Gosh some of you are cynical (I can be too sometimes :))

The summit is about discussing important issues of the future and to field ideas/possible solutions from a variety of people from a variety of fields.

We complain about consultation and democracy and as soon as the opportunity arises we throw mud on the idea. The Summit is not a vehicle for Rudd to get people to make decisions for him as suggested, just as consulting with the opposition on the Apology was not about the decision but to inform and allow the opposition to put a point of view. This included Brendan Nelson's speech today as part of the Opposition's contribution to the very first Parliamentary Welcome to Country by Indigenous leader, Matilda House.

Can you imagine Howard and his cronies consulting with community groups and the like. The only group Howard consulted and acted for was big business.

It is a bit early to pre-judge what the Summit will produce - but if the field is wide enough there may be some brilliant ideas..OR not. We will have to see.

Good one pelican you have the issue in a nut shell, Bazz even uses his thoughts and words to bash the idea.
He has no idea what will be talked about but informs us of what he thinks and calls it facts.
Review the two threads on this subject one month after the event.
Sit and think about what we said about it.
Few are brave enough to say , well I got that very wrong.

Belly, I did not bash the idea, I bashed its lack of the most important
problem on the agenda.

Sure, someone will I hope bring up oil depletion and how we mitigate
its affects, but it should be right up front, not just hoping that
someone thinks of it.

In less than 10 years, we will be totally at the mercy of foreign oil
companies and the exporting countries, who will have much larger economies to worry about.
Do you think the Australian buyers will be
allowed to compete with their head office buyers in the market ?

Australia will be in a difficult position needing 100% import.
Don't you think that deserves an agenda item of its own ?

bazz, aaaarrgh! is not constructive. and politicians are always politicians, you expected something else?

if you want oz to be run 'for the people', it has to be run 'by the people'. it's called democracy. oz ain't got it, but we better get it quick because, as you point out, pollies won't do.

ozzies don't have the political culture to run their country effectively. bad as pollie rule is, you deserve it, because you're sheep. can't be helped, harold copped an arrow at hastings, wat tyler walked too close to henry, and here we are- still saying "please, sir, can we have more?"