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

Question

For those of you who didn't hear, former Prime Minister Paul Keating recently suggested that Sydney should become the capital city of Australia. He also suggested a grand, iconic building should be built on Garden Island to be the New New Parliament House (since Canberra already has its own New Parliament House).

Here is the link: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/move-parliament-to-sydney-keating/2007/05/23/1179601494647.html

What do you think of this idea?

Anyone can comment, but could non-Australians please not put any dumb answers like "But I thought Sydney was the capital"...Canberra is the capital city of Australia, Sydney has never been the capital city.

Ok, please don't start an anti-Keating forum. My question wasn't what do you think of Paul Keating himself. Please, I'd much prefer your thoughts on the idea of Sydney becomming the capital.

Cheers

Some very good points. I think that if Sydney did become the capital it would do very little except make Sydney's international status only very slightly bigger.

I'm from Sydney and while I do think it would add even more to the prestige of the city, I don't think it would do much else, and I'm against it myself.

Canberra was built to be the capital, so it should remain so. Besides, Sydneysiders would get soooooo sick and tired of motorcades and extra security everywhere (we get enough of them already)
And Sydney's public transport network is terrible. Just imagine if tens of thousands of extra people were to flood the city each day...I shudder at the thought.

I have to admit, if Melbourne were to become the capital, I would be jealous for a while but I'd get over it (I'm quite Sydney-patriotic) but I see no reason to move the capital anyway.

Keep the great answers coming!!!

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

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

Answer 3

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!

Answer 4

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.

Answer 5

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.

Answer 6

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 ...

Answer 7

I stay in Pakistan. i'm thoroughly in ask your self. I wasn't a supporter of hers, yet i'm deeply saddened by way of her death. regrettably, it willl have a detremental impression on the rustic as an entire, no longer only in the political environment. Bhutto became an extremely customary parent here. there'll be rioting and bloodshed initially. The elections scheduled for Jan 8th would be postponed and extreme inquires would be held to show the finger as far faraway from President Musharraf as feasible. Pakistani human beings are already pretty agitated and it truly is the final undertaking the rustic mandatory immediately.

Answer 8

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.

Answer 9

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?

Answer 10

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.