INSIGHT 6 June 2016 They seem democratic but referendums are flawed. If we want people involved in the political process, there are smarter ways to go about it, says Niall Firth Referendums are “a splendid weapon for demagogues and dictators”, argued Margaret Thatcher in a debate over Britain’s place in the EU in 1975. Was that...Continue reading
Citizen juries & new democracy: Farrelly, Doyle, Walker, Belgiorno-Nettis, Brokman
By Sandra Edmunds, The Fifth Estate | 9 June 2016 Special Report: With development rampant across major Australian cities, many residents feel like they’ve lost a say in what happens to their communities. Public consultation seems token, and deals appear to be stitched up before concerned citizens can put in their two cents. Communities are...
Weatherill is right to seek a “social licence” on nuclear industry
Criticism of the State Government’s decision to turn to citizens’ juries for advice on our nuclear future overlooks the importance of gaining a “social licence” for such a momentous decision, writes Nathan Paine. The long-awaited release of the Royal Commission’s Report into the Nuclear Fuel Cycle was an important step on the road to a...Continue reading
Enough is enough! Why Grey Australians no longer trust their politicians
By Mark Evans*, Max Halupka* and Gerry Stoker* The Australian economy has experienced twenty years of economic growth. A remarkable performance that is unprecedented both historically and in comparison with other OECD countries over the period. Yet during the same time we have also witnessed a decade of democratic decline. Only 42% of Australians are...Continue reading
Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engagement – South Australia’s Department of Premier & Cabinet (2016)
The Foundation exists with a goal of finding improvements to how we make trusted public decisions – democratic decisions – which represent the informed general will of the people. To do so, we seek to run practical projects in controversial areas of low public trust and where genuine public discourse is impossible as the topic...
Luca Belgiorno Nettis | And they’re off, but does anyone really care?
In Australia, it took the best part of a century for Labor to prove itself. It was up to Bob Hawke and Paul Keating to demonstrate, decisively, that Labor could prosecute responsible government. We could hardly believe it. The socialists crafted a free enterprise platform for a sustained period of economic growth: floating the dollar,...Continue reading
And they’re off, but does anyone really care?
Sydney Morning Herald | Comment | May 19, 2016. The great divide between the parties is no longer so great. The punters are considering their bets, with the odds narrowing: not that much between the protagonists. You might end up voting for whoever you hate less. The politicians seem more concerned with their careers than us,...
The Mandarin | VicHealth’s citizens’ jury lessons: no censorship, impartiality
“The fundamental proposition of a citizens’ jury is that, when given a clear remit, adequate time and unfettered access to information, a group of representative citizens are capable of arriving at a sensible position that broadly reflects the views of the wider population,” the report argues. “Neutrality of information is critical to success. This means...Continue reading