It's time to upgrade democracy!

For our third pub night of the year our special guest speaker will be Dr Sonia Randhawa from Sortition Australia, who will be talking about upgrading democracy through citizens’ assemblies. Also speaking on the night will be Rémy Favre talking about people power in Switzerland.

What is sortition?
It’s democracy by lottery. Instead of voting for politicians, everyday citizens are chosen at random to form "citizens' assemblies." They study issues, debate, and pass laws, just like jury duty. It beats corruption and puts regular people in charge.

"As we face increasing polarisation, the threat of mis- and dis-information and decreasing trust in politicians, we need to look at new tools that can build faith in our institutions and each other. Sonia will talk about one tool, citizens' assemblies, that are having an active role in stemming democratic decline in Australia and internationally."

We will be back at the Matthew Finders Hotel.
Thursday 10th September 6:30 - 9:00
Limited tickets available. Grab yours + more info here: https://events.humanitix.com/its-time-to-upgrade-democracy
Matthew Finders Hotel is located at 667 Warrigal Rd, Chadstone VIC 3148. Close by to Holmesglen train station. https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=19/-37.876622/145.092338

If you don't want food, arrive at 7:30pm for presentations only.

More about our speakers...

Dr Sonia Randhawa

"Dr Sonia Randhawa is a passionate advocate for democracy, and thinks that we need to deepen democracy in this time of continuing crisis, whether the due to climate, international instability or technological upheavals. Beginning her career as a journalist, she became Malaysia's foremost media freedom advocate, helping to put in place freedom of information legislation, establish a media council and support colleagues facing harassment and imprisonment both locally and regionally. She did her undergraduate degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Oxford, and a doctorate in Asian media history at the University of Melbourne."

Rémy Favre

Remy grew up in Leysin, a mountain village and ski resort in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. He followed business studies prior to joining the family's small spring-making business. Life and career plans changed when he met a charming Victorian traveller and ended up marrying Susan, a country girl from Edenhope. The family moved to Australia in 1983 and have resided in Malvern East ever since.

Starting as a factory worker in a springs factory in Kensington, Rémy studied part-time at the RMIT, graduating with a Bachelor of Business. He then became a management consultant, and small business owner. He is a past Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Rémy and Susan are members of both Voices of Chisholm and Voices of Malvern.

As Swiss abroad, Remy's family are entitled to vote under Switzerland's unique Direct Democracy system where 4 times a year, citizens have a binding say on a very varied range of topics. His presentation will give us an interesting insight about people power in a country that was founded in 1291 by 3 small alpine communities who rebelled against their feudal lords, and practised democracy ever since, long before most, if not all, other modern European nations.

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