The Australian governments own immigration expert Paris Aristotle says it is ''absolutely certain'' there will be more asylum-seeker deaths at sea unless the government implements the full suite of measures recommended to it last year. In the wake of the deaths of two asylum-seekers this week Mr Aristotle, who is currently visiting the Nauru detention … Continue reading Australian expert warns of more asylum seeker deaths at sea unless changes made
Tag: Australia
A fifth of Australian teaching degrees will fail new government quality test
About a fifth of the 400 teaching degrees offered by universities around Australia will struggle to meet standards required for accreditation by the national teaching institute, and half of those courses are expected to close. The chairman of the Australian Institute for Teaching School Leadership, Tony Mackay, yesterday said the new national standards for accrediting … Continue reading A fifth of Australian teaching degrees will fail new government quality test
Afghan women tricked into spying on Taliban for US, Australian forces
Afghan women were tricked into spying for NATO-led forces after being lured in under the auspices of a fake aid program, a former espionage chief has revealed. Provided with phone credit and sewing and embroidery supplies, the women believed that they were being helped to start a small business. But their contact point, a female … Continue reading Afghan women tricked into spying on Taliban for US, Australian forces
Five ministers, three whips, parliamentary secretaries resign; Australian government in turmoil
Anthony Albanese says there's "no reason" for him to resign in the wake of Labor's abortive leadership coup, as he admitted the departures of fellow Rudd backers from the ministry were "big losses". The cabinet minister denied he played any role in corralling support for Kevin Rudd against Julia Gillard ahead of a Labor caucus … Continue reading Five ministers, three whips, parliamentary secretaries resign; Australian government in turmoil
Australian hostage freed by Al-Qaida group in the Philippines after 15 months
The family of Australian Warren Rodwell are "enormously relieved" after he was freed by his captors in the southern Philippines after almost 15 months. Mr Rodwell, from Sydney, was taken hostage by notorious al-Qaida-linked group Abu Sayyaf on December 5, 2011. Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr confirmed he was released from captivity on the island … Continue reading Australian hostage freed by Al-Qaida group in the Philippines after 15 months
Adultery is now a reason for asylum in Australia
An adulterous Iraqi taxi driver has been awarded an Australian refugee visa after he convinced the Refugee Review Tribunal he would be hunted down by an infuriated husband who caught him in an tryst with his wife. The Shia refugee, who arrived by boat from Indonesia in December 2011, claimed the husband, an Iraqi soldier, … Continue reading Adultery is now a reason for asylum in Australia
Australian government is the world’s laughing stock; a leadership challenge with no challenger
This morning, the Australian Prime Minister called a leadership ballot for her own position at 4:30 pm the same day. No warning. No time for challengers to prepare. No time for the party to ready itself. It is difficult to find an international policy angle to all of this, except to say what an international … Continue reading Australian government is the world’s laughing stock; a leadership challenge with no challenger
Australia to train Vietnamese troops for U.N. peacekeeping roles
Australia will help train Vietnamese troops to take part in United Nations peacekeeping missions. The decision for Diggers to share their abundant experience on such operations was announced yesterday by defence minister Stephen Smith after talks in Canberra with his Vietnamese counterpart, General Phung Quang Thanh. "Australia will provide training to Vietnam People's Army troops … Continue reading Australia to train Vietnamese troops for U.N. peacekeeping roles
Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd goes world wide on China’s assertiveness
He may no longer be prime minister but Kevin Rudd is about to again strut the world stage in support of an article for Foreign Affairs magazine on relations between China and the US. Mr Rudd has scheduled trips to South Korea, China and the US as parliament prepares to break ahead of the May … Continue reading Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd goes world wide on China’s assertiveness
Australia to ease restrictions on Myanmar, arms embargo to stay
Australia will ease restrictions on military engagement with Myanmar following democratic reforms since the country's ruling generals relinquished their half-century grip on power in 2011, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said on Monday. During a visit to Canberra by Myanmar's President Thein Sein - the first leader from the former Burma to visit the Australian capital … Continue reading Australia to ease restrictions on Myanmar, arms embargo to stay
Australia places Syria group on terrorist list
The Al-Nusrah Front was little known before the Syria uprising but has since become a major part of the insurgency. The Australian government has placed a prominent Sunni Islamist group fighting the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria on its terrorist blacklist. Foreign Minister Bob Carr has announced Australia will list the Al-Nusrah Front as … Continue reading Australia places Syria group on terrorist list
Many Afghans held by Australian troops are falsely accused
More than half the almost 1900 Afghans detained by Australian forces in Oruzgan may have been innocents falsely accused by local enemies , according to the province's chief of police, Matiullah Khan. They were named so their enemies could gain advantages in tribal, business or personal disputes. Asked about the numbers first put forward by … Continue reading Many Afghans held by Australian troops are falsely accused
Asylum-seeker boat arrival numbers increase in Australia
The number of asylum-seekers coming to Australia by boat surged in the first 2 1/2 months of this year, with a 55 per cent spike in arrivals compared to the same period last year. Almost 1900 people have arrived in the first 73 days of this year, compared with 1209 for the same period last year, … Continue reading Asylum-seeker boat arrival numbers increase in Australia
China’s Citic fail to pay $400 million in Australian contract; can’t comprehend “rule of law” concept
Up to $400 million in royalty and purchase payments due to Queensland mining magnate Clive Palmer are in dispute and have not been paid, as a rift widens between him and China's Citic Pacific, the builder of the troubled $US8 billion ($7.8bn) Sino Iron project in Western Australia. Hong Kong-listed Citic has said it is … Continue reading China’s Citic fail to pay $400 million in Australian contract; can’t comprehend “rule of law” concept
Adam Giles to be Australia’s first indigenous head of government
Terry Mills has been replaced as Northern Territory chief minister while on an overseas trip to Japan. Taking his place will be Transport Minister Adam Giles, who will become Australia's first indigenous head of government. Mr Mills' removal comes only seven months after the Country Liberal Party's victory in the NT election, and just a … Continue reading Adam Giles to be Australia’s first indigenous head of government
Australian government defends indigenous policy
The Gillard government has defended its indigenous policies after Howard minister Alexander Downer called for children to be moved out of remote communities and into boarding schools and for increased access to property ownership. Mr Downer said sending children from remote communities into boarding schools in regional towns and cities would help them "acclimatise to … Continue reading Australian government defends indigenous policy
Japanese technology could improve Australia’s Collins-class submarines
The navy has set its sights on sophisticated new Japanese technology to extensively rebuild its troubled Collins-class submarines and extend their operational lives by 10 years or more. That could postpone the spending of an estimated $40 billion to build the 12 new submarines the Gillard government has promised to replace the Collins-class boats. Japan … Continue reading Japanese technology could improve Australia’s Collins-class submarines
Australian Prime Minister harmed state election results for her own party
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard harmed the Labor brand further by not being involved in the West Australian election campaign, according to re-elected premier Colin Barnett. Mr Barnett was celebrating the Liberal's extraordinary triumph in yesterday 's poll, which saw his party win enough seats to govern on its own, as Labor's federal woes infected … Continue reading Australian Prime Minister harmed state election results for her own party
Australian teachers have a lot to learn
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
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
Craig Hill 