A close look at the smaller parties: Senator Online
Continuing our look at Australia’s minor political parties, this time we investigate Senator Online. Senator Online claims to be Australia’s first internet-based political party, as well as the first participatory democracy (or direct democracy) party. The party hosts a website where registered voters will be able to propose legislation and vote on the bills being debated by parliament. The party’s elected representatives will then abide by the decision made by a majority of their constituents.
But there have been doubts about direct democracy since Ancient Greece, and many of the founding fathers of modern democracies were especially critical of the idea (notably the American Founding Fathers). So is direct democracy best for the governance of Australia?