Australia’s former parliament building in the capital Canberra was briefly set alight on Thursday by protesters during a demonstration for Aboriginal sovereignty, police said. No-one was injured in the fire, which engulfed the Old Parliament House’s front doors before it was put out. It follows a fortnight of protest activity at the site, police said. […]
Australia’s government will pay A$2m (£1.1m; $1.4m) in compensation to hundreds of Aboriginal people who said a welfare scheme was racist. The “work for the dole” scheme required people in remote outback communities to work up to 25 hours a week to receive income benefits. But its strict requirements meant that many vulnerable people […]
Coronavirus pandemic A 31-year-old woman in Australia has been charged with arson after a fire destroyed part of a Covid-19 quarantine hotel in Cairns, Queensland. It is alleged she lit a fire under a bed in the room she had been sharing with two children on Sunday morning. More than 160 people were evacuated […]
Australia is sending peace keeping troops to the Solomon Islands, as riots rocked the capital city of Honiara for a second day. PM Scott Morrison said police and army personnel would provide stability and security to the Pacific Island nation. The violence began on Wednesday when protestors stormed parliament in a bid to topple the […]
Australia has introduced a new controversial bill aimed at protecting religious people from “cancel culture”. Among other things, it would allow Catholic schools the right to fire teachers or expel gay students in the name of “religious ethos”. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Religious Discrimination Bill, if passed, would ensure protection for religious people […]
Aukus Australian PM Scott Morrison has escalated a row with France over a scrapped submarine deal, saying his nation will not accept “sledging” and “slurs”. On Sunday French President Emmanuel Macron said he knew Mr Morrison had lied to him about his intentions to renege on the deal. Mr Morrison denies he lied. But […]
COP26 One of the world’s most criticised polluters, Australia, has promised it will achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. PM Scott Morrison made the long-delayed pledge after bargaining with resistant MPs within his government. He said Australia had a plan to lower emissions, but it would not include ending its massive fossil fuel […]
COP26 Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he will now attend the COP26 UN climate conference after weeks of initial hesitation. Global leaders will meet in Glasgow next month to negotiate a new deal to stall rising global temperatures. Mr Morrison drew criticism when he indicated last month that he might skip the meeting. […]
Coronavirus pandemic The much anticipated re-opening of Indonesia’s famed tourist island Bali has seen a slow start, with no international flights scheduled. As of Thursday, fully vaccinated travellers from 19 countries including China, India, and France can enter Bali. The UK is not on the list. But visitors must first serve a five-day quarantine […]
Aukus France will send its ambassador back to Australia to “redefine” relations, after Canberra reneged on a deal to buy French submarines and sparked a row. Last month, Australia formed the Aukus security pact with the US and the UK – aimed at maintaining Western influence in the Asia-Pacific. That saw Australia end a […]
