By Nicole Williams
ABC’S Q&A rolled into town and transformed the Drum Theatre for a live filming on Monday.
With many local residents among the 500-strong audience, even the questions took on a local flavour.
Local MP and Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation Mark Dreyfus, Sudanese youth leader Victor Victor and Springvale-born actor/comedian Diana Nguyen gave a local edge to the panel, which also included Liberal MP and Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation Sophie Mirabella, President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Ged Kearney and former Howard Government minister Peter Reith.
Host Tony Jones was given a rock-star reception when he took to the stage.
After filming, he told the Star that it was a pleasure to bring the show to the ‘real Australia’.
“This gives a snapshot of Australia and places like Dandenong are replicated all over the country,” he said.
“We love travelling to places like this to film.”
Prior to filming, panellist Mr Victor said he was very nervous but excited to be involved.
“I believe that I am not just representing myself, but also other people who can’t be represented,” he said.
Ms Nguyen echoed his thoughts.
“It’s nice to represent the community and the community work I’ve done and nice to be on the panel as a contributor,” she said.
Racism, migrant unemployment and manufacturing were the big topics.
In response to one question, Mr Dreyfus defended and highlighted Dandenong’s multiculturalism and diversity by using an example of the city’s mayors.
“I’d just say this about the city of Dandenong,” he said.
“The last four mayors of this city have been a Cambodian Buddhist man, an Albanian man who’s Muslim, a British woman who’s Jewish, and a young Turkish woman who’s Muslim – and they are all Australians.”
RACISM
DIANA Nguyen addressed the elephant in the room during a discussion on difficulties facing migrants when looking for work.
“I think we know what it is and we need to change that. I think it is racism,” she said.
Victor Victor also gave personal accounts of qualified family members moving to Australia from Sudan and African graduates unable to find work.
“It’s very hard and without giving us a fair go into that workplace you never know what skills we can bring to this country,” he said.
Mark Dreyfus also weighed in on the debate.
“We’ve got 150 nationalities plus in Dandenong, more than 200 languages being spoken and there is a tremendous sense of harmony in this community,” he said.
“And I’m not saying there’s not a bit of racism. There is and that’s why we have laws against discrimination.”
Mr Victor also shared a recent story of being targeted by the police in Dandenong while waiting for a train.
“There were six of us. We were all going to a city to do a performance,” he said.
“Unfortunately the police came up to us and they were like “What are you guys doing here? Are you guys a gang?”
MANUFACTURING
MANUFACTURING prompted heated debate between Mark Dreyfus and Sophie Mirabella, who argued the merits of the carbon tax and impact of the high Australian dollar.
Manufacturer Roger Young asked the panellists’ view on how they would address the high Australian dollar for exporters. Sophie Mirabella backed cutting the carbon tax.
Ged Kearney said investment in manufacturing would help sustain Australia’s economy when the mining boom faded.
“The mining boom will end. It may be a long way down the track but when that does happen, we’re going to have to have something to turn around and rely on, and it’s going to have to be manufacturing,” she said.
Mr Dreyfus said it was important to take advantage of Australian expertise and used the example of AW Bell in Dandenong diversifying products and turning to exporting.
Panelists also debated whether to support failing industries or invest in innovative industries.
“I think businesses should stand on their own two feet and I don’t think the Australian taxpayer should be funding big American companies who ought to look after their own business,” Peter Reith argued.
RELIGION
RELIGION was also a divisive topic during the show, with a question posed by Greater Dandenong Interfaith Network tours co-ordinator Helen Heath.
Ms Heath asked if Commonwealth and State Parliaments might follow Greater Dandenong Council’s lead in opening each council meeting with a prayer from a different faith rather than only the Lord’s Prayer.
Mark Dreyfus said he would raise the issue with his colleagues. Diana Nguyen said it was a great idea, but would never happen in parliament.
“Well I think we’ve probably got enough religion in the parliament as it is, quite frankly,” Peter Reith added.
Sophie Mirabella also defended the current procedure.
“I think a lot of people come to Australia because they want to join us, not change us,” she said.
“It is a country founded on the Judeo-Christian ethic and having the Lord’s Prayer is a good thing. It reminds us that there’s something more important than us.”
