Allegra Spender MP, Zali Steggall OAM MP and Kate Chaney MP share insights on what people powered politics means and how they are working with their communities to champion critical issues from tax reform, cost of living and housing affordability to electoral reform, truth in political advertising, integrity and climate action.

Proactively collaborating with community to understand issues and find solutions has added complexity in rural and regional electorates due to distance and geographical challenges, numerous and diverse population centres and poor connectivity. Alex Dyson, 2022 candidate for Wannon, and Suzie Holt, 2022 candidate for Groom, join Helen Haines MP to discuss how they connect with community in vast electorates.

When real problems seem insurmountable, corruption is brewing or the national debate hots up on key issues, satirists, commentators and comedians use their creativity to reach new audiences. From the quintessential newspaper cartoon to a new generation of digital influencers, humor has enormous power to drive greater participation in demoracy, convey key messages and provide much needed relief.

In the lead-up to the last Election thousands of people took the bold step of donning a campaign t-shirt, pounding the pavement, waving banners, door knocking and working election booths. Hear Ella Finlay in conversation with Conal Feehely and Joyce Yuan, sharing how they are keeping the flame alive, enlisting new volunteers, and engaging their local communities in democracy.

Dr Sophie Scamps MP and Kylea Tink MP discuss the power of bringing people into their democracy via citizens assemblies. Hear how randomly selected representative cross sections of citizens in Mackellar and North Sydney participated in facilitated processes to come to a consensus on solutions to one of our biggest national intergenerational problems: the housing affordability crisis.

Sue Barrett in conversation with Monique Ryan MP and Senator David Pocock, exploring the impact of having a strong independent voice in the Senate and how it has reinvigorated the Upper House and forced politics to be conducted differently, along with a look at how the Community Independent MPs are working with the Senate to effect better laws.

Tina Jackson in discussion with Brook Turner and Alana Johnson. As narrators of the movement, the panel will share insights on what has been learnt from the past and reflect on the future. They’ll explore what is meant by the ‘Community Independents movement’, its activities and diversity, as well as the importance of story in capturing the past and shaping the future.

Zoe Daniel MP and Richard Denniss discuss how the rise of the Community Independents creates a new political landscape and how people-driven politics requires new ways of thinking about power and a new language to express them.

Strong, active and engaged communities are an essential pillar of healthy democracy, particularly in the digital age.

Richard Denniss and Nicollette Boele discuss how dis and misinformation undermines democracy in Australia and the power organised communities can harness by owning the narrative through established networks of trust.

Zoe Daniel MP in conversation with Kos Samaras and Ann-Charlott Paduch. This insightful discussion covers community building and the power of local conversations to demographics, disinformation and trust in democracy.