Print this pagePalmerston Community Cabinet Meeting
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The Prime Minister answers a question from a member of the public at the Public Forum.
The Australian Government held its 28th Community Cabinet meeting on the evening of Wednesday 29 June 2011 at Palmerston Senior College in Palmerston, Northern Territory. This was the second Community Cabinet meeting held in the Northern Territory. The Community Cabinet proceedings commenced with 41 one-on-one meetings between ministers and members of the public, followed by a Community Reception where Ministers circulated and discussed various local issues with members of the public. At the conclusion of the Community Reception over 245 community members attended a public question-and-answer session with the Prime Minister and Ministers.
Music was provided by a local ensemble to entertain the public during the Community Reception and refreshments were provided by a local catering enterprise. The community were welcomed to the Public Forum by the Principal of neighbouring Grey Primary School, Sue Beynon and the Welcome to Country was delivered by Larrakia Elder, Kevin Quall. The Australian National Anthem was sung by Palmerston Senior College student, Gabby Wright.
The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, opened the forum by speaking about the many opportunities available to all in the Northern Territory, encouraging Australians to “go North” to build their future. Ministers spoke of their recent engagements in Darwin, the electorate of Solomon more generally and highlighted Government programs underway in the Northern Territory. The Prime Minister spoke of the stresses and strains affecting families in the Northern Territory, improving the living standards, educational and economic opportunities for Indigenous Australians, the issues facing the live cattle export industry and how the Australian Government is investing heavily in Territory infrastructure.
Questions taken from the floor were answered by both the Prime Minister and her Ministers. These questions covered a wide range of issues and included the suspension of the live cattle export industry, the Kenbi Land Claim, the Northern Territory Emergency Response, climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development.
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