FORMER high-profile political journalist, commentator and current affairs television presenter Barrie Cassidy delivered a thought-provoking oration on the fragility and decline of democracy at home and abroad on Sunday.

Mr Cassidy drew a packed audience at Memorial Hall of close to 450 people, with many standing at the 22nd George Briscoe Kerferd Oration.

Nearly 400 online viewers also tuned into the streamlined event from across the region and beyond for his presentation titled 'The Fragility of Democracy'.

“Democracy is challenged and fragile everywhere and in fact the world is in a democratic recession,” Mr Cassidy said.

Mr Cassidy said in Australia there is growing disillusionment with the major political parties, fuelled by issues such as lobbyists' influence, political campaign funding, and a lack of trust in politics.

“The emergence of independents may lead to more scrutiny of these issues and potentially force the major parties to address them,” he said.

“If Australia shifts towards minority government, these problems may become more pressing and lead to more meaningful reforms.

“What has impressed me as much as you can read an audience's reactions collectively here is a real embrace of change, and politics being done in a different way.

“And it doesn't surprise me because I think the way that the political system has operated over decades now, does demand a new way and two-party system is under pressure for a reason.

“When I first went to Canberra 90 per cent of people voted for one of the major parties now it’s down to about 64 per cent so people are looking for change.”

Mr Cassidy cited democracy in the United States being undermined in various ways, including the Capital riots on January 6, 2021, and the relevancy of forthcoming elections and voting processes.

He said the country’s recent Supreme Court decision - transparently political - granted immunity to a president for actions taken as part of a presidency giving new rules to guide the country.

“One of the key pillars of democracy is a free and independent judiciary and this does not demonstrate independence,” he said.

Mr Cassidy said he tried to take the audience through issues needed to be addressed by the major parties in Australia - particularly issues directly impacting on the way governance and politics operates.

“You have to identify why there’s a lack of trust in politics, and why people are disillusioned with the major parties,” he said.

“And lots of ways it comes down to who they deal with and how they deal with them."

He said lobbyists have far too much influence, impact and access to politicians and it comes down to the way political campaigns are funded.

Among many other issues raised in the oration included disinformation, misinformation, social media’s toxic side and the emergence of AI.

Mr Cassidy said Australia has concerning challenges, but has guard rails with the role of the Australian Electoral Commission, political structure and outlined the benefits of compulsory voting.

“I don't think it should be just a fundamental right, I believe it is a civic duty,” he said.

Mr Cassidy said education about democracy should start at a young age when a soon-to-be pilot study tales place in 40 Queensland schools with a fun ‘democracy in a box' tool with information.

Kerferd Oration event moderator Jill Briggs said she hoped people heard the message about the pressure on democracy and being undermined across the world.

“Australia has good hope, and we have a really robust process of encouraging people to vote with a really solid constitution,” she said.

“We need to see and know that as we have something precious here in Australia, but also for this particular part of the country in Indi.

“A key message was the great opportunity for us to continue and be part of a really robust crossbench which will hold the government to account.”

Visit www.kerferdoration.org to view Mr Cassidy’s oration.