Latest Australia government News
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...
World's 'largest solar precinct' approved by Australian government
NEWCASTLE, Australia (AP) — An ambitious plan to build a massive solar farm in remote northern Australia that would transmit energy by submarine cable to Singapore is a step closer after the Australian government granted environmental approvals for the 30 billion Australian dollar ($19 billion)...
Indonesia and Australia finalize new bilateral defense treaty
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Indonesia and Australia on Tuesday finalized a new bilateral defense treaty that will enhance the neighboring nations' ability to operate their militaries in each other's territory. The agreement was reached as Indonesian president-elect Prabowo...
An election in Kiribati provokes Western alarm about Beijing's sway in Pacific atoll nation
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — People in Kiribati went to the polls on Wednesday for the first round of voting in a national election expected to serve as a referendum on rising living costs and the government’s stronger ties with China. A second round of voting is scheduled on...
Federal prosecutors charge ex-Los Angeles County deputies in sham raid and $37M extortion
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two former Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies and two former foreign military officials have been charged with threatening a Chinese national and his family with violence and deportation during a sham raid at his Orange County home five years ago, federal prosecutors said...
Australia and New Zealand are locked in a battle of tongue in cheek after Māori words are removed
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The removal of basic Māori phrases meaning “hello” and “New Zealand” from a Māori lunar new year invitation to an Australian official was not a snub of the Indigenous language by New Zealand’s government, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Wednesday,...
Australian state orders public servants to stop remote working after a newspaper campaign against it
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The government of Australia’s most populous state ordered all public employees to work from their offices by default beginning Tuesday and urged stricter limits on remote work, after news outlets provoked a fraught debate about work-from-home habits established...
US leaders call for calm in the Middle East, even as more American forces head to the region
WASHINGTON (AP) — Calling for calm in the Middle East, top U.S. national security leaders said Tuesday that they and allies are directly pressing Israel, Iran and others to avoid escalating the conflict, even as the U.S. moved more troops to the region and threatened retaliation if American...
