Forward Public Policy Agenda

Since 2006, The Global Foundation has conducted a rolling national program of public policy consultation and development, entitled Australia Unlimited. The program has been able to bring together government with many citizens, corporations, universities, community organisations and international institutions, culminating in the Australia Unlimited 2008 Roundtable held in October 2008. The following agenda emerged from the Roundtable and provides the framework for the Foundation’s Australia Unlimited 2010 program:

1.    Australia should aim to be one of the world's most inclusive, fair and generous societies, a global nation whose success derives from empowering all Australians, its human capital, to develop and realise their capacities and their potential as global Australians.

a)   We should shape a grand strategy for social inclusion in Australia, one which provides opportunity and encourages all Australians to realise their individual, community and global potential, and underpins Australia’s destiny as a truly global nation;

b)   We should embrace The Australian Dialogue* as the means of building an inclusive vision of what it is to be Australian, exploring deeper questions about our national identity - who we are as Australians in this land and in the world, about the kind of society we want Australia to become, and what it means for our people to develop their capabilities and realise their potential as global Australians;

c)   We should aspire to be among the best-educated and innovative societies in the world and we should continue to encourage the very best opportunities and standards for all in our education systems and enterprises.

2.   Australia should strengthen its capabilities and global engagement on major issues confronting the nation and the world, including: financial stability, sustainability, energy security and climate change, food security, world trade and international development.

a)   Australia should play a more active, middle power role, regionally and globally: in strengthening the global financial architecture; in building new coalitions and structures for open and free world trade; in leading and partnering in matters of international and global development, on issues of sustainability, including energy, climate, food and water security;

b)   We need to stimulate Australians’ awareness of and engagement with the world, enabling citizens and the private sector to play more active roles, alongside government, in global and regional issues and in advancing global cooperation; schooling at all levels should incorporate learning programs about the great global issues of our times.

3.    Australia should, relative to the world, aspire to continually progress its economic, social and environmental dimensions and measure this progress regularly against global benchmarks, in such a way that enjoys the continued understanding and support of the Australian public.

a)   We should promote and encourage a culture of aspiration, innovation and productivity for the generation of Australia’s sustainable economic, social and environmental wellbeing; we should support effective measures of measurement of progress in society, in Australia and globally;

4.    Australia should accelerate its development of physical infrastructure which encourages enterprise, builds internal resilience & sustainability and enables effective global connectedness.

a)   We should implement quickly and manage sustainably, to world standard Australia’s broadband networks, transport, water and energy systems.

5.    Australia should improve the effectiveness of its systems and structures of its domestic governance, including methods which empower and encourage the creativity of and partnership with regional and remote Australia.

a)   We should facilitate and promote cooperative federalism mechanisms and in ways which promote and encourage ongoing community confidence and support;

We should establish effective mechanisms of co-operative and consultative regional governance in regional, remote Australia and in so doing, empower and encourage communities to be creative in partnering together and with the nation as a whole.

*The Australian Dialogue is a new, citizen-led compact between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, built on love, respect and partnership