Living, breathing Canberra

Barnaby Joyce praising Canberra? It's a reminder of the mixed feelings evoked by the national capital, writes Norman Abjorensen. Barnaby Joyce is always interesting. He will say things other politicians merely think, which is refreshing; and sometimes he will also rush in where his fellow conservatives fear to tread. This week he did just that, and heaped praise on - wait for it - Canberra. Apart from the homegrown variety, politicians as a rule are not enamoured of Canberra, a place they are required to commute to and from several times a year. It is a chore rather than a place to enjoy, and for most MPs that trip to the airport late on a Thursday when parliament is sitting cannot roll around fast enough. But not so Barnaby Joyce. Writing in that very same newspaper this week, the senator from Queensland waxed lyrical about Canberra,? the proud and beautiful capital of Australia,? with its elite sporting teams, vibrant education and technology centres, and 'its own unique culture that has increased the colours in our national tapestry.' The point he was making was that Canberra was a 'living, breathing example' of regional development, and that Australia should be looking at a 'second Canberra' rather than merely adding to the existing conurbations already choking. He has a point of sorts, and his thinking harks back to the time when conservative state governments always had a minister for decentralisation. But decentralisation on any meaningful scale never quite happened. And is Canberra really the appropriate model anyway? Read the full article at Inside Story.