Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil has issued a stern warning to Australia on the spread of populism, attacks on diversity and the decline of democracy globally.
O’Neil made the comments at a Museum of Australian Democracy event at Old Parliament House in Canberra on Monday night.
“We can’t let Australia become an island of democracy in a sea of autocracy,” she said, warning of new “strains” of nationals emerging globally.
“Many democratic countries are becoming less democratic. Like a virus, populists are replicating at an exponential rate.
“They are personalising political power, strangling free speech, attacking diversity and adopting ‘strongman’ authoritarian measures – all in the name of saving the soul of a nation,” she said.
“It seems like the democratic project is backsliding — not only in newer, less robust democracies but also in democracy’s heartland.”
O’Neil also addressed social media platforms, declaring their algorithms reflect decisions made by key executives and that they are not “neutral” in these debates.
O’Neil said Australia will be integral to the “revitalisation of democracy.”
She noted the mistakes and challenges of Australia’s history, but also noted the investment and practical innovations that have been made.
And she said that “herd immunity” is essential for strengthening democracy.
“We need to work together to inoculate democracy against emerging threats,” she said.
“We need collective action, not only from governments but from society as a whole.
O’Neil called on “whole of society invigoration” to protect and strengthen democracy, saying no person or taskforce of government can guarantee it, but rather that it needs expertise from communities, businesses, universities, think tanks, charities and philanthropies.
She added democracy is every-changing — what we’ll see in 2025 will be very different to democracy in 2005 or 1985. As such, “Every generation needs to discover how to nurture and protect their democracy.”