December 10, 2015 Australia's PM-elect faces early asylum-seeker test Australia's Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott faced an early test Monday over the divisive issue of asylum-seekers, with the first people-smuggling boat arriving on his watch and diplomatic pressure from Papua New Guinea.
December 10, 2015 Australia activist faces jail over Whitehaven hoax An anti-coal activist was charged on Tuesday with issuing a fake press release that temporarily wiped more than Aus$300 million (US$278 million) from the share price of Australia's Whitehaven Coal.
December 9, 2015 Lions in big tour win over Melbourne Rebels The British and Irish Lions maintained their momentum ahead of Saturday's second Test with a comprehensive 35-0 win over the Melbourne Rebels in Melbourne on Tuesday.
December 9, 2015 Australia's first female PM's 'murderous rage' over sexism Australia's first female premier Julia Gillard has described her "murderous rage" at her sexist treatment but said she would do it all again in her first public appearance since being dumped.
December 9, 2015 Australian PM under pressure over refugee 'back-pedal' Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott was Wednesday accused by the opposition of "back-pedalling at 100 miles an hour" on his hardline asylum-seeker policies during a sensitive diplomatic visit to Indonesia this week.
December 9, 2015 Assange launches party to contest Australia polls WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange Thursday officially launched his political party to contest Australian elections this year, saying a victory for this candidates would be akin to planting the country's "best investigative journalists" in the Senate.
December 9, 2015 Family feud for grandfather, says Rinehart's son The son of Australia's richest person Gina Rinehart has pledged he "won't give up" on his battle for control of the family fortune because it honours his grandfather's dying wishes, a report said Saturday.
December 9, 2015 Australia's Abbott proposes buying 'smuggler' boats The frontrunning candidate in Australia's election, Tony Abbott, would pay Indonesians for unseaworthy boats to stop them from ending up with people-smugglers, as part of a plan unveiled Friday.
December 9, 2015 US commander says China ties 'collegial' The United States' top naval commander in Asia described military relations with China as "collegial" and rejected Cold War comparisons, urging "methodical and thoughtful" diplomacy in the region.
December 9, 2015 Rudd set for Indonesia talks Australia's new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd heads to Indonesia this week for his first foreign trip since retaking the leadership, but one in which the thorny domestic issue of asylum-seekers is set to figure prominently.