My article about the FCA's trip to Canberra in November 2012 (edited by Heidi Gmür) appeared on the FCA website (see 'FCA Past Events'):
Today’s Canberra
FCA visits the capitol city
FCA visits the capitol city
Text by Sonja Goernitz and Heidi Gmuer
On 26–27 November 2012, in the last Sitting Week of the Parliament, and
only about a month before the start of Canberra’s Centenary
celebrations, 16 FCA members, most of them based in Sydney, visited
Australia’s capitol city. A truly international group, by the way, as
they represented media from the USA, China, Japan, Brazil, the UK,
Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Switzerland and Australia too.
While enjoying some cultural
highlights of this quirky town on the first day, the second day was
packed with meetings at Parliament House. Foreign Minister Bob Carr
found some time to meet with us during the morning when the Labor party –
behind the scenes – had been busy convincing the Prime Minister not to
vote against the upgrade of Palestine’s status in the General Assembly
of the UN. Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Pacific
Island Affairs Richard Marles gave us some insights on Pacific issues
and Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop - who had led the attack
against the PM about the union slush fund allegations in Question Time
just hours before – answered questions about Opposition policies and
politics. On the program as well: Background briefings with MPs Shayne
Neumann (Labor) and Sharman Stone (Liberals) on indigenous affairs, with
Senators Larissa Waters (Greens), Bridget McKenzie (Nationals) and Anne
Ruston (Liberals) on environmental issues.
Prior to our visit to Parliament
House, the Creative Director of Centenary Canberra Robin Archer briefed
us over breakfast on the activities that are planned for the
celebrations in 2013. Each month has a certain theme, and instead of
investing in one huge show, such as a Rolling Stones concert, funds are
pushed into plenty of arts and sports events. “We put money into things
we hope to continue, so that we’ll still see them in 2014,” Archer said.
For her, the two main aims of the centenary festivities are: “To
reinforce this place [Canberra] as a great symbol of democracy” and “to
understand what this city is like today,” pointing out that she “could
go to a cultural event every night.”
While in Canberra we also
visited the fascinating National Portrait Gallery and the Eros
Association’s headquarters, where Robbie Swan, Media Director and
Political Advisor to the CEO and President of Australia’s Sex Party
Fiona Patten, showed us their extensive erotic exhibition in a house in
leafy Yarralumla, including a mysterious box with artifacts – and letters
from the 1950s that were allegedly the first "Dirt Files" of Australian
politics.
On a different note: You might
like to try the Segway to move around Canberra in a fun way. After some
instructions most members turned out pretty handy on this two-wheeler,
although we probably need some more practice before heading out during
traffic hour. While driving along Lake Burley Griffin and around Old
Parliament House, the fact came up that the inventor of this
battery-charged vehicle had died with it, running off a cliff. But on
the largely flat grounds in town you’re rather safe – it has a built-in
15-kmh speed limit –, and it might be perfect for exploring the city
next year – avoiding public transport or driving in rush hour with a
(there) often indecisive GPS.
The FCA thanks the Department
of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Tourism Australia, ACT Tourism and
Centenary Canberra and the East Hotel for supporting this trip.
Photos by Sonja Goernitz and Urs Walterlin