Qantas lockout escalated dispute to critical level

More than 68,000 Qantas passengers (13,000 overseas) stranded is sufficient to make it to a national crisis as a result of a drastic executive decision to ground the entire fleet.

Qantas boss Alan Joyce must be living on another planet and time thinking that he could get away with firstly outsourcing work internationally to save costs (when Qantas was still profitable and competitive) and the latest lockout workers taking industrial action.

Extremest actions may fly in developing countries where workers desperate for work and not having sufficient bargaining power would accept lower pay and long hours, where the government could justify making sacrifices for a better future.

Not in advanced nations and certainly not against the backdrop of GFC as corporate chiefs are being cast in unfavourable light of excessive greed and dishonesty.

Qantas boss(es) must know by now that threats have only served to escalate tensions and diminish their influence. There is no question that the incompetent executives and the entire board that were responsible for the crisis must step down to save the day.

Why hadn't the government which is after all a "Labor" party acted earlier using all it could muster from the Fair Work Act? Keeping mum and playing footsie and pandering to corporate interests while trying to give tacit support to workers has only prolonged and exacerbated the quagmire.

Even if FairWork were to order a suspension of the strikes, it would not be sufficient to bring the airline back on the air unless Qantas makes compromises as well. For the sake of national above personal interests, the negotiators must look beyond tactical gains.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/business/fair-work-must-terminate-industrial-action-to-get-qantas-back-in-the-air-says-alan-joyce/story-e6freqmx-1226180616564

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/qantas-grounded-for-at-least-another-day-20111030-1mpya.html

The opposition while trying to paint the government in the bad light and waiting for mistakes it could exploit, has nonetheless urged the Gillard cabinet to make a strong stand to end the malaise.

For a national icon which had a good track record, this disastrous episode will mark the point of no return. Apart from the tremendous finnancial losses which has exceed AUD 50 million now, the long-term repercussions of a tarnished reputation would be much more damaging than anyone could envisage.

Medical out of pocket burns a hole for average Australians - high time for overhaul of system and government assistance

More evidence underscore research findings that Australians pay more for medicine than people in many other countries.

"Dr Kemp said out-of-pocket expenditure for Australian patients ranked 4th of 14 OCED countries with universal pharmaceutical ..."

The latest health statistics has revealed that patients pay $900 a year out of pocket a considerable amount for the average income earner.

" Growth in overall cost and volume of services over the past decade has outstripped the rest of the Western world, says the federal government's health spending report, released today. This week the Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, floated the idea of a revamp of the $17 billion a year Medicare system - one of the few big areas of federal spending to have escaped a shake-up."

On a national basis, it adds up to a whopping 1 billion AUD just for routine medical needs.

''As well as setting the fee for a consultation, a GP can be influential in determining not only the cost of prescription medications, but also decisions about whether a patient will be required to pay for pathology referrals,'' Mr Baker, an institute research fellow, said. He proposed dismantling incentive payments to encourage bulk billing, measures he said were not working. He questioned the need for the Medicare safety net in what was supposed to be a universal health scheme.

Australians spent a total of $120 billion on health in 2009-10, putting them slightly below the average of developed nations as a proportion of GDP.

Ms Roxon said the figures showed that the Commonwealth's share of public hospital spending had increased three years in a row to 39.7 per cent, after years of decline under the Coalition government.

That has not taken into account that coverage has been sought by some include many families paying as much as $2,000 a year for private medical health fund.

Moreover, dental is not covered by Medicare and could cost a family $200 to $500 per visit depending on the complexity of the procedures and services.

Despite the spiralling costs of medical care professionals may not earning as much as decades ago due to higher risks translated into their indemnity insurance.

The declining standards and rising costs of healthcare has long been an issue of concern.

Given inflation and rising costs of modern medicines, the proportion and monetary terms of government subsidies and promise of public healthcare has become more elusive than ever. Those with life threatening and chronic illnesses could not afford to wait or compromise on given lesser priority than paying patients.

The world did not ending on 28 October 2011 or 2012?

Once again, the doomsayers who predicted the end of the world with such confident certainty have been proven wrong - at least in the eastern side of the world.

If there is still time to forewarn those living on the western part of the world who deeply believe in such unscientific rantings, stop the press and avoid doing harm to yourself or others. Those so-called astrological alignments dispensed by self proclaimed gurus are not endorsed by astronomy.

Widely available on the internet such as End of the World predicted : 28 Oct 2011 and many others including Wiki entries, there is no way of tracking how many truly believe in them. Though a minority of mankind, it may not an insignificant number if you count by worldwide standards.

Unlike the "second coming" which does not name a date and claims to be benevolent towards believers, . Nevertheless, the concurrence of such beliefs in mainstream religion could easily be exploited by marginal doomsday believers to bolster their stand.

While these predictors do not qualify as cultists in the strict sense, much harm could be done albeit indirectly. Unlike the likes of Heavens Gate that commit mass suicide and Aum Shinrikyo that employed terrorist poison gas on the innocent, doomsday believers are no less powerful and destructive.

It would be difficult to establish the linkage of accountability and casual responsibility to nail promoters down as culpable murderers unlike a clear cut criminal offence or cult leadership.

No matter whether followers subscribe to their views, publications, or "like" their blogs, propagators of doomsday dates are free from legal obligations and liabilities.

The number of people would foolishly believe in such doomsday predictions and fall prey by ending their lives which they thought would be more miserable when natural disasters and mayhem are unknown to date. Fuelled by recent spate of natural phenomenons such as the earthquake in Christchurch, Earthquake cum tsunami that led to chain radioactive disasters in Fukushima, pessimists are vulnerable to descend further into the doldrums.

Shouldn't the authorities proactively denounce irresponsible doomsayers and wake the gullible to their senses before more tragedies unfold.

Live our life fully and count our blessings everyday.

Post democratic uprising Tunisian elections brought Islamists to power

Tunisia was the first in the Arab world to ignite the sparks of rebellion contagion which toppled several overstayed dictatorships. It is a defining moment in history. However, when post-revolutionary free and fair elections returned strong support for Islamists over the secular party, are supporters of Arab spring having second thoughts? There is a gap between first world ideals and aspirations expressed by the Tunisians.

Tunisia Islamists Call for Coalition After Taking Vote Lead

The results should not have come as a surprise. Those who have witnessed historical milestones would be a little cynical and less wishful.

Given the well organised setup, religious parties are more likely to succeed in mobilising widespread support. Against the backdrop of power vacuum where no single leader or group could step into the shoes, the disciplined Islamists seem to be in the best position to get the house in order. Popularity goes to the party that is able to articulate their passion convincingly. The force of religion should never be underestimated. Like secular parties, religious organisations have access to external funding, and probably more, given its strategic importance to neighbouring regimes.

Western democratic nations that supported the revolution could not go back on their words and must match their goals of promoting democracy. It would be hypocritical if western supporters of Arab spring were to denounce the victory of Islamists. Respect the will and wishes of the majority is the very core spirit of democracy. The same principle should apply to recognising Hamas (political wing) as a legitimately elected government.

Over in Egypt, Islamists too are expected to garner strong support in the parliamentary elections next month. As I foresaw and had warned on several occasions, it would be premature to celebrate democratic uprisings and failure to take a longer term perspective of the unfolding scenarios would be detrimental to foreign interests eyeing and waiting to get a slice of the economic wealth in the region.

Meanwhile, Tunisian Islamists are quick to assuage concerns by assuring observers that they are not fundamentalist in character and willing to cooperate with the secular counterparts. Whether getting the foot at the door will be a first step to fulfilling their long term hidden agenda remains to be seen. Nonetheless, Islamic fundamentalists won't approve of Tunisian Islamists in the likes of Ghanouchi deemed too liberal for their liking. Let's hope this is proven wrong and Tunisia is on the way to building a democracy unique to the country's conditions.

Australian travellers, please respect local laws and stay out of trouble - the limitations of diplomatic assistance

The wisdom of ancient proverbs : "when in Rome, do as the Romans do" still rings true and applies to modern day situations.

Prof Natalie Klein's article is a timely reminder of the harsh realities for Australians who expect miracles for their folly to think twice before committing a crime overseas.

Celebrities of the unwelcome sort such as Schapelle Corby and the "Bali Nine" gang should starkly deter Aussies from getting into the wrong side of law but to no avail. Instead the media and public are frequently jump in to criticise others and defend the flagrant violation of laws.

Instead of getting mad at the Indonesian system and Australian government, it would be more prudent to avoid getting into trouble by observing local laws. Different jurisdictions have varying penalties to deal with drug trafficking and for good reasons to suit local conditions. It is not for foreigners to argue and try to make exceptions because we are unique and superior and others owe us a living or explanation.

Face is important to everyone, including Aussies, Americans, Europeans, Africans, etc. Some Asian societies are particularly more sensitive and place great importance to "face" saving. The media stoking public anger and whipping up a frenzy is not going to help. Instead, it will jeopardise chances of diplomatic efforts to save whoever is in trouble.

If we hope others will respect Australian laws, we should also do the same and give due recognition when we are on foreign soil. International relations work smoothly on the basis of reciprocity. It is a simple fact of life and should be understood by all.

Quote :

The Australian government has a choice as to what help it will provide nationals imprisoned overseas. Such assistance would usually be welcomed. Yet, as the pressure to act increases, international tension may rise and prevent a quick and favourable resolution.

Australians travelling overseas are often in need of help from their government. They lose their passports, need medical help, get caught up in civil unrest or natural disasters, and they are arrested.

What the government can and should do to help is highly contentious. Under international law, detained individuals can demand little more than the right to have their consulate informed of their situation. What steps a government then takes is a matter of discretion.

The varied support Australia has offered to its nationals detained abroad can be readily seen by the cases of David Hicks and Stern Hu.

The government did obtain a range of assurances from the United States as to Mr Hicks's treatment when he was first detained, but, as is well known, it took its time before insisting that steps be taken to secure Mr Hicks's return. For Mr Hu, the former Rio Tinto executive arrested for bribery and stealing commercial secrets in China, Australia sought to ensure a prompt trial but seemingly did not insist on its rights under a bilateral consular treaty to attend that trial.

The help the Bali boy is receiving is exceptional service, and may not ultimately be in his interest. No Australian should forget that when we travel overseas, we are bound by the laws of the country we're in, including any punishment for violating those laws, whether it is the death penalty or a month in rehab.

Australia cannot step in and have those laws changed or demand that they not apply to an Australian citizen. Imagine if Indonesia contacted the Australian government demanding the immediate return of men and boys held on people smuggling charges. It is unlikely Australia would brook such interference.

Each country is entitled to apply its judicial processes to alleged offenders within its jurisdiction. If due process rights or other human rights of an individual are violated, national courts are afforded the opportunity to address those violations.

Australia's Foreign Minister has acknowledged that Indonesian legal process must be followed for the Bali boy. Kevin Rudd has rightly recognised that any help Australia offers falls within the parameters of Indonesian law.

Australia's right to take legal action on behalf of one of its nationals and assert that claim against another country crystallises when the remedies available domestically have been exhausted. This is Australia's right of diplomatic protection under international law. Before then, it is a question of diplomacy and consular assistance.

The arrest and detention of Australians overseas has become sufficiently common that the government has produced an information pack on its Smartraveller website on what services it may offer. They do not include phone calls from the Prime Minister while the ambassador visits your jail cell. Nor do they normally include front-page news stories with statements of support by the Foreign Minister.

Australia has been able to work effectively behind the scenes to help nationals imprisoned abroad. Thursday's Senate estimates committee hearing that exposed how the name of the Bali boy had been revealed by both sides of Parliament cuts against any notion of diplomatic discretion in Australia's dealing with Indonesia over the Bali Boy.

The difficulty now for the boy is that the high level assistance and large media coverage might backfire.

Indonesia has been left in a more difficult position because of the amount of attention this case has generated. The Indonesian government wants to send a message about its fight against drug offenders. If it makes a decision favourable to the boy now, it risks looking like it has succumbed to Australian pressure in the application of its drug laws. It is then doubtful that any lesson is learned from this episode by other Australians holidaying in Bali. These factors are now more acute and don't help the Bali boy.

This conundrum could have been avoided. Quiet diplomacy and less media attention may have done more for the plight of the boy than may presently be the case.

Little known and control over fraud and corruption in Australian bureaucracy

Greed is the common denominator for corruption. Strong institutions, checks and balances, integrity of individuals serving the public are important factors that contribute to fair and clean governance.

While poverty and low salaries have often been cited as pretext for pilfering from public coffers and extracting from the community what does not belong to oneself, they are lame excuses for rampant corruption in developing countries. It is an endemic systematic failure that needs a holistic and comprehensive approach to redress and find solutions.

Though widely held as effective, the lack of public scrutiny has not helped to expose fraud and corruption in the Australian public sector.

The fact that it exists on a scale higher than what we have perceived shows that corruption is not a disease that is limited to the Third World. It has little has to do with stereotype cultural factors as well. Despite our proud institutions, democratic tradition and rule of law, some humans are fallible and susceptible to greed and run foul of the law.

As I have suggested time and again, whistleblowers should not be ostracised and punished. While teamwork and stability should be valued, some wrongs have to be exposed appropriately and righted. That is the meaning of accountability to the public.

http://www.smh.com.au/business/reserve-officials-in-evidence-coverup-20111004-1l7dr.html

http://www.anao.gov.au/uploads/documents/Fraud_Control_in_Australian_Government_Agencies.pdf

Malaysian Kitchen BBQ Fair @ Parramatta graced by masterchefs and foodies

A special food event at the Paramatta courtyard between the church and council buildings was well patronised by locals, residents from surrounding suburbs and international visitors.


The best time to be there was to have Brunch. The crowds came in around 1 pm, long queues to purchase tokens, to wait for the food, and to get seat on the benches.

The food is either cooked on the grill / BBQ or hot plate.

This stall's chicken satay is marvellous. We didn't try the spicy chicken wings from another stall, though it looked very popular.

Char kway teow, lean on sausage and prawn but still quite tasty. Surprise! Angmoh chef could whip up a good stir fried noodle dish with gusto.

Cooking demonstrations. Missed the one by Malaysian author and food consultant Florence Tan.

Last year's masterchef winner Adam Liau finishing his demo / presentation

Billy waylaid by fans after finishing his rounds of food sampling. He is much taller than his appearance on TV.