Labor's Chinese free trade agreement objections

I have a lingering fear that opposition leader Bill Shorten is trying to sabotage the Chinese free trade agreement for political purposes. I fear Bill Shorten would be willing to plunge the country into recession (if it is not already) to achieve its goals of a political return to power after just one term in opposition. Bill Shorten, through the Labor/Greens alignment has already blocked the government's budget savings in their first budget through the senate in a move that was designed to destabalise the Abbott government for short-term political gain. 

Shorten expressed concerns that provisions in the free trade agreement related to the ability of companies to import Chinese trades that included skills testing provisions and labour market testing for major projects to be undertaken. Naturally, Bill Shorten's concerns have been driven by the union movement that he is unable to distance himself from.

However, the agreement indicated sufficient safeguards were actually in place to protect Australian workers and salary rates . Shorten has not put any workable amendments forward, instead failing to explain what exactly is the problem here we are going about to address these concerns, so far it has merely been a negative campaign with no solutions offered.

In fact, there had been no changes to the labour market testing regime that were enacted by the Gillard government that he was a member of under the 457 visa program. Skills assessments under the agreement are the same for 180 other countries covered by the agreement. Shorten needs to wake up and be willing to solve real problems instead of just attempting to run a union sponsored fear campaign and obstructing this important agreement for political gain.

Kapoli dive shop

There are plenty of dive shops scattered throughout south east Asia, what I noticed at the Kapoli dive shop is how well it is run as dive shops in this region tend to be a little casual in management - this is a well run dive shop.

You prepare your equipment that is stored in the tidy area, once you have set your equipment up, it states to the staff you are diving as your name is attached to your equipment and they will allocate you a speed boat.

The pre-dive briefing takes place in the shade, there are dive location maps but no actual underwater maps, this isn't an issue as all dives are guided and your guide is able to give a site briefing just before rolling into the water.

The rules of the dive shop are in Japanese and English, the rules are fairly self explanatory with no gloves, no solo dives, no surface interval less than one hour, no dive over one hour and naturally - no drinking and diving.

The speed boats are prepared by the shop staff, all you do is grab your mask and fins and hop on board and depart at the correct time. 

The speedboat moves slowly past the shore dive entry/exit platform, there is unlimited shore diving at Kapoli, I do think the dive site is a little ordinary and wouldn't spend too much effort on the local dives. After your first dive at Kapoli, you have pretty much seen this site although it does provide some good photo opportunities.

Playschool - now this is an education

You have to love children's television; across generations, Playschool has played on the ABC and has been educating young Australian children since 1966. It is estimated more than 80% of the population under six years of age tune into Playschool at least once a week.

I wonder what Big Ted, Little Ted and Jemima think about this; I wonder what window they will be looking out of today, the round window, the square window or the stoner's window. As a kid, I recall frequently watching Playschool on our black & white television as it is an educational television show; but I don't recall ever being taught how to make a bong - this is a skill set every aspiring stoner kid needs.

Krispy Kreme doughnuts

Maybe it is just me, because I do not see the attraction of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. I understand they are very popular. On my travels to the Philippines, I saw a number of outlets, especially at the airport. The Manila residents heading out to the provinces would carry on as hand luggage boxes of this stuff - I thought they were mad. 

You could imagine my surprise when the first store opened in Perth and people lined up outside for hours - you have to be kidding. I have had Krispy Kreme doughnuts before and I don't think they are particularly good, their toppings are too sugary and they are over-priced. Yet, you have to respect their marketing abilities, they have taken a mediocre product at best and made it a sought after product. 

Gordon's London Dry Gin

Hailing from Perth where hot and dry summers are the norm, a refreshing gin and tonic on a hot day is wonderful. Likewise, when I am on holidays in South East Asia, a G & T is my choice of alcoholic drink. A slice of lime to compliment and finish the drink is excellent, this is a great complimentary taste for a summer drink.

A gin based martini is to be stirred and not shaken, I always thought a gin based martini beats the vodka based martini; better known as a vodkatini that is shaken and not stirred. A Gordon's based martini based on a 5:1 ratio with dry vermouth is my choice of high powered drink; it is a pure alcohol based cocktail with no mixer - so buyer beware.  

An executive MBA

I was hanging with one of my mates in Florida, we come from the same trade background and have worked together in the past, he has a pretty formidable resume. Yet he was lamenting the current declining job opportunities due to his lack of tertiary qualifications - that's what companies want now. I decided to apply for an MBA to also prevent this happening to me, not long after my return to Australia, he sends me a message informing me he has been accepted in an executive MBA program and his company is willing to pay for it - well played on his part. 

The Master of Business Administration has been around a long time, there are a number of reincarnations of the MBA course; the executive MBA has been developed specifically targeting corporate executives and managers allowing participants to earn an MBA degree within two years whilst maintaining working full-time employment. 

Participants are recruited into EMBA programs from a variety of organisations including profit, non-profit, military and government - naturally representing a multitude of industries. As a result of their current employment backgrounds; EMBA participants typically have a higher level of work experience than standard MBA students, usually 10+ years as opposed to 3 -5 years work experience of standard MBA programs. 

EMBA programs are a mix of classroom teaching, generally conducted on evenings and over weekends including online tutorials and some full-day sessions. In response to an increasing number of EMBA programs on offer; the Executive MBA Council was formed to advance executive education.

Naturally, career advancement and increased prospects are primary motivators for managers and executives to embark on the EMBA program. As EMBA participants work full-time during the duration of the program; they are able to apply the management techniques and best practices learned in the classroom to real-life situations as opposed to traditional MBAs who are full-time students.

A cabernet sauvignon worthy of a preliminary final - a 1995 Leeuwin Estate Art series

My team limped into a Friday night AFL preliminary final, I contacted my father to make sure a good red wine befitting a preliminary final was available. My old man made an excellent selection with a 1995 Leeuwin Estate Art series cabernet sauvignon that didn't disappoint.

According to the notes, the 95 Art series cabernet sauvignon holds chalky, mineral edge to the expressive nose - this has somewhat softened on this excellent aged wine. The 95 Art series held a perfect balance of lush berry fruit and chunky savouriness. The tannic structure has softened along with some minerality that has resided; the fruit is beginning to fade just a tad and is still drinking well in 2015. 

The 95 Art series described as somewhat more complex than the 1996 and a little more restrained - this was an excellent drop. Unfortunately, the game didn't pan out how I had hoped but it didn't stop both of us from enjoying this excellent example of Leeuwin Estate cabernet sauvignon.