This week, the Australian government launched its new National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan. As with all such plans, much depends on how it is implemented. With the details of how it is to be turned into meaningful action yet to be worked out, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and … Continue reading Australia’s Aborigines blame racism for poor health standards
Category: Australian Current Affairs
Australian Foreign minister on trade tour of China
Australia's Foreign Minister Senator Bob Carr today began a 10-day visit to boost bilateral ties and economic links with China. Senator Carr will have a series of high-level meetings in China, including in Hong Kong, Sichuan, Chongqing and Fujian. In Hong Kong, he will meet Chief Executive C Y Leung, Chief Secretary for Administration Carrie … Continue reading Australian Foreign minister on trade tour of China
Papua New Guinea attacks Australian opposition party for disrespect
Papua New Guinea has warned Australian politicians to show it more respect, a day after Opposition Leader Tony Abbott went on the attack over foreign aid flowing to the country. Mr Abbott had accused Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of subcontracting out the nation's aid program to PNG as part of the asylum seeker processing deal, … Continue reading Papua New Guinea attacks Australian opposition party for disrespect
US drops bombs on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef during exercises
Authorities are yet to decide whether they will recover four unarmed bombs dropped onto the Great Barrier Reef during military exercises. Two of the bombs did not contain explosives and the other two were without their fusing mechanisms. US warplanes were forced to drop the bombs after they ran dangerously low on fuel during a … Continue reading US drops bombs on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef during exercises
Australian girls among millions forced to become child brides worldwide
An eloquent and heart-wrenching video message from an 11-year-old girl who escaped being sold into a marriage to an older man has thrown the spotlight on forced marriages. In her video soliloquy, Yemeni girl Nada Al-Ahdals defiantly declares: "I'm not an item for sale." Nada says she fled to her uncle's house when her parents … Continue reading Australian girls among millions forced to become child brides worldwide
Australia puts bounty on heads of people smugglers
The Australian government will award bounty payments of up to $200,000 for those individuals who can provide information that will help the AFP crack down on people smugglers. The announcement by Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare follows a breakthrough deal under which asylum seekers who come to Australia by boat will be resettled in Papua … Continue reading Australia puts bounty on heads of people smugglers
People smugglers hit hard by Australia’s Papua New Guinea solution
Kevin Rudd's Papua New Guinea solution has bit savagely in west Java, where Afghan asylum seekers have immediately begun telling people smugglers they are cancelling their planned boat trips to Christmas Island. After the Prime Minister's announcement, it did not take long for the news to circulate in the mountain-top resort city of Cisarua, where … Continue reading People smugglers hit hard by Australia’s Papua New Guinea solution
Australian Aboriginal land rights law is a failure
The NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act was a "substantial failure" with a backlog of claims that would take 57 years to clear, a review of the 30-year-old legislation has found. A review headed by former Federal Court judge Trevor Morling QC found the act needed to be overhauled to help indigenous Australians obtain economic independence. … Continue reading Australian Aboriginal land rights law is a failure
Australia and China resume free trade talks
Australia will undertake a major rethink of its investment stance towards China, with the Rudd government now prepared to discuss reducing hurdles to Chinese investment as it strives to conclude a free trade agreement with Beijing. New Trade Minister Richard Marles is preparing to fly to China for talks on the FTA and has signalled … Continue reading Australia and China resume free trade talks
Australia helps China build emissions trading scheme
Australia has been drafted in to help design an emissions trading scheme for China, the world's biggest polluter. A deal announced in Canberra on Thursday will see the Australian National University take leadership of a program that will analyse pollution data provided by China and allow Chinese university researchers to examine Australia's experience of the … Continue reading Australia helps China build emissions trading scheme
Australian Aboriginals blast indigenous job scheme as “token gesture”
Aboriginal elder Dennis Foley has blasted the federal government's Indigenous Economic Development Strategy, claiming that employing indigenous people in the public sector is not indigenous economic development. The University of Newcastle professor told a national small business forum in Sydney Aboriginal entrepreneurs were the biggest employers of Aborigines and that government needed to move beyond … Continue reading Australian Aboriginals blast indigenous job scheme as “token gesture”
Australia to send extra police to Papua New Guinea
Australia will send up to 50 police officers to Papua New Guinea by the end of the year to help tackle the country's growing law and order problem. Papua New Guineans will also enjoy ''passenger lane'' status - currently shared by Australian and New Zealand travellers - at Brisbane and Cairns airport from September. Australian … Continue reading Australia to send extra police to Papua New Guinea
Australian politicians to have final say on towing asylum boats back to Indonesia
Political leaders in Canberra could have the final say on individual tow-backs of people-smuggling boats to Indonesian waters under the Coalition's refugee strategy, Scott Morrison says. Interviewed on Sky News's Australian Agenda this morning, the Opposition's immigration spokesman also confirmed the Australian Navy would be expected to siphon petrol from smuggler's vessels before abandoning them … Continue reading Australian politicians to have final say on towing asylum boats back to Indonesia
Indonesia frees Australia’s most wanted people smuggler; allowed to return to Afghanistan
Australia's most wanted people smuggler has been set free by an Indonesian court and granted his wish to return home to Afghanistan. The South Jakarta court ruled on Thursday that Sayed Abbas, 30, who was accused of being a smuggling kingpin, could not be extradited as requested by the Australian government. Chief Judge Pranoto said … Continue reading Indonesia frees Australia’s most wanted people smuggler; allowed to return to Afghanistan
Australia in breach of international human rights laws over Manus Island asylum seekers
The international refugee agency says it is ''deeply concerned'' for the asylum seekers Australia sends to Papua New Guinea's Manus Island detention centre. In its second report on the conditions on the island centre, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says PNG is in breach of international human rights laws by detaining the asylum … Continue reading Australia in breach of international human rights laws over Manus Island asylum seekers
Japan attacks Australia’s kangaroo culling to justify Tokyo’s whaling program
A Japanese diplomat has seized on the slaughter and consumption of kangaroos to justify Tokyo's whaling program. The comments by Noriyuki Shikata came as Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus at the International Court of Justice accused Japan of using "false" and "offensive" statements to justify its annual "scientific" whale hunt in Antarctic waters. Canberra has ramped up … Continue reading Japan attacks Australia’s kangaroo culling to justify Tokyo’s whaling program
Australia to have referendum to recognise Aboriginals
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Wednesday used the 50th anniversary of the indigenous land rights movement to pledge a referendum on recognising the country's Aborigines in the constitution if Labor is re-elected. His predecessor Julia Gillard shelved a plan to hold a vote this parliamentary term, citing low public support, but Rudd made clear … Continue reading Australia to have referendum to recognise Aboriginals
Australia’s links to US spy web revealed by Edward Snowden
United States intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has provided his first disclosure of Australian involvement in US global surveillance, identifying four facilities in the country that contribute to a key American intelligence collection program. Classified US National Security Agency maps leaked by Mr Snowden and published by US journalist Glenn Greenwald in the Brazilian O Globo … Continue reading Australia’s links to US spy web revealed by Edward Snowden
Australia needs to improve teacher quality
School pupils in Australia spend more time in the classroom under compulsory instruction than in any other country in the OECD, but it will do nothing to help Australia reach the goal of being in the top five performing countries by 2025. Neither will reducing class sizes, which is just a pointless waste of scarce … Continue reading Australia needs to improve teacher quality
Australia needs to prepare offensive cyber capabilities
Australians under attack in some future war may be able to call in cyber specialists able to infect an enemy aircraft with a Trojan horse virus and force it to land or to crash, its pilot helpless to intervene. That's one reason, says national security specialist Des Ball, that Australia needs to develop its own … Continue reading Australia needs to prepare offensive cyber capabilities
Australia warned of China economy danger
Former Australian prime minister John Howard has warned Australia not to become mesmerised by China, and instead focus on maintaining an efficient and productive economy. In a major speech to the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, Mr Howard said he believed Australia must stay diversified and not become reliant on the mining industry. China … Continue reading Australia warned of China economy danger
Australia seen as patronising and arrogant by Indonesians
Many Indonesians find it hard to control their temper each time they read or hear any kind of provocative remark from the Australian media, military, politicians or celebrities. The country is perceived as an arrogant neighbour with a strong sense of superiority towards Indonesia and no more important agenda than to destroy its territorial integrity. … Continue reading Australia seen as patronising and arrogant by Indonesians
Australians warned to get out of Egypt
Australia's Federal Government is urging hundreds of Australians in strife-torn Egypt to consider leaving. The Department of Foreign Affairs of Trade (DFAT) says 730 Australians are registered as currently being in the country but estimates the real number is likely to be much higher. A further 822 Australians have registered plans to travel there in … Continue reading Australians warned to get out of Egypt
Australia has failed to create indigenous mining jobs as promised
Mining magnate Andrew Forrest has demanded the government deliver on its promise to get indigenous people into jobs under his covenant. The Fortescue Metals Group chairman has warned that the nation is at a crucial point in politics where a bipartisan commitment is required to meet ambitious jobs targets. Mr Forrest was responding to an … Continue reading Australia has failed to create indigenous mining jobs as promised
Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme offers better quality of life
The seed of DisabilityCare Australia, also known as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was sown in a conversation in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne one day in 2006. On a visit to a kindergarten, Bruce Bonyhady, then chairman of disability service provider Yooralla, was confronted by a woman who demanded to know why she … Continue reading Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme offers better quality of life
Craig Hill 