Democracy

A strong democracy is about more than just elections. It ensures public participation at every stage of decision-making and that First Nations people determine the solutions for their communities. A fair and transparent parliamentary democracy is critical to shifting power from the wealthy few to the many, and across the Berrimah line to ensure our government serves the public interest. 

 

Principles

The Greens believe:

  1. Representative and participatory democracy is central to how people in the NT collectively make decisions about our shared future. 
  2. Democratic institutions should empower and support public participation in political, social and economic decision-making.
  3. First Nations people as the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters of the NT must be enabled and encouraged to participate fully in elections, law making and policy, especially when those laws and policies concern First Nations people’s lives and rights.
  4. A democratic parliamentary system should include:
    1. A Human Rights Act (see the NT Greens, Human Rights policy);
    2. Separation of executive, legislative and judicial powers;
    3. An independent and well-funded public service;
    4. A system of checks and balances on people and institutions with power;
    5. Genuine representation of the community in elected bodies;
    6. Public debate based on adequate information and evidence to underpin the making of laws and policy; and
    7. Transparency and accountability in all levels of government.
  5. We can reduce the unequal influence of wealth and capital on our democracy by properly regulating political finance and lobbying and adequately resourcing civil society. 
  6. People are more able to engage in our democracy if they are not trapped in poverty, exploitation and the ongoing impacts of colonisation.
  7. A system of proportional representation at the NT and local level is the best and fairest way to ensure all sections of the community have a voice in elected bodies.
  8. Community organisations and individuals should be able to participate in public debate without fear of retribution. 
  9. People have a right to peaceful assembly, non-violent protest, freedom of association, and freedom of expression.

 

Aims

The Greens want:

  1. To introduce a comprehensive and enforceable Human Rights Act, including political, economic and cultural rights.

 

Electoral funding and reform

  1. To introduce a system of proportional representation for the Legislative Council.
  2. Appropriate funding for the NT Electoral Commission so it has sufficient resources to educate the electorate on the importance, legal requirements and systems of voting and has the facilities for the enrolment of voters and providing in-language materials for voters. 
  3. Increased resourcing for non-government members of parliament to ensure they have adequate resources to effectively carry out their duties, especially those in remote electorates. 
  4. Parliamentary salaries, allowances and resources determined by an independent body such as the Remuneration Tribunal.
  5. Caps for political donations and campaign expenditure. 
  6. Public funding of election campaigns, so as to level the playing field for candidates and empower candidates from marginalised groups to participate in elections.
  7. Donations to be declared before funds become available for use and banned from for-profit corporations.
  8. To prohibit false statements from political advertising. 
  9. To extend voting rights to people under 18, permanent residents, prisoners, and people who have completed their sentences. 

 

First Nations electoral participation

  1. To ensure First Nations Territorians, especially those in remote areas, are empowered to fully participate in the electoral system by increasing in-language, in-community voter education, local enrolment initiatives and in-community access to voting in the weeks leading up to elections.
  2. Resources for First Nations Territorians to support full participation in government decision making and community consultation processes. 

 

Strengthening democracy

  1. To consult with the community about a statehood referendum.
  2. To reverse the onus for Freedom of Information so information is public by default, with exceptions, such as for individual privacy, for which the government must apply to an independent commission for any exemption.
  3. To introduce comprehensive whistleblower protections.
  4.  To ensure that there are effective anti-corruption bodies responsible for the electoral system, parliament, the executive and public administration, and that these have: 
    1. broad jurisdiction to investigate any conduct that could directly or indirectly seriously or systemically adversely affect the honest or impartial exercise of public administration;
    2. the ability to take submissions and initiate investigations; 
    3. the investigative powers of a Royal Commission;
    4. the status of an independent statutory body safe from interference or influence by the executive;
    5. sufficient budget guaranteed to effectively carry out their functions;
    6. public hearings;
    7. citizen juries as an option to judge matters of parliamentary or council conduct; and
    8. adequate funding to service the entire NT.
  5. To ensure that, for a period of at least five years following their term, Ministers and their senior staff cannot lobby for, or undertake any position in, a for-profit enterprise which raises a conflict or particular benefit from their role and connections developed as a Minister or senior member of staff. 
  6. To enable Territorians to trigger parliamentary debate on petitions which receive a fixed number of signatures.
  7. To protect and strengthen public service employees’ independence and job security to enable them to give frank and fearless advice to the government of the day.
  8. Properly fund First Nations, community and civil society organisations so that they can contribute to law reform, policy and public debate, including clauses in funding agreements that protect their right to participate without fear of retribution.
  9. Ensure strikes, protests, demonstrations and boycotts are enshrined as a democratic right, not criminalised.

Expand democratic participation, especially of First Nations Territorians, in community-led decision-making through mechanisms such as meaningful community empowerment, community votes, and citizen assemblies or juries.