19 October 2017: The decline in trust in the Australian political system and politicians and whether something can be done to reverse this trend will be tackled by a group of leading political thinkers at a University of Canberra panel discussion to be held TODAY.
The University’s Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis (IGPA) in collaboration with the Museum of Australian Democracy discussion Trust, populism and the ideal politicianwill address why Australians are turning away from the country’s democratic practices and traditions, as well as if there is an ideal politician out there.
- The Trust, populism and the ideal politician panel discussion will be held at the Museum of Australian Democracy TODAY, Thursday 19 October at 5:30PM.
IGPA Director Professor Mark Evans will lead the panel examining the reasoning behind the breakdown in trust and its link to the rise of populism in Australian politics.
“The increasing disconnect between government and citizens is reflected in the drop in satisfaction in the political process, mistrust in our politicians, political parties and other key institutions,” Professor Evans said.
“There is a clear gap between reality and how Australians imagine their democracy. We need to pause, listen, and reflect on whether our democracy can adapt to the new realities of governance for the 21st century.”
The panel includes Labor’s Federal Member for Solomon, Luke Gosling OAM; political commentator and University of Canberra Professorial Fellow, Michelle Grattan; Liberal Senator for Western Australia Linda Reynolds CSC, Independent Member for Indi, Cathy McGowan AO, along with former ACT Chief Minister and Professorial Fellow, Jon Stanhope.
The event will be moderated by Virginia Haussegger, director of the 50/50 by 2030 Foundation at the University of Canberra.
Mr Stanhope said the perception of Australian politics is at a very low ebb.
“The public see the behaviour of the major parties as overtly adversarial,” Mr Stanhope said. “People feel that politicians are acting like the battle is more important than the outcome and the evidence is there in leadership instability and a lack of bipartisanship.
“Politicians are regularly cast in a negative light, especially where some are caught behaving badly such as recent travel rort scandals. It creates a sense that politicians are self-obsessed.”
Ms Grattan, who draws on decades of experience reporting on federal politics, said politicians are reluctant to clean up their act.
“Politicians are curiously unable to re-program their behaviour to try to at least reduce the problem,” Ms Grattan, chief political correspondent for The Conversation, said.
“For example, they know that people hate the way they carry on in Parliament, and the general sledging that is such a feature of today's politics, but this doesn't lead them to change.”
WHAT: University of Canberra IGPA’s panel discussion on trust, populism and the ideal politician.
WHEN: Thursday 19 October, 5:30pm.
WHERE: Members Dining Room 2, Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, Canberra.
Contact the University of Canberra media team:
Marcus Butler: 0438 447 810
Claudia Doman: 0408 826 362