June 4, 2019 Australia emphasizes tough stance on people smuggling Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton is warning human smugglers and people seeking to enter Australia by boat not to do so, emphasizing that the government continues to enforce the country's tough border protection policy.
June 4, 2019 Australian cardinal to appeal child sex convictions The most senior Catholic convicted of child sex abuse will soon ask an Australian appeals court to reverse convictions on charges of molesting two choirboys in a cathedral more than 20 years ago.
June 4, 2019 Australia cuts key interest rate to record low 1.25% Australia's central bank has cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to a new record low of 1.25% in the first rate change in almost three years.
June 3, 2019 Aussie home minister lays wreath at bombed Sri Lanka church Australian Home Minister Peter Dutton has laid a wreath and offered condolences for the Easter Sunday bomb attacks in Sri Lanka on a visit to the South Asian island nation.
June 3, 2019 Recent developments surrounding the South China Sea A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global commerce and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves: ___ EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a weekly look at developments in the South China Sea, the location of several territorial conflicts in the region.
May 30, 2019 New Zealand becomes first in world to unveil 'well-being' budget New Zealand on Thursday announced a new budget worth billions of dollars to benefit mental health services and child poverty in its first so-called "well-being" budget.
May 30, 2019 China says laser report 'not consistent with the facts' China's defense ministry says a report that Australian navy helicopter pilots were targeted with lasers, apparently coming from Chinese fishing boats, was "not consistent with the facts."
May 30, 2019 James Marape sworn in as Papua New Guinea's prime minister Former Papua New Guinea Finance Minister James Marape has been sworn in as the country's new prime minister, following the resignation of Peter O'Neill last week.
May 28, 2019 Australian jailed to 10 years over British backpacker rape An Australian man who kidnapped and repeatedly raped a British backpacker during a monthlong ordeal in the country's Outback has been jailed for 10 years.
May 28, 2019 Morrison sworn in as Australia's prime minister Scott Morrison has been sworn in as Australia's prime minister, 11 days after retaining the position in the country's general election.