70 jobs to go at Mulgrave's Agilent

Posted to Monash Weekly 26/11/2012 on 27/11/12 at 03:54 PM
Commenting on "70 jobs to go at Mulgrave's Agilent"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1141767/70-jobs-to-go-at-mulgraves-agilent/?cs=1229#comment-719968260

Job loss is just a symptom to a much bigger problem in employment and Australian economy. Day after day, we hear about job cut and job loss, but government in power has not come out with real strategy to curb the continuous decline.

I do not use the self checkout machines at Coles and Safeway, not because I do not know how to use them, but I feel a little bit better for not contributing towards additional job loss. Western nations have become victims of the technological success so we now witness the loss of employment to the developing countries.

Service industry blooms because the world is having a good time. Once the party is over, our good fortune goes down with it.

FEDERAL BUDGET: Seniors miss out

Posted to Waverley Leader (11/5/2011) on 15/5/2011 at 8:55 PM
Commenting on "FEDERAL BUDGET: Seniors miss out"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/comments/federal-budget-seniors-miss-out/

Adrian Jackson, not everyone has the opportunity to earn a good income. Many families still face the hands-to-mouth situations now. True, there are dole bludgers, gamblers, and people "breeding" many children as you crudely put it, but then these are not the majority. Have you been divorced? Many couples are forced to sell their houses during the split up, because neither has enough to buy out the other half.

If you think owning a rental property is plain sailing, you can be very wrong. If one does not have additional income high enough to justify negative gearing, they are just asking for trouble. Rental property return is not as good as many expect, and for seniors, they are not in a position to wait for capital growth.

Service apartments are a better option for income flow then owning an apartment which costs an arm and a leg for many fees and charges. During tough time, don't expect 100% occupancy rate for the rental property or equivalent to 12-month rental income each year; sometimes the bond money is not sufficient to cover damage to the property and unpaid rent.

Plastic or real Christmas tree?

Posted to Waverley Leader (22/12/2010) on 25/12/2010 at 3:10 PM
Commenting on "Plastic or real Christmas tree?"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/plastic-is-fantastic/

Adrian Jackson, buying a real Christmas tree also stimulates economy, too. A real tree is grown, watered, cut, sold, transported, etc. A real tree lasts more than more than just minutes - time taken to consume a cup of coffee.

A Christmas tree, real or plastic, is shared not by the purchaser, but also the family and friends. More money is spent on decorating it, electricity to run the lights, and it provides a place to put the presents. It gives many days of pleasure, provides a background to take photos with loved ones, and family members to gather around to share some wonderful memories.

Real Estate Forecast

Posted to Letters to the Editor, Monash Weekly on 14/12/2010
Title: Real Estate Forecast

Economy is not as robust as what ABS reckoned, and the real unemployment rate is much higher than reported. Many people face financial trouble in meeting mortgage payment, and more mortgagee auctions will take place;

1. Closing the loophole of allowing the foreign investors to invest in secondhand properties without FIRB approval results in the collapse in sale price in many suburbs due to lack of competition;
2. Change of government policies in international education results in drastic drop in international students coming to Australia, thus kills off student accommodation rental demand. Many properties used for such purpose will be forced to sell;
3. Change of policies also results in closure of international colleges, which normally lease commercial buildings used as classrooms. Many of such buildings will be vacant;
4. 2010 Christmas retail sales will be below previous years', threatening the survival of some small businesses. Unemployment will shoot up beyond many economists' forecast in Jan and Feb 2011. Businesses for sale will be increased;
5. The median price across the board in Melbourne will decline to around $550,000 by June 2011;
6. In general, there will more listings than sales from December onwards;
7. 2011 is not a year for the real estate rookies - only the experienced survive.
8. ASX index will be below 5000 points for another few more months, likely up till March.

China banning lobster import from Australia

Posted to Letters to the Editor, Monash Weekly on 1/12/2010
Title: China banning lobster import from Australia

Australia's economy is over dependent on China, the largest trading partner of Australia - China relies on our iron ore and coal.

Australia is holding a trump card at present, but probably until China owns enough mines in other offshore countries. The decline in students coming from China is a huge blow to our economy, but has been swept under the carpet.

Now, out of blue, Chinese are banning the lobsters. What's next?

Mulgrave Greens want tax review (Post 1 of 2)

Posted to Waverley Leader (16/11/2010) on 16/11/2010 at 9:45am
Commenting on "Mulgrave Greens want tax review"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/mulgrave-greens-want-tax-review/

John Janetzki, if stamp duty is cut, what will replace the revenue shortfall? I hope you are not another politician who specialises in policy-on-the-run, and knows nothing about costing.

Daniel Andrew, please explain a bit more clearly what "the tax needed to be viewed in context" really is in simple, easy to understand everyday ordinary people language. Not only stamp duty needs to be reviewed, but also land tax - which is another rip-off. Superficially Australia is in tip-top shape; this may be true for the banks and big corporations, but many small businesses will tell a different story.

Courtney Mann, what are you going to do about "a whole generation of families who are being priced out of the area" if you are concerned about this? Do you have any idea what the Liberal party's policy is, or hasn't the party any policy on this?

Posted to Letters to the Editor, Monash Weekly on 5/2/2010
Title: My Rational Economic Analysis

The RBA Governor, statisticians, economies and bankers alike should go back to school to learn critical thinking and mathematical analysis. The December 09 retail sales are indeed better than forecast, and NOT as bad as these ignorant people try to make us believe.

Many departmental stores and non-food outlets were concerned about the economic downturn, and attempted to have sales before Christmas. As a result, the item unit prices were lowered, and therefore more sales volumes must be generated to compensate the eventual sales value.
For example, if a $100-item is sold at 20% discount, it is required to sell 1.25 (i.e. $100/$80) items to achieve $100, or an increase of 25% sales volume. With only 0.7% drop in sales value, or $99.93, the number of units sold is 1.2496 (i.e. $99.93/$80), or close to 25% increase in volume.

In general, cafes, and food outlets don't drop prices, and that explains the increase in sales revenue. If the retailers in question were game enough not to drop their pries during the peak season, they would have made hefty profits.

In short, these gurus' interpretations are just nonsensical!