Community Cabinet Comes to Newcastle

The Rudd Government announced today that its seventh Community Cabinet meeting will take place at Lambton High School in Newcastle on 29 September 2008.

"We look forward to bringing Community Cabinet to the people of Newcastle and the Hunter region," Special Minister for State and Cabinet Secretary, Senator John Faulkner, and Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Grierson MP, said today.

"Community Cabinet meetings occur every four to five weeks in metropolitan and regional Australian and are proving enormously popular with the community who relish the chance to meet with and hear from their government," Senator Faulkner said.

"So far, more than 3,000 people have attended Community Cabinet meetings in Canning Vale in Western Australia, Narangba and Mackay in Queensland, Penrith in New South Wales, Hallett Cove in South Australia and the Yirrikala community in East Arnhem Land.

"A total of 428 people have met with the Prime Minister or a Cabinet minister to discuss a topic of their choice. Along with the Prime Minister, this government takes seriously the opportunity to meet with constituents," he said.

"I am very pleased to be able to host the Community Cabinet in Newcastle, and I invite the people of our region to come and see their government in action," Ms Grierson said.

"The Community Cabinet is a demonstration of the Rudd Government’s commitment to our region, and I am sure the people of Newcastle and the Hunter will take advantage of this unique opportunity.

"Lambton High will host an Open Forum with the Rudd Ministry for several hundred people who can also request a private meeting with a Minister on a topic of their choice."

"Gates open at Lambton High School at 4.30pm with the Community Cabinet meeting commencing at 6pm. The meeting starts with a Welcome to Country and the national anthem, before the Prime Minister and I welcome participants," she said.

People wishing to attend Community Cabinet must register on line through the Prime Minister’s website at www.pmc.gov.au. To request a one-on-one meeting with a Minister contact the Community Cabinet Secretariat on 1800 088 323 or (02) 6271 5563, Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm AEST. Registrations open from 15 September.