Latest Australia government News
Australia's treasurer will visit China this week in the latest sign that bilateral ties are mending
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Treasurer Jim Chalmers will this week become the first Australian government minister in that key economic role to visit China in seven years, in the latest sign that strained bilateral relations are mending. Chalmers flies to Beijing on Thursday for a...
Biden tells Quad leaders that Beijing is testing region at turbulent moment for Chinese economy
CLAYMONT, Del. (AP) — President Joe Biden told Indo-Pacific allies on Saturday that he believes China’s increasing military assertiveness is an effort to test the region at a turbulent moment for Beijing. Biden's comments were caught by a hot mic after he and fellow leaders of...
Biden opens busy foreign policy stretch as anxious allies shift gaze to Trump, Harris
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — President Joe Biden is opening a busy stretch Friday tending to international allies anxious about where U.S. foreign policy is headed when he leaves office in four months, most likely leaving behind a difficult set of crises for former President Donald Trump or Vice...
Biden to host 'Quad' leaders from Australia, India and Japan in his Delaware hometown
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will host the leaders of Australia, India and Japan next weekend in his Wilmington, Delaware, hometown, the White House announced, as he looks to burnish his legacy before leaving office in January. Biden was the first American president to...
Australia strips medals from military commanders over Afghanistan war crime allegations
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Several serving and former Australian military commanders have been stripped of medals over allegations of war crimes committed during the Afghanistan war, Defense Minister Richard Marles said Thursday. Holding commanders to account for alleged...
Anti-war protesters in Australia clash with police outside a weapons convention
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Anti-war protesters clashed with police on Wednesday outside a military arms convention in the Australian city of Melbourne. Protesters hurled bottles, rocks and horse manure, a police statement said. They also sprayed officers with liquid irritants,...
Australia proposes legal minimum age for children accessing social media
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Australian government on Tuesday promised to legislate this year to enforce a minimum age for children to access social media, but it has yet to announce how ages will be verified. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government would soon trial...
Japan and Australia agree to increase joint military training
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Japan and Australia agreed on Thursday to increase joint military training exercises as their government ministers shared concerns over China’s recent incursions into Japanese airspace and territorial waters. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and...
Iran summons Australian envoy over LGBTQ+ celebration in Tehran embassy
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran on Tuesday summoned the Australian ambassador in Iran over the publication of photos from a celebration in the embassy to mark Australia's LGBTQ national day on Sept. 1, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. IRNA said the foreign ministry summoned the...
Kiribati's pro-China government bars foreign officials from visiting until 2025, citing elections
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The government of Kiribati is suspending all diplomatic visits to the tiny Pacific Island nation until next year and has cancelled some already planned, because it is in the midst of an election process that could run for several more months, an official said...
