2020 summit results unlikely to herald a republic

A renewed push for an Australian republic, voted down in a 1999 referendum, was one of the most broadly endorsed ideas at the summit held a year ago. But Mr Rudd said in London last month it was not a "top priority" issue for the government compared to the economy.

Mr Rudd said on Tuesday the summit report had been delayed because of the global financial crisis but would be released soon, possibly on Wednesday in Perth where Mr Rudd is attending a community cabinet meeting.

The government had originally promised a response to the two-day summit, which involved 1,000 people including actors Cate Blanchett and Hugh Jackman, by the end of last year.

"Our challenge is dealing with the impact of the recession in the here and now," Mr Rudd said.

But he said the government still had to deal with key challenges involving social disadvantage, education, health, clean green energy and to lay out a long-term strategy. Australian Greens leader Bob Brown called on the government to hold a plebiscite on the republic by 2010, saying it was time Mr Rudd took action.

"Mr Rudd is beautifully placed to take the republic debate down off the shelf and put it to the Australian public," Senator Brown said on Tuesday.

"(Home Affairs) Minister Bob Debus led the summit call for the plebiscite to happen within two years and the time is right for prime ministerial action."

Among the ideas expected to be included in the report in some form are elder mentors, known as "golden gurus", a children's television channel, development of a bionic eye and an indigenous research centre.

The summit attendees were divided into 10 groups whose task was to brainstorm ideas across areas including one big idea, three policies and three long-term aims. While some involved were critical of the process claiming it filtered out many ideas suggested by those who attended, the summit has produced some results according to other participants.

Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) president Lin Hatfield-Dodds said a review of Australia's tax system was one idea acted on immediately by the government.

The Henry tax review is expected to be completed later this year while an offshoot of that idea, the Harmer review of pensions, has already been handed to the government.

Ms Hatfield-Dodds said the tax review was a "significant and concrete" result from the summit but she expects to see more commitments from the government in its response.

"It (the summit) had a huge iconic value because it was a new government and it had a shop front that was open for ideas," Ms Hatfield-Dodds said.