PROGRAM
to help build a better Australia through
government system reform
at the
3rd Shed a Tier Congress
[Free of Charge except for lunch; tea, coffee and biscuits provided]
Senate Side Dining Room Alcove, Phone 6277 5588, New Parliament House
Canberra, Friday 22 March 2002
The Murray Darling Beyond Federation
How the Murray Darling Basin and the Australian Environment
generally have suffered under our present system of government,
and visions for environmentally sustainable government
A morning of speeches will be followed by lunch, further speeches and afternoon workshops leading to the development of a plan, or plans, for constitutional change.
9.00 to Guests arrive at Congress Venue: Senate Side Dining Room Alcove (phone 6277 5588)
9.30 AM
9.35 Convenor Jim Snow welcomes speakers and guests, explains facility arrangements and introduces The Hon. Mr Kelvin Thomson MP, Federal Member for Wills (Vic, ALP, Opposition Environment Spokesperson), to open the Congress
10.00 Speech by The Hon. Mr Christopher Pyne, MP, Federal Member for Sturt (SA, Liberal)
10.20 Questions to Mr Pyne
10.35 Morning Tea Break
10.55 Speech by Ms Catherine Moore, Greens Candidate for Federal Seat of Riverina (NSW) at 2001 Federal Election
11.15 Questions to Ms Moore
11.30 Speech by Mr Tim Hughes, Farmer and Journalist
11.50 Questions to Mr Hughes
12.05 Thanks to speakers and preview of
afternoon program
12.10 Lunch, available in staff canteen
1.00 Convenor Mark Drummond will introduce afternoon speakers
1.05 Speech by Ms Vicki Dunne MLA, Liberal Member for Ginninderra (ACT), Shadow Minister for Planning & Environment and for Police & Emergency Services
1.20 Speech by Mayor Lyn Gunter, Shire of Murrindindi, Chairperson of Planning and Environment and Member of the King Parrot and Yea Streamflow Management Committees
1.35 Speech by Mr Gerard Gillespie, President of the Canberra and South East Environment Centre
1.50 Speech by Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mollison (Rtd), Chairman of the Foundation for National Renewal
2.05 Questions to afternoon speakers, thanks to speakers, and commencement of workshops of participants into the two workshops (see next page) to develop responses to the tasks/questions as listed for each workshop
2.20 to Workshops (refreshments available throughout)
3.50
3.50 to Plenary Session, to include reports from workshop groups (10 minutes for each workshop
4.30 detailing conclusions, recommendations and plans), and closing remarks from the floor and from Convenors
and
(as best as possible within the available timeframe
– with a view to ongoing collaborative efforts in the future):
In respect of (a) the Murray Darling Basin, (b) water use generally, and (c) the environment generally:
1.1 apt roles of federal (i.e. Commonwealth), state and local governments (if they remain in more or less their present form);
1.2 whether new powers and responsibilities should be assigned to the Commonwealth?
1.3 constitutional changes needed and draft referendum question(s) to facilitate them (if any);
1.4 any other ideas, approaches, plans, etc.
2.1 whether the present system – of federal, state, territory and local governments – is suitable for Australia in the 21st century, and, if not, what changes should be made?
2.2 whether state governments should be abolished, and, if so, apt roles of national and local governments?
2.3 whether regional governments, New States or other regional organisations should form, and if so, the form of such structures in respect of their size, number, boundaries and roles?
2.4 constitutional changes needed and draft referendum question(s) to facilitate them (if any);
2.5 any other ideas, approaches, plans etc.
If you did not attend the Congress but would like to receive a copy of the Congress Communiqué, please contact Mark Drummond by e-mail at markld@ozemail.com.au, or at
5 Loddon St, Kaleen, ACT 2617, or by phone on 02 6255 0772.
Please Note: The 4th Shed a Tier Congress is planned for Canberra on Friday 24 May 2002 on the theme of health care.
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