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Australia approves social media ban on under-16s

Australia will ban children under 16 from using social media, after its parliament approved the world’s strictest laws.

The ban, which will not take effect for at least 12 months, could see tech companies fined up to A$50m ($32.5m; £25.7m) if they don’t comply.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese…[Read more]

Anti-corruption watchdog commissioner’s future ‘untenable’ after ‘bias’ finding, David Pocock says

Senator doubles down on concerns about the new National Anti-Corruption Commission’s credibility and reputation

David Pocock has doubled down on concerns the position of the federal anti-corruption watchdog’s top investigator remains “untenable” a…[Read more]

Burning out: how Australia’s bid to cut smoking rates exploded into suburban tobacco wars

With the illicit market worth at least $2bn a year and the rise of illegal vapes, experts say the status quo is failing

There are three tobacconists in a strip of no more than a dozen shops on the same side of a street in Melbourne’s west. Earlier this yea…[Read more]

‘We feel this grief profoundly’: Family of driver in Melbourne primary school crash expresses ‘genuine sorrow’

The family of the driver who was behind the wheel of a car which smashed into a Melbourne primary school has offered their condolences to the loved ones of the 11-year-old boy killed in the crash.
Jack Davey died on the way to hospital…[Read more]

Australian PM accused of seeking upgrades from Qantas boss

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been accused of asking for free personal flight upgrades directly from the former CEO of national carrier Qantas.

A new book by Australian journalist Joe Aston claims Albanese made several calls to ex-CEO Alan Joyce, and received upgrades on…[Read more]

Defence summit in Sydney cancelled over concerns about planned protests

A major defence industry event due to be held in Sydney this week has been cancelled following safety concerns about planned protests.
The New South Wales Defence Summit was scheduled to be held on Thursday in the city’s central business district but organisers Informa Con…[Read more]

‘Doesn’t pass pub test’: Barnaby Joyce weighs in on PM’s Qantas freebies

Barnaby Joyce has weighed in on Anthony Albanese’s Qantas freebies after the Prime Minster was accused of ‘gold-plating’ his private holidays.

Anthony Albanese has been accused of ‘gold-plating’ private holidays with Qantas freebies involving flight upgrades worth te…[Read more]

‘Not my King’ protest row highlights Australian divisions

When an Aboriginal Australian senator heckled King Charles moments after he delivered a speech in the nation’s Parliament House, it caught the world’s attention.

Lidia Thorpe’s cries of “not my King” and “this is not your land” shone a light on a country that is still grappling with it…[Read more]

Helicopter pilot who crashed into a hotel had drunk a ‘significant amount of alcohol,’ report finds

A pilot who died when he crashed a helicopter into a hotel in Australia had “significant blood alcohol content” during the unauthorized flight, according to an official report into the incident.

Hundreds of guests and staff were evacuated from th…[Read more]

King Charles issues powerful message for anti-monarchists in Australia

King Charles made a final decision about the future of the monarchy in Australia just days before his much-awaited tour to the country.

As per The Daily Mail, the monarch stated that he would not intervene if the Australian public chose to replace him as head of state.

The…[Read more]

Victorians back Coalition over Labor for first time in seven years, fresh opinion poll shows

The Victorian Coalition has overtaken the Labor government in the two-party preferred vote for the first time in seven years, a fresh opinion poll has revealed.
A new opinion poll from Redbridge showed support for Premier Jacinta Allan has slumped to 49…[Read more]

First stage of Australia’s largest wind farm powered up

The first stage of the largest wind farm in the southern hemisphere has been officially switched on in Victoria’s south west.
Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio announced that once fully operational, the wind farm would power more than 760,000 homes.
The Golden Plains Wind Farm, located at…[Read more]

‘It gets hold of you’: Crystal meth from Myanmar floods Australia streets

Australian police estimate about 70 percent of the highly-addictive drug on the streets comes from the war-torn country.

Myanmar’s remote jungle hills may be a world away from sun-soaked Australia, but the two countries share an insidious bond – crystalline methamp…[Read more]

NSW Police Force takes court action to stop pro-Palestine October 7 anniversary rallies in Sydney

Police are going to the Supreme Court to block two pro-Palestine protests planned for Sydney to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the war in Gaza this weekend.
The NSW Police Force’s move comes as the Australian Federal Police investigates…[Read more]

Dutton hits out at ABC after Hezbollah question

Peter Dutton says the ABC is in “greater trouble” than he thought after a reporter asked him about Australia listing Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation.

Peter Dutton says the ABC is in “greater trouble” than he thought after a reporter asked him about Australia’s listing of Hezbollah a terrorist…[Read more]

US and allies call for 21-day ceasefire across Lebanon-Israel border

Allies including the US, UK and EU have called for a temporary ceasefire in Lebanon, following an escalation in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

The 12-strong bloc proposed an immediate 21-day pause in fighting “to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a…[Read more]

Judge says controversial women-only art exhibit is legal

A controversial women’s-only museum exhibit could soon re-open in Australia, after an appeal judge overturned a ruling that it breached anti-discrimination laws.

The luxurious Ladies Lounge at the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) in Hobart had sought to highlight historic misogyny by b…[Read more]

Australian police infiltrate encrypted messaging app Ghost and arrest dozens

Australian police said Wednesday they have infiltrated Ghost, an encrypted global communications app developed for criminals, leading to dozens of arrests.

The app’s alleged administrator, Jay Je Yoon Jung, 32, appeared in a Sydney court Wednesday on charges including s…[Read more]

Student who confronted Woolworths CEO over prices slams ‘disgusting’ response

The student who confronted Woolworths CEO Amanda Bardwell over price gouging allegations wanted to express “the frustration and anger a lot of working class people are facing”.
Struggling university student Megan Guy and a friend approached Bardwell at Woolworths W…[Read more]

Australia: Inflation falls within the target range

The headline inflation rate has fallen within the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) target range for the first time since October 2021. We do not think this merits an immediate re-think of the rate outlook. There are a lot of moving parts to this set of data, any one of which could reverse in t…[Read more]