The Forum. May 2013

7/30/2019 The Forum. May 2013

1/18

Volume 1, Issue 1 | May 2013

THE FORUMA space for YADs discussion

GENERAL EDITION

SociallyProgressive

EconomicallyResponsible

PoliticallyFree

7/30/2019 The Forum. May 2013

2/18

The Forum. Volume 1, Issue 1 | May 2013

2

Young Australian Democrats National Executive 2012/13

National President: Mathew Burke General Secretary (Deputy President): Vacant Treasurer: David Orr Communications Officer: Andrew Starr Education Office: Peter Kell Queensland Representative: David ElwoodAbout the Young Australian Democrats

The Young Australian Democrats (YADs) are the youth division of the AustralianDemocrats (the Party), representing members under the age of 30.

About The ForumThe Forum is the YADs publication, providing an impartial facilitator of discussionand debate between members, and as a vehicle for comment and opinion. Weopen our pages to those likeminded.

The Forum is published in a General Edition and Member Edition. The MemberEdition includes Official Notices and Business regarding the Party and YADs,which requires publication to the membership. The General Edition removes

these sections and is intended for a broader audience. You are presentlyviewing the General Edition.

The Forum, Volume 1; Issue 1ISSN 2202-2090Published in May 2013

ContactYoung Australian Democrats

Level 1 The Realm18 National CircuitBarton ACT 2600

Have something to [email protected]#yadsforum

2013 Young Australian Democrats. Views expressed in The Forum are thoseof the respective contributors and are not necessarily shared by The Forum,YADs or the Party.

7/30/2019 The Forum. May 2013

3/18


3

YADs Executive and Events

4Welcome to Issue 1

Andrew Starr

5From humble beginnings

Mathew Burke

6EducationPeter Kell

8University of Sydney Democrats on

Campus

Views and Opinions

9Liberalism - Reclaiming Australias

Forgotten IdeologyDaniel Carr

12A candidates experience

Hayden Ostrom Brown

13I am a Boat Person

Daniel Heycox

15UN Youth

Aaron Moss

7/30/2019 The Forum. May 2013

4/18


4

Welcome to Issue 1

When we were elected to the National Executive almost twelve monthsago, we were faced with the task of rebuilding the Young AustralianDemocrats from the ground up. From updating the Young AustralianDemocrats Constitution to reflect the needs of todays YADs to re-establishing our presence at universities with Democrats on Campus, wehave endeavoured to develop a strong network for Democrats youthacross Australia.

In developing a strong youth voice within the Australian Democrats, wehave developed The Forum.

The Forum replaces the Young Australian Democrats National Journal asthe periodic publication of the Young Australian Democrats. The Forum isyour opportunity to have your voice heard whether it is on current hot-button political issues, youth activities going on in your area, or policyideas that the major parties wouldnt touch in order to protect their votes.

Were eager to hear what you think of The Forum. If youve got feedback,suggestions, or just want to say gday, please send an email [email protected].

We hope you enjoy the first issue of The Forum.

Andrew StarrCommunications Officer

@Roo_Starr

7/30/2019 The Forum. May 2013

5/18


5

From humble beginnings

A publication for a refreshed YADs and a revitalised Party

When I was 15 years old, I was lucky enough to meet my political hero,Natasha Stott-Despoja. The fact someone so young could make such adifference was an inspiration; the fact her political ideals aligned withmine was even better.

In the 13 years since that meeting,much has changed. The Party nolonger sits on the hallowed red Senate

benches, and I no longer resembleHarry Potter. Im less idealistic, morepragmatic and certainly have shiftedtowards realism. Then why be anAustralian Democrat?

Quite frankly, Ive found a dearth ofinspiration in the Australian political

landscape. Im socially progressive, yeteconomically responsible. I believe free markets promote greaterprosperity, but also realise not everyone can pull themselves up by theirbootstraps. I cant see my political belief reflected through currentpolitical offerings. And I know Im not the only one who feels this way.

They say be the change you want to see. Over the past twelve monthsIve been honoured to be working beside my fellow YADs NationalExecutive and doing our small part to revitalise this great Party. Thisjourney is long and weve only just begun, but Im confident that we will,once again, see the Australian Democrats in Australias Parliaments.

This represents our first issue of The Forum, a publication we as YADshope will facilitate discussion and debate, and provide a vehicle for you tomake comment and opinion. The Democrats have a proud history ofmembers involvement. So come join us the ride has only just begun!

Mathew BurkeNational President@dktr_burke

2000: NSD was still aSenator, and photos werestill taken on Kodak film.

7/30/2019 The Forum. May 2013

6/18


6

Education

On Campus

At the start of the new academic year the YADs attended O-Week eventsat university campuses across the east coast. This was the biggestcampaign that YADs had been involved in for years and came as theNational Executive worked on modernizing our constitution, website andsocial media presence to help us engage with young Australians acrossthe country. We received a positive response from both students andacademics alike. Thank you to our members who dedicated their time

and efforts to help us out.

Our flier from O-Week activities.

We are always looking to do more at campuses across the country.Please get in touch with us if you have any ideas or just want to help out.

Budget

The 2012-13 Federal Budget confirmed that the Labor Government isattacking university funding to fund the Gonski school reforms. While the

Gonski reforms are important and will help address inequality in ourprimary and secondary education systems, cutting resources to thetertiary education sector is not a smart way to fund it. It is also important

7/30/2019 The Forum. May 2013

7/18


7

to consider that the Coalition support these cuts, but do not support theGonski reforms.

Direct university funding will be reduced by 2% in 2014 and 1.25% in

2015 and real funding per student will decline over this period accordingto data released by Minister Emersons office. Universities Australia, thepeak body for the university sector, claims that funding for Australianuniversities is already 15% below the levels recommended by agovernment review in 2008.

Education is the third largest export Australia produces, thanks to ourhighly ranked universities and relative proximity to South-East Asia. Like

all export industries, universities have struggled with the high Australiandollar, and have seen foreign student enrolment rates fall. To undermineinvestment in this sector is foolish.

There will be significant change to student support payments. Studentswho pay their fees upfront (those who dont take out a HECS-HELP loanto cover the cost of their studies) will no longer receive a discount andrecipients of Student Start-Up Scholarships will have their payments

converted into a HECS-HELP style loan that will be repaid through highertax once their annual income exceeds around $50,000. Convertingsupport payments into debt is an interesting idea, and one that deservesdebate. However, this measure only affects students. Is it fair to increasethe debt of university students who are barely out of high-school to fundGonski reforms, and at the same time reduce funding for those studentsuniversities?

Unlike other political parties, the Australian Democrats do want to hearyour opinion on these issues. You can join the discussion on our website,you can comment on the article titled University Funding & GonskiReforms, or on the YADs Facebook page.

Pete KellEducation Officer

@PeteFTD

7/30/2019 The Forum. May 2013

8/18


8

University of Sydney Democrats on Campus

After a short absence, the University of Sydney will once again have itsown chapter of the Young Australian Democrats. The fast approachingand impending election and the political landscape of USyd meansbuilding a Democrats on Campus (DOCs) club is challenging. However,our goal is to have a club formed or in formation by the beginning of thenext university semester in August.

Most of us here at USyd have been members for only 6 months or less,but remember following the Democrats since before we could vote. TheDemocrats were for decades a force for good in the Australianparliament, and in the party's best traditions, we will continue to push fora quality education for all Australians.

These values are at risk of being eroded should we see a change ofgovernment and we need to see strong minority parties holding thebalance of power to protect Australians. We hope to contribute much tothe Democrats and help build the Democrats on Campus by addinganother strong group of students to the movement.

We congratulate the work of all the YAD organisers and thank them for alltheir help. We are looking forward to meeting and working with all theother members of YAD dedicated to Democracy and Social Justice forAustralians.

If you would like more information about the Democrats on Campus or would liketo join us at USyd, contact Nigel or Simon at [email protected].

7/30/2019 The Forum. May 2013

9/18


9

Liberalism Reclaiming Australias forgotten

ideology1

By Daniel Carr

If ABCs Q&A taught us anything last year it's that our collective nostalgiafor the leadership of Malcolm Turnbull shows no sign of abating. Sincelosing the Liberal Party leadership in 2009, Turnbull has been at workcultivating a public image as a principled and considered statesman. Thisis without doubt a significant factor in his confessed thousands ofrequests to form a new party.

That Turnbull is being asked to form a new party rather than take backthe reins of Liberal Party is telling. It would appear that Australians nowsee too great a gap between the small-l liberalism championed byTurnbull and the conservatism of his party. The two political traditionscohabit in the Liberal Party as a result of Menzies fusion of the two tofight their common enemy in socialism during the 1940s. Though thisfusion was not seen in other Westminster system nations, it was highlyeffective in combatting socialism and saw the Liberal Party become the

natural party of government in the latter 20th century.

Though with the Liberal Party campaigning to protect middle classwelfare, scrap a carbon price in favour of a government 'pick-a-winner'scheme, oppose gay marriage, attempt to outbid the ALP on anti-dumping laws and having voted against deregulation of the wheat exportmarket, it has to be asked - are todays liberals well served by thisarrangement?

Late last year I took to OurSay, an online forum, to ask Shadow TreasurerJoe Hockey what the Liberal party offered to liberals as distinct fromconservatives. Hockeys answer, broadcast online and on Sky News, wasan indictment on what passes for liberalism in the Liberal Party ofAustralia.

Hockey rightly acknowledged the Liberal opposition to the governmentsinternet filter and push for press regulation in his response, but liberalism

is not an ideology concerned with free speech alone. It also contains a

1 Originally published on independentaustralia.net, 7 January 2013.

7/30/2019 The Forum. May 2013

10/18


10

commitment to freedom of the individual and equality of opportunity.One would be hard pressed to argue that the Liberal Party is still true tothese ideals.

In his answer, Hockey made much of the right to cross the floor on votes

without being expelled from the party. Though this is unabashedly liberal,with Sue Boyce, Mal Washer and Judi Moylan all set to retire, the majorityof Liberal MPs that have waivered, abstained or voted against their partyon issues of gay marriage and asylum will have left parliament by 2013. Iam sceptical of how small-l liberal voters benefit from voting Liberal ifthe increasingly conservative make-up of the party sees the right to crossthe floor not exercised to pursue liberal goals.

The remainder of Hockeys answer dwelt on thecompassion of the Liberal Party in seeking tostop the boats as evidence of a commitment toliberalism.

As the answer I received on the OurSay forumconfirmed, there is little in the Liberal Partys 2013election pitch for a liberal to take solace in. Thepromise Tony Abbott hawks has no ambitionbeyond locking in the economic and social statusquo of John Howards Prime Ministership, despitethe mining revenue that buoyed it evaporating andthe social conservatism of the nation declining.

Beyond addressing the non-issue of unachieved surplus in 2013-14,stopping the boats and a judicial inquiry into the Gillard-AWU fiasco,the Liberal Party will be hard-pressed to meet the real challenges

Australia faces without the liberal values of economic responsibility, socialprogress, regard for civil liberties and equal opportunity.

The Liberal Partys intention to use our seat on the UN Security Council toraise the issue of stopping the boats is a worrying harbinger of what willoccupy our foreign relations agenda under an Abbott Government.Promises to tow back boats and reinstate mandatory sentencing forthose involved in people-smuggling may make for good polling at home,but will be toxic for our relationship with Indonesia, now worth $13.8billion in trade alone.

What would an

Abbott government

offer true liberals?

7/30/2019 The Forum. May 2013

11/18


11

The issue of a longer-term fiscal imbalance between expected revenueand expenditure due to demographic and healthcare cost changescannot be dealt with by unspecified four to six point plans based oncutting red tape and stopping the waste alone. Creating a long run

sustainable budget will require a fundamental rethink on public servicedelivery, an end to subsidising the resources and automobile industriesand greater reliance on efficient taxes on minerals profit and wealth.

Nor are Australians content to let government exercise undue influence intheir private lives. The communitys embrace of same-sex marriage andeuthanasia makes our politicians feet dragging a nationalembarrassment. The Liberal Party promises greater freedom, but offerslittle unless you are a miner with deep pockets.

The status quo on education is locking children into lives of povertybased on their postcode. It is creating glass floors that see the children ofthe affluent grow ever more prosperous relative tothose less parentally fortunate. A refusal to back aneeds-based funding model shows the LiberalParty has forgotten that capitalism is only moralwhen it is underpinned by equality of opportunity

for our children.It would seem that just as Liberal PartyMinister Don Chipp saw an opening for anew small-l liberal party when he launchedthe Australian Democrats in 1977, thereexists an opening today. The challenge ofthe Australian Democrats will be inconvincing Australians to do more than spraytweets at Turnbull during his Q&A appearancesand instead get behind a party that can claimthe centre-ground of Australian politics with anappeal that is socially progressive,economically responsible and politically free.

Daniel Carr is a member of the Australian Democrats, Head of Humanities at aVictorian government secondary school, and non-executive Director at the socialventure Rise. Prior to teaching he studied Economics & Commerce at UQ, wherehe served on the board of the Business, Economics and Law Faculty. He tweets@danielmcarr

Just as Don Chipp

saw an opening for

a small l liberal

party in 1977, there

remains such an

opportunity today.

7/30/2019 The Forum. May 2013

12/18


12

A candidates experience

By Hayden Ostrom Brown

I was nineteen when I was asked by the party to run as candidate for theVictorian state election, the youngest candidate running for office thestate. At the time I had just finished High School and was in my first yearof University at the University of Melbourne. Originally I was worried thatvoter wouldnt take me seriously, however I found that many people,especially young people, embraced my candidacy and recognisedAustralian politics needed change.

Certainly, more young people should get involved in politics and raisetheir hands. Young people vote and are presently underrepresentedwithin Australian politics. Certainly dont feel that because you are youngor not a middle-aged white man that you cant run. You opinion is just asworthy as the next person, and dont forget the pioneering role thatNatasha Stott Despoja had. The Australian Democrats have always stoodalone in representing young people and breaking down barriers and Iwant us to continue to do so.

We are currently seeking expressions of interest to stand as a candidatein the Federal Election. We will be giving all of our candidates training soyou know what youll face and we will help fundraise and contribute toyour campaign. Its certainly a great experience handing out how to votecards with your face and values on it, not someone elses.

Get involved, and submit you candidate expression of interest form at

http://www.australiandemocrats.org.au/candidate. Help us to bring backthe Democrats.

Hayden Ostrom Brown is Deputy National President of the AustralianDemocrats and ran for the Australian Democrats in the 2010 Victorian StateElection. He tweets @haydenfreedom

7/30/2019 The Forum. May 2013

13/18


13

I am a Boat Person

By Daniel Heycox

It all started at an Adam Hills stand-up comedy gig. As the popularAustralian comedian made a politically incorrect joke about reclaimingnegative tags, a light bulb switched on for two audience members.

For Anne Robinson, Shane Conroy and co-founder Daniel Heycox, thejoke sparked an answer to a question that had been frustrating thepolitically-active friends for months.

Fed up with politicians and media commentators constantly referring toasylum seekers as illegal boat people and disgusted by shadowimmigration minister Scott Morrisons call to force resettled refugees toregister with local police and identify themselves to their neighbours, thefriends had been searching for a way to help stem the tide ofdemonization.

As Hills made a sincere point about the power of reclaiming negative tags

in the battle against stereotypes, the group suddenly saw their pathforward. Joined by passionate friends, communications student andmusician James Swanson and economics student James Treacy, the Iam a Boat Person campaign was born over a pub dinner in SydneysSutherland Shire.

The idea is that most Australians have an immigrant background, saysRobinson. Whether your family arrived in the wave of post-World War IIimmigration, on the convict boats of the First Fleet, or much morerecently, all but the First Australians have ancestry in other lands.

The campaign is appealing to members of the public to join a visualpetition by snapping a personal photo holding an I am a Boat Personsign. The photos are posted on the campaigns official Facebook page,and will be presented to politicians, with a request to stop using the wordillegal when referring to asylum seekers.

By all of us identifying as boat people, we hope to reclaim the negativelanguage thats used in the asylum seeker debate and put an end to thedemonization that clouds the issue, says Robinson.

7/30/2019 The Forum. May 2013

14/18


14

And public support is building behind the campaign. The Facebook pagereceived more than 1000 likes within a week of its launch, and the visualpetition is growing every day with over 120 photos collected already.

Theres obviously a large body of people out there who are no longerwilling to accept the inhumane treatment of asylum seekers practiced byboth sides of politics, says Heycox. Our goal is to show politicians andthe media that were sick and tired of the demonization and are no longerwilling to be silent about it.

Were the first to admit that the processing of asylum seekers is animmensely complicated political issue, says Conroy. But if were to find

a humane solution we must move the debate on from political pointscoring and name calling to a much more mature conversation thatrecognises asylum seekers as worthwhile human beings entitled to thesame rights we claim for ourselves.

This is an issue that goes to the roots of our national character. Are weindeed the land of mateship and a fair-go, or is that all just hot air?

Daniel Heycox studies Economics at UNSW and is co-founder of I am aBoatperson. He tweets @iamaboatperson. You can add your support and makea photo submission at http://www.iamaboatperson.com

7/30/2019 The Forum. May 2013

15/18

7/30/2019 The Forum. May 2013

16/18


16

them the most pressing issues relevant to young Australians around theworld.Then, as a fully-fledged member of the Australian Mission to the UnitedNations, the selected representative advocates on these issues at an

international scale, culminating in an address to the United NationsGeneral Assembly.

Who is Australias current representative?

The 2013 Youth Representative, Adam Pulford, is 23 and hails fromDarwin, but is now based in Melbourne. He has been widely involved inthe past in the Oaktree Foundation, UN Youth Australia and PROJECTROCKIT, as well as MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY, the Generate Program andthe Roadtrip to End Poverty, and has developed a deep knowledge aboutyoung people and the issues they face on a global scale.

Adam has developed a burning passion regarding the ability and desirefor young people to make change in their communities.

What other programs does UN Youth Australia run?

Programs which UN Youth Australia run include the National Conference,the Evatt Trophy Competition the largest Model UN competition of its

type in the Southern Hemisphere, and international tours to New Zealand,Europe and East Timor. Furthermore, UN Youth Australia engages in aseries of advocacy and education activities, including lobbying andworking with government, and publication of the Perspective YouthJournal, as well as a range of day-to-day work in schools andcommunities across Australia.

How can I find out more?

If youre interested in getting involved with UN Youth Australia, check outtheir website at http://www.unyouth.org.au. If you want to learn moreabout Adam Pulford, or follow his consultations, check him out onFacebook at https://www.facebook.com/UNYouthRep, or send him an e-mail at [email protected]

Aaron Moss is the immediate past National President of the Young AustralianDemocrats. He has been involved with UN Youth Australia for four years in both

Tasmania and Nationally, and has recently travelled to the United States as partof Australias delegation to the Harvard National Model UN and is currently theNational Membership Officer in the organization. He tweets @Aaron_M_Moss.

7/30/2019 The Forum. May 2013

17/18


17

Get involvedWrite for us

Have something to say? Whether its a letter to the editor, or

something more substantial, get in contact with our editorial teamif youd like to join the discussion at [email protected].

Share The Forum

What unites all readers of The Forum is a desire to see anAustralia which embraces the values of social progress, economicresponsibility and political freedom. If you know others who sharethis vision, share this publication with them on facebook or twitter.

Facebook: http://tiny.cc/fm13fbsTwitter: http://tiny.cc/fm13tws

Join the Australian Democrats

Not yet a member of the Party? Yearning for a voice thatsSocially Progressive and Economically Conservative? Then jointhe Australian Democrats.

http://www.australiandemocrats.org.au/membership_signup

Become a Candidate

The Federal Election is less than four months away. Think youhave the skills, passion and values to represent your communityas an Australian Democrat? If you would like to learn more, fill outour Candidate Expression of Interest Form.

http://www.australiandemocrats.org.au/candidate

Donations and volunteering

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to

change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.Margaret Meade may have been onto something here. If youwould like to help out the Australian Democrats further byvolunteering or making a donation, please do so.

http://www.australiandemocrats.org.au/donatewww.australiandemocrats.org.au/volunteer

7/30/2019 The Forum. May 2013

18/18


18

Platform of the Young Australian Democrats

Our vision

An Australia which values social progress, economic responsibility, andpolitical freedom, governed by those who aspire to these ideals.

Our mission

Challengethe status quo.

Championpolicy aligning with our values.

ChangeAustralias political dialogue.

Our valuesSocial Progress

Liberty: The protection and expansion of civil liberties, humanrights, and fundamental freedoms.

Diversity: The celebration of our diverse backgrounds; therecognition of the common benefits such diversity brings.

Equality of Opportunity: The freedom to pursue interest or

vocation without arbitrary restrictions based on irrelevantcharacteristics; the equality of all people under the law.

Environmental Sustainability: The protection of our naturalenvironment; the development of a sustainable economy.

Economic Responsibility

Liberalism: The belief in the market economy, with free and opentrade, as the engine of economic growth.

Prosperity: The investment in our futures, and the protection ofour health, safety and wellbeing, for the nations common good.

Innovation: The willingness to embrace new ideasand behaviours, for the improvement of our economy, ourenvironment and our world.

Political Freedom

Representative Democracy: The balance between the will of themajority, and the rights of the minority.

International Co-Operation: The partnership between Australiaand global actors in defence, trade, and human rights; to

advance the well being of Australia and humanity.

The Forum. May 2013

Documents

Transcript of The Forum. May 2013