An Australian man is suspected of carrying out a suicide bombing attack in Syria on behalf of the proscribed terror group the al-Nusrah Front. Photos of the suspected bomber with his face blurred out have been circulating on social media websites as community members in Australia attempted to verify his identity. Some sites were reporting … Continue reading Australian man may be suicide bomber in Syria
Category: Australian Current Affairs
Indonesia rejects Australian people-smuggler plan
Jakarta has signalled its reluctance to embrace a key plank of Tony Abbott's asylum-seeker policy, with the Indonesian Foreign Minister criticising the plan to pay villagers for information about people-smugglers, saying it risked undermining his nation's sovereignty. In a day of tension between Australia and its nearest neighbour, a policy row also erupted over foreign … Continue reading Indonesia rejects Australian people-smuggler plan
Australia risks losing specialist teachers in English, maths, history and other subjects
The focus on generic skills in Australia's new national curriculum risks breeding a profession of general-capabilities educators rather than teachers of specialist subjects such as history, English or maths. Former president of the national History Teachers Association Paul Kiem - who has written about school history in a collection of essays, Australian History Now, launched … Continue reading Australia risks losing specialist teachers in English, maths, history and other subjects
Indonesia invites Australia for controversial “turn back the boats” asylum-seeker talks
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has opened the way for Australia's Tony Abbott to make his first foreign visit as prime minister to Indonesia, with bilateral talks on the controversial policy of turning around asylum-seeker boats possible within a fortnight. The development came as another key plank of Mr Abbott's asylum-seeker policy began to take … Continue reading Indonesia invites Australia for controversial “turn back the boats” asylum-seeker talks
US investment in Australia helps both countries in China
Massive investments by the US in Australian resources projects are helping both nations develop a healthy relationship with China, says departing American ambassador Jeffrey Bleich. "People like to spin out doomsday scenarios," Mr Bleich told The Australian in a farewell interview. "They sell books and newspapers," he said, of the view that China and the … Continue reading US investment in Australia helps both countries in China
Australia to continue Papua New Guinea asylum seeker scheme
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill says he expects a Tony Abbott-led government to respect the asylum-seeker processing arrangements made with former prime minister Kevin Rudd. But Mr O'Neill says he is open to the scheme being reviewed. "The resettlement program (asylum-seeker deal) and the infrastructure development program associated with this, negotiated and agreed … Continue reading Australia to continue Papua New Guinea asylum seeker scheme
New Australian leader likened to George W Bush
A "compassionate conservative" in the tradition of George W Bush, a "bigoted air-head" and a leader with a markedly different view on a strike on Syria were among the international assessments of Australia's prime minister elect Tony Abbott. UK Prime Minister David Cameron called to congratulate Mr Abbott following the election before taking to Twitter … Continue reading New Australian leader likened to George W Bush
Australia has a new government
Tony Abbott has become Australia's 28th prime minister, declaring from today "Australia is under new management ."Abbott said he was "proud and humbled" to "shoulder the duties of government", as he spoke to his supporters today after his victorious win."I now look forward to forming a government that is competent, that is trustworthy, and which … Continue reading Australia has a new government
China concerned about Australian opposition leader; possible future leader
If the polls are right, conservative opposition leader Tony Abbott will be Australia's next prime minister. Abbott goes into tomorrow's election with little-to-no foreign policy experience, and throughout the campaign he offered few clues to his approach - especially regarding Australia's crucial relationship with China. But strategic experts are pinning their hopes on Abbott emulating … Continue reading China concerned about Australian opposition leader; possible future leader
Australian opposition plans to relegate asylum seekers to military, keep numbers secret
Australians may never know how many asylum-seeker boats arrive under a Coalition government, with opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison refusing to release details about boat arrivals without the approval of a three-star general. The Coalition has previously said it would appoint a three-star military officer to command a joint taskforce, which will include some 12 … Continue reading Australian opposition plans to relegate asylum seekers to military, keep numbers secret
Australian government moves to protect international education industry
Australia's Labor government will create a top-level council to devise a new strategy to protect Australia's $15 billion international education industry from tough new competition overseas. The council would bring ministers and sector representatives together in a move in line with the recommendations of the Chaney report released in February, following complaints from the industry … Continue reading Australian government moves to protect international education industry
Chinese students find Australia’s capital city too quiet for study
The majority of Chinese do not consider Canberra as a study destination and those that do find it too quiet, ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher has found. Ms Gallagher is in China, with University of Canberra vice-chancellor Stephen Parker and Australian National University vice-chancellor Ian Young, to promote Canberra as a tertiary education and business … Continue reading Chinese students find Australia’s capital city too quiet for study
Australian government focus on jobs, training ahead of election
Officially launching Labor's campaign, Kevin Rudd has urged voters to choose the ALP at this Saturday's election to save jobs and protect family budgets from Tony Abbott's cuts. Warnings about the Opposition Leader featured heavily in the Prime Minister's speech - a crucial address, especially given there are just five days left in the campaign. … Continue reading Australian government focus on jobs, training ahead of election
Australian opposition leader refuses legal aid for asylum seekers
A Coalition plan to deny asylum seekers the right to free legal advice would result in refugees being wrongly returned to countries where they are fleeing persecution, lawyers and human rights advocates warn. In the latest addition to Tony Abbott's border protection strategy, the Coalition announced on Saturday that asylum seekers who arrive by boat … Continue reading Australian opposition leader refuses legal aid for asylum seekers
Australian opposition leader describes burqa as “confronting”
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has confessed to finding the burqa "confronting" while defending Liberal candidate Ray King for describing the Islamic attire as a "sign of oppression". Asked whether he supported the statements by Mr King, who drew a link between the burqa and criminality at a fund-raiser, Mr Abbott admitted he found it "a … Continue reading Australian opposition leader describes burqa as “confronting”
Australian soldiers said to have cut off dead Afghan’s hands
Australian elite special forces soldiers are being investigated over claims they cut the hands off at least one Afghan insurgent's body to identify him by his fingerprints. A ''potential misconduct'' investigation against members of the Special Operations Task Group centres on claims that soldiers amputated the hands and took them back to their base to … Continue reading Australian soldiers said to have cut off dead Afghan’s hands
Australia captures five major people smugglers
Federal police have arrested five 'major' alleged people smugglers operating in Australia. Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Steve Lancaster made the announcement on Thursday after a series of raids across the country. The AFP has described it as Australia's largest ever people smuggling strike. Mr Lancaster says four of the five people - three Afghans, … Continue reading Australia captures five major people smugglers
Australia’s opposition leader unfit for international diplomacy
Kevin Rudd has attacked Tony Abbott's character, questioning whether he has the temperament and judgment to handle international crises such as the human rights atrocities in Syria. After switching his campaign focus to diplomacy and national security, the Prime Minister last night used the unfolding events in Damascus to skewer the Opposition Leader over his … Continue reading Australia’s opposition leader unfit for international diplomacy
Australia’s prime minister discusses Syria crisis with US president
Kevin Rudd has likened the spiralling humanitarian tragedy in Syria to the notorious episodes of genocide in Bosnia and Rwanda and warned history will judge today’s leaders harshly if they do not act. In his strongest remarks yet indicating possible support for an international intervention, Mr Rudd branded the civil war in the Middle Eastern … Continue reading Australia’s prime minister discusses Syria crisis with US president
Indonesia says Australian opposition party unfriendly, insulting
Australian opposition party leader Tony Abbott's plan to buy boats from Indonesian fishermen to prevent the vessels being used by people smugglers has been slammed by Jakarta as unfriendly and an insult to Indonesia. The buyback plan has met with heavy resistance in Jakarta, with a senior member of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's ruling Coalition … Continue reading Indonesia says Australian opposition party unfriendly, insulting
Australia takes lead role on Syrian crisis
As president of the UN Security Council from September 1, Australia will lead the international debate on the worsening Syrian crisis amid growing pressure on Moscow and Beijing to bring the Assad regime into line. After the deaths of an estimated 1300 Syrians in what rebels have claimed was a sarin nerve-gas attack on the … Continue reading Australia takes lead role on Syrian crisis
China concerned by US military buildup in Australia
China has expressed concern at the US decision to ramp up its military presence in the region by establishing a special naval task force to support its troops based in Darwin. A technical "amphibious lift" group will be in place by 2018, possibly in Guam, to help the US mobilise its Australia-based troops quickly in … Continue reading China concerned by US military buildup in Australia
Papua New Guinea suspends asylum talks with Australia
Papua New Guinea has suspended discussions with Australia on the resettlement of refugees, as its most senior immigration official warned that serious breaches of the asylum-seeker undertakings could "jeopardise implementation" of Kevin Rudd's offshore solution. There are now no discussions between the Australian and PNG governments about the resettlement of refugees on Manus Island. The … Continue reading Papua New Guinea suspends asylum talks with Australia
China’s ambassador to Australia speaks of important milestones
In three years as Chinese ambassador to Australia, I have witnessed the rapid development of China-Australia relations. Forty years after our two countries established diplomatic relations, a strategic partnership and the annual leaders meeting are important milestones in the development of bilateral ties. China-Australia co-operation has yielded fruitful results across the past three years. Bilateral … Continue reading China’s ambassador to Australia speaks of important milestones
Iran, Pakistan, Thailand snub human trafficking conference in Jakarta; Australia well represented
Iran, the largest source of boat people landing in Australia this year, has boycotted today's special regional conference on asylum-seekers and human trafficking. The Iranians' failure to appear casts further doubt on the capacity of the ministerial conference to agree on coordinated "concrete measures" for curbing asylum-seeker flows across the region. Pakistan, another major source … Continue reading Iran, Pakistan, Thailand snub human trafficking conference in Jakarta; Australia well represented
Craig Hill 