THE non-partisan Better Politics Foundation has been researching hostility in political life globally for the past five years, with investigations in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland and now, Australia. As the foundation states: “The mental wellbeing of politicians isn’t a private issue – it’s a public one. When leaders are exhausted, threatened or unsupported, decision-making suffers, polarisation deepens, and our democracies weaken. We need leaders who are equipped to respond to crises and opportunities with clarity, empathy and courage.”
In Australia, the foundation is working with Professor Patrick McGorry OAM, and the Better Politics Study Australia is supported at the Federal level by Milton Dick, Speaker of the House of Representatives, with MPs Allegra Spender and Helen Haines. At the state level, the local “champions” are Ruth Forrest MLC, Deputy President of the Legislative Council, and me. Our work is to improve the tone of politics at all levels and support the mental wellbeing of elected reps and staff. You can read further of our work at www.betterpolitics.foundation/better-politics-study-australia
The foundation recently conducted a survey gauging the experiences and views of politicians at all levels, with more than 270 responses, which was a better response rate than any other country studied so far. We are also keen to expand the number of “champions” for the study at the state and local government levels. In the lead up to the official launch of the Better Politics Study later this year, the foundation is meeting with parliamentary services, civil society organisations and elected representatives to support them in building processes of civility and reason in our work, turning the insights of the foundation’s studies into actions.
Dr David Meacheam is a Central Highlands Councillor, writing in a private capacity and not representing the council.
See more Derwent Valley and Central Highlands news online and read our print edition every second Friday. Subscribe to our free daily news email here.
Opinion: Building civility and reason in politics
THE non-partisan Better Politics Foundation has been researching hostility in political life globally for the past five years, with investigations in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland and now, Australia. As the foundation states: “The mental wellbeing of politicians isn’t a private issue – it’s a public one. When leaders are exhausted, threatened or unsupported, decision-making suffers, polarisation deepens, and our democracies weaken. We need leaders who are equipped to respond to crises and opportunities with clarity, empathy and courage.”
In Australia, the foundation is working with Professor Patrick McGorry OAM, and the Better Politics Study Australia is supported at the Federal level by Milton Dick, Speaker of the House of Representatives, with MPs Allegra Spender and Helen Haines. At the state level, the local “champions” are Ruth Forrest MLC, Deputy President of the Legislative Council, and me. Our work is to improve the tone of politics at all levels and support the mental wellbeing of elected reps and staff. You can read further of our work at www.betterpolitics.foundation/better-politics-study-australia
The foundation recently conducted a survey gauging the experiences and views of politicians at all levels, with more than 270 responses, which was a better response rate than any other country studied so far. We are also keen to expand the number of “champions” for the study at the state and local government levels. In the lead up to the official launch of the Better Politics Study later this year, the foundation is meeting with parliamentary services, civil society organisations and elected representatives to support them in building processes of civility and reason in our work, turning the insights of the foundation’s studies into actions.
Dr David Meacheam is a Central Highlands Councillor, writing in a private capacity and not representing the council.
See more Derwent Valley and Central Highlands news online and read our print edition every second Friday. Subscribe to our free daily news email here.
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