2014-11-23
Senator Christine Milne
There is a crisis of confidence in democracy in Australia. It is a crisis for people and the environment. It is a situation I have been mulling over for quite some time, but has been front and centre since the Abbott government tore down a price on pollution and mounted its all-out assault on renewable energy, the environment and social justice.
Together with millions of others, I'm over it. The tens of thousands of Australians who have marched against injustice perpetrated on the young, sick, and unemployed at Bust the Budget rallies are over it. The farmers, environmentalists and scientists who have spoken up for a safe climate are over it. We want our country back.
We want it back from the wealthy individuals and corporations who now not only own it, but govern it as well. We need to face the shocking fact that Australia is no longer a democracy but has morphed into a plutocracy: government by the wealthy, in the interests of the wealthy.
The cancer in Australian democracy is the power of money. The Big End of Town have endorsed and donated to political parties and candidates of 'like' mind and been rewarded with licences and project approvals achieved through back-room deals.
Whatever the wealthy want, they get. The rest of society makes do with the leftovers and consequences. The transformation is complete; it is obvious from every perspective. The corporate-funded Institute of Public Affairs dictates government policy and provides political candidates. Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart condemns the minimum wage while calling on federal MPs to help clinch her business deals. The big four banks insist on weaker consumer protection laws for investment advice.
Australia has become the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Big End of Town. As a result, people have lost control over the places they live and quality of life of their communities.
No wonder people have become disengaged. They legitimately ask, 'what is the point of voting in democratic elections when a change of government changes nothing?' The Big End of Town still gets what it wants, and they are right.
We need to break this sick model of business and politics as usual and take the power back. A strong, truly representative and participatory democracy delivering for the people is our only hope.
It sounds sensible, so straightforward, so doable to fix our democracy, but don't be fooled. It will mean the campaign of our lives. Vested interests in business or politics do not give up easily.
There are several ways this can go. It can get worse, with further disengagement from the political process and elections with growing protest votes for anyone who twerks and appears to stick their finger up to the status quo. Alternatively, it can be a wake-up call, people channelling their anger and disappointment into action; action to implement the changes that would restore democracy.
This is the moment to choose. Are there enough of us who see that winning on the climate and social justice means taking back the power from the corporations out to do the opposite? Are there enough people who care, who have the courage, willpower and patience to take this on and bring about the changes needed? Can informed, active citizens take our democracy back from the clutches of the Big End of Town, or has Australian politics become so captured by the wealthy that it is too late?
Well, it is never too late. As our own Peter Cundall always says: We will never, ever give up.”
This is an edited extract of a 5000 word essay published in Tasmania's Island Magazine, Issue 139. The full article is accessible via http://islandmag.com/issues/annual-subscription/. Readers of Green Magazine can use the coupon code "MILNE" to get a $10 discount on Island subscriptions.