Citizens’ assemblies a viable idea to break government deadlock

Citizens’ assemblies a viable idea to break government deadlock

Dennis Shanahan is right in saying there is renewed interest and pressure for another look at the concept of citizens’ assemblies to break political deadlocks on hard political issues (“Would Gillard’s forum have saved the voice?”, 4-5/1). He’s also correct in saying the failure of the voice referendum was contributed to greatly by the failure to adequately consult with voters, including not having a constitutional convention, which previously has been a prerequisite step for constitutional reform.

The Republic of Ireland has a far better record of dealing with constitutional reform by consultation through citizens’ assemblies that sidestep the usual party-political partisanship that has plagued Australia in recent decades. Politicians need not be afraid of citizens’ assemblies. They merely provide advice to the parliament, at the parliament’s request, on tough issues in a nonpartisan way. No MPs or advocates are involved in their deliberations. The participants in the assemblies are chosen at random by an independent third party in a way that is considered to be representative of ordinary Australians. Everything from tax reform, productivity improvement, four-year terms and local government recognition could finally be resolved in the national interest with this fresh approach.

David Muir, Indooroopilly, Qld

Vibe shift

Niall Ferguson’s article about the “vibe shift” brings some comfort to the average person of common sense but it also highlights the vagaries of fashion that have such a big impact on social trends and public policy (“Riding the Trump vibe shift”, 4-5/1). It’s no doubt a good thing that Donald Trump’s election has caused politicians and others to change course.

On the other hand it’s depressing to realise that much of the change is not for heartfelt reasons but for baser desires such as vote-catching and being part of the “in” crowd. Whether or not Robert Menzies lived up to his principles, he was very wise when he said political parties should work out what they believe, present those ideas sincerely to the people and let the people decide.

David Morrison, Springwood, NSW

Quick fixes

Bjorn Lomborg rightly focuses on the Sustainable Development Goals and argues the world can do better by narrowing the focus (“Smart and simple steps to a better world in 2025”, 4-5/1). But there are only 17 goals and they were developed over years by nearly 200 participating countries. Which goals should be prioritised? Just next door to Lomborg’s Copenhagen Consensus Centre, the Stockholm Environment Institute wrote: “The SDGs are indivisible, meaning progress on all 17 Goals is necessary for building a sustainable future.” Quick fixes, described as the “smartest” or providing the “most return on investment” are reductionist, divert attention from other worthwhile targets and are likely to slow progress overall. Lomborg’s example of providing tablets to help school-age students learn is commendable but does not replace the need for well-trained, inspiring and nurturing teachers, for example. The institute’s “systems thinking” approach is likelier to improve overall progress and maintain the intentions of the original 2015 resolution.

Ray Peck, Hawthorn, Vic

Political opportunism

No economy can exist without reliable energy. A royal commission can make findings and recommend changes to policies and laws, subsequent to an independent examination of nuclear power as an essential component of the necessary energy mix with coal, gas and renewables.

The commission can faithfully analyse all aspects of an appropriate energy plan for the country and provide credible scientific and economic conclusions free of close-minded, hysterical objections devoid of factual substance.

Right now we are teetering on a knife’s edge where a lack of biparti­san agreement on the vital energy mix threatens the economic health and functional living conditions of all Australians. Our energy future is too important to be derailed by disinformation and the vagaries of political opportun­ism.

Jeffrey Trudgian, Victoria Park, WA

Dreamers

The use of the term dreamers in Brad Thompson’s piece dealing with green hydrogen and ammonia as fuels of the future is appropriate (“Hydrogen dreamers facing the blues”, 4-5/1). Production and transport of green hydrogen require abundant supplies of low-cost electricity and involve near absolute zero temperatures. Conversion to ammonia is proposed as a solution to such problems and has the superficial attraction that, as a fuel, ammonia is “carbon free”. As Thompson’s piece suggests, there appears to have been a massive “falling by the wayside” of aspirants to the green hydrogen and ammonia industries. One would suspect realities finally caught up.

Bill Pannell, Pemberton, WA