On Tuesday 25 October UTS:IPPG held two events: the launch event of Dr Alan Morris's new book, 'The Australian Dream - Housing Experiences of Older Australians' followed by the latest instalment of our seminar series 'From Government to Governance'.
'The Australian Dream' book launch
The first event of the evening was a book launch for Dr Alan Morris's latest book, 'The Australian Dream - Housing Experiences of Older Australians'. The book was launched by Dr Robert Mowbray from the Tenants Union of NSW. Already a success, the book is currently number seven on the Co-Op Bookstore Top Ten list. Read more on the new book.
'Political Discontinuity? The Impasse in Australian Politics' seminar
Following the book launch a very engaged audience listened intently to our latest evening seminar, ‘Political Discontinuity? The Impasse in Australian Politics.’ Lively discussion followed the seminar which was presented by Adjunct Professor Ian Marsh from the UTS Business School and seminar moderator Senior Lecturer Dr Bligh Grant from the UTS Institute for Public Policy and Governance (UTS:IPPG). Ian and Bligh discussed political discontinuity, Australia’s two party system in an international context, and the future of global capitalism, amongst other topical themes.
The seminar was part of a series of networking functions hosted by UTS:IPPG featuring presentations by national and international experts in governance, government and sustainable place-making. The “From Government to Governance” series examines current thinking on the role of government in a modern society.
Watch the seminar: The seminar video is now available via YouTube.
Seminar summary
Both in Australia and in other developed democracies, political systems are under substantial stress. Brexit, Corbyn, Trump and our recent election are all evidence of the magnitude of these pressures.
Internationally, globalisation is having secondary and tertiary consequences, including burgeoning numbers of refugees, inequalities and resurgent nationalisms. Domestically, citizen identities have pluralised and differentiated. One symptom is the regionalised support for minor parties. Another is deep division within the major parties. A third is leadership musical chairs.
Australia’s existing two party system struggles to contain these changes. Has it now past its use by date? What is the likelihood of systemic change?