Democracy From Day One

The Australian people have spoken. By rejecting divisive ‘culture-war’ politics and electing a majority government, they have opened the door to a rare and powerful opportunity: real lasting reform that strengthens our democracy. 

This parliament could offer the needed runway for ambitious reform that future-proofs our democracy. But it comes with risks. A strong majority government can deliver ambitious reforms — or it can avoid scrutiny altogether. That’s why now, more than ever, we need strong, independent voices pushing for accountability, transparency, and integrity.

Leading integrity organisations – the Australian Democracy Network, Centre for Public Integrity and Transparency International Australia – have joined forces to seize this moment. Together they need a combined $750,000 to build the public pressure for the government to take on ambitious reforms and hold them to account. Each organisation brings unique strengths: policy expertise, deep political relationships, media and campaigning power, and a strong connection to civil society. Together we can win ambitious integrity reform and future-proof Australia’s democracy

The government now has a rare chance to deliver transformative democratic reforms – but they won’t prioritise integrity unless civil society demands it. If we don’t act immediately, this opportunity could slip away before the government sets its agenda. 

A historic moment to drive reforms forward

But with the right amount of pressure, this government can: 

1. Reduce undue corporate influence by making lobbying transparent,  stopping the revolving door between industry and government, and shining a light on who our elected representatives are meeting with and when. This ensures that people being appointed to senior government roles are there on merit, and that when they leave office they can’t just sweep into lucrative roles in the industries they were just regulating.
2. Better protect whistleblowers who expose corruption and wrongdoing, so that they aren’t punished with job losses, lawsuits and prosecutions for speaking up in the public interest. Establishing a new Whistleblower Protection Authority is critical to achieving this. 
3. Stop pork-barreling by reforming how decisions are made on government grants, so that limited public funds go to where they’re most needed instead of being wasted for political gain.
4. Enact truth in political advertising laws to stop blatant lies being used to skew elections, and ensure politicians are held accountable for deceptive campaigns. When political actors can publish blatant lies through ad campaigns, it undermines public trust in the political process. Truth in political advertising laws can protect free speech by being limited to paid advertising and applying to claims of fact, not opinion.
5. Make fixes to electoral laws so that they reduce the influence of big business on elections; even the playing field between Independents, challengers & major parties; and ensure charities can still meaningfully participate in public debates around elections.