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.

China dismisses Australia’s defence white paper, says it changes nothing


China has warned that Labor's new white paper is a political document unlikely to bring major changes to Canberra's defence strategy or alter Australia's position in the Asia-Pacific region. Han Feng, a deputy director at the China Academy of Social Science, a think tank closely linked to the Communist Party and government, said the paper … Continue reading China dismisses Australia’s defence white paper, says it changes nothing

Indonesian president vows it’s military will outgun Australia


Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says his country should strive to have a more powerful military than Australia. About 16,000 Indonesian troops are preparing for joint military exercises in East Java. Meeting with military commanders, Mr Yudhoyono told them that Indonesia's military should be bigger and more modern than countries like Australia, Singapore and Malaysia. … Continue reading Indonesian president vows it’s military will outgun Australia

Australian Muslims fighting in Syria now pose a threat on the streets of Sydney


The rising risk posed by Australians returning from the battlegrounds of Syria has forced NSW police to increase their operational intelligence-gathering and community engagement programs to counter the threat. The chief of the NSW Police Counter Terrorism Command, assistant commissioner Peter Dein, said yesterday authorities were disturbed about a "large number" of individuals suspected of … Continue reading Australian Muslims fighting in Syria now pose a threat on the streets of Sydney

New Australian defence white paper fails to recognise China as any threat whatsoever


Asia is a potentially turbulent region, yet Australia has no sensible defence strategy. For more than 40 years Australia has been able to assume that it is a secure country in a peaceful region. That has kept its defence needs low and defence budget modest. Now Asia is changing fast, and the old assumptions no … Continue reading New Australian defence white paper fails to recognise China as any threat whatsoever

Australia: Asylum seekers children to stay on Manus Island despite doctor’s health warnings


Refugee families will remain on Manus Island, despite staff at the camp going public with concerns children were at risk at the asylum seeker detention centre. Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor on Tuesday rejected opposition claims that the government was preparing to move families off Manus Island in response to a doctor's warning of health risks. … Continue reading Australia: Asylum seekers children to stay on Manus Island despite doctor’s health warnings

Australia: Fourth Muslim school has government funding frozen


A fourth Sydney Muslim school has had its funding frozen by the NSW government, amid allegations in a court case of financial mismanagement and a claim by the school's chairman that he was threatened with a gun and subjected to a death threat by a relative of the principal. Rissalah College in Lakemba, in Sydney's … Continue reading Australia: Fourth Muslim school has government funding frozen

More than 10,000 temporary work visa frauds in Australia


Australian Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor has declared the number of 457 visa rorts to be in excess of ten thousand and committed the government to passing legislation to crack down on the regime. Mr O'Connor placed his proposed overhaul of the 457 regime on the election agenda, saying its prominence in any campaign depended on … Continue reading More than 10,000 temporary work visa frauds in Australia

US Senator John McCain slams Australia’s defence cuts as ‘imprudent’


Powerful US senator John McCain has criticised the Gillard government for cutting the Australian defence budget. In an interview in his Washington Senate office, Mr McCain told The Weekend Australian that "it is not prudent" for Canberra to cut its defence budget so heavily. Last year the Gillard government cut defence spending by 10 per … Continue reading US Senator John McCain slams Australia’s defence cuts as ‘imprudent’

Australian university allows sex segregation at Islamic events


Australian opposition party leader Tony Abbott has condemned Melbourne University for allowing gender segregation at on-campus Islamic events, branding the practice "a leap back into the dark ages." "I just think it's un-Australian what's happened here and I can't understand for a second why Melbourne University would tolerate it," the Opposition Leader said. "I would … Continue reading Australian university allows sex segregation at Islamic events

Australia to investigate one million foreign workers in fraud crackdown


The Department of Immigration will hand over the records of one million temporary visa holders to the Australian Tax Office to identify fraud and visa rorts, in a massive data-matching operation. The exercise will target the holders of 27 temporary visa types including skilled “457 visa” workers, students, backpackers and foreign sports people playing in … Continue reading Australia to investigate one million foreign workers in fraud crackdown

Australia’s Nauru asylum centre faces legal challenge


Australia's asylum seeker processing centre on Nauru will face a legal challenge in the Pacific island nation's Supreme Court.The case involves 10 asylum seekers who are facing rioting and wilful damage charges. Australian-based barrister Jay Williams, who is representing the detainees, told a Nauruan magistrates court on Wednesday he had been refused access to the … Continue reading Australia’s Nauru asylum centre faces legal challenge

Australia won’t be drawn into ‘mythical’ US-China war says defence consultant


The view that war between the US and China is inevitable and that Australia will be drawn into such a conflict is a dangerous miscalculation, says defence white paper author Paul Dibb. The comments to be made tonight by Mr Dibb will follow those by Julia Gillard, who yesterday deplored "false modesty" in our relationship … Continue reading Australia won’t be drawn into ‘mythical’ US-China war says defence consultant

U.S. marines based in Australia will cost $1.6 billion


Infrastructure costing an estimated $1.6 billion will need to be built in Northern Australia to accommodate a fully-equipped, 2500-strong US Marines task force due in Darwin in about 2016. And it is not clear yet who will foot the bill to accommodate the potent and self-contained Marines Air Ground Task Group, which will come to … Continue reading U.S. marines based in Australia will cost $1.6 billion

Australia neglects two trillion dollar opportunity exporting agricultural produce to Asia


Major parties are neglecting the $2 trillion opportunity of exporting agricultural produce to Asia, instead miring themselves in the "140 character" world of political bickering and failing to provide the vision and leadership required to take the nation forward, says the head of Australia's largest beef producer. AACo chief executive David Farley said Australia should … Continue reading Australia neglects two trillion dollar opportunity exporting agricultural produce to Asia

Australian Immigration Department criticises government policy as “harsh”


The head of the Immigration Department has sharply criticised the Gillard government's decision to increase federal court fees since 2010, arguing the policy has had "harsh" and "unintended" consequences on refugee clients. It is highly unusual for one of the government's own departments to criticise policy in such a strident way, but in a letter … Continue reading Australian Immigration Department criticises government policy as “harsh”

Australia gives up hope on China over free trade agreement


Australia has given-up hopes for a comprehensive free trade agreement with China and will instead focus its efforts on a scaled-back agriculture-focused deal with the Chinese government. The decision comes as China and Australia are deadlocked in negotiations on a free trade agreement because of a dispute about state-owned assets, trade minister Craig Emerson said. … Continue reading Australia gives up hope on China over free trade agreement

Australian troops in Afghanistan at risk of final Taliban assault


Australian forces in Afghanistan face a risk that insurgents will try to inflict casualties before they depart at the end of the year, Defence Minister Stephen Smith says. Mr Smith says the Australian task force has now consolidated in their base at Tarin Kowt, ending operations alongside Afghan troops. Under current plans, the main Australian … Continue reading Australian troops in Afghanistan at risk of final Taliban assault

Australia’s Asian Century talk is empty; language funding falls short


It's supposed to be the Asian Century but educator Marnie Hughes-Warrington is having to turn away students keen to learn Asian languages such as Chinese and Hindi. It is a lesson in unintended consequences. This year a new diploma was launched by the Australian National University, a languages powerhouse where Professor Hughes-Warrington is deputy vice-chancellor … Continue reading Australia’s Asian Century talk is empty; language funding falls short

Australian university funding cuts would be risk to teacher quality


Monash University vice-chancellor Ed Byrne has warned that cuts to universities could come back to bite schools. Professor Byrne said good teachers were the defining element of good schools, and teachers were educated at universities. "Universities are operating on very fine margins, and after these cuts they will be even finer. They'll survive but there … Continue reading Australian university funding cuts would be risk to teacher quality

Indonesia still stalling on asylum rescue effort; Australia expresses concern


Indonesian rescue authorities were last night still unable to find survivors or likely search sites for possibly two asylum-seeker boats that disappeared in the Sunda Strait last week. The weekend passed without Basarnas, the search and rescue agency, initiating searches for between 60 and 120 passengers thought to be missing. Basarnas officials said yesterday they … Continue reading Indonesia still stalling on asylum rescue effort; Australia expresses concern

Up to 200 Australians fighting with terrorist groups in Syria


Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr says the government is aware of reports that Australians fighting against the Syrian regime could be linking up with terrorist groups in the war-torn country. When asked if up to 200 Australians could be in Syria fighting against President Bashar al-Assad's forces, Senator Carr said the relevant government agencies were … Continue reading Up to 200 Australians fighting with terrorist groups in Syria

Australian soldier accused over deaths of unarmed Iraqis


A decorated Australian soldier was embroiled in a secret war- crimes investigation after two former high ranking US military officials accused him of ordering the killing of unarmed men during the invasion of Iraq. Fairfax Media has uncovered the extraordinary allegations directed against then army warrant officer Joe Day, who was on an exchange with … Continue reading Australian soldier accused over deaths of unarmed Iraqis

Experts warn that China’s main motive in new deal is to prise Australia away from US


The "strategic partnership" announced this week between Australia and China is widely viewed within China and by experts internationally as a move in which Beijing hopes to start prising Canberra away from Washington on security matters. But this is a long-term strategy, which is easier for China's new leaders, who anticipate a 10-year term ahead, … Continue reading Experts warn that China’s main motive in new deal is to prise Australia away from US

Australia says asylum seeker boat arrival not a new people smuggling strategy


Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor believes an asylum-seeker vessel that made it to the mainland is an exception, and does not herald a new strategy by people-smugglers. The Sri Lankan navy has warned the vessel's arrival in the West Australian port of Geraldton will encourage more people to take the dangerous voyage, believing they can evade … Continue reading Australia says asylum seeker boat arrival not a new people smuggling strategy

Australia’s Foreign Minister brands Margaret Thatcher racist


Former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher made "unabashedly racist" comments during a conversation with Bob Carr, the Foreign Affairs Minister has told Lateline. Thatcher died on Monday morning (UK time) at the age of 87 and will be accorded a ceremonial funeral at London's St Paul's Cathedral next week. Senator Carr says he was "astonished" … Continue reading Australia’s Foreign Minister brands Margaret Thatcher racist