When Short-Term Institutions Get Shorter. We Are In Trouble.

When it comes to developmental assistance to individuals and communities in need, it is of the upmost importance that we look to long-term, transparent and effective interventions.

When the largest investor in healthcare, social welfare and environmental sustainability is only run in increments of 3 years (The Australian Federal & State Government), we are already fighting an uphill battle for long-term, effective investment.

Incremental positive change traditionally leaves less time and opportunity for handshakes and announcements for politicians seeking re-election. When a party responds to emotive and divisive issues with the intent of re-election, we see investment in short term programs, big announcement and unaccountable, vague community development interventions.

When the same three-year term is plagued with in-fighting, leadership spills and policy back-flips, we miss out on even more opportunities for long-term, transparent, developmental investment.

In our view, the government exists to improve the equality of opportunity for all citizens of the country, in order to do this, long term investment needs to be made into transparent and effective frameworks for assisting communities and individuals in need.

Less time in-fighting, less time pandering to the extreme ends of the political spectrum and more time leading the charge on actual innovative investment, community development and equality of opportunity. Looking for ways to be world leaders in the development of people and knowledge. Investing in sustainable and effective means of education, energy production, housing and small/medium business development. Working to ensure that we have a healthy, happy and well supported population.

When the government isn’t even focussed on getting the job done, when politicians aren’t held accountable for their policy backflips and blatant misuse of taxpayer dollars, when we give the government permission to start impeding the opportunities of certain groups of people, we are setting ourselves up for a difficult road ahead. One where ultimately, everyone suffers.

It is worth taking the time to investigate the policies of the major and minor parties. It is worth holding them accountable to more than the most recent ‘complaints’ in the divisive and sensationalist press. It is worth taking the time to understand that everyone will need help at some point, in a variety of ways, and that the best environment is one that provides that help to everyone.
 
We need to look to long term investment in not only the things that affect us right now.
 
“The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” —Nelson Henderson.

The best kind of investment is in not only making the country great for all people today, but for all people tomorrow as well. Sometimes those in charge of governing need some extra reminding of that fact.