Breathing new life into our tired public debate

One proposal is to devote a national holiday to public deliberation. A “Deliberation Day” would be held in the lead-up to national elections, and all voters would be invited to listen to different candidates and engage in group discussions. Attendance might be thought of as a core civic obligation, like jury duty.

The cost would be high, but the payoff would be a political debate that is far more meaningful. Our politicians would have to adjust to an electorate that is more informed on key issues, and the development of a more deliberative citizenry could transform public dialogue.

The deliberative poll model is relatively new, and more research needs to be done. This is where governments can step in. The polls are expensive to run, but the potential benefits are great enough that public investment is justified.

It is disappointing that the federal government did not send a single representative to the deliberative poll in Canberra. It can reassure voters that it supports an informed and engaged citizenry by investing in deliberative polling, and initiatives like it, which seek to improve the quality of public debate.

In an election year, when both major parties will seek any advantage they can, the need for moderate, informed debate could not be clearer.