Asylum seekers involved in violent attacks while in immigration detention are being released into the community, including one man who assaulted staff and was involved in more than 250 incidents. The violent detainees are released before security checks into their background are completed, according to an insider with intimate knowledge of the detention system. The … Continue reading Violent asylum seekers released onto Australian streets
Category: Australian Current Affairs
Australian report unclear what China does with hacked data
Cyber espionage is giving China's intelligence agencies vast amounts of information but it's unclear what they're doing with the data or whether it's useful, a new study says. A paper by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute says the scale of Chinese cyber-operations is vast, with United States President Barack Obama raising it in recent talks … Continue reading Australian report unclear what China does with hacked data
Foreign workers in Australia are being rorted
If Julia Gillard and her government are serious about stopping the rorts arising from Australia's migrant worker scheme, then something will be done about the cleaning workers who have not only just lost their jobs but their entitlements too. The sad truth is that when a business goes bust Australian workers have their leave, unpaid … Continue reading Foreign workers in Australia are being rorted
India is now the biggest source of migrants to Australia
India has become the leading source of permanent migrants to Australia for the first time, ahead of China, a government report showed on Monday. Reflecting the growing prominence of Asia to Australia, seven of the top 10 source countries during 2011-2012 were from the region, Australia's Migration Trends study showed. "Between 1996 and 2011, Australia's … Continue reading India is now the biggest source of migrants to Australia
Public service chief says little achieved for Aboriginal Australians
Former head of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Peter Shergold has lamented how little he achieved for indigenous Australians in his two decades as a senior public servant. Dr Shergold's mea culpa comes in a foreword he wrote for a collection of essays, "In black and white: Australians all at the crossroads," … Continue reading Public service chief says little achieved for Aboriginal Australians
Australia’s asylum policy fails to have an impact
It was the foundation stone of Julia Gillard's plan to stop, or at least substantially slow, the flow of boats arriving uninvited on our shores, and it had a certain simplicity and logic on its side.If asylum seekers could extract ''no advantage'' by paying people smugglers and risking their lives on leaky boats, compared with … Continue reading Australia’s asylum policy fails to have an impact
Indonesia won’t agree to Australian plan to turn back asylum boats
Indonesia's ambassador to Australia has ruled out agreeing to the coalition's boat turnback policy, declaring no such collaboration will occur. Ambassador Nadjib Riphat Kesoema said Indonesia would welcome Tony Abbott or whoever leads Australia after the September election. But he said asylum seeker boats should be turned back to other countries, not to Indonesia. "Indonesia … Continue reading Indonesia won’t agree to Australian plan to turn back asylum boats
Asylum detainee in Australia is wanted for murder and terrorism in Egypt
An asylum seeker who arrived at Christmas Island last year was wanted in Egypt for premeditated murder, possession of weapons and explosives and destruction of property. The unnamed man was initially held at the low security Inverbrackie detention facility in South Australia. He was moved to a secure facility in Sydney on April 17, some … Continue reading Asylum detainee in Australia is wanted for murder and terrorism in Egypt
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
Craig Hill 