Latest Australia government News

Australia boosting aid to Papua New Guinea for landslide recovery and security

Jun. 20, 2024 05:57 AM EDT

NEWCASTLE, Australia (AP) — Australia will provide a further 2 million Australian dollars ($1.3 million) to support reconstruction efforts in Papua New Guinea after last month's deadly landslide, the government said Thursday. The South Pacific island nation off Australia's northern...

Australian opposition puts nation's first nuclear power plants in its energy plan ahead of elections

Jun. 19, 2024 00:28 AM EDT

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s main opposition party on Wednesday announced plans to build Australia’s first nuclear power plants as early as 2035, arguing the government’s policies for decarbonizing the economy with renewable energy sources including solar, wind turbines and green...

China's premier gets a red-carpet welcome as he begins visit in Malaysia

Jun. 18, 2024 11:45 AM EDT

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — China's premier received a red-carpet welcome as he arrived Tuesday in Malaysia, the last leg of a regional tour, to celebrate a half-century of diplomatic ties between the two nations. Li Qiang is the first Chinese premier to visit Malaysia since...

Chinese premier agrees with Australia to 'properly manage' differences

Jun. 17, 2024 04:46 AM EDT

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang said he agreed with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday to properly manage their nations' differences as they emerge from a hostile era in which minister-to-minister contacts were banned and trade barriers cost Australian...

Chinese premier promises more pandas and urges Australia to put aside differences

Jun. 16, 2024 07:06 AM EDT

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Sunday promised a new pair of giant pandas to a zoo and urged Australia to set aside its differences with Beijing at the outset of the first visit to the country by China's second-highest ranking leader in seven years. ...

Chinese premier lands in Australia on first such visit in 7 years

Jun. 15, 2024 06:50 AM EDT

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Australia on Saturday on a relations-mending mission with panda diplomacy, rock lobsters and China’s global dominance in the critical minerals sector high on the agenda. His visit is the first by a Chinese premier in...

Australia anticipates China will lift final obstacle for exports as they ease past 2020 row

Jun. 12, 2024 02:34 AM EDT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell on Wednesday predicted the final obstacle for exports to China, Beijing’s ban on live lobster imports, will be lifted soon after Chinese Premier Li Qiang visits the country. The return of lobsters to the Chinese...

Chinese premier to visit New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia

Jun. 11, 2024 05:35 AM EDT

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang will visit New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia starting Thursday, officials said. Li will visit the three countries from June 13 to 20, a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said Tuesday. Australia earlier announced...

A growing Filipino diaspora means plenty of celebration worldwide for Philippine Independence Day

Jun. 11, 2024 02:08 AM EDT

In the Philippines — where Spanish and later U.S. colonial rule persisted for nearly four centuries — June 12 is the real Independence Day. That date in 1898 was the pivotal moment when the island nation first made a bold move for autonomy. Ahead of this year's holiday in...

Australian leader tells activists to 'turn the heat down' after US Consulate vandalized over Gaza

Jun. 10, 2024 09:38 AM EDT

SYDNEY (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged activists on both sides of the Israel-Palestinian debate to “turn the heat down” after the U.S. Consulate in Sydney was vandalized on Monday. Surveillance video showed a person wearing a dark hoodie using a small...