Many years ago, the then chief of the Los Angeles police department, chided business leaders for their lack of responsibility to youth.

He was particularly concerned about the escalation of youth violence on city streets. Violence he claimed was a direct result of boredom.

The point made very forcibly was, if business did not provide job opportunities in their legal “game”, then youth would create a “game” of its own.

The young knew their “game” was illegal, but bored and without hope, it was “game on” in that city and many others around the world.

A deadly “game” with real guns, real bullets, crack cocaine and murders.

Attempts to rein in the “age of entitlement”, and to ensure Australia is open for business, must not result in Australian youth losing its entitlement to a “fair go”.

Can governments and business assure they will meet that test?

Failure could have unintended consequences, we could be left with the words of the Los Angeles police chief, ringing in our ears.

— RALPH CLARKE,

West Albury