Mark Donaldson, VC on Australia’s progress - transcript
Posted on 19 September 2011
Transcript:
1. What does the phrase “Australia’s progress” mean to you?
I think simply to me it means where we were and where we are now but probably more importantly where we are going to be in the future, not just in the prosperity of the country but across all the facets of Australian life. I think that’s important domestically but also as a country, globally as well and, intimately aligned with that is the Australian people and how we will parallel our own successful improvement.
2. What do you think are important aspirations for our national progress?
I think to be well equipped, both mentally and physically and focusing on the future, as opposed to the instant gratification of the present would be an important aspiration. As general and as broad as that statement is, it covers all facets of Australian life and the way we measure our life. I think the investment in youth is a smart investment as well as high education standards, not only measuring that in excellent literacy and numeracy skills but also worrying less about individual prominence and focusing more on the groups of individuals that we’ve helped to become better people.
3. What are the key things that you want for your children’s future?
I think it would be to have the health, both physical and mental, to be able to achieve positive change, to be able to achieve improvement and to be able to make forward progress. I think if we do invest in youth this way, we’d have to be able to achieve this in a safe and secure and sustainable environment. And having the right balance of community and society on one side and efficiency as a nation on the other side would be a key element of achieving this.
The views expressed in this opinion piece are the personal views of the individuals concerned and they do not represent the views of the ABS. The intention of this opinion piece is to generate debate and discussion about how Australians view progress. These views will assist the ABS in measuring progress in the future. The ABS continues to be independent and objective.
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Transcript:
1. What does the phrase “Australia’s progress” mean to you?
I think simply to me it means where we were and where we are now but probably more importantly where we are going to be in the future, not just in the prosperity of the country but across all the facets of Australian life. I think that’s important domestically but also as a country, globally as well and, intimately aligned with that is the Australian people and how we will parallel our own successful improvement.
2. What do you think are important aspirations for our national progress?
I think to be well equipped, both mentally and physically and focusing on the future, as opposed to the instant gratification of the present would be an important aspiration. As general and as broad as that statement is, it covers all facets of Australian life and the way we measure our life. I think the investment in youth is a smart investment as well as high education standards, not only measuring that in excellent literacy and numeracy skills but also worrying less about individual prominence and focusing more on the groups of individuals that we’ve helped to become better people.
3. What are the key things that you want for your children’s future?
I think it would be to have the health, both physical and mental, to be able to achieve positive change, to be able to achieve improvement and to be able to make forward progress. I think if we do invest in youth this way, we’d have to be able to achieve this in a safe and secure and sustainable environment. And having the right balance of community and society on one side and efficiency as a nation on the other side would be a key element of achieving this.
The views expressed in this opinion piece are the personal views of the individuals concerned and they do not represent the views of the ABS. The intention of this opinion piece is to generate debate and discussion about how Australians view progress. These views will assist the ABS in measuring progress in the future. The ABS continues to be independent and objective.
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