site.news_by_theme Australia

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.

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.

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'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 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 sent to the tiny Pacific nation of Nauru will be forced initially to live in tents, Australia's Immigration Minister Chris Bowen confirmed Tuesday.

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.

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 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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

A French tourist was in an Australian hospital Monday with burns after a fellow traveller allegedly set fire to his fancy dress costume which was made of toilet paper.

BHP Billiton on Monday said it was selling one of Australia's largest underdeveloped uranium mines to Cameco for US$430 million, just days after delaying its Olympic Dam copper and uranium project.

Australia's Resources Minister declared the mining boom "over" following BHP Billiton's decision to delay the massive Olympic Dam project as commodities prices sag.

Australian officials on Tuesday welcomed Chevron's decision to bow out of Woodside Petroleum's massive Browse liquefied natural gas project as a chance for Chinese investors to buy in.

An Australian radio host was Monday taken off air after taunting the mother of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with a Nazi slogan, screaming at her "Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil!".

Australian scientists said Friday there was now "striking evidence" of extensive southward migration of tropical fish and declines in other species due to climate change, in a major ocean report card.
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