What do you think of former Prime Minister Paul Keating's vision of Sydney becomming the capital of Australia?

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molly

Well as he said John Howard has basically moved Parliament to Sydney he doesn't live in the official residence of the Prime Minister first he said it was because of his children's schooling but they have all left so why hasn't he moved back to Canberra he must enjoy the view to much.

There was an article about the upkeep of both residence just the other day and it has cost the Australian taxpayer over $20 million dollars to maintain them both.

Most people still don't get Paul Keatings warped sense of humor like he said if it was him the had done this the Australian public would have boiled him in oil he is only bringing it to the attention of the people and I seriously dont think he meant it but some people are so blind to John Howards faults they will always try and blame someone else.

fanta

stupid idea

tentofield

The Government currently conducts most of its business from Sydney as Mrs Howard doesn't like The Lodge. I think most of Keating's view was to have a dig at Little Lying Johnny and his extravagance with taxpayers' money. If the current Government thinks Sydney is better than Canberra for the conduct of Government business than perhaps the arrangement should be permanent.

The move won't happen, of course, but it will be interesting to see LLJ's reaction, if he bites. Any argument LLJ puts up for maintaining Canberra as the national capital is an argument for him using Canberra rather than Sydney for Government business.

This idea is to put LLJ on the back foot and to remind taxpayers of the expense of maintaining Mrs Howard's aversion to Canberra. It has nothing to do with moving Government to Sydney.

Although it wouldn't be a bad idea ...

J D

What? U mean Sydneys not the capital?? Anyone would think it is...after all the Prime Minister lives here they R holding the APEC meeting here... it may as well be the capital.
But on the other hand Canberra has always been the capital & was made the capital for a reason so why not leave it as it is. If it ain't broke, dont fix it!

Filmnoir

Hey children, wake up ! Wasn't Paul simply trying to highlight what the " dessicated little cocoanut " has been doing at huge taxpayer expense for the past 11 years? Roll on November ! ( Although, I actually think the whingeing, whining, weazel will call it for September/October when he hopes people will be distracted by the football finals, Spring Racing Carnival etc, )

halloweensun

i dont think its a good idea. changing the capitol from canberra to sydney would cost the taxpayers heaps of money just to build a new parliment house and not to mention a new home for howard.

moo_the_conqueror

As a born and bred and very proud Canberran, the capital should remain as Canberra.

I thought it rather odd that Paul Keating should make that comment having been PM, lived in The Lodge and had his children attend local schools.

Post federation, there was always going to a be a new capital city whilst Melbourne remained the acting capital. Canberra was chosen and is created inland for defence purposes as the capital must be protected during wartime.

We all know John Howard prefers to live in Kirribilli instead of The Lodge. That doesn't mean the Govt has moved there, just him. Fact is, we don't want him living here anyway. We will open the doors to The Lodge for the next PM, possibly Kevin Rudd.

Canberra is the federal capital and Sydney is Australia's biggest city.

That is how it will remain

Go the ACT Brumbies and Canberra Raiders

Tim N

As tentofield pointed out, the context of this proposal was to take a swipe at John Howard, and the fact that he has already made Sydney into the de facto capital by doing his best to run the country from there.

Sydneysiders already have far too much of a tendency to believe that they run the country, so I don't think we should make a change that will reinforce that idea. The whole idea of having a separate capital in Canberra is to stop the federal government getting too focussed on the issues in any one state.

russianredlips

I think that there is enough money being spent on frivolous things in Australia, that this would be a waste of taxpayers money.

What will become of Canberra if it happened? It will become a middle-of-nowhere town with no purpose.

Hoosyadaddy

Too much effort to move Washington to Sydney, and could you imagine the influx of scandals!

i love my garden

Rubbish! Canberra is and was specially designed to be our capital city. Who would want the pollies in Sydney anyway. Leave things as is, it works well now. That's my opinion

redgypsywine

well my opinion is a former prime minister with another ridiculous idea....... is that all the politicians and government can think about at present there are far better issues to worry about in Australia than where the f*ckin capital should be.

what about the water crisis???? and quite frankly the capital of australia should be left where it is - CANBERRA.

HYPER_LOGIC

I think, with the housing crisis, hospital waiting lists, and fuel prices and international events such as the war in Iraq and the recent flaring up in the middle east it would be a little self indulgent and grandiose, that should come way later, say 10 or so years. but for now. we have roads to think of, rental crises and homelessness, inflationary pressures, weakening American economy, and did i dare say fuel prices.

West Aussie Chick

I think they should leave it where it is. Australia doesn't need to foot the bill for such a move when they are much more important things to spend money on...like hospitals, education etc. Canberra has always been our capital and there have been no problems with it being there (as far as I know!) so why move?

Ken E

Former Prime Minister makes a little jokules. Bug*er Sydney. Nice place to visit like once every 20 years but I would not want to live there. Our very own Chief Minister Jon Stanhope has already answered Mr. K. A bit tongue in cheek, he was about the provincial nature of Sydney.

As for little Johnny, the reason he isn't in the Lodge was said to be that Mrs. H would not have it, a certain former ABC newsreader and Liberal Party stalwart lived down along Melbourne Avenue and Mrs. H was not going to have little Johnny living quite so close to her.

Shy Girl S

I don't know if I could ever get used to Sydney being the capital of Australia however, Paul Keating does have a strong point on this.

It makes alot of sense to have Parliament moved there though.

Aveagoodweegend

The only reason Canberra was created was Sydney people couldn't handle federal parliament being in Melbourne.

ausblue

He's an idiot thats why he was voted out!!
he just wants to try & make some name for himself seeing he messed up as a leader! he destroyed australia

referralguru

Yes Paul Keating is a Wanker, and his ideas have come from a wanker. What would Canberra do with all the govt. jobs moved to Sydney? Typical Keating Idea I guess. Lets screw over the rest of the country just to benefit Sydney. I think keating should go live somewhere else, he certainly has no respect for Australia. Called it the "a*se end of the world" I seem to recall.

wtg_ib

lets start a chant---
Keating's a wanker
Keating's a wanker
Keating's a wanker
Keating's a wanker
Keating's a?????

wanker
wanker
wanker
wanker
wanker
wanker

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