Kim Wingerei

Kim Wingerei is a former business-man, turned writer and commentator. Passionate about free speech, human rights, democracy and the politics of change. Originally from Norway, lived in Australia for 30 years. Author of ‘Why Democracy is Broken – A Blueprint for Change’.

Kim's recent articles

KIM WINGEREI. The Political Games of Mediocrity.

John Menadue and Ian McAuley pointed out in A new leader, but no sight of leadership the lack of leadership in the Liberal Party. And its not just the one party, the lack of leadership in Australian politics is firmly rooted in a political system that attracts the mediocre, rewards the conformists and preserves the status quo at the cost of progress.

KIM WINGEREI. Vale the two-party system - the elephant in the room (Part2)

As Malcolm Turnbull was pushed from pillar to post on his National Energy Guarantee and renewable targets over the last month or so, Bill Shorten and his team were enjoying the spectacle from across the aisle. At no point did it occur to them that if they stepped in to support the proposed renewable energy targets - insufficient as they may be - they could have ensured that we at least had some targets. Labours own target is 50% renewables by 2030. But rather than compromising on a solution that could ensure at least a target better than no target,...

KIM WINGEREI. Vale the two-party system - long live democracy (Part 1)

On Monday the Fairfax-Ipsos poll showed that the combined support for Labour and the Liberal/National coalition was 68% - down almost 10% since the 2016 election. In other words, one third of voters prefer neither party. On Tuesday, we witnessed the unsavoury spectacle of yet another leadership spill in the Liberal Party; the sixth such spill in ten years within the major parties. The decline in support for the majors is closely linked to how they conduct their affairs and is at the heart of why trust in politicians is at an all-time low. But it is still a welcome...

KIM WINGEREI. Condemning Neoliberalism is not enough. Democratic reform is long overdue.

The use of labels in the public debate is too often a lazy way of dismissing an idea or an opponent. However, Richard Denniss' use of neoliberalism in his recent Quarterly Essay works well. He uses it as a catch-all for the ills of public policy formulation in Australia over the past several decades - in essence, the over-emphasis on economics as the only determining factor of our national wealth and individual happiness, and the dire consequences of that emphasis.

KIM WINGEREI. The ABC needs relevance, not lifestyle!

When Socceroo defender Aziz Behich put the ball in his own net during the recent World Cup, handing France the win, Australia groaned in collective disappointment. He didn't mean to, and he is already forgiven. But when CEO Michelle Guthrie launched ABC's new lifestyle section, it was an own goal for which it is hard to give absolution.

KIM WINGEREI. You cannot kill whats already dead!

Apparently, the sale of Fairfax to Nine is the end of journalism in Australia, the triumph of the cheque book as the only arbiter of a good story and the death knell of democracy. Paul Keating - that most eloquent and cerebral of political alley cats - was particularly scathing in his assessment, but he isn't alone.

KIM WINGEREI. The stakes are too high - the party is over!

Listening to journalists and commentators on the hustings this week, the apathy of the electorate stands out more than ever. As seasoned political commentator Laura Tingle said on the ABC's 7:30 report: we are seeing a level of disillusion and disengagement that I haven't seen in 35 years of federal political reporting. The national papers are also showing little interest in the 'Super Saturday' by-elections. Four out of the five seats are held by Labour and one - Mayo in Adelaide - by The Central Alliance (previously known as the Nick Xenophon Team). As the balance of power in...

KIM WINGEREI. The Naked President.

I try to refrain writing about Trump, he gets much more attention than he deserves! But the problem with Trump is not Donald Trump. The problem is not the people that elected him, nor the media that supports him. It is not the Republican party, or the support of the National Rifle Association, the Ku Klux Klan and the Koch brothers. Nor is his misogyny, disdain for truth and inability to express anything but simple - often incoherent - sound-bites or tweets what should give us the most concern. The really scary part is that nobody is standing up to...

KIM WINGEREI. Democracy is not just about elections!

A flood (by my modest standards) of social media comments to my recent post - We have to talk (about) Turkey - was a poignant reminder that so many believe that democracy is mainly about free elections. The way many local commentators (and politicians) respond to President Trump's actions also indicate the same misapprehension among those that should know better. Democracy is a system of government designed to protect and uphold the rights of the people. And to protect the people from government. In that sense, the case of the 'Canberra Two' is both scary and illuminating.

KIM WINGEREI. We need to talk (about) Turkey.

Democracy is under threat. From Vienna to Washington, Caracas to Istanbul, men with scant regard for the institutions that uphold democracy have been elected, threatening civic freedoms not just in their own countries, but setting dangerous precedents for others to follow. Could it happen here?

KIM WINGEREI. Political Donations is a Scourge on Democracy

Despite the many rules in place to regulate it, donations remain a scourge on our democracy. The ill conceived Funding and Disclosure bill is stalled in the Senate. What we need are simple regulations or maybe even banning political donations altogether.

KIM WINGEREI. The longevity vacuum.

Short term thinking has taken hold of our society at all levels - our political leaders rarely see beyond the next poll or the next election, and in many ways they are responding to a populace that is equally sucked into the demands of the moment - resulting in 'the longevity vacuum' - putting us all at the mercy of an unplanned future.

KIM WINGEREI. Cultural Appropriation: Political Correctness gone bad - it is all about respect!

The debate on Cultural Appropriation needs to be put into perspective, and the hoary old chestnut of Political Correctness derails proper debate - it is all about respect!

KIM WINGEREI. Book review of "Churchill and Orwell: The Fight for Freedom" by Thomas E. Hicks, Pulitzer Prize winner.

At first glance they may seem like an odd couple, but their influence on the seminal events and the thinking of the 20th century is equally profound. Winston Churchill defined and led the resistance against the tyranny of Adolf Hitler; George Orwell understood and explained the nature of totalitarian regimes. They were both men who were prepared to change themselves in order to change the world. Pulitzer Prize winner Thomas E. Ricks has written an insightful account of these two men whose paths never crossed and came from opposite ends of society and ideology. The book focuses on their...

KIM WINGEREI. Political Donations Must End!

Political donations are a scourge on democracy. No business, corporation, organisation or individual gives without the expectation or hope of an outcome, and it fundamentally undermines the democratic decision making process. Banning all donations to political candidates, representatives and political parties is the simple solution.

KIM WINGEREI. Book Review of Reboot - A Democracy Makeover to Empower Australias Voters - by Richard Walsh

The respect for our politicians is at an all-time low. Voters of all ages, but especially the young, are turning away from the political discourse in disgust; The recent citizenship debacle and the same sex marriage plebiscite that wasnt, have been new low points in a decade high on political drama, low on any kind of meaningful reform. In his book - Reboot - A Democracy Makeover to Empower Australias Voters (Melbourne University Press - 2017), Richard Walsh is tackling the core issues head on with some novel ideas on how we, the voters, may get the elected representatives that...

<