WEB ONLY:
John Stapleton
COMMON courtesy might have dictated that the Federal member, sitting in the front row, would be given the opportunity to say a few words on the announcement of a Federal government initiative in his own electorate.
Particularly when that very same politician had been key to initiating the project in the first place.
But not when the local member is Liberal Party heavyweight Malcolm Turnbull and the other politician concerned is his ideological opposite, Environment Minister Peter Garrett.
Yesterday Garrett was happy to claim the limelight as he announced to assembled luminaries that Bondi Beach had been elevated to the National Heritage List, Australia’s highest heritage honour.
But during the formal proceedings there was no mention that it was his Liberal party predecessor who had initiated the nomination less than four months ago. Or that Malcolm Turnbull had spent his entire lifetime closely associated with the beach, from his early years as a member of the Bondi Nippers to his later years as the area’s Federal MP.
Nor was any opportunity to say a few words provided to Turnbull, who, sitting in the front row at the function, stuck out like a sore thumb amongst the Labor concentrated gathering. Instead all the talking was done by Garrett and Waverley Labor Mayor Ingrid Strewe.
After the event, Malcolm Turnbull said while he was delighted Bondi Beach had been listed, he was not surprised at the lack of acknowledgement. “We’re in opposition and courtesy is somewhat uncommon,” he said. “Governments don’t often want to give a lot of airtime to the Opposition.”
Asked about Malcolm Turnbull’s contribution and whether he would like to make a tribute, Garrett could not bring himself to utter his predecessor’s name. He said the Heritage Council had actually put forward the nomination and he paid tribute to those involved in that. “The process is a good solid process,” he said.
Much, evidently, has changed since Turnbull stood at the front of the Icebergs last October and announced the beginning of a public consultation process which he hoped would lead to the heritage listing of “the most famous beach in the world”.
Back then he declared the beach was integral to our understanding of ourselves, to “the lifesaving movement, volunteerism, the heroism of men and women battling to save lives in the surf. It’s all to be found here together with a relaxed hedonism as well. This is an amazing place, an important cultural place, not simply because of the surf, of lifesaving, of the history but also because of the way it embraces the whole world.”
Back then head of the Heritage Council Tom Harley welcomed Turnbull’s nomination of the beach for its vital part in the development of Australia’s beach culture and surf life saving movements. Back then he said Bondi Beach was “at the centre of a lot of our understanding of who we are as a country”.
Yesterday it was Garrett doing all the talking, including reminiscing about the Midnight Oil song Back to Bondi and the romance of kids swimming for the first time, “interacting with the beach and mighty nature.”
“You can’t get more Aussie than Bondi,” he said. “This one and a half kilometres of sand and sea is the quintessential Australian beach, a symbol of Australia around the world. Bondi embodies a powerful sense of place and a wonderful way of life. I’ve had quite a few waves here over the years – it is really special. I don’t think it is any over-estimation to say the beach has had a major impact in developing our culture.”
The area now on the National Heritage List includes 65 hectares of land and water, comprising the beach, surf lifesaving clubs, pavilion, parks, promenades, cliffs and ocean waters.
John Stapleton
COMMON courtesy might have dictated that the Federal member, sitting in the front row, would be given the opportunity to say a few words on the announcement of a Federal government initiative in his own electorate.
Particularly when that very same politician had been key to initiating the project in the first place.
But not when the local member is Liberal Party heavyweight Malcolm Turnbull and the other politician concerned is his ideological opposite, Environment Minister Peter Garrett.
Yesterday Garrett was happy to claim the limelight as he announced to assembled luminaries that Bondi Beach had been elevated to the National Heritage List, Australia’s highest heritage honour.
But during the formal proceedings there was no mention that it was his Liberal party predecessor who had initiated the nomination less than four months ago. Or that Malcolm Turnbull had spent his entire lifetime closely associated with the beach, from his early years as a member of the Bondi Nippers to his later years as the area’s Federal MP.
Nor was any opportunity to say a few words provided to Turnbull, who, sitting in the front row at the function, stuck out like a sore thumb amongst the Labor concentrated gathering. Instead all the talking was done by Garrett and Waverley Labor Mayor Ingrid Strewe.
After the event, Malcolm Turnbull said while he was delighted Bondi Beach had been listed, he was not surprised at the lack of acknowledgement. “We’re in opposition and courtesy is somewhat uncommon,” he said. “Governments don’t often want to give a lot of airtime to the Opposition.”
Asked about Malcolm Turnbull’s contribution and whether he would like to make a tribute, Garrett could not bring himself to utter his predecessor’s name. He said the Heritage Council had actually put forward the nomination and he paid tribute to those involved in that. “The process is a good solid process,” he said.
Much, evidently, has changed since Turnbull stood at the front of the Icebergs last October and announced the beginning of a public consultation process which he hoped would lead to the heritage listing of “the most famous beach in the world”.
Back then he declared the beach was integral to our understanding of ourselves, to “the lifesaving movement, volunteerism, the heroism of men and women battling to save lives in the surf. It’s all to be found here together with a relaxed hedonism as well. This is an amazing place, an important cultural place, not simply because of the surf, of lifesaving, of the history but also because of the way it embraces the whole world.”
Back then head of the Heritage Council Tom Harley welcomed Turnbull’s nomination of the beach for its vital part in the development of Australia’s beach culture and surf life saving movements. Back then he said Bondi Beach was “at the centre of a lot of our understanding of who we are as a country”.
Yesterday it was Garrett doing all the talking, including reminiscing about the Midnight Oil song Back to Bondi and the romance of kids swimming for the first time, “interacting with the beach and mighty nature.”
“You can’t get more Aussie than Bondi,” he said. “This one and a half kilometres of sand and sea is the quintessential Australian beach, a symbol of Australia around the world. Bondi embodies a powerful sense of place and a wonderful way of life. I’ve had quite a few waves here over the years – it is really special. I don’t think it is any over-estimation to say the beach has had a major impact in developing our culture.”
The area now on the National Heritage List includes 65 hectares of land and water, comprising the beach, surf lifesaving clubs, pavilion, parks, promenades, cliffs and ocean waters.