In quick:
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil warns that democracy is below risk due to populism, misinformation, disinformation and international interference.
The democratic system is declining in each established and latest democracies, threatening social cohesion, she mentioned in a speech on Monday night time.
What’s subsequent?
The democracy of right now wanted to adapt to these challenges, and Australia could possibly be “integral” to its revitalisation, Ms O’Neil mentioned.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil warns that democracy in Australia and abroad is below risk due to populism, misinformation, disinformation and international interference.
Speaking the day after an assassination attempt on former US president Donald Trump at a marketing campaign rally, Ms O’Neil mentioned each established and latest democracies had been declining, and the system wanted to adapt to fashionable challenges.
“Many democratic countries are becoming less democratic. Like a virus, populists are replicating at an exponential rate,” she mentioned in a speech on the Museum of Australian Democracy in Canberra on Monday night time.
“New strains of nationalism are emerging around the world. They are personalising political power, strangling free speech, attacking diversity and adopting ‘strongman’ authoritarian measures—all in the name of ‘saving the soul of the nation’,” she mentioned.
“It seems like the democratic project is backsliding — not only in newer, less robust democracies but also in democracy’s heartland.”
She mentioned social media platforms weren’t impartial mediums, however “big players” that pushed individuals into echo chambers.
“Like many newspapers that began as sources of essential information and then degenerated into purveyors of propaganda, social media algorithms push people into filter bubbles and echo chambers that entrench polarising beliefs.”
Foreign adversaries had been utilizing data warfare and psychological strategies to “sow discontent and disunity” in Australia, she mentioned, noting the case of two Russian-born Australian residents who were charged with spying offences on Friday.
She additionally spoke of threats to social cohesion and the half they play in eroding democracy.
“Denying access to government services, terrorising politicians and their staff, painting symbols of terrorism in public spaces, smashing windows, setting buildings alight,” she mentioned.
“These are the measures of autocrats, despots and tyrants. They have no place in our democracy.”
Australia should not develop into ‘island of democracy in a sea of autocracy’
The democracy of right now wanted to revitalise and adapt to these challenges, and Australia could possibly be “integral” in that course of, she mentioned.
“The democracy of 2025 cannot be expected to look identical to the democracies of 2005, or 1985,” Ms O’Neil mentioned.
“Every generation needs to discover how to nurture and protect their democracy.”
Collective motion was wanted to strengthen democracy, she mentioned.
“The project of democratic renewal can’t be led by one person, one task force, or one government. It needs the expertise of our communities and businesses, our universities and think tanks, our charities and philanthropies,” Ms O’Neil mentioned.
“We can’t let Australia become an island of democracy in a sea of autocracy,” she mentioned.
“We also need to defend democracy on the global stage, while learning from the efforts of like-minded partners.”
