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.
Australian coal basin may be top 10 polluter: Greenpeace
A coal basin near Australia's Great Barrier Reef will rank among the world's worst producers of carbon pollution if fully mined, Greenpeace said Wednesday as it warned of devastating consequences.
BHP chief Kloppers tops Australian CEO pay list
Marius Kloppers, the head of mining giant BHP Billiton, topped the list of Australia's highest paid executives in fiscal 2011, but will this year take a 40 percent pay cut after refusing his bonus.
Charges over genital mutilation of girls in Australia
Many cases of female genital mutilation likely go unreported in Australia, a state minister said Friday after four people were charged over the alleged circumcision of two girls aged 6 and 7.
WikiLeaks says US gave 'tacit approval' to embassy attacks
Whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks declared on Wednesday that the United States had effectively given groups an opening to attack its embassies by supporting the siege of its founder Julian Assange.
Australian super-trawler ban in doubt
Australia's hopes of blocking a controversial super-trawler from fishing in its waters looked uncertain with the opposition speaking out against the move and a key independent lawmaker expressing reservations.
Fresh calls for inquiry into Australian currency scandal
New documents reportedly showing that Australia's central bank knew about a banknote bribery scandal before it became public raised fresh calls Wednesday for an inquiry into the allegations.
Australia breached rights of 9-year-old girl
Australia's human rights body Wednesday found the government breached the rights of a nine-year-old girl it detained for more than nine months, during which time she witnessed others self-harming.
Australia slams 'sick joke' cigarette packs
Australia slammed as a "sick joke" Wednesday new cigarette packs on sale as part of the national phase-in to plain packaging which play on drab branding and claim it's "what's on the inside that counts."
Asylum-seekers to live in tents in Nauru: Australia
Asylum-seekers sent to the tiny Pacific nation of Nauru will be forced initially to live in tents, Australia's Immigration Minister Chris Bowen confirmed Tuesday.
Australia plans to move boatpeople this week
Australian Immigration Minister Chris Bowen on Monday said he hoped to begin sending asylum-seekers who arrive by boat to the tiny Pacific nation of Nauru later this week.
Embattled Qantas in major alliance with Emirates
Struggling Australian carrier Qantas on Thursday announced a major global alliance with Emirates that will see its hub for European flights shift to Dubai from Singapore in a bid to stem losses.
Mining magnate Rinehart says Australia 'too expensive'
Mining tycoon Gina Rinehart on Wednesday warned Australia was becoming too expensive for multinational companies who could source workers for two dollars a day in Africa.
Australia says Karzai 'wrong' on Afghan operation
Australia Monday flatly rejected comments from Afghan President Hamid Karzai that a recent night-time raid which left two men dead was carried out without the approval of local authorities.
Australian given 21 years jail for Facebook murder
A man who befriended a teenage Australian girl on the social media site Facebook before luring her to a secluded spot and killing her was imprisoned for at least 21 years on Friday.
Australia says killings will not speed up Afghan exit
Australia said Friday it would complete its mission in Afghanistan despite suffering its deadliest day in combat since the Vietnam War and the prospect of further deaths caused by rogue soldiers.
Australian jailed over penis hack killing of ex-lover
An Australian woman who admitted killing her ex-lover and attempting to hack off his penis was jailed for three years and nine months Wednesday, with a court accepting she was suffering depression.
1,000 boatpeople arrive in Australia since Pacific policy
Australia said Tuesday its tough new policy to deter asylum-seekers by shipping them to small Pacific islands would take time to work, after the arrival of more than 1,000 boatpeople since it was adopted.