In QLD power stations have a  mW of power. Everywhere else in the world they have MW.
The officer have ordered a 10ML of sulphuric acid and was totally surprised when huge truck arrived because one had in mind a 10 mL.
Our chemists and health food shops sell medicine in mcgms rather than as in civilised parts of the world in ug.  In Australia the distance is measured in klms rather than in km as in civilised parts of the world. And the list of examples goes on.
I will not explain any of that. If you do not understand it, just join Julia.
This is just one tiny speck in education. The effective communication is by far more important than numeracy and literacy. Number of times I've send a message with explanation to Julia Gillard then the minister for education. She never replied, she never understood what I want from her. Now lots of “specialists” and common people rate her as strong on education. Is Picasso bad just because I mistake one with child painting? What else she is strong on?

good point. It's teaching by example. Now as I analyze the idea of effective communication, it came to me that words are far less important than we believe they are. It is well known that when you appear for a job interview for instance, in a few seconds since you appear and shake a hand the decision is already taken if you are accepted or  not. The rest of interview is just a formality.

So Julia's words are far less important than her dids as you pointed.

I send this post not just to stand against her. I want to make people aware that we need a positive action, not meaningless words. This time voters reacted quite positively showing dissatisfaction with both titans.

I am sad however that there is not much interest in this issue. No, units of measure is just one tiny aspect of poor education. I really want people to engage in this discussion not only here on forum but also in life. It's all good for us.

Another aspect of teaching other than units of measure and effective communication is surely as so many radio listeners say, a proper and comprehensive driving training. Driving become a fact of life for about all of us but the level of training is near zero. It is for safety and for smooth traffic flow.

Another issue again is a healthy nutrition. It is so bad that we see obesity and general sickness in society, and we do not study it in schools, nor even doctors study it at all. Doctors do not study nutrition because it is against their best interest. If we all become healthy they loose their lucrative jobs.