The best-designed policy in the world is meaningless without a healthy democracy. Democracy is not simply a checklist of institutions such as regular elections or an independent judiciary. Rather than a final destination, democracy should be seen as the task of continually expanding the power of citizens to influence the decisions that affect their lives. The Centre for Policy Development’s Democratic Renewal program looks at how Australia can approach that task in new and innovative ways.

It’s the system, stupid: why Australia’s two party system has passed its use by date

In the wake of a spectacularly lacklustre campaign season – and with the ultimate result still unclear — Ian Marsh looks at what’s ailing the two party system. In the first of two articles on political reform, he looks at how we got to the present impasse. The recent election campaign would have been a good joke if the issues facing the country were not so serious. These include climate change, how not to dissipate … more

Politics, Policies and Cultural Diversity

There hasn’t been a lot of talk about cultural diversity this election . Guest poster Andrew Jakubowicz reflects on everyday multiculturalism and what the future might be like if there was a policy debate in which cultural diversity was valued and productive diversity advanced This federal election has been a roundabout of personalities, melodrama and policy parries. There is a real social world out here, where a majority of people live an everyday multiculturalism. For … more

Persecuting The Poor?

There are clearly more jobseekers than jobs, writes Eva Cox. So why are Australian politicians so set on punishing the victims of social inequality? It is NOT the mark of a civilised society if its laws punish the victims of its inequities. It should be very obvious to anyone with half a brain that there are not enough jobs for all of those who either want one or is compelled to look for one. The … more

 

A Truly Independent Media Sector

Guest poster David Melzer explains why now is a good time for the major political parties to support community broadcasting In this time of stage-managed election campaigns, and increased role of public relations people in generating news and a tight media market, Australia’s community broadcasters provide an independent voice and a truly local forum for those who are excluded from the mainstream media. And there couldn’t be a more appropriate time for our major political … more

We Are A Much Better Country Than This

Where are our community leaders — and not just our political leaders —  when asylum seekers and refugees, the most vulnerable people on earth, are subject to such misinformation, prejudice, vilification and exploitation in an election campaign? We are surely a better country than the present “debate” suggests, writes John Menadue Our media, and not just our tabloid media, have largely gone missing on this sensitive issue. The ABC television news and current affairs that I watch have … more

It’s NOT Fair: An Election Social Policy Assessment

Discussions about the social issues that have always seemed to be an important part of politics have dropped off the agenda during this election, writes Eva Cox I have spent some time over the past couple of weeks working out why this election has made me so uncomfortable. Maybe because of my long term interest in things political, this election has seemed to be seriously lacking in its coverage of issues that had been part … more

 

Is Anyone Talking About Indigenous Affairs?

Whatever happens in this election, there is little likelihood of any benefit for those Indigenous Australians who do not meet the Gillard formula of hardworking, compliant income earners, writes Eva Cox Lowitja O’Donoghue asked the PM on Q and A this week about the silence on giving Indigenous people a fair go and was politely rebuffed with a comment about education initiatives. The low priority of Indigenous issues this campaign was further emphasised by a … more

How Fair Dinkum Is Abbott’s Paid Parental Leave Scheme?

Now that the Coalition’s campaign has been launched, Eva Cox has a closer look at Abbott’s paid parental leave scheme The introduction of a fair dinkum paid parental leave scheme is the obligation that a serious political party owes to modern society and that an aware political parent owes to his three daughters. These days, most families need more than one income to survive and because 62 per cent of mothers are in the workforce … more

Bring Out Yer Dead Policies: The Coalition’s Asylum Strategy

Abbott has pledged to stop the boats at all costs but his policies have been tested by previous Coalition governments — and failed. Real questions remain about the effectiveness and implementation of the Coalition’s line on asylum seekers, writes Kate Gauthier The Coalition’s election policy on boat arrival asylum seekers has three key elements: bring back temporary protection visas, reopen the detention centre on Nauru, and, where possible turn back boats. The ultimate goal for these … more