Can a return to direct democracy reconnect a jaded electorate with an out-of-touch establishment? Would reforming Canberra’s toxic culture lead to worthwhile debate and better decision-making? Should today’s leaders look back on successful governments to learn how to lead parliament to a full term?

In The Knowledge Solution: Politics, the best of our thinkers from across the political and ideological spectrum dissect the many challenges facing Australian democracy in the twenty-first century.

The result is a frank assessment of the current problems and the radical reforms needed so that Australian democracy can deliver the equality, opportunity and prosperity it promises.

With an introduction by Michelle Grattan, contributors include Gareth Evans, Maxine McKew, Katharine Murphy, Tony Abbott, Bill Shorten, Paul Kelly, Greg Combet, Noel Pearson, Melissa Lukashenko, Terri Butler and Peter van Onselen and more