“Rudd's concept of community does not actually include the public!”

This is certainly true of all Australia governments and all politicians. They have firmly stamped on the idea of Citizen Referenda in the past.

If Australian Governments suddenly decided to include ordinary Australians in deliberations at this late stage, it is doubtful that any of us would trust them enough to take part.

"The problem is that Rudd prefers to look no further than hand-picked elites and stakeholders when considering public engagement."

Surprise surprise. Of course it's not just Rudd - all major parties are tarred with the same brush.

Certainly there's a problem with trust, but it goes much deeper. Let us perform a thought experiment.

Suppose an online direct democracy, with one vote per person *on every single issue* in the making of law or policy and no intermediation by Parliament. Representative and democratic, yes. Desirable? I don't think so. The immediate problem is, there would be nothing stopping the oppression or expropriation of minorities, nothing stopping people from getting stuff through legalised theft by plundering their fellow citizens. Now add back in the Parliament unavoidably *less* representative than the direct democracy.) All the original problems remain the same, but are made worse because our current system is unavoidably less representative than the direct democracy.

Thus the problem is not that our political system is less or more "representative". The problem is political decision-making itself. There is no reason why people's lives, liberties or property should be disposed of by popular vote or by political process. The solution is not more public engagement in the political process, it is a greater sphere of liberty and a lesser sphere of government.

I agree with Leigh on this one. No one trust partisan advice, especially not from politicians.
Wing I also agree with: More liberties...or to put it a better way: Less authoritarianism. Power corrupts, unnecessary power just makes the power holder arrogant and the victim angry. (Humans do *not* allow themselves to be disciplined unless they agree with the rules. Prohibitionists love this facet of human nature as it guarantees a profitable fight.)
To allow trust and liberty to be maximised we first need accurate information. For that we need a free press and journalistic integrity. Entertainment and politics should be divorced from journalism.
I can hear the journalists laughing...but it is possible.
First we need wireless newspapers...(Ever wondered why it is taking so long?) then we can have competition...then we can have journalism...then we can approach democracy.

It is obscenely ironic that a Labor government should be so unashamedly elitist in all it's dealings; The 2020 summit for selected individuals, the carbon tax system for only the very largest corporations...
Rudd has demonstrated no less contempt for the views and desires of ordinary Australians than Howard, or any Liberal government, perhaps since Menzies.
If you really want to have your say, go here:
http://thecomensality.com/avasay/?p=82

Having citizens involved in all aspects of government is a great idea, but one look at the author's site, “Australian Citizens' Parliament” shows he advocates no change, just another smoke and mirrors approach. A quick look at those involved in this “Citizens Parliament” finds they all seem to be elitist academics, bureaucrats and professionals. Politician Fred Chaney is co-chairman, how bizarre is that. The elites again trying to make out they are willing to change, then present a formula which means no change, other than passing the hat around those who are the cause of our political, environmental, economic and social problems.

What we need is referendum style government, with full accountability for politicians, bureaucrats and business. To achieve that, you'd have to change the election system so any standing for government would have to provide statuary declarations of their polices and plans for the department they wish to head. If they don't adhere to what they declared, then they would be thrown out and charged with fraud. We need the best to run this country, not those who lie, buy or cheat their way into politics, which would probably cover most current politicians

The Hare Clarke System we use in Tasmania is the reason why the lab/lib coalition is entrenched and can't be moved. It's the same with all politics, the elites make it so in the main, only they can get elected and then only if they are a part of the lab/lib coalition.

All decisions which will effect the country other than housekeeping of the country, should be decided by voluntary referendum and we should ban political parties and political advertising. All we need to do is introduce accountability, ban political donations and give every candidate an equal amount of media space to present their policies, then let the people vote. We have the technology to introduce these things, but as long as we allow the elite to dictate to us, we'll continue down the road to chaos, political and corporate enslavement.