In 1988 I wrote to the then Minister for Science, Barry Jones and advocated the concept of a centralised ideas database. I envisaged a system where members of the public could submit ideas for inventions, models for governance, infrastructure improvements, etc. via phone, fax, mail or even the newfangled "email".  

My envisaged model was a system administered by universities who were probably the only bodies at that time with enough computing power to handle the influx of data. Since then, of course, there have been massive advances in internet technologies making such a system not only feasible but, I believe, imperative. It is sad to contemplate that there have doubtless been many creative ideas formulated by ordinary people which have withered and died for want of an avenue for expression.

We need to achieve a three-way connection between:

1. Those willing to voice raw untested ideas (not constrained by those with "training" who would seek to squash such ideas with tags of "impossible", "implausible" or "impractical")

2. People with the imagination, capacity, expertise and willingness to bring ideas to fruition and 

3. Entrepreneurs or backers who can support and promote an idea until it becomes a reality. 

A permanent system sponsored by the government for the primary benefit of Australia with clearly advertised and available links would be a step towards the above goal. Unfortunately, even the official 2020 Summit site ( http://www.australia2020.gov.au/ [1] ) which supposedly invites ongoing input from the public, does not provide an easily accessible portal to achieve this.

Perhaps this forum could take up the challenge and push the government to bring about a system which finally can utilise the most undervalued resource of a community - its ideas.