Accountability Of Labor Government Funding

Do we need yet another workspace/hub/precinct?

The answer is no.

I wish our leaders would actually do something impactful and LEAD.

Stop throwing money at problems and do things that make change.

Here’s an idea: help change culture around entrepreneurship.

A very wise man once told me “why would anyone in Adelaide start a business when you can work 9-5, make a comfortable living mowing lawns, go fishing and relax each weekend?”

That’s culture for you.

They have a point too.

Why would anyone bother in Australia, let alone Adelaide.

There is no hustle in Adelaide and it’s so fucking easy to standout – all you have to do is show up.

Something that is bare minimum anywhere else makes you looks like a king (or Queen).

I have another friend move to San Fran to follow a dream.

Their whole salary went to pay for rent an apartment the size of my toilet.

They didn’t care – they had equity and starry eyes.

That’s culture for you.

A very different culture (I’m not saying replicate this, don’t get me wrong.)

If you want the bragging rights and the “power” and the Adelaide Club membership and all the other “cool” things, you also need to own the accompanying responsibilities.

You as the leader are responsible for culture.

Don’t hide from it.

If it were a CEO, they would be fired for a culture that does serve its interests.

Changing company culture is hard.

Changing a state’s culture is fucking hard.

Don’t throw money at the problem hoping it goes away.

Yes it gets headline but doesn’t move the needle.

Step up and be a leader.

Change culture.

I’m going to be critical of this government, like I was of the previous until someone takes responsibility for culture.

And also don’t say “why don’t you step up Orren and do something about it.”

First, it’s not my responsibility for culture of the state.

And I have – I’ve been advocating this for FREE for many years and over the past 5 years I have been observing government funding and the lack of public disclosure on outcomes achieved and public accountability for the expenditure.

The limited funds available for the start-up community should be used to make a tangible and verifiable difference to job creation and this appears not to be happening.

What I find concerning and consider needs further investigation is:

  1. Government funding is not targeting what can have the greatest impact on job creation, e.g. supporting/training people to start up small businesses to create employment for themselves and others; and
  2. Government funding is supporting private enterprises where directors/shareholders are potentially profiting for it short term.

Here is what I have found.

Over the past 5 years, the Labor Government has committed funding of $92,240,000 for start-up ventures:

How many jobs have been created from this $92,000,000 investment?

If government is serious about creating jobs and developing entrepreneurial skills to support business development, it should be accountable for outcomes and publicly declare how many jobs have been created from the funding provided.

Good things are happening that don’t receive funding and the public doesn’t hear a lot about them.

For example, the New Venture Institute at Flinders University (https://www.nviflinders.com.au/about/ourimpact/impact-december/), publicly discloses its job creation efforts and outcomes and they haven’t received any Labor Government funding.