Australian doctors call for ban on smacking kidsAustralian doctors Friday called for the smacking of children by parents to be made illegal, saying it was too easy to blur the line between reasonable discipline and abuse.
26 July 2013
UN concern at Australia's PNG boatpeople plan The United Nations on Friday said it was "troubled" by Australia's decision to send asylum-seekers arriving by boat to Papua New Guinea given conditions there failed to adequately protect refugees.
US says bombs dropped on Australia reef to avoid boats The United States military said Monday it had jettisoned four unarmed bombs on Australia's Great Barrier Reef during a training exercise only because civilian boats had strayed into the drop zone.
Australia closed to boatpeople: PM Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Friday announced that no more boatpeople will be resettled in Australia with all unauthorised arrivals to be sent to poverty-stricken Papua New Guinea.
20 July 2013
Australia pledges more cash for reef starfish battle Australia pledged another Aus$5 million (US$4.6 million) to the fight against a predatory starfish devastating the iconic Great Barrier Reef Thursday, revealing 100,000 of the creatures had been wiped out so far.
18 July 2013
Dead pigs dumped at Australian cemetery's Muslim gravesAustralian police on Wednesday said they were investigating after the remains of two pigs, including their heads and entrails, were dumped at the Muslim section of a cemetery.
17 July 2013
Australia to ditch pollution levy by 2014 Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Tuesday announced the country's divisive fixed-price carbon tax will be scrapped a year ahead of schedule in favour of a market-driven emissions trading scheme.
16 July 2013
Australia at crossroads as China boom ends: PM Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Thursday said the China resources boom was over, leaving the economy at a crossroads, as he called for a new productivity pact to boost competitiveness.
11 July 2013
Australia's Barrier Reef slips into 'poor' health Australia hailed "solid" progress on water quality at the Great Barrier Reef Wednesday but admitted that overall conditions were now "poor" as it battles UNESCO threats to downgrade its heritage status.
10 July 2013
Australia switches on telescope to explore universe origins Australia took a major step towards the ambitious Square Kilometre Array (SKA) astronomy project with the switching on Tuesday of a test telescope to explore the origins of the universe.
Australian women rally behind ousted female PM Gillard An Australian women's group defended ousted premier Julia Gillard on Friday, saying the nation's first female leader had battled treachery in her own party and "gross disrespect" while in office.
05 July 2013
Cane toads wiping out crocodiles Down Under: study Australia's noxious cane toad is wiping out populations of a unique miniature crocodile, researchers warned Wednesday, with fears the warty, toxic creature could extinguish the rare reptile.
03 July 2013
Australian police probe surrogate boy abused by dads Australian police Wednesday described as "depraved" the case of a six-year-old boy obtained by his gay male parents via a surrogate and then sexually abused by them and others.
03 July 2013
Australia PM names record number of women in cabinet New Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd unveiled his cabinet on Monday, bringing in a record number of women and switching the focus to the economy ahead of upcoming elections.