Online and the Sir Stanley Burbury Lecture Theatre, Dobson Road, Sandy Bay
Summary:Democracy in our state needs a shakeup. Join our panel of experts and commentators to start thinking about how we might do democracy differently.
Presenter(s):
- Lara Giddings AO, former Premier of Tasmania and CEO of the Australian Medical Association Tasmania
- Saul Eslake, independent economist, and Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, University of Tasmania
- Dr Charlie Burton, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Director Policy & Advocacy, The Tasmanian Council of Social Service
- Erin Cooper-Douglas, Deputy Politics and Society Editor, The Conversation Australia
- Dr Robert Hortle, Deputy Director, Tasmanian Policy Exchange, University of Tasmania
Democracy is under threat across the world. Leaders with authoritarian ambitions are gaining popularity by praying on the frustrations of those who feel left out by society. Countries with strict rules are becoming more assertive on the international stage and as people grow further apart in their beliefs, it is becoming harder to have productive, evidence-based debates about important policy issues.
Tasmania is not immune to these trends. There is growing concern about the lack of transparency and accountability in the State’s government. Many Tasmanians feel let down by a perceived lack of action on issues such as child sexual abuse, climate change, and homelessness. At the 2024 state election, voters turned away from the two major parties and 6.31% of ballots were informal – a 23% increase from the 2021 election.
Democracy in our state needs a shakeup. It’s time to get excited about new ideas that will restore faith in our system of government, and ensure that it truly reflects Tasmanian values and needs. Join our panel of experts and commentators to start thinking about how we might do democracy differently.
Attend online
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Pre-event refreshments
Head to the venue early and enjoy complimentary refreshments from 5.30pm.
Parking
Free parking is available at the venue.
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Lara Giddings AO studied at the University of Tasmania, while campaigning for her first State election. In 1996, she became the youngest women ever elected to an Australian Parliament, serving as a Shadow Minister before losing her seat of Lyons in 1998. She then worked as the Whips Clerk in the Senate, overseas for a Scottish Member of Parliament and returned to the Tasmanian Premier’s office before being re-elected in the seat of Franklin. Subsequently she experienced numerous ministerial portfolios, including the Attorney-General, Health and Treasury portfolios, before becoming Tasmania’s first female Premier in 2011. Lara retired from parliament in and is now the CEO of AMA Tasmania.
Saul Eslake is one of Australia’s most prominent economists with over four decades of experience. He has held key positions such as Chief Economist at ANZ and Bank of America Merrill Lynch Australia. Saul has contributed significantly to public policy through roles on various government advisory councils and committees. He is currently an independent economic consultant and owner of Corinna Economic Advisory, frequently providing insights on housing, inflation, and fiscal policy in media outlets like the ABC and The Australian Financial Review.
Dr Charlie Burton is Deputy CEO at Tasmanian Council of Social Service (TasCOSS), the peak body for the community services industry in Tasmania. TasCOSS’ mission is to challenge and change the systems, behaviours and attitudes that create poverty, inequality and exclusion. Charlie has a PhD in Political Science and is particularly interested in how we can improve people’s knowledge of and participation in our democracy and political systems. He recently stood as an independent candidate for the Legislative Council seat of Hobart.
Erin Cooper Douglas is an experienced journalist, producer and editor. She worked for ABC News for more than six years across radio, digital and television. In her time with the national broadcaster, she won Best New Journalist at the Tasmanian Media Awards for her multiplatform work, including video-journalism. She also has bylines with Reuters, The New York Times and Crikey. Erin is currently the Deputy Politics and Society Editor with The Conversation Australia, commissioning stories on politics, democracy, media ethics, law reform and court cases.
Dr Rob Hortle is a skilled policy researcher and consultant with over ten years’ experience in international development, academia, and consultancy in the UK, Australia, and the Pacific. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in International Development from the University of Oxford, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar. Prior to this, he graduated from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Indonesian. Since joining Tasmanian Policy Exchange, Rob’s work has included commentary on the 2024 state election and leading work on child safety.
This event is brought to you in partnership by the University of Tasmania's Tasmanian Policy Exchange and the Electoral Regulation Research Network.
