The founder of Per Capita’s Centre of the Public Square initiative, Peter Lewis, will launch the “Civility Manifesto’, a framework for addressing the division at the heart of our broken politics.

The Civility Manifesto outlines how media, politics and the digital platforms have conspired to build a public discourse driven by conflict and anger, where truth and context are sidelined.

Peter will outline the work of the new Centre, including advocating to constrain the power of Big Tech, campaigning for privacy reform and investing in alternate models of civic engagement based on identifying points of connection and giving citizens real power.

Drawing on his work with the progressive research and strategy firm, Essential, Peter will share his work with Yes 23, the disability sector, renewable energy and the introduction of AI, to show how the tools to build a more collaborative politics already exist.

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About Peter Lewis:

Peter is an owner and director of Essential, the founder of Civility, a collaborative engagement platform for advocacy campaigns, and the Convenor of Per Capita's Centre of the Public Square. For more than two decades he has worked with progressive organisations including unions, not-for-profits and responsible businesses to deliver social change. Peter is a regular columnist with the Guardian Australia, host of the Burning Platforms podcast, and the author of five books including Webtopia and The Public Square Project.

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Attend our in-person lunch and discussion at 12:30pm or watch the live stream remotely. Live stream will commence at:
1pm AEST (NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS, QLD)
12:30pm ACST (SA, NT)
11am AWST (WA)

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Register here to reserve a seat at our Graduate House event. Your ticket includes lunch from 12:30pm followed by a discussion from 1pm.

If you purchase an Online Ticket, you will be able to watch the live stream online. You'll receive the link by email.

Per Capita is committed to keeping its events accessible to those who may not be able to purchase a ticket. For this reason we are making a number of Concession Tickets available for unwaged/student/full age pension concessions. These tickets cover the cost of lunch plus a free ticket to the discussion.

Free tickets are available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in recognition of the fact that this event is being held on stolen land. Please email info@percapita.org.au to request a free ticket.

If you are able to and would like to help us increase the number of Concession Tickets available, please consider a donation on top of your ticket purchase.

Contact the host of July John Cain Lunch: Rebuilding the Public Square, with Peter Lewis