What you're consuming may not be safe - NSW restaurants named, fined and shamed

The publication of a new article highlighting and reminding us of filthy kitchens of NSW restaurants has been quite timely as it coincided with my personal experience this weekend. 

One in 10 restaurants and cafes across NSW have been fined for food safety breaches, from preparing meals in filthy kitchens to failing to control bug infestations.

Stomach upset probably caused by food poisoning has been kept at bay for a long time. Unlike less developed and tropical countries, Sydney has been thought to be a food paradise in addition to hygiene and high standard expected of kitchen staff. 

I am now suffering after at a suburban CBD area. The turnover was quite good. Who would have thought that things could go wrong. It probably got worse after hot drinks with milk the following day. Two mistake on my part not to take extra care. 

Perhaps the worst cause of food poisoning is the hand washing habits (or rather the lack of it) of kitchen staff. When the weather is warm and humid, food turns bad quickly if not kept at the right temperature.  

 A more fundamental problem is that some restaurant buildings are old, there are gaps where pests and rodents could hide and propagate. Food not properly covered or disposed are major attractions and sustenance. Some of these kitchens ought to be renovated and refitted. 

Despite the publicly available information on council websites, restaurants are usually slapped with moderate fines meant as warning but most are allowed to continue operating and might even continue to flout health safety rules if no further checks were conducted. 

Most people recover and survive from a bout of illness from eating disagreeable and unclean food. However, the very young and old may not have the immunity. 
  Sadly, the shame list apparently did not deter customers from continuing to patronise popular fast food joints and restaurants. 

From personal experience, most restaurants staff would either pretend to be deaf or do not understand you and brush your concerns aside when you complain that the food is not properly cooked or other health concerns deserve attention.

Management has many opportunities to improve services that carry heavy responsibilities but patience may be running out when health is at risk. 

Japan City - serving glorious food, more than just a gift shop

At Japan City where food is only half of its core business, most would not expect a huge crowd. Surprise that at times staff roster is under unexpected customer turnout, patience and sipping green tea are much appreciated.

                                    Scallops and seaweed are always a favourite with health nuts

Plain but well prepared noodles - wish they had added more seaweed and be consistent with portions

"Snow Crab" is actually surami or blended white fish made to look like crab meat.
Tempura sushi (on the left) is decorated with crispy batter, without any vegetable or prawn.
The cost of ingredients may not be high but the final product which looked like a work of art, certainly was.

Egg and Eel Sushi : children's  favourites 

Seized by scallops - two types of flavours:
(1) dry grill
(2) with sauce

Changes to 457 Visa do not address fundamental problems of costs and productivity

457 visa changes  has all the appearance of pro-Australian, and few remaining lifeline for a lame government struggling to survive and praying for a slim victory in the coming elections.

It may help to temporarily placate local workers under the current difficult employment market but nothing more to boost the employment of locals. Besides, outsourcing renders import of skilled labour irrelevant.

As in other countries that had pandered to political pressures to give priority to locals seeking employment, artificial imposition of regulations would inevitably raise costs, limit options and unpopular with employers. It would be costly to fill higher skilled and niche vacancies. That could only spell trouble for the future, making Australia less competitive and short of skills.

Moreover, restriction on migration does not remove the prospect of Australians being made redundant and laid off through outsourcing to India, China and Indonesia. This trend has been ongoing for years unabated.

From call centres, IT to finance, employers are opting for cheaper foreign workers based overseas. With modern communications, there is less dependency on foreigners.

In reality, migrants by and large fill the gaps and taking over jobs that Australians shun or are unable to perform well. On the contrary, local born and bred are already enjoying a headstart and advantages as employers and recruiters do place a lot on the familiar sounding names and elementary education of applicants. Changes in 457 would indeed add more economic disadvantages to longstanding racial discrimination encountered by migrants. But whether it would be beneficial to Australians is doubtful.
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The anti-foreign image of Australia will be more pronounced, as seen in earlier restrictions on employment for overseas students and graduates from Australian universities.

On the other hand, the government's shift to focus on a AUD 5 million investment visa has only started to kickoff. What impact would wealthy individuals seeking PR by investing in bonds and companies remains to be seen. It may not necessarily translate directly into more jobs for Australians if investors are playing safe with bonds and equity.

I have also heard from inside sources that some of these investors plan to import semi-processed or outsource some of the jobs overseas. All businesses, whether Australian, foreign or global, are very concerned with bottomline. The only way out is that Australians improve productivity, raise skills level, value add and offer products and services in high demand by the international market.

Protectionism by legislation would not help to solve fundamental and structural economic problems, not even in the short term.