Australia's Abbott says sorry to childless PM in new row
Australian opposition leader Tony Abbott apologised Tuesday after saying the government was inexperienced when it comes to having babies, a comment seen as a dig at childless Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Australia PM poll boost after sexism speech
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's popularity has surged following her aggressive speech calling the opposition leader a misogynist and a sexist, a poll showed Monday.
Woman critical after elephant attack at Sydney zoo
A female keeper was rushed to hospital in a critical condition on Friday after being crushed against a bollard by an Asian elephant at Sydney's Taronga Zoo.
Aussie sailor tells of monster wave that rolled yacht
An Australian yachtsman was reunited with his family Thursday following a dramatic rescue after a massive wave picked up his boat and rolled it over, hundreds of kilometres off the coast.
Australia PM misogyny speech sparks dictionary rethink
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's fiery speech calling the opposition leader a misogynist on Wednesday prompted a leading dictionary to broaden its definition of the word.
Australia PM makes surprise visit to Afghanistan
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has made a surprise visit to Afghanistan, seeking assurances from President Hamid Karzai that he is doing all he can to halt "insider attacks".
Australia defends refugee policy after boat surge
Canberra insisted on Monday that a new deterrent policy of locking up refugees on remote Pacific islands was working despite a weekend surge in arrivals and self-harm attempts among detainees.
Gillard accused of letting down Australian women
Prime Minister Julia Gillard was Wednesday accused of letting down Australian women by defending her tainted parliamentary speaker and using gender to deflect criticism.
Australians trial Botox to treat hay fever
The best-selling wrinkle erasing drug Botox will be used in an Australian study to treat hay fever, researchers said Tuesday after it showed promise in providing relief in early trials.
Australia scientists tackle reef-killing starfish
An Australian research team said Monday they have found an effective way to kill the destructive crown-of-thorns starfish, which is devastating coral reefs across the Pacific and Indian oceans.
Funeral held for murdered Irish woman in Australia
A private funeral was held Friday for murdered Irish woman Jill Meagher in Australia, whose disappearance gripped the nation and led to an outpouring of grief and anger.
Australia hits out at Japan at whale research launch
Australian Environment Minister Tony Burke Thursday hit out at Japan's "alleged" scientific whaling as researchers hailed the testing of new acoustic tracking technology for the endangered blue whale.
Australia admits neglect of Great Barrier Reef
The Australian government admits the Great Barrier Reef has been neglected for decades after a study showed it has lost more than half its coral cover in the past 27 years.
S&P warns of little iron ore respite for miners
Global credit agency Standard & Poor's said Tuesday that it saw little improvement in iron ore prices in the near-term and warned that smaller single-commodity miners could see their ratings slip.
Great Barrier Reef coral halved in 27 years: study
Australia's Great Barrier Reef has lost more than half its coral cover in the past 27 years due to storms, poisonous starfish and bleaching linked to climate change.
Facebook won't remove murder page: Australia police
Australian police said on Monday that social media site Facebook had refused to take down a page containing offensive material about the man accused of murdering Irish woman Jill Meagher.
Australian police charge man over murder of Irish woman
Australian homicide detectives Friday charged a 41-year-old man with the rape and murder of Irish woman Jill Meagher after her body was found in a bushland area north of Melbourne.
BHP requests four more years for major mine plan
Mining giant BHP Billiton on Thursday asked South Australia state for a 46-month extension to the approval of its Olympic Dam project expansion, which was shelved last month on cost concerns.
Australian homicide squad leads hunt for Irish woman
Australian homicide detectives on Monday took over an investigation into the disappearance of a young Irish woman in Melbourne after her handbag was found in a nearby street.
Anger as Australian senator links gay marriage to bestiality
A conservative Australian senator was forced to resign from his parliamentary role on Wednesday after he linked same-sex marriage to bestiality and polygamy during a debate.