Mr Shorten then went on to say that Australia was an adversarial democracy, “built on the clash of ideas” but democracy doesn’t always have to be adversarial. 

We see in times of national crisis or natural disaster all areas of the political spectrum come together and make concessions on what are normally ion-clad political ideologies to make change.

Mr Shorten said during his address that it was his job to oppose what he believed is wrong.

More often then not, democracy is the will of the majority winning out over the minority but that doesn’t mean the minority should be ignored completely.

I would offer this piece of advice to Mr Shorten – that his job is not to oppose outright what he believes is wrong but to meet what he believes is wrong somewhere in the middle to make a deal that is fair for all sides.

Continually trying to appease the rusted-on supporters and the deep, tribal loyalties of the current political parties is how we end up with disengaged voters and alternative candidates being elected like President Donald Trump and referendum options like Brexit being supported.

We can already see it happening in our political system - a stark return of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party and Liberal ministers running to appease those in the back bench.

I would also offer this advice to our current Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, who said during his own National Press Club address that “We cannot retreat into the bleak dead end of protectionism”.

But again if political parties continue to support their base constituents without engaging the rest of the voting public protectionism is what we will achieve.

The good news they can both see that the status quo cannot stand anymore, they just need to have the courage and come together to reengage voters.

Mr Shorten’s idea of more town hall style meetings and asking those who come along for their solutions to Australia’s problems is one way to try and reengage voters, but the stronger option would be concession.

Showing that they can put the nation’s interests first before their political parties’ interests. When we see that happen, we can see real progress in our future. 

By Matthew Chown