Australian Citizens' Parliament

After yesterday's official opening by Senator John Faulkner, Australia's 150 Citizen Parliamentarians deliberated today about ways that Australia's political system can be strengthened to serve us better.

The aim of the day was to broaden everyone's perspective about the Parliamentary system in Australia. The Citizens' Parliamentarians were challenged in their thinking by six panellists, all themselves with very different backgrounds and expertise. This was a two way process - the experts themselves were equally challenged by the Citizen Parliamentarians.

Many participants have asked that the Citizens' Parliament consider the concept of reducing the layers of government. ABC election analyst, Anthony Green, acknowledges that voters don't like disputes across Commonwealth and State boundaries and often want to make our government more cohesive and centralised. "We shouldn't be afraid of our differences. The disputes in politics are actually the place where resolutions are achieved. Rather than trying to rationalise government, we should be trying to reinvent the way we do politics at a local level."

Mark Yettica-Paulson of the Yettica Group, believes that proper recognition and relationships with the indigenous people of Australia will lead to a more mature and culturally diverse nation. "We should all work together to create a better system - one which addresses the reality of the 21st century."

Former Queensland Treasurer, David Hamill, asked that the Citizens' Parliamentarians consider the question of representation "who and what are the various governments actually representing and how do we pay attention to minority interests in a meaningful way, as the Canadian and Belgian systems do. We should be considering all technologies to increase participation, but not at the price of disengaging some groups."

A report summarising the Citizens' Parliament's recommendations will be provided to the Prime Minister and all Members of Parliament.

The Citizens' Parliament is funded by an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant in conjunction with The newDemocracy Foundation.

The Citizens' Parliament is sitting at Old Parliament House in Canberra from February 6 to 9.

Further information or to arrange interviews please contact Kathy Jones on 0411 250 541 or Sally Katic on 0410 253 358.