Most people agree that democracy in Australia and elsewhere has serious challenges and flaws, which must be faced if we are not to drift, or be forced, into worse alternatives.

The Brisbane Dialogues, in collaboration with newDemocracy Foundation, is pleased to present a Big Dialogue to refresh and update thinking on the biggest and oldest question society has always faced - how best to govern ourselves?

"Many forms of government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time ..." Winston Churchill, 1947

This Big Dialogue will attempt to identify what the biggest problems are and what can be done about them. As always, we will have a small number of panelists with widely-differing perspectives to facilitate an in-depth, long-form discussion, in a congenial, conducive setting. The discussion will be moderated to keep it focussed on a limited number of themes or topics.

SPEAKERS

Moderator:
David Fagan, author and communications professional, former Editor-in-Chief of Queensland Newspapers

Panelists:
AJ Brown, Professor of Public Policy and Law in the School of Government & International Relations, Griffith University, board member of Transparency International

Julie-Ann Campbell, State Secretary of the Queensland Labor Party, former lawyer and trade unionist

Theodora Le Souquet, strategist, tech MD, hands-on arts supporter, aspiring candidate for the US Senate

Alastair Stark, Senior Lecturer in the School of Political Science and International Studies, University of Queensland, deliberative democracy advocate

MC:
Christy Johns, journalism and communications professional, former executive producer Sunrise News, Ch7 Reporter and producer

(Unable to attend due to border restrictions: Iain Walker, CEO of newDemocracy Foundation, deliberative democracy advocate and organiser)

"The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress." Joseph Joubert, French Romantic/Enlightenment period writer

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

Links to reading materials will be distributed in the lead-up
Guests will be able to submit questions for the speakers by email and SMS before and during the stage discussion
The Princess Theatre in cabaret table format on the main floor is congenial for social discussion before and afterwards
Come early, on your own or with friends, family and colleagues; stay late and carry on the discussion
A small number from the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions from the floor
Speakers will be invited to mingle with the audience after the stage discussion
Review the discussion from the high quality video recording included in the ticket (no live stream)
Really get involved - volunteers always needed!

Escape the small screen for a proper, real, live, physical, in-person, multi-speaker event on the big stage at the newly-renovated and reopened Princess Theatre. Buy a ticket, bring a friend or get a table together and join in the discussion, before, during and after!

Produced by:
THE BRISBANE DIALOGUES: BETTER DISCUSSIONS

The Brisbane Dialogues (TBD) is Australia’s first dedicated civil discourse organisation and a growing corner of the public square - a wholly independent, neutral, intergenerational, not-for-profit, volunteer-based project to stimulate better discussions about big ideas and issues. We aim to demonstrate what good public discussions look like and to support other organisations to turn one-way talks and one-sided discussions into genuine, respectful dialogues.

In collaboration with:

newDemocracy is an independent, non-partisan research and development organisation. We aim to discover, develop, demonstrate, and promote complementary alternatives which will restore trust in public decision making.

(Note that newDemocracy generally advocates "deliberative democracy", in particular citizens' juries, as a complement to current democratic structures. As a neutral platform, The Brisbane Dialogues does not hold or endorse any particular position on democratic reform.)

And as always, the dialogue will be conducted under The Brisbane Rule:
All participants agree to listen carefully, speak civilly and concentrate on the content of discussions, not on characters - before, during and afterwards, online and offline.

TICKET PRICING

Tickets are priced from $10 to make the event widely accessible, made possible by:

the generous donation of the use of The Princess by its owners
the time and expertise of all the speakers and volunteers, and
Black (premium) ticket sales and donations

Hard costs of around $40 per person still need to be covered and we rely on ticket sales and donations to cover our modest overheads between events, so please consider buying a premium (Black) ticket or making a donation to keep events accessible and The Brisbane Dialogues independent, expanding and sustainable.

Donations at this event will be applied to Dialogues @ School, a project to involve a wide cross-section of students in secondary schools-based dialogue events, starting in 2022.

If you wish to access the minimum $10 ticket, post a short (20-60 seconds) selfie video on why you are interested in this subject, event or The Brisbane Dialogues generally to social media and email the link/s to thebrisbanedialogues@gmail.com and we will send you a personal booking code.

EVENT DETAILS

Doors open: 6:00pm til late
Dialogue: 7:00pm til 8.30-8.45pm
Date: Mon 22 Nov 2021
Venue: The Princess Theatre, 8 Annerley Rd, Woolloongabba Qld 4102

The Big Dialogue will start at 7pm sharp, so please arrive no later than 6.45pm and preferably earlier to have a snack and drink and talk to fellow guests.

After the dialogue on stage, the speakers will be invited to join guests at tables for relaxed follow-on discussions. Black (premium) ticketed guests will be seated towards the front and will enjoy the best opportunity to engage with the speakers.

All guests will be able to socialise at the bars or tables and carry on the discussion until late, at the discretion of venue management.

Two bars on the main level and one on the upper level will be open from 6:00pm until late.

Light meals and drinks may be ordered at the bars or online via a QR code, for delivery to tables only.

This is a family-friendly event and teenage attendance is encouraged.

Photo ID may be required - tickets are not transferrable unless arranged prior.

Seating will be at small tables on the main level, and in theatre seats in the mezzanine, according to theatre's Covid-safe plan.

Transport, parking and other venue-related information here.

With thanks to our generous venue sponsor, The Princess: Queensland's oldest-standing theatre, now Brisbane's newest home for live music and performing arts. Reopening after refurbishment on 2 Oct 2021.