. In recent years, the rise of far-right extremism and neo-Nazi groups in Australia has drawn increasing concern from communities, academics, and law enforcement. Beneath its aggressive rhetoric and often-violent ideology lies not strength, but insecurity, manifested as hatred toward groups that challenge their sense of identity, status, and entitlement. They hate Asians because Asians … Continue reading The Insecurities of the Extreme Right
Tag: Opinion
Dutton’s Divisive Agenda is a Threat to Australia’s Social Cohesion
Peter Dutton's rhetoric and policies incite hate and division, and have an adverse effect on social cohesion in Australia. Social cohesion refers to the ability of a society to maintain harmony, trust, and cooperation among diverse groups. When a political leader uses divisive language or promotes policies perceived as targeting specific communities, it undermines this … Continue reading Dutton’s Divisive Agenda is a Threat to Australia’s Social Cohesion
Nuclear Energy is Not the Answer
Peter Dutton still refuses to release any details about how he will introduce nuclear energy into Australia. This article will look at some details of why it won't work. The first clue should be that there are no private investors that have expressed an interest in building a nuclear power plant. All the energy companies … Continue reading Nuclear Energy is Not the Answer
A town like Alice: The youth crime problem
. There can be no doubt that the problems in Alice Springs are extreme, to say the least, but similar problems exist on Indigenous, remote and rural communities right throughout Australia. Nor is the problem confined to Indigenous people. It is happening right across the community. Alice Springs has come to the forefront in recent … Continue reading A town like Alice: The youth crime problem
Why we need a Voice to Parliament
As a white man who has lived and worked closely with the Aboriginal people over many years, in management positions, I will be voting Yes for the Voice to Parliament. I have seen first-hand that Indigenous people have been let down by “advisory groups” run by non-Indigenous people and, where we have failed, I strongly … Continue reading Why we need a Voice to Parliament
The aged pension is not welfare
The aged pension is an entitlement and Centrelink should not be treating it as welfare. All Australians should be entitled to it as a reward for a lifetime of contribution to Australia. While it is true that some contribute more than others, we live in one of the most democratic countries in the world, and … Continue reading The aged pension is not welfare
Getting Brisbane’s Quarantine Centre ready for the homeless
Politicians from all three levels of government are arguing about Brisbane's Quarantine Centre being used to house the homeless, and the media and homelessness services have weighed in on the argument as well. The simple fact is that it is not yet fit for the purpose of housing 500 homeless people, and this article will … Continue reading Getting Brisbane’s Quarantine Centre ready for the homeless
Kids don’t belong in adult prisons
Sending 13 year olds to adult prison is an appalling idea. Send them to prison, yes, but not to adult prisons. As an ex-prison officer, I saw 18 year olds passed around like a plate of hors d'oeuvres, and come out broken beyond repair. It is sickening that certain politicians and segments of the media … Continue reading Kids don’t belong in adult prisons
How Australia scammed students into welfare debt
Imagine if the Australian government told people they had to willingly repay their social security entitlements, and also pay interest on it. And imagine if people agreed. Sounds a bit far-fetched? Well that's exactly what happened between 1993-2003. The Student Financial Supplement Scheme (SFSS) was a scam introduced by the Australian government 30 years ago, … Continue reading How Australia scammed students into welfare debt
Centrelink has a communication problem
My case officer at Centrelink has told me that they are not allowed to send or receive emails and the same rule applies with text messages. Apparently they don't want to commit to anything in writing. This is compounded by the fact that it is near impossible to get through to them on the phone, … Continue reading Centrelink has a communication problem
Leave Lidia alone, but lessons need to be learnt
Did the Prime Minister say that Lidia Thorpe has mental health issues? No, he did not, though many are misrepresenting what he said to advance their own agendas, claiming sexism and racism. Lidia's behaviour was inappropriate, but those claiming to defend her are only vilifying her more, and harming the Yes Campaign of the Voice … Continue reading Leave Lidia alone, but lessons need to be learnt
Dutton’s Alice Springs claims are dangerous and irresponsible
If Peter Dutton has evidence of the crimes he claims are being committed in Alice Springs, he should present them to the police, not the media. The reality is, he has no evidence and is just trying to stir up racial hatred amongst his followers. This seems to be something Dutton does on a regular … Continue reading Dutton’s Alice Springs claims are dangerous and irresponsible
The Public Trustee is ripping off pensioners
The Public Trustee is supposed to protect people it deems incapable of looking after themselves, but instead they are virtually stealing their money. Take the case of Mark (not his real name), reported by the ABC yesterday. His sister placed him under guardianship, against his will, and the Western Australia Public Trustee now takes 40% … Continue reading The Public Trustee is ripping off pensioners
Homelessness in Honolulu
. In 2007, I moved to Hawaii in the United States. While it was meant to be a two week visit, it turned into a six month stay. I was surprised to find that even this tropical paradise has its share of social issues, including homelessness. I had travelled to Honolulu with an old friend … Continue reading Homelessness in Honolulu
How rent caps can and will work
Rent caps work in many countries around the world and will not lead to a decrease in supply. Indeed, Australia has had rent caps in the past, and it has not had any drastic effect on availability. Rent caps already exist in the ACT, which has been put forward by the Tenant's Union of NSW … Continue reading How rent caps can and will work
Mutual obligations should be scrapped
Mutual obligations is a punitive system introduced by the LNP government in their dying days as a final swipe at Australia's most vulnerable. Under the system, jobseekers must complete a range of tasks each month - such as job applications, education or training, or other personal development activities - to meet their requirements. The various … Continue reading Mutual obligations should be scrapped
LNP single out NDIS cuts to pay for AUKUS
Peter Dutton has called for cuts to the NDIS to help pay for AUKUS, while steadfastly attacking superannuation changes that would affect only the very rich. This is yet another attack by the LNP on Australia's most vulnerable, and one can only surmise that this was the LNP intention when they first announced the AUKUS … Continue reading LNP single out NDIS cuts to pay for AUKUS
Helping the homeless in Brisbane
In 2005 I was in Brisbane, Australia, working for Big Issue Magazine. It was here that I got to help the homeless get off the streets. After returning from China in 2003, I ended up living on the streets in Brisbane for a short while. Then I found The Big Issue, and started selling the … Continue reading Helping the homeless in Brisbane
Is superannuation guaranteed?
With Labor introducing changes to superannuation and the LNP promising to repeal those changes, Australians are once again left uncertain about whether they will have enough to retire on. Compounding that issue is the fact that it is now extremely difficult to get a full aged pension. First, let's look at superannuation. For many years … Continue reading Is superannuation guaranteed?
The LNP want to wreck superannuation
Peter Dutton's announcement that he will repeal Labor's superannuation laws if he miraculously becomes Prime Minister is all the proof we need that the LNP should not be in government. The problem is that every government does something similar whenever they gain power, meaning there is no certainty for future retirees about their retirement. This … Continue reading The LNP want to wreck superannuation
The perils of being a journalist in China: Guangzhou
On my third trip to China, in 2003, I was teaching university and writing for an English language magazine in Guangzhou. I was also arrested for inciting freedom of speech and dissent. Guangzhou is one of the most populated cities in the world, situated about 120 km northwest of Hong Kong, in the southeast of … Continue reading The perils of being a journalist in China: Guangzhou
Centrelink’s “deserving” and “undeserving” poor
The Robodebt Royal Commission has heard that the former LNP government had a strong view of "deserving" and "undeserving" poor when it came to Centrelink. Exactly what this means is unclear, but it sounds very ominous. It seems to want to create division between those that the government see as worthy, and those they see … Continue reading Centrelink’s “deserving” and “undeserving” poor
Negative income tax would help low income earners
Negative Income Tax is an alternative to the Universal Basic Income, and reverses the direction in which tax is paid for incomes below a certain level. It provides that wage earners above a certain level of income pay tax, while those below that level receive support from the government. As a grossly over-simplified example, the … Continue reading Negative income tax would help low income earners
Teaching High School in China: Jiangdu
On my second trip to China, in 2003, I was teaching at Jiangdu High School in Jiangsu Province. It was here that I became aware of foreign predators preying on Chinese high school students, infanticide, the Chinese student army and the city's links to my home town of Goulburn. I was teaching English as part … Continue reading Teaching High School in China: Jiangdu
The safeguard mechanism misses the mark
The safeguard mechanism that Labor are proposing is far from perfect, but it is much better than what the LNP gave us when they first introduced it. The LNP did not properly enforce their mechanism, and it failed to reduce emissions. Now that Labor want to make it better and enforce it, the LNP are … Continue reading The safeguard mechanism misses the mark
Craig Hill 