Rudd's selection

Name:        CHAN, Sin Fong

Subject:     Rudd's Selection

Visit Time: 30/11/2007 12:10 AM

Remark:

Julia Gillard has been handed a new super-ministry combining education with industrial relations. She may be a first-class in her past performance, but she is no Wonder Women or Superwomen.

If the Media Statement - 18th November 2007 posted in the Official Website of the Australian Labor Party is fair dinkum, I can’t see how Julia Gillard could fulfil everything promised by the Federal Labor as commitment to lift school standards, from primary to university, and to establish a National Curriculum from prep/kindergarten to Year 12. The IR portfolio involves abolishing the Liberal’s AWA/WorkChoices and keeping the unions happy, is already a job and a half.

What kind of AWA did poor Julia Gillard sign with Kevin Rudd? She will have to work 24/7, probably she will not have time for her Christmas and New Year holidays.

However, help could be on the way! Maxine McKew, a miracle candidate that removed the previous PM from his seat, is too new to the political game. If given a front bench position, it will not please many, and thus, she is temporarily assigned as the Parliamentary Secretary to Kevin Rudd. My crystal ball tells me that there will be a mid-term reshuffle and Maxim McKew will be elevated to take over the education portfolio from Julia Gillard.

The reshuffle may see Peter Garrett demoted from the front bench and Penny Wong will take over the combined role of Environment, Climate Change and Water. Penny Wong’s appointment just fits in well with Kevin Rudd’s Chinese diplomacy policy. While Kevin Rudd is just a Chinese speaking Australian, Penny Wong is a Chinese speaking Chinese (Malaysian) who came to Australia at the age of eight. In the eyes of the Asians, and Chinese, Labor is not a “racist” political party/government, which Liberal fails to accomplish.

To appoint Martin Ferguson to be in charge of Resources (does it include human/union resources?) and Energy seems OK, but handling Tourism is not a “Bloody Hell” good idea!

Japanese Whaling

Name:        CHAN, Sin Fong

Subject:     Japanese Whaling

Visit Time: 28/11/2007 1:06 AM

Remark:

It is most disappointing that Green Peace and many other international protesters have been trying various methods and stunts to stop the Japanese killing whales in the name of research for the past 20 years without much success. What I can't understand is that no one / organisation has ever demanded the Japanese Government to release any scientific research findings or data of the scientific research.

I feel very strongly that the protesters are risking their lives stupidly. It is more productive to pressure the Japanese authority directly or via the appropriate global organisation to release the research information, if any. If the research body fails to publish anything after 20 years, it is about time for the useless scientists to pack up and go home.

Workplace discrimination

Name:        CHAN, Sin Fong

Subject:     Workplace discrimination

Visit Time: 28/11/2007 12:56 AM

Remark:

The Parliament is the workplace for parliamentarians, and we the citizens of Australia are the employers of the parliamentarians. For those who voted John Howard out of office because he had been there for too long, or he was too old to be the Prime Minister, then those voters would have been in breach of workplace discrimination Act.

It is interesting to note that after Mr John Howard’s debacle, many former Liberal MPs blamed him directly and indirectly for the introduction of AWA / WorkChoices. I find these former MPs to be very un-Australian, and un-Liberal. They were in with the government team. Were they just naive or plain ignorant to play the follow-the-leader game, or just gutless to confront the former PM to raise their concern?

Many programs or projects cannot achieve perfection at first go, not even the billion-dollar lunar exploration program. If AWA / WorkChoices were so bad, why did the small businesses and WA mining industry welcome them? That proved that not everyone disagreed with the introduction and implementation. Space exploration techniques have been improved and refined so much that present day probes go beyond the solar system. AWA / WorkChoices can be amended and enhanced to be “fairer” to the workers and employers.

Many students found part time and casual jobs to support their studies because businesses were prepared to take them on without the fear of union interference.

I hope that the pendulum does not just swing from one extreme to another. We don’t live in a world of just black and white – there are many shades of grey.

Over simplified funding promises

Name:        CHAN, Sin Fong

Subject:     Over simplified funding promises

Visit Time: 28/11/2007 12:11 AM

Remark:

Computer technology advances very fast – computer hardware and software upgrades occur far too often. Giving rebates to students on purchase of computers, and providing computers to schools will be more than one-off event within 3 years – a term in government.

Many wards in hospitals are closed because of nurse shortage. With more funding just for the nurses, the hospital system is going to experience a much bigger “headache”. More patients require more doctors, specialists, anaesthetists, etc. Are these medical professionals funded? Even with money where can the hospitals find additional suitably qualified doctors, who are already in short supply worldwide?

More patients also mean provision of more non-clinical services – cleaning, laundry, foodservice, utility, etc. These services lead to more staff, and additional on-cost. Were these costed?

I am very concerned about cost blow-outs, by the Rudd’s government, the schools and the hospitals.