Latest Australia government News
Australia withdraws a misinformation bill after critics compare it to censorship
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia's government has withdrawn a bill that would give a media watchdog power to monitor digital platforms and require them to keep records about misinformation and disinformation on their networks. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said...
Australia rejects Elon Musk's claim that it plans to control access to the internet
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian Cabinet minister on Friday rejected X Corp. owner Elon Musk’s allegation that the government intended to control all Australians' access to the internet through legislation that would ban young children from social media. Treasurer Jim...
Australian teen and British woman who drank tainted alcohol in Laos have died, bringing toll to 5
VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) — An Australian teenager and a British woman have died after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos in what Australia’s prime minister on Thursday said was every parent’s nightmare. An American and two Danish tourists also died, officials said, following reports...
Australia won't force social media users to share their personal details when child ban takes effect
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia's communications minister said Wednesday the government won't force social media users to hand over their personal information to tech companies, as children younger than 16 are set to be banned from the platforms. Michelle Rowland plans to...
Australia's plan to ban children from social media proves popular and problematic
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — How do you remove children from the harms of social media? Politically the answer appears simple in Australia, but practically the solution could be far more difficult. The Australian government’s plan to ban children from social media platforms...
Foreign governments criticize Hong Kong's sentencing of 45 activists. Beijing defends it
HONG KONG (AP) — Forty-five prominent activists in Hong Kong were sentenced to jail for up to 10 years on Tuesday, sparking criticism from foreign governments and rights groups. Beijing defended the decisions. The democracy advocates were among 47 people charged under a...
Australian mine company to pay Mali junta $160 million after its CEO and 2 employees were detained
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Australia’s Resolute Mining said Monday it would pay $160 million to Mali’s ruling junta to resolve a tax dispute, more than a week after the company’s CEO and two employees were detained in the West African country. Earlier this month, the Australian...
Australian senate censures Indigenous lawmaker who yelled at King Charles III
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian senators on Monday voted to censure an Indigenous colleague who yelled at King Charles III during a reception in Parliament House last month. The censure of independent Sen. Lidia Thorpe is a symbolic gesture that records her colleagues’...
Japanese troops will train with US and Australian forces as concerns over China grow
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Japan will send troops for joint training with U.S. Marines and Australian forces in northern Australia, the countries' defense ministers said Sunday, as they expressed concern about a spate of confrontations with China's increasingly assertive military. ...
Australia will require social media platforms to act to prevent online harm to users
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia plans to require social media platforms to act to prevent online harms to users such as bullying, predatory behavior and algorithms pushing destructive content, the government said Thursday. “The Digital Duty of Care will place the onus on...
