Why Freedom of Expression Party

Over the last 10 years Australia has confirmed its position as one of the most regulated countries on the planet; unfortunately, as the pink batts and similar events have confirmed, there is regulation and process where its absence would be beneficial and vice versa.

The regulatory burden has been accompanied by an advocacy and policy agenda to promulgate ethnicity, religion and gender diversity and recognition initiatives within a multicultural society, and to pursue a governance, compliance and oversight framework to that end .,

The agenda has given rise to ongoing public debate and controversy, often neither well informed nor rational, with opinions and positions ” locked in, “ in the absence of a consensus, as to the legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of expression in a democracy, irrespective of its multicultural aspirations and credentials .

A consensus requires balancing civility, consent and acceptance, as key constituents, with a tolerance for prejudice, irreverence and profanity. The mission for the party is to pursue, identify and promote that consensus and establish the boundaries that propagate it

Democracy has been represented as “Rule by the majority , with the maximum sensitivity to the interests of the minority” ; politically the modern reality is different – of the 150 electorates comprising the House of Representatives, 30+ are statistically marginal, ie subject to a swing of 3%, to change the elected representatives. Effectively special interest , lobby and sectarian groups with a 3% + representation in the electorate can determine the outcomes, with the majority who represent 80% + of the electorate and seldom change their voting habits, at risk of being sidelined.

This special interest constituency is also highly effective and fluent in deploying social media and digital communication channels , in an instant communication environment, to promote its agenda.

The outcome is that the political high ground is frequently occupied by special interest groups in representing public opinion, exemplifying society values and ideals, influencing elected representatives, promoting the legislative schedules and setting the scoreboard for the exercise of the right to freedom of expression. A majority currently largely foregoes that right, with itheir interests and agendas elsewhere ; the party is to represent their voice , well informed and rational.

Terms such as “silent majority” and “ political correctness” are presented frequently in the media as emotive “short cuts” for comments on the state of play of freedom of expression, but are not to feature here. A rational stance that protects the right to freedom of expression , albeit recognising boundaries that usurp that right, accompanied by educational , social and community initiatives that target a better informed awareness of civic rights and responsibilities and a subscription to complementary ideals and values , offer a legion of benefits for a multicultural society that needs to be more at ease with itself.

A freedom of expression regime which is unacceptably repressive and non- inclusive risks a society that sacrifices plain-speaking on the altar of expediency, constrains participation in the direction and pace of societal evolution, invites a fractured agenda for public and private policy initiatives and outcomes, runs contrary to a democratic spirit of enlightenment and civil liberties and fosters a frustrated and irate constituency that is increasingly disaffected and combative – simply put, ill at ease with what’s happening, disengaged from its direction and momentum, absent a voice, disenfranchised from influence, isolated from participation and irrational and ill informed in behaviours.

The oxygen for a balanced, consensual right to freedom of expression in society is a deep meritocratic vein embedded within it, with the distinctive feature a high performing education system for all . Australian society is a long way short of a meritocracy, with its female workforce underrewarded for its contribution, marked absence of Asian executives in top roles in major corporates.and social and legal challenges to the gay community.

A frequently adopted counter to an absence of gender, ethnicity and religious diversity is the setting of targets and quotas – eg gender profiling. This may have a role, but legitimises the “parking” of a set of meritocratic values for the term and can have serious side effects, similar to initiatives in earlier times in other countries- it engenders resentment by downsizing merit, can” in extremis” elicit a ghetto perception, when traded under the banner of “positive discrimination “ it is a negative brand , it can have a “ blowback” effect on gender advancement and is a frequent candidate for a triumph of form over culture. Gender, ethnicity and religious diversity issues are acknowledged, but advancement will be better pursued via changes to behaviours, ethics and cultures v pre setting target metrics, with these changes best pursued in the educational, communication and community arenas . Views and opinions in these areas are often polarised, with the result that informed, two way freedom of expression engagement and discussion is denied .

Voltaire’s famous cry for freedom of expression – “ I may not like what you say, but will defend to the death the right to say it “ – represents it ‘s high water mark. In recent times ,it is without dispute, that the bandwidth for freedom of expression has narrowed considerably. Societies evolve , as do ideals and values, to adopt new norms and standards. A more tolerant and permissive society embracing gender, ethnicity, sexual and religious diversity looks to a counterbalancing tolerance and consent for its complementary rights, with freedom of expression to the forefront.

It’s a personal view only that Diggers” and “Tommies” gave their lives , as a magnificent generation, for many causes, but one was to ensure that the civil liberties they enjoyed in their everyday lives were safeguarded for future generations, including a right to speak freely and occasionally cause offence. This flame will continue to be carried by the party on their behalf.