---
title: Australian Democracy Network
type: advocacy
status: active
country: AU
website: https://australiandemocracy.org.au
logo: /assets/org-logos/australian-democracy-network.png
contact:
  checked: 2026-08-01
  email: media@australiandemocracy.org.au
  form: https://australiandemocracy.org.au/contact
  source: https://australiandemocracy.org.au/contact
summary: A coalition of 200+ Australian civil society organisations working for a
  fairer, more open, and more accountable democracy — focused on campaign finance
  reform, protecting civil society advocacy rights, protest rights, and countering
  disinformation.
concepts:
- constitutional-democracy
- representative-democracy
- accountability-sink
location:
  latitude: -37.8136
  longitude: 144.9631
  name: Melbourne, Australia
  precision: city
events:
- date: '2020-02-01'
  title: Launched as a joint project of the Human Rights Law Centre, Australian Conservation
    Foundation and ACOSS
  url: https://raisely-images.imgix.net/australian-democracy-network/uploads/adn-annual-report-23-pdf-531f03.pdf
  quote: ADN launched in February 2020 as a joint project of the Human Rights Law
    Centre, Australian Conservation Foundation and Australian Council of Social Service
  proof_level: high
  url_checked: '2026-08-12'
  notable: true
activity:
  manual:
    checked: 2026-06-07
    date: 2026-04-15
    note: 'Website is up and they got a new post. 15 Apr 2026 Take the Pledge: Integrity
      Organisations call on Victorian Political Parties to Commit Now to Donation
      Transparency'
  sitemap:
    checked: 2026-08-17
    date: 2026-06-05
    note: Server still up (sitemap detected)
last_checked: '2026-06-28'
---

The Australian Democracy Network (ADN) is a registered charity and coalition infrastructure body for the Australian democracy reform sector. Founded in 2020 by the Human Rights Law Centre, Australian Conservation Foundation, and Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), it operates as a connector and convener — sharing resources, strategy, and campaigns across member organisations rather than acting primarily as a direct-action group.

As of 2024, it has over 200 member civil society organisations and more than 14,000 individual supporters.

## Campaigns and work areas

- **#OurDemocracy** — flagship campaign (run jointly with ACF and HRLC) focused on campaign finance reform: donation disclosure, donation caps, spending limits, and reducing corporate influence in politics
- **Stronger Charities Alliance** — coalition of 100+ charities focused on protecting the right of civil society organisations to advocate; successfully blocked proposed ACNC legislation that would have restricted charity advocacy
- **Protest Rights** — cross-sector response to anti-protest laws proliferating across Australian states
- **Disinformation** — building digital campaigning capacity across civil society

## Links

- Website: [australiandemocracy.org.au](https://australiandemocracy.org.au)
- #OurDemocracy campaign: [ourdemocracy.com.au](https://www.ourdemocracy.com.au)

## See also

- [Constitutional Democracy](../concepts/constitutional-democracy.md)
- [Representative Democracy](../concepts/representative-democracy.md)
- [Accountability Sink](../concepts/accountability-sink.md)
- [Australia Institute — Democracy Program](australia-institute-democracy.md)