INVITATION
to help build a better Australia through
government system reform
at the
4th Shed a Tier Congress
[Free of Charge except for lunch; tea, coffee and biscuits provided]
New Parliament House (room to be advised)
Canberra, Friday 24 May 2002
Australian Health Care Beyond Federation
How Australian Health Care has Suffered under our Present System of Government,
and Visions for a "Best Possible" Health Care System – one that is
affordable, accessible, equitable and effective for all Australians
A morning of speeches will be followed by lunch, further speeches and afternoon workshops leading to the development of a plan, or plans, for a "best possible" health system for Australia.
9.15 to Guests arrive at Congress Venue.
9.45 AM
9.50 Chairperson welcomes speakers and guests, explains facility arrangements and introduces speakers
10.00 Speech by Senator Meg Lees (SA, Democrats), Democrats spokesperson for portfolios including Health and Local Government
10.20 Questions to Senator Lees
10.40 Morning Tea
11.00 Speech by Mr Brendan Smyth, Liberal Member for Brindabella (ACT), Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for portfolios including Health and Community Care
11.20 Questions to Mr Smyth
11.40 Speech by third speaker – to be confirmed by early May
12.00 Questions to third speaker
12.20 Thanks to speakers and preview of afternoon programs
12.30 Lunch, available in staff canteen
1.30 Chairperson introduces afternoon speakers
1.35 to Three afternoon speeches – one will be John August, convenor of the Abolish States
2.25 Collective, other speakers will be confirmed by early May
2.25 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
3.00 to Workshops (refreshments available throughout)
4.00
4.00 to Plenary Session, to include reports from workshop groups (10 minutes for each workshop
4.45 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 the Australian Health Care System as a whole and/or any component parts thereof please consider and report on:
1.1 apt roles of federal (i.e. Commonwealth), state and local governments and other regional bodies (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 plan to attend, 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.
All constructive ideas and thoughts will be welcomed: If you wish to have particular issues addressed at the Congress in addition to the above, or wish for your views to be incorporated into the Congress Communiqué – whether you plan to attend the Congress or not – please forward written submissions so as to reach Mark Drummond (addresses as above) by 17 May 2002.
Return to home page.
Go to archive page.