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
Category: News and Features
News, Features, Media Releases and Comments
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
Australia’s new asylum policy hits Iranians hardest
Asylum seekers from ethnic and religious majorities in their own countries will have great difficulty establishing a valid claim for refugee status in Australia under new Rudd government policy. This will strike hardest at Iranians, currently the single largest and most troublesome component of the asylum-seeker flow. Most Afghans and Pakistanis would still pass the … Continue reading Australia’s new asylum policy hits Iranians hardest
Australian government fears conflict with Indonesia under opposition asylum policy
Australia's Opposition Immigration spokesman Scott Morrison has called on Kevin Rudd to refrain from "desperate and reckless" attempts to draw Indonesia into the domestic political argument over asylum seekers when he visits later this week. Mr Rudd, who is this week due to meet Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, on Friday warned of "some sort … Continue reading Australian government fears conflict with Indonesia under opposition asylum policy
China warns Australia not to take advantage of friendship
China has welcomed the return of Kevin Rudd, but warned the new Prime Minister not to use the the strength of the nation's largest trading partner to its advantage. Mr Rudd has built solid ties with China during his time in politics and as a diplomat, and sought to make relationships with the government and … Continue reading China warns Australia not to take advantage of friendship
Australia moves to diversify away from China under Kevin Rudd’s leadership
Australia’s second-time Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has wasted no time hammering a nail in the coffin of the China boom after ending the political career of his predecessor. Making his first press statement Wednesday night after successfully challenging Julia Gillard for the Labor Party leadership, the Mandarin-speaking Rudd said Australians must diversify away from the … Continue reading Australia moves to diversify away from China under Kevin Rudd’s leadership
Australia rejects Japan’s Antarctic whaling claims as a “fairy tale”
Australia has rejected Japan's Antarctic whaling as dangerous and a fairy tale as it laid out for the first time at the International Court of Justice the case against the practice. Japan's controversial ''scientific'' whaling program came under detailed attack from senior counsel for Australia before the court, and in a lengthy written case released … Continue reading Australia rejects Japan’s Antarctic whaling claims as a “fairy tale”
Kevin Rudd is Australia’s Prime Minister again
New Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will have to recruit a ministry short of critical experience as hostile ministers close to Julia Gillard refuse to serve under him. Treasurer Wayne Swan, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy have already stepped down, as have Climate Change Minister Greg Combet and Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig. Mr Rudd will have … Continue reading Kevin Rudd is Australia’s Prime Minister again
China’s bullying tactics backfire in Australia
China's new leader, Xi Jinping, has revived Chairman Mao's doctrine of the "mass line". The founder of modern China didn't want the masses to have a vote, but he did think that it was vitally important to understand their views. The "mass line" in Australia today contains an important message to Canberra, and to Beijing. … Continue reading China’s bullying tactics backfire in Australia
Australia sees China and US both central to future
Whoever wins the next Australian election will need deftness and subtlety in managing Australia's foreign relations. This year's Lowy Institute Poll indicates that Australians want a strong relationship with the US, are wary of China but think we should be able to maintain good relations with both countries. Three in four Australians choose China ahead … Continue reading Australia sees China and US both central to future
Six Australian students suspected of murder in Peru
Federal Attorney General Mark Dreyfus says he has met with some of the six Australian students wanted overseas in relation to the death of a hotel doorman in Peru. The three young Sydney men and two men and woman from Melbourne have launched a social media campaign to clear their names after being nominated as … Continue reading Six Australian students suspected of murder in Peru
Major Australian newspaper calls for Prime Minister to resign
The following is today's editorial from Melbourne's The Age newspaper: It is time for Julia Gillard to stand aside as leader of the federal parliamentary Labor Party, as Prime Minister of Australia, so that vigorous, policy-driven democratic debate can flourish once again. Ms Gillard should do so in the interests of the Labor Party, in … Continue reading Major Australian newspaper calls for Prime Minister to resign
Australian plan to pay Indonesia to stop asylum seekers
The federal opposition has offered bipartisan support for a boost to funding to Indonesia to deal with asylum-seekers, ahead of an election-eve visit by Julia Gillard for talks with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor today insisted the July 4-5 visit was a "scheduled", and warned against "overnight miracles" that would solve the … Continue reading Australian plan to pay Indonesia to stop asylum seekers
Serious abuse at Australian Defence Academy alarms government
Claims of serious abuse at the Australian Defence Force Academy and HMAS Leeuwin naval base are "more widespread and persistent" than previously reported, a high-level inquiry has found. In an interim report, the Defence Abuse Response Taskforce, headed by retired judge Len Roberts-Smith, found that abuse was evident at other recruit schools and training institutions … Continue reading Serious abuse at Australian Defence Academy alarms government
UN says Australia has no ethics on asylum seekers
The head of the UN High Commission for Refugees in Australia has expressed alarm at the "mean-spirited" public debate on asylum-seekers, warning that the nation is at a "crossroads" and must decide if it will continue to pursue harsh policies of deterrence. The UNHCR's regional representative, Richard Towle, said while Australia had an effective and … Continue reading UN says Australia has no ethics on asylum seekers
Chinese student allowed to stay in Australia after six year sentence for drug trafficking
A former Chinese student who served six years in prison for his part in a drug-trafficking and money-laundering syndicate can stay in Australia after a tribunal overturned his visa cancellation. If sent back to China, Xin Liang might face the death penalty; his risk of reoffending in Australia was very low; and he had been … Continue reading Chinese student allowed to stay in Australia after six year sentence for drug trafficking
Craig Hill 