Equality and Australian Democracy

Abstract

The principle of political equality, the idea that every person should count for one and no person for more than one, is central to democracy. It inspired the movements for democratic reform in 19th century Australia and the struggle for the vote. Reformers wanted to replace the political privileges of property with the rights of the people. They were heavily influenced by both Chartist and Benthamite ideas, and these were to shape our electoral institutions from the middle of the 19th century. Such democratic innovations were met by a strong response, which included the constitutional entrenchment of powerful upper houses based on property franchises. Show more