Craig Hill Media and Consulting
Kevin Rudd
New Australian government adopts policy of media silence
You can tell that something has shifted in Canberra. The hourly, daily thunder of the hung parliament and campaign and the whirl of the election result have been replaced with something more subdued, even mild-mannered. Prime Minister Tony Abbott has signalled a desire to take politics off the front pages. Parliament may not be back … Continue reading
Australia has a new government
Tony Abbott has become Australia‘s 28th prime minister, declaring from today “Australia is under new management .” Abbott said he was “proud and humbled” to “shoulder the duties of government”, as he spoke to his supporters today after his victorious win. “I now look forward to forming a government that is competent, that is trustworthy, … Continue reading
China concerned about Australian opposition leader; possible future leader
If the polls are right, conservative opposition leader Tony Abbott will be Australia’s next prime minister. Abbott goes into tomorrow’s election with little-to-no foreign policy experience, and throughout the campaign he offered few clues to his approach – especially regarding Australia’s crucial relationship with China. But strategic experts are pinning their hopes on Abbott emulating … Continue reading
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
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 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 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
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
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
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 recruits Obama’s social media team
The Australian Labor Party’s recruitment of “Team Obama’s” campaign heavyweights and “digital attacks dogs” for the upcoming election campaign is no surprise. Political parties around the globe, with varying degrees of success, are embracing social media because they have seen what it can do. According to the Pew Internet Project’s Civic Engagement in the Digital Age … Continue reading
Australia’s media regulation plan “unconstitutional”
Former Australian High Court judge Ian Callinan has produced a damning legal opinion that says aspects of the media regulation plan drawn up by former communications minister Stephen Conroy “are very arguably unlikely to be valid under the Constitution”. The opinion, written jointly with Sydney barrister Caspar Conde, says the broad powers proposed for a … Continue reading
Australian Prime Minister accuses Rupert Murdoch of anti-government campaign
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has taken a dig at media mogul Rupert Murdoch, questioning whether commercial interests are behind his opposition to Labor’s National Broadband Network policy. The News Corporation executive chairman used Twitter to say that he liked the “ideal of the NBN”, but questioned how the multi-billion dollar policy would be paid for. … Continue reading
Rupert Murdoch’s vicious attacks on Australian government
The arrival of Col Allan in Australia is making a lot of people uneasy. Allan is a man widely known inside News Corporation as Col Pot, a play on the name of a Cambodian genocidal dictator. He is News Corp’s most feared flamethrower in a company of flamethrowers and he has been sent to Australia … Continue reading
Australian election set for September 7th
Australians will go to the polls on September 7 after Kevin Rudd today fired the starting gun on a five-week election campaign. Mr Rudd said voters faced a stark choice. ”This election will be about who the Australian people trust to best lead them through the economic challenges ahead,” the Prime Minister said. ”This will … Continue reading
Australia neglects Aboriginal crisis for asylum seekers
Tony Abbott‘s indigenous affairs spokesman Nigel Scullion has attacked both sides of politics for an obsession with “boats” over indigenous Australians, arguing the bigger crisis was with closing the gap. In comments that criticise the current focus on border security, the Northern Territory senator said he thought this issue should have a higher priority. Senator … Continue reading
Australia provides Papua New Guinea extra funding
Australia will provide extra funding for newly prioritised projects in Papua New Guinea – on top of the existing $507 million aid program – under Kevin Rudd’s asylum-seeker deal. PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill told The Australian these new projects – such as the rebuilding of the Lae hospital, whose cost has been estimated at … Continue reading
Australia considers boot camp for young unemployed
Young job seekers would be forced into tough army-style boot camps to qualify for the dole, under an election policy being considered by the Rudd government. The Youth Start Boot Camp was tabled as a future election policy in a submission that has been leaked to Fairfax Media. It was put to the Labor government‘s … Continue reading
UN warns Australia that asylum seeker policy may breach international law
The United Nations refugee agency has warned Australia that its decision to send asylum seekers to Papua New Guinea could breach international law and its human rights obligations. Around 700 asylum seekers have arrived at Christmas Island since the deal was announced last week, and will be eligible to be resettled in PNG, not in Australia, if … Continue reading
Papua New Guinea attacks Australian opposition party for disrespect
Papua New Guinea has warned Australian politicians to show it more respect, a day after Opposition Leader Tony Abbott went on the attack over foreign aid flowing to the country. Mr Abbott had accused Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of subcontracting out the nation’s aid program to PNG as part of the asylum seeker processing deal, … Continue reading
People smugglers hit hard by Australia’s Papua New Guinea solution
Kevin Rudd’s Papua New Guinea solution has bit savagely in west Java, where Afghan asylum seekers have immediately begun telling people smugglers they are cancelling their planned boat trips to Christmas Island. After the Prime Minister’s announcement, it did not take long for the news to circulate in the mountain-top resort city of Cisarua, where … Continue reading
Australia and China resume free trade talks
Australia will undertake a major rethink of its investment stance towards China, with the Rudd government now prepared to discuss reducing hurdles to Chinese investment as it strives to conclude a free trade agreement with Beijing. New Trade Minister Richard Marles is preparing to fly to China for talks on the FTA and has signalled … Continue reading
Australia to send extra police to Papua New Guinea
Australia will send up to 50 police officers to Papua New Guinea by the end of the year to help tackle the country’s growing law and order problem. Papua New Guineans will also enjoy ”passenger lane” status – currently shared by Australian and New Zealand travellers – at Brisbane and Cairns airport from September. Australian … Continue reading
Australia to have referendum to recognise Aboriginals
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Wednesday used the 50th anniversary of the indigenous land rights movement to pledge a referendum on recognising the country’s Aborigines in the constitution if Labor is re-elected. His predecessor Julia Gillard shelved a plan to hold a vote this parliamentary term, citing low public support, but Rudd made clear … Continue reading
Australia seen as patronising and arrogant by Indonesians
Many Indonesians find it hard to control their temper each time they read or hear any kind of provocative remark from the Australian media, military, politicians or celebrities. The country is perceived as an arrogant neighbour with a strong sense of superiority towards Indonesia and no more important agenda than to destroy its territorial integrity. … Continue reading
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