Jeff Kennett: Why we should scrap state funerals and honour our heroes instead

It’s too late for the Victorian community to let Les Twentyman know how indebted we are to him for his work with challenged youth and it’s time we honour our unsung heroes while they are alive.

The death of Les Twentyman is a great loss to the very few ranks of Australians around the country, who live their lives for others.

Sadly, it is a truism that we normally give them the recognition they deserve on their death.

Yes, he secured an Order of Australia Medal in 1994, but that is nothing like a function to celebrate and say thank you in their later years.

In Les’s case, having worked with him on a number of issues, he fully deserves a state funeral. But it is too late to let Les know how much we as a Victorian community are indebted to him for the work he did in trying to have challenged youth lead a more productive life.

The death of Les Twentyman is a great loss.

There will be people like Les around the country. Selfless, committed, who not only save and improve the souls of many, but save the community financially in terms of the costs associated with the community having to respond to their needs.

I would happily do away with state funerals for former governors, cabinet ministers and sportsmen and women, as well as the associated cost of these events.

Instead let’s instigate a program, maybe titled Victoria Salutes, where every year we have a function at an appropriate location where we recognise the contribution of a selfless community person, such as Les Twentyman, while they are still alive, so they know how much we appreciate their considerable contribution to our community.

For example, Brendan Nottle and his wife Sandra. Both Salvation Army officers here in Victoria.

Brendan has for years been on our streets, at all hours, meeting with the homeless, the drug affected and the hungry.

For now, let us salute Les Twentyman’s extraordinary contribution to our society and those in need.

There was no way a Voice to Parliament was going to assist in resolving the deep-seated problems that exist in Alice Springs. Picture: Martin Ollman

What is happening in Alice Springs and to a lesser degree increasingly in Darwin within some of our Indigenous community is a national disgrace.

On one hand we have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on a Referendum to give our Indigenous and Torres Strait Islanders a constitutional voice to Parliament which was comprehensively defeated. On the other hand, we have some Indigenous communities in abject turmoil. The impact of which is spreading into the broader communities of Alice Springs and Darwin.

Where are the Indigenous leaders who were advocating the case for The Voice to Parliament?

Why are none of those high profiled advocates trying to resolve the deep-seated problems that exist in Alice Springs? There was no way a Voice to Parliament was going to assist resolve those issues, proving the electorate correct in rejecting the referendum.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese flew into Alice Springs months ago when the issues of personal safety and rioting received public attention. He was reported to have been there for only one hour, but left saying the government had committed $250m to address the challenges within Alice Springs.

Money is rarely the answer to deep-seated problems. That said, how was that $250m spent or will be spent?

This is public money; we are entitled to an account of its expenditure.

What is happening in Alice Springs within some of our Indigenous community is a national disgrace. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The fact that the PM spent only one hour in the Alice while spending hours at the marriage of a NSW radio announcer, gives us all a clear understanding of his priorities and that of his government.

There are individuals in Alice Springs, Indigenous elders, the mayor, teachers and others, crying out for support.

We are all entitled to ask, where are those Indigenous leaders, who so strongly advocated for The Voice to Parliament? Why have they been silent, absent at a time of genuine need within their community?

I suspect it is because the Indigenous community is not one community but hundreds of communities. I suspect the Indigenous leaders who advocated for The Voice recognise that they might not be welcome in Alice Springs.

The fact that the PM spent only an hour in the Alice while spending hours at the marriage of an NSW radio announcer gives us all a clear understanding of his priorities. Picture: Liam Mendes

The PM should bring together these advocates as a working group, to stay in Alice Springs, to work with the Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders in Alice, to develop a program that could address the current challenges.

Importantly, for the youth of Alice Springs activity through sport is a major contributor in their lives and could be part of the solution.

Clearly, no one has all the answers, but money alone is no substitute for spending time understanding the contributing issues and seeking to resolve them.

I am sure the resolution will be locally developed and implemented.

Alice Springs is an important city for Australians and international visitors, as for many it is the gateway to Uluru, without a doubt one of the world’s most important natural attractions.

Curfews are an indication of serious problems that must and can be addressed.

Jeff Kennett is a former Premier of Victoria