reporting from Eupen, Belgium Nov. 23, 2025 Full article from The New York Times.
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.
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
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
“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
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...
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