Participants of last year’s G20 summit have been left cold by the Government’s response to the 962 ideas generated, deciding to only implement nine of the ideas.
More than 1,000 Australians gathered in Canberra last year to be part of the Australian 2020 Summit, designed to shape the future of Australia and explore new ways to meet the challenges that lie ahead.
However summit-goers have been left disappointed that the Government only decided to implement a mere nine ideas.
The head of Uniting Care Australia, Lyn Hatfield-Dodds attended the summit and was disappointed the Government did not decide to take up the idea of a national plan to fight poverty.
“I’m disappointed because I can’t seem to see any nation-shaping ideas in what the Government’s just announced.”
Those measures that made the cut include:
- A civilian organisation to assist in disaster relief overseas
- Student scholarships to broaden culture understanding between Austalia and Asia
- $50 million towards the development of a bionic eye
- A dedicated ABC Children’s Channel
- An Indigenous Cultural Education and Knowledge Centre
- Mentoring in the workplace to develop understanding between skilled mature age workers and the business community
- A Business and School Connections Roundtable to enhance opportunities for business and schools to partner together to improve educational outcomes
- A Skills for Carbon Challenge initiative
- A Vocational Education Broadband Network to build a single post-secondary high speed broadband network
Liberal Senator Michael Ronaldson, believes the Government’s response is an insult.
“I actually think the Australian people might have wanted some responses that showed some long-term vision… and I think quite frankly it is kicking sand in the face of those participants who put a lot of time and energy into some 2020 vision.”
However the Rudd Government says it is still considering some of the other ideas and more forums will be held in the future.
People who read this, also liked:
Rudd wants businesses to be more charitable
Government not doing enough for economy says CEOs
