Throughout NHJ, we learn of how Australia's democracy is being trashed. It's five to midnight and it's time to get busy.

I remember during the 2001 election feeling cheated because it seemed that as a nation we never got to discuss the vast majority of very important issues. There was never that intelligent debate and analysis we longed for because the discussion was shut down by Tampa. Nothing else mattered.

This time around, there's no Tampa equivalent and to me it seems like a big void. I'm finding the lack of substance in the campaign really disturbing. It seems more trivial and trite than ever. We can't blame Tampa. What's the problem then?

It's everything that's in the book. Both large parties don't want to discuss the real issues. The media would meanwhile prefer to score the game than dig deep into the big opportunities and threats ahead of us.

The only way we are going to get the issues that really matter to us as citizens is by activism and non-traditional routes. The system is broken and the old ways of working aren't getting us ahead.

Find out what's going on outside of the conventional media. Keep looking on the internet for the real story and the real discussion. Rejoice in unholy alliances. Celebrate the fact that as citizens, we still have more power than they'd really like us to have. Bit by bit we can correct the balance but time is certainly not on our side. Tick, tock, five to midnight!!