Jodi McKay MP-Member for Strathfield

新州議員Jodi McKay專訪

?

By Han April 27, 2016

東南網澳大利亞站4月27日報道（記者 彭寒）

With one of the highest densities of Chinese population, part of the electorate of MP Jodi McKay which includes Ashfield, Burwood and Strathfield are also known by some Sydney locals as the Real China Town of Sydney. As a newcomer of Sydney, walking down the road of Burwood simply gets rid of every last piece of homesickness out of my body.

Representing so many Chinese Australians in the parliament, as Jodi herself puts it, is a great pleasure.

On Chinese community and the message to young Chinese

How concentrated is the Chinese Population in you electorate?

"About a quarter of the populations in my electorate are Chinese, and I represent them in the parliament house. It’s a great pleasure. We have one of the major centers of Chinese in my area which is called Burwood. Half of the populations there are Chinese Australians. They contribute such an extraordinary effort to the community. I am really proud to represent them."

Asked about the most challenging part of her work with Chinese community, Jodi points out language, saying the language barrier of the first generation of immigration makes it hard to get the government information across on time. She is now seeking young Chinese who speaks on behalf of their parents or even Chinese international students to get involved and bridge the gap.

What has been done in terms of letting young Chinese being a part of your work?

"I am doing all I can to encourage young Chinese, particularly student, who may even be studying here as international students, to have a say on what is happening in the community. The view that international students can bring from China on how Sydney needs to grow and change, replicate some of the good things that are coming out of China."

On Chinese investment and the New Visa Policy

Chinese global trade has lately once again become one of the hottest international issues. How would you consider Chinese investment here in your area to the local economy?

"Now we have seen a lot of Chinese investments, particularly in development. In the area that I represent which is very close to the CBD, Chinese investors are most welcomed. I am very supportive to what happened in my local community. It's up to people like me in Parliament to advocate things like that, to make sure when any issue arises that may impact the way that my community is perceived, I need to stand up and say 'No'."

Prime Minister visited China last week, saying the new 10-year visa is on its way. How many new Chinese residents do you think it would bring to your area?

"My area is the place that Chinese Australians would always want to move to. They have their relatives here; their friends would talk them to move here. I don’t think it would impact my area because people would always come here. They just love it. (Laugh)"

On Amalgamation

The issue of the forced amalgamation has been hotly discussed all over the state. The council of Strathfield is going to be amalgamated with the Council of Canada Bay and Burwood, electing a new council. Even if it's been issued by the state government already, Jodi still believe that people should have their own voice heard on this case.

"One thing important is councilors will obviously be limited, given by the fact that there are 3 separate councils amalgamating. It’s much better when you have more people who are representing and being the voice for these areas. What has been driving these changes is purely about money and deficiency. That has been a concern to some people. Because it has to be about the services that people actually get."

There are concerns about councils taking debt of the others when they are forced to be amalgamated, does that happen in your area?

"Things are interesting in the areas that I represent, there are areas in them that have great need, there are some area particularly Strathfield that have great wealth. When you bring them together, you do get some of those conflicts. This is one of the biggest issues here in New South Wales now."

"The community should be given the right to decide what they want with their local council. But you’ve got state government forcing councils to do that. That is where tension arises, and that’s what people don't want."

?

一頭清爽短發的Jodi曾經是一名記者，對于時政問題一直懷有的興趣以及與生俱來的敏銳觀察力和刨根問底的性格讓她完成了從記者到政客的職業跨越。接受我們采訪之前她特意向我們詢問了東南網國內的網址以及福建的概況，并表示有機會一定會到訪中國，到訪福建。 Jodi目前的職務包括在新南威爾士州下議院代表Strathfield及周邊地區的議員和新南威爾士州影子交通部長等。?

?

“代表Strathfield很榮幸，希望年輕華人可以更多地參與政治討論”

Jodi的選區中包括了悉尼三個最主要華人區中的兩個，Ashfield和Burwood，后者的華人所占人口比重甚至達到了50%。走在Burwood的街上餓了有餃子有火鍋，乏了有手法正宗的中式按摩，想喝酒了能買到茅臺五糧液——一些老悉尼人管這兒叫The Real China Town。

“我的整個選區中華裔人口占了四分之一，能代表他們在議會中為他們爭取利益，我感到很榮幸。同時他們也為我們的社區建設做出了杰出的貢獻，我為他們驕傲。”

Jodi的選區中高度集中的華裔人口是澳大利亞這個多民族國家多元文化的一個縮影。正如美國一樣，多元文化是澳大利亞的標簽。在談到代表華人社區最大的挑戰是什么的時候，Jodi很明確地告訴記者，語言。“第一代移民往往不太精通英語，這造成了信息送達的遲緩，這對我這是一項挑戰。我想讓更多的華裔年輕人參與到政治議題的討論中來，他們有著更好的英語技能，能夠代表他們的父母。同時我也歡迎中國留學生參與政治的討論，他們從中國來，可以帶來新的觀點和角度，幫助我更好地為我的社區服務。”

“歡迎中國投資，十年簽證對Strathfield不會有影響”

近日，關于中國國際貿易的問題再次升溫。部分澳大利亞本國媒體一直以來對于中國在澳的投資持謹慎態度，認為其有可能傷害澳大利亞本國的經濟。對于這一系列問題，Jodi表示在她的選區中，中國投資者是隨時受到歡迎的。

“中國投資讓這里變得生機勃勃，他們是最受歡迎的。我需要在議會里宣傳中國投資為我們的經濟帶來的活力，如果有任何不利于我社區的提議，我有義務站起來反對它。”

就在上周，澳大利亞總理攜澳史上最大貿易代表團到訪中國，雖不屬于同一政黨，Jodi對總理的中國之行仍然給予了高度評價。除了貿易交流以外，本次澳總理訪華還帶來了有關十年簽證即將落地的消息，對此Jodi表示不會對她選區有太大影響。

“我的選區華人數量一直在增加，他們有許多親戚在這里生活，他們的朋友也許會推薦他們來這里居住，盡管十年簽證對于未來的移民是一件大事，但我不認為它會對我的選區造成影響，因為他們（華人）太愛這里了，他們會不斷搬過來的。（笑）”

Jodi McKay MP與本站記者合影