Planning for the future of the next generation

There is a saying that "Norfolk Island will become a millionaire's paradise" -
If the millionaires were to be young Norfolk Islanders, then we may be in for a bright future, however unfortunately, that is not the inference of the quote.
On the 15th of July, the Minister for Finance, Craig Anderson, wrote to the Federal Minister, Brendon O'Connor, providing him with Budget information and a picture of how he viewed Norfolk's financial position into the future.
The Minister suggests that Norfolk needs to pay a contribution to the Cwlth in order to obtain funding and grants to pay for the delivery of services to the people.  The Minister has acknowledged the impossibility of the situation; that is for the small working population and the tourism industry to support the expectations of a modern, isolated community.  It is now clear that the inability of our government to participate in natioal partnership programs, as of right, is detrimental to our economy and our best interests.  Minister Anderson and this government has called for a joint task force to consider contribution options.  When options are put and dialogue begins, it is the role of this government and its officers to ensure that changes will be workable and that the community is informed and aware of how changes will affect them so we do not see baseless fear campaigns begin.
When I stood for the election I made it very clear that I was asking for a mandate to facilitate real change to the current fiscal arrangements, with the co-operation of the Cwlth.  I said we must make changes, not because we are in financial difficulty but because it is the responsibility of government to plan for the future.  If we debate this issue in the community, and I hope we do, we should keep two things very separate in our minds - on one hand there is self government and our heritage and on the other hand is taxation and economics.  Governance and taxation should be seen as two entirely differnet things.  Financial sustainability is the question.  How do we retain the very essence of our existance and at the same time move ahead?
This community is looking  for leadership and as the Chief Minister said in his campaign, we must sort out the finances, until we do that we can't do much -
This government is taking that lead and endorsing the need to address changes that must be made.  I thank the Minister for finance and the entire government for taking this step in the right direction for us all and I would certainly join their quest and assist in anyway I can.  Please feel free to add your comments and ideas on what you would like to see put on the table and considered.