The Australian Collaboration is a collaboration of peak national community
organisations representing social, cultural and environmental constituencies
and interests.
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Through the agency of Democracy in Australia, the Australian Collaboration seeks to stimulate debate about democracy and to make a constructive contribution to the enhancement of democratic life in Australia. To further these objectives, the site comments on:
Two essays Wrongs, Rights and Remedies and Democracy under Siege examining these issues and initiatives that have been taken in other countries to deal with similar problems have also been published by the Collaboration. Click on the links for further information and downloading or for purchase of a hard copy.
The choice of issues and the commentaries on them on this site do not necessarily reflect the choices and views of the Collaboration’s individual member organisations. Democracy in Australia last reviewed November 2009.
For three alternative descriptions of Australia’s system of government click on the links below.
Australia’s System of Government
http://www.dfat.gov.au/facts/sys_gov.html
This fact sheet forms part of a series of fact sheets prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Strengthening Australia’s Democracy – Chapter 1: An Introduction to the Australian Electoral System
http://www.pmc.gov.au/consultation/elect_reform/[...].pdf
This chapter is taken from the Australian Government’s Green Paper on Electoral reform released in September 2009.
Parliamentary Education Office
Frequently asked questions related to the Federation, Parliament, Government and Judiciary
http://www.peo.gov.au/faq/index.html
Fact sheets
http://www.peo.gov.au/students/fss/index.html
An open, democratic society offers many benefits to its citizens. It gives them freedom to make choices about their lives, to develop their potential as human beings and to live free from fear, harassment and discrimination. It gives them protection under the law and the right to elect legislators of their choice and to remove them if they do not perform to their satisfaction. It guarantees freedom of speech, religion and assembly. It ensures an independent judiciary. Through the principle of the rule of law it guarantees universality of the scope of the law and equality before the law for all citizens.
Freedom of the press makes possible the exposure of corruption, malpractice and incompetence; diversity of media opinion offers alternative interpretations of news and events. Parliamentary committees and inquiries oversee the accountability of executive decisions. Public officers such as Auditors General and Ombudsmen, answerable to the parliament not the executive, have statutory powers to review large and small decisions of the government.
A strong democracy encourages an active and outspoken civil society and robust public debate including dissent and disagreement with government. Such a democracy gives its members many opportunities to participate in public life. A properly functioning democracy also has moral responsibilities to non-citizens, refugees, visitors and other nations. Many of these responsibilities are enshrined in international covenants and agreements.
These are the benchmarks against which the practice of democracy in Australia must constantly be measured.
Described below. are a number of reforms needed to strengthen public accountability and democratic practices in Australia. They are applicable to all political parties, governments and parliamentarians.
Accountability and democratic reforms are needed for the following reasons:Click to open the commentaries.
Electoral Reform
Fixed term elections and possible extensions of parliamentary terms.
This is a discussion of the arguments for and against fixing dates for government terms of office and for the extension of the current three year Commonwealth electoral term to four years.
The redesign of Senate (also other proportional representation upper house) ballot papers.
This is a discussion of ways of improving ballot papers, especially for the Senate, so that voters can understand better who they are voting for
and can express their preferences more clearly.
Automatic enrolment at the age of 18 and automatic correction of enrolment information.
This is a discussion of current enrolment problems and the benefits of moving to an automatic enrolment system.
Strengthening of the role of the Parliament
Strengthening of the role of the Senate and also other state upper houses as independent houses of review.
This is a discussion of the reasons for strengthening the role of the Senate as an independent house of review and the means by which it might best be achieved.
Ethics Commissioners as statutory officers of the Parliament.
This is a discussion of the value of Ethics or Parliamentary Standards Commissioners and the way they have operated in countries such as the UK, US and Canada.
Reform of question time.
This is an argument for the reform of question time to avoid its misuse and to make ministers more accountable.
Greater Accountability of the Executive
Accountability of Ministers for actions taken under their authority.
This is an argument for a stricter adherence to the Westminster system of government.
Ministerial Codes of conduct.
This is a discussion of the significance of ministerial codes of conduct and of the value of their more widespread use in Australia.
Defined accountability responsibilities for ministerial advisers.
This is a discussion of the role of ministerial advisers and of ways of improving their and their ministers’ accountability.
Protection of whistleblowers.
This is a discussion of the inadequacies of current whistleblower protection legislation in Australia.
Incorporation into legislation of accountability reforms.
This is a strong argument for incorporating all significant reforms into legislation to discourage the weakening of these provisions in the future.
Anti-Corruption
Anti-corruption commissions.
This is a discussion of anti-corruption bodies in Australia and an argument for the appointment of anti-corruption commissions in current jurisdictions without them (Commonwealth, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania).
Caps on donations to political parties and public funding of political parties.
This is an argument for caps on donations to political parties and for their increased public funding.
Independent appointment systems for major public offices.
This is a discussion about independent appointment systems for public offices and an argument for their widespread adoption.
Post ministerial employment and lobbyists
This is a discussion about the problems associated with the employment of ministers after they have retired from parliament. It is also an argument about the need for strict rules related to lobbyists.
Citizen engagement and participation in civil society
Civil society and public advocacy
This is a discussion of a model of democracy that acknowledges the key role of civil society organizations.
Transparency, freedom of information and freedom of speech
Strengthened protection for journalists.
This is a discussion of the problems under current laws facing journalists who need to protect their sources and ways that these problems can be dealt with.
Media concentration and media laws.
This is a discussion of Australia’s current concentration of media ownership and problems associated with such concentration.
Adequate funding for the public broadcasters.
This is a discussion of the importance of the public broadcasters and their need for the restoration of previous levels of funding.
Human rights
A national charter of rights and responsibilities.
This is a discussion of the arguments for and against a national charter of rights and responsibilities.
Sedition and terrorism laws and human rights.
This an examination of human rights issues associated with current sedition and terrorism laws.
Democracy in Australia last reviewed November 2009.
The Accountability Round Table
http://www.accountabilityrt.org/
The Accountability Round Table is a non partisan group of citizens with diverse backgrounds (academics, lawyers, former politicians, journalists, authors) who are gravely concerned with the erosion of the honesty and integrity of Australia’s democratic parliamentary and governmental process.
The Round Table has produced a document entitled Be Honest Minister! setting out a number of proposals to improve the integrity of national politics. Included is a proposed new ministerial code. The Round Table is currently preparing other material.
The Democratic Audit of Australia
http://democratic.audit.anu.edu.au/
Through its web “Audit Updates” and other publications, the Democratic
Audit provides informed commentary on threats to democracy in Australia. Its
other aims are:
Australian Human Rights Commission
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/
The Australian Human Rights Commission (formerly the Human Rights and Equal
Opportunity Commission) has responsibility for
the investigation of possible infringements of racial, sex, disability and
age anti-discrimination laws and for inquiries into alleged infringements
of human rights. It also plays a central role in contributing to the maintenance
and improvement of a tolerant, equitable and democratic society, through
its public awareness and other educational programs, aimed at the community,
government and business sectors.
The NSW Council of Civil Liberties
http://www.nswccl.org.au/
The NSWCCL attempts to influence public debate and government policy on
a range of human rights issues. It tries to secure amendments to laws, or
changes in policy, where civil liberties are not fully respected.
Liberty Victoria
http://www.libertyvictoria.org.au/
Liberty Victoria is committed to the defence and extension of human rights
and civil liberties. It seeks to promote Australia's compliance with the
major human rights instruments set out in international law.
Friends of the ABC
http://friendsoftheabc.org/
Friends of the ABC aim to defend and promote the Australian Broadcasting
Corporation (ABC) in its vital role as Australia's independent, national
broadcaster. It opposes all efforts to censor the ABC or to compromise its
independence through the introduction of advertising.
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
http://www.idea.int/
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA)
is an intergovernmental organization with member states from all continents.
IDEA works with both new and long-established democracies, helping to develop
and strengthen the institutions and culture of democracy.
by Spencer Zifcak and Alison King
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by Ian Lowe
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