. 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
Tag: Social Issues
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
Dealing with discrimination
If you are tall, short, fat, skinny, old, young, have red or blonde hair, wear glasses or have some other physical trait, then you have probably been negatively stereotyped for it. How did that make you feel? For most of us, there is at least a fleeting moment where we feel not so good about … Continue reading Dealing with discrimination
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
The Social Model of Disability Affects Us All
The social model of disability is a framework for understanding disability that emphasises the role of society in creating barriers to inclusion and equal participation for individuals with disabilities. It is a contrast to the traditional medical model of disability which focuses on the individual's medical condition as the cause of their limitations. In this … Continue reading The Social Model of Disability Affects Us All
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
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
The need for gun control: A personal perspective
Australia has some of the best gun control laws in the world, and we should not change that. I am sickened every time some crazed redneck in the US points to our gun laws as "proof" that America should not have the same laws. What exactly is the point they are trying to make? That … Continue reading The need for gun control: A personal perspective
The changing nature of work: Why we need a UBI
The nature of work is constantly evolving and changing, driven by technological advancements, globalisation, and changing societal norms. Traditional jobs are less common, and for this reason, we need a UBI. This transformation is affecting every aspect of the workforce, from the types of jobs available to the way people work and collaborate with one … Continue reading The changing nature of work: Why we need a UBI
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
Centrelink payments to rise from Monday
Centrelink payments will rise from Monday 20 March, as part of the twice yearly increases driven by indexation. While the rises are welcome, they are still not enough. Single age and disability pension recipients and carers will receive an increase of $37.50 a fortnight, and couples a combined $56.40. The maximum fortnightly pension rate will … Continue reading Centrelink payments to rise from Monday
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
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
We must never again allow a cashless welfare card
Peter Dutton is calling for the reintroduction of the cashless welfare card, blaming it's scrapping on the rise in alcohol-related violence in Alice Springs and Indigenous communities. Dutton is not basing his assertions on facts. He is using a social crisis for political purposes to incite emotions against Aboriginal people. He has singled out the … Continue reading We must never again allow a cashless welfare card
The Greens are both right and wrong on housing
Labor's plan to implement a $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund is under threat from the Greens and the Opposition. Both parties need to take a breath and consider the realities of their situation. The Opposition need to realise that their job is to oppose government legislation if it is bad, and offer a better … Continue reading The Greens are both right and wrong on housing
Bring Julian Assange home
Julian Assange, the Australian publisher who founded WikiLeaks in 2006, faces 175 years in prison if extradited from the UK to the US. Assange’s case is the first time in history that a publisher has been indicted under the US Espionage Act, but the Australian government have so far not stepped in to help him. … Continue reading Bring Julian Assange home
Centrelink’s phone system is not working
"Your call is important to us. Please stay on the line until your call is no longer important to you." Anybody who has ever tried to use Centrelink's automated phone system will tell you it doesn't work. Only Centrelink seem to think it does, and they're doing nothing to fix it The current system automatically … Continue reading Centrelink’s phone system is not working
Managing an Aboriginal Corporation in Tingha
In 2002, I moved out of Queensland to manage the Mrangalli Aboriginal Corporation in Tingha, NSW. This proved quite rewarding, but it wasn't without it's problems. Sadly, the corporation no longer exists, for reasons we will discuss later. Before non indigenous settlement the area now known as Tingha was mainly inhabited by people from the … Continue reading Managing an Aboriginal Corporation in Tingha
I won my 11 month fight with the NDIS
Yesterday I won my 11 month battle with the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme). It was only a small win, but highlights the lack of empathy and bloody-mindedness of those charged with administering the scheme. This was an incredible waste of government time and money, when one considers that the cost that NDIS was trying … Continue reading I won my 11 month fight with the NDIS
Teaching Aboriginal street kids in Rockhampton
Another learning experience I had was in 2001, teaching Aboriginal street kids in Rockhampton. I came to learn the problems these kids faced, and their genuine desire to overcome these problems. This was shortly after I had left Woorabinda Aboriginal Community, where I was running the TAFE at the local high school, and at the … Continue reading Teaching Aboriginal street kids in Rockhampton
There’s no town like Alice – or is there?
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 times … Continue reading There’s no town like Alice – or is there?
Craig Hill 