Its disgraceful that anyone gets beaten up period.
What I find insulting is that the people in India and the Indian international students in Australia automatically assume that these attacks are racially motivated. Instead, isn't it possible that its just crime related. Another alternative is that these students may have been on the receiving end of a brawl and lost.
Also, the Indian international students are seeking greater employment privileges citing rising costs of housing and to stop Australia from treating them as cash cows. HELLO??? You guys are here in Australia to study and there are a costs associated with this, tuition and housing costs. I don't apologise that our standard of living is more expensive than in India, these students and their parents should have done their background homework before sending their sons and daughters to Australia to study.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
First Blog
My First Blog
I started this blog following my writing a response to a blog published on The West's website (www.thewest.com.au) regarding Perth International Airport posted by Grace on May 8th 2009 (http://blogs.thewest.com.au/news/travel-blog-perth-airport-time-for-an-upgrade/). What I wrote became so long that heck I though I may as well write my own blog. Thus begins my babble =)
I remember an article published by The West at around Perth International Terminal’s construction/opening where it was announced that the airport was more advanced to Singapore’s Changi Airport.
Since that article, Changi Airport has added three more terminals (Terminal 2&3 plus the budget terminal). Furthermore, Changi Airport contains restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, resting areas, TV lounges, children’s play areas etc. Look I understand and appreciate that Singapore is a hub airport and we in Perth are but a spoke. However, that is not an excuse to under-invest. I mean isn’t it a bit stupid that to embark on a plane we have to climb down stairs with our carry on trolley and laptop cases? - All other Western Airports I’ve been to (and that’s quite a lot I might add) have managed to avoid this design blunder
What I believe has affected Perth International airport the most was its privatisation.
Look privatisation works when competition is introduced but Perth International Airport is a monopoly and another international airport would only be made when our population is of sufficient size, which would be a long time coming; even Sydney with over 4 million people only has one international airport. Thus the general arguments for privatisation in this case was flawed. The government (State or Federal) at the time, simply did not have the balls to take a long term strategic view of Perth Intl Airport as an asset and be willing to undertake the necessary capital expenditure. Instead, they simply sold it off for a quick profit and now Perth is suffering for that. For the government has failed to realise is that an airport is a visitor’s first impression of a country, and as everyone (even the professional psychologists) know – first impressions count.
Now that the airport is privatised, every single service being offered has become fee based. As the hungry corporate entity seeks to draw as much cash as possible and expending minimal capital expenditure. Once upon a time, the front of the airport was available for 15min quick drop offs specially marked areas allowing families and friends to greet or say their goodbyes (these areas incidentally, are now used by private charter vehicles and consulates – who get diplomatic perks). Now we are told off by patrol officers to hurry up when we drop someone off. When we do park, I was shocked to find recently that the prices were equivalent to Sydney CBD’s pricing – one of the priciest in the world (when our Australian dollar was stronger in 2007/2008, Sydney was voted one of the most expensive places to park, exceeding New York). But what choice do we have? There is no public train link (like in many other airports throughout the world) and taxis cost an arm and a leg (especially so if you live North of the River).
Even the poor luggage trolley, which was once free hasn’t been spared. For departing passengers, SmarteCarte has taken over and expects $3-$4 for a trolley. I once found a trolley available and unused by anyone so I took it to try and use, a SmarteCarte representative saw my dastardly act and started abusing me and then manhandled the trolley from me. I was in shock at the rudeness. When I next got back on the internet I checked who owned SmarteCarte, it was Macquarie Bank – typical I thought, a good example where company culture does permeate throughout the organisation, if you don’t believe me speak to those BrisConnections shareholders (BrisConnections’ original underwriters included Macquarie Bank).
Admittedly I am happy that they have at least allowed a Dome Cafe and Red Rooster to operate (even though their prices are above their average Perth prices), their prices seem cheap compared to the other establishments available. I have found only magazines seem to be normal price.
So what else can I say, except that Perth residents and Perth visitors have been ripped off.
By whom?
By the airport’s owners who is bleeding residents and visitors dry, by the government of the day which allowed the privatisation, as well as by subsequent governments which have failed to adequately realise the importance an airport is.
Perth’s main purpose should not be profit maximising. Rather, as it is a natural monopoly, it should be a promoter of Perth and Western Australia as it is the first thing people see. When you greet a guest you don’t greet them where you dump the rubbish or at the laundry with all your dirty clothes, you greet them at the most respectable part of the house. This is the same with an airport, it is akin to the front entrance port and formal living area of a home. Like it or not, people’s first impressions do count. How many times have I met friends and family at the airport surprised at how old and outdated the airport is only to find them having the same impression of Perth, nice but not really up to the times (which in some respects I disagree).
Lastly we as Perth residents should blame ourselves for ripping ourselves up. We have not placed the appropriate pressure on politicians to do what is right by us.
I am no soothsayer but the future of Western Australia, minerals and farming aside is its people. Just as other developed nations and cities are finding, our most valuable asset is our people and the high value added services they can deliver such as education. When we invite others to use our services and they are greeted by the airport that they see, similarly they associate the services that we offer on the same plane, inferior to others.
Maybe I am extending too much on the importance of airports. But nonetheless, I still think it is a thought worth pondering.
I started this blog following my writing a response to a blog published on The West's website (www.thewest.com.au) regarding Perth International Airport posted by Grace on May 8th 2009 (http://blogs.thewest.com.au/news/travel-blog-perth-airport-time-for-an-upgrade/). What I wrote became so long that heck I though I may as well write my own blog. Thus begins my babble =)
I remember an article published by The West at around Perth International Terminal’s construction/opening where it was announced that the airport was more advanced to Singapore’s Changi Airport.
Since that article, Changi Airport has added three more terminals (Terminal 2&3 plus the budget terminal). Furthermore, Changi Airport contains restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, resting areas, TV lounges, children’s play areas etc. Look I understand and appreciate that Singapore is a hub airport and we in Perth are but a spoke. However, that is not an excuse to under-invest. I mean isn’t it a bit stupid that to embark on a plane we have to climb down stairs with our carry on trolley and laptop cases? - All other Western Airports I’ve been to (and that’s quite a lot I might add) have managed to avoid this design blunder
What I believe has affected Perth International airport the most was its privatisation.
Look privatisation works when competition is introduced but Perth International Airport is a monopoly and another international airport would only be made when our population is of sufficient size, which would be a long time coming; even Sydney with over 4 million people only has one international airport. Thus the general arguments for privatisation in this case was flawed. The government (State or Federal) at the time, simply did not have the balls to take a long term strategic view of Perth Intl Airport as an asset and be willing to undertake the necessary capital expenditure. Instead, they simply sold it off for a quick profit and now Perth is suffering for that. For the government has failed to realise is that an airport is a visitor’s first impression of a country, and as everyone (even the professional psychologists) know – first impressions count.
Now that the airport is privatised, every single service being offered has become fee based. As the hungry corporate entity seeks to draw as much cash as possible and expending minimal capital expenditure. Once upon a time, the front of the airport was available for 15min quick drop offs specially marked areas allowing families and friends to greet or say their goodbyes (these areas incidentally, are now used by private charter vehicles and consulates – who get diplomatic perks). Now we are told off by patrol officers to hurry up when we drop someone off. When we do park, I was shocked to find recently that the prices were equivalent to Sydney CBD’s pricing – one of the priciest in the world (when our Australian dollar was stronger in 2007/2008, Sydney was voted one of the most expensive places to park, exceeding New York). But what choice do we have? There is no public train link (like in many other airports throughout the world) and taxis cost an arm and a leg (especially so if you live North of the River).
Even the poor luggage trolley, which was once free hasn’t been spared. For departing passengers, SmarteCarte has taken over and expects $3-$4 for a trolley. I once found a trolley available and unused by anyone so I took it to try and use, a SmarteCarte representative saw my dastardly act and started abusing me and then manhandled the trolley from me. I was in shock at the rudeness. When I next got back on the internet I checked who owned SmarteCarte, it was Macquarie Bank – typical I thought, a good example where company culture does permeate throughout the organisation, if you don’t believe me speak to those BrisConnections shareholders (BrisConnections’ original underwriters included Macquarie Bank).
Admittedly I am happy that they have at least allowed a Dome Cafe and Red Rooster to operate (even though their prices are above their average Perth prices), their prices seem cheap compared to the other establishments available. I have found only magazines seem to be normal price.
So what else can I say, except that Perth residents and Perth visitors have been ripped off.
By whom?
By the airport’s owners who is bleeding residents and visitors dry, by the government of the day which allowed the privatisation, as well as by subsequent governments which have failed to adequately realise the importance an airport is.
Perth’s main purpose should not be profit maximising. Rather, as it is a natural monopoly, it should be a promoter of Perth and Western Australia as it is the first thing people see. When you greet a guest you don’t greet them where you dump the rubbish or at the laundry with all your dirty clothes, you greet them at the most respectable part of the house. This is the same with an airport, it is akin to the front entrance port and formal living area of a home. Like it or not, people’s first impressions do count. How many times have I met friends and family at the airport surprised at how old and outdated the airport is only to find them having the same impression of Perth, nice but not really up to the times (which in some respects I disagree).
Lastly we as Perth residents should blame ourselves for ripping ourselves up. We have not placed the appropriate pressure on politicians to do what is right by us.
I am no soothsayer but the future of Western Australia, minerals and farming aside is its people. Just as other developed nations and cities are finding, our most valuable asset is our people and the high value added services they can deliver such as education. When we invite others to use our services and they are greeted by the airport that they see, similarly they associate the services that we offer on the same plane, inferior to others.
Maybe I am extending too much on the importance of airports. But nonetheless, I still think it is a thought worth pondering.
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