Bill Browne
@browne90.bsky.social
Director at The Australia Institute's Democracy & Accountability Program. Views posted are my own.
If you enjoyed this, more details in the full post over at @thepointau.bsky.social.
Give it a read: thepoint.com.au/off-the-char...
Give it a read: thepoint.com.au/off-the-char...
How Australian democracy has changed since 1975, in six charts
50 years on from the Dismissal, how has Australian democracy changed? Here are six ways that Australian politics looks very different to when Gough Whitlam was PM in November 1975.
thepoint.com.au
November 10, 2025 at 11:58 PM
If you enjoyed this, more details in the full post over at @thepointau.bsky.social.
Give it a read: thepoint.com.au/off-the-char...
Give it a read: thepoint.com.au/off-the-char...
6/ Between 1972 and 1975, Parliament passed 647 acts of Parliament, compared to 500 between 2021 and 2024.
November 10, 2025 at 11:58 PM
6/ Between 1972 and 1975, Parliament passed 647 acts of Parliament, compared to 500 between 2021 and 2024.
5/ Parliament does not sit for as long as it used to -- between 417 and 634 hours a year from 2021-2024 compared to between 678 and 913 sitting hours a year from 1972-1975.
And they fought three elections during that time -- compared to one in the last four years.
And they fought three elections during that time -- compared to one in the last four years.
November 10, 2025 at 11:58 PM
5/ Parliament does not sit for as long as it used to -- between 417 and 634 hours a year from 2021-2024 compared to between 678 and 913 sitting hours a year from 1972-1975.
And they fought three elections during that time -- compared to one in the last four years.
And they fought three elections during that time -- compared to one in the last four years.
4/ Australians are less represented than ever, with the average local MP now representing 121,000 people -- compared to 65,000 each in 1975.
Australia is long-overdue for an increase in the number of parliamentarians.
Australia is long-overdue for an increase in the number of parliamentarians.
November 10, 2025 at 11:58 PM
4/ Australians are less represented than ever, with the average local MP now representing 121,000 people -- compared to 65,000 each in 1975.
Australia is long-overdue for an increase in the number of parliamentarians.
Australia is long-overdue for an increase in the number of parliamentarians.
3/ Parliament is much more diverse, both in terms of Indigenous Australian representation and women.
Whitlam's "It's time" election was with 93 male Labor MPs and senators and *no* women.
Now women are a majority in the Labor caucus.
Whitlam's "It's time" election was with 93 male Labor MPs and senators and *no* women.
Now women are a majority in the Labor caucus.
November 10, 2025 at 11:58 PM
3/ Parliament is much more diverse, both in terms of Indigenous Australian representation and women.
Whitlam's "It's time" election was with 93 male Labor MPs and senators and *no* women.
Now women are a majority in the Labor caucus.
Whitlam's "It's time" election was with 93 male Labor MPs and senators and *no* women.
Now women are a majority in the Labor caucus.
2/ The independent and minor party vote has gone from 4% to 34%.
1975 was the last year where a major party or coalition won a majority of the primary vote.
1975 was the last year where a major party or coalition won a majority of the primary vote.
November 10, 2025 at 11:58 PM
2/ The independent and minor party vote has gone from 4% to 34%.
1975 was the last year where a major party or coalition won a majority of the primary vote.
1975 was the last year where a major party or coalition won a majority of the primary vote.
We don't have to wait for an invitation to sit on a citizens' jury to participate in civic life: we can protest, join political parties or community groups, run for office ourselves and lobby our local members.
November 5, 2025 at 12:02 AM
We don't have to wait for an invitation to sit on a citizens' jury to participate in civic life: we can protest, join political parties or community groups, run for office ourselves and lobby our local members.
ABC News and the Canberra Times showed a lot of interest in the citizens' jury back in the day.
Spot a (much younger) Bill in the crowd --
www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04...
Spot a (much younger) Bill in the crowd --
www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04...
November 5, 2025 at 12:02 AM
ABC News and the Canberra Times showed a lot of interest in the citizens' jury back in the day.
Spot a (much younger) Bill in the crowd --
www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04...
Spot a (much younger) Bill in the crowd --
www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04...
Not sure how to make a submission?
Very simple -- write your thoughts and send them to the committee's email address.
If you'd like more details -- check out @TheAusInstitute policy school later this month us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Very simple -- write your thoughts and send them to the committee's email address.
If you'd like more details -- check out @TheAusInstitute policy school later this month us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Policy School – How to make a parliamentary submission and appear at an inquiry. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the ...
Every year, Australian parliaments hold hundreds of inquiries on everything from health policy and environmental protection to the government is using consultants, the use of AI or how well the electi...
us02web.zoom.us
November 3, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Not sure how to make a submission?
Very simple -- write your thoughts and send them to the committee's email address.
If you'd like more details -- check out @TheAusInstitute policy school later this month us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Very simple -- write your thoughts and send them to the committee's email address.
If you'd like more details -- check out @TheAusInstitute policy school later this month us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Good example of the "laboratories of democracy" model, where reform in one jurisdiction encourages reform elsewhere. ACT particularly well placed to lead. australiainstitute.org.au/report/canbe...
Canberra: Laboratory of democracy
Most Australians want 100% renewable energy, a stamp duty to land tax swap and pill testing at music festivals in their own state, new national polling
australiainstitute.org.au
October 30, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Good example of the "laboratories of democracy" model, where reform in one jurisdiction encourages reform elsewhere. ACT particularly well placed to lead. australiainstitute.org.au/report/canbe...
Context on the transparency debate that went down last night, continues this morning: www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
Government threatens reprisals after losing key Senate vote
The Coalition and crossbench united to extend question time until the government releases a report on jobs for mates.
www.smh.com.au
October 30, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Context on the transparency debate that went down last night, continues this morning: www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...