2020 Summit dreams doomed by suits from Nimbin
Andrew Bolt
I ADMIT, I spent 10 hours of my weekend watching our "best and brightest" at the ideas summit designing our future, live on television. Before I pack my survival gear, let me describe just what I saw . . .
I saw our Governor-General bring in an ice cube from Antarctica, which was worshipped. And then it got worse. What follows is absolutely true.
Sam Mostyn, former Labor staffer and discussion leader, quickly tells summiteers to stick to the script: "We should think of global warming as a crisis . . . (Let's) suspend cynicism."
A youth summit delegate asks "the Ngunnawal people and spirits to bless and guide us". No Ngunnawal or spirits are there, but everyone goes solemn.
Film star Joel Edgerton says it's good for actors to be at this summit of the "best and brightest" because it makes them less "egocentric". I'm laughing too hard to get down the full quote.
Actor Claudia Karvan is pleased with the discussions: "It's really good because it's staying abstract."
The regional Australia summiteers are told there's no time for them to tell the whole group the idea they brought to Canberra. They must split into groups of 10 and "speak for just one minute" before agreeing to some other idea: "Remember, you are not here for your idea." This is a surprise.
Actor Cate Blanchett blushes to tell of former US president Bill Clinton's praise for artists like her: "I really appreciated being appreciated by a politician." But we knew that, right?
Singer Robyn Archer says a good government "will help build a society that cares deeply about artists", and she has seen just such a society: "It's called Cuba." Its dictators "valued citizens who maintain their voice".
Aboriginal leader John Ah Kit says his group had a great idea: it wants Aboriginal families by 2020 to stay together and have one parent at work and another at home with the children. He takes two minutes to say this.
Another group reports: "We want to be able to dream." Rudd takes notes.
After several hours of coverage on the ABC and Sky News, I've seen mostly Labor politicians lecturing, not listening. Senator John Faulkner has now been talking for 10 minutes.
Back to the indigenous groups: It's blah blah blah "got to focus on the future of Aboriginal children". Gee, no kidding. But then the forum gets down to its real interest - a treaty and the need to "recognise Aboriginal people". I recognise you already, friend.
Senator Faulkner is still talking.
Another Labor politician, Tanya Plibersek, tells delegates about one of her favourite sayings: "As long as I fed the hungry they called me a saint. But when I began to ask why they were hungry, they called me a communist."
An ABC reporter says his favourite idea so far is for a giant veranda over our east coast to stop skin cancer. Sky News says someone wants citizenship stripped from all Australians, and given back only to those who are good climate citizens.
Day one is wrapped up with a session hosted by Rhys Muldoon, who cracks jokes with film star Hugh Jackman. Jackman asks a woman for her highlight of the day. "Meeting you," she says. Jackman then sings From Little Things, Big Things Grow with an Aboriginal man. Lots of clapping.
Actor Rachel Perkins then says "ordinary Australians" must be made to make Aboriginal culture part of their own identity. By law?
David Mann says he has an idea: "to end disadvantage". The audience, moved, applauds this fine idea.
Louise Adler, the Melbourne University Press boss, says her arts group spent a lot of time discussing whether the blue of their summit ribbons was, erk, Liberal blue.
The WWF boss, Greg Bourne, says his group thought we'd better do something about global warming. Shock! No one saw that coming.
Sam Mostyn declares: "We have so much to learn from people who were here prior to the First Fleet arriving." Sadly, no one that old is in the room.
A reader of my blog emails me: "It's like Nimbin in suits." Yes.
All drugs should be legalised, says a doctor. It's unclear if he's from Nimbin.
The artists finally agree: let's grab 1 per cent of all government programs. Jackman says politicians should be forced to attend arts events.
Uh-oh. Black leader Warren Mundine suggests governments insist all Aboriginal children learn English. There is an embarrassing pause, but then everyone resumes talking about treaties and "recognition".
Climate Change Minister Penny Wong tells her summiteers to include in their proposals ways of involving Aborigines in the decision-making.
Arts summiteer Alison Croggon complains: "The message was clear: whatever we came up with had to meld with ALP policy if it had to have a chance of being implemented."
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard is asked to nominate any truly new idea from the summit that ends up mostly backing old Labor ideas. All she mentions is teaching children how to choose a mobile phone package.
The Prime Minister is asked the same question. All he can think of is inventing a bionic eye. He later learns it's already been invented.
I go to bed fearing we are doomed.