Refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru face severe food and water insecurity, with many skipping meals despite Australia spending over $9m per person last financial year. A new ASRC survey reveals the $260 fortnightly payment is insufficient for basic needs amid high import costs and poor conditions.
The Australian government has raised its travel alert for Laos to "exercise a high degree of caution" following the methanol poisoning deaths of six foreign nationals, including two Australian backpackers, in Vang Vieng in November 2024. A distillery owner has been charged, but victims' families and Australian/Danish officials express deep disappointment over the perceived leniency of the charges.
Services Australia whistleblower Jeannie-Marie Blake is suing the Australian government, alleging repeated threats and retaliatory actions after her testimony at the robodebt royal commission, including warnings her job could be at risk.
Thousands of SamKnows routers used in Australia's Measuring Broadband Australia program were bricked after the government initiative concluded. Volunteers expressed concern over the e-waste generated, as the devices could be repurposed with custom firmware.
Australia has joined international condemnation of a Chinese missile test in the Pacific, citing non-compliance with international law and insufficient notice. China claims the test was routine military training, but Australia's PM warns of nuclear proliferation risks.
Australia has joined international condemnation of a Chinese missile test in the Pacific, citing non-compliance with international law and insufficient notice. China claims the test was routine military training.
The US and Australia have condemned China's recent missile test in the Pacific, calling it a violation of international law due to insufficient notice. China claims the test was routine and safe, but critics argue it's a destabilizing provocation.
China has conducted a long-range missile test in the Pacific, which Australia's foreign minister Penny Wong has condemned as "destabilising to the region" and "lacking in transparency". The test missile, carrying a dummy warhead, landed in designated waters and was described by China as a "routine arrangement" of military training.
China conducted a long-range missile test in the South Pacific, drawing criticism from Australia, New Zealand, and Japan for destabilizing the region. The test, reportedly involving a nuclear-capable device with a dummy warhead, occurred shortly after Australia and Fiji signed a defense alliance.
China conducted a long-range missile test in the Pacific, which Australia's acting prime minister Richard Marles called "destabilising to the region." Australia was informed of the test, reportedly involving a nuclear-capable device with a dummy warhead, on the same day it signed a defense alliance with Fiji.
Former foreign affairs minister Gareth Evans has called the Aukus defence agreement a "ludicrous delusion" and one of Australia's worst foreign policy decisions. He argues a future US administration would only assist Australia if its own assets were threatened, not for an "existential attack".
Former Australian foreign affairs minister Gareth Evans has called the Aukus nuclear submarine deal one of the worst defence decisions ever made, warning it effectively extends the US military fleet and paints a target on Australia's back. He expressed skepticism about delivery timelines and costs, particularly for the UK-Australia joint submarines.
Australia's High Court ruled against the government, allowing non-citizens unlawfully detained to claim compensation. This decision could cost millions and impacts over 350 individuals.
Six months after Australia's under-16 social media ban, supporters claim it protects youth online. Critics note continued teen usage and enforcement difficulties, as other countries consider similar measures.
Australia's Labor government has withdrawn plans to make ASIO's compulsory questioning powers permanent, opting instead for a three-year review. However, the scope of offenses covered will expand to include promoting communal violence and attacking defense systems.
The author, citing their work on a UN commission of inquiry, condemns Israel's actions in Gaza and the West Bank as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. They urge the Australian government to take concrete actions, including trade sanctions, accountability measures, and humanitarian aid, to fulfill its international law obligations.
China has imposed a one-year travel ban on four New Zealand lawmakers for visiting Taiwan, accusing them of violating the one-China principle. The Chinese embassy in Wellington stated the MPs crossed a "red line," while the NZ and Australian governments condemned the ban and plan a formal protest.
Australia's high court ruled indefinite immigration detention unlawful in 2023. Over 350 individuals, the NZYQ cohort, cannot be deported. Sara fears her father may be deported to Nauru under a new government deal.
Survivors of Australia's Stolen Generations, removed from their families as children, are urging governments for increased support as many are now elderly. A new plan highlights the need for trauma-informed care, access to records, and compensation schemes, as decades of waiting for action continue.
An auditor general's report reveals Australian government departments, particularly Treasury, are deliberately delaying the release of documents requested under freedom of information laws. This practice, along with other recent examples of government opacity, has drawn criticism from crossbenchers and transparency advocates, who argue the government is failing to uphold its promises of transparency.
An audit report revealed that nearly 80% of freedom of information requests to key Australian government departments were rejected, indicating a culture of "resistance and delay" and flouting transparency laws. The review found inconsistent decision-making and inadequate record-keeping, with 62% of overturned decisions by the OAIC highlighting issues with bureaucrats' adherence to disclosure obligations.
Spy tech firm says it’s just ‘a software company’ amid pressure for a ban on new contracts with government agenciesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJust weeks after it implied some cultures are inferior to others in a manifesto described by one UK MP as the “ramblings of a supervillain”, the US spy tech company Palantir says it is just “a software company” amid calls for Australian government agencies to ban any new contracts with the controversial company.In Australia, state and federal contracts with Palantir have reached nearly $80m, and federal investment in the company is reportedly more than $160m. Continue reading...
Australia's government launched a $20 million advertising campaign urging motorists to inflate tires and reduce fuel consumption, drawing sharp criticism from political opponents who deem it 'ridiculous' and a waste of money.
