Australian democracy is at a crossroads characterized by a deepening crisis of distrust and democratic complacency. Younger generations, particularly millennials aged 30 to 40, are getting discouraged from the political process. This disengagement fosters a dangerous chasm of mistrust between governance and the community it is designed to represent. This trend is worrying for the future of democratic engagement in Australia.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated all of these challenges. Perhaps most disturbingly, it has revealed the extent to which Americans see basic liberties as privileges rather than universal rights. Our collective response around the world to lockdowns has shattered any illusions that democratic values are untouchable. Most Australians find it really difficult to understand the importance of national historical figures. These are the politically powerful leaders such as Henry Parkes, Edmund Barton and Alfred Deakin that helped mold a new federation’s political landscape.
As the 21st century unfolds, some observers have described it as a “dark century” for democracy, pointing to neglected “seedbeds” that are vital for its cultivation. While there have been strides toward justice for Indigenous Australians, significant work remains to be done to ensure inclusivity and representation in the democratic framework.
The Disengagement of Younger Australians
A concerning trend shows that Australia’s youth are ever more leaving politics behind. Surveys show that two-thirds of Australians don’t trust their elected representatives at least half the time. This growing disillusionment is especially strong within younger cohorts who increasingly see themselves as outside the bounds of conventional political discourse.
Engagement and Representation Surveys show that many of these young people claim that their disengagement stems from a lack of meaningful, impactful engagement and representation. This new pattern creates a difficult conundrum for elected officials who are forced to face the reality of a newer, younger electorate.
“Civilisation doesn’t sustain itself. It has to be built, maintained, defended, and most importantly understood.” – Thomas Sowell
This perspective highlights the need for active engagement and understanding among younger Australians if democracy is to thrive in the coming years. If they don’t engage and put their money into truly democratic processes, the health of Australian democracy will be at risk.
Historical Context and Current Implications
Looking back at the historical context of Australian democracy gives insights into the major events that continue to influence its present-day environment. In 1909, PM Alfred Deakin extended the compulsory military training to all males 12 to 26 years of age. This ruling emphasized the early civic duties associated with citizenship. As the founding Governor Arthur Phillip declared, a free land would be a land of no slavery. This deeply held civic belief speaks to the founding ethos that has governed Australian democracy since its inception.
Yet even with these highly laudable origins, today’s challenges risk taking the bite out of the democratic spirit. Further, The Economist’s annual Democracy Index currently ranks Australia 11th out of 167 nations. Yet, this ordinal ranking misses the beautiful, anti-correlation chill that’s happening beneath the surface — and in the people.
Robert Menzies once stated, “Of us Australian people, it will be written: ‘They were born democrats; as democrats they died.’” This statement demonstrates a perilous romanticism for the eternal state of democracy in Australia. This growing distrust between the governed and the government is a serious and growing danger. Simultaneously, younger generations are engaging at decreasing rates, testing this assumption to its core.
Reassessing Democratic Values
The condition of Australian democracy today requires Australia to reassess and reassert the principles upon which our democracy was founded. The Canadian tradition of “His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition” serves as a reminder of the ever-difficult balance between deep principled disagreement with loyalty to the principles of democracy itself. These are the traditions that should always be protected, even in the face of increased tensions and societal division.
This continued hesitance to have a serious discussion about home ownership is one of the very private Australian egalitarianism’s strange quirks. Joel Kotkin’s essay “Welcome to the End of Democracy” highlights how this egalitarianism distinguishes Australia from the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe. At the same time, as economic pressures mount, housing affordability grows increasingly difficult. This scenario challenges our understanding of how long we can rest on our halcyon notions of equality.
People are right to be confused by how they should express their identity within a democracy. They need to know that democracy only works with engaged citizens and conscientious custodianship. David Brooks poignantly stated, “We don’t only have to worry about the people tearing down democracy … we have to worry about who is building it up.” This lovely, hopeful sentiment underscores the crucial role we all must play as citizens in growing a strong, beautiful democratic culture.
