https://advanceinstitute.com.au/2023/01/28/28-january-in-australian-history/?page_id=5680
My first story in Big Issue Magazine (2006)
This was my very first story published in Big Issue Magazine as part of a regular fortnightly series back in 2006. Big Issue employed me with money they received from Sarina Russo and The Vodafone Foundation. Dear Mum, Sorry I haven’t written for a while. Okay, so it’s been three years. This is just a … Continue reading My first story in Big Issue Magazine (2006)
27 January in Australian History
Australia Day or Invasion Day?
A nation's national day of celebration is meant to unite a country, but in recent years that has not been the case in Australia. So is it time to change the date we celebrate our national day? The date of 26 January has always been controversial as our national day of celebration, even though it … Continue reading Australia Day or Invasion Day?
26 January in Australian History
Centrelink are still using income averaging
Income averaging was found to be illegal by the Federal Court in the Robodebt Test Case of Amato vs Commonwealth (2019), yet Centrelink still use this methodology when calculating income for certain windfalls. These windfalls include lottery wins, inheritances, gifts, bequests, insurance payments, bursaries, scholarships and anything else Centrelink decide is income, if they are … Continue reading Centrelink are still using income averaging
25 January in Australian History
My jump from prison officer to social justice campaigner
One thing I learnt in my time as a prison officer is that there is no such thing as the justice system, and we should stop referring to it as such. It is the judicial system, run by judges and with little concern for victims or offenders. My jump to social justice campaigner started with … Continue reading My jump from prison officer to social justice campaigner
24 January in Australian History
23 January in Australian History
Centrelink needs to be broken up
Centrelink is a totally dysfunctional organisation, due in large part to the fact that it has become too big to be able to function efficiently or effectively. They administer all forms of benefit payments, and the call centre staff rarely know the answers to an enquiry when they are called. That is, if one can … Continue reading Centrelink needs to be broken up
22 January in Australian History
21 January in Australian History
20 January in Australian History
Life as a white man on an Aboriginal community
Back in the year 2000, I was honoured to be invited to live and work on the Aboriginal community of Woorabinda, 170 km south west of Rockhampton in Central Queensland. Woorabinda had a population of about 3000 then, and there were only 21 non-Indigenous people living on the community. I was employed by the local … Continue reading Life as a white man on an Aboriginal community
19 January in Australian History
Robodebt architect now has NDIS recipients in his sights
Jason Ryman, the architect of Centrelink's infamous Robodebt scheme, was seconded to the NDIA with the task of using a similar scheme to target recipients of NDIS funding. The NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency) is the agency charged with overseeing the running of the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme). The secondment was made by former … Continue reading Robodebt architect now has NDIS recipients in his sights
Bring back the CES (Commonwealth Employment Service)
Job Services Australia, or Workforce Australia as it is now called, has failed to live up to the promises the Howard government made when they introduced it in 1998. Originally known as the Job Network, it has devolved into a giant money making venture by about 30 multinational organisations, and offers few tangible services to … Continue reading Bring back the CES (Commonwealth Employment Service)
18 January in Australian History
17 January in Australian History
Centrelink staff need to learn some manners
One thing that was consistent during the Robodebt Royal Commission was Centrelink's victims reporting that staff had been rude and aggressive. Sadly, this has not changed. Witnesses at the Royal Commission recounted that staff had yelled at them, mocked them, refused to listen to any defence and generally treated them with contempt. Witnesses recalled being … Continue reading Centrelink staff need to learn some manners
16 January in Australian History
Dominic Perrottet and the Nazi uniform: he doesn’t know what he did was wrong
Dominic Perrottet has failed to apologise to everybody that he offended by wearing a Nazi uniform, showing he doesn't really understand what he did was wrong and why. To be fair, a 21 year old probably wouldn't understand the significance of the Nazi uniform, and he shouldn't be judged on what he did as a … Continue reading Dominic Perrottet and the Nazi uniform: he doesn’t know what he did was wrong
Craig Hill 