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
Category: News and Features
News, Features, Media Releases and Comments
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
Dolphins are victims of Australia’s most environmentally controversial project at Gladstone
Australia's most environmentally controversial project, the $33 billion expansion of Gladstone port in Queensland, is under investigation after being accused of breaching strict federal government audit conditions on harbour dredging and dumping of spoils in a World Heritage area. Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke confirmed a review was under way into whether the project had … Continue reading Dolphins are victims of Australia’s most environmentally controversial project at Gladstone
Australia cancels diplomatic visit by North Korea in response to nuclear test
A planned trip to Australia by North Korean diplomats to establish an embassy in Canberra has been cancelled by the Gillard government following a nuclear test by the secretive state. Foreign Minister Bob Carr said officials from Pyongyang were due to arrive in the nation's capital this weekend to scope out property for a diplomatic … Continue reading Australia cancels diplomatic visit by North Korea in response to nuclear test
Australia condemns Malaysia for arrest and deportation of Senator
Australia's Foreign Minister Bob Carr has condemned Senator Nick Xenophon's detention by the Malaysian government as "surprising and disappointing". Senator Carr said Australian officials in Kuala Lumpur were seeking the immediate release of Senator Xenophon, who was detained and held pending deportation when he entered the country this morning. As well, Australian officials have raised … Continue reading Australia condemns Malaysia for arrest and deportation of Senator
Alleged Australian spy “Prisoner X” was deserted in Israeli jail
The Melbourne man dubbed ''Prisoner X'' received no consular assistance from Australian officials despite the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade having been told of his detention by Israeli authorities nearly 10 months before he killed himself in jail. And Australia's forgiving response to Israel's failure to formally advise that it had jailed dual-citizen Ben … Continue reading Alleged Australian spy “Prisoner X” was deserted in Israeli jail
Australian mining giant Rio Tinto posts record $3bn annual loss
Mining giant Rio Tinto has swung to its first full-year loss, hurt by a sharp drop in commodity prices and almost $US14 billion in impairment charges that last month claimed the scalp of its chief executive. Rio Tinto - the world's second-largest iron ore producer after Brazil's Vale - reaffirmed plans to cut costs by … Continue reading Australian mining giant Rio Tinto posts record $3bn annual loss
Aboriginal recognition bill passes lower house in Australia
Parliament has taken another stride toward reconciliation on the fifth anniversary of the national apology to the stolen generation, as campaigners urged MPs on both sides not to give up. Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott put aside politics on Wednesday as the lower house passed legislation to create an Act of … Continue reading Aboriginal recognition bill passes lower house in Australia
Craig Hill 