Latest Australia government News

China lifts heavy tariffs on Australian wine as ties improve

Mar. 28, 2024 04:56 AM EDT

HONG KONG (AP) — China on Thursday said it will lift tariffs placed on Australian wine over three years ago, in a sign of improving ties between the two countries. China’s Ministry of Commerce said the decision will take effect Friday. China imposed tariffs on...

Australia and UK sign defense and security treaty to meet 'contemporary challenges'

Mar. 21, 2024 01:59 AM EDT

SYDNEY (AP) — Australia and the United Kingdom signed a new defense and security cooperation agreement with the defense ministers of both countries saying it was required to meet “contemporary challenges” to maintain a global rules-based order. The treaty was signed by...

Australia gets its most senior Chinese leadership visit since 2017 as relations thaw further

Mar. 20, 2024 08:00 AM EDT

SYDNEY (AP) — Australia received its most senior Chinese leadership visit in nearly seven years Wednesday with stability a key theme of the discussions between the countries’ foreign ministers. China's Wang Yi met with his counterpart Penny Wong in Canberra on his tour of...

French company Naval Group has been selected to build 4 new submarines for the Dutch navy

Mar. 15, 2024 11:23 AM EDT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — French defense industry heavyweight Naval Group has been chosen to build four new diesel-electric submarines for the Dutch navy, the government announced Friday, in a provisional deal to replace three ageing Walrus Class subs. The Dutch government did...

Australia resumes funding for UNRWA and pledges more Gaza aid

Mar. 15, 2024 02:09 AM EDT

SYDNEY (AP) — Australia will restore funding to the United Nations relief agency for Palestinians, weeks after the agency lost hundreds of millions of dollars in support following Israeli allegations that some of its Gaza-based staff participated in the Oct. 7 attack. The...

Australian and Vietnamese prime ministers elevate their nations' booming economic relationship

Mar. 06, 2024 22:12 PM EST

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australian and Vietnamese prime ministers on Thursday discussed ways of improving an already booming economic relationship, as part of Australia’s strategy to diversify trade away from China. Vietnamese Pham Minh Chinh’s official state visit came...

Southeast Asian leaders call for South China Sea disputes to be resolved without threats or force

Mar. 06, 2024 08:31 AM EST

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s prime minister expressed concerns Wednesday over “unsafe and destabilizing behavior” in the South China Sea, citing the collision between Chinese and Philippine ships the previous day. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's remarks came as...

Malaysia's prime minister resists US pressure and says Malaysians don't have a problem with China

Mar. 04, 2024 03:52 AM EST

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Malaysia’s prime minister on Monday spoke up in defense of ties with China and complained over alleged pressure by the United States and its allies on regional nations to take sides in the West’s strategic rivalries with Beijing. Prime Minister...

China and Myanmar likely to be high on the agenda when Southeast Asian leaders meet in Australia

Mar. 03, 2024 20:58 PM EST

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An increasingly assertive China and a humanitarian crisis in Myanmar are likely to be high on the agenda when Southeast Asian leaders meet in Australia for a rare summit this week. The ASEAN-Australia Special Summit that starts in Melbourne on Monday...

Tuvalu's new premier says democracy and loyalty are reasons for preferring Taiwan over Beijing

Mar. 01, 2024 13:06 PM EST

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The new prime minister in the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu said on Friday his country shares democratic values with Taiwan and reaffirmed that his government would maintain diplomatic ties with Taipei, ruling out a shift to Beijing. Prime Minister...