Dead Centre: VP2

Publisher's description:
The sensible centre and evidence-based policy are not the same; in fact, they are often at odds.

Scientific evidence clearly indicates that building new gas, oil, and coal mines will lead to catastrophic climate damage within this century. Yet, politicians often label calls for an end to new mines as extreme. Similarly, concerning issues like online gambling, junk food advertising, or the incarceration of children, the evidence of harm is undeniable, but the ‘sensible centre’ is defined by political expediency rather than factual evidence.

Media reporting on these topics frequently assumes a binary of two opposing sides with a centre to every debate. However, evidence suggests this is often a false dichotomy. The political right benefits from these fear-fuelled, fact-free environments, where traditional media outlets and subject matter experts struggle to counter fear with facts.

In this essay, economist and Executive Director of The Australia Institute, Richard Denniss, examines the conflict between centrism and evidence that lies at the core of democratic discourse in Australia. He argues that when both major political parties resist reform, the position of the ‘sensible centre’ becomes indistinguishable from a passive endorsement of the status quo.

Author: Richard Denniss

Publisher: Black Inc.

Format: Paperback

Pages: 128

Published: 5 August 2025

ISBN: 9781763662148