KOCHI: Success in the midst of adversity best exemplifies the nerves of steel displayed by an Aluva native who walked a staggering 4,070 km across the Australian outback to draw attention to the unfair business environment down under.
Ashok Alexander, who migrated to Australia about 20 years ago, had lost a growing business venture, loyal clientele, all his savings and a penalty amounting to `4.57 crore in a legal battle. It was then he decided to face up to the harsh reality by taking a long walk from the country’s north to its southern tip. He travelled on foot - over 5 million steps- from Darwin to Canberra.
“I walked to test my physical and mental resilience, after having lost all hope for a fair treatment from the federal government in Canberra,” said Ashok, who is here to visit his parents, who were worried about the entire issue.The walk, videos and photos of the intrepid endeavour through the remote roads in the outback have been posted on Ashok’s Facebook page under the header ‘5 million steps walk’. It has been an altogether vastly different challenge to being a company director, a position he held for several years.
Ashok’s story in Australia goes back to 1997 when he and his wife - two ex-Indian Oil engineers in New Delhi - travelled to Sydney for Ashok’s MBA studies. After his MBA, he started many ventures in different areas like computer sales and service, courier service, publishing, restaurant, medical centre etc. “My dream was to earn some money from those ventures and start a big business,” he said.
For 14 years, he toiled to realise the dream. It was then he came to know about a business called Hallmark Computer International, which was up for sale, in Darwin. The couple sold all they had and bought Hallmark, and moved from Sydney to Darwin. Despite several setbacks including the 2009 global meltdown, the company stayed in business and was even awarded the ‘Best Small Business’ in 2013.
“I made the mistake of employing a few 457 visa workers - In Australia, the 457 visa is the most common visa for Australian or overseas employers to sponsor skilled overseas workers to work temporarily in Australia- and paying them a similar salary to what was being paid to local staff with similar technical skills at that time i.e. during 2012-2013. This was not as per government regulations related to 457 visa conditions which had a minimum of Australian $54,000, and resulted in a legal case and the closure of the company,” he explained. “As the director, I was also severely penalised.
The issue came to fore when we gave a written warning to two employees against theft. They went to immigration behind the back while still continuing employment and made up stories portraying them as victims,” Ashok said.He said apart from the penalties, he has been asked to pay many more charges, interest and there is no neutral ground for me to represent myself.
“My walk is a start to bring the truth to the people and the associated risks associated,” he said.Ashok now plans to write a tome on how to do business in Australia, which he hopes will act as an eye-opener for would-be entrepreneurs in that country, and another one on his experiences from the walk from Darwin to Canberra.