Our democracy is decaying from within. We need a summit of community leaders to help chart democratic renewal.
This is an edited version of Our democracy is decaying from within by John Menadue, Pearls & Irritations, 16 Sep 2021.
Bob Hawke’s 1983 post election economic summit promoted cooperation and consensus leading to remarkable economic and social reform. We need a political summit to build consensus on democratic reform and the restoration of trust.
“Democracy” has been narrowed down to talking about elections and not well-functioning institutions. Our democracy is becoming more a facade, with unchallenged lies, growth in rorts and wasteful expenditure, corporate capture, favours to political mates (JobKeeper), lobbying in secret, a partisan and corrupting media and Clive Palmer-style disinformation, sale to the highest bidder.
The military intrudes into civil life, with generals as Governors General, Operation Sovereign Borders and a general in charge of vaccination. Foreign Interference legislation seeks to control university thought.
People around the world are concluding that the system works for the few, not the many. “Strong leaders” are responding and we are heading down the quasi fascist road. Politics and personality take pre-eminence over temperate and informed policy debate. Rupert Murdoch has debauched democracy in three countries. Our media, churches and major political parties are run by insiders for the benefit of insiders. They abuse their power.
Conservatives preach small government but use government powers to advantage themselves and political supporters.
The Australian Labor Party is still controlled by factional heavies and state and union officials. The ALP is not a national party. It is a federation of eight state and territory parties. Party members have little influence. The ALP does not represent the people who vote for it. The ALP left is preoccupied with gender politics which is marginal to many traditional ALP voters’ concerns about jobs and inequality.
Unless the political parties broadly represent their voter constituencies, we will continue to tread the slippery road of personalities and political spin, rather than addressing the real issues and concerns of the community. Those that are really enfranchised are a small group of party power brokers and voters in swinging electorates and the debate on the big-ticket items runs into the sand — climate change, reconciliation, the republic, relations with Asia and drugs.
Ways to renovate our public institutions and restore public trust
- Regular audits not only of the entitlements of MPs but also their performance; more conscience votes by MPs with less party discipline on ‘non-core’ issues.
- Public authorities required to facilitate public discussion on key public issues. The Office of the Auditor-General must be adequately funded.
- An improved parliamentary committee system which promotes negotiation and compromise eg an all-party committee to consider how performance of the parliament could be improved, the power of the executive contained and Senate committee roles enhanced.
- Counter Cabinet’s power and access independent advice using a process similar to the (Gillard) Parliamentary Budget Office in health, education, defence and foreign affairs.
- Research resources of the Parliamentary library enhanced.
- NZ has shown us that a multi-party system can be successfully managed.
- Strong independents in the House of Representatives,
- Less contracting out to expensive, inexperienced consultants who lack corporate memory.
- Citizen juries and citizen assemblies to ascertain the views of well-informed citizens.
- External lobbyists and paid employees of interest groups be banned from Parliament House and be required within a week and on a public website to disclose any contacts with ministers, ministerial staffers, members of parliament and senior officials and the substance of those contacts.
- Ministers and senior officials barred from employment for three years with any organisation with which they have dealt in government, particularly the Department of Defence.
- Election campaign donations by corporations and unions banned, limitations tightened on individual donations and expenditure. Election campaigns publicly funded.
- Foreign-owned companies barred from political advertising directly or indirectly.
- The 450 unaccountable ministerial advisers at the federal level provide deniablity for ministers, lack policy skills to contest advice and have undue influence, they should be dramatically reduced in number, their names disclosed and a strict code of conduct introduced.
- Freedom of information strengthened and whistleblowers encouraged and protected.
- A federal anti-corruption commission with real powers.
- A Human Rights Act to enshrine our civil liberties (we now have 91 counter terrorism laws)
- Thorough shake up of the Australian Federal Police (AFP.)
- Curb the PM’s war powers to go to war without parliamentary approval.
- Support for new and independent media.
- Review defamation laws which serve the rich and powerful.
- Parliamentarians use parliament forum for genuine policy debate and questions,
- Politicians endeavour to find common ground eg by starting on senate electoral reform, political donations and ending the abuse of power by lobbyists.
- Avoid addressing institutional failure by suggesting that they are all leadership problems.
Why seek democratic renewal?
This agenda for democratic renewal will not cost a great deal. Fairness, respect for others, openness, integrity and trust, are the glue that hold us together. Democracy cannot be separated from public morality. The democratic project and institutions within it must be informed by what is right and true.
Moral behaviour is about how our words and actions enhance human dignity and human flourishing. We desperately need democratic renewal.
Related readings
Our democracy is decaying from within – by John Menadue, Pearls & Irritations, 16 Sep 2021
Accountability is under threat. Parliament must urgently reset the balance – by Anne Tiernan, The Conversation, 28 Oct 2021
Australian democracy is fading fast – by Bruce Haigh, Pearls & Irritations 9 June 2021
Australia’s gridlocked parliament – by Ian Marsh, Pearls and Irritations (reposted from 9 Sept 2016)
The Dirty Country – corruption – a 12 part series by Crikey, Mar 2021
The ALP The ALP must repair trust between leadership & members – submission by James Button to Macklin-Bracks ALP reform enquiry – Oct 2020
Peter John Stewart says
To ADVANCE AUSTRALIA., Ausralians must know that for decades Australian governments have subordinated our nation’s sovereignty to the USA.
A fearmongering Morrison Government conditioned its citizens to blindly accept The Quad & Aukus to contain China.
The Albanese Government has not deviated from demonising China. Recent news of the USA increasing its northern Australian defense facilities is alarming.
One hundred days after forming government, Mr Albanese told Grayndler residents, his ambition is to achieve “a better future for all Australians. “Mr. Albanese’s inability to contain American weapons & military strategies in Australia, imperils the peace & prosperity of all Australians.
Since the Korean War, Australia has dearly paid its life blood, wealth & health hoping that a powerful “friend “will protect us. What was an alliance has degenerated to be a protection racket!
Australia’s self reliance & ability to thrive in harsh environments is mythical. Like Esau, Australia has abdicated her Destiny to the USA.
Mr. Albanese talks of an Australian republic. Australia is not sovereign. Currently a sycophantic Australia is a Protectorate of the USA.
Is Australia destined to be the 51st state of the Union?
Hawaii was illegally annexed. Australia suffers amnesia.
Shamefully, Australia has given her foreign policy & defence responsibilities USA . The Federal government & a biased Australian media deceive the nation that we live safely in uncertain times.
The USA is a divided house & should not be trusted. Is the current Australian government trustworthy? Have members, children & grandchildren?