Some people have asked me why I have chosen “Fairness with Compassion” as my campaign slogan for the Warrandyte byelection.
Many parents have brought their children to live in Australia and are very happy with everything here, but one thing that people are often unhappy about is that when their children are at school for a long time, they often say “It is not FAIR!” These parents tell me that their children are so young, how can they know what is fair? In fact, what they are saying is that their children are so young, how can they know that this society is basically an unfair society. They know that when their children grow up, they will realize and accept the unfairness of this society. However, in Australian schools, children are taught from a young age to fight for their rights and not to compromise.
In Chinese society, fairness is not a word that is often talked about, because those of us who have a little bit of life experience know that there is no real fairness in this world. Moreover, anyone who has lived in a totalitarian society understands that we can only accept the unfairness set by the rulers, or hope that we are the ones who can get more in an unfair society. Confucianism justifies unfairness in the community by saying that we must be “kind” to others, that is, sympathetic, caring, and compassionate, so the Chinese seldom fight for fairness, and seldom talk about it. However, what Confucianism means by “benevolence” is that we should show special care to the disadvantaged, rather than letting those in power and influence be manipulated by those in power.
All major political parties in Australia emphasize the need for social justice and fairness to all, but they all emphasize different things. The Labor Party believed that the working class was weak and necessarily oppressed by their employers, so they had to unite to fight for fairness. The unions in Australia are very powerful, and the Labor Party has been established for more than 100 years. Therefore, the unions have a great influence on social and economic activities. Twenty to thirty years ago, unions often went on strike over minor issues and supported other workers in their struggles, which affected Australia’s economic development. It was not until legislation was passed to emphasize the need for unions to communicate or mediate with employers before exercising their right to strike that this culture changed slightly. Many people who are engaged in small business have a deep understanding of the importance of not cheating workers’ rights.
However, the Labor Party has been criticized for being “fairer to its own people” because of the need to actively reform an unfair society and to transfer benefits to “like-minded” people. However, it was recently revealed that the former Morrison government of the Federal Liberal Party also made transfers of benefits to many of its supporters during its term of office. This shows that “transfers of benefits” are not unique to a certain political party.
The Liberal Party has always emphasized the need to establish a fair system in society so that the country can be on the right track and the people can be protected. However, the Morrison government has been criticized for neglecting the disadvantaged groups in the society while building up these systems, because they have no one to speak for them they cannot talk to the government, and the government cannot hear their voices at all. It can be said that the Liberal Party is often criticized for having no sympathy for the weak.
The Liberal Party’s neglect of the weak in the system can be seen from the fact that they seldom provide specific help to immigrants and ethnic minorities, which shows that they have no sympathy. New immigrants from Hong Kong or China, mostly professional immigrants or business immigrants, will feel that the government does not offer much help to them when they first arrive, because the Liberal Party believes that everyone has to work hard to get what they want. This is of course understandable, but anyone who has experienced it can understand the hardship. But for immigrants or refugees from backward countries with few resources, I believe the government is duty-bound to provide more assistance, and this is the reason why those in power should be compassionate.
“Fairness and Compassion, Justice and Mercy
Micah 6:8 in the Bible emphasizes that God is pleased with “justice and mercy”, and many theologians have pointed out that the core of the Christian faith is “justice and mercy”. In my opinion, the Biblical requirement for people to “do justice and show mercy” has been translated into the framework of governmental administration, that is, the government should emphasize “fairness and compassion” at the same time. The government is not a person, but the leader who leads the government, apart from having higher personal integrity in upholding fairness and avoiding “transfer of benefits”, should also be compassionate and recognize the needs of the weak. I believe that this is the basic requirement for every politician.
In addition to the requirements of a human being, there is also a need for independent legislators in the legislature who do not represent the interests or advocacies of the political parties, and who are able to scrutinize the deficiencies of the ruling party from the perspective of the general public, so that those who are in power can be monitored. Some people believe that a strong opposition party can play this role, but in fact, the opposition party is often just a political group with a lot of its own ideas, and there are cases of “opposition for the sake of opposition”. For example, the Labor Party’s philosophy is different from that of the Liberal Party, so the Liberal Party opposes everything, but this is unfair to the Labor Party, which has been authorized by the voters to run the country. Independent MPs are less likely to be influenced by a particular set of ideology. On the contrary, they are able to see the negligence of those in power and make suggestions for improvement.
An independent MP does not oppose everything. If he or she upholds the principles of fairness and compassion, and if he or she is able to speak out in the legislature, then at least the government will be able to hear different views. An independent MP has the qualities to be a partner of the government, but also a critical friend, to improve the motion for the better.
This is what I hope to achieve by standing as an independent candidate in the Warrandyte by-election in Victoria. For the past 35 years, Warrandyte has had Liberal members, including Phil Honeywood, who retired at age 46 after 18 years as a member of the Parliament and is still working as an executive for a large organization 17 years later, and his successor, Ryan Smith, who was elected at age 34 and announced his retirement at age 51, leading to the need for a by-election. They are irresponsible MPs who have done little for the Warrandyte electorate. They have provided the Liberal Party with a seat in the Parliament, but they have done nothing for the constituency. I believe it is a mistake for the Liberal Party to field a 32-year-old young candidate with no political experience in this by-election. That is why I have committed myself to this by-election, in the hope that I can give voters another choice.
Unfair laws in parliament
After last week’s early voting, I immediately realized that the Victorian legislature would indeed make unfair laws.
Within 100 meters of a polling station, candidates nominated by political parties are allowed to have 4 publicity signs, while independent candidates are only allowed to have 2 publicity signs of the same size. Any three-year-old would know that four candies are more than two, and to be fair, everyone should have the same number of candies. The requirement of the VEC is clearly against the principle of fairness.
The Electoral Handbook states that this rule is in accordance with section 158A of the Electoral Act. After reading it carefully, I found that the Electoral Act takes into account the situation where there is an election of a seat in the Legislative Council, and should not be applied to a by-election of a seat in the Legislative Assembly only. I filed a complaint to VCAT for adjudication last weekend, and VCAT held a hearing immediately. However, Ian Proctor, the Deputy President, pointed out to me that VCAT did not have the jurisdiction to make the decision that it was unfair for a political party candidate to display four cards as opposed to two cards for an independent candidate. The lawyer representing the Electoral Commission argued that they had not misinterpreted the law, which led to further controversy.
If the VEC had not misinterpreted the law, anyone with a modicum of logic would have realized that the law itself was unfair. Could the Victorian Parliament really pass a bill that is so obviously unfair? This is true. There are not many independent members of the Legislative Assembly in the Victorian Parliament, most members are nominated by the legislature, which means that when passing a bill, a member is only looking out for his or her own advantage, and is deliberately trying to prevent independent candidates from getting a fair deal.
Deputy President Ian Proctor pointed out that only the Supreme Court has the power to inquire into the fairness of a bill, but the time and money involved is not something that an independent candidate can afford to consider. This means that the Parliament is not fair and the system cannot be challenged.
My attitude
When I heard Ian Proctor’s analysis, I had to withdraw my complaint. However, I pointed out that the Council’s decision could be discussed by ordinary people in the community. Ordinary people can realize without much effort
that this is an unfair law, and it will only affect the community’s trust in the Parliament and the government members, and I will initiate such a discussion in the community.
What is even more shocking to me is that in Australia and the State of Victoria, nearly one third of the population are immigrants over 18 years of age, but there is not a single MP with such a background in the Victorian Parliament. No wonder the government seems to have ignored our pleas for years to support immigrants. It is because we do not have MPs of such a background in the state Parliament.
But I believe that if I can get the support of my constituents, I will be the kind of Member who can speak out on behalf of the people for the injustices that have been overlooked by party Members.
I look forward to receiving your support in this election so that I can play this role in this Council.
This Saturday, I ask the voters of the Warrandyte constituency to use your vote to support me to be an independent Member of Parliament who will oversee the Victorian Government.
Mr. Raymond Chow