Democratic makeover called for
Today, Kevin Rudd was sworn in as Australia’s new Prime Minister, and his cabinet sworn in to office. Rudd has told his fellow his Labor MPs to expect a heavy workload between now and Christmas. Climate change and education have been outlined as two issues needing real attention. There will also be increased focus on how the Labor government mends some of the fissures that have appeared within democratic institutions in Australia under the previous Coalition Government. The Howard Government faced criticism for being secretive as well as heavy handed when it came to the control of funding to academics and NGO’s critical of its agenda. Dr Norman Abjorensen is from the Democratic Audit of Australia at the Australian National University. He says that Rudd must address the issue of Freedom of Information laws. But he stresses that with the appointment of Senator John Faulkner as the Special Minister of State, democratic institutions will receive a massive boost.