Since the 1970s, the major political parties have seen their power slip as the ground moves from underneath them. Growing affluence, education/media access and discredited ideologies have helped tipped the balance in favour of the people. Yet the parties still lurch from one election to the next; forever hopeful that, out of the inane contest,...Continue reading
Democracy flounders in a sea of voter discontent
At the beginning of February, Premier Mike Baird came out fighting on GST, declaring: “I am convinced our political leaders and our community are ready to take the right, hard decisions for our future”. When Harold MacMillan, the British Conservative Prime Minister of the ’60s, was asked what can blow a government off course, he...Continue reading
newDemocracy News | February 2016
Deliberative democracy – does it really work? Public decisions that are more representative, less adversarial, based on public judgment not the loudest opinion – these are the fundamental principles espoused by the concept of deliberative democracy. Is there anything not to like about it? The newDemocracy Foundation has run over 12 juries for a range of government...Continue reading
Sydney lockout: A groundswell of opinion isn’t the considered view of the silent majority
The silent majority don’t speak unless spoken to, and when they’re “consulted” in polling or focus groups, no real opportunity is afforded for deliberation. They get asked opinions for two minutes, but rarely a considered view after learning more deeply about an issue. In December 2013, the City of Sydney and the state government decided...Continue reading
Sydney lockout: A groundswell of opinion isn’t the considered view of the silent majority
Luca Belgiorno-Nettis, Sydney Morning Herald. Comment. 17 February 2016. The silent majority don’t speak unless spoken to, and when they’re “consulted” in polling or focus groups, no real opportunity is afforded for deliberation. They get asked opinions for two minutes, but rarely a considered view after learning more deeply about an issue. In December 2013,...Continue reading
Power and gardens for the people
Athens can teach us a lot about real democracy – not the weasel democracy practised so often, British classics scholar Robin Lane Fox tells Kevin Chinnery.
Infrastructure Victoria: meeting Victoria’s infrastructure needs (2016)
As citizens and voters we all want and value infrastructure. Unfortunately, over the years this has led to the community looking at public decisions about major public investments with a weary cynicism: is this really the project we need, or is this simply a project to appeal to a marginal electorate? This perception is enough...Continue reading
What can the UK learn from Australian Democratic Innovation
As part of Policy Network’s work on democratic innovation and renewal, in partnership with the Barrow Cadbury Trust, Policy Network discusses Australian democratic innovations, and how the UK can learn from them. Panellists Luca Belgiorno-Nettis, Alison McGovern, Claudia Chwalisz, Jeremy Purvis and Shahrar Ali discussed the potential for citizens’ juries and assemblies in the UK, and...Continue reading
newDemocracy News | December 2015
Ideas, not Ideology The turmoil of the Civil War in 17th century England was the crucible for great political and philosophical upheavals. John Locke’s Enlightenment ideas of individual freedom and the importance of scientific (i.e. rational) thinking changed forever the way people looked at themselves with respect to their government. It was the Enlightenment ideals which...Continue reading