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.

Asylum-seeker boat arrival numbers increase in Australia


The number of asylum-seekers coming to Australia by boat surged in the first 2 1/2 months of this year, with a 55 per cent spike in arrivals compared to the same period last year. Almost 1900 people have arrived in the first 73 days of this year, compared with 1209 for the same period last year, … Continue reading Asylum-seeker boat arrival numbers increase in Australia

China’s Citic fail to pay $400 million in Australian contract; can’t comprehend “rule of law” concept


Up to $400 million in royalty and purchase payments due to Queensland mining magnate Clive Palmer are in dispute and have not been paid, as a rift widens between him and China's Citic Pacific, the builder of the troubled $US8 billion ($7.8bn) Sino Iron project in Western Australia. Hong Kong-listed Citic has said it is … Continue reading China’s Citic fail to pay $400 million in Australian contract; can’t comprehend “rule of law” concept

Adam Giles to be Australia’s first indigenous head of government


Terry Mills has been replaced as Northern Territory chief minister while on an overseas trip to Japan. Taking his place will be Transport Minister Adam Giles, who will become Australia's first indigenous head of government. Mr Mills' removal comes only seven months after the Country Liberal Party's victory in the NT election, and just a … Continue reading Adam Giles to be Australia’s first indigenous head of government

Australian government defends indigenous policy


The Gillard government has defended its indigenous policies after Howard minister Alexander Downer called for children to be moved out of remote communities and into boarding schools and for increased access to property ownership. Mr Downer said sending children from remote communities into boarding schools in regional towns and cities would help them "acclimatise to … Continue reading Australian government defends indigenous policy

Japanese technology could improve Australia’s Collins-class submarines


The navy has set its sights on sophisticated new Japanese technology to extensively rebuild its troubled Collins-class submarines and extend their operational lives by 10 years or more. That could postpone the spending of an estimated $40 billion to build the 12 new submarines the Gillard government has promised to replace the Collins-class boats. Japan … Continue reading Japanese technology could improve Australia’s Collins-class submarines

Australian Prime Minister harmed state election results for her own party


Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard harmed the Labor brand further by not being involved in the West Australian election campaign, according to re-elected premier Colin Barnett. Mr Barnett was celebrating the Liberal's extraordinary triumph in yesterday 's poll, which saw his party win enough seats to govern on its own, as Labor's federal woes infected … Continue reading Australian Prime Minister harmed state election results for her own party

Australian teachers have a lot to learn


The goal of the "Give a Gonski" campaign is not a revolution; it is a counter-revolution. Its targets are changes taking place in the Coalition states that bring greater autonomy to government schools, devolve more control from bureaucrats to parents and principals, and increase school choice. Victoria's proposals, released last week, to provide every low-income … Continue reading Australian teachers have a lot to learn

Australian Prime Minister’s attack on foreign workers is ‘damaging Asian strategy’


Julia Gillard's attack on foreign worker visa rorts is jeopardising Australia's global standing and risks reinforcing perceptions of racial and religious intolerance. Two of the nation's most experienced diplomats have also warned Labor that the row over 457 temporary migration visas is undermining its Asian Century strategy. Former Australian ambassador to China Geoff Raby said … Continue reading Australian Prime Minister’s attack on foreign workers is ‘damaging Asian strategy’

Former Prime Minister praises contributions of immigrants to Australia


As Julia Gillard talks tough on foreign workers, Kevin Rudd has praised the contribution of successive generations of migrants to building the nation. Speaking to an infrastructure conference in Melbourne today, Mr Rudd said Australia would not have become the world's 12th largest economy if not for the contribution of migrants. “Our natural birth rate … Continue reading Former Prime Minister praises contributions of immigrants to Australia

Australia’s imported workers being paid less


Labor says the 457 visa program is driving down wages for Australian workers, despite its own reforms in 2009 requiring temporary skilled workers to be paid market rates. Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor made the claim today, saying temporary skilled workers on 457 visas were working for less money than Australians. “There is a decrease in … Continue reading Australia’s imported workers being paid less

Australia’s hopes high of locking in Japanese free trade agreement


Australia and Japan are eyeing a chance to conclude a free-trade agreement, possibly with a visit from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe before the middle of the year. Comments made by Mr Abe and US President Barack Obama in their recent meeting appear to have heightened hopes of Japan joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade … Continue reading Australia’s hopes high of locking in Japanese free trade agreement

Australia’s asylum children risk developing mental illness in detention centres


The first children's commissioner to be given free access to child asylum seekers in Australian detention centres says many fear "going mental" with worry and severe boredom. Tasmanian Children's Commissioner Aileen Ashford this morning said many of the 137 boys held in an immigration detention centre at Pontville, near Hobart, told her they feared "going … Continue reading Australia’s asylum children risk developing mental illness in detention centres

Defence force chief confirms death of two Afghan boys involved Australian soldiers


Defence force chief General David Hurley has offered his condolences to the families of two boys, aged seven and eight, killed during an incident involving Australian soldiers in Afghanistan. It is alleged Australian soldiers were responsible, but General Hurley says it is "premature" to determine how the incident occurred or who was responsible. Defence is … Continue reading Defence force chief confirms death of two Afghan boys involved Australian soldiers

Australia’s supposed doctor shortage is ‘a myth’


The number of full-time GPs billing on Medicare has surged at more than twice the rate of both population growth and the increase in Medicare payments back to doctors. The findings, in a paper to be released today by Monash University demographer Bob Birrell, point to a major "over-servicing" problem and explode the theory that … Continue reading Australia’s supposed doctor shortage is ‘a myth’

Australian opposition party says asylum-seeker bridging visa system is out of control


Tony Abbott insists the government needs to do more to monitor asylum-seekers who he says are just "disappearing" into the community. Backing comments by his immigration spokesman Scott Morrison, the Opposition Leader said not enough was being done to keep tabs on asylum-seekers released from immigration detention on bridging visas - a claim denied by … Continue reading Australian opposition party says asylum-seeker bridging visa system is out of control

Australian detention centres are “Fawlty Towers” of global immigration community


In a star-studded field of dysfunctional federal government departments it is difficult to nominate the standout performer. Customs and Border Protection is beset with serious corruption and a declining ability to check incoming cargo for illegal firearms and drugs. The Australian Crime Commission apparently sees more danger in performance-enhancing supplements than illegal drugs, suburban gunbattles … Continue reading Australian detention centres are “Fawlty Towers” of global immigration community

Australia to sell kangaroo meat to China and Russia, worth hundreds of millions of dollars


The kangaroo meat industry is poised to expand its export market to China, with a promise to only cull males in a bid to thwart "fanatical" animal rights activists. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry yesterday said it was working to open market access for kangaroo meat to China. "Representatives from the department are … Continue reading Australia to sell kangaroo meat to China and Russia, worth hundreds of millions of dollars

Australian industry groups and unions need oversight


Through the years, I have written quite a lot about trade unions. From an economic point of view, trade unions can operate like monopolists, given their ability to institute collective boycotts against businesses by calling on workers to strike. Were it not for a specific law, such activity would be illegal. To be sure, economists … Continue reading Australian industry groups and unions need oversight

Australian live export trade prompts review of livestock industry guidelines


The nation's animal welfare regime will come under scrutiny in a government probe into the domestic livestock industry amid a continuing backlash against the $1 billion live-export trade and a backbench push for tougher rules for farmers, transport companies and abattoirs. The Gillard government has called for tenders to review the formation of the animal … Continue reading Australian live export trade prompts review of livestock industry guidelines

Australian government plans changes to 457 (temporary work) visa conditions


The Federal Government has announced changes to conditions for foreign workers on 457 visas (skilled temporary work). Employers will be required to demonstrate there is a genuine skills shortage, and they will not be able to send foreign workers to an area where local skilled workers are available. The Government will also close a loophole … Continue reading Australian government plans changes to 457 (temporary work) visa conditions

Australia’s Kevin Rudd supports US pivot as a ‘response to China’


China's assertive foreign and security policies are dominating strategic concerns in the Asia-Pacific region and have led directly to a strong US response, according to Kevin Rudd. In an article to be published next month in American journal Foreign Affairs, Mr Rudd says the "pivot" to Asia by US President Barack Obama was a direct … Continue reading Australia’s Kevin Rudd supports US pivot as a ‘response to China’

Australian navy intercepts Indonesian people-smuggling ship


The Java-Christmas Island people-smuggling trade is ramping up again, with 452 passengers arriving so far this month and at least another 140 people likely to be on the way. The pick-up in asylum-seekers came as about 20 of them were thrown into rough seas to the north of Christmas Island and successfully rescued on Wednesday … Continue reading Australian navy intercepts Indonesian people-smuggling ship

Australia asked to keep the peace after Sea Shepherd rammed by whaling ship near Antarctica


Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson expects the Southern Ocean whale-hunting season to be cut short after a dramatic clash prevented Japanese boats refuelling. The whaling fleet abandoned an attempt to refuel from a tanker yesterday when Sea Shepherd vessels intervened. The conservation activist group says three of its boats were then rammed by the Japanese … Continue reading Australia asked to keep the peace after Sea Shepherd rammed by whaling ship near Antarctica

Australia fears having to choose between China and US


Australia does not want to be put in the position where it has to choose between the US and China, the new head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has declared. In his first major public speech since taking over as DFAT secretary, Peter Varghese said: "The challenge for all of us is … Continue reading Australia fears having to choose between China and US

Australian aid (AusAID) spent on foreign junkets


Political party executives are being accused of having their "snouts in the trough" with millions of dollars in AusAID funding being spent on foreign junkets.A 7News investigation has found lucrative travel perks, allowing unelected officials to travel on taxpayers' money. AusAID's charter is to help those who need it most, but 7News can reveal the … Continue reading Australian aid (AusAID) spent on foreign junkets