20/20 Summit Canberra

[Emac44]

Over the weekend of 19th-20th April 2008 in Canberra has been a Discussion Summit set up by the newly elected Federal Government under Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. The Government has claimed that some 8000 summations and ideas have already been summited by Australians from all walks of life. Over the weekend as mentioned some 1000 Delegates have been in conference in the Great Hall in Canberra's Parliament House. Delegates have been split up covering 10 Main Subjects with groups of 100 delegates discussing the 10 Main Subjects. These Groups of 100 Delegates further split into working parties of 10 to 25 Delegates accordingly. The New Government claims this is the opportunity to guage ideas into the future of Australia until the year 2020 and that the New Government intends listening to what comes out of the 20/20 Summit. As I have followed the Summit in this weekend of the 19th-20th April 2008 via Skynews and other Media Sources I am less then impressed with the ideas being generated and see this 20/20 Summit as nothing as a talkfest to the Warm and Fuzzy Brigade. That is my opinion of the 20/20 Summit being held in Canberra. I would like to know what other Aussies think of the 20/20 Summit. But of course this is an open discussion so its not just restricted to Aussies. All are welcomed to put their opinions across.

Australia 2020 - www.australia2020.gov.au

[Graeme]

Originally Posted by Emac44

I am less then impressed with the ideas being generated and see this 20/20 Summit as nothing as a talkfest to the Warm and Fuzzy Brigade.
Australia 2020 - www.australia2020.gov.au

Tend to agree with you Emac, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see. From the web site you provided...

"With the complex challenges that Australia is facing, we need to get the best ideas we can from all Australians – business people, experts, community leaders – and just ordinary Australians."

...interesting to relay to you that the seven delegates that were 'selected' from my area consisted of egg-head university professors, multi-millionaire businessmen and an ex-politician. Everyone except "ordinary Australians".

I can also imagine a lot of counter productive friction amongst all the 'experts'.

[Emac44]

Couldn't agree more Graeme. One would think the President of the AMA would have been a Delegate. You guessed it she wasn't Dr Rosanna Capalinga was not even considered to be a Delegate. And had her application rejected. I am of the opinion if you didn't agree with the Government you didn't get a look in. Which leads me to think it was nothing but a talkfest. Just to shine the apple for the Government. They trotted out the same old ****. Republic, Treaty with Aborigines (similar to what the New Zealanders have with the Maoris). Increases in Taxation on Alcohol and Cigarettes to pay for Aboriginal Health issues. I thought this Summit was to enhance new ideas. So far from what I have observed its the same old **** just with a different label

[parsifal]

It woill lead to zip on anything average people will consider important.

[Emac44]

My thoughts to Parsifal. Already there is division between Clean Coal Technology and a ban on further coal fired generation and electricity plants. The section on the enviroment was chaired by Senator Penny Wong and it appears the ideas put across by sections of Penny Wong's Submission Group got a little heated. It appears a large group wanted a total ban on new Coal Fired Generation Plants to be built. And it appears ClubsNSW are pissed of with Tim Costello with issues of families dealing with problem gambling. ClubsNSW wanted some areas to address but according to ClubsNSW Tim Costello blackballed them from the Summit. And it appears some Delegates got really annoyed that their ideas were not even discussed. My idea is this Summit has opened a lid that will be hard to close for all Australians. Creating more divisions then it was suppose to discuss. And Graeme for the life of me I can't figure out why Kate Blanche was invited to the Summit. Its not like she lives here in Australia 24/7 like the rest of us do. Do you care what Blanche has got to say. For crying out loud the Media focused on Blanche because she just had a child. Big ****ing deal. There are hundreds of Australian Women who had just given birth this week who weren't even considered for the Summit

[parsifal]

Well, for me the issues to consider are environmental. From what I do for a living the single biggests threats to the way we live are the wholesale deforestation that is still occurring (I am not talking about logging here so much, more the clearing of marginal farmland), the break up of prime agricultural land into allotments that are just not sustainable or economically viable, and the sprawl of australian cities brought about by the ultra low densities that we are allowing. This whole water thing is a crock by the way. Its mostly the result of successive governments, of either persuasion refusing to invest in future infrastructure, like dams, better and secure pipelines, improved irrigation systems. Stuff like that. They are just too busy worrying about Sydney, or melbourne, to give a rats about the really important regional issues that are really hurting this country

[freebird]

Emac we had one of these big gabfest gatherings here a few years back. It was supposed to be a group of 1000 citizens from all walks of life, picked randomly. I sent in an application just as a lark, and guess what, I got my name picked! Too bad I couldn't go on account of the fact that I have one of those annoying J.O.B. things absorbing most of my time. I would have liked to go once a week to the capital. {free beer & tucker no doubt!}

Anyways I'm confidant that they gave my place to some unemployed activist socialist proffesional protester to go and whine about the greedy corrupt government while stuffing his face.

[Heinz]

I felt similar regarding its use and Blanchet however at least this government is being fresh and not just riding the wave into each election.

It is true however that the people being listened too aren't address some real issues such as the state of public health system, infastructure and transport. These are state issues however the Federal needs to pressure all states into getting things into shape.

Need to get the fundamentals down before they state chasing the bullshit that can wait.

[Emac44]

That Heinz I agree with. Get the smaller more important issues handled first State by State the immediates that we can handle and should be handled right now and should be handled like Transport Roads Hospitals and Schools. Not some farsical far of visionaries like what has come out of the Summit. The idea of a Republic by 2010 is ridiculous if it detracts from things that need to be done today. But remember Heinz what you have just mentioned isn't just a State Responsibility but also Federal. Funding has to come from the Federal Sphere not just the State Governments. But with Kevin Rudd I see him as nothing as the complete show off. The Summit only makes him look like he is doing something or listening. The impression I get is that its all froth and bubble and nothing more. Its the Political Spin and Con Job. If things were that bad or you need to improve things right away why wait until December to act on issues that came from the Summit either Heinz. You mentioned Elections Heinz what better way for the Australian Labour Party State and Federal to be in post Summit Mode to take to the Voters. Because as sure as eggs the State ALP Governments in each State will be hanging of the coat tails of Post Summit. Particular the Eastern States of Victoria New South Wales and Queensland with Brumby Yemma and Bligh respectfuly pulling the Post Summit Stunts regardless of the appalling mess in each of the Eastern States I just mentioned. I don't know about Brumby and Yemma but Bligh would have been clicking her heels together on the outcome of the Summit, to fix her lack of the Queensland Governments appalling record at the moment. Bligh would use the Summit as her Political Spin to say to Queenslanders. Forget State Issues concentrate on the outcomes of the Summit. See what the ALP is doing Federally with Kevin Rudd at the helm

[Heinz]

Good points Emac. Rudd does like the flashy media opportunities and Brumby is much the same. The events down here like F1s and the bloody Commonwealth Games all seem to take priority over more important issues.
Steve Bracks was a good leader but since he has departed we have Brumby who seems to be treading water with crap.

Definitely a sense of Rudd like you said seeing to be doing something. Problem i see with the states is a sense of arrogance because of the security and or lack of conflict with the Federal government being of the same party. If they sit on their backsides much longer it won't be worth having state governments. More control needs to be given to councils in my opinion.

[Graeme]

[Heinz]

lmfao........I particulary like the 4th and 5th panels.....

[Emac44]

Good pointsGents. We have the Bligh Government here in Queensland doing more cover ups then your Grannies old bloomers. Cover ups on Child Molestations and Rapes in Aboriginal Communities Aurukun and Woomimbinda. Cover ups in Health and Education Departments. In both cases lack of proper living accomodation for Medical and teaching staff in isolated Far North Queensland Communities and in one case a Nurse who was raped and our Health Minister not being abled to give Parliament a straight answer and blamed his own department. Freedom of Information Cover ups dealing with Health Public Transport Education Medical Data on Cancer Patients and even cover ups on such basic things as overcrowding on Queensland Railways Trains and cancellation of said Trains. The Courier Mail here in Queensland detailed up to 30 areas under FOI which had been tabled by the Queensland Government as not to be released for publication. And of course we still have the Heiner Affair Cover Up. That involved the Goss Labour Government and the rape of 2 female inmates at the John Oxley Youth Detention Centre that keeps being shelved mysteriously and the shredding of all documents and Police Evidence being destroyed by the Queensland Government. We call it the Beattie Spin and Polish. And you are right Graeme. Since Rudd came to power the State Governments do not have standing issues with the Rudd Government. Its like a Old Gentleman's Club at COAG these days