Is Direct Democracy Too Expensive?
Australia already pays for democracy. The real cost is fixing decisions the public never agreed to.
The Myth
Critics claim direct democracy is too expensive. This assumes outdated paper-based systems and ignores what Australia already does digitally.
The Reality
Australia already runs secure digital systems at scale:
Tax Returns (ATO)
Millions of Australians file online securely
Banking & Super
Trusted digital financial transactions daily
Medicare & myGov
Sensitive health data managed online
Electoral Roll Updates
Citizens update details digitally
If we can do tax returns online, we can do public votes online.
The Real Cost
The real expense is:
Policy reversals after public backlash
Royal Commissions and inquiries
Protests and social division
Loss of trust in institutions
Public consent up front is cheaper than public resistance afterwards.
A Practical, Staged Path
Start with pilot votes
Begin with non-controversial topics to test the system
Independent oversight
Establish transparent audits and security testing
Security testing
Rigorous testing and iteration based on results
Gradual expansion
Scale based on proven success and public confidence
Learn from examples
Adapt proven models from Switzerland, Taiwan's vTaiwan, and others