Sunday 28 September 2014. Presented by Anthony Funnell There’s a growing public disenchantment with democracy and the modern political process. So, here’s a solution: citizens’ juries—ordinary people who are given the information and training to make decisions on civic issues. It’s all part of an approach known as deliberative democracy, aiming to build stronger and...Continue reading
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Marrickville Infrastructure Jury (2014)
Like many councils across the country, Marrickville Council face the challenging problem of renewing a vast portfolio of aging capital assets – from roads, to parks, to pavements, stormwater drains and beyond. There are also new assets the council may wish to build such as cycleways and greening initiatives to be factored in – while...
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...
Darebin: Jury allocates cash
RESIDENTS HAVE SAY ON COUNCIL SPENDING On Preston Leader, Melbourne by Julia Irwin ADDRESSING disadvantage was a priority for Dare- bin’s first citizens’ jury when it delivered its verdict on how to spend $2 million from the city’s budget. Darebin is believed to be the first council in Victoria to introduce participatory budgeting, which gives resi-...Continue reading
For democracy’s sake, give power to the people
Nicholas Reece, THE AGE, 1 September 2014. A radical experiment in democracy has begun at Melbourne Town Hall. But it does not involve online activism, marching in the streets, or the Occupy Movement. Instead it draws on the earliest democratic traditions together with some new thinking from social scientists to trial a new approach to...
The Future of Democracy. Altius Conference: Oxford 2014
POLITICAL REFORM I work in a family company involved in urban infrastructure. I’m no political science student and, up until relatively recently, have had no real interest in politics. My main interaction with politicians was through the regular rounds of party political campaign lunches and dinners. I was a regular invitee, as a businessman/potential donor....Continue reading
City of Melbourne People’s Panel (2014)
Read the Panel’s recommendations here. Participatory budgeting processes traditionally focus on a component of discretionary budget – such as a representative’s ability to ringfence a couple of million dollars for community facilities. However, in many ways the larger challenge in budgeting is the dominance of interest groups coupled with the capacity to present any and...Continue reading
Premier of South Australia – Cycling in the City Citizens Jury (Recruitment only) (2014)
In South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill has continued to use the Citizens Jury methodology as a way of hearing a community view in policy areas where organised – and polarised – advocacy groups can drown out all other voices. Consistent with our position of not working to repeat past methodologies, in this case NDF was...
Challenging futures of citizen panels
Authors: Mann, C.; Voß, J.-P.; Amelung, N.; Simons, A.; Runge, T.; Grabner, L.: Innovation in Governance Research Group, Department of Sociology, Technische Universität (TU) Berlin Abstract: This report emerged from the workshop “Challenging futures of citizen panels”, held by the Innovation in Governance Research Group on April 26, 2013, at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and...Continue reading