Keeping the bastards honest : the Australian Democrats' first twenty years
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
Keeping the bastards honest : the Australian Democrats' first twenty years
Allen & Unwin, 1997
Available at 5 libraries
Note
Includes bibliography and index
Description and Table of Contents
Description
For twenty years the Australian Democrats have worked hard to 'keep the bastards honest', in the memorable words of Don Chipp. This book tells the story of how a bold experiment in participatory democracy created a continuing challenge to Australia's two-party system. This is the story of how the attempt a myriad of doubters said couldn't succeed, did. The result was a 'minor' party with a major impact. For twenty years the Democrats in the Senate have been a consistent force for change. The environmental movement, the women's movement, the popular demand for more accountability in politics - these are but three of the many forces for betterment that have been given a strong voice by the Democrats in the centre of national politics. For twenty years the Democrats at State and local government level have carried the same message as their Senate counterparts to their communities. Whether they are seen as part of a 'post-materialist challenge to materialist politics' or as irritants goading the two old parties to 'lift their game' or as the true inheritors of Australia's creative social liberation tradition, the Democrats are a key part of the nation's po
Table of Contents
TablesFiguresContributorsAcknowledgementsI Overview1 1977-97: Twenty years hard democracy - John WarhurstII Origins2 A party of new ideas: the Australia Party - J Warhurst3 The Liberal movement and the new LM - Dean Jaensch4 1977: Don Chipp's new party - John WarhurstIII National and international dimensions5 Australian Democrats: electoral performance andvoting support - Clive Bean6 Australian Democrats in comparative perspective -R K CartyIV Inside the party7 Party organisation and membership participation - Ian Ward8 Ideology, internal politics and policy formulation -Hiroya SugitaV The Parliament9 Parliamentary performance in the Senate - Hiroya Sugita10 'Red Leather Rules and the Art of Cross-Benching': The Democrats and the budget process - Liz YoungVI State divisions11 The South Australian Democrats12 The Australian Democrats in NSW politic
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