G-G calls for female quota on boards

Name:        CHAN, Sin Fong

Subject:     G-G calls for female quota on boards

Visit Time: 9/03/2011 5:36 AM

Remark
So, GG and Joe Hockey want more females on boards. If it is a matter of affirmative action, then after gender will be race, colour, religion or national origin.

It is concerning that democracy, free market, freedom of choice are dead in our society. Too much pressure has been placed on businesses, families and society at large to do the "right" thing, by the government or some authorities under the sun, and yet the people of Australia have no say in many of the ridiculous decisions made by them, such as money spent on “refugee” queue jumpers, welfare services provided to these and overseas countries instead of our own, building hospitals without providing funding for fittings, insulating the roofs but not the windows, adding new classrooms cum kitchens instead of quality teachers, etc.

What is more worrying is that Australia has become a very socialistic country, and soon may even become communistic. Income tax, land tax, council rate, water rate have been used to provide infrastructure and services for everyone including those who can't afford to contribute. Then they introduced Medicare levy - a universal healthcare tax, then petrol levy, levy to pay for the debacle of Ansett Airline, fire levy, flood levy, carbon tax / price - whatever you want to call it.

Australian arrested in Shanghai

Name:         CHAN, Sin Fong

Subject:      Australian arrested in Shanghai

Visit Time:  10/07/2009 9:56 AM

Remark:

There is a Chinese saying, "It is not too late for a gentleman to take revenge, even after 10 years". The outcome resulting from Chinalco's unsuccessful bid for Rio Tinto, caused by the Rio Tinto's actions left very bitter taste for the Chinese stakeholders involved. The arrest in Shanghai is just the crack which will subsequently damage the Sino-Aussie trade relationship.

Political Correctness

Name:         CHAN, Sin Fong

Subject:      Political Correctness

Visit Time:  5/11/2008 3:48 PM

Remark:

This is the biggest racial contest of the free world. Congratulations to Obama who has successfully made political correctness history. How many times has the phrase "a black President for the White House" been said the campaign? My biggest concern now is that this historic win is going to create big racial division and tension in the United States and other parts of the world, if the economy is going to slide, and unemployment to rise. I sincerely hope that this is not going to occur in Melbourne City, State and Federal elections here when a Chinese stands for an election and keep emphasing of his/her ethnicity.

Nelson's listening tour

Name:        CHAN, Sin Fong

Subject:     Nelson's Listening Tour

Visit Time: 10/04/2008 2:51 AM

Remark:

What happens to all the elected MP’s? Shouldn’t they be listening to the people in their electorates all the time, and response to the people’s needs? It is sad that it takes a disastrous defeat for the leader of any party to understand the meaning of communication and to show empathy towards his / her fellow people. No matter what the real motives behind these politicians are, listening tours do make the public feel good, feel wanted, and feel important. Do politicians listen to their family members, colleagues, mates, professional people that provide them services like the accountant, hairdresser, sandwich bar owners, etc?

Most, if not all, politicians are reactive, and sometimes responsive to the cry of the people. They lack creative and innovative ideas, positive attitude, implementable policies, challenging thoughts and motivating dynamics. Every politician needs to remember that on one hand the public wants to voice their views and grievances. On the other, the public also like to be on the receiving end, listening to what the politician has to offer, and how he / she would resolve or deal with the situations or crisis.

Listening tour should be a regular event, not just for the leader only, but also for elected MP’s. As what most marketing student would say, marketing is simply selling what people want to buy. Indeed, there are better ways to win an election!

An unhealthy income statement

Name:        CHAN, Sin Fong

Subject:     An Unhealthy Income Statement

Visit Time: 13/12/2007 2:48 AM

Remark:

Kevin Rudd is definitely a no-nonsense Prime Minister who keeps to his promises in rectifying the Kyoto Protocol, setting in motion to provide every Year 9 to Year 12 student a laptop computer, and expending $600 million to improve the hospital waiting list.

If he continues on at this pace, he will probably spend $2 billion to roll back the WorkChoices, if that was the amount claimed by Labor what Howard’s government had spent. He will also spend $42 billion for schools funding guarantee, $4 billion on high speed broadband network, $2 billion on health and hospitals reform, $1 billion to secure nation’s water supplies and desalination projects, $100 million for innovative manufacturing, and so on.

He will not forget to handout cheap travel for older Australians and provide a new 50% Education Tax Refund to help families of school-age children meet the costs of education. This Santa Clause will also help aspiring first home buyers save a larger deposit by establishing a new, low tax, First Home Saver Account.

If Australia is a listed public company with the Stock Exchange, I shall not be investing in it. Not a single pledge by Kevin Rudd involves in creating wealth for Australia. A healthy Income Statement (also known as Profit and Loss Statement or Statement of Financial Performance) requires more than just generous expenditure, but most importantly, income generation.

I sincerely hope that the income will be derived from company taxes in a rising economy rather than increased GST or income tax rates, which will badly affect the working families.

Rudd's Education Revolution

Name:        CHAN, Sin Fong

Subject:     Rudd's Education Revolution

Visit Time: 5/12/2007 2:44 AM

Remark:

The views and concerns expressed by many interviewees about this education revolution are appropriate and true.

Even without a laptop computer or abacus, Kevin Rudd and his team should be able to work out how much the so-call education revolution will cost the taxpayers. For example, a laptop computer plus basic software worth $1,500 for 100,000 students from year 9 to year 12 in a year will cost a grand total one hundred and fifty million dollars ($150,000,000). Need I go further?

Is there any restriction on how many laptop computers can a student claim throughout year 9 to year 12? If there is none, the students will be able sell the computers and pocket a very healthy profit each year, since the computers do not cost any money to the students.

Computers are just tools, and will not make the students smart. I have been working in the computer field for over thirty-five years, and I don’t think I am super smart. As a teacher in many disciplines, I can conclude that the computers make it easier for students to plagiarise, and make them bad spellers because they rely completely on the spell checker.

Once the students have laptop computers, they will be able to access school Intranet or Internet web sites related to their study. Will they not use them to chat with their friends or strangers, visit what’s hot and pop web sites, play games and download songs and movies? They could be spending their time in doing something more productive instead.

There are a lot of other related unwilling expenses. The schools need to upgrade the computer network systems, the parents will have to pay for more expensive Internet plan, last but not least, the Rudd’s government will have spend more to introduce higher speed broadband than what originally intended.

When teachers put their blood, sweat and tears course / lecture notes on the Intranet, they are digging their own graves! Many students without the presence of teachers, including off-campus or online study students can use the material. This is one of the reasons how education institutions can replace their full-time staff by sessional teachers. TEACHERS BEWARE!

Kevin Rudd did not submit this education revolution promise to be costed by the Treasury before the election, and many voters thought this would not matter!

If we extend Kevin Rudd’s ideal further, students studying science subjects such as chemistry and physics may get a rebate for setting up laboratories at home in the future. Sweet dreams!

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!

Should Dalai Lama practise what he preaches?

Name:        CHAN, Sin Fong

Subject:     Should Dalai Lama practise what he preaches?

Visit Time: 13/06/2007 10:27 AM

Remark:

While I do not claim to be a philosopher, I find the Dalai Lama's actions are in conflict with his views at times. The Dalai Lama's teaching, to some extent, is similar to what Dale Carnegie's, who wrote the book "How to Win Friends and Influence People".

I watched the The National Press Club Address - The Holiness Dalai Lama program on Tuesday 12 June 2007. There are certain points he raised at the address seem paradoxical, and he should practise what he preaches. He reckoned China had long been ignored by the world, and implied that having good relationship with China, the world could influence China's actions.

The Dalai Lama promotes world peace and harmony, but his meetings with the opposition leader Kevin Rudd and the Prime Minister John Howard provoke ill will between Australia and China. If Australia's relationship with China is "rock solid" (John Howard would probably use the term}, then Australia could in a better position to help the Dalai Lama or Tibetan people to reconcile the differences with China - with or without divine intervention (shall we pray?).

This is definitely a political football game!

Vision impairment - Peter versus Jeff

Name:        CHAN, Sin Fong

Subject:     Vision impairment - Peter versus Jeff

Visit Time: 24/08/2006 1:54 AM

Remark:

Are Peter Costello and Jeff Kennett aware that they belong to the same party? Do they know what they are doing to the Party? They can jeopardise Ted Baillieu's chances to win a percent or two in the coming state election.

Peter Costello has his point, and Ted Baillieu need to come out with something more constructive. The East Link is progressing very well, and Ted Baillieu has one less point to score. The wind mills are also vote winners, and so are the tough new laws on car hoons.

Come to think of it, I can't recall any politician has shared his / her vision about being a party member or politician. Further, not a single politician has a vision about this great nation.

Will Australia be self-sufficient in energy production, or become the food bowl of the world in the next decade? Will the deserts be transformed into forests with saline-tolerant trees - satisfaction guaranteed for both the saw mills and the Greenies?

Will Australia and the rest of the world rely on just nuclear power to generate electricity? If so, will Australia seize the day in becoming the leader in recycling radioactive waste? Will Telstra rise again from the ashes after the departure of the foreign management?

May be Peter Costello, Jeff Kennett and Ted Baillieu can all get together to trash out the vision for Victoria - not four years, but many decades to come.