Locals urged to have input into Australia 2020 Summit
Members of the local community are encouraged to become involved in the Australia 2020 Summit at either the national or local level.
The Federal Member for Page, Janelle Saffin, says ours is a diverse and creative community and there are many residents with some great ideas for the future of Australia.
She said the Australia 2020 Summit gives people many avenues for bringing forward their ideas.
The Rudd Government is convening the national Australia 2020 Summit to be held on April 19 and 20 at Parliament House in Canberra that will bring together 1000 leading Australians.
Residents of Page are able to self-nominate for this summit by submitting their nominations by email or post to arrive by 5pm on Friday 29 February. The forms are available online at www.australia2020.gov.au and from Ms Saffin’s electorate office.
An independent selection panel will decide on the 1000 attendees.
Ms Saffin says there has been so much interest in Australia 2020 that she has decided to hold local summits in the lead-up to the National Summit.
“The summits are all about harnessing and harvesting ideas from the best and brightest brains in our community that can be shaped into concrete policy actions,” she said.
“This area is rich with people who have creative, practical ideas, and I want to tap into that.”
Like the national summit, the local summit will cover 10 theme areas:
* Future directions for the economy-including education, skills training, science and innovation
* Economic infrastructure and the digital economy
* Population, sustainability, climate change and water
* Future directions for rural industries and rural communities
* A long-term national health strategy
* Strengthening communities
* Options for the future of Indigenous Australia
* The future of the arts, film and design
* The future of Australian governance, renewed democracy and open government
* Australia’s future security and prosperity in rapidly changing region and world.
“The Rudd Government also wants to tap into the ideas and enthusiasm of our young people and is holding a Youth Summit in Canberra in the week before the Australia 2020 summit,” Ms Saffin said.
“There are 100 places at the Youth Summit and I encourage local young people between 15 and 24 to self-nominate. Details are available on the website and nominations close on March 5.
“As well, schools will be able to host their own 2020 summits and there will be more information soon about 2020 summit kits to be sent to schools in this electorate.
“I also want young people to bring their ideas to our local 2020 summits that will be held on April 5 and 6. From the local summits I will put together a submission for the national 2020 Summit in Canberra.
“I am excited to be facilitating this coming together of ideas, and will be asking our State MPs and Mayors to take part along with representatives from education, health, unions, business, churches, social support organisations and members of the broader community.
“Whatever their political views, Australians can come together to build a modern Australia capable of meeting the challenges of the 21st century, and what better place to start than Page.”
