But right now, our democracy is showing signs of strain. Policy feels stuck. Trust is fraying. Polarisation is rising. And too often, big ideas for the future fall through the cracks before they can take root.

We can’t build robust plans for our future without a shared sense of direction.

That’s what The National Conversation is about: rebuilding trust, strengthening our democratic foundations, and creating the shared capacity to plan well together.

It’s not about writing the plan for Australia’s future; it’s about investing in how we find alignment on the things that matter most, and that should define our national direction.

By listening deeply and working collaboratively, we can renew the way Australians connect across regions, communities and generations to make better decisions and shape a country defined not by luck but by deliberate design.