Mrs ELSON —My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, can you inform the House what action the government is taking to foster partnerships between governments, business and non-profit groups to promote the cultural, social and economic wellbeing of the Australian community?

Mr HOWARD (Prime Minister) —I am very pleased to inform the House that I had the opportunity—and I think it is the first occasion that this has occurred in Australia—to convene a gathering this morning of representatives of various welfare organisations, a group of companies and other organisations concerned with philanthropic activity in the Australian community. The purpose of this meeting was to see whether it might be possible to develop more effective partnerships between the government, the community sector and the corporate sector so that some of the goals that we as Australians have in common as we go towards the 21st century might be more effectively realised.

I am very pleased to say that at the meeting this morning there were people of esteem in their respective sectors, such as Margaret Bell, who, as many members will know, is the Chief Executive of Volunteering Australia, Ms Elizabeth Cham of Philanthropy Australia, Mr Everald Compton of Everald Compton Pty Ltd, Mr John Fairfax AM of Marinya Media Pty Ltd, Mr Rob Ferguson of Bankers Trust Australia, Mr David Gonski of Wentworth Associates and Mr Frank Lowy of Westfield Holdings. All of these people were brought together in response to a request from the government that these three sectors might explore more effective ways, in partnership, of delivering not only better outcomes for the community in relation to the welfare sector but also other objectives that I think we hold in common as a community.

I told the gathering this morning that the government was taking this initiative now because it believed that in the 1990s there was a better balance in the Australian community towards the respective roles of the government, the corporate sector and the community sector. In the 1960s and 1970s there was a view that the government, by excessive intervention, could solve every problem. In the 1980s that was rejected, perhaps in an overreaction by what has been loosely called `the me generation', but in the 1990s I think there is a more mature balance in the Australian community, and there is a recognition of a bedrock of a role of the government to provide an effective safety net in the social security system. It is one of the proud boasts of my government that we have maintained the integrity of the social security safety net in full, and it will remain an objective of my government to maintain the social security safety net in full. The time, therefore, has come for a more practical partnership between the government, the philanthropic sector and the community sector.

One thing that I believe has not been fully recognised in the context of this pursuit is the contribution that is made by many Australian companies to the welfare sector and to philanthropy generally. One of the goals of this round table—and I know one of the objectives of those contributing to it—is to recog nise and, through that greater recognition, to give further encouragement to those in the corporate sector who do not contribute.

I regard this as a very important exercise—one that has received very enthusiastic support from those who are participating and one which recognises that if we are to achieve the goals we want for Australia as we go into the 21st century we need a shared endeavour between the government, the corporate sector, individuals and the welfare sector. The government cannot do it all, the welfare sector cannot do it all and the corporate sector cannot do it all, but in an effective shared endeavour I believe those goals can be realised.

Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.