Mr ADAMSON - 1995-02-23
What is the current state of play in relation to plans for the celebration of the centenary of federation in the year 2001?
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, honourable members will be aware that, some time ago, the Council of Australian Governments established a Centenary Advisory Committee which has the task of taking submissions on how Australia should celebrate the centenary in 2001. The committee comprised people from all states of Australia and the Commonwealth. This relatively large committee was chaired by the former Premier of Victoria, Joan Kirner, and travelled all over Australia. When it was in Darwin, I appeared before it to present the Territory's submission. There were 15 or 16 people on the committee and the travel and accommodation costs would have been considerable. I tabled a copy of its report in this Assembly last year.
The report was tabled for noting at the last COAG meeting and I have spoken about that previously in this House. The committee did not make recommendations as such but rather suggestions that could be picked up and pursued by governments. One was for the setting up of a committee to examine the implications of, and procedure for, the Territory attaining statehood in 2001. Another suggestion of direct interest to us was that the Alice Springs to Darwin railway would be a project of national significance and obviously of lasting benefit to the nation. It could fit into the category of infrastructures that governments might time to be completed in 2001 as a symbol of the growth and cohesion of the nation.
At this stage, that report unfortunately has not been debated by COAG although I am pleased to state that the states are pressing for it to be debated at the next meeting. Unfortunately, the Commonwealth tabled a paper at a recent meeting of officials, which appeared to have federal Cabinet's endorsement, stating the Cabinet's position on these matters. It was entitled The Commonwealth Government's Approach to Centenary Related Matters. The paper indicated that Commonwealth funding of a proposed Centenary Council and Secretariat to be established would be 'contingent upon endorsement by the states and territories of the Commonwealth's approach to the centenary'.
Some considerable exception was taken to this unilateral approach to a matter of importance to us all. If the centenary of federation is to be a meaningful and enduring tribute to the federation, there would need to be a close working relationship between the parties to the federation - that is, the states and the Commonwealth - and the distribution of an unilateral approach in this way offended the states. On behalf of the Premiers, the Premier of Victoria wrote a letter of protest to the Prime Minister and suggested a course that might be taken. I am pleased to advise that the Prime Minister appears to have distanced himself somewhat from the Commonwealth paper and is more inclined to discuss with the states how we should go about it. Indeed, that is the only way it will ever work.
The Premier of Victoria's letter on our behalf indicated the type of direction that should be taken:
Based on previous experience, it is important that any celebrations are not seen as a series of one-off events, the impact of which is quickly dissipated.
All events held should be closely associated with the achievements of the federation. It is not our wish to construct a large number of meaningless
monuments but rather to ensure projects which properly reflect the history and symbolise the future of our federation.
Page 446
Hopefully, at the next COAG meeting, the Prime Minister will allow the matter to be brought on for debate so that we can implement the administrative processes that need to be commenced in the near future in preparation for what will be the celebration of the century. It will take some years to prepare carefully and involve Australians right across the country in those celebrations at the appropriate time.
Page 447
Page 445
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, honourable members will be aware that, some time ago, the Council of Australian Governments established a Centenary Advisory Committee which has the task of taking submissions on how Australia should celebrate the centenary in 2001. The committee comprised people from all states of Australia and the Commonwealth. This relatively large committee was chaired by the former Premier of Victoria, Joan Kirner, and travelled all over Australia. When it was in Darwin, I appeared before it to present the Territory's submission. There were 15 or 16 people on the committee and the travel and accommodation costs would have been considerable. I tabled a copy of its report in this Assembly last year.
The report was tabled for noting at the last COAG meeting and I have spoken about that previously in this House. The committee did not make recommendations as such but rather suggestions that could be picked up and pursued by governments. One was for the setting up of a committee to examine the implications of, and procedure for, the Territory attaining statehood in 2001. Another suggestion of direct interest to us was that the Alice Springs to Darwin railway would be a project of national significance and obviously of lasting benefit to the nation. It could fit into the category of infrastructures that governments might time to be completed in 2001 as a symbol of the growth and cohesion of the nation.
At this stage, that report unfortunately has not been debated by COAG although I am pleased to state that the states are pressing for it to be debated at the next meeting. Unfortunately, the Commonwealth tabled a paper at a recent meeting of officials, which appeared to have federal Cabinet's endorsement, stating the Cabinet's position on these matters. It was entitled The Commonwealth Government's Approach to Centenary Related Matters. The paper indicated that Commonwealth funding of a proposed Centenary Council and Secretariat to be established would be 'contingent upon endorsement by the states and territories of the Commonwealth's approach to the centenary'.
Some considerable exception was taken to this unilateral approach to a matter of importance to us all. If the centenary of federation is to be a meaningful and enduring tribute to the federation, there would need to be a close working relationship between the parties to the federation - that is, the states and the Commonwealth - and the distribution of an unilateral approach in this way offended the states. On behalf of the Premiers, the Premier of Victoria wrote a letter of protest to the Prime Minister and suggested a course that might be taken. I am pleased to advise that the Prime Minister appears to have distanced himself somewhat from the Commonwealth paper and is more inclined to discuss with the states how we should go about it. Indeed, that is the only way it will ever work.
The Premier of Victoria's letter on our behalf indicated the type of direction that should be taken:
Based on previous experience, it is important that any celebrations are not seen as a series of one-off events, the impact of which is quickly dissipated.
All events held should be closely associated with the achievements of the federation. It is not our wish to construct a large number of meaningless
monuments but rather to ensure projects which properly reflect the history and symbolise the future of our federation.
Page 446
Hopefully, at the next COAG meeting, the Prime Minister will allow the matter to be brought on for debate so that we can implement the administrative processes that need to be commenced in the near future in preparation for what will be the celebration of the century. It will take some years to prepare carefully and involve Australians right across the country in those celebrations at the appropriate time.
Page 447
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016