东南网澳大利亚站讯 （本站记者 彭寒）

和总理一样，Michael在进入政治舞台之前有着非常成功的职业生涯。用他自己的话讲，曾经在Lendlease，Westfield等大公司的工作经历给了他一种全局的视角来看待澳大利亚的宏观经济发展。

虽然Michael两年半以前才刚刚加入自由党，但他对澳大利亚政治的热情是从小就有的。在17岁离开父母独立生活以前，政治是一家人每天晚饭时的固定话题。

“后来我忙于事业，就渐渐和政治疏远了，除了每次大选投票的时候。当我有了美满的家庭和成功的事业，作为一个男人我开始思考另一种为社会做贡献的可能，这时我想起了少年时对政治话题的热情。”

如果说寻求另一种为社会作出贡献的可能是引领Michael走向政坛的根本原因，那么上一任工党政府的经济政策就是他加入自由党投身竞选的直接原因了。

“我并不喜欢上一任工党政府的经济方针，他们并没有代表所有人。”

“我看到一些混乱的财政情况，过度的财政支出，巨大的赤字，混乱的边境管理。”

Parramatta，下一个CBD?

在Westfield高层的工作经历让Michael有机会和各种规模的商家打交道，这让他了解商家们需要什么。在转型期的澳大利亚经济已经将重点从矿业转移到了其他的地方，小企业减税就是重要的举措之一。

“为他们减税是带动经济活力最重要的一部分，这对Parramatta很重要。人们在过去的二十年中一直在念叨这里可以成为悉尼地区第二个CBD，我们需要更多的工作和基础设施来让它变成现实。”

Parramatta会吸引更多的人搬进来吗？他的回答是肯定的。

多元文化在Parramatta

Parramatta有着庞大的华人和印度裔社区，中东裔也是目前主要的新兴人口。Michael认为多元文化在这里融合得很好，将来还会融合地更好。

严格来讲，除了土著人，现在生活在澳大利亚的所有人都是移民。在过去的很长一段时间中英裔文化一直被认为是澳大利亚的主导文化，但Michael认为文化在这里已经真正多元化了。

“当你看电视的时候，你会认为英裔文化依旧占据着文化主导地位。但事实上，它已经没有了，那些只是媒体中的假象。”

“英裔文化曾经误伤过其他人，那并不是有意的，那不是好事。但是现在它已经改变了。”

二战过后，意大利移民和希腊移民大批涌入澳大利亚，如今他们走在街上已经和澳大利亚人完全没有分别了。曾经有人辩论过“究竟是谁改变了？”这一有趣的话题，对此Michael的回答是，两者都改变了。

“当我看到这里的华人孩子，他们说英语，我总认为他们先是澳大利亚人，再是华人。也可能我错了吧（笑），但他们看起来很开心。你说是他们变了吗？他们也在影响着我们，这是一个有趣的命题。”

快速问答

作为曾经在房产管理界的高层人士，您认为针对海外购房者的政策变化会对新州房地产市场带来怎样的影响？

“总体来说澳大利亚依旧是一个吸引力十足的投资地点，政策变化可能会带来一定的房价波动，但是好是坏现在下结论还太早。”

随着中国经济放缓，它还会是澳大利亚国际贸易发展的关键吗？

“会，一定的。”

两个月的竞选活动，什么策略是最行之有效的？

“走到街上和选民交流，我的办公室在大街上。”

您有什么不为人知的小秘密吗？

“哈哈我是披头士的铁杆粉丝，约翰列侬是史上最伟大的歌手。”

Election 2016: Liberal Candidate for Parramatta, Michael Beckwith

By Han, Southeast Net Australia

Technically speaking, Michael is not a senior Liberal party member. He only joined the party two and half years ago, while his story with Australian politics dates way back to his very childhood.

Michael grew up in a house where his family talked about politics everyday, which was mainly before he moved out and started living on himself at the age of 17.

After a successful business career of development operation managing at big corporations like Lendlease and Westfield, he rediscovered his old interest at politics.

“From that (working in big companies) advantage point, I got a top-down view over the economy and cities. I didn’t like the way our old Labor government was operating. I felt like they didn’t represent everybody. “

“I looked at the way they manage economy and I saw some real chaos, excessed spending, money being wasted, deficit budget, losing control of borders, etc.”

Parramatta, the second CBD

Experience of working with major shopping centers like Westfield gave Michael the opportunity to deal people from all directions, ranging from big business to small business and ordinary shoppers.

“(Government backing small business) is extremely important for Parramatta. This is the most important part of how everything fix together.”

“For so long people have been talking about Parramatta being the second CBD of Sydney region. The keys are more jobs and some more infrastructures, and they’re now happening in this area under our federal and state Liberal Government. ”

He believes the development of infrastructure in Parramatta would inevitably attract more people to move into the area, getting new jobs and enhancing diversity.

Multiculturalism in Parramatta

With a large number of Indian and Chinese communities, Parramatta is probably the best illustration of multiculturalism in NSW.

“The stable structure of Australia means a peaceful society in which people get what they need. ”

“Wherever they’re from, they are allowed to live the way they want to live.”

“Particularly the Chinese kids who grew up here, I think of them as Australian first and Chinese second, or maybe I’m wrong. (Laugh) But they look really happy here. ”

He believes the Aussie culture, the once dominant culture in this nation, is no longer what it used to be anymore.

“The old mainstream culture is being tempered and adjusted. When you watch the TV here, you’d think that the old Aussie culture still dominates. In fact it doesn’t. It’s just the picture in the media.”

“It’s a different kind of culture now. Even if the old Aussie culture accidently offense people, that’s not intended. It’s not a good thing. We’re improving.”

Immigrants came to Australia 50 years ago, and they’re now Australians. People can’t even tell if they’re Italians or Greeks. Among immigrants and Australia, who’s been changing, to which Michael answered both.

“Now we have lots of Chinese here. It’s hard to know who’s changing, isn’t it? ”

Quick Follow-ups

How much impact do you think the policy change targeting foreign property investors would put on the real estate market of NSW?

“Over all, Australia is a very attractive place to invest. I think it may have a slight impact on property prices. It’s still kind of early to tell.”

What holds the key of domestic economic growth?

“We depended on the mining booms to a great degree, but not anymore. It affects Australia. That’s why we have tax incentive and Free Trade Agreement.”

As China slows down on its economy, does it still hold the key of Australian economy internationally?

“I believe so.”

What has been the most effective strategy for you during this record-long campaign?

“Walking around and actually meeting people face to face. My office is on the street.”

What about you that people might not know of？

“I’m a big fan of The Beatles, John Lennon especially.”