“2020峰会”规划国家长远未来

据2008年4月21日《The Age》报道，刚刚过去的周末在首都堪培拉举行了为期两天的“2020峰会”，共有1000名澳洲杰出精英人士出席了会议，就涉及澳大利亚未来发展的10个重大问题进行了讨论，包括生产力发展、经济、可持续发展与气候变化、农村问题、卫生和健康、社区与家庭、土著问题、教育与艺术、政治和未来安全与繁荣等。

澳洲走向共和体制是一个重要内容，峰会主张2010年就废除澳洲的君主立宪制投票决定2013年之前是否正式举行全民公决，以决定澳大利亚是否实行共和制。

TEN OF THE BIGGEST IDEAS

* Introduction of an Australian republic with a two-stage, beginning with a plebiscite on the issue, followed by a referendum.

* Creation of "community corps" to allow students to reduce their HECS through volunteer work.

* A national preventative health care agency funded by taxes on cigarettes, alcohol and junk food.

* Increasing the formal and legal recognition of Aborigines, with the possibility of a treaty.

* Contributing 1% of federal funding allocated to each government department to the arts.

* All new buildings to be carbon neutral.

* Bringing regulations for transport and agriculture across states into line.

* Establishment of a new federation commission to review the roles and responsibilities of federal, state and local government.

* A comprehensive reinvigoration of Asian language literacy and a recruitment drive of foreign language teachers.

* A charter of rights and a national action plan.