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Citizen Assemblies for South Australia (CAfSA)

CAfSA is an incorporated association founded in Adelaide in 2023, advocating for randomly selected, broadly representative citizens' assemblies as a policy-making tool in South Australia. The organisation distinguishes citizens' assemblies from traditional consultation, positioning them as particularly suited to contested issues that are difficult for elected politicians to handle directly.

Advisory board

CAfSA's advisory board is notably cross-partisan:

  • Jay Weatherill AO — former SA Premier (Labor, 2011–2018)
  • Simon Birmingham — former Liberal Senator for SA (2007–2025)
  • Iain Walker — Executive Director, newDemocracy Foundation
  • Dr Sonia Randhawa — Sortition Foundation Australia
  • David Van Reybrouck — Belgian cultural historian, founded the G1000 Citizens' Summit, author of Against Elections

Notable activity

  • National Conference "Citizen Assemblies — Policy without Politics" (June 2025, Woodville Town Hall, Adelaide) — featured Nick Gruen, Tim Dunlop, Jay Weatherill; David Van Reybrouck joined by video link
  • Regular newsletter series CAfSA News (from February 2025)
  • Educational resources on citizens' assemblies around the world