Print this pageBurnie Community Cabinet Meeting
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The Prime Minister is greeted on arrival at the meeting by the Parklands High School Captain, and members of the Student Representative Council
The Australian Government held its 23rd Community Cabinet meeting on Wednesday 19 May at Parklands High School in Burnie, Tasmania. This was the third Community Cabinet meeting held in Tasmania. It was a clear, but chilly evening, when around 250 community members attended a public question-and-answer session with the Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers. This was followed by a series of meetings between individual ministers and members of the public.
Ann Walker, Principal of Parklands High School, welcomed the community to the meeting. The Parklands High School Band and Vocal Ensemble provided a varied and entertaining program of music for the gathering before the arrival of the Prime Minister and ministers. Students from the school also provided refreshments for the community in the form of sandwiches, tea and coffee. The Parklands High School Vocal Ensemble performed the Australian National Anthem.
The local member, Mr Sid Sidebottom MP, introduced the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, who acknowledged the traditional owners of the land and opened the public forum by expressing his delight at being in the north west of Tasmania again. This Community Cabinet meeting was an opportunity to talk to the local community about local challenges. The Prime Minister emphasised that a strong national economy was built on the shoulders of strong local communities. While facing challenges in the past two years to keep the economy strong, the Government was building for the future by bringing the budget into surplus in three years, and building a fairer Australia through investment in education, health, pensions and paid parental leave. The Prime Minister noted that the proposed Resource Super Profits Tax was designed to give Australians a better return on resources owned by everyone. He also noted the continuing roll out of the National Broadband Network in Tasmania, which would open up the arteries of communication and build a platform for future growth.
The Prime Minister and ministers answered a number of questions in the public forum. Issues raised included the implications of the proposed Resource Super Profit Tax, more specific country of origin labelling for Australian produce, the availability of natural gas in Tasmania, the implementation of the health reform program, and support for local shipping companies.
Following the forum, ministers moved to 49 pre-arranged one-on-one meetings. These meetings provided individuals with an opportunity to discuss a personal matter or an issue of concern directly with the relevant minister.
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