15 November 2013
The University of South Australia’s Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre will investigate a better way to do democracy when it hosts its final event for the year on Wednesday November 20.
The already fully-booked event will feature respected politics authority Professor Geoff Gallop, who will speak on the topic ‘What is newDemocracy?’.
Prof Gallop is Chair of the Research Committee of The newDemocracy Foundation, an organisation which believes there is a better way to do democracy. The Foundation is an independent, non-partisan research organisation aiming to identify improvements to the democratic process.
“People want to be participants in politics, not just polarised voters in adversarial contests,” he says.
“The newDemocracy Foundation suggests that we don’t need better politicians, we need a better political system.”
Prof Gallop is Director at the University of Sydney’s Graduate School of Government and delivered the 13th Annual Hawke Lecture in 2010 on the topic ‘Rethinking Australian politics – engaging the disenchanted’, in which he critiqued modern political processes and their impact on the community.
The event, as well as being the Hawke Centre’s final event for 2013, will be the final event for Hawke Centre Director Elizabeth Ho, who will say farewell to her role with UniSA in the new year.
Ms Ho has been the inaugural Director of the Hawke Centre from its inception in 1999. She is delighted the story of the Hawke Centre is being released in a presentation book titled ‘Building the future’.
“This book captures the breadth and depth of the Hawke Centre’s program and reflects our values of strengthening our democracy, valuing our diversity and building our future,” she says.
“It also documents the many fine speakers we have presented over the years. Importantly, we keep their knowledge and ideas alive by giving the community access to podcasts, and we encourage everyone to dip back into the insights of some of the great thinkers of our times.”
WHAT: What is newDemocracy?
WHO: Professor Geoff Gallop, The newDemocracy Foundation
WHEN: Wednesday November 20, 5pm for a 5.30pm start
WHERE: Allan Scott Auditorium, Hawke Building, UniSA City West Campus
Media contact: Kelly Stone office 8302 0963 mobile 0417 861 832 email kelly.stone@unisa.edu.au
