Tag: Senate Reform

Canberra’s democratic deficit(s)

Canberra’s democratic deficit(s)

You hear talk occasionally of the ACT’s “democratic deficit”. Actually, you really only hear it in the wonkier parts of the city (and in a city defined by its wonkiness, that’s saying something). However, the issue does occasionally get an airing in public and has 

The sweetest words in the Senate — casual vacancy

The sweetest words in the Senate — casual vacancy

Back in the early oughts, my wife was working as a reporter for SBS. I was doing my master’s in international relations at the time and sometimes our discussions about a lecture would prompt a story idea for her. One was “peak oil”, the rather