Print this pageBallarat Community Cabinet Meeting
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Minister Burke meets with local community members in a one-on-one meeting following the Public Forum
The Australian Government held its 21st Community Cabinet meeting at Ballarat High School in the Victorian gold rush town of Ballarat, Victoria on Thursday 18 February 2010. This was the third Community Cabinet meeting held in Victoria. On a mild evening, the Prime Minister held a public question-and-answer session with around 450 community members. Many of those who attended had the opportunity to either ask a question of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers from the floor, or participate in pre-arranged, private meetings with individual ministers.
Peter Dredge, Principal of Ballarat High School, welcomed the community to the meeting, and Aunty Marlene Gilson acknowledged the traditional owners of the land. The Ballarat High School Combined Stage Band, ‘Whizbob’ provided fantastic, high-energy entertainment prior to the meeting and as the Prime Minister and ministers arrived. With the backing of the Ballarat High School Concert Band, Alexandra Lockhart and Daisy Lucas sang the National Anthem.
The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, opened the public forum by reiterating the Government’s commitment to keep in touch with local communities and engage on local issues directly. Responding to a very focused and animated audience, the Prime Minister spoke of how Australia managed to dodge the global recession through its Nation Building for Recovery projects, and outlined the Government’s approach to boosting the nation’s productivity through investing in schools and road infrastructure in particular. The Prime Minister gave examples of local projects in social housing, community, school and road infrastructure, and health and hospital services. The Prime Minister spoke of the challenges that lie ahead for the Government, in building a health and hospital system to deliver real services into the future, in light of Australia’s ageing population.
The Prime Minister and ministers answered a broad range of questions in the public forum. Topics included climate change, maternity services, youth allowance, wind farms, the National Broadband Network, Indigenous childhood education, housing affordability and water management.
Following the forum, ministers and community members moved to 68 pre-arranged one-on-one meetings. These meetings afforded individuals and community groups the opportunity to take their chosen issue directly to the relevant minister.
A transcript of the public forum is currently being prepared and will be available here shortly.
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