December 9, 2015 Australia have peaked too early - Lions coach British and Irish Lions assistant coach Andy Farrell says Australia may have peaked a game early, after the Wallabies narrowly won the second Test to take the three-match series to a dramatic decider.
December 9, 2015 Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan A decorated Australian Special Forces soldier has been killed by small arms fire in Afghanistan, becoming the nation's 40th casualty in the protracted conflict.
December 9, 2015 Boat with 150 asylum-seekers capsizes off Australia A boat carrying some 150 asylum-seekers capsized off Christmas Island Tuesday but the Australian navy saved most of them, rescuers said.
December 9, 2015 Horwill excited to play in new McKenzie era Skipper James Horwill said he was thrilled by what new coach Ewen McKenzie can bring to the Wallabies as they seek to end their run of defeats against the All Blacks.
December 9, 2015 Wallabies stay tight despite losses: Lealiifano Wallabies back Christian Lealiifano said Monday the team remain unified despite three straight losses under new coach Ewen McKenzie.
December 9, 2015 Australia's first Muslim frontbencher sworn in The dumping of Australia's first woman prime minister Julia Gillard has paved the way for another milestone for the nation's parliament -- its first frontbencher of the Muslim faith, sworn in on Monday.
December 9, 2015 Lions 'ready' for battle, coach Rowntree says British and Irish Lions forwards coach Graham Rowntree has thrown down the gauntlet to the Wallabies ahead of Saturday's showdown, declaring: "We're ready for battle."
December 9, 2015 Australia defends response to refugee boat sinking Australia Sunday insisted it provided "all appropriate assistance" to an asylum-seeker boat that sank off Indonesia, killing at least 22, after survivors claimed their calls for help had gone unheeded.
December 9, 2015 Australia PM puts record number of women in cabinet New Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd unveiled his cabinet on Monday, bringing in a record number of women and switching the focus to the economy.
December 9, 2015 Wallabies score only try to level Lions series Christian Lealiifano kicked a pressure conversion to give the Wallabies a fighting 16-15 win to level the Test series against the British and Irish Lions in Melbourne on Saturday.