Putting the people back into politics

The chair of the forum, Jacobine Geel, concluded that the electorate needed to exert a greater influence on the membership of the Lower House through a proportional representation system. But, that a reform of the electoral system was not the only answer to the problem of the public’s decreasing confidence in politics.

Similarly in British Columbia, Canada, the provincial government held a Citizens Assembly on Electoral Reform and promised to take its findings to a referendum. The assembly comprised 160 randomly selected citizens - one man and one woman from each electoral district including Indigenous members.

The assembly held 50 public hearings (attended by 3,000 people) and took 1,603 written submissions. Its report, Making Every Vote Count, recommended the introduction of a new proportional electoral system called the single-transferable vote. The referendum was narrowly defeated, but nevertheless remains an example of participatory democracy in action.

Australian society has changed significantly since Federation in 1901. We can be proud of our contribution to democratic development. The secret ballot, women candidates for office and the first plebiscite that federated a nation are just a few of our pioneering global landmarks illustrating how Australia can effect political change.

Accordingly it is quite feasible, if not necessary, that a political system which was established over 100 years ago be open to discussion and subject to reform.

There are many people who feel the time is right for a conversation about our system. They include former politicians such as The Hon. John Button (former Labor Minister) and The Hon. Fred Chaney AO (former Liberal Minister), academics Lyn Carson and Ian Marsh and myself.

Together we have joined under the banner of The newDemocracy Foundation - a not-for-profit research organisation, which aims to create a space for non-partisan deliberation on reform – a space for the people. The Foundation, in partnership with the Australian National University, Sydney University and Murdoch University, has just won an Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage grant to review and propose reforms by holding - what we are calling - a Citizens' Parliament.

As a Foundation, we do not want to push an agenda onto Australians, but rather seek to act as facilitators of a dialogue, which we hope will incite a positive change in our current political system.

The Citizens’ Parliament will be comprised of 150 representatives, one from each federal electorate, randomly selected - an important factor in ensuring fair representation of each electoral community within Australia. The values which underpin what we are trying to achieve through both The newDemocracy Foundation and the Citizens’ Parliament, are of collaboration and consensus building.

Historically, democracy and its leaders sought to inspire, motivate and encourage political empowerment and involvement. However, in the modern era in developed countries such as Australia, where there are more educated free thinkers than ever before, people feel manipulated and indignant towards political cartels and their spin.

I think it is fair to say that a fundamental purpose of any democracy is to put the people into politics. May I offer a slight variation on the words of the French statesman: "Government is far too important to be left to political parties - or anyone else - but ourselves".