site.news_by_theme Australia
Homelessness rising in Australia: study
Homelessness in Australia has surged 17 percent since 2006 mainly due to a spike in migrant numbers, though fewer people are sleeping rough on the streets.
05 June 2013
Australian prime minister dodges another sandwich
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard was forced to dodge a flying sandwich for the second time this month Thursday when someone's salami lunch was flung at her during a school visit.
30 May 2013
Drownings fear after life-jackets wash up in Australia
Australian police said Monday at least eight life-jackets had washed up on a beach in the Cocos Islands, sparking fears that asylum-seekers may once again have drowned en route to Australia.
28 May 2013
Australia murder probe as body found 50 years later
Australian police on Monday said they have opened a murder inquiry after the remains of a woman who disappeared almost 50 years ago were identified as those of a missing mother.
27 May 2013
Ford to halt car production in Australia in 2016
Ford announced Thursday it would cease making vehicles at its unprofitable Australian plants in 2016 and axe 1,200 jobs, ending an era that began in 1925 with the firm's first local car.
24 May 2013
Australia set to cull 10,000 wild horses
A controversial cull of up to 10,000 wild horses in Australia's harsh Outback reportedly began Wednesday in a bid to control the feral animals which officials say are destroying the land.
22 May 2013
Rinehart loses $7 bn but still Australia's richest
Mining magnate Gina Rinehart had Aus$7 billion (US$6.8 billion) wiped off her fortune in the past year but remains Australia's wealthiest person.
22 May 2013
Nobel laureate plays down flu pandemic scaremongering
A Nobel prize-winning scientist Tuesday played down "shock-horror scenarios" that a new virus strain will emerge with the potential to kill millions of people.
21 May 2013
Australian zoo says white rhino birth 'sign of hope'
An Australian zoo said Tuesday the birth of a southern white rhinoceros was a "sign of hope" for the species given the escalation of poaching in Africa.
21 May 2013
Drug traffickers targeting Australia
Australia seized a record 23 tonnes of illicit drugs in 2011-2012 with arrests at a 10-year high, data showed Monday, as officials warned the country had become a key target for traffickers.
20 May 2013
Rio Tinto puts largest 'red' diamond on market
Rio Tinto said Friday it was putting up for sale the biggest "red" diamond ever produced by its Australian mine amid an "explosion" in demand from Asia for the rare pink-hued stones.
17 May 2013
Tycoon says Australia treating mining firms as ATMs
Australia's richest person Gina Rinehart on Friday accused the government of using the mining industry as an ATM, warning of an unhealthy reliance on the sector and unsustainable debt levels.
17 May 2013
Australian PM brought to tears in parliament
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's tough exterior cracked Wednesday as she choked back tears while introducing a bill into parliament on disability reforms.
15 May 2013
BHP to scale back capital spending by a fifth
Global mining giant BHP Billiton has outlined plans to slash capital spending by almost a fifth, with new chief executive Andrew Mackenzie warning the brakes could be applied even further.
15 May 2013
Aboriginal adoption plans spark new fears
Politicians in northern Australia said Tuesday they were considering putting neglected Aboriginal children up for adoption, sparking fears of a new "stolen generation".
14 May 2013
Cricket: TV networks tussle for Australian rights
Australia's Ten Network television has offered Cricket Australia Aus$500 million (US$505 million) in cash for coverage rights over the next five years.
10 May 2013
Search off for Australian couple who fell from cruise ship
Australian officials Friday called off a massive air and sea search for a couple who fell overboard during a cruise, as the cruise ship company involved said safety was its first priority.
10 May 2013
Kiribati fishermen survive a month adrift in Pacific: report
Two fishermen from Kiribati were rescued after surviving almost four weeks adrift in the Pacific, surviving on raw fish and rain water.
08 May 2013
Branson open to total sale of Virgin Australia
Virgin Group chief Richard Branson has aired the possibility of selling his entire stake in budget carrier Virgin Australia, saying the airline's branding is more important to him than ownership.
08 May 2013
Australia cuts interest rate to record low 2.75 pct
Australia's central bank cut interest rates to a record low of 2.75 percent Tuesday, citing weak domestic inflation coupled with a persistently high dollar as investment in the key mining sector hits its peak.
07 May 2013