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Parish priest at the 20/20 summit
By Market-Place
April 17, 2008

Fresh ideas or talkfest? A rector who'll be there is optimistic

Among the many Australian Anglicans at the Prime Minister's 2020 Summit in Canberra this month will be two Anglican clergy.

The Revd Christopher Newell from Tasmania is an academic expert in the field of bio-ethics.

A parish priest from Beechworth in rural Victoria is also on the list of 1000 Australians invited to the summit.

The Revd Graham Sawyer found himself on the list after a call from the PM's office.

"I received a telephone call a couple of months ago from the Prime Minister's Secretariat," Graeme Sawyer recalls.

He'll be in the Summit's group with the title 'Strengthening Communities, Supporting Families and Social Inclusion', to be led by Tim Costello.

Graham Sawyer currently works half-time as the rector of Beechworth parish in Wangarratta Diocese.

He also works half-time as a Child Protection Officer in a Victorian government position and has also worked as a teacher and a journalist.

As well as being keen to learn from the range of people at the summit, Graham Sawyer is hoping to contribute some ideas.

"We must do something as a society to strengthen individuals in their long-term committed relationships," he said.

"We've always had promiscuity around. That's not the issue I'm talking about. It's more what I would call 'serial monogamy'."

"In my work as a child protection worker I do see the effects of people having multiple relationships and then children from those relationships," he said. "You find children living in those households, they have no idea who their fathers are."

"For the good of individuals and the good order of society we must do everything we can to strengthen all forms of long-terms of committed relationships."

In preparation for the summit, participants were asked to think about a topic, about which they'd changed their mind.

Graham Sawyer has mentioned a key element of the social policy of the previous federal  government, the welfare policy of 'Mutual Obligation'.

"I've seen the devastating effects of the fining of people who are least able to look after themselves, for not being able to fill in the complicated forms or not turning up to an interview or something like that," Graham Sawyer said.

"We've seen a huge increase in poverty over the last ten years as a the result of a really pernicious and punitive campaign by Centrelink dictated by the last government."

The chance to come face to face with high-profile Australians will also be a highlight.

"I've always wanted to meet Lachlan Murdoch and Kerry Packer's son," he said. "I'm sure it's going to be a very interesting group of people as well as interesting discussion."

Despite criticism of the summit, Graham Sawyer is remaining optimistic about what could flow from the event.

"I'm sure some very interesting ideas are going to come forward about how to plan for the next twelve years and what we'd like to see."

"I enjoy the whole art of debate, listening to other people, changing one's mind and opinion," he said. "I come from a classical English liberal background which seeks to learn from diversity."

"For me as an individual, it's something I'm very, very much looking forward to."