同路人語 611

帶著信心走出疫症陰霾              社長   周偉文

澳洲總理莫里森提出，對新冠病毒源頭及如何影響全球，成立國際調查委員會，雖然中國極力反對，中澳關係變得緊張。不過這主張得到歐盟支持，在世衛周年大會中，由歐盟提出相關議案，得到超過137個國家的認同，通過了決議。中國習近平主席支持世衛可在疫症受控後，作出獨立調查。不過世衛所通過的議案，卻認為調查立時就要開展。最後中國也支持了這決議。
澳洲在人口及經濟影響力上，是一個小國，在世界政治舞台沒有多大的影響力。但在今天全球500萬人受感染、超過300,000人死亡的新冠疫症中，能以持平、溫和但堅持的態度，團結不同立場的國家達致共識，大大提升了莫里森的個人聲望。
事實上，今天澳洲疫情算是受控，開始進入重整國家經濟，社會重新開放的階段，莫里森總理也因此得到絕大部分國民的支持。我相信澳洲在全國同心合力之下，定能在疫症威嚇之中，走出有盼望的將來。
面對龐大的失業及企業面臨倒閉壓力的情況下，聯邦政府的JobSeeker及JobKeeper計劃，給了澳洲國民信心去面對不可知的將來。不少人提出現時聯邦政府要推出一些具前瞻性，又能幫助澳洲經濟發展的基礎建設項目，用以剌激經濟及推動就業。聯邦政府若能在短期間採納一些可行的方案，相信會能帶領澳洲走出疫症的陰霾。
在上週澳洲政府發行債卷，得到投資者熱烈的反應，表明了不少人對澳洲經濟前景的信心。不過，能否把這些信心，轉化成實質的支持，還要看澳洲政府在未來提出的經濟振興計劃。在這計劃中，移民政策會否作出改變，值得我們關注。雖然總理莫里森表示在短期澳洲淨移民會大幅減少，不過相信這會是由留學生及工作假期簽證者的減少而引致，不一定代表澳洲長遠的移民政策會有變化。但剛推行的偏遠地區移民政策，相信會受到影響。
從過往經驗，可以預計，會有一批在城巿居住的失業者，會選擇定居鄉郊，相信會令鄉郊的發展，帶來新的氣象。在可見的將來，剛推行的移民政策是否會有變化，相信還未可知。
無論如何，我相信世界確實是在變化中，我們只要帶著勇氣和信心，在澳洲總有出路。

Faith amid pandemic              Raymond Chow   Publisher

Prime Minister Morrison’s proposed international inquiry into the origin and impact of covid-19 has caused backfire from China. But at the end 137 countries sponsored the proposal when it was raised by European Union and was endorsed by WHO at its AGM. Chinese President Xi Jinping also supported an independent inquiry under WHO to be conducted after the pandemic is over, although the resolution was with immediate effect. Finally China also sponsored this motion.
In terms of population and economic power, Australia is a nation with minimal global impact. But as when 5 million people got contracted and with over 300 thousand causality around the world, Morrison has won his reputation for his fair, calm and persistent approach in gathering up global consensus.
For now the health crisis is under control in Australia where the economy and the society is on its recovery stage in the approval of most Australians. I trust we can all join hands in coming out from the pandemic towards a hopeful future.
Federal government’sJobSeeker andJobKeeperinitiatives have offered many the peace of mind amid their uncertainties amid unemployment and business closing down. Some people reckon we still need to look ahead for some infrastructure projects to build economy and stimulate job growth. The government should promptly take on some of these ideas which could lead our way out from the lockdown.
The government bonds issued last week has attracted investors who still hold a positive outlook on Australian economy. Whether this outlook can materialise into support in reality will depend on new economic initiatives from the government. And we also have to watch out for any change in immigration policy in association. Morrison has announced a drastic cut in the intake of the immigrants, presumably in quota of student visa and working visa. That may not mean a fundamental change of immigration policy in the long term, but the new policy of directing immigrants into the rural areas could become uncertain.
From past experience some city dwellers upon losing their jobs will move out furtherthus causing booms in the countryside. This may impact on the newly introduced immigration policy.
In any event, courage and faith are needed by all of us in coping with the changes ever going on around us.