同路人語587 新政府　新氣象

同路人語587

新政府　新氣象

New government, New beginning

周偉文

上週日的聯邦選舉，標誌著澳洲進入一個新時代。

過去12年，澳洲換了6位總理被黨內同袍推下台，令到選民失望。記得陸克文被推下來，吉拉德只能組成少數派政府。其後，陸克文當上外交部長，更策劃推倒吉拉德，帶領工黨大選，選民們厭棄這些自私的議員，在6年前大選中把工黨趕了下台。聯盟黨重蹈覆轍，譚寶把艾博德拉下馬，在上一屆選舉中由90席的絕大多數，大幅減少到只取得76席，僅有一席優勢，組成政府。在九個月之前，聯盟黨內極右議員發難，譚寶辭去總理職位，更令到選民極度不滿，工黨將組成政府，似是必然要發生的事實。

12年來的罔顧國家利益，議員們的權力鬥爭，已令澳洲人對兩大政黨失去信心。自由黨最後選出了忠心支持譚寶的財長莫里森擔任總理，總算是走了回轉的第一步。莫里森以誠實及忠心作為賣點，爭取選民支持；面對工黨索頓的發展宏圖，莫里森不斷提醒選民，澳洲要為這理想付上重稅的代價。

上週六投票日產生奇蹟，在民意長期低落下，聯盟黨取得比上屆更多議席，建立政府。在黨內一些意興闌珊的資深議員引退、或高調對自由黨不滿的班克斯，及如艾博得及譚寶等曾擔任總理的議員離開了議會，聯盟黨將引入多位新晋議員，將令下屆政府帶來新氣象。莫里森以個人堅持，獨力在選舉中，推銷自己要為國家付出的決心，贏取了選民認同他而放棄了只談理想、不願務實的索頓。選民的支持，及莫里森在這期間建立的威信，相信在新一屆政府中，能使他團結黨內議員，為開拓澳洲同心出謀獻策，一洗12年來，各屆政府的頽勢。

對華人來說，華人佔人口20%的奇澤姆選區，選出了香港移民廖嬋娥擔任議員，是首位華人眾議員。在這裏謹祝賀廖嬋娥議員，在下屆政府中，可以一展抱負，為帶領澳洲發展出一分力。我相信廖議員黨選，會鼓勵更多華人參政。廖議員自去年三月，每月兩次與我在FM94.1「同聲同路人」粵語節目中擔任主播，長期向社區介紹澳洲生活所見所聞。盼望日後廖嬋娥議員更能積極把華人社區，連結於主流社會，協助華人移民，融入澳洲，一起實現我們的移民夢。

Last week’s federal election marked a new era of Australia.

Over the past 12 years disappointingly in total of five PM’s were knocked downed by their own colleagues. Gillard only formed minority government after pulling down Rudd. He became the Foreign Secretary and plotted his come back in the succeeding election. But the electorates were sick of their self interests thus the Labor Party was voted out six years ago. The Coalition followed the same step as when Turnbull overthrew Abbott to form his government but only with a margin of one seat with a total of 76 seats compared with the 90 seats of the previous election. Nine months ago right wing members of the Coalition sent Turnbull off; that chaos indeed offered the Labor Party a trump card in hand to win.

The public was frustrated over the past 12 years seeing the parliamentary members of the two major parties putting personal interests ahead of the nation’s.The Liberal thankfully ended up with Treasurer Morrison as a loyan fan of Turnbull as PM. His honesty and loyalty gained him some support; and he kept telling Shorten’s policy direction would lead the country into heavy tax.

The election outcome surprised everyone as the Coalition won with the number of MPs even more than the last one amid the very discouraging poll result so far. The new government would end up with new blood given that some down-hearted veteran party members left, while some heavy-weighted figures such as Julian Banks, Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull were out. Throughout the election campaign, Morrison persisted in his personal commitment of serving the country, as opposed to Shorten’s mere vision without realistic financial plan.The public support and command gathered by Morrison would enable him to regain unity in and muscle of his new government for a better future of Australia.

For Chinese, our first member of Parliament was born as Gladys Liu originated from Hong Kong won in Chisholm where 20% of the population is Chinese. We wish she can serve to her best in the new government; and hopefully her success could encourage more Chinese to take part in politics. Since March last year, Gladys had been joining us in hosting community program in Cantonese via FM94.1 ‘SameVoice Sameway’ on a bi-weekly basis. We hope she would continue bridging Chinese community with the mainstream society and helping Chinese immigrants to integrate better for our better future in our new found place.