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.
Nauru refugee riots follow Australian crackdown
Buildings were razed as hundreds of asylum-seekers escaped detention during riots at an Australian refugee facility on Nauru.
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.
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.
Dead pigs dumped at Australian cemetery's Muslim graves
Australian 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Whale knocks surfer unconscious in Australia
A Sydney surfer had a lucky escape on Sunday when he was hit by a whale frolicking off Bondi Beach and knocked unconscious.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Rudd's return revives Australia's Labor: poll
The dramatic return of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has delivered his flagging Labor party a six percentage point bounce.
Australia PM says opposition risks Indonesia ties
Australia's new prime minister Kevin Rudd said Friday the conservative opposition's proposal to turn back asylum-seeker boats risked inciting conflict with Indonesia.
Rudd sworn in as Australia's new prime minister
Kevin Rudd was sworn in as Australia's new prime minister Thursday almost three years to the day since he was ruthlessly ousted from the top job by Julia Gillard, as Labor fights for electoral survival.
Australia takes Japan to top UN court to stop whaling
Australia takes its legal battle to stop Japanese whaling in the Antarctic before the UN's highest court on Wednesday, in an emotionally-charged case activists say is make-or-break for the giant marine mammals' future.
British killer found in Australia after 15 years on the run
A British man who killed his aunt by stabbing her 70 times and who has been on the run for 15 years after escaping from prison in England has been arrested in an Australian town.
Australian PM launches discrimination inquiry
Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick will oversee a national survey to assess the prevalence, nature and consequences of discrimination relating.