By Steve Davies
Dear Voters, Advocates, Public Servants, Politicians, Journalists, and Concerned Citizens,
With just 12 days until the Australian election, many are asking the same old questions:
- Will politicians ever really change?
- Will “the system” ever truly listen?
- Why does accountability vanish after election day?
- Why does spin so often replace substance?
The result? Declining trust, growing disillusionment, and a sense of powerlessness.
The Trust Crisis in Numbers
- Only 30% of Australians trust government officials (Australian Election Study).
- 72% see wealth and power as major dividing forces.
- 49% view government leaders as a source of division.
Yet, despite this, Australians still believe in democracy – free elections, the rule of law, and representation (2024 World Values Survey). The problem isn’t democracy itself, but the growing gap between its ideals and reality.
Australian democracy is not dead, but needs help to ensure its survival
Why Independents Are Seen as a Circuit Breaker
Many voters now view Independents as a safeguard against decline – a sign of desperation in a system that feels unresponsive. But the deeper question remains:
Why do even well-intentioned leaders and institutions struggle to do the right thing?
Band-aid fixes and spin won’t solve this. We need a new approach.
A Mirror to Hold Power Accountable – 24/7
Elections every three years aren’t enough. Satisfaction surveys don’t cut it. Australians need real tools to scrutinise power continuously.
For the past two years, I’ve been developing AI-driven tools – based on the groundbreaking work of Albert Bandura and Shoshana Zuboff – to do exactly that. These tools allow anyone to:
✔ Analyse policies, speeches, and government actions for hidden biases and moral disengagement.
✔ Hold politicians and institutions accountable in real time.
✔ Share findings transparently with others.
The Response So Far? Silence Speaks Volumes
When I approached the Australian Public Service Commission with this idea – even offering a confidentiality agreement – I was met with silence. That silence is telling.
Yet, the irony? These tools aren’t just for voters – they’re for politicians and public servants too. They can help leaders self-reflect, improve, and rebuild trust.
Try It Yourself
Explore the tools and see how they work:
🔍 AI’s New Frontier: Moral Futures
📊 Start Analysing Now: Expose Hidden Patterns
🎤 Analysis of the ABC News Leaders Debate
✊ AI Future Witness: Empowering Youth Voices
Coming Soon: Legal analysis of Australian laws using this framework.
The Choice Is Ours
This election doesn’t have to be “the same old story”. With the right tools, we can demand – and build – better.
Also by Steve Davies: The Morrison Government: A textbook case of rampant, moral disengagement
Steve Davies is a retired public servant. His expertise is in the areas of organisational research and people development. He’s always been attracted to forward looking work. He’s a vocal critic of destructive, cruel and backwards looking behaviours and practices.
Over the years he’s spoken in depth with whistleblowers and advocated the use of technology (including social media tech) to empower people to do great things together.
His thinking and work have been heavily influenced by such great thinkers and researchers as Shoshana Zuboff, Albert Bandura and Peter Senge for decades.
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