Why the rise of ‘cartel parties’ in Australia threatens our democracy

By William Partlett, Associate Professor of Public Law, The University of Melbourne

Australians are rightly happy their democracy has avoided the radical, anti-democratic movements sweeping through the United States and Europe.

But Australian democracy is not safe from threats. One of the most dangerous is the rise of “cartel parties” here in Australia. First identified in Europe, these types of parties seek to monopolise power and keep out new voices from politics.

They represent a fundamental shift in party politics from a system where parties give voice to citizens to one where parties focus on managing and monopolising power. Over time, this managerial…

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