Australian Politics Essay
In POLS2017, the problems arising in Australian politics have been demonstrated with a decision-making exercise, to educate students on how a political system is formed and executed in Australian society. The issue that was debated was whether student participation and engagement in the subject should be assessed. Thus, in tutorials a political process was designed to decide on a participation percentage. Issues in the Australian political system such delegating representation for citizens and youth political engagement/detachment were reflected in the decision-making exercise.
In Australia, the government is a “representative democracy” (Fenna, Robbins & Summers 2013, p.2), whereby citizens participate by choosing representatives for government. …show more content…
Some thought that due to their shy nature, a high participation mark could affect their grade whilst others argued that in a political system debate and discussion are integral to demonstrate political involvement. As we deepened our arguments, the group reached a consensus that participation is important both in our learning and engagement with politics. This conversation of participation in our own tutorials draws parallels between the youth attachment of detachment to Australian politics. Through young Australians may appear “politically apathetic” and are more willing to “abandon democracy” (Chou 2013, p.488), Australian youth have demonstrated a high engagement in non-electoral activities, such as signing a petition rather than in electoral involvement (Martin 2012, p.218). This suggests that there are many forms of political engagement besides traditional aspects of voting, thus demonstrating that youth are involved in the political system in Australia. As a group of youth, we have demonstrated an interest in the political system through a non-conventional involvement through this exercise. We have embedded both non-electoral engagement through conversing on an online forum on Facebook, and electoral engagement by voting for representatives.
The importance of representation in Australian politics has been mimicked in the decision-making exercise and the
In Australia, the government is a “representative democracy” (Fenna, Robbins & Summers 2013, p.2), whereby citizens participate by choosing representatives for government. …show more content…
Some thought that due to their shy nature, a high participation mark could affect their grade whilst others argued that in a political system debate and discussion are integral to demonstrate political involvement. As we deepened our arguments, the group reached a consensus that participation is important both in our learning and engagement with politics. This conversation of participation in our own tutorials draws parallels between the youth attachment of detachment to Australian politics. Through young Australians may appear “politically apathetic” and are more willing to “abandon democracy” (Chou 2013, p.488), Australian youth have demonstrated a high engagement in non-electoral activities, such as signing a petition rather than in electoral involvement (Martin 2012, p.218). This suggests that there are many forms of political engagement besides traditional aspects of voting, thus demonstrating that youth are involved in the political system in Australia. As a group of youth, we have demonstrated an interest in the political system through a non-conventional involvement through this exercise. We have embedded both non-electoral engagement through conversing on an online forum on Facebook, and electoral engagement by voting for representatives.
The importance of representation in Australian politics has been mimicked in the decision-making exercise and the