Authors: Ortwin Renn, Thomas Webler, Horst Rakel, Peter Dienel and Branden Johnson (Policy Sciences 26: 189-214, 1993) Abstract: This report introduces a novel model of public participation in political decisions, based on three simple steps.
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ABC The Drum. Ten ideas to fix government
By Beverly Parungao As a slew of ICAC inquiries tear through NSW politics, a group of experts pitch their ideas to fix government. Do these plans have merit, and are there other proposals that should be pushed? Beverly Parungao writes. The St James Ethics Centre held a major debate on July 1st on ways to...Continue reading
Geoff Gallop. Australian Politics: A political class takes charge
From the Newsletter of the Southern Highlands Branch of the Labor Party, May 2014 Times like these make it hard for anyone to maintain their faith in the liberating power of politics. Current events remind us that politics creates space for idealists who seek the greatest good for the greatest number as well as...
Why I Study Public Deliberation- John Gastil in the Journal of Public Deliberation
The author argues that scholars can best advance public dialogue and deliberation by conducting systematic research on practical innovations that have the potential to improve political discourse. The author explains and justifies this position through a personal narrative that recounts formative experiences with debate, group dialogue, political campaigns, academic research, and electoral reform. Full Article...Continue reading
Moorebank Intermodal Citizens’ Jury (2014)
Moorebank Intermodal Company (MIC) was established by the Australian Government to oversee the development of a freight terminal at Moorebank. The terminal will improve the distribution of freight arriving in Sydney through Port Botany and on the interstate rail network. The terminal will benefit the NSW and Australian economy but it will also have an...Continue reading
Citizens’ jury of Melburnians will guide $6 billion spend
Aisha Dow, City Reporter for The Age You might describe it as Melbourne City Council’s version of jury duty, except it is far easier to get out of. A panel of 43 “everyday” Melburnians will advise council on how it should spend its money for the next 10 years, when the randomly selected group is...Continue reading
How politicians can sell unpopular reforms
From one of our founding board members. Ian Marsh. Australian Financial Review, 28 May 2014. Tony Abbott’s fall from grace has been precipitous. But it is not unprecedented. Its causes are much more fundamental than poor political judgment. How so? Take the precedents. The Resource Super Profits Tax was released in May 2010, and was followed...Continue reading
Kathy Jones. The politics of engagement
Kathy Jones, speaking as a board member of newDemocracy, discussed this challenge in a speech to the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2). Overcoming this distrust of politicians and planning requires finding innovative ways to communicate not only with those residents who are already “engaged and enraged”, but also with community members who are hard-to-reach....Continue reading
God Does Not Play Dice, But People Should: Random Selection in Politics, Science and Society
Authors: Bruno S. Frey, CREMA & Lasse Steiner, University of Zurich March 1, 2014 – University of Zurich, Department of Economics, Working Paper No. 144 Abstract:This paper discusses and proposes random selection as a component in decision-making in society. Random procedures have played a significant role in history, especially in classical Greece and the medieval...
Time for citizens to decide how to stop election campaign rorting
Jonathan O’Dea | Sydney Morning Herald | 30 April 2014 Following more explosive revelations from the Independent Commission Against Corruption on Monday, Premier Mike Baird has identified political lobbying and election campaign funding as major issues for our state government. He has indicated support for tighter regulation of lobbyists and public funding of election campaigns....