I am proud to see people of my heritage run in this election, but at the end of the day, it is what they do for the people they support if they get into office.

This aside, I on the other hand stand with Jay and Jay’s rather informed, enlightened comment. If anything, the tactic of selecting Filipino candidates is a strategy that plays on perceived ‘crab’ mentalities (to use another poster’s words), a belief that certain people, particularly those of non-anglo ethnicities, will base their vote primarily on like-ethnicity.

While I respect those who support Jaymes and Venus, and indeed wish to celebrate their candidacy in so far as it may represent the diversification of Australian political representation, I personally would not vote for them for reasons of policy and political ideology. Rather than the ethnicity of a candidate alone, there are a plethora of other factors that should determine one’s vote, and there are other ‘non-Filipino’ parties, candidates and policies that actually serve so-called ‘Filipino Australian’ interests (whatever they may be or however distinct they may be from other ‘Australian’ interests).

We Filipinos are not indigenous to this country, and in fact many of us migrated out of a sense that Australia would provide freedoms and opportunities that were unavailable to us back in The Philippines.

One of these freedoms is a strong democracy. Do explain how voting up a candidate purely on ethnic lines, without actually strong analysis on policy assists in ensuring:

1. strong representation for citizens, including the Filipino community in Western Sydney, and
2. a strong democracy within Australia?

I note that there’s no discussion on what these two candidates platforms are for the electorate and the local Western Sydney community. In fact, the Liberal party brought in WorkChoices during the last election, which negatively affected those working in predominantly low skill, low paid jobs (which many Filipinos find themselves working in when first arriving) by cutting pay and conditions. Furthernore, the Liberal party is advocating for less migration in this election – that would seriously affect migrant communities including Filipinos.

Blindly voting for Filipino candidate just because they MIGHT have a chance to get into parliament, without look at what they intend to do with this position, or whether they will even have policies to empower the community? That, my friend, is being a “stooge” and rather ignorant.

Also, I question Diaz’s commitment in representing Greenway, let alone the Filipino community. In particular due to his most recent performance in a Town Hall debate when he appeared more than an hour late, and had to default to his father when asked what preferences deals had made with other political parties. That doesn’t scream commitment to me.

Also, before anyone levels accusations of hating my own ethnicity, I would just say that running for candidacy on ethnic lines without giving anything back to the community is much more of a betrayal.

Interestingly, it appears that people assume that Jay is male by default, which is rather ignorant quite frankly. / L

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/filipino-workers-for-sa/story-e6frea83-1111116890756

ADELAIDENOW SCOOP: AN IMMIGRATION agreement with the Philippines will deliver up to 50,000 skilled workers to South Australia over the next decade.

Deputy Premier Kevin Foley, who is on a nine-day trade mission to Malaysia and the Philippines, told The Advertiser yesterday a memorandum of understanding between the two governments would help streamline the immigration process.

A special program will be introduced by the Philippines, under its Labour and Employment Secretary Arturo Brion, for SA companies to employ “highly trained” Filipino workers.

About nine million Filipinos work overseas, sending back “remittances” of about $15 billion a year that is vital to the economy of the Philippines.

Despite criticism of the personal and social cost of having 10 per cent of the population registered as Overseas Filipino Workers, the Philippines Government accepts the practice as a reality of life and has a policy of regulation.

Mr Foley said the SA agreement was modelled on a similar one signed in February between the Philippines and the Canadian province of Manitoba.

Under the agreement, yet to be formally signed, registered employers are connected with licensed immigration agencies in the Philippines that will pre-screen and prepare skilled workers to move to SA.

‘”We will work with industry and business to identify the skill gaps and the needs,” Mr Foley said. “We would be the first Australian Government to enter into a formal relationship with the Philippines Government to bring in skilled Filipino labour.

“There is no reason why as early as next year we should not be seeing a flow of workers into South Australia, provided businesses themselves join us in wanting to make this work.

“The Government can only do so much.”

Mr Foley predicted about 50,000 skilled Filipino workers would come to SA in the next five to 10 years, with most expected to become permanent residents. “That is what has happened in Manitoba, Canada, and they have a similar population to us,” he said.

“The mining boom and the defence projects alone will require us to find at least an extra 300,000 workers in the next 10 years. There are simply not enough workers in Australia.

“Filipino workers are attractive because they speak excellent English, and they are very dedicated, disciplined and productive workers, and highly skilled.”

Filipino workers are expected to come to SA for employment in manufacturing, steel fabrication, mining, nursing, hospitality, electronics and advanced manufacturing sectors.

One SA company, which had representatives travelling with Mr Foley, employs about 400 welders, steel fabricators and boilermakers. Half of its workforce already has been sourced from the Philippines.

Mr Foley said a number of SA companies had already “beaten a path to the Philippines to look for workers”.

The visa process and required Federal Government policies were in place, he said.

Most Filipino workers were expected to travel to SA on a 457 visa. That will allow them to stay for between six months and four years for work.

Mr Foley said the biggest hurdle was ensuring the skills obtained in the Philippines by workers were recognised in Australia.

“That will require some form of presence in the Philippines and we may need to sponsor a training institution in the Philippines to ensure workers coming to Australia are properly accredited,” he said.

“That is the biggest challenge but I think we can jump that hurdle relatively easily.”

The State Government already is helping to set up one private training centre in the Philippines to ensure local tradesmen and workers can meet Australian standards and be accredited to work in SA.

“We can do better than an ad hoc approach where SA companies come up here on their own, and the Philippines Government also would like to have a co-ordinated approach,” Mr Foley said.

“This won’t solve our skills crisis, but this initiative alone has the potential to help address a looming skills shortage in SA.”

Earlier this week in Malaysia, Mr Foley said he had a “very productive” meeting with the chief executive of Malaysia Airlines to seek more direct flights to Adelaide.

“We are confident they will increase the number of flights into Adelaide,” he said.

The State Government trade delegation returns to Adelaide on Monday.

There are hundreds of thousands of us living here in Australia and you have ONE CASE to point out?!

Send us a link to some articles demonstrating the Labor partys support for the filipinos or perhaps immigration in general over the last 3 years..or i’ll take any in fact.

Send us link to how they have progressed and made immigration better for us all here…Please do. and perhaps i will change my mind.

Perhaps when another MAJOR PARTY gives filipino’s such a chance you will give them the GIFT of NOT SUPPORTING them too.

You are useless and exactly what the rest of the world means when they look at filipinos and laugh at our ‘crab mentality’.

Have fun living as a useless sack the rest of your life. YOUR NEGATIVE WORDS ARE AS USELESS AS YOU.

TELL US JAY, what party do you support? and what are they doing to get a filipino australian in parliament?