Print this pageHallett Cove Community Cabinet Meeting
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Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard participates in a one-on-one meeting with a forum attendee.
On Thursday 14 August 2008, the Australian Government held its sixth Community Cabinet meeting at Hallett Cove School in Hallett Cove, South Australia. 532 community members registered to attend a public question-and-answer session with the Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers, which was then followed by pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings between individual ministers and community members to discuss matters of interest or concern.
Before the meeting started, the Hallett Cove School Band and Junior School Choir entertained the assembling crowd for over an hour then later gave a modern interpretation of the Australian National Anthem with didgeridoo accompaniment.
Mr Richard Abell, Principal of Hallett Cove School, welcomed the Cabinet to the school and introduced Ms Georgina Williams, a representative of the Kaurna people, who welcomed the Cabinet ministers to the traditional lands of the Kaurna Nation on which Hallett Cove is situated. Ms Williams was supported by Mr Karl Telfer (on didgeridoo) and Mr Jarvis Harrison.
After being introduced by the Federal Member for Kingston, Amanda Rishworth MP, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd noted the importance that the Government places on being permanently engaged in conversation with the country, on learning what is being done well and what could be done better. He invited the audience to join in such a conversation at this Community Cabinet meeting.
Mr Rudd outlined the Government’s priorities and responses to current national and international pressures. He informed the meeting of the Cabinet’s decision that day on new measures to deal with the critical situation in the Murray-Darling Basin.
The meeting progressed to the public forum. The Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers answered a broad array of questions from the floor that touched on local, national and international challenges such as public education funding, workplace relations, disability and child support, and national energy security. Questions were also asked about cost of living pressures, the preservation of indigenous religious sites and practices and the plight of the River Murray and lower lakes.
Following the forum, ministers moved to various school rooms for 65 one-on-one meetings. The meetings provided individuals with an opportunity to discuss particular matters of concern directly with Cabinet ministers.
The next Community Cabinet Meeting will be announced shortly.
Photos on this page provided by AUSPIC