Contributed by Jim Hayes

Only 37 percent of Australians are satisfied with “how democracy is working in Austral” according to the latest Essential Poll. The use of the word democracy is not the appropriate one here though. Saying that this is the proportion of Australians see that the political system operates in their interests. This has profound implications.

Dissatisfaction with the political system has been around for a while. In 2022, the proportion of those satisfied stood at 47 percent. This is now on a downward slide.

The Essential Poll also found that 75 percent of Australians believe that politicians enter parliament to serve their own interests rather than those of the public. There is deep dissatisfaction with the standard of political debate in the parliament.

These statistics make it plain that the political system is not working. But rather than admitting this, our political elite and its pundits refuse to admit this – at least in public. They counterpose the evident reality by blaming the people for not appreciating democracy, and the rise of what they call populism in Australia and around the world. In other words, they deny that the political system is at fault.

Populism is a misused term, used to castigate those who at least recognise what the citizens are demanding, whether from the political right or left. We may not like the solutions offered. But we should at least recognise they are becoming increasingly seen as the only ones who listen.

An  example is the just launched government report on  strengthening Australian democracy. It wrongly warns about populism threatening democracy, free speech, attacking diversity, and rising authoritarianism. Undoubtedly, there are elements that fit this description. But most of this is being ushered in by governments in the hands of traditional parties. This is the global pattern.

It is also true for Australia, where dozens of laws have been put in place restricting basic rights. Take the treatment of Senator Fatima Pulman in the federal parliament, which amounted to denial of the right speak out for Palestinians at this crucial time. Years before this we have had vilification of middle East and Asian communities carried out through the press. There is the ongoing mistreatment of the first peoples of this land.

Photo from The Australian: Senator Fatima Pulman has had her right to free speech denied

Through the use of the state, that is, the legal and administrative system, the right to a free press and to speak out is being curtailed. Whistleblowers exposing corruption and other wrongdoings are the ones charged, go to court, and are imprisoned. David McBride got 6 years for exposing the murder of civilians in Afghanistan. Richard Boyle faces a similar prospect for exposing punitive mistreatment by the Australian Tax Office. The Australian authorities have held Daniel Duggan without charge, to serve a United States politically inspired extradition to that country.

All forms of media are being increasingly restricted as to what they are permitted to publish through both open and more subtle means.

Our police are increasingly armed. Paramilitaries are now regularly in the streets. United States style gun toting policing is being introduced into Australia. Rember the raids on GetUp and the ABC? Big brother is on the rise. The right to protest has been curtailed around the country.

Government transparency has gone out the window. Australians are told rather than confided in and asked.

Who is really then the biggest threat to democracy, free speech, and diversity? Who is ushering in authoritarianism? The answer is the political system and those who operate within it.

Recognition of this reality provides the opportunity to raise questions and offer options. What is a true definition of democracy? It could be that power must be genuinely in the hands of the people and not limited to a vote every few years. How can this be achieved? Through the rise of a new political system and institutions that democratise decision making and action.

Change requires recognition that the present system largely operated around those who have the economic power, where an elite pull the levers of control, ensuring that their own desires are met.

The contradiction between the lack of genuine democracy and the worsening reality lived by the majority is the reason why there is so little faith in the political system and its servants. This contradiction means that the political system is not serving their interests, and most have realised this.

Nothing frightens the political elite more than this. their version of protection of democracy is their protection from the will of the people. Their freedom of speech is that they should monopolise it. Above all it’s about the protection of privilege shifting towards authoritarianism to secure this.

True believers in democracy [push in the opposite direction.