The Canberra Reporter CanRep8pg02 JUN2017

2 | THE CANBERRA REPORTER June 2017 WE SAY, YOU SAY Budget embraces needs-based education funding EDITORIAL Scaring us to death but asking us to relax OF LATE we’ve been bombarded, equally by our politicians and mainstream media, with shootings and forecasts of a looming reign of terror in our streets and playgrounds. That’s okay. It’s all in the line duty for media to inform us about everything that happens and is of interest to us. Reporting the latest bombing in London, for instance. But do we need to read and listen to one calamity ad nauseam? Every hour on the hour? Every day? For a week or more? The same story but each time with just a little detail? Until we become numb and, unfortunately, too frightened for our children? What’s quite amusing, however, is that the same politicians and the same media (in the same breath) call on us to relax and live life “steady as she goes”. More worrying, however, is that while they’re making so much noise about all the violence, foreign interests are buying us off bit by bit. Communist China, in particular. Poor Labor Senator Sam Dastyari was in the news again; so was former Liberal trade minister Andrew Robb. And it was all about China. Both of them were merely scapegoats, really, if you asked people in the know. There are bigger fish out there snuggling up to cashed-up foreign investors for big-bucks bonanzas. But one question needs to be asked about those investors from Communist China: Under a communist regime, who ultimately owns property purchased by an investor? Just asking. n THE STANDOUT of the 2017 Budget for me was the acceptance of a needs-based education funding model, referred to as Gonski 2.0. However, many ACT private and Catholic schools will sadly see their government funding cut or frozen over the next decade. An example: Daramalan College. Currently, Daramalan is receiving roughly $7,998 per student. As a result of Gonski 2.0, in 2027 this will be reduced to $5,719. PERSPECTIVE By JESSICA ADELAN-LANGFORD The parents of Daramalan will most likely pick up the tab. Critics of Gonski 2.0 argue that any increase to school fees may prohibit parents from being able to send their children to their school of choice. In the Filipino community this may be significant. Many Filipinos do tend to favour a Catholic education. However, will the effects of Gonski 2.0 mean that many Filipino children will go without a Catholic education because parents cannot afford the increase in fees? Now before anyone pickets outside Parliament House, it must be noted that Gonski 2.0 is also going to achieve a lot of good. Every child in Australia deserves a good education regardless of where they live or their socio- economic status. I suppose, however, it is a question of what people value more: The freedom of choice or achieving the greater good for the greatest number. n CAUGHT ON CAMERA A random survey of Filipino expatriates in the ACT by Reporter staff How would you regard your going to university studies in Canberra? - Jaime K Pimentel, editor ATING WIKA Ulat ni ARNEL BASAS Ang diwa ng ating samahan Merong mahigit kumulang na dalawang daan at limampung libong Pilipino ang naninirahan sa Australia ngayon. Isang porsyento ito ng buong populasyon kasama na ang di mabilang na mga samahan sa halos lahat ng sulok ng bansa.. Tumutulong sila sa mga kababayan at komunidad. Dahil sa magaganda at makabuluhang gawain, may mga nakakatangap na rin ng prestihiyosong parangal tuwing Araw ng Australia. Kabilang sila sa mga samahang may mga layuning ikinabubuti ng nakakarami at ng kani-kanilang pamumuhay. Ito ang katibayan na itinuturing ng mga Pilipino-Australiano na isa sa mga importanteng haligi ng lipunan. Likas tayong matulungin lalo kung nasa banyagang lugar. Nadarama natin ang kasiyahan kahit walang kapalit. VIRGINIA CABUYADAO, 25 Australian National University ELIEZER ESTRECHO, 28 Australian National University BIANCA MONTIEL, 28 University of Canberra I chose Canberra because of the privilege of studying in a prestigious university, the ANU. It is one of the top universities here in Australia and has a good reputation for being the best in Public Administ ration. Canberra has a planned landscape, lets you embrace the beauty of nature and go cycling safely. n Canberra offers excellent academic atmosphere, less distractions from frequent social events, highly multicultural students and faculty. Since it is not a busy city, I get to have a lot of quiet time to study and relax, which I think are equally essential aspects of a productive student life. n Canberrra has offered me a safe, nuturing and culturally- sensitive home to cultivate my dreams of becoming a nurse. It is well known as “The Bush Capital” of Australia. What I love in Canberra is its love for nature, family-oriented values and the kindness of Canberrans in accepting new cultures. n Subalit sa likod nito, meron pa ring kaugalian na humihila sa atin para lubusang umangat at umunlad. PUBLISHER THE CANBERRA REPORTER (ABN 44149329419) Makikita ito sa mga samahang bigla na lamang tumitigil at nagkanya-kanya. Gayunpaman sa mga pagsubok na ito, nanatiling matatag at matagumpay ang nakakarami. Pinapa-iral nila ang mahinahong pag-iisip, tinatalikuran ang mga pansariling kagustuhan at inaangat ang pangkalahatang adhikain. Mabuhay ang mga samahang Pilipino-Australiano. Panahon para makilahok at makipagtulungan. n Editor-in-Chief JAIME K PIMENTEL Deputy SALLY BARBER Subeditor VIOLI CALVERT Cartoonist MIGUEL CASTRO Photojournalists DENNIS BENEDICTOS MARILIE BOMEDIANO GERRY MUSA Editors MARILIE BOMEDIANO / News & Features ARNALDO DE LEON / Motoring Advertising ROY RAMIREZ / Manager JOSIE MUSA / Representative Columnists JESSICA ADELAN-LANGFORD ARNEL BASAS Legal Counsel LINDA GERONIMO SANTOS Correspondents VIRGINIA CABUYADAO BIANCA MONTIEL Printer New Age Printing, Rydalmere NSW Waiver: Opinions expressed by writers do not necessarily belong to the publisher.

The Canberra Reporter CanRep8pg02 JUN2017 | Page 2