Australia’s Democracy Stuck in Colonial-Era System

This opinion piece from Steve Loring argues Australia’s Westminster parliamentary system has become an outdated relic unable to meet modern citizen expectations. He contends that digital-age information access and growing distrust of politicians make participatory democracy essential, using Tasmania’s controversial stadium project as evidence of systemic failure and calling for bold reforms including citizens’ assemblies and democratic task forces.

The Stagnant Democracy – Why Australia Clings to a Colonial Past in a Digital Age

As we look towards 2026, a critical question remains – why is participatory democracy still seen as a radical idea rather than the natural evolution of Australia’s political system? Our nation has transformed dramatically, shaped by immigration and emerging communities whose values and expectations diverge significantly from the Anglo-Saxon Protestant establishment that underpins our British colonial heritage, a legacy enshrined in the very name “Westminster System”.

Two seismic shifts have made this question urgent. First, the digital revolution has placed limitless information at our fingertips, fundamentally altering the public’s capacity for engagement and knowledge. Second, and more profound, is a crisis of faith. Citizens no longer believe their views are genuinely considered once politicians enter campaign mode. The people are no longer prepared to be ignored, nor do they have the stomach to support policies that appear to serve only the agendas of ego-driven politicians or their faceless, wealthy backers and entities described in the Tasmanian Times as “Elite Cartels” that stifle true market competition.

This leads to an inescapable conclusion: our political system is an anachronism. Why do our leaders persist with a Model T Ford political structure when safer, more efficient, and environmentally friendly models are available? One must ask whether the political theatre of “fighting the good fight” is merely a performance, designed to maintain a status quo that benefits those with the most to lose.

The Litmus Test – A Stadium Built on Wishes

The proposed new stadium project in Tasmania stands as a perfect litmus test for these systemic failures. Despite a glaring lack of evidence-based support, the project continues to consume public resources, media attention, and taxpayer dollars. Its persistence raises a damning question: is our current political system incapable of sidelining an unaffordable vanity project, pushed by influential interests, that the state clearly cannot afford?

This is not an isolated issue but a symptom of a deeper malaise. The systemic problems within our representative democracy which some dare to describe as open to corruption, suggest a political class no longer able to uphold its end of the social contract. As political philosopher J.S. Mill argued, the ultimate purpose of a representative body is not merely to govern, but to ensure “that the people shall be willing to receive it,” a contract that feels increasingly broken.

Where To From Here? Rebuilding a Democracy for the People

The path forward requires bold, structural change. We must rebuild our democracy to restore public faith, particularly in Tasmania. Several avenues are available:

1. A Royal Commission into the Tasmanian Parliament: This is a legitimate tool for investigating matters of public importance, with historical precedent in the state. The Royal Commissions Act 1995 (Tas) provides a framework for such an inquiry, as seen with the 1990 commission into a bribery attempt. However, its power is limited by its government defined terms of reference, and it can only recommend, not implement, change. While valuable, it may not be sufficient on its own.

2. A Citizen-Centric Task Force for Democratic Reform: We must go further by establishing a dedicated task force to comprehensively review our parliamentary system. Its core mission must be to re-centre the interests of the citizenry. This task force should look internationally to proven models. For instance, Scotland has pioneered Citizens’ Assemblies on contentious issues like land reform, directly incorporating public deliberation into policy formation. Similarly, British Columbia’s Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform, while its outcome was not implemented, stands as a global benchmark for citizen-led constitutional review. As academic Nicole Curato argues, such deliberative processes can “enrich public reason” and act as a vital “antidote to populist and technocratic forms of politics.”

We must also embrace other progressive developments, such as lowering the voting age. With young people facing prohibitive costs for TAFE education, some courses now reaching $20,000, their future is directly shaped by government policy. The government has opened the door to this discussion; it is time to revisit the Greens’ voting age amendment. As the Australian Youth Development Index highlights, civic engagement from a young age fosters long-term democratic participation, a necessity for a healthy polity.

The time for incrementalism has passed. The choice is between continuing to drive a relic of the past or embracing a modern democracy designed for and by, its people.

The demand for a system that is truly representative, transparent, and accountable has never been clearer.

Steve Loring was a recent Legislative Council election candidate for the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party and is a keen observer of the Tasmanian political scene.

Tasmanian Times (TT) is a community-based news and current affairs service covering the island state of Tasmania. It exists to provide a diverse presentation of Tasmanian issues. TT creates and supports independent media content utilising the best of modern technologies and tried-and-true practices of public-interest journalism.

Support us in expanding our coverage and developing new content by and for Tasmanians. 

 New initiatives on the way include … what our contributors and readers suggest! Please get in touch with your suggestions.