In the media age, contemporary democracies are dominated by the spectacle of debating and divisiveness, especially at election time. Elections are now not much more than a series of competing sound-bites, with voting just another polling event: a ‘low involvement product’. We’ve groomed charismatic and articulate political performers, whose primary skill is to debate, divide...Continue reading
Library
Policy Paper for Political Parties: Building Trust in Government
Author: A Draft Policy Paper from The newDemocracy Foundation Abstract: This paper has been produced in response to requests from a number of political parties leading in to the 2013 Federal Election. It outlines a practical, costed option as a clear, substantive step for those parties seeking to improve our democracy by posing the question of...Continue reading
Department of Premier and Cabinet – A Vibrant and Safe Nightlife for Adelaide (2013)
In April 2013, the Foundation was appointed by the Department of Premier and Cabinet to conduct a Citizens Jury to complement other measures and policy responses linked to alcohol related violence. In all spheres of government, it can occur that good decisions don’t get made for fear of the political cost through a vox pop...Continue reading
Ignorance and inclusion, Mr Jefferson, might be good for democracy
Author: Assoc Prof. Lyn Carson, United States Study Centre, University of Sydney, 2009. Abstract: Jefferson’s fears about the uneducated dragging down democracy into service of base desires, and its corollary that education is essential to protect it, is challenged in this paper.
The Human Side of Mechanism Design
December 2008 Author: Daniel McFadden, Department of Economics, University of California, Berkeley Abstract: This paper explores an economist’s view of the rationale for using randomly selected juries of citizens for resource allocation projects such as major infrastructure decisions and tax policy. Full Research Paper
Electoral Reform in Queensland
In December 2012, the Queensland Government announced a comprehensive review of the electoral process (attached below for ease of reference). The submission was made on March 1st and the Review is ongoing. The Foundation has made a submission referring to three major parts of the review: the chance to apply a candidate diversity rule to...Continue reading
Citizens’ Jury on Energy Generation (2012)
In July 2012, as part of the Inquiry into the Economics of Energy Generation the NSW Parliament will commission a jury style process to make a structured contribution to the public inquiry process. The Foundation will operate two policy juries – one in regional NSW and one in Metropolitan Sydney – in order to identify...
City of Canada Bay (2012)
In May 2012 the City of Canada Bay Council commenced a process to devolve decision making to a random selection of 36 citizens drawn from the local government area. They are being asked the question ‘What services should we deliver in the City of Canada Bay, and how should we pay for them?’.
A New Planning System for NSW
In July 2011 the NSW Government began a comprehensive review of the state’s planning system. The Minister sought submission and comments from the community and the Foundation has made two submissions which you can download here.
Founder’s Message
The level of confidence in our democracy today is at an all time low. Despite compulsory voting, citizens don’t turn up. Young people surveyed in a Lowy Institute poll saw only 39% agree with the statement “Democracy is preferable to any other kind of government.” Every survey of trust in elected representatives seems to find...Continue reading