AUSTRALIA’S DEMOCRACY A STRATEGIC ROADMAP FOR RENEWAL Dr Mark Triffitt University of Melbourne

Introduced by: Glenn Barnes & Verity Firth Co-Chairs, Citizens for Democratic Renewal

AN INITIATIVE BY THE CITIZENS FOR DEMOCRATIC RENEWAL PART A A PART A B INTRODUCTION

In Australia today, we citizens enjoy a of Social and Political Sciences at the University stable governance structure gifted to us by our farsighted forebears – citizens understanding of the serious systemic challenges of Melbourne – seeks to inform and improve from all walks of life, not just the Australia faces in our governance structures and practices, while bringing together a number of powerful and privileged. They strived possible remedies into a potential roadmap for for near 30 years to piece our Federation democratic renewal. together, based on a liberal democratic ‘representative government’ model, and In bringing these matters to your attention, we to gain popular support for it. public awareness of the issues involved and the It is now time for this generation of imperativeare seeking for to enlistcommunity your involvement wide engagement, in building Australians to put in a similar effort for discussion and consideration of how we can the benefit of today’s citizens and for name on a list of citizens supporting us, we need future generations. taxmake deductible our democracy donations work and better. we need We need public your During the nineteenth century the system commentary to help build broad awareness of of representative democracy evolved to the the need and opportunity for this project. antecedent of the current forms in use. The system All details are at democraticrenewal.org.au aimed to address the perennial challenge for Our end objective is to stimulate the establishment societies characterised by competing ideas and of our whole community, to determine how we ‘common interest’ decisions that the vast majority canof an regenerate Australian and citizens’ strengthen assembly, our thatdemocracy, is reflective caninterests accept. of finding a trusted process to make through: • Better enabling the discourse, deliberation, past hundred years in meeting the needs of those legislation, regulation and enactment of manyThis system societies has who worked adopted reasonably it - including well for Australia. the a transparent, fact‐based, consultative, timely as practised today is not now meeting the needs andGovernment civil manner policy with making the common to be conducted good given in ofHowever, today’s theresocieties are andsignificant the myriad signs of that new the and system overriding priority; distinctive 21st century challenges they face. • Better representing the views of our population Frustration with the failure of our political system in government policy formulation; to move with the times has morphed into growing • Establishing a constitutional review process citizens who increasingly believe the system that will give us a contemporary constitution islack no of longer trust, geared cynicism to achievingand disengagement the common by promulgated and legislated by the people of interest. Instead of leading through transparent Australia (in place of the current constitution and fact-based, deliberative policy development - legislated by the UK Parliament in 1900!) that supported by processes of appropriate community wisely as we face contemporary and future averse and partisan in their policy development. opportunitiessets the framework and challenges. for governing our country Societiesconsultation are -venting politicians their have frustration become through reactive, risk voting for political extremes or fragmentation. is central to a sound economy and the wellbeing We are also seeing a growing pattern of civil ofEfficient the entire and community.effective government In today’s decisionworld this making disobedience as citizens resort to more radical requires that citizens see adequate ongoing action in the belief this is the only way to have their listening to, and weighting of their views, in the voices heard. policy development processes. While these patterns of dysfunction are evident We need your active help to achieve this, as it will across most liberal representative democracies, the good news is that the system can evolve to system to catalyse the impetus for change. overcome the current shortcomings. take action by those normally outside the political Glenn Barnes & Verity Firth Co-Chairs, Citizens for Democratic Renewal The accompanying paper, written by Dr Mark Triffitt – lecturer in public policy with the School PART A CONTENTS

PART A 3

Executive Summary 4 The Problem of Democratic Decline 5 Democratic Decline in Australia 7

PART B 9

What’s at Stake? 10 Decline of Effective Government A Shift to Extremism

PART C 11

Who’s To Blame? 12 What’s to Blame? 13 Democracy Disrupted 15 Two Connected Crises 16

PART D 17

A Roadmap for Renewing our Democracy 18 Reforms and Rationales 20 Conclusion – Renew or Wither Democracy? 22

PART E 23

Newspaper headlines & commentary 24 Books, Think Tanks & Reports 25 Citizens for democratic renewal: Aims & Objectives 26 Timeline for A National Conversation 30 Endnotes 31 Executive Summary

The Problem of Democratic Decline

Democratic Decline in Australia

PART A

PART A EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The paper highlights the imperative for The paper argues that the causes are much deeper major renewal of our democracy in view than conventional views that blame ‘bad’ political of declining public trust, engagement leadership. Instead, failure is occurring because of and increasing policy inertia which a fundamental and growing structural disconnect is threatening our nation’s capacity to govern itself effectively in the 21st muchbetween the our same democratic way as they system have –done still largelyfor the past century. The paper argues that these configured to operate and engage with citizens in problems are not one-off or temporary; the 21st century. In short, democracy has been rather they represent a deepening disrupted100 years in– and much the the new same and way different that many realities other of pattern of dysfunction across many areas of our society have been disrupted over the democracies around the globe, past 20 years. including Australia’s. representative and functionalThis disconnect is creating two interlinked crises eachfor our other. democratic These two system crises – have combined to create an environment – which are wherefeeding major off and policy amplifying change and public support for it is becoming increasingly

for renewing Australia’s democracy to improve ourdifficult nation’s to achieve. ability toThe meet paper and outlines stay ahead a roadmap of

and social policy decisions that now face us. Thethe myriad roadmap of complexrecognises and the difficult need to economic shift from

in isolation, to a broader, innovative and multi- stagedpiecemeal agenda solutions for reforming that look our at one political problem and policy system so that Australia’s democracy better aligns with the fundamentally changed social and Above: Yellow vests political conditions of the 21st century. protests in Paris Below: Brexit protesters in the UK

PART A 4 THE PROBLEM OF DEMOCRATIC DECLINE

First row left to right: Theresa May; Emmanuel Macron & Donald Trump Second row left to right: Jeremy Corbyn; Bernie Sanders

Democracy globally is at a tipping point. Nearly Young people in particular are detaching themselves in droves from active (or even passive) participation in formal democratic systems. Again, beenevery falling key indicator over the of past its healthdecade. – These trends are in the US, only 7 per cent of young people now notin particular, peripheral public or temporary, trust and butengagement are now strongly – has evident across the democratic world, particularly is now a deep distaste for mainstream politics in long-established, so-called ‘core’ democracies. andconsider distrust running of the for current public democratic office, reflecting system what to achieve public interest outcomes4 The percentage of Americans, for example, who young people in the UK feel largely alienated from say ‘they can trust the government always or mainstream politics, believing the current. Likewise, system most of the time’ has not exceeded 30 percent

since 2007. In 2019, this number is 17 per cent1. to them5. Trust in the British government stood at 26 per does not reflect or address the issues that matter cent at the beginning of 2017, while trust political parties and political leaders to ‘do the right thing’ also stood at unprecedented low levels, at 18 and SUPPORT FOR AND 19 per cent respectively2. A similar trust crisis is ENGAGEMENT WITH MAJOR evident in national democracies across Europe, POLITICAL PARTIES IS ALSO and in particular in its continental democracy, the DROPPING ACROSS MUCH 3 European Union . OF THE DEMOCRATIC WORLD, WHILE PARTY MEMBERSHIP IS AT NEGLIGIBLE LEVELS.

PART A 5 THE PROBLEM OF DEMOCRATIC DECLINE

Support for and engagement with major political There are some variations in these downward parties is also dropping across much of the trends. Some indicators in some democracies democratic world, while party membership is at remain comparatively more positive. Short-term negligible levels. Although there remains a sense of circumstances play a role: a particular leader is elected, or responds to a particular event or crisis in a way that leads to a bounce in public conduitsparty identification to aggregate amongst and organise voters, voters the authority into trust measures9, or voter turnout in a particular and influence of political parties as important country’s election is high. This in turn provides

strongstable blockspublic oftradition support of and party consensus membership is fast and democracy’s current problems are reversible and eroding. In key European democracies – despite a thatshort-term change affirmation is not needed. for However,those who a believelonger-term that have dropped from 15 per cent in the 1990s to less thanallegiance 5 per –cent membership6. In the United levels States, are estimated the numbers to of voters who state they are aligned to either arereading essentially – set against one-off similar or temporary patterns blips in the10. large Democrats or Republicans declined to record lows majority of democracies – should conclude these

7. in 2015, reflecting increasingly voter frustration Moreover, overall voter election turnout has with political polarisation and policy gridlock OVERALL VOTER voting is optional. For example, turnout in Japan ELECTION TURNOUT HAS declinedsharply declined from 75 inper key cent democracies in 1990 to where52 per SHARPLY DECLINED IN cent in 2015. In Greece, turnout has plummeted KEY DEMOCRACIES from nearly 90 per cent in 2000 to just over WHERE VOTING IS OPTIONAL. 62 per cent in 2015. Significantly, some of the occurringsharpest declines in eastern in voterEuropean turnouts countries, – as well which as in enthusiasticallypublic trust and embracedengagement democracy in democracy following – are the end of communism only a quarter of century ago8.

PART A 6 DEMOCRATIC DECLINE IN AUSTRALIA

First row left to right: Kevin Rudd; Julia Gillard Second row left to right: Tony Abbott; Malcolm Turnbull Below: Scott Morrison

The same trends are evident in Australia. As with other democracies, there is nothing new about public distrust and other negative perceptions among Australian voters of their democratically- elected politicians. But as with other democracies in the second decade of the 21st century, Australia’s democracy is showing clear and unprecedented signs of malaise. The Australian National University’s Australian

surveying long-term public attitudes of Australia’s Electoral Study (AES) – which specialises in

democracy.political system The 2014– found AES in survey2010 that also 72 found per cent thatof Australians only 42 per were cent dissatisfied of Australians with thought Australia’s it

SINCE THESE STUDIES party is in power. A Lowy Institute survey11 in the WERE RELEASED, PUBLIC doesn’tsame year make found a difference that only which48 per major cent of political young ATTITUDES TO AUSTRALIAN people preferred democracy over other forms DEMOCRACY HAVE of government. In the same survey, 23 per cent DETERIORATED EVEN FURTHER ‘a non-democratic system would be a preferable TO HISTORIC LOWS. formbelieved of governance’. that given a specific set of circumstances,

PART A 7 DEMOCRATIC DECLINE IN AUSTRALIA

The AES survey in 2014 found only 16 per cent “Stop bribing us,”14 thought the democratic system was being run for “They all just fight and when they get in the people while nearly 50 per cent of Australians government, before you know it, they’re through it was being run on behalf of a few big changing leaders”, interests. “The opposition just bloody opposes Since these studies were released, public attitudes everything for the sake of it”, to Australian democracy have deteriorated even further to historic lows. The 2016 AES study “They don’t know how we live” 12 found record levels of public distrust, disinterest conducted prior to the removal of Malcolm releasedand disengagement in the wake across of the our2016 political federal system, election Significantly, these opinion surveys were as well as little faith in its governance structures the fourth time a sitting Prime Minister has been or capacity to deliver on important public policy ejectedTurnbull by as their Prime party Minister between in September elections in 2018 the –

low level of interest in the 2016 election; that onlyobjectives. 26 per Key cent findings thought included government that a canrecord be past eight years. It is likely this latest leadership intosaga a– furtherwhich was deterioration largely met in with public disbelief trust in and and measured in 1969); while around 70 per cent engagementdisgust by ordinary in our democratic Australians system – will translate when future trusted (the lowest number since it was first of the Australians believed that government surveys are conducted15. policies made little difference to their own or the

country’sWords as wellfinances. as statistics highlight the visceral distaste many Australians have developed for their elected representatives and the political system they inhabit. Focus group research conducted by Ipsos in conjunction with Fairfax Press13 highlights that sentiment and comments such as these among voters is widespread:

AROUND 70 PER CENT OF THE AUSTRALIANS BELIEVED THAT GOVERNMENT POLICIES MADE LITTLE DIFFERENCE TO THEIR OWN OR THE COUNTRY’S FINANCES.

PART A 8 What’s at Stake? Decline of Effective Government A Shift to Extremism

PART B

PART A 9 WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Decline of Effective Government A Shift to Extremism The second major implication of democracy’s they represent deeply negative shifts among decline is a shift in character and tone of AustraliansThese trends in are their not attitudes only significant to democracy because and democratic societies in recent years. As a politicians. They go to the heart of the capacity number of commentators17 have observed, intensifying levels of public distemper and and govern themselves effectively. distrust in what is perceived to be an out-of- of democratic societies like Australia to function touch and largely ineffectual political class The reality is that very few major changes is transforming democracy into an arena for to achieve better functioning economies immoderate, polarised if not in extremist views. and societies can be achieved without being channelled through our democratic system and This is happening in two ways. First, as more of the public becomes more distrustful and a public mandate for change, a functioning invests less interest in, or commitment to parliamentit’s forums –to for give example, legislative elections approval that for provide this change, and the bureaucratic machinery of the democratically-elected government being increasinglydemocracy – dominated thereby literally by those ‘exiting’ with thenarrow coherently directed by our political leaders and ifsystem not unrepresentative – our democratic world-views systems become and representatives to implement this change. life-experiences. The most obvious example of this is the growing unrepresentative In short, without a democratic system that can character of political parties and parliaments deliver and sustain public trust in government, in Australia. The major parties are now stimulate rational empirical-based debate, while dominated increasingly by former political building lasting consensus on complex issues, advisors and career party functionaries with comparatively little broad life experience18; that confront us in the current age will never be this at a time when occupational, gender and adequatelythe growing addressed number of16 .‘wicked’ policy problems life-experience diversity and difference in the broader world is increasing at a rapid rate19. This ‘representativeness gap’ within Australia’s

particularly continue to organise themselves aroundpolitical narrow class – inideologically-driven which the major parties and ‘culture in

public discontent and disengagement. war’ policy and debate – in turn feeds the cycle of THESE TRENDS GO TO PEOPLE’S GROWING Second, people’s growing distrust with and lack DISTRUST WITH AND LACK a growing view that democracy is becoming dysfunctionalof confidence ingives the credencedemocratic to groupssystem thatamid OF CONFIDENCE IN THE are hostile to democratic institutions and DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM AMID practices. Strong-man authoritarian regimes are A GROWING VIEW THAT increasingly viewed as favourable in democracies DEMOCRACY IS BECOMING because they are seen as more ‘effective’ in DYSFUNCTIONAL GIVES addressing real-world problems, regardless CREDENCE TO GROUPS of whether they damage or destroy long- THAT ARE HOSTILE TO established democratic practices and values20. DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS The election of Donald Trump as United States President may appear an outlier. But in reality, it AND PRACTICES. can be seen as a mainstreaming of trends which have been developing and coalescing in core democracies over the past two decades.

PART B 10 Who’s To Blame?

What’s to Blame?

Democracy Disrupted

Two Connected Crises

PART C WHO’S TO BLAME?

THE CONVENTIONAL VIEW IS TO SEE THE PROBLEM THROUGH THE PRISM OF A On occasions over the past century, democracy’s FAILURE OF INDIVIDUALS, NOT THE DEMOCRATIC disjuncture and crises. History shows, however, SYSTEM ITSELF. SPECIFICALLY, imperfections have amplified into deeper that previous periods of malaise were followed A CHRONIC RUN OF ‘POOR’ by rebounds, leading to some analyses today INDIVIDUAL LEADERS to downplay the current problems as largely AND ‘BAD’ INDIVIDUAL through another ‘bad patch’. LEADERSHIP ARE TO BLAME temporary – that democracy is simply going

voter disgruntlement and disconnection with Democracy’s current malaise, it is argued, democraticTo reiterate, politics the figures point outlined to the problems previously being show will be resolved once more strategic, better not episodic or temporary but unprecedented in communicated leadership from more competent their scope and potentially irreversible in their seems to be particularly compelling for those individuals returns. In Australia, this framework problemsnature. They and speak how weto a might need beginfor a fundamental to address re- reforms in which strong leadership and them.look at how we view contemporary democracy’s effectivewith a rear-view communication fixation waswith seen 1980s as economiccrucial for Two main prisms are used to view these problems, achieving major change. Perceptions that policy diagnose their causes and recommend solutions. and political malaise are largely down to poor leadership have been internalised in particular The conventional view is to see the problem by Australia’s political class. This is partly why we through the prism of a failure of individuals, have witnessed an unprecedented revolving door of federal leaders in recent years as the major a chronic run of ‘poor’ individual leaders and ‘bad’not the individual democratic leadership system itself.are to Specifically,blame21. distemper with the performance of individual parties – driven by opinion polls showing public obsession among politicians and parties with spin, ‘Poor leadership’ is usually defined as a chronic leadersFrom the – seekperspective to find theof precedent, ‘right’ leader. the prism of

isor made a fixation in the on public short-term interest. political It is also interests associated to the Democracy’s history is replete with leaders who withdetriment a perceived of the longer-terminability for politicaldecision-making leaders of that ‘individual failure’ is an attractive framework. today to communicate effectively in a way which fractious public and generally act in a far-sighted articulates a compelling public interest case for waywere for able the to good take ofdifficult the wider decisions, community corral while a change. still commanding broad public trust and respect. So why shouldn’t today be any different? The leadership prism also has the virtue of simplicity

as it does not need to acknowledge that our thatpolitical underpins system our might political be now system seriously is basically flawed. Significantly, it assumes that the society of today little substantially different today that shapes and constrainsthe same as ‘good previous leadership’ times – compared that there tois say,that the 1980s.

PART C 12 WHAT’S TO BLAME?

The irony with this perspective is that many other For the leadership prism to have explanatory or parts of our society have been exposed to major predictive validity, an Obama, Trump, Turnbull disruption over the last two decades. Any number or any number of political leaders over the last of bestselling authors and commentators detail 10 years who promised to overturn or disrupt the ‘old politics’ purely through individual leadership rather than structural change would potentwith data, combination analyse with of digital explanatory technology frameworks and have succeeded in restoring some level of public and confirm our personal observations that the trust and engagement in the democratic system. changed the expectations we have of nearly every globalisation over this period has significantly through their leadership toward halting what are seriouslyAt the very negative least, they trends. would make some progress disruptiveother system forces, in our which lives continue – be it communication, to intensify, havetravel, fundamentally retail, finance altered and business. the way These we interact with these systems and how the individuals and THE WORLD HAS organisations within these systems interact with FUNDAMENTALLY ALTERED SINCE THE 1990S BUT OUR DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM – WHOSE usYet, as we stakeholders. resist applying the same reasoning or MAIN PURPOSE IS TO REFLECT, assumption is that democratic processes, STEER AND SHAPE THE WORLD structuresanalysis to andour institutionsdemocratic system.have been, The or unspoken can be AROUND IT IN PURPOSEFUL quarantined from the same disruptive impacts WAYS – HAS NOT CHANGED. that have forced other parts of our society to adapt and innovate or face decline. Using the structural prism, on the other hand, This paper rejects the assumption that democracy explains these leadership failures within the can be excluded from the paradigm of disruption. context of an amplifying and accelerating Instead it argues that the world has fundamentally pattern of deeper dysfunction. From a predictive altered since the 1990s but our democratic perspective, it points to a depressing trajectory for the coming years if democratic renewal at a and shape the world around it in purposeful system – whose main purpose is to reflect, steer deeper, system level is not attempted. One leader is seen to be failing and is written off or ditched ways – has not changed. As a result, Australia’s for another. But within a short space of time, the effectivelydemocracy represent is shackled 21 tost centuryan outdated voter form opinion of result, voters become enmeshed in a permanent andpolitics sentiment and policy-making or deliver good, that consistentcan no longer policy versionreplacement of ‘buyer’s is seen remorse’, to be equally investing lacklustre. themselves As a outcomes. To go further, we have a static, square in fresh leadership in the hope that things will get within a world which has become increasingly has made things worse by feeding the cycle of centrifugal.peg of a political system attempting to fit itself distrustbetter, only and to disengagement. find that the latest In short, manifestation we need to This is not to say that poor individual leadership see democracy’s problems more about ‘what’ is at is not a factor. Democratic leadership has been fault rather than ’who’ is to blame? and remains an integral ingredient to the success of the overall system because positive, legitimate

consensusleadership andboth collective reflects and ends. amplifies But relying public on individualopinion, while leadership skilfully alone shaping as the it to prism achieve to analyse and address democracy’s deep-seated problems means ignoring the reality that any individual operating within a system that is increasingly less

fit-for-purpose will inevitably underperform.

PART C 13 WHAT’S TO BLAME?

The term ‘democratic disconnect’ is often used to summarise what ails contemporary democracy. The term is often framed in terms We like to view and think about democracy in the of the disconnect, or growing distance, between 19abstract.th century But conditions this overlooks and theideas critical about point how thatthe individual politicians as well as particular aspects politicalliberal democracy world should emerged be ordered from very and specificorganised. of the democratic system, such as parliaments and political parties on the one hand, and their constituents on the other22. This paper argues the downwardsSpecifically, itfrom assumes a select that group the chain to a community of influence whichand power is comparatively in politics will far be less top-down, fragmented flowing and between our democratic system itself and the new diverse than exists today. anddisconnect different is realitiesmore basic of the– that 21 stof century a disconnect world. We should remember that our current representative system is based on an 19th century THE DISRUPTION OF OUR assumption that major information asymmetries exist between our elected representatives and DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM citizens who elect them. The concept of delegating BECOMES CLEARER WHEN WE LOOK CLOSER AT THE MACHINERY OF THIS SYSTEM, decision-making powers to those who are AND ITS ORIGINS. assumed to be better educated and informed – and antherefore immense in positionreality gap to ‘knowin a 21 morest century and knowworld fasterwhere than education those levels,they represent unprecedented – amounts levels to of information as well as geographical and social mobility coalesces into intense expectations from democracyWhen we talk is the of Australian template for democracy, just about we every the public that more transparent governance nationalare talking democracy about a liberal in the democracy.world. While Liberal it is systems and processes should be in place to near universal, we need to remember that the engage with and represent their views on institutions and processes of liberal democracy are important public policy decisions. a particular way of delivering ‘democracy’. We also One of the fundamental shifts in society over the last 30 years has been the reordering of how these need to remember that liberal democracy – as a specific delivery mechanism of democracy – arose chains of influence – in particular social, political and evolved out of specific historical, economic created, accessed and exchanged. particularly due to the disruptive nature of social, and economic authority and influence – are technologyand social conditions. and cultural And change these over conditions the past – few Much has been written about this basic disruptive shift across different disciplines and forums, but even in play. the general consensus is the exponential rollout of decades – no longer have the same salience, or are digital technologies since the 1990s, together with Liberal democracy is organised around the exponential rates of information being created following set of distinctive institutions and and shared due to this rollout, has led to chains of processes in which 1) citizens effectively delegate st century society being increasingly their voice to elected representatives who act and influence in 21 next. Representatives convene in 2) parliaments organised around digital information flows. orspeak elected on their assemblies behalf betweenwhere they one advocate election and the deliberate on our behalf as citizens (comparatively minimal input from citizens in the actual policy

is decided through mass elections every three, and decision-making process). 3) representation political parties that offer competing political and policyfour or programs five years to which attract are our dominated vote. by 4) mass

PART C 14 DEMOCRACY DISRUPTED

A representative system ordinarily people to create, access and exchange predominantly still around a two or three party Due to the significantly enhanced capacity for – organised easily accessible technologies such as laptops and represent what has become a more diverse, their own chains of influence and information via fragmentedsystem – that community. increasingly The struggles major parties to adequately that directly challenges those who traditionally increasingly draw candidates from narrow havesmart control. phones, it is much easier to accrue influence pathways of political careerism, while increasingly privileging a small group of vested interests that The levelling out of power, in favour of looser are able to prop up political parties with donations new mind-sets in which the public expects to be networks of smaller players, has also shaped the disconnect with and distrust of citizens. and other in-kind support. This in turn amplifies substantially consulted on it. An electoral system which restricts the input actively involved in decision-making, or at least be Social, political and economic disruption created process to what is effectively a passive ‘head- by rapid digital innovation has been layered by count’of citizens every into three the orpolitical four years and policy-making(read mass the impacts of globalisation over the same period. elections). Where consultation is attempted, it is Public opinion on issues as well the political typically narrow-banded around a pre-determined set of terms of reference. This at a time when affiliations of individual voters are now shaped the public increasingly expects more active holdby forces of established and influences political that institutions range well beyondthat have access to information and expertise to deliberate traditionallynational boundaries. relied on This distinctive in turn geographicalweakens the onparticipation policy. in policy-making and has greater boundaries and cleavages to organise and sustain political support for change. A parliamentary system in which these deepening fault lines feeds into an institution that is increasingly relegated to an arena increasingly more contested and more intensively In sum, chains of influence have become of ideological division, political stunts and anachronistic protocols. easier to get, but harder to use’23 This broad in flux: put another way ‘power has become opened up a number of fault-lines in our current democratictransformation system in chains that now of influence severely hasimpede its original intent and function. A number of

problems the fault-lines which have opened over thebooks last and two papers decades have24. These analysed analyses the system-level refer to the following four broad problems: A political party system in which the major

and highly adversarial political and policy debate parties – wedded to outdated ideological divisions

– increasingly struggle to engage with voters. This in turn makes it increasingly difficult to attract sufficient, stable blocs of voter support to claim a mandate for policy change, creating a feedback neededloop that for amplifies change). voter distrust (which further amplifies the barriers to create public consensus

PART C 15 TWO CONNECTED CRISES

Clearly no system or organisation can function On the one hand, we have an emerging effectively in perpetuity if it remains unchanged or 1 ‘crisis of representation’ sees itself as immune from disruption, particularly an increasingly fragmented and diverse during a period of disruption as far-reaching and electorate is unable to be coherently – in which and broad-ranging as over the past two decades. legitimately represented by a political system Australia’s core institutions have not been dominated by two or three major parties modernised in any substantive way since Federation in 1901. To use an analogy, if our less diverse membership bases. This which have a shrinking and increasingly democratic system was our telecommunications representative disconnect is occurring a time systems, we would still be communicating via the when demand from citizens for a greater telegraph. If it was our transport system, we would direct representation and participation in be largely getting around, at best, in a Model T-Ford. by an internet-driven world where the capacitypolicy-making to bypass is growing, the political underpinned party system The case for renewal becomes more potent when and convey views and opinions on politics we consider that our democratic system should unprecedented. directing it into optimal policy and legislative and policy-making at a grass-roots level is be at the centre of this disruption – steering and On the other hand, we have an emerging ignored or seen as irrelevant by the people it is 2 ‘crisis of functionality’ as the democratic meantoutcomes to represent – instead andof being serve. increasingly bypassed, system is increasingly unable to deliver good public policy in a consistent or coherent As a result of its growing disconnect with the way. This is partly due to the deterioration st fundamentally changed dynamics of the 21 in the ability of the public service to deliver century, Australia’s democracy as well as the independent, quality policy and governance policy and public governance system attached to it advice to ministers. But it is also due to the crisis of representation in which an amplify the other. increasingly distrusting and disengaged public is facing two interlinked crises which feed off and withhold sustained support and trust from politicians and by extension to their policy programs and decisions. Political parties and

their leaders – increasingly shorn of stable, andconsistent for narrow bases interests of electorate rather support than the – long- POLITICAL PARTIES AND THEIR termincreasingly and public think interest. and act in the short-term LEADERS – INCREASINGLY SHORN OF STABLE, CONSISTENT BASES OF ELECTORATE SUPPORT – INCREASINGLY THINK AND ACT IN THE SHORT-TERM AND FOR NARROW INTERESTS RATHER THAN THE LONG-TERM AND PUBLIC INTEREST.

PART C 16 A Roadmap for Renewing our Democracy

Reforms and Rationales

Conclusion – Renew or Wither Democracy?

PART D A ROADMAP FOR RENEWING OUR DEMOCRACY

So what is to be done? The first step is to Proposals include improving budget transparency, recognise that it is not democracy per se that reporting and long-term policy planning by is failing, or that we should ‘do away’ with enhancing the role of the Federal Parliament’s democracy. To reiterate, failure is occurring 25; reforming the because the current delivery mechanism and th moreParliamentary impactful Budget body in Office driving national policy century-derived system of liberal democracy agendasCouncil of and Australian outcomes Governments26; introducing to amake federal it a arrangements of democracy – namely a 19 anti-corruption body to improve the integrity of synch with the 21st century world around it. – has been disrupted and is increasingly out of public trust in government27, as well as various The second step is to recognise that it is national policy-making systems while increasing neither practical nor desirable to advocate for parliament to improve national policy certainty. disregarding or discarding our core democratic calls to introduce fixed four-year terms to federal institutions and simply start again. Nor it is These and other proposals show legitimate respectful of the critical role these institutions and shared concerns about the current state of our system. However, they also point to gaps in building Australia’s strong, democratic tradition, understanding the extent of the challenge, as have played – and can continue to play – in well as the need for more innovative reform. Renewing our democratic systems requires highlightslegacy and is values. the need What to renewthe above and analysis supplement – as multi-level renewal efforts to address multiple, ourwell current as the reform system proposal with new outlined processes below and – interconnected issues. structures that help them better align with, and function better within the changed social more streamlined and co-ordinated (reforms to and political dynamics, conditions and public addressFor example, the ‘crisis any proposal of functionality’) to make policy-makingwill inevitably expectations of the 21st century. fall short of their goals if they are not accompanied The third step by reforms to rebuild trust, participation and and strategically about these renewal processes so consensus with citizens that in turn allow these is to begin to think innovatively ‘functional’ reforms a greater chance of politicians attracting sustained, broad-based support to they address democracy’s twin, interlinked crises implement them. –Despite representative a continuing and functional.reliance on the ‘bad leadership’ paradigm in a lot of debate and commentary, there is a growing realisation among

deeper forces are at play to account for current problems.policy makers, A number think-tanks of proposals and commentators have emerged that in recent years which call for changes to institutions and systems to provide improved incentives, scope and/or context for political leaders and RENEWING OUR DEMOCRATIC SYSTEMS policy makers to act in a more functional way and REQUIRES MULTI-LEVEL increase public trust and confidence in political RENEWAL EFFORTS TO and policy decision-making. ADDRESS MULTIPLE, INTERCONNECTED ISSUES.

PART D 18 A ROADMAP FOR RENEWING OUR DEMOCRACY

creative governance which utilises a combination of existing innovations in democratic piecemealAs a result, solutions the democratic to a) recognising renewal debate the need – and governanceThe first is and urgent governance changes to forproposals broad suite that flowof innovative from it – changesneeds to thatshift address from address immediate problems while building multiple, interrelated changes and b) recognising credibility around a longer-term reform process the process of democratic renewal needs to be by delivering tangible improvements in the multi-staged so change is advanced in a health of Australian democracy. The underlying realistic way. be to help renew citizen interest and trust in the politicalobjective system of this andfirst instage the process,of the renewal create would an A ROADMAP FOR RENEWAL informed appetite within both the community and NEEDS TO CONSTRUCT A WAY our political and policy leaders to attempt more FORWARD WHERE KEY REFORM substantive, systemic change. OPTIONS ARE NOT ONLY The second stage recommends systemic renewal. IDENTIFIED BUT PRIORITISED TO These are bigger changes that involve reforming ACHIEVE LASTING REFORM OVER THE MEDIUM TO LONGER TERM. way and require a remit from politicians and the public,our system’s if not constitutionalkey institutions change. in a substantive To achieve this deep public understanding and support The barriers to reforming liberal democracies of the imperative for major, lasting democratic are very high, particularly in Australia where our renewal is required. While this second stage of reforms appear ambitious, they are critical to underpinning sustained improvement in the way constitutional arrangements – aimed by their afounders number at of fostering vested interests political that stability would – prefermake it the future. thevery system difficult stay to changeas it is, becausethe system. its representativeThere are also our political and policy system works now and in and functional problems allow them to steer a

potentially most important, a highly distrustful publicdeteriorating need to system be persuaded to their thatbenefit. democratic Lastly, and renewal is in the interest of everyone. A roadmap for renewal needs to construct a way

overforward the wheremedium key to reform longer optionsterm. As are a result, not only the roadmapidentified for but democratic prioritised renewal to achieve outlined lasting below reform divides proposed reforms into two distinct stages.

PART D 19 REFORMS AND RATIONALES

As stated, there is no shortage of reform The proposals outlined in the roadmap have

and individuals. The challenge is to organise themproposals in a way being that floated addresses by concerned the complex groups underlyingbeen selected problems because outlined they reflect in the considered paper, as nature of the problem but in a practical, focussed thinking on what it needs to address the way. The roadmap below draws on a number the core institutions and processes of democratic systemswell as reflect around or the mirror world proposals that are thatfacing to similarreform commentators, academic experts and interested challenges. individuals.of renewal proposals These range outlined across by both think-tanks, functional At the same time, the roadmap is not meant to be and representational reform proposals. exhaustive but a guide as to what can and should be possible by bringing together the growing

reinvigoratenumber of worthy Australia’s ideas democracy. now emerging – and STAGE 1 – CREATIVE GOVERNANCE attracting growing public support – to renew and

PROBLEM REFORM SOLUTION POTENTIAL OUTCOMES

(Representative) Trial use of citizen juries on policy Greater public engagement and interest input into major policy decision/ decisions at both a federal and state creating problems ofLack public of direct ‘ownership’ citizen level28 greater community /trust in political/ 1 of and consensus-building on major policyin policy outcomes. decision-making, A segue into stimulating systemic policy issues, in turn leading to declining reform of creating permanent Citizens public engagement and trust Chambers attached to state and federal parliaments (see below)

(Representative and Functional) National uniform disclosure of all Provide greater/more accurate of transparency and uniform regulation donations/funding to political parties transparency on political donations + 2 on political donations, leading to Lack + restrictions on third-party campaigns restore public transparency of, and trust inadequate and delayed disclosure such as business and unions29 in political process

(Representative and Functional) Uniform caps/limit election spending by Reduce dependence on political parties Expensive, advertising-driven election political parties and candidates30 on vested interests/provide greater incentives for parties to argue empirical 3 and policy dependence on vested grounds and engage more directly with interests.campaigns by parties, fuelling financial voters rather than rely on ad-based slogans

(Functional and Representative) Mandate the adoption of Wiltshire Restore boundaries between political Politically-motivated advice increasingly criteria for major government policy dominating policy outcomes/short- decisions to create a consistent, future- greater accountability, transparency and 4 term party considerations increasingly publicand executive trust in decision-making/promotemajor policy decision- marginalising evidence-based policy rigorously evidence-based and inclusive offocused public policy-making opinion31 process that is making making(Functional) Elections staged around 5 short-term advantage, undermining federal House Representatives32 and planning + improve public debate policy consistency and stability Introduce fixed, four-year terms for Encourage longer-term decision-making

(Functional) Introduce an anti-corruption Improve transparency + integrity of integrity body to oversight federal commission at a federal level33 6 political and policy-arena Lack of independent federal politics and governancepolicy-making/ enhance public confidence + trust in

PART D 20 STAGE 2 – SYSTEMIC REFORM

PROBLEM REFORM SOLUTION POTENTIAL OUTCOMES

(Representative) Long-term, structural Creation of Citizens Chambers at both Promote greater and more continuous disengagement with the democratic state and federal levels, that act as a participation from citizens in public system, requiring deep, long-term policy, in turn creating greater policy change to bring citizens directly into the the agendas of both legislative houses consensus and public ownership of whilenon-partisan ensuring check more and formalised, balance on policy decisions. 1 policy-making process from citizen into legislative programs. Representationongoing citizen inputwould and be randomlyfeedback selected to be representative of the broader community34

(Representative and Functional) Modernize parliamentary protocols Create a more open and modern Parliament has become an arena of and standards, including the following partisan, combative theatre rather reforms: behaviour and attitudes and increases than a forum of deliberate debate and 1. Mandating appointment of an institution which reflects contemporary

2 procedures increase the democratic 2. Removing question time public confidence in parliament. disconnectdecision-making. with citizens. Arcane protocols and 3. Reviewingindependent and speaker removing anachronistic procedures and protocols, of parliament 4. Mandate a code of ethics for parliamentarians35 3 (Functional) Overlapping and Full review of how the Federation dysfunctional allocation of roles and assigns responsibilities and revenue co-ordination of national governance responsibilities between Australia’s raising capacities including how to andImproved policy efficiency, transparency and tiers of government, creating policy empower COAG to co-ordinate national policy and governance in in public governance an ongoing way inefficiency and fuelling public distrust 4 (Functional) Ministerial decision- Adopt a cabinet system at state and Provide more expert and accountable federal levels in which selected ministers careerists who often have limited are also appointed from outside experiencemaking is largely and expertise in the hands on policy of political parliament on the basis of demonstrated ministerial decision-making that issues. This is creating poor policy 36. decreases the influence of political outcomes or outcomes that are framed governance.partisan considerations in policy-making within party partisanship expertise and knowledge and increases public confidence in policy

(Representative and functional) Review the House’s role and function in More representative and functional The Senate’s contemporary role and conjunction with Systemic Reform 1 as legislative system that decreases function as ‘House of Review for states’ a potential ‘People’s House of Review’, partisan politics and improves including the potential to elect citizens government functionality. 5 envisaged when the Federal Constitution directly to the Senate through sortition. wasis significantly written. Today’s different Senate from operates that as highly politicised institution that many argue is not representative of the broad cross-section of voter interests, let alone state’s interests

(Representative) Communications Review and potentially incorporate Align democratic participation with between politicians/policy- digital technology to facilitate real-time the increasingly dominant way people citizen participation and input into communicate views and opinions in the 6 predominantly analogue-driven as 21st century + increase timely citizen digitalmakers communications and citizens remains increasingly engagement and participation becomes the dominant form of public federalpolicy deliberation and state levels) and decision-making37 communications and information (i.e. trial use of decision-making apps at exchange

PART D 21 CONCLUSION – RENEW OR WITHER DEMOCRACY?

Australia was at the forefront of democratic innovation in the 19th century with the introduction of secret ballots and extending the voting franchise. We need to lead again with a systematic and far-reaching approach and program to democratic reform that re- aligns our political and policy system with the contemporary conditions it is meant to both IF THE PUBLIC STANDING OF direct and serve. OUR DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM – WHICH RELIES INTRINSICALLY To reiterate, this recommended roadmap for ON THE PEOPLE’S TRUST AND renewal is based on the premise that reforming our democratic system means revisiting and ENGAGEMENT TO MAINTAIN rebuilding its foundations, not patching up the ITS LEGITIMACY – CONTINUES walls. TO DECLINE AT THE RATE WE ‘Time is running out’ is an often-used phrase to HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST DECADE, THE REALITY IS THAT areas of public policy. But in relation to WE WILL REACH A POINT themake deepening the case forproblems urgent withaction Australia’s in important OF NO RETURN WITHIN 10 TO 15 YEARS

reliesdemocracy, intrinsically this is theon thestark people’s truth. Iftrust the publicand standing of our democratic system – which continues to decline at the rate we have seen overengagement the last todecade, maintain the realityits legitimacy is that we– will this means we have around three to four To put the challenge in even starker perspective, reach a point of no return within 10 to 15 years. electoral cycles not to just start the process of In other words, public trust in our political democratic renewal, but propel it with a sense system will become so degraded and irreversible of purpose that reverses public distrust and that we will reach a tipping point where no disengagement in our democratic system and st century relevance restore its functionality or representativeness. and functionality. Therefore, it is critical that our reform – regardless of its nature or scope – will putspolitical it back leaders on the also road recognise to 21 the urgency of

process. the task and commit to the democratic renewal The alternative is a democracy without the people and without coherent policy direction or purpose, which is no democracy at all.

PART D 22 Newspaper Headlines & Commentary

Books, Think Tanks & Reports

Citizens for Democratic Renewal: Aims & Objectives

Timeline for a National Conversation

Endnotes

PART E

PART E 23 NEWSPAPER HEADLINES & COMMENTARY

Australia is in a Democratic Death Spiral QUEENSLAND TIMES, 2 JUN 2018

Party’s Over: In a Nation of Cynics, We’re Flocking to the Fringe ABC NEWS, 19 SEP 2018

The Breaking of Australian Politics: Why and How We Got Is Democracy in Here Its Death Throes? SMH, 24 AUG 2018 PETER HARTCHER THE AGE, 23 APR 2018

Anarchic Senate is Undermining our Democracy PAUL KELLY THE AUSTRALIAN, 23 OCT 2018 Pointless: Australian Democracy is Now an Even Bigger Laughing Stock PETER HARTCHER SMH, 24 AUG 2018 Guardian Essential Poll Finds Most Voters Sick of Australia’s Polarised Politics Australian Voters THE GUARDIAN, 17 JUL 2017 Disengaged and Disillusioned MICHELLE GRATTAN THE CONVERSATION, 8 JUN 2016 Yellow Vests Anger Sums Up Our Spreading Western Malaise HENRY ERGAS THE AUSTRALIAN, 28 DEC 2018 A Deeply Damaging Week for The Australian Australian Democracy Democracy Faces SHARRI MARKSON its Final Crisis DAILY TELEGRAPH, 31 MAY 2018 PAUL KELLY THE AUSTRALIAN, 29 SEP 2018

Our Politics is a Dreadful Black Comedy RICHARD FLANAGAN NATIONAL PRESS CLUB, 18 APR 2018 Democracy in Decline Around the World SBS NEWS, Sorry State of Politics 22 JUN 2018 HERALD SUN, 5 APR 2018

PART E 24 Who’s in the Room? Access and Influence BOOKS, THINK TANKS in Australian Politics GRATTAN INSTITUTE & REPORTS SEP 2018

A Crisis of Trust: The Rise of Protest Politics in Australia GRATTAN INSTITUTE MAR 2018

Democracy in Retreat: The Revolt of the Middle Class and the Worldwide Decline of Representative Government JOSHUA KURLANTZICK Finding Legitimacy, The 2013 Centre for Public Impact A BCG FOUNDATION 2017 Democracy in Decline: Rebuilding its Future In Mistrust We Trust: Can PHILIP KOTLER Overcoming Distrust Democracy Survive When 2016 and Rethinking We Don’t Trust Our Leaders Government IVAN KRASTEV PROFESSOR KEN SMITH 2012 Democracy in a ANZSOG, MAY 2018 Divided Australia MATTHEW LESH 2018

Rebooting Democracy: A Citizen’s Guide to Reinventing Politics MANUAL ARRIAGA 2014

Edge of Chaos: Why Democracy Is Failing to Deliver Economic The Life and Death Growth and How to of Democracy Fix It JOHN KEANE 2009 DAMBISA MOYO 2018

Counter-Democracy: Politics in an Age of Distrust How Democracies Die STEVEN LEVITSKY & DANIEL ZIBLATT PIERRE ROSEVALLON 2018 2008

Democracy When the Making a 21st Century Constitution: People are Thinking: Playing Fair in Modern Democracies Revitalizing Our Politics FRANK VIBERT Through Public Deliberation 2018 JAMES S. FISHKIN 2018

Against Elections: The Case for Democracy DAVID VAN REYBROUCK 2016 PART E 25 CITIZENS FOR DEMOCRATIC RENEWAL: AIMS & OBJECTIVES

Where this started The issues within the third category have the potential to produce the most impactful and representing a wide range of political views and sustained change for the better - but due to the socialDuring elements 2017 a group of our of society concerned - gathered Australians in two – symposium meetings to discuss the question: there has been limited progress to date. A small size and degree of difficulty in implementation, “What changes can we agree upon to deliver group of participants from the 2017 seminars have, with the support of the New Democracy public trust?” Foundation, been discussing a way forward effective long-term decision-making which earns with various interested parties. Matt Ryan has The outcomes of those meetings could be clustered into three categories: developing South Australia’s extensive program contributed reflections on his experience in • Firstly, improved transparency and accountability in government to minimise the citizen participation practices that are emerging of democratic innovation and knowledge of government decisions that affect the whole contributed a paper that details a description, and internationally. Dr Mark Triffitt has written and communityimpact of political and, in and this partisan way, help influence to restore on public trust in government and a way forward in addressing these. evolution, of the challenges our democracy faces –

challenge of moving forward through helping • Secondly, seeking evidence-based and openly toThe inform convening our citizens group haveon the now challenges taken up and the consultative government policy making on all issues at play, suggest potential remedies - and • decision-makingAnd thirdly, a refresh and mattersand rebooting of significance. of Australian to build momentum for community dialogue and democracy through changes in some of our ultimately a citizen’s assembly to determine a way governmental processes - and broadly re- forward for “Australia to improve our governance systems and do democracy better”. the policy decisions that are required for the commonengaging good.our citizens in the processes for making Objective: Our end objective is to stimulate the establishment of ongoing discussion in the public arena. of an Australian citizens’ assembly, that is The issues inherent in the first category are topics In the second category Professor Percy Allan how we can regenerate and strengthen our AM has progressed a widely publicised piece of democracy,reflective of through:our whole community, to determine research - and guidance for governments based on • Better enabling the discourse, deliberation, Business School. legislation, regulation and enactment of the work of Professor Kenneth Wiltshire, of the UQ a transparent, fact‐based, consultative, timely andGovernment civil manner policy with making the common to be conducted good given in overriding priority; • Better representing the views of our population in government policy formulation; • Establishing a constitutional review process that will give us a contemporary constitution promulgated and legislated by the people of Australia (in place of the current constitution legislated by the UK Parliament in 1900!) that

wisely as we face contemporary and future opportunitiessets the framework and challenges. for governing our country

PART E 26 CITIZENS FOR DEMOCRATIC RENEWAL: AIMS & OBJECTIVES

VERITY FIRTH Verity Firth is the Executive Director, Social Justice Clockwise from top at the newly established Centre for Social Justice left: Glenn Barnes; Verity Firth; and Inclusion, University of Technology Sydney. Kate Crowhurst; She is currently spearheading the University’s Matt Ryan Australian university sector. Social Impact Framework, a first of its kind in the Ms Firth has experience at the highest levels

sectors in Australia. As NSW Minister for Women, implementedof government, sector not for wide profit strategies and education to improve women’s recruitment and development; as Minister for Education and Training, focussed on equity in education and as CEO Public Education Foundation, the Foundation became a major provider of support to public education.

KATE CROWHURST Kate has a distinct passion for increasing the engagement of citizens in politics and decision

making. She is currently an adviser and executive currentlyofficer. In runs2018, Money she was Bites featured on the Forbes 30 Who We Are Under 30 list for her work in financial literacy and GLENN BARNES , a financial education start-up working to create more engagement Glenn is a consultant and company director who Advocate to connect more young people directly in personal finance. Prior to that, she founded has over twenty years of governance experience in with politicians. Over a number of years, she has stood on the shortlisting committee for the healthcare & wellbeing, body protection, consumer McKinnon Prize in Political Leadership and has banking & financial services, business information, the Foundation of Young Australians and the Global goodsHe has and had the a long not-for-profit term interest sector. in economics Shapersalso worked with youth-led organisations including and political systems, was a board member and Victorian President of the Australian Institute of MATT RYAN, linked to the World Economic Forum. Company Directors (AICD) and Co-Chair (with Matt is a former Deputy Chief of Staff to South Verity Firth) of a 2017 Symposium on Trusted Australian Premier Jay Weatherill. In that role he helped to craft a strategic policy agenda and advised on inter-governmental relations and Long Term Decision Making (by Government). the state’s participation in the Paris Climate years,Glenn wasas an involved executive, in packagedbusiness leader goods andand directorthe inbanking Australia, and Newfinancial Zealand, services United sectors Kingdom, for over United 30 internationally recognised democratic reform States of America, Republic of Ireland, Japan and program,Summit. He which also includedled work multiple on the government’s citizens’ China. He has also held a number of regional and juries, large scale participatory budgeting, and global leadership roles. open innovation challenges. Matt has also been a Director at The Australian Centre for Social Glenn recently retired as Chairman of Australian Innovation where he co-authored a major report Unity Limited and is the Chairman of Ansell Limited on public sector innovation. He is a Senior Fellow an ASX100 company. He is a Senior Fellow of the Financial Institute of Australasia Australian Congressof The GovLab to better at New involve York citizens University, in decision- where his , a Certified Marketing Institute, the AICD and the Royal Society work includes supporting membersInstitute of the for US Public Practising Marketer and Fellow of the for the Encouragement of the Arts, Manufactures Administration Association (SA) Strategic Advisory and Commerce. Committee.making. Matt is a member of the

PART E 27 CITIZENS FOR DEMOCRATIC RENEWAL: AIMS & OBJECTIVES

Left to right: Lisa Chung; Steven Münchenberg;

Dr Mark Triffitt

LISA CHUNG STEVEN MÜNCHENBERG Lisa is a non-executive director of a variety of BSc (Hons), LLB (Hons) commercial and for-purpose boards, spanning a wide range of sectors. She was previously the Blackhall & Pearl, leading its board performance Chairman of The Benevolent Society, Australia’s practiceSteven is as the well Managing as developing Partner new of advisory technologies firm oldest charity and is the current chair of leading to identify shifts in community attitudes and consultancy, Urbis and The Front Project, a expectations. for-purpose organisation which advocates for universal access for all Australian children to quality early learning. Lisa is a non executive directly with the chief executives and chairs director of Australian Unity and Artspace and is ofSteven Australia’s has over largest 20 years’ companies. experience Steven working was Deputy President of Trustees of the Museum of previously the CEO of the Australian Bankers’ Applied Arts and Sciences. Association, Chairman of the International Banking Federation and Chairman of the Finance In her earlier career, Lisa was a partner, Sector Council of Australia. Prior to that, he led

Maddocks and Blake Dawson (now Ashurst), where specialising in commercial property, of law firms she also held a number of senior management government relations for a major bank during roles, including Sydney Managing Partner and the financial crisis. Executive Partner. Lisa has a Bachelor of Laws Deputy CEO of the Business Council of Australia from the University of Tasmania and completed andBefore an joininginaugural the member finance sector,of the ASX Steven Corporate was the Advanced Management Program at INSEAD in Governance Council. He began his career with the France in 2004. Federal Government. Lisa is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Steven is a Director of The Big Issue and Company Directors and a member of Chief Homes4Homes. Executive Women. DR MARK TRIFFITT

policy and political system for nearly 20 years. HeMark was worked a political in senior and policy positions advisor within with Australia’s the Victorian Government in the 1990s and a strategic communications executive in the corporate sector in the 2000s. Prior to these roles, he was a political journalist. His PhD, completed in 2013 at the University of Melbourne, focused on the reasons for the structural decline of Western democracy in the

theory,21st century. public Mark policy has and lectured political at communication. the University Hisof Melbourne op eds and in commentary a range of fields on politics including and political policy

media– particularly outlets onand ways journals. to renew our democratic system – have appeared in a number of leading PART E 28 CITIZENS FOR DEMOCRATIC RENEWAL: AIMS & OBJECTIVES

Left to right: Dr Janette Hartz-Karp; Percy Allan AM

DR JANETTE HARTZ-KARP PERCY ALLAN AM Dr Janette Hartz-Karp, Emeritus Professor, Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute management. He is a former Secretary of the NSW (WA), and Director ‘Empowering Participation’, TreasuryPercy Allan and advises Chair ofon the public NSW policy, Treasury finance Corp and and a former Finance Director of Boral Ltd. researcher in deliberative democracy. is a well-known practitioner, teacher and He has chaired the NSW Premier’s Council on the Cost and Quality of Government Government Minister to implement around 25 practice (Market Timing Pty Ltd), a wholesale deliberativeFor over 4 years, democracy Janette initiatives worked with across a WA the funds manager (Constellation Capital, a financial Management services Planning and Infrastructure portfolio. She Ltd), a racing code (GRNSW), a sporting complex co-led Australia’s 1st Citizens’ Parliament (Wentworth Park Trust) and was National (IAP2 Innovation award). Also, Janette led a President of the Australian Institute of Public 4 year deliberative democracy research initiative Administration. to develop a more sustainable City-region in WA, He is a Visiting Professor at the Macquarie including two 100% Participatory Budgeting Graduate School of Management, founder, convenor Panels (3 IAP2 Awards and international acclaim). of the ASX sponsored Reform Club, and a member of the CEDA Council on Economic Policy. democracy initiatives in Alberta Canada (climate In 2018 Percy coordinated and co-funded the change),Additionally, Bangalore Janette (transport worked on planning) deliberative and Pune newDemocracy Foundation’s evidence based (precinct planning) India, Be’er Sheva Israel (local research project that received widespread media area planning); with the Club of Madrid (past coverage. (https://www.newdemocracy.com.au/ Presidents and Prime Ministers) on their initiative ‘Democracy in the 21st Century’ in both Egypt and Timor Leste. our-work/477-evidence-based-policy)

PART E 29 TIMELINE FOR A NATIONAL CONVERSATION

2019

1 Build community awareness and discussion of the governance challenge and potential solutions through community leaders, journalists and politicians.

2 Commence an electronic petition to Australia’s governments for the establishment of a citizens’ assembly on how we can implement democracy better.

3 community awareness of the need for, and support of, a citizens’Commence assembly. a supporter’s fund to financially support broad

2020

1 Continue to build community awareness and support for a citizens’ assembly, petition support and fundraising.

2 Assist in drafting the detail of a citizens’ assembly proposal.

2021

1 Continue to build community awareness and support for a citizens’ assembly, petition support and fundraising.

2 the citizens’ assembly proposal. Seek a commitment by Australia’s governments to implementing

2021+

1 Be the consistent advocate for democratic renewal and openly challenge attempts to divert or distort the public interest case for change.

2 advocate for implementing these and openly challenge attempts toWhen divert the or citizens’ distort assemblythe public makes interest its case recommendations, for change. be the

3 Once the processes for change have been implemented disband and donate any surplus funds to the Museum of Australian Democracy, Canberra.

PART E 30 ENDNOTES

1 Pew Research Centre https://www.people-press. 12 org/2019/04/11/public-trust-in-government-1958-2019/. http://www.anu.edu.au/news/all-news/voter-interest-hits- This compares to 77 per cent in the late 1960s. This number fell record-low-in-2016-anu-election-study ‘Voter interest hits record low I 2016 – ANU Election Study’ to less than 20 per cent following the Presidencies of Richard See also the ANU’s Electoral Study for raw data and analysis of Nixon and Jimmy Carter, rebounded following the 9/11 terrorist the decline in voter interest and trust in Australia’s democratic system since the 1990s http://www.australianelectionstudy.org since 2008. attacks to 60 per cent and has been around 20 to 25 per cent 13 Tony Wright, ‘Fairfax-Ipsos focus groups: Turnbull and Shorten have reason to fear the depth of discontent’, Sydney 2 Edelman Trust Barometer 2017 – UK Findings, 16 January Morning Herald, 7 August 2016, http://www.smh.com.au/ 2017 https://www.edelman.co.uk/magazine/posts/edelman- federal-politics/political-news/voters-express-discontent-at- trust-barometer-2017-uk-findings/ both-major-parties-in-fairfax-focus-groups-20170806-gxq97d. Union’s public opinion survey arm- which found that trust in html national3 See survey governments results andfrom parliaments Eurobarometer among – the Europeans European has 14 See for example ‘Dutton leadership drama “a complete declined and remained stagnant at around 25 and 30 per since News, 26 August 2018 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018- waste of time”: Here’s what you think about the drama’: ABC 2007 http://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/ archives/eb/eb83/eb83_first_en.pdf drama/10156964 and ‘Australian’s lash out at latest leadership wp/2015/05/20/why-we-may-never-have-a-millennial- change’08-23/heres-what-you-think-about-the-liberal-leadership- Fox News, 24 August 2018, president/?utm_term=.bc47e091d7664 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/book-party/ https://www.foxnews.com/world/australians-lash-out-over- 5 See for example D Marsh, T. O´Toole, T., S. Jones, Young latest-leadership-change People and Politics in the UK Apathy or Alienation? Palgrave 15 The United States is a good example of how dysfunctions Macmillan, 2007 or B. Bowman, The under 30s in the UK: A in are See analysis such as C. Chizzila, ‘The least productive generation used to not getting what they voted for http:// Congress ever,’ Washington Post, 17 July 2013 https://www.

productive-congress-ever/?utm_term=.88dac63b49beand D. forblogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/the-under-30s-in-the- an analysis of the underlying trends accounting for why Faris,washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2013/07/17/the-least- ‘Why the GOP Congress will be the most unproductive in younguk-a-generation-used-to-not-getting-what-they-voted-for/ people are marginalising themselves from, and being marginalised from mainstream democratic politics in Britain, why-gop-congress-most-unproductive-164-years 164 years’17 July 2017, https://theweek.com/articles/711503/ 16 The United States is a good example of how dysfunctions in higherdespite than some for recent some indications time. – in the wake the ‘Brexit’ its democratic system, particularly around growing polarisation referendum in 2016 – that young voter poll turnout is now between the major parties, are having a major impact on the capacity of the Congress to pass legislation. See long-run … Gone? The Decline of Party Membership in Contemporary statistics on Congressional legislative performance at https:// Europe’,6 See I.European Van Biezen, Journal P. Mair,. of Political and T. Poguntke,., Research, ‘Going,2012 51, Going 1, pp 24-56. such as C. Chizzila, ‘The least productive Congress ever’, Washingtonwww.govtrack.us/congress/bills/statistics Post, 17 July 2013 https://www.washingtonpost. as well as analysis Historical Lows’, 11 January 2016, http://www.gallup.com/ 7 Gallup, ‘Democratic, Republican Identification Near congress-ever/?utm_term=.88dac63b49be historical-lows.asp com/news/the-fix/wp/2013/07/17/the-least-productive- poll/188096/democratic-republican-identification-near- 17 See, for example, Peter Hartcher ‘Fairfax-Ipsos focus 8 In Slovenia, for example, voter turnout has dropped from groups: major parties doing nothing to prevent populist anger when 85 per cent in 1992 to 54 per cent in 2014.Pew Research http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/ u-s-voter-turnout-trails-most-developed-countries/ fairfaxipsos-focus-groups-major-parties-doing-nothing-to-infiltrating Australia’, Sydney Morning Herald, August 7 2017 Centre https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/05/21/ 9 For example, public trust levels in the US government html and Paul Kelly ‘US election: Trump-lite Shorten and far Rightprevent-populist-anger-infiltrating-australia-20170806-gxqea5. surf the populist tide’ reversalsoared in was the relativelywake of the short-lived. 2001 9/11 terrorist attacks, reversing The Australian, November 16, 2016, http://www.theaustralian. a significant decline over the previous two decades. Yet that 10 Voter turnout is an example of what are sometimes shorten-and-far-right-surf-the-populist-tide/news-story/7f447 contradictory trends that, when viewed within a broader 6eee709a86331eba6b54d2cd71ccom.au/opinion/columnists/paul-kelly/us-election-trumplite- or longer-term context, highlight underlying malaise. In the UK for example, a long-term decline in electoral turnout has 18 See for example Tom McIlroy, Australia’s career political been reversed in several recent elections, but public trust in class: rising number of Australian MPs are former staffers and government and their democratic system which ultimately ministerial advisers, Sydney Morning Herald, 25 March 2017. underpins voter engagement has nose-dived. Even in those http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/ democracies where voter turnout has remained relatively stable australias-career-political-class-rising-number-of-australian- mps-are-former-staffers-and-ministerial-advisers-20170323- young voters turning out to vote. or even increased, these figures mask a declining proportion of gv4ne9.html 11 The Lowy Institute, Democracy Survey 2012-2017, https:// lowyinstitutepoll.lowyinstitute.org/democracy/. Similar results were recorded in the Institute’s 2018 poll. A report by public policy think tank Per Capita released in January this year echo these findings. The report found ‘a surge in MPs running for office after having worked as ministerial PART E 31 ENDNOTES

or political advisers; almost 40% of MPs (and more than Melbourne Plan in 2016 (see https://participate.melbourne. vic.gov.au/future/city-calls-jury-its-citizens-deliberate- melbournes-future). For more information about its rational, percapita.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/The-Way-In-half of Labor MPs) worked as advisers in state or federal processes and case studies, see newDemocracyFoundation’s Representation-in-the-Australian-Parliament-2.pdfgovernment before running for office themselves’. See https:// website https://www.newdemocracy.com.au 19 29 Proposal by Maxine McKew to Symposium on Trusted,

public The to increasingly join parties unrepresentativeaccording to former make-up Prime Ministersof the major Long-Term30 A number Decision-Making, of European democracies October 2017 have set limits on political parties is acting as a significant disincentive for the campaign spending by candidate and parties. These vary public discontent with Australian democracy. See John Howard but in some European democracies, spending has been Bob Hawke and John Howard – and a key reason for growing experience,’ ABC Online, 17 August 2017 http://www.abc.net. Spending and Referendum Campaigns in EU Members States, and Bob Hawke criticise career politicians ‘with no life 2015significantly http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ restricted. See European Parliament report Party career-politicians/8814572 STUD/2015/519217/IPOL_STU(2015)519217_EN.pdf au/news/2017-08-17/john-howard-and-bob-hawke-criticise- 20 pp.30-33 Democratic Disconnet’, Journal of Democracy, July 2016, 27, 3, pp. 5-17.R. Foa and Y. Mounk, ‘The Danger of Deconsolidation: The steps developed by Professor Kenneth Wiltshire AO from the 31 The Wiltshire criteria involves ten sequenced policy-making 21 See, for example, A. Gunn, and M. Mintrom, ‘Political University of Queensland Business School. The steps include Leadership and Public Policy Debate in the 2016 Australian understanding clearly what the objectives are for the proposed Federal Election’, Australasian Parliamentary Review, Autumn/ policy change, rigorous empirical-based analysis of the pros and Winter 2017, Vol. 32, No. 1 as well as ‘Ken Henry savages cons of change, a demonstrated consideration of other potential Australia’s political leaders’, The Australian, 23 February, 2017 options and thorough public consultation on the change and

22 See for example http://eur-lex.europa.eu/summary/ Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) and Per Capita Australia - its impacts. In October last year, two leading think-tanks, the

glossary/democratic_deficit.html23 Moises Naim, The End of Power: From Boardrooms to afteridentified using with the Wiltshireopposite sidescriteria of theto analyse political 20 spectrum major federal - both andendorsed state governmentthe process aspolicy integral decisions. to sound See policy https://www. making Battlefields and Churches to States, Why Being in Charge Isn’t What24 See it Usedfor example, to Be, p. B. 216, Cammaerts, Basic Books, and NewL. Van York, Audenhove., 2013. ‘Online Political Debate, Unbounded Citizenship and the newdemocracy.com.au/our-work/477-evidence-based-policy32 Proposal by constitutional expert George Williams, to the Problematic Nature of a Transnational Public Sphere’, Political Communication, 22, 2005, pp. 179-196; S. Coleman., ‘The Lonely 2017 Symposium on Trust, Long-Term Decision-Making, October 33 A Commonwealth Integrity Commission was agreed to Communication, 22, 2005, pp. 197-214; M.P. Crozier, M.P., & A. by the Federal Government in December last year although Citizen: Indirect Representation in an Age of Networks’, Political Little, ‘Democratic Voice: Popular Sovereignty in Conditions the current proposal has been criticised as a watered-down of Pluralisation’, Australian Journal of Political Science, 47 (3), version of similar anti-corruption bodies set up at a State level. 2012, pp.333-346; P. Mair,., Democracy Beyond Parties, Centre See https://theconversation.com/the-proposed-national- for the Study on Democracy, UC Irvine, 2005, www.escholarship. integrity-commission-is-a-watered-down-version-of-a-federal- org/uc/item/3vs886v9,. M. Naim, The End of Power: From icac-108753 34 Proposal for a Citizens Chamber by economist Nicholas Boardrooms to Battlefields and Churches to States, Why Being Gruen and environmentalist Tim Flannery to the Symposium on in Charge Isn’t What it Used to Be, p. 216, Basic Books, New 2004;York, 2013; F. Vibert, W.E. The Scheuerman, Rise of the Liberal Unelected: Democracy Democracy in an and Age the of Trust,35 Proposal Long-Term by former Decision-Making, judge and anti-corruption October 2017 advocate, NewSocial Separation Acceleration, of Powers, Baltimore, Cambridge, Johns Hopkins Cambridge University University Press, Tony Fitzgerald. See http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/ Press, 2007. political-news/majority-of-federal-mps-refuse-to-sign-up-to- 25 Business Council of Australia, Response to the Better Budgeting Discussion Paper, April 2017, http://www.bca. tony-fitzgeralds-ethical-standards-20170710-gx820x.html36 See the following University College London report for a com.au/publications/submission-to-the-better-budgeting- discussion-paper constitution-unit/publications/tabs/unit-publications/151- detailed discussion on this proposal https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ 26 Committee for Economic Development of Australia, A cover.pdf Federation for the 21st Century, 2014, https://www.ceda.com. au/Digital-hub/Video-archive/2014/OCT/A-Federation-for- the-21st-Century-Report-Launch https://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=246373537 For a summary of the potential of decision-making and https://www. apps as a platform for citizen participation on policy-making see 27 The Australia Institute, The Case for a Federal Corruption ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/73635/114_ready. Watchdog, August 2017, http://www.tai.org.au/content/ pdf?sequence=2

integrity-system case-federal-corruption-watchdog-icac-needed-fill-gaps-our- 28 Use of citizen juries, selected by random polling, to deliberate and decide on important policy issues has been trialed in many jurisdictions internationally and is beginning to gain traction in Australia as a way of improving functionality

wasand transparencysuccessfully used, of government for example, decision-making by the City of Melbourne while enhancing public participation and trust in policy making. It

in 2015 to develop its 10-year financial plan and Future PART E 32 PART A 33 An Independent Research Initiative assisted by:

PART A