慶祝農曆新年，本應是推動多元文化、凝聚社區的正面活動，華人聚居的社區一向熱烈支持。然而，近年來的景象卻令人深感憂慮、憤慨，甚至質疑整個政治體系的廉潔與公義。

傳統墨爾本市中心唐人街的慶祝活動依然熱鬧如昔，但本地移民社區的慶典——特別是博士山（Box Hill）今年的新年活動——卻淪為政客們的選舉秀場。開幕禮竟然吸引了工黨及自由黨至少24位議員蜂擁而至，更不包括綠黨及獨立議員。其中還有從昆士蘭專程飛來、以普通話發表演講的聯邦議員Ted O’Brien，以及來自西區、南區、北區、東南區等毫無相關職務的後排議員。

這些議員公然以公職人員身分，動用納稅人的血汗錢與寶貴工作時間，跑到與自己選區和工作範圍毫無關聯的活動現場「打卡」。他們的真正目的昭然若揭：就是為了在華人社區刷存在感、搏曝光，緊跟州長或其他黨魁鏡頭，搶在媒體和公眾視野中露臉，為即將到來11月28日維州州選爭取華人選票。這不是文化參與，這是赤裸裸的選舉操弄與公器私用！

令人不明白的是，主辦方白馬商會為何要廣發邀請，把開幕禮變成「議員嘉年華」？這些所謂
「嘉賓」與活動本身、與華人社區的日常福祉究竟有何實質關聯？大批議員濫用政府資源湧至,能帶來什麼好處？為什麼這些政客平日對華人社區需求視若無睹，唯獨選舉年才突然「熱情」現身？答案顯而易見：這就是政客慣用的下作手段——籠絡人心、收買選票、操弄族裔情緒！

去年總理阿爾巴尼斯出席時，當場承諾撥款15萬元「支持」活動；反對黨領袖達頓立刻加碼到25萬元公開叫板。這根本是公開拍賣華人選票的醜陋競賽！

主辦方為何一再廣邀這些與活動毫不相干的政客？難道是想借多元文化活動之名，結交權貴、為
社區爭取利益？抑或某些人想藉此與權貴建立私人關係、推動有利自身的商業項目？過去曾有與中國稍有聯繫的華人僑領，只因邀請部長出席慈善捐款場合，就被指控違反外國代理人法規。那麼，如今白馬商會同樣大肆邀請大批不相干議員參與年慶活動，難道就不會觸碰同樣的法律紅線？這種行為是否已構成某種形式的影響力交易或選舉干預？

政府及主辦方有不可推卸的責任，向社會公開交代：為何不只邀請適當的政府代表出席，而是任
由這場本應純粹慶祝多元文化的活動，淪為用納稅人金錢資助的政客選舉狂歡？這種公帑私用、選舉前夕的族裔討好行徑，不僅侮辱了華人社區的尊嚴，更嚴重損害澳洲民主的公平與公信力！

周偉文 社長

Election Showground

Celebrating the Lunar New Year should be a positive event that promotes multiculturalism and unites communities, and Chinese-populated neighborhoods have always enthusiastically supported it. Yet the scenes witnessed in recent years have been deeply troubling and infuriating, even raising questions about the integrity and justice of the entire political system.

While celebrations in Melbourne’s traditional Chinatown remain as vibrant as ever, festivities in local immigrant communities—particularly this year’s New Year event in Box Hill—have devolved into political showcases for politicians. The opening ceremony attracted at least 24 Labor and Liberal Party MPs, not counting Greens and independent members. Among them was federal MP Ted O’Brien, who flew in specially from Queensland to deliver a speech in Mandarin, alongside backbenchers from the Metropolitan West, South, North, and Southeast regions holding no relevant portfolios.

These politicians blatantly exploited their public office, squandering taxpayers’ hard-earned money and valuable work time to “check in” at events utterly unrelated to their constituencies or responsibilities. Their true purpose is glaringly obvious: to boost their visibility within the Chinese community, chase media exposure, and position themselves alongside the Premier or other party leaders in front of cameras and the public eye—all to court Chinese votes ahead of Victoria’s November 28 state election. This isn’t cultural engagement; it’s blatant electoral
manipulation and misuse of public office!

What baffles us is why the host, the Asian Business Association of Whitehorse, issued such broad invitations, turning the opening ceremony into a “politician carnival”? What substantive connection do these so-called “guests” have to the event itself or the everyday welfare of the Chinese community? What benefits could the mass influx of politicians squandering government resources possibly bring? Why do these politicians routinely ignore the needs of the Chinese community, only to suddenly appear “enthusiastically” during election years? The answer is obvious: this is the despicable tactic politicians routinely employ—currying favour, buying votes, and manipulating ethnic sentiment!

Last year, when Prime Minister Albanese attended, he immediately pledged $150,000 to “support” the event; Opposition Leader Dutton immediately upped the ante to $250,000 in a
public challenge. This is nothing short of a disgraceful auction for Chinese votes!

Why does the organizer persistently invite these irrelevant politicians? Is it to leverage multicultural events for networking with elites and securing community benefits? Or do some seek private connections with power brokers to advance self-serving business ventures? In the past, Chinese community leaders with even minor ties to China faced allegations of violating foreign agent regulations simply for inviting ministers to charity fundraising events. So, when the ABAW similarly invites a large number of unrelated legislators to its anniversary celebration, does it not risk crossing the same legal line? Does this behaviour constitute some form of influence peddling or election interference?

The government and organisers bear an inescapable responsibility to publicly explain to society: Why were appropriate government representatives not invited, instead allowing this event—which should purely celebrate multiculturalism—to degenerate into a taxpayer-funded political campaign extravaganza? This misuse of public funds and preelection ethnic pandering not only insults the dignity of the Chinese community but also severely undermines the fairness and credibility of Australian democracy!

Mr. Raymond Chow, Publisher