The Australian Government Kicks Off an Idea Campaign

Australia recently voted in a new Government late last year, and one of the first acts of incoming Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was to open up an Idea Campaign, called Australia 2020, to solicit the best ideas for Australia as a country in the period going forward to 2020.

Ideas have been sought in the following categories:

• Productivity Agenda - education, skills, training, science and innovation
• Australian Economy - the future of the Australian economy
• Sustainability and Climate Change - population, sustainability, climate change and water
• Rural Australia - future directions for rural industries and rural communities
• Health - a long-term national health strategy – including the challenges of preventative health, workforce planning and the ageing population
• Communities and Families - strengthening communities, supporting families and social inclusion
• Indigenous Australia - options for the future of Indigenous Australia
• Creative Australia - towards a creative Australia: the future of the arts, film and design
• Australian Governance - the future of Australian governance: renewed democracy, a more open government (including the role of the media), the structure of the Federation and the rights and responsibilities of citizens
• Australia's Future in the World - Australia’s future security and prosperity in a rapidly changing region and world

A political activist group, GetUp!, has also set up a forum for members to contribute and discuss ideas for submission to the forum - and GetUp members who are delegates to the summit will take members' ideas forward to the government.

The period for submissions has recently closed, and submissions are now being considered.

The Australian Government initiating an Idea Campaign is a terrific step forward. It would be nice to see this kind of Idea Management activity integrated into democratic government on an ongoing basis, not only in Australia but around the world.