ANDI Values Zing Workshop Report February 14, 2018 Multicultural Hub, Elizabeth Street Melbourne Zing Workshop Facilitator Max Dumais
Executive Summary Fabians and friends were invited to take part in a workshop aimed at exploring ways in which ANDI (an Australian National Development Index) could engage with community members to capture and prioritise key Australian values. Six tables with five participants each took part in the workshop using the Zing electronic meeting system that captured input from each group by wireless keyboard. The group considered the case for ANDI and its possible role in shaping Australian society and was then tasked with identifying the underlying values forming Australians view of the world. In the first instance the group was challenged to identify possible icons or mascots that best represented Australian values and the following qualities emerged: Straight talkers - frank and authentic, maintains integrity, outspoken, people who can find their voice, humorous and fun-loving, accepting of challenges, faithful to beliefs, capable of seeing the big picture, doesn't stand for bullshit, peace loving, down to earth - non pretentious, egalitarian with respect for the common man 'Jack's as good as his master', stands up for human rights and an advocate for vulnerable communities and countries, facing up to indigenous issues, ensuring that women have a voice, a thinking and thoughtful society, resilient and persistent against the odds, think and act as global citizens. When asked to come up with key desirable values for the Australian Society, the following aspirational values for the country were considered in their priority order: 1. Environmentally responsible 2. Fair and egalitarian 3. A just society respecting human rights 4. Active and participatory democracy 5. Integrity and transparency in decision making 6. Competent and capable 7. Enlightened and open minded to ideas and new thinking 8. Socially inclusive 9. Universal and free services 10. Socially and economically mobile society 11. Personal and financial security is a given Given the time available, the first four values were explored in greater depth with a view to determining possible indicators that could then be converted into identifiable measures. Finally, an opportunity was presented to determine some of the better ways to engage with a diverse range of the Australian community in taking ANDI forward. One of the aims of this session was to begin to develop a model process for engaging community members in giving final shape and direction to the values that ANDI may begin to address and measure as this society's alternative to the GDP. Max Dumais
1. Key Australian qualities: The following qualities were identified by participants in choosing key figures to embody Australian values: Straight talkers - frank and authentic, maintains integrity, outspoken, people who can find their voice, humorous and fun-loving, accepting of challenges, faithful to beliefs, capable of seeing the big picture, doesn't stand for bullshit, peace loving, down to earth - non pretentious, egalitarian with respect for the common man 'Jack's as good as his master', stands up for human rights and an advocate for vulnerable communities and countries, facing up to indigenous issues, ensuring that women have a voice, a thinking and thoughtful society, resilient and persistent against the odds, think and act as global citizens. 2. Making the case for ANDI - advantages it could offer Australian society: ANDI should enable national wellbeing to be measured more exactly as far as education, health, living conditions, societal engagement etc Better tool to understand and measure fairness and equity and moves away from allowing negatives to take away from the positives. Having an index of ideas and values creates a touchstone for guiding policy making and practice and an agreed measure would enable us to make valid comparisons between governments, countries, etc. Allows for a broader capture of life's experiences that ordinarily wouldn't be captured - of the whole of life, of and whole population so we can really understand what's happening in the community. Sets a framework for values to flow through to policy settings around health, education, welfare, employment and the other domains. Americans say I'm better than you'. Aussies say 'I'm better off than you.' Potentially a better measure of the real economic situation than just measuring monetary amounts. Can guide policy and set goals and help us spend money on what people want. The new index will add meat to an evidence base leading to more refined policy-making Captures human wellbeing as opposed to 'Australian' values. It would give us more of a measure of how people feel about their lives and their society and how they feel about their place in it. Benchmarking based on ordinary people involving a multi-dimensional measure of living (not just money) Societal measures - not just market which is the opposite to Thatcherism. "Richness" of life can be measured in ways apart from financial. It must measure the right things, if not, it is of no use. It puts into the equation that which is missing so government spending can be "better" directed. It advocates community involvement in decision making and provides a counter to domination by economic interests alone. It allows for happiness and wellbeing as variables to be measured and factored in even though they are subjective phenomena by recognising the importance of subjective and qualitative factors compared to quantitative measures. We really need the right measures so measure what is important to humanity not just cash.
GPD doesn't measure equity or quality of life for the majority. You can increase GDP but decrease wellbeing. For instance many teachers think measures such as NAPLAN don't really measure quality of education.. Selling cigarettes creates jobs, including the work of dealing with its bad effects. Some industries may be more economically valuable than others, but not contribute equally to GDP. It will allow us to assess sustainability as well as those currently invisible contributions such as care of children, the elderly etc. 3. Key desirable values for an Australian society: Environmentally sustainable and highly respectful of the environment by acting responsibly and sustainably towards its natural environs. Reflects Inclusiveness and egalitarianism Nurtures an enlightened community - scientific thinking / informed debate / high level of education Ensures equality - inclusion and human rights for everyone Insists on a government that is responsive, transparent and acts with integrity Personal and financial safety are assured Capable and competent - through investment in education and training. Social and economic mobility is assured A participatory democracy with consensual and collaborative decision making A caring society with universal and free services in education, health care justice system based on human rights and the rule of law. Egalitarian by valuing equality and fairness with particular focus on disadvantaged groups such as first peoples An engaged democracy where everyone has an equal voice and right of participation. An economy designed to serve society and the needs of the community, not vice versa, as it is now; Making sustainability the focus of all its policies in meeting the challenges of climate change. Priority listing Aspirational Values 12. Environmentally responsible 13. Fair and egalitarian 14. A just society respecting human rights 15. Active and participatory democracy 16. Integrity and transparency in decision making 17. Competent and capable 18. Enlightened and open minded to ideas and new thinking 19. Socially inclusive 20. Universal and free services 21. Socially and economically mobile society 22. Personal and financial security is a given 3.1 Value - Environmental responsibility: Capable of being judged on how we assist other countries to manage climate change/environmental degradation. All energy generated from renewables with renewable energy as a % of the total use. Protecting our ecosystems and biosphere.
Maintaining the health of habitats including the Great Barrier Reef and addressing the potential of animal species extinctions. Careful control and monitoring of land clearing. Ensuring Zero net harm to the environment. Protecting the old growth forest Mandating farming techniques that do not degrade the environment. Measuring and maintaining our natural environment. Manage our own rubbish Personal responsibility and ownership Impact of human activity Clean water and clean air with Net zero carbon emissions End the use and export of fossil fuels. Stop exporting coal, gas, oil 3.2 A just society respecting human rights: Ensuring affordable access to the legal system for everyone, not dependent on ability to pay. Meet and exceed international laws and honouring all international treaties particularly those regarding refugee intake and treatment. An independent public service based on merit Balance of rights between the individual and society. Equal access to all public and social institutions. No discrimination on race or gender. The expectation that everyone will be treated the same Implementation of the Uluru statement from the heart 3.3 Fair and egalitarian ethos: Elimination of discrimination. People perceive our society to be fair and egalitarian Promoting the perception of all people as equal irrespective of status, class or standing. Equal opportunities for males and females in politics, business and corporations. Close the gap between highest income earners and those at the bottom Close all social and discriminatory shortfalls e.g., Eliminate homelessness, educational differences and poverty Respect for diversity in society and in its institutions Universal access to good health care, good education, housing and to justice under the law. Education levels Distribution of income and capital and equitable taxation. Ensuring safe shelter for everyone. Universal basic income Ability for all citizens to participate and have a meaningful say. 3.4 Active and participatory democracy: Compulsory voting with Government fully funded elections. Remove and reduce sectional interests and political donations from the political process by the public funding of political parties in elections (removing influence of private donations) and avoiding the undue influence of that accompany political donations.
Hold Community Cabinets around the country and allow high quality informed public debates. Strive for more diversity in parliament with a greater diversity of candidates and more females in parliament. Fewer 'professional' politicians and the use of more deliberative democracy techniques - with less adversarial and more consensual and collaborative decisionmaking processes. Government that acts in the best interest of the people ahead of everything else. Market place of ideas that facilitates a good society - from each according to their ability, to each according to their need. People are made aware about political issues and can hear their voice echoed in the political debate. Good citizen and political education with Civics as an integral part of the school curriculum Open access by civil society to participate in decision making - engaged through the whole parliamentary term Investigate MyVote Elections Australia Government should engage with effective individuals and communities as standard practice. Competent and capable politicians and public servants Workers on company boards with company shareholdings and students on the boards of educational institutions. Membership and participation in trade unions and other local and social organisations. Broader, fairer and less concentrated media ownership Inculcate a general willingness among the general population and political representatives to work cooperatively. Investigate new ways of engaging with communities effectively. 4. Community engagement Some of the best ways to engage the diverse Australian community with ANDI: Try to cover as many age groups as possible and in particular, consult younger people - they're the next generation! Preparation of audiences before being consulted so they can participate in an informed way. Ask those at the grassroots movements e.g. in health, education, environment Contact community groups through councils: educational institutions, ethnic communities, special interest groups, churches, sporting clubs, cause-related organisations, online organisations, advocacy groups Need a representative sample of the Australian demographics. Work with high schools to get younger people involved. Introduce secondary students to concept as part of their civics training. Contact various professional groups, societies, NGOs, humanistic societies, Churches and other religious organisations as well as Citizens and residents groups (Carlton Residents, Melbourne 3000), ethnic groups. Raise it as a conversation with Local Councils. ANDI needs to get into the wider suburban communities even regional via local government. Convert the ANDI concept into other languages to be more inclusive.
Approach Sally MacManus to introduce the concept within the Union movement in order to involve work places in the discussion (work place forums) through the unions. Introduce ANDI on Facebook and through social media. ANDI to stage free public discussions. Use Australian membership of the Open Government Partnership Get small business community involved. Online consultation such as Getup or OurSay. Seek out expert input from a wide range of sources and backgrounds and review knowledge and experience from other countries. Application of deliberative democracy, e.g., citizens' juries Encourage and fund neighbourhood groups to work on civic projects, i.e., below the local council level 4. Reactions to the session. Good tool to facilitate discussion of views and to capture them Gave an opportunity for lively debate and exchange of views. Working from the general to the specific forced us to clarify our beliefs, rather than make 'motherhood statements' I liked it! Good discussion and technology was easy to use Excellent opportunity to contribute ideas Directness of immediate input visually explained for other to see is greatly appreciated Good process. It allows for discussion and yet still gets a quick result. Some suggestions on how the teams could operate: for example, individuals to prepare individual responses and then compare with the team.