Australia's Labor government will create a top-level council to devise a new strategy to protect Australia's $15 billion international education industry from tough new competition overseas. The council would bring ministers and sector representatives together in a move in line with the recommendations of the Chaney report released in February, following complaints from the industry … Continue reading Australian government moves to protect international education industry
Chinese students find Australia’s capital city too quiet for study
The majority of Chinese do not consider Canberra as a study destination and those that do find it too quiet, ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher has found. Ms Gallagher is in China, with University of Canberra vice-chancellor Stephen Parker and Australian National University vice-chancellor Ian Young, to promote Canberra as a tertiary education and business … Continue reading Chinese students find Australia’s capital city too quiet for study
Australian government focus on jobs, training ahead of election
Officially launching Labor's campaign, Kevin Rudd has urged voters to choose the ALP at this Saturday's election to save jobs and protect family budgets from Tony Abbott's cuts. Warnings about the Opposition Leader featured heavily in the Prime Minister's speech - a crucial address, especially given there are just five days left in the campaign. … Continue reading Australian government focus on jobs, training ahead of election
Australian opposition leader refuses legal aid for asylum seekers
A Coalition plan to deny asylum seekers the right to free legal advice would result in refugees being wrongly returned to countries where they are fleeing persecution, lawyers and human rights advocates warn. In the latest addition to Tony Abbott's border protection strategy, the Coalition announced on Saturday that asylum seekers who arrive by boat … Continue reading Australian opposition leader refuses legal aid for asylum seekers
Australian opposition leader describes burqa as “confronting”
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has confessed to finding the burqa "confronting" while defending Liberal candidate Ray King for describing the Islamic attire as a "sign of oppression". Asked whether he supported the statements by Mr King, who drew a link between the burqa and criminality at a fund-raiser, Mr Abbott admitted he found it "a … Continue reading Australian opposition leader describes burqa as “confronting”
Australian soldiers said to have cut off dead Afghan’s hands
Australian elite special forces soldiers are being investigated over claims they cut the hands off at least one Afghan insurgent's body to identify him by his fingerprints. A ''potential misconduct'' investigation against members of the Special Operations Task Group centres on claims that soldiers amputated the hands and took them back to their base to … Continue reading Australian soldiers said to have cut off dead Afghan’s hands
Australia captures five major people smugglers
Federal police have arrested five 'major' alleged people smugglers operating in Australia. Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Steve Lancaster made the announcement on Thursday after a series of raids across the country. The AFP has described it as Australia's largest ever people smuggling strike. Mr Lancaster says four of the five people - three Afghans, … Continue reading Australia captures five major people smugglers
Australia’s opposition leader unfit for international diplomacy
Kevin Rudd has attacked Tony Abbott's character, questioning whether he has the temperament and judgment to handle international crises such as the human rights atrocities in Syria. After switching his campaign focus to diplomacy and national security, the Prime Minister last night used the unfolding events in Damascus to skewer the Opposition Leader over his … Continue reading Australia’s opposition leader unfit for international diplomacy
Australia’s prime minister discusses Syria crisis with US president
Kevin Rudd has likened the spiralling humanitarian tragedy in Syria to the notorious episodes of genocide in Bosnia and Rwanda and warned history will judge today’s leaders harshly if they do not act. In his strongest remarks yet indicating possible support for an international intervention, Mr Rudd branded the civil war in the Middle Eastern … Continue reading Australia’s prime minister discusses Syria crisis with US president
Indonesia says Australian opposition party unfriendly, insulting
Australian opposition party leader Tony Abbott's plan to buy boats from Indonesian fishermen to prevent the vessels being used by people smugglers has been slammed by Jakarta as unfriendly and an insult to Indonesia. The buyback plan has met with heavy resistance in Jakarta, with a senior member of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's ruling Coalition … Continue reading Indonesia says Australian opposition party unfriendly, insulting
Australia takes lead role on Syrian crisis
As president of the UN Security Council from September 1, Australia will lead the international debate on the worsening Syrian crisis amid growing pressure on Moscow and Beijing to bring the Assad regime into line. After the deaths of an estimated 1300 Syrians in what rebels have claimed was a sarin nerve-gas attack on the … Continue reading Australia takes lead role on Syrian crisis
China concerned by US military buildup in Australia
China has expressed concern at the US decision to ramp up its military presence in the region by establishing a special naval task force to support its troops based in Darwin. A technical "amphibious lift" group will be in place by 2018, possibly in Guam, to help the US mobilise its Australia-based troops quickly in … Continue reading China concerned by US military buildup in Australia
Papua New Guinea suspends asylum talks with Australia
Papua New Guinea has suspended discussions with Australia on the resettlement of refugees, as its most senior immigration official warned that serious breaches of the asylum-seeker undertakings could "jeopardise implementation" of Kevin Rudd's offshore solution. There are now no discussions between the Australian and PNG governments about the resettlement of refugees on Manus Island. The … Continue reading Papua New Guinea suspends asylum talks with Australia
China’s ambassador to Australia speaks of important milestones
In three years as Chinese ambassador to Australia, I have witnessed the rapid development of China-Australia relations. Forty years after our two countries established diplomatic relations, a strategic partnership and the annual leaders meeting are important milestones in the development of bilateral ties. China-Australia co-operation has yielded fruitful results across the past three years. Bilateral … Continue reading China’s ambassador to Australia speaks of important milestones
Iran, Pakistan, Thailand snub human trafficking conference in Jakarta; Australia well represented
Iran, the largest source of boat people landing in Australia this year, has boycotted today's special regional conference on asylum-seekers and human trafficking. The Iranians' failure to appear casts further doubt on the capacity of the ministerial conference to agree on coordinated "concrete measures" for curbing asylum-seeker flows across the region. Pakistan, another major source … Continue reading Iran, Pakistan, Thailand snub human trafficking conference in Jakarta; Australia well represented
Australian faces 162 manslaughter charges in Papua New Guinea
An Australian expat is facing as many as 162 charges of manslaughter following an investigation into last year's sinking of the Papua New Guinea ferry Rabaul Queen. Peter Sharp, who owned the ferry when it sank in rough weather off Lae in February 2012, was arrested today in Rabaul, in PNG's East New Britain province. … Continue reading Australian faces 162 manslaughter charges in Papua New Guinea
People smugglers take to the sky with Australian asylum seekers
People smugglers are concocting a new and expensive product to sell their asylum seeker clients - flying them into Australia on fake tourist visas to sidestep the harsh policies of both political parties aimed at boat arrivals. Three separate groups of Iranian asylum seekers in the Indonesian province of West Java have told Fairfax Media … Continue reading People smugglers take to the sky with Australian asylum seekers
Australians more concerned over jobs than asylum seekers
Australian workers are more worried about job security and the ability to pay their bills than they are about refugee policies, according to a large poll of union members. The Australian Council of Trade Unions surveyed 120,000 members over the past 14 weeks about election issues. Of those, 102,000 were asked specific questions about policy … Continue reading Australians more concerned over jobs than asylum seekers
Australian Opposition leader shows sexism once again
No one wants to hear politicians talk about sex. Tony Abbott should have known this when he compared the Liberal candidate for the marginal seat of Lindsay, Fiona Scott, with her successful predecessor, Jackie Kelly. He said: ''They're young, they're feisty and, I think I can probably say, have a bit of sex appeal.'' No, … Continue reading Australian Opposition leader shows sexism once again
Australia says boat arrivals down 30pc since Papua New Guinea plan commenced
Kevin Rudd has declared that Labor's Papua New Guinea asylum-seeker plan has driven down boat arrivals by 30 per cent since it was announced. ''In the month or so since we've had this policy implemented I am advised that boat arrivals are down by 30 per cent,'' Mr Rudd said. Mr Rudd was speaking after … Continue reading Australia says boat arrivals down 30pc since Papua New Guinea plan commenced
Australians warned to leave Egypt
The federal government says the latest violence in Egypt is a terrible tragedy and has called for restraint from the military and protesters alike. Egypt's health ministry says at least 278 people have been killed in nationwide violence after police cracked down on loyalists of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. Foreign Minister Bob Carr says … Continue reading Australians warned to leave Egypt
Australia: New rules target bad teachers
Underperforming teachers could be identified and sacked with greater ease under new teacher quality reform measures NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli described as more in line with a ''private sector'' approach. The NSW government will also introduce paid teaching cadetships for high-achieving students and will give new teachers additional time out of the classroom to … Continue reading Australia: New rules target bad teachers
Australia most expensive country for international students
Australia has been ranked as the most expensive country for international students, but the falling Aussie dollar could spark a boom in new arrivals. Australia beat the US, Britain, Germany, Canada and Hong Kong as the most expensive destination for international students, costing an average $US38,000 ($41,500) a year in fees and living costs, according … Continue reading Australia most expensive country for international students
Australian government will legalise gay marriage if reelected
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said Monday it was time to end the "acrimonious" debate on gay marriage, after he vowed to introduce a bill legalising same-sex unions if returned to office. If re-elected on September 7, Rudd said Labor would introduce a bill within 100 days, becoming the first Australian leader to promise to … Continue reading Australian government will legalise gay marriage if reelected
Australia ignores teenaged refugees in Indonesia until adulthood
Teenage refugees joining the so-called queue in Indonesia to apply officially for protection visas, instead of jumping on a boat, say they are being told Australia will not take them until they are 18 years old. The boys, who are stuck in limbo in Jakarta, said that even though they have been determined to be … Continue reading Australia ignores teenaged refugees in Indonesia until adulthood
Craig Hill 