GEELONG CITIZENS' JURY
DEMOCRACY IN GEELONG
Snapshot
Process type: Citizens’ Jury
MosaicLab’s role: Design and facilitation of wider engagement and deliberative phases
Client: Local Government Victoria (Victorian Government)
Jury Selection and management: newDemocracy Foundation
Participants: 1200 (wider engagement), 100 (jury)
Time: 2 months of wider engagement, 4 days of deliberation
Output: 2 practical recommendations (both implemented) 11 aspirational recommendations (all supported)
Awards: IAP2 Australasia 2017 Core Values Award for Community Development and Highly Commended Project of the Year.
Overview
The Democracy in Geelong (Geelong Citizens’ Jury) project was a ground-breaking engagement process – no other community had ever had the chance to influence its council’s structure to this extent
Following the dismissal of the City of Greater Geelong Council in April 2016, the Victorian Government committed to consult the community about the structure of its future elected council.
The 100-person jury, which met over 4 days and considered a wide range of inputs and information, was independently selected by the newDemocracy Foundation.
Remit
‘Our council was dismissed. How do we want to be democratically represented by a future council?’.
“The whole process - the way it’s independent, the way the jurors are selected, and particularly the open-ended question … that was part of the excitement and strength of this project.
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Risks and challenges
Complex, politically charged topic
Perceptions of lack of independence
Vocal former politicians and unbalanced media
Polarising question
Low community confidence in local government
Varied communities of interest across diverse municipality
Responses and key success factors
Real influence: jury empowered to change the system
Vocal objectors and media invited to observe process
Independent jury management and selection
Jurors tested opinion by using critical thinking
Jury access to diverse inputs, evidence and speakers
Comprehensive wider engagement process including conversations with diverse groups
“I’m a big believer in people together achieving more than people apart, and I think this has been a really awesome example of democracy in action.”
Key outcomes
A diverse range of voices included in wider engagement phase.
1200 Geelong people provided input into jury’s deliberations.
Minister for Local Government tabled the jury's report in Parliament and made a formal response to the jury (watch the Minister's speech).
Victorian Government implemented both practical recommendations.
Victorian Government supported, in-principle, all aspirational recommendations.
More information
Our in-depth exploration of this project (including more images, videos and insights) in this extended case study on our blog.
The Geelong Citizens' Jury website
The newDemocracy Foundation's project page for this process.
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Photos and video credit: Local Government Victoria