Essendon Football Club - First Green Precincts Project
On Sunday 21 September, I joined Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts Peter Garrett, Essendon Football Club Managing Director Peter Jackson and Essendon Captain Matthew Lloyd at Windy Hill to mark the start of construction work for an 800,000 litre water storage system - which will be housed underneath the famed Windy Hill oval surface.
» For more information about the project, click here.
Horn of Africa Employment
In July I launched the Carlton Horn of Africa Employment, Training and Advocacy Project. It is dedicated to addressing the employment, education and training needs of men from the Horn of Africa who live in Carlton.
Green Car Launch
On Thursday 12 June I demonstrated Australia's first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) at Szencorp's green headquarters at 40 Albert Road, South Melbourne. I took the car for a drive, and then we were able to plug a regular household microwave into the vehicle and cook some popcorn for the audience! Just one example of how the “plug out” feature can work!
Visit to Collingwood English Language School
Today I visited the Collingwood English Language School where I had the pleasure of opening the school playground upgrade as well as other improvements funded under the Investing in our Schools' Programme. I was entertained by students who performed songs from the ABBA collection.
2008 Redmond Barry Lecture
On 30 July I gave the 2008 Redmond Barry Lecture at the Victorian State Library. I reflected on the question 'Is Australia on the path to becoming an open nation?' through an exploration of the challenges facing Australia's most recent generation of migrants and refugees - African-Australians. The story of African-Australian migrants and refugees is emblematic of successes and future challenges within an open Australia. As time passes, and African-Australian refugees settle more securely into their new country, their contribution will become just as significant as that of earlier groups of migrants and refugees.
» Read the full text of my speech here
eGovernment Forum at CeBIT Australia
Last week I gave the Keynote address at the e-Government Forum at CeBIT Australia in Sydney. The Forum provided me with a good opportunity to flag the Rudd Government’s plans for e-Government and in particular government blogging.
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To read an extract from my speech, click here.
22/09/08 "Tourism a key industry sector" The Age Blog
16/09/08 "It's all about long-term growth" The Age Blog
08/09/08 "Budget obstinacy beggars belief" The Age Blog
Australia 2020 Summit
Over the weekend I was part of the 2020 summit in the “Future directions for the Australian economy” group. The “Future directions for the Australian economy” group wanted Australia to be the best place in the world to live and do business.
» Read more about the "Future directions for the Australian economy" stream.
African Community 2020 Summit
Today I hosted an African Community 2020 Summit in Melbourne. Members of various African Community groups and associations including organisations that represent refugees from Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea attended the Summit to discuss the major economic and social issues facing members of the African community in Australia.
» Read the African Community 2020 Summit Communique
Former Senator John Button Remembered
Today I attended John Button’s funeral at St Michael’s Uniting Church in Melbourne. John Button was a giant of the Labor party – an unapologetic idealist who always spoke his mind.
John Button played an integral role in the Hawke and Keating governments as Minister for Industry and Commerce for a decade. He led the modernisation of the Australian car industry, and was integral to the opening up of Australia’s economy.
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