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The Next Big Question

This is your chance to ‘Have Your Say’ on the next big question facing Australia.

This discussion forum is slightly different to previous AYF online discussions. On this occasion, there is not a particular topic which you are being invited to write about. In fact it’s the opposite – this is about giving you the chance to have a say about whatever issue matters most to you. Here is your opportunity to think big and be innovative. We want you to tell us what you think is the next big question facing our country.

The AYF is hosting this discussion forum in collaboration with Australia21; an independent, non-profit organisation which researches issues of strategic importance to Australians in the 21st century. Australia21 seeks to shape Australia for future generations - through a collaboration of leading and creative thinkers, providing groundbreaking and holistic solutions for Australia’s long-term future, well-being and sustainability.

Visit the Australia21 website for more information about ‘the next big question’ project, which aims to spark people's thinking about what they want for this nation’s future.

The AYF will provide Australia21 with your ‘next big questions’ and your posts will feed into their two year project. The trends and underlying themes emerging from your ideas will also be collated in a report which will be sent to the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth, Kate Ellis, to inform future policy development.

So be innovative, be bold and think big. Your question might relate to a matter concerning health or social justice in our community; or it may relate to the environment, climate change, education or technology and infrastructure. Whatever your area of particular interest, we want to know about it. Tell us…

  • What you consider to be the NEXT BIG QUESTION?
  • Why is it important?
  • What you think the implications might be if we don’t ask this question? What might we lose or what might some of the risks be if we don’t start exploring and finding answers to this question?

The page is blank. It’s up to you to fill it in.

What is this?

The ideas board is your chance to give your opinion about a certain topic that we're interested in. If you have a suggestion for a topic you would like covered you can suggest one here.

Submitting an idea

Submit your own idea on the topic and make a difference, or let your opinion be heard. Simply click on the Submit my Idea button below and off you go!

Vote on ideas

Browse through the ideas that others have submitted and vote for the best ones. The ideas with the most votes will be used to guide future policy and program development.

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    Alexander Jackson - submitted 25/11/2009

    I'm that it is common knowledge that there is a direct correlation between irrational behavior and money. People will do anything for money, even, and this is the important part, things that one would never attempt, if no incentive was offered. Reality TV programs are a good example of this. My idea is this and I'm sure that it has been said many times before but it deserves to be repeated: turn the green energy market into a properly competitive sector. I am aware of the fact that there are numerous constraints surrounding the development and commercialisation of nearly all sources of alternative energy (solar panels are expensive to make, wind requires space and so on...) but without full support we are going to have a "it will sort itself out with time" mentality for too long. And time is something we don't have. Money is money but green energy is life.

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    Anonymous - submitted 25/11/2009

    I believe that as health and obesity is becoming an increasing problem in Australia and the world, and with all the 'healthy' advertisement currently in the media, there are still large problems with eating and exercising disorders. With the huge stress of the modern lifestyle and self esteem issues (which are eating disorder triggers alone), on top of this there are huge advertising campaigns which can easily be taken the wrong way by people suffering such diseases and put such a large focus and obsession on health. I believe that it is extremely important that the government attempts to increase awareness of such disorders as they affect a significant percentage of Australia's youth. Most people know very little about it and associate such diseases with very negative steroetypes. I believe it is an important issue that must have increased awareness, prevantative and early intervention measures employed in order to at least reduce this deadly disease. It so often CAN be prevented or the severity decreased if only there was increased awareness.

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    Anonymous - submitted 24/11/2009

    Obviousl there are numerous important issues needed to be raised with our government(s) and long over due.
    We evidently have a problem with not only juvenile justice but the whole justice system.
    There is a desperate need for something in place for our troubled youth, there is nothing in WA before detention centres apart from continual slaps on the wrist which in turn teaches them it's ok to be a crim and more often than not become adult crims with deadlier outcomes..
    Conscription or some form of military type disipline program in our schools.
    Something needs to change as I can see in 5 years time I will need a guard dog or other by my side just to get to my car in the driveway, people are already doing this in some suburbs...even the elderly are targets for these thugs and getting away with it..

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    Anonymous - submitted 19/11/2009

    The Next Big Question, the elephant in the room in respect of Climate Change, is Population Policy.

    As it stands today, substantial cuts in Australia's per-capita CO2 emissions will be turned into small cuts, or an increase, in total Australian CO2 emissions (which is by far the more relevant number of the two). In other words, we will be running up hill when we could be running on flat ground.

    Because Australia has the highest per-capita emissions in the world, on average, a migrant to Australia from any country anywhere, results in an increase in total world CO2 emissions (which is ultimately the only relevant number).

    The question is ... does the government have the balls to make the hard decisions on this?

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    Sam - submitted 18/11/2009

    My idea is that there should me a major increase in youth involvement in the development of Australia. At the moment there are only a select few at my school, in only one year level which have the opportunity to have their say to our local state member. My idea is to set up a way in which everyone can have a say. Maybe there could be discussions at school in classes and at assemblies or for every local electorate to have a forum night or nights where young people of all ages can come and talk to their Federal and State MP.
    There should also be an opportunity for the best ideas to be presented in front of a cabinet committee for consideration.

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    Anonymous - submitted 16/11/2009

    I would like to see if i can get a skate park in my area in janebrook,perth ,w.a.because we dont have any good skate park's around us, and the ones around us are non-concrete and they are too small for bikes. Though the good ones that are far away i carnt use public transport to get there because i carnt put my bike on the bus.I really want a concrete skatepark because there allot more smother and funner because you get more speed, bigger air and more jumps to do tricks on and allot more space. We also have plenty of space in the park near us and if there going to make janbrook bigger im sure they can build one in the park or allocate a space for it.

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    Anonymous - submitted 16/11/2009

    i go to a high school, ive only just started there and the health classes are very akward as they have both boys and girls in it. i was wondering if the government would do something about this as i am very interested in becoming a doctor when some of the people in there are mucking around and noty caring about their health. And to tell you the truth im sick of it. i would love a girls class room and boysclassroom separate to each other. we have a man teacher and i find it disturbing he knows about all the things a woman goes through. it makes people feel uncomfortable in his classroom.

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    Anonymous - submitted 16/11/2009

    i wanna change the world

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    Liam Eagle - submitted 15/11/2009

    Political Correctness (i think that's the term) has gone FAR to far.

    When we have to change the 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' (don't strike me down) to 'Baa Baa Rainbow Sheep' it is ridiculous.
    When you take superheroes out of kindergarten because it might encourage violence, it has gone too far. we need to stop now before it goes even further, guys have to chill out

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    Jonathan - submitted 15/11/2009

    What is the future of Australia's media and will Australian content continue to be relevant, diverse and accessible?

    This question is important because it relates to the future of Australian culture and how we will represent ourselves locally and internationally.

    If we don't address Australian media policy soon, Australia risks being the laughing stock of the world. Even if we all have access to the Internet and computers, we must address the quality of Australian content on these platforms and how to best empower Australians to take part.


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