One of the major issues identified at a 'World Cafe' gathering of 300 people in May 2007 was the need to improve political awareness and education. How can we achieved better awareness and engagement in the system? 

If you do away with preferences being distributed then parties would no longer get elected solely due to the deals they cut, the primary vote winner would win. 

Have a look at this video released by the newDemocracy Foundation. We would love to know what you think and how the message sits with you.

 

A major issue raised by the 300 people attending the World Cafe event in May 2007 was the need for institutional reform - what sort of reform is required in the institutions of Government to strenghen our democracy? 

We are currently in Election mode - where is the means for the electorate to have its voice heard, amid the flood of promises, new money, better tax deals, etc? Would a Citizens’ Charter, articulating the rights and responsibilities of the citizen as participants in the governance of the nation, steer our politicians to a more consensual form of democracy? 

The ABC as it is now is a government service. Yet we all talk about it as if it is an independent body- the realit it is not. Debates in recent years, funding issues and questions over board composition more ...

What if we could break down party loyalties? What if candidates could only be shown by name on ballot papers so each individual condidate would have to establish their identity and what they stand for in the community. This would help independents and would also marginalise more seats. 

A major issue raised by the 300 people attending the World Cafe event in May 2007 was the behaviour and accountability of our politicians. Does this switch people off politics and block participation? If so what steps should we take to change the status quo? 

Do you agree with the interviewees? Use this area to discuss your views.

 

There has been a lot of talk on this site (this page, the Senator Online Page and in Karthik's Corner) about the lack of ethics and trustworthyness of our politicians. This is a real problem. They say whatever it takes to get elected and then do something different. I think instead of the worm we should have the politicians hooked up to a lie detector during election debates. That really would be revealing! 

The way to break the stranglehold of parties (and their leaders) is to make all MPs fully independent in parliament - to freely debate and vote according to electorate interests (only) - by requiring more ...

Considering the reform of parliamentary government by means of ballots in parliament, there are many aspects that need to be examined for, in fact, no aspect of what we call ‘politics’ would remain more ...

A matter little-debated, but whose economic significance demands much more, is the validity of this PPP approach to public investment in the largest infrastructure needs of the country. Why do this when, more ...

Political commentary is plagued by a collection of terms that carry a pejorative connotation. Discourse would be more balanced if they could be replaced with words that were even-handed. Here are some more ...