The number one question I get all the time about the Australian Democrats is ‘what do the Australian Democrats stand for?’ (usually accompanied by a slightly bewildered look). Having got that question recently from a volunteer working in the Penrith by-election – in the form of ‘what do I tell people who ask what the Australian Democrats stand for?’ – I thought I’d better rant on it.
We did the hard work in the Rebuild Project to articulate what the Democrats stand for in a really easy way. It’s the 5 core beliefs: Freedom, Equality, Sustainability, Representation and Responsibility.
These weren’t plucked out of thin air – they were distilled from the volumes of Democrats policy, positions and writings from the founding of the party on. These are the five core drivers behind party policy and position, they deliver on the 23 key objectives for the party, and are supported by the the three virtues (which are rarely spoken about outside the party, as they are more about how we expect Democrats to behave personally than what we stand for) Honesty, Compassion and Tolerance.
So if someone says to you ‘What do the Australian Democrats stand for?’ – you can rattle it off: Freedom, Equality, Sustainability, Representation and Responsibility.
Need a bit more? No problem. Either click on the links in the above line to go to a full page of elaboration, or just use the below lines.
We stand for ensuring all Australians have the freedom to live their lives how they want to. This means you should be able to do what you like, so long as in doing so you don’t violate the freedom of another.
We stand for ensuring all Australians get equal rights and opportunities, in particular equal access to the basics that enable us to all be free to live our lives – such as equal access to information, education, basic services, and protection from discrimination.
We stand for delivering on true sustainability for Australia. We should care for the world around us to sustain our resources, our economy and the well-being of future generations.
We stand for true representation in parliament. Our representatives should put the interests of people first, weighing all perspectives to develop fair, inclusive and lasting solutions.
We stand for taking responsibility, individually and collectively, for the social, environmental and economic health of our nation and its people. We can make a difference to make Australia better, and we need to take responsibility for doing what needs to be done, not wait for someone or something else to fix the problem.
If you don’t know what the Australian Democrats stand for that’s ok – it’s the Dems fault for wandering off course a bit and confusing everyone, plus a bit of revisionist history from others and the lack of a visible leader at the moment. Don’t say the Australian Democrats don’t stand for anything… that’s simply not true, and now you know… The Australian Democrats stand for Freedom, Equality, Sustainability, Representation and Responsibility.
End Rant.
Begin Rant: 
It’s nice to know what the Democrats stand for but they need to get a leader out there for everyone to see. I think the majority of Australians would think that the Democrats don’t exist anymore which means at the moment they’re wasting their time.
It’s time for the Dem’s to get a public face and have that person doing interviews in mainstream media.
Hi Kath,
So there is currently a leader of the Australian Democrats at the moment?
Regards,
Senexx
No. There is the National President Julia Melland, but no national candidate leader.
As a former member, I’d like to see the Democrats also stand for encouraging a greater plurality of voices within Australia’s political institutions. One of the things that first attracted me to the Democrats was not just their progressive policies, but also the role they played as a balance of power in the Senate. The Democrats understood the need for political compromise as centrist force within Parliamentary Democracy and they played that role well for a while.
I think part of the reason they faded from view was because they became largely indistinguishable from the Greens. The above is something that DOES starkly contrast the Democrats with the Greens, and it’s a role that needs to be played. Our Democracy is stronger because of it.
The Greens aren’t playing that role, which is why we don’t have an ETS of ANY description. This is an area where the Democrats can distinguish themselves from the Greens and educate the community on the benefits of more voices within the political landscape.
[…] and reintroduce to the Australian public – whether back to 5 core beliefs I worked up for them or something […]