I’m afraid I’ve always thought the worst of Kevin Rudd’s chat-fest. Too brief, crowded and unstructured, the 2020 Summit is to policy development what 2020 cricket games are to Test matches. Perhaps a series of rolling summits on the ten focii – with a more formalised structure and a clear communique for each issue – would have been more productive. And involving a more rigorous selection process too, since the claim that the summit would involve “Australia’s brightest 1000 minds” has turned out to be something of a farce.
Take Kate ‘I’ve-got-an-opinion-on-everything’ Hands, a suburban mum from Melbourne chosen as a delegate for “middle-class Victoria” by the Herald Sun. There’s no evidence that Kate has any more experience or expertise in the ten focus topics than anyone else; she was just the winner of a bizarre lottery. Unsurprisingly, her idealism was dented and she thought the summit was a bummer:
Kate Hands, picked out by the Herald Sun to represent ordinary Victorians, said she felt she had to be in the Kevin Rudd cheer squad if she wanted to be heard.
Sounds like poor Kate couldn’t get a word in. Which is generally what happens when you lack confidence, experience in articulating your opinions and the ability to hold the attention of large groups. Or maybe she just didn’t hold her hand up high enough.
“So far it’s a lot of pretty words for what we would like to happen in 12 years, but there’s nothing really concrete,” she said.
Maybe Kate expected to be seconded onto a policy committee or to be drafting legislation. Policy brainstorming is bound to be abstract, unformed and speculative.
Ms Hands said she was disheartened at lunchtime, wondering if her trip to Canberra was worthwhile.
Maybe Kate didn’t like the sandwiches. Mind you, at least she now knows how the current shadow ministry feels.
Most of the suggestions were obvious and had already been done in the past, she said. “Things like preventative health and early childhood education, it was just repeat, repeat, repeat.”
Well most suggestions in a brainstorming session are obvious: the objective is to identify and consider one or two that aren’t. Sounds like Kate might have switched off when ideas, approaches and jargon were being bandied about. Meanwhile, James Houston – another delegate from Victoria, ’specialising’ in rural communities – got similarly frustrated that he wasn’t given a gilt-edged soapbox:
As [Sky News presenter David] Speers was preparing to introduce four panelists for the sessions, including government minister Tanya Plibersek, he noticed Mr Houston on stage.
“James, I’m afraid you’re not one of those guests this morning,” Mr Speers said. I’m sorry James, maybe we can have a chat later on.” Mr Houston initially refused to leave the stage. The lights dimmed and Mr Speers could be heard saying: “We’re about to get underway with this … so if you wouldn’t mind just leaving the stage for a bit?”
Mr Houston eventually left the stage, but returned while the panel discussion was underway, sitting on the side of the stage while sipping a coffee.
Well, at least he got coffee.
