About The National Forum

The National Forum, publisher of this site, was incorporated as a not-for-profit company to be a vehicle to promote democratic uses of the Internet in Australia. The National Forum site is a virtual Town Square designed to provide free democratic space on the web for our citizens, and shop fronts for our institutions.

We recognise that to be successful this revolution must involve everyone: that it must harness and focus all the forces of civil and political society across the whole spectrum of views. To that end we have already enlisted as members some significant Australian institutions including the Brisbane Institute, QUT, the Local Government Association of Queensland, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy and Oxfam Community Aid Abroad, as well as prominent individuals and parliamentarians.

In our first years of operation we have concentrated on building a community through our publication, On Line Opinion. In the last 18 months we have built our legislature – the iParliament; our speaker’s corner – The Domain; an area for conversations – On Line Opinion Forum; – an area for deliberative democracy – On Line Focus; and the first volume of our library has been put on the shelf – Issues Briefs. We have a lot more interactivity planned for the next 12 months.

While anyone can access this site for free, like anything else it comes at a cost. If we are going to continue to provide and expand this service, we need your support. For slightly less than $1.00 per week (less than the daily cost of any metropolitan newspaper in the country) you can ensure that The National Forum continues to provide independent news and views. To become an individual supporter click here.

Your organisation may also be able to benefit from membership of the site. To enquire about the benefits, please email Graham Young.