Lawfare, liberal standing rules and environmental citizen suits: A reply to the attorney-general

Abstract

Over the past decade, there has been a decline in the level of public trust and confidence in democratic governments in Australia and across the western world. Surveys show ambivalence towards democratic principles and institutions and low levels of trust in government. Voting patterns in elections have become increasingly volatile and polarised. Parties of the political extremes are resurgent. For those concerned about the trends in democracy, there is no better symbol of the magnitude of the problem than the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States.