Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Oh for a palace!

There has been a bit of reporting today about the PM's gifts. All gifts to the PM over $500 in value to Minister's including the Prime Minister are handed over to the state. But all that happens is they sit in a cupboard somewhere.

The process of gift giving like this has gone on for a long time. A memorable display of it appears at Windsor Castle in the State rooms that are open for public visits. This rather ostentatious display also includes a collection of weaponry as would have graced an earlier medieval castle.

We don't have the equivalent, though maybe all these gifts could be housed at Yarralumla. But that is perhaps still not imposing enough and definitely not acessible. I don' know what Old Parliament House is used for now we have a new National Portrait Gallery - but maybe we could start a permanent display in there.

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