Fed: 2020 summit opens with welcome to country =8

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-2008
Fed: 2020 summit opens with welcome to country =8

Mr Rudd called on each of the summit's 10 groups to nominate at least one big idea
plus at least three concrete policy ideas.

At least one of the policy ideas must involve no or negligible cost - a point the prime
minister emphasised by saying it three times.

Groups should also identify at least three specific goals for 2020, he said.

The government has promised to respond to each recommendation by year's end.

"Some of these ideas we will be able to embrace, others we will not, and some we will
take in part and change," he said.

"There are no right and wrong answers when it comes to a discussion among people of
good heart and good mind and good will."

Local and school summits and the youth summit had attracted tens of thousands of participants
and there had been more than 3,000 submissions.

Mr Rudd said the nation could either drift into the future or plan for it.

"I say it is time to seize the future with both hands, to build a new Australia, to
build a better Australia, a better Australia for all of our people as well as turning
this great nation of ours Australia to an even greater force for good in the world," he
said.

"And now ladies and gentlemen, summiteers, it's over to you."

AAP mb/mfh/apm

KEYWORD: SUMMIT OPEN 8 CANBERRA

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