Print this pagePort Macquarie Community Cabinet Meeting
On Tuesday 25 August 2009, the Australian Government held its 15th Community Cabinet meeting at Westport High School in Port Macquarie, New South Wales. This was the fourth Community Cabinet meeting held in New South Wales. Community interest in the meeting was very strong, with around 481 community members attending 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.
School Principal Terry Goodwin welcomed the community to the meeting, and William ‘Uncle Bill’ O’Brien (a descendant of the Dunjhutti) gave the Welcome to Country on behalf of the Birpai people. The combined Westport High and Westport Primary choir entertained the gathering before the arrival of the Prime Minister and ministers, and opened the public forum with the Australian National Anthem.
The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, outlined the Government’s agenda for road testing the recommendations from the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission. The Prime Minister noted that the challenges to the health system in the local community were similar to those faced by the rest of the nation, and root and branch reform will be required. The Prime Minister concluded his address with some comments on the state of the national economy. He noted that, while Australia now has the fastest growing economy in the world with the lowest net deficit, the government intends to sustain prudent management. He acknowledged that unemployment continued to be a problem, particularly in regional areas.
A range of local issues were raised by the community in the public forum. The Prime Minister and ministers answered questions on issues such as changes to the Youth Allowance and the effect on rural and regional students, funding for cochlear implant upgrades, the introduction of a free dental care program for those most in need, and the funding formula applied to public and private schools.
Following the forum, ministers moved to 50 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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