The Australian Liberal Democratic System: Enhancing Citizen Well-being

This report delves into Australia's liberal democratic system, tracing its foundations in the liberal democratic tradition and its representation of citizens' interests through multiple political parties. It outlines the federal system, where power is divided between the commonwealth, states, and territories, and explores the three branches of government: legislative, judicial, and executive. The report examines the core principles of liberal democracy, including freedom of speech, religious tolerance, and the protection of civil liberties, as defined by the Australian constitution. It also analyzes how this system aims to enhance citizen well-being through social policies, while also considering the contradictions between neo-liberalism and social policy, especially concerning issues such as employment and healthcare. The report references various academic sources to support its analysis and concludes with a summary of the key findings regarding the impact of the Australian political system on the rights and well-being of its citizens.

Australia’s Liberal
Democratic system

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
The Australian Liberal democratic system.................................................................................1
How this system will enhance the well-being of the citizens ....................................................2
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
In the liberal democratic tradition Australian democracy was founded. In order to
represent their interest people vote for candidates from multiple political parties (Berkes and
Ross, 2013. ). The federal system is been there in Australia in which the power is been divided
among the common wealth and state and territory governments. In the Australian constitution
government takes responsibility for all the matters that is not assigned to Common wealth.
In this report the liberal democratic system of Australia will be presented and also the
discuss will be done on how this democratic system will enhance the well-being the citizens that
are straying there.
The Australian Liberal democratic system
As per Berkes and Ross, (2013), the system of government in Australia is mainly based
on the liberal democratic traditions. In this the religions tolerance and freedom of speech and
association is been included. The rules and responsibilities of the government is been set by the
Australian constitution and the power is been outlined in 3 branches that is legislative, judicial
and executive. The parliament is been there in the legislative branch of government. The liberal
policy can also be called as representative democracy .In many western countries for the past one
to two hundred years it has been dominant system of democracy. In the liberal democracy the
society is been developed in which the citizen is been rewarded on the basis of merit rather than
on rank,status etc. In order to maximize the well-being of the citizens the rules are been informed
by them. Against the encroachment of governments, institutions the civil liberties are being
increased and defended. According to Bryson, Crosby and Bloomberg,(2014), In the
political,economic and moral matters the government intervention are been restricted and
regulated that might faced by the citizens. In the Australian federation the state government have
its own constitutions as will as their own legislation , courts and police. The many of the
attributes and power of the state is been shared by the northern territories that is the northern
and the Australia capital territory. Under the legislated delegation the assemblies in the two
territories exercise their power. By the state and territory legislation the local bodies are been
created. Among three levels of government the council of Australian governments promotes
cooperative action on policy. In the Australian constitutions, the national parliament sets out
rules and powers. The protection of certain rules and freedoms are been guaranteed. Based on
the Westminster system of government Australia legislation is based on. The queen Elizabeth II
1

is the head of state. In order to promote legitimate government the power is defined and limited
in the liberal democracies. In order to define and limit power the efforts are been made. A high
degree of popular support is required by the government .
As stated by Coles and Daniel, (2016), from the ancient Greek words democracy is been
derived. It is a system of governance. In the direct democracy the citizens are been gathered to
make decisions in context of the process of the state. The overall decisions are been made by a
small section of the community. The women and slaves were not able to vote despite the
description of “rule by the people”.As a representative democracy Australia operates for
practical purpose. In order to make decision on their behalf the highly educated and elite
individual are been selected.
How this system will enhance the well-being of the citizens
There have been improvement in the well-being of the citizen all over the world. Across
the globe the well-being of people is improving slowly. According to Diener, Oishi and Lucas,
(2015), the sustainable gaols have been made and is agreed by all. In the goal 1 the poverty will
be needed in all its forms and everywhere. In the goal 2 the food security will be achieved and
the hunger will be ended and also sustainable agriculture will also be promoted. In order to
function well the term “well-being” represents the fulfilment of requirements of the individual
and wider society. The multiple factors need to be considered in order to measure well-being.
The individual financial revenue, the important resources access and the collective goods and
services are been included in it. By considering the financial requirements the distribution of
these polices are been overseen by social policy. In between the values of neo-liberalism and
social policy there is a great contradiction. In comparison with social policy the neo-liberalism
focuses on the individual and their right to achieve traditional liberal philosophy. With anti-
statist mentality it been coupled. With the existence of social policy there is a direct conflict.
The well-being of citizens is been ensures with cash payment and free health care and education
is been given. According to state and federal laws the right and freedom of the citizens have been
protected .In the rights t protest laws that is been introduced in Queensland to have their well-
being both taken into account is been shown. The potential well-being of citizens is also affected
by Australia's representatives democracy. As per Dranitsaris and Papadopoulos, (2015), the
rights to equality is been given to the most vulnerable groups in society. The businessman are
left to free to exploit the vulnerable poor and working classes due to absence of restrictions .
2

Only to elite the freedom of choice was extended. It also takes place today. The unemployment
figures of 7,70,000 are been published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics from November
to December 2017.In the same period there were just 1,49,00 jobs were available. During 2014 a
total of 109,830,4557 information holders of vis were employees. The more number of visa
workers were been hired due to removal of restrictions. In order to make sure the neo-liberal
rights of the elite to make profit the well-being of the citizen and their need for employment was
once again forgone. The well-being of the citizens are been reduced due to such oppressive
expectation of work. The health, time-spent with families, time spent in pursuing hobbies
activities etc were sacrificed by the citizens due to employment, underemployment and low
paying full time. According to the expectation of a tax paying problem there are various
provision that are there via the state but they select the minimal preference of neo-liberalism and
they are limited. As stated by Petriwskyj and Cuthill, (2014), on focusing the interest of the
oblige the state provided the services. During the 1980 s the economic reform was implemented.
Over the social policy the gradual acceptance of neo-liberalism represented the firs sign of
centralised government in which interest of market and economy is been placed over the well-
being of the citizen. There can be increased process,reduced access and fewer jobs with
privatization. For an example in health system the basic rights of citizen to good health and
well-being is been commodified by privatizing the system.
CONCLUSION
Thus summing up the above report it can be concluded that through Australian political
system the right are been given to citizens .From the ancient work the term democracy is been
derived and it represents system of governance. In order to function well the term well being
describes the fulfilment of the requirements of the individual and also of the society. Thee
multiple factors can be taken into consideration in order to measure well-being. The potential
well-being of the citizens is been affected by Australia's representative democracy. More number
of vis holder can be employed by them by removing the restriction.
3

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Berkes, F. and Ross, H., 2013. Community resilience: toward an integrated approach. Society &
Natural Resources. 26(1). pp.5-20.
Bryson, J.M., Crosby, B.C. and Bloomberg, L., 2014. Public value governance: Moving beyond
traditional public administration and the new public management. Public Administration
Review. 74(4). pp.445-456.
Coles, E. and Daniel, B., 2016. Getting It Right for Every Child: A National Policy Framework
to Promote Children's Well‐being in Scotland, United Kingdom. The Milbank Quarterly.
94(2). pp.334-365.
Diener, E., Oishi, S. and Lucas, R.E., 2015. National accounts of subjective well-
being. American Psychologist. 70(3). p.234.
Dranitsaris, G. and Papadopoulos, G., 2015. Health technology assessment of cancer drugs in
Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia: should the United States take
notice?. Applied health economics and health policy. 13(3). pp.291-302.
Petriwskyj, A.M. and Cuthill, M., 2014. Seniors’ motivations for participation in local
governance: Evidence from an Australian study. Local Government Studies. 40(2).
pp.240-263.
Online
How does the Australian Government Enhance the Well-being of its Citizens?. 2017. [Online]
Available
through:<http://www.academia.edu/11178926/How_does_the_Australian_Government_Enhance
_the_Wellbeing_of_its_Citizens/>
4