New Australian laws to protect overseas workers, minimum salary levels increased
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, yesterday introduced a Bill into the Senate that sets out a new framework to better protect temporary overseas workers in Australia. The Migration Legislation Amendment (Worker Protection) Bill 2008 will strengthen the integrity of temporary working visa arrangements including the Subclass 457 visa program [...]
The Banag Banag Inc. reports in to acknowledge donations received on behalf of Frank Cyclone victims. The donation drive is endorsed by the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney.
Donations were received from Philippine Community Council of New South Wales, Inc ($1,000.00), Visayan Association of Australia Inc.($500.00), Fil-Coop ($250.00), Mr Stepan Kerkyasharian ($200.00), Myra Robinson ($100.00), and Banag Banag Inc ($2,000.00).
Roger Luong also donated 100 kilos of brand new children’s clothes.
The total cash donations of $4,050 is a thousand shy away from the group’s target of Five thousand Australian dollars.
Rachael Rebollido and Anita Capala of Banag Banag will personally distribute 5 kilos of rice, noodles and cans of sardines to approximately 400 affected families in the worst affected area in the Visayan region, the Iloilo province.
The Visayan association also requests that donations be made in cash to avoid additional costs in shipping non-monetary donations.
A special Banag-Banag Inc. Westpac Bank account had been created for cash donations. BSB: 032-382 Account Number: 246925
Receipts are issued to acknowledge donations. Financials will also be in NSW Filipino newspapers.
The following Banag-Banag volunteers may be contacted to arrange pick up of donations:
Rachael Rebollido
0404 391 848
9671 4438 (after 3:30pm)
rachaelrebollido [at] hotmail [dot] com
Anita Capala
0410 657 940
9648 6100(office)
acapala [at] optusnet [dot] com [dot] au
Vilma Samson
0431 112 962
9681 8609(offce)
vgs28 [at] yahoo.com
A number of Filipino-Australians sought elective positions in the Council Elections held last September 13 in cities and towns throughout New South Wales, reports the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney. The election of two Filipino-Australians is confirmed: Jess Diaz in Blacktown City, the bastion of Philippine community in Australia, and Irene Ensomo Broad in the shire of Temora. [...]
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The leaders of the Filipino-Australian community of Campbelltown City and Philippine Consulate General met recently with Mayor Aaron Rule to discuss the improvements on the Rizal Park situated in Campbelltown City, home of around 1,500 Filipinos. Rizal Park is a 2.6-hectare property off Anthony St, Rosemeadow [...]
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Australia’s banana farmers will know this month if they have been successful in their six-and-a-half year battle to keep Philippine bananas out of Australia. Biosecurity Australia reported last month that it had completed a draft final Import Risk Analysis (IRA) report, now with an independent team of scientists for review. [...]
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Almost 60 new Australian citizens added to the spectacle of Floriade today in a ceremony which started a week of celebrations across the nation for Australian Citizenship Day 2008. Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC participated in the Canberra ceremony in which people from Ethiopia, India, the Philippines and United Kingdom were among those who became citizens, joining more than 2500 people in the ACT who embraced Australian citizenship in 2007-08 [...]
Philippine student visa applicants have recently joined students from 22 other countries applying for their initial student visa online using the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s (DIAC) eVisa facility. The eVisa facility is available to those which require only assessment level one. [...]
Marine building contractor McDermott Industries Australia has been cleared by the Workplace Ombudsman of allegations that it unlawfully underpaid foreign workers on a gas pipeline project 130 kilometres off the Western Australian coast at Karratha. The Workplace Ombudsman found no evidence to substantiate allegations made from the Australian Workers Union that up to 16 workers had not received their full entitlement.[...]
President Arroyo re-affirmed in her statement this week the Philippine Government’s commitment “to bring lasting peace to Mindanao and end 40 years of fighting that has killed more than 120,000 people.”
The Malacañan Palace statement was issued on the occasion of the observance of September being National Peace Consciousness Month.
Displaced and waiting for peace. Photo from Kawagib
President Arroyo also stated her government’s position that the dialogue for peace can restart when the region is secure and “responsible elements in the MILF regain control.”
“We will not negotiate with a gun pointed at our head,” she said.
A peace agreement was signed in September 1996. After 12 years, fighting in the southern Philippines between government troops and Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels continues.
Meantime, according to field reports by Kawagib Moro Human Rights Organization, there are more than 360,000 evacuees crammed in makeshift evacuation centers in North Cotabato, Lanao del Norte and Basilan. In Maitum, Saranggani alone, there were already 249,194 displaced residents since June 2008.
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