Arnold Bloch Leibler is proud to have advised long-standing client Paul Bassat on the establishment of Amplify, a not-for-profit that will seek people’s views on important issues via town-hall style forums and an online platform.
Described by Mr Bassat in today’s AFR as “the most important philanthropic thing we’re doing as a family”, Amplify has also received funding from the Commonwealth Bank and the Sidney Myer Fund, with an expected annual budget of between $5m and $10m. Mr Bassat, the co-founder of Seek and venture capital fund Square Peg, will lead Amplify as its founder and chairman of a board comprising senior business executives and former state politicians.
The organisation plans to host events around the country, facilitate conversations online and share evidence with a representative cross-section of society to develop people-driven public policy solutions to improve trust in democracy and persuade Canberra policymakers.
Quoted in today’s Australian newspaper, Mr Bassat outlined his aspirations for Amplify: “We’re unbelievably lucky to live in Australia, but it feels that we’re much more divided than we used to be … Australians just don’t feel they’re having a say and being heard on really important issues.”
Citing polling commissioned by Amplify that shows 84 per cent of people believe communities should be more involved in policymaking, and 71 per cent feel public discussions about politics are combative or confrontational, Mr Bassat said he wanted to create space to develop policies at a grassroots community level that politicians would take seriously.
The ABL team was led by Corporate and M&A partner Jonathan Wenig, supported by senior associate Jessica Wills, and lawyers Kaitlin Bakken and Stephanie Parsons, with assistance from Public Interest special counsel Bridgid Cowling.
Jonathan Wenig commented: “We share Paul’s aspiration for the development of more positive public policy benefitting our communities and our society.”
Amplify will be officially launched on Tuesday through their website, amplifyaus.org.
