From three Democracy in Action! Conversations, Canberrans reflected on and came up with a set of qualities and attributes they expect in their MLAs (and other representatives).
CAPaD believes that where representatives show these characteristics, public trust in governments will improve. We also believe it will help good governance for the public good.
From this work, for the 2024 ACT election, Canberrans decided on these questions that they wanted all the candidates to answer.
Questions for Candidates:
- What qualifications and diverse experience do you bring to the job of being a representative? How can you demonstrate these?
- What leadership experience can you demonstrate to the community?
- How are you going to engage your community in the processes of policy development and decision-making, in order to be responsive to their needs? Particularly, how are you going to engage disadvantaged and marginalised people and their communities (those who traditionally miss out)?
- How can you demonstrate how you will prioritise community interests and wellbeing over personal, party or donor interests?
- How are you going to report back to the community how you are performing for them in the Assembly?
Expected Qualities and Attributes
Personal integrity
- Integrity, honesty, transparency and accountability.
- A strong moral compass and evident goodwill
- A strong leader who is courageous (someone who doesn’t shy away from conflict) and
- Hardworking
- Actively supports accountability in government
Facilitates community participation
- Genuine respect and understanding for the members of their community, especially those in disadvantaged groups
- Genuinely consultative and a facilitator of community participation – someone who is an excellent listener, who regularly seeks input from the community, and who then provides feedback to them on issues discussed
- A representative stays in close contact with constituents and has an in-depth understanding of their community and the issues that affect them
- A representative is collaborative with the community and negotiates closely with them on policy issues, canvassing and promoting new ideas with them in relation to planned actions and legislation
- A representative discerns the majority view so they can provide consensus views within the Assembly, but is also aware of and acknowledges dissenting views
Puts community before other interests
- A representative places the community need above ideology, party interests or other vested interests in their policy platform; This includes things like putting the community first, not being factionally aligned, being resistant to undue influence from vested interests, declaring any conflicts of interest, being transparent about funding sources and spending and supporting accountability processes and public scrutiny
Personal attributes
- Intelligent and clear-thinking. This includes demonstrating knowledge of portfolios, sound judgment based on evidence, an ability to discern the true essence of issues and prioritise them accordingly, and an ability to understand and explain diversity of views
- Collaborative and effective in policy development and implementation
- Someone who is open to new solutions and ways of thinking that can address faulty policy systems
- Flexibility and focus – being open to new information but also maintaining long term policy agenda
- Is prepared to be challenged on their views and actions and open to reviewing their policy position (they can also reasonably defend their position if it differs from community view)