Prime Minister Julia Gillard says people can have confidence in the Australian economy, as other countries fight high levels of unemployment. Ms Gillard attended a ground-breaking ceremony in Darwin today for the start of a $34 billion LNG project by Japan's Inpex, saying it was a "fantastic" opportunity for the Northern Territory and part of … Continue reading Prime Minister Julia Gillard talks up Australian economy
Category: News and Features
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Indigenous culture, but not at all costs, says Australian Child Protection Commissioner
The need to maintain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture should not override a child's ability to move into the mainstream, Queensland's Child Protection Commissioner says. Examining the significant over-presentation of indigenous children under state care, former Crime Commissioner and Family Court judge Tim Carmody said it was important that specific indigenous and wider social … Continue reading Indigenous culture, but not at all costs, says Australian Child Protection Commissioner
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard orders probe into suburban violence
Prime Minister Julia Gillard is exploring what her government can do to tackle the recent violence in suburban Brisbane and Sydney. Referring to the street clashes in Brisbane and the spate of shootings in Sydney's west and south-west, Ms Gillard said during her launch of a cybersafety program that she has asked the Home Affairs … Continue reading Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard orders probe into suburban violence
Australia’s BHP lashed on ‘colonial attitude’ in Papua New Guinea
The row between Papua New Guinea and BHP Billiton over the Ok Tedi mine heated up yesterday, with Prime Minister Peter O'Neill accusing BHP of having a "colonial era" mentality. He strongly defended his action two months ago in banning Ross Garnaut from PNG, which triggered the Australian economist's resignation at the weekend as chairman … Continue reading Australia’s BHP lashed on ‘colonial attitude’ in Papua New Guinea
Julia Gillard ahead as Australia’s preferred Prime Minister
Julia Gillard has kept her lead over Tony Abbott as preferred prime minister in the first opinion poll of the year. The Essential poll, published on Monday, put Ms Gillard nine points ahead of the opposition leader who was rated preferred prime minister by 33 per cent of voters. The coalition's two-party vote was down … Continue reading Julia Gillard ahead as Australia’s preferred Prime Minister
Australia: Tony Abbott won’t gain much with his carbon tax stance
The carbon tax has failed to incite a tsunami of complaints from the public, with new data from the consumer watchdog indicating Labor's policy may have fallen off the public radar. In a sign that Tony Abbott will be hard-pressed to generate the same political bounce from his anti-carbon tax campaign in the run-up to … Continue reading Australia: Tony Abbott won’t gain much with his carbon tax stance
Australia: Commission on child sex abuse will be traumatic, Gillard warns victims
There are traumatic times ahead for child sexual abuse victims as the royal commission swings into action, Prime Minister Julia Gillard warned. But eventually, the inquiry's recommendations will hopefully bring healing to the Australian nation, Ms Gillard told child sex abuse survivors today. A day after she announced the appointments to the royal commission into … Continue reading Australia: Commission on child sex abuse will be traumatic, Gillard warns victims
Australia: Jenny Macklin sorry for ‘insensitive’ dole claim
FAMILIES Minister Jenny Macklin has apologised for saying she could survive on the $35-a-day Newstart, admitting her comment was "insensitive" and that the dole payment would be very hard to live on. Her backdown came amid increasing pressure on the Gillard government, including from Labor MPs, to lift the $245-a-week welfare payment. Former prime minister … Continue reading Australia: Jenny Macklin sorry for ‘insensitive’ dole claim
Australian Greens’ praise for anti-coal hoax proves their extremism, says Coalition Senator Abetz
The Coalition has labelled the Greens the ''epitome of extremism'' for the party's support of the anti-coal hoax. Leading the attack, the leader of the opposition in the Senate, Eric Abetz, also said the Greens had a ''disrespect for the rule of law'' for congratulating an activist being investigated for a hoax that temporarily wiped … Continue reading Australian Greens’ praise for anti-coal hoax proves their extremism, says Coalition Senator Abetz
Demand for Australian university places plateaus
Demand for university places has plateaued after three years of strong growth, suggesting key participation targets may prove to be unachievable. Only 1400 more people applied for university this year than in 2012, an increase of just 0.6 per cent. Western Australia registered a drop in applications of 2.6 per cent while Tasmania heralded a … Continue reading Demand for Australian university places plateaus
Funding crisis for juvenile justice in Australia
The nation's children's court system is damaged, starved of resources and handing out sentences that vary widely depending on where children live. The first national study of the country's children's courts, based on hundreds of interviews with magistrates, other judicial officers and a range of stakeholders, has called for an overhaul of the system. The … Continue reading Funding crisis for juvenile justice in Australia
Australia: Hundreds to go in Queensland police shake-up
The biggest overhaul of Queensland police since the infamous Fitzgerald inquiry will remove more than 100 senior officers and scrap regional offices in some areas of the state. Police Commissioner Ian Stewart, who was installed in the job last November, today announced the restructure of the service in a bid to cut bureaucracy and boost … Continue reading Australia: Hundreds to go in Queensland police shake-up
Abbott has long-held views on IVF, says Australian Attorney-General Roxon
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott will be judged on his long-held views on abortion and IVF access despite his chief-of-staff going public about his support for her IVF attempts, says Attoney-General Nicola Roxon. Peta Credlin, Mr Abbott's top adviser, has told magazine Marie Claire in an article to be published this week that she quizzed the … Continue reading Abbott has long-held views on IVF, says Australian Attorney-General Roxon
Tragic scenes as fires destroy homes across Tasmania, Australia
Thousands of residents and tourists are stranded across parts of Tasmania after bushfires destroyed more than 100 properties and cut off communities. The bushfire threat has been downgraded but authorities are warning residents to remain on alert as fires continue to burn. There are two watch and act warnings current for fires at Forcett and … Continue reading Tragic scenes as fires destroy homes across Tasmania, Australia
Australia’s Newstart far from a temporary payment
New figures revealing the average time spent on the dole is two years undermine Wayne Swan's claim that the Newstart allowance is a "temporary payment" between jobs. The figures, released through the Senate estimates process, bolster the case mounted by Labor MPs and the welfare sector to increase the dole on the grounds it is … Continue reading Australia’s Newstart far from a temporary payment
Australia services sector contracts on consumer caution
Australia's services sector continued to contract in December even after the central bank lowered interest rates at the start of month, a performance gauge by an industry group published Friday showed. The Australian Industry Group-Commonwealth Bank Performance of Services Index fell 3.9 points in December from a month earlier to 43.2 points--well below the 50-point … Continue reading Australia services sector contracts on consumer caution
Australian stocks surge to 19-month high as US fiscal cliff averted
THE sharemarket started 2013 with a bang as US lawmakers agreed a budget deal to avoid the worst of the so-called fiscal cliff that had threatened to derail the world's biggest economy. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 closed up 1.2 per cent at a 19-month high of 4705.9, also after better Chinese manufacturing data helped lift commodity … Continue reading Australian stocks surge to 19-month high as US fiscal cliff averted
Australian political leaders off and running
AS Australians yesterday put the final touches on their New Year's Eve celebrations, Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott fired the first shots of the 2013 election campaign. In a sign of what is in store for voters this year, the leaders used their New Year messages to pitch their plans to the people. The Prime … Continue reading Australian political leaders off and running
December 31 1999 Panama Canal handover
On December 31st 1999, the United States, in accordance with the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, officially handed over control of the Panama Canal, putting the strategic waterway into Panamanian hands for the first time. Crowds of Panamanians celebrated the transfer of the 50-mile canal, which links the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and officially opened when the SS … Continue reading December 31 1999 Panama Canal handover
December 30 2006 Saddam Hussein executed
On December 30th 2006, fallen dictator Saddam Hussein was hanged at dawn, a dramatic end for a leader who ruled Iraq by fear for three decades before a U.S. invasion toppled him. He was then convicted of crimes against humanity. As day broke on one of the holiest days of the Muslim year and the … Continue reading December 30 2006 Saddam Hussein executed
December 29 1890 US Army massacres Indians at Wounded Knee
On December 29th 1890, in the final chapter of America's long Indian wars, the U.S. Cavalry killed 146 Sioux at Wounded Knee, on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. Throughout 1890, the U.S. government worried about the increasing influence at Pine Ridge of the Ghost Dance spiritual movement, which taught that Indians had been … Continue reading December 29 1890 US Army massacres Indians at Wounded Knee
December 28 1895 First commercial movie screened in Paris
On December 28th 1895, the world's first commercial movie screening took place at the Grand Cafe in Paris. The film was made by Louis and Auguste Lumiere, two French brothers who developed a camera-projector called the Cinematographe. The Lumiere brothers unveiled their invention to the public in March 1895 with a brief film showing workers … Continue reading December 28 1895 First commercial movie screened in Paris
December 27 1932 Radio City Music Hall opens
On December 27th 1932, at the height of the Great Depression, thousands turned out for the opening of Radio City Music Hall, a magnificent Art Deco theatre in New York City. Radio City Music Hall was designed as a palace for the people, a place of beauty where ordinary people could see high-quality entertainment. Since … Continue reading December 27 1932 Radio City Music Hall opens
December 26 1946 Bugsy Siegel opens Flamingo Hotel
On December 26th 1946, in Las Vegas, Nevada, mobster Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel opens The Pink Flamingo Hotel & Casino at a total cost of $6 million. The 40-acre facility wasn’t complete and Siegel was hoping to raise some revenue with the grand opening. Well-known singer and comedian Jimmy Durante headlined the entertainment, with music by … Continue reading December 26 1946 Bugsy Siegel opens Flamingo Hotel
December 25 1914 Christmas Truce
On December 25th 1914, just after midnight on Christmas morning, the majority of German troops engaged in World War I ceased firing their guns and artillery and commenced to sing Christmas carols. At certain points along the eastern and western fronts, the soldiers of Russia, France, and Britain even heard brass bands joining the Germans … Continue reading December 25 1914 Christmas Truce
Craig Hill 