PRIME MINISTER
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING MP
REPORT OF THE CENTENARY OF FEDERATION ADVISORY
COMMITTEE I have received the report of the Centenary of Federation Advisory
Committee, 2001: A Report from Australia.
Premiers and Chief Ministers have also received the Committee's report,
which was launched today by the Chairperson, Joan Kimer.
The Council of Australian Governments ( COAG) agreed last year to establish
a broadly based committee to advise it on goals and strategies for the
centenary of federation in 2001.
COAG decided that the Committee should comprise representatives of each
State and Territory, a Commonwealth appointed Chairperson and such
further persons, appointed by the Commonwealth, as might be needed to
ensure that the Committee as a whole was broadly representative of the
community. The report provides the basis for public debate, consideration by COAG and
consideration by Individual governments on how best to commemorate the
centenary of federation.
Importantly, the report represents the results of a consultative process in
which the Committee has visited all regions of Australia and held wideranging
discussions with governments, with local authorities and community
representatives. It canvasses a range of proposals to help Australians understand the
meaning of the centenary of federation, to celebrate our achievements as a
nation since federation, to strengthen our national identity and celebrate our
diversity as a people.
In addition, the report discusses a number of social, economic and
environmental projects of national significance.
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COAG and Individual governments will now study the report carefully.
The commemoration of the centenary of federation, and the events leading
up to it, provide an opportunity for all Australians to celebrate the
achievements of the first hundred years of federation and to reflect on the
challenges facing our nation as we approach the 21st century. I hope the
entire community will participate whole-heartedly in it.
I would like to commend Joan Kirner and her colleagues on the Committee
for their work and to thank them for the energy and commitment they have
brought to their task.
CANBERRA August 1994