I admit freely that I have been too thoroughly disorganised to make a formal contribution to the 2020 Summit that has just taken place over the weekend in Canberra. Reading the press coverage and of course the usually insightful contributions from people across the blogosphere, however, I have still been thinking itinerantly over the last week about some of the big issues and questions raised. It is difficult to narrow one’s focus down to a single portfolio or a single idea that is “most important”, given the manifold challenges facing Australia in the coming years. It seems to me though that democracy itself in Australia and indeed across the Western world is in need of reforms that are aimed squarely at keeping people engaged. A healthy society requires that cynicism plays only a supporting role in our conceptualisation of democracy, not the director, producer and cinematographer as it often seems to today.
Now please bear with me and apologies in advance for erring on the side of the zany as I am about to over the fold.
