Author: Craig Hill

Social Justice Campaigner, Writer, Teacher and Business Consultant. Lived in China and USA. Dealing with disability. My articles have been cited in New York Times, BBC, Fox News, Aljazeera, Philippines Star, South China Morning Post, National Interest, news.com.au, Wikipedia and many other international publications. Please consider donating, to support our social justice campaign, by clicking on the "Donations Page" button in the top menu.

Australian farmers want to establish Indonesian abattoir for Asian sales


The West Australian Farmers Federation is hopeful the state's live-cattle exporters can establish an abattoir in Indonesia to build markets throughout Asia. Such a move would reduce the need for producers to rely on Indonesian specifications, including the maximum 350kg weight rule for each imported beast. Yesterday WA farmers were underwhelmed by news that Indonesia's … Continue reading Australian farmers want to establish Indonesian abattoir for Asian sales

China steals Australian spy agency blueprints in cyber attack


Classified blueprints of the new ASIO headquarters in Canberra have been stolen in a cyber hit believed to have been mounted by hackers in China. The ABC's Four Corners program has discovered the plans were taken in an operation targeting a contractor involved with building the site. The stolen blueprints included the building's security and … Continue reading China steals Australian spy agency blueprints in cyber attack

Up to 25,000 asylum seekers expected in Australia this year


The immigration department vastly underestimated the number of asylum seekers expected to arrive in Australia this financial year, with up to 25,000 now expected – almost five times more than initial forecasts. Last year, the immigration department estimated just 5400 asylum seekers would arrive in Australia in 2012-13, before being forced to revise it to … Continue reading Up to 25,000 asylum seekers expected in Australia this year

Australia’s new submarines to patrol Melanesia, Indonesia and South China Sea


The navy's 12 planned new submarines will need the range to patrol the massive archipelago that stretches out from Australia's Top End through Melanesia, Indonesia and the South China Sea. In peace time they will gather intelligence, but in any future war their main role will be to destroy enemy submarines and surface warships to … Continue reading Australia’s new submarines to patrol Melanesia, Indonesia and South China Sea

Chinese spies woo Australian business leaders


Some of Australia's most influential business leaders were feted in China by an intelligence platform of the People's Liberation Army, a Fairfax investigation has revealed. Andrew Forrest, who touted his talks with the leaders last month as a lesson on how to be friendly with China, was joined by the heads of four of the … Continue reading Chinese spies woo Australian business leaders

Australia’s relationship with China is beset with misperceptions


For all its vision and clarity, Australia's defence white paper belies a harsh truth: our relationship with China is beset with misperceptions, write Kerry Brown and Bates Gill. China is beset The Australian Defence White Paper released this month takes a strongly positive position on China. "Australia welcomes China's rise", it states, and "does not … Continue reading Australia’s relationship with China is beset with misperceptions

United Nations refugee agency slams Australia’s tough new asylum seeker policy


The UN refugee agency took Australia to task Wednesday over a tough new policy that allows boat people who reach its mainland to be sent to remote Nauru or Papua New Guinea for detention while their asylum claims are processed. The so-called "excision" rules, passed last week, extend previous legislation which only allowed the authorities … Continue reading United Nations refugee agency slams Australia’s tough new asylum seeker policy

Chinese companies claim they are ‘treated unfairly’ by Australia


China's state-owned companies may be deterred from investing in Australia because they are being treated unfairly, a Chinese business leader says. Chairman of the China Chamber of Commerce in Australia, Hu Shanjun, said Australia was still a popular place for Chinese groups to invest, but that could change. Mr Hu, who also heads the Bank … Continue reading Chinese companies claim they are ‘treated unfairly’ by Australia

Australia pushes for hard line on Sri Lanka human rights abuses


A delegation of Labor MPs has approached Foreign Minister Bob Carr and urged him to take a tougher line on alleged human rights abuses in Sri Lanka. The delegation of between 6-12 Labor MPs petitioned Senator Carr after last Tuesday's caucus meeting. A spokesman for Senator Carr confirmed the approach. The group urged a tougher … Continue reading Australia pushes for hard line on Sri Lanka human rights abuses

Many Australian teachers find national literacy and numeracy plan too difficult to understand


Many teachers do not know how to use data provided by annual assessments of their pupils' literacy and numeracy ability, despite often criticising the tests themselves, a new report has found. The report, from the Senate Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References Committee also said teachers need more training to help understand the basics of … Continue reading Many Australian teachers find national literacy and numeracy plan too difficult to understand

Australian military police stop Afghan prisoner transfers because of mistreatment


Military police at Australia's detention centre in Afghanistan were pressured to make prisoners more "pliable" by gagging them, depriving them of sleep and denying them exercise. Sources with first-hand knowledge of the detention centre at Tarin Kowt have said that senior officers from Australia's special forces, as well as the "force exploitation team" - defence … Continue reading Australian military police stop Afghan prisoner transfers because of mistreatment

Australian mainland now off limits for asylum seekers


The government and opposition have rejected a bid to open the offshore detention centres on Nauru and Papua New Guinea for inspection by Australia's Human Rights Commissioner. They have also blocked an attempt to give the Australian media the same access to the centres that it has to mainland and Christmas Island detention facilities. There … Continue reading Australian mainland now off limits for asylum seekers

Australian universities lower entrance scores despite concerns over graduate standards


Universities are having to continue to lower entry scores to maintain expanding numbers, sparking warnings that school inequality is to blame as regional and poor students get left behind. Commonwealth student applications and offer data for this year also show that universities are continuing to recruit into teaching degrees a rising proportion of school leavers … Continue reading Australian universities lower entrance scores despite concerns over graduate standards

Former Australian Prime Minister says US v China debate is ‘infantile’


Business leaders need to see beyond the "infantile" debate of a choice between China and the US when mapping Australia's future economic success, says John Howard, in a view that has won support from senior Obama administration officials. And, writing exclusively today for The Australian, Australia's ambassador to Washington, Kim Beazley, says Australian businesses are … Continue reading Former Australian Prime Minister says US v China debate is ‘infantile’

Asia-Pacific watching foreign aid in Australia’s budget


Foreign aid spending remains the biggest issue for the Asia-Pacific region in the wake of Tuesday's Australian budget. Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan says he's delivered a sensible, calm and responsible budget, while reporting an $18 billion deficit next financial year. The budget delivers big social benefits for schools and the disabled, but hits foreign aid … Continue reading Asia-Pacific watching foreign aid in Australia’s budget

Australian plan to remove neglected Aboriginal children from parents


The Northern Territory's plan to send neglected Indigenous children into adoptive homes has sparked fears of creating another Stolen Generation. The Northern Territory government has sparked fears of creating another Stolen Generation, following a plan outlined to send neglected Indigenous children into adoptive homes. Chief Minister Adam Giles has told News Limited, previous governments have … Continue reading Australian plan to remove neglected Aboriginal children from parents

China was furious because Australia would not submit to its demands under Kevin Rudd


One of Australia's foremost China experts says then prime minister Kevin Rudd may have fallen victim to "bite your friend" syndrome during his dealings with the Asian power, as Beijing expected too much in return.In a paper to be released today by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Ross Terrill, once described by the Chinese as … Continue reading China was furious because Australia would not submit to its demands under Kevin Rudd

In Australia, some asylum women and kids to be released soon


The government has moved more than 500 children and families into the Curtin and Wickham Point detention centres, readying them for release on bridging visas with no work rights. Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor announced on Tuesday that part of the remote Wickham Point facility, about an hour out of Darwin, and Curtin detention centre in … Continue reading In Australia, some asylum women and kids to be released soon

Australia takes first step towards criminalising alcoholism


Alcoholics could end up in jail in Australia under new measures that experts warn will criminalise alcohol dependency. The Northern Territory yesterday unveiled the country's toughest police powers to target problem drinking, under which officers will be able to ban anyone charged with a serious alcohol-related offence from owning or consuming grog, or entering a … Continue reading Australia takes first step towards criminalising alcoholism

Australia must improve performance on indigenous education


Federal School Education Minister Peter Garrett will today demand that the states and territories dramatically lift their game on indigenous education, warning that they are not on track to meet their Closing the Gap targets. Mr Garrett will use the education ministers' meeting in Sydney to call on states and territories to improve their performance … Continue reading Australia must improve performance on indigenous education

Australian Prime Minister tells failed refugees to go back to where they came from


The Australian prime minister says failed refugees should return to their homeland, and shouldn't expect financial support from the government. Julia Gillard was responding to a News Limited report that thousands of asylum seekers, including women and children, faced being left without the right to work or financial support from the government once their refugee … Continue reading Australian Prime Minister tells failed refugees to go back to where they came from

The hidden costs of Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme


You do not have to own a building to get naming rights. You just have to be the biggest tenant. So it is with DisabilityCare, the national disability insurance scheme. The Prime Minister wants naming rights so she promises a levy, starting next year, to part fund it. And Tony Abbott was not about to … Continue reading The hidden costs of Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme

Australian frigate joins US Navy in East China Sea mission


An Australian Navy frigate joined the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet on Monday for a three-month embed, the latest example of tightening links during a time of heightened tensions in the Asia-Pacific region. The modified Perry-class frigate HMAS Sydney is now docked at Yokosuka’s naval harbour, where its 217-member crew will prepare for a patrol as … Continue reading Australian frigate joins US Navy in East China Sea mission

Australia: Aboriginal women sentenced to jail for being victims of domestic violence


Aboriginal women who are victims of violent domestic clashes have been sentenced to jail in regional NSW after retreating from their claims against their abuser - a trend that has sparked calls for an urgent review of police handling of false accusation cases. The Weekend Australian has uncovered 20 cases in which 19 indigenous women … Continue reading Australia: Aboriginal women sentenced to jail for being victims of domestic violence

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef declared in danger by United Nations


Australia's Great Barrier Reef is set to be named as a World Heritage Site in danger by UNESCO next month. A long-awaited assessment of the reef by UNESCO and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), released on Friday evening, says decisive action must be taken to avoid a listing in June. The report … Continue reading Australia’s Great Barrier Reef declared in danger by United Nations