The importance of transparency in public discourse

October 27, 2025

John Anderson’s contribution to the Boyer Lecture series largely focused on “diminished trust in government, lack of civility in public discourse and the threat to democracy”.

However, Anderson’s account has significant omissions. He fails to acknowledge widespread public policy failures, the corrosive impact of concentrated media ownership and the lack of transparency in decision-making at all levels of government. He laboured over the housing crisis and home ownership, but other policy failures were ignored.

Perhaps this explains Anderson’s two most egregious omissions and which pose the biggest threats to democracy and social cohesion. Firstly, the rise in inequality and the concentration of wealth and secondly, the existential risks posed by global warming and the collapse of ecological and climate systems.

These omissions can best be explained by considering Anderson’s connections to various entities including  ARC, the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship. Anderson regularly provides a platform in his podcasts for those casting doubt on climate science adding to the plethora of misinformation and confusion dividing communities across the country.

Many honourable and eloquent people could have spoken about the future of democracy in this country but Anderson has revealed he is not one of them.