How Politics Can Make Room For The People: Learning From The Irish Story

Citizens' assemblies and other deliberative democracy methods need to be part of our political systems if we are to achieve fairness in political participation beyond elections. What existing practice can we draw on in this new era of Australian politics where communities are using their voices to demand faster, better and fairer solutions to the big issues we all need to address?

Join Executive Officer of Mannifera, Harriet McCallum, Director of Change Politics, Polly Cameron & the highly engaging former Secretary-General to the President of Ireland Art O'Leary for this interactive conversation about reimagining democracy and the movement that's changing political systems around the globe.

Moderator: Harriet McCallum - Executive Officer Mannifera

Speakers:

Art O’Leary - Former Secretary-General to the President of Ireland - Case-study presentation on the 2012 Irish Constitutional Convention that brought MPs and citizens together in one assembly, a method used in Ireland for major issues, including reproductive rights and marriage equality.

Polly Cameron - Creator of Change Politics - Scene setting - how can citizens' assemblies address the problems with Australian politics and drive the solutions we need on the big issues facing the country.

Format (AEDT): 

5.00 pm – Welcome (Mannifera)

5.05 pm – The Irish Story (Art O'Leary)

5.45 pm – Q&A

6.00 pm – Australian Context (Change Politics)

6.15 pm – Close