Category: News and Features

News, Features, Media Releases and Comments

Australian Prime Minister to mend fences with China


Julia Gillard is planning to make up for previous Australian government snubs to China with a visit to Asia's premier financial forum in the first week of April. Despite the pressures of campaigning for a September election during the pre-budget parliamentary break, the Prime Minister plans to attend the Boao Forum for Asia, held on … Continue reading Australian Prime Minister to mend fences with China

Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard predicts Kevin Rudd comeback


Former prime minister John Howard says Kevin Rudd - the man who beat him in 2007 - could make a move for the Labor Party leadership before the federal election. Mr Howard says Mr Rudd's ousting as prime minister in 2010 by Julia Gillard was very unusual. "The extraordinary thing about the politics in the … Continue reading Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard predicts Kevin Rudd comeback

Australian Liberals would give Kevin Rudd diplomatic post if they win government


Labor MP Kevin Rudd has talents and experience that could land him a diplomatic appointment under a coalition government, deputy opposition leader Julie Bishop says. Ms Bishop says if she were to become foreign minister, Mr Rudd would be considered for any role with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. "If Kevin wants to … Continue reading Australian Liberals would give Kevin Rudd diplomatic post if they win government

Australia: Kevin Rudd reignites leadership speculation with barefoot bowls tournament


It is a rollback to the heady days of Kevin07. More than five years after Kevin Rudd filled television screens and Facebook pages from dusk until dawn in his campaign for The Lodge, the self-described "humble" backbencher is again reigniting leadership speculation with a blitz of mainstream and social media. As Julia Gillard jetted-off for … Continue reading Australia: Kevin Rudd reignites leadership speculation with barefoot bowls tournament

New Zealand may take asylum-seekers from Australian detention


New Zealand looks set to take a share of asylum-seekers from Australian detention centres. The countries' two leaders are expected to make an announcement on the issue tomorrow. Prime Minister Julia Gillard is in New Zealand for talks with her counterpart, John Key, to mark 30 years of close economic ties. The issue of asylum-seekers … Continue reading New Zealand may take asylum-seekers from Australian detention

Australian Opposition Leader Tony Abbott backs away from ‘move north’ plan


Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is backing away from a draft coalition discussion paper proposing incentives and beneficial tax rates to encourage people to move to northern Australia. However, the plan - described as "wacky" by Labor - has received support from several premiers and Nationals members as well as maverick Queensland MP Bob Katter. The … Continue reading Australian Opposition Leader Tony Abbott backs away from ‘move north’ plan

Australian Prime Minister urged to use Kevin Rudd in election campaign


Pressure is growing on Julia Gillard to exploit Kevin Rudd's popularity with the electorate and elevate his role in the election campaign, with four members of her cabinet now publicly declaring that the former prime minister is an asset for the party. Two of the Prime Minister's key supporters, Victorian Right faction powerbrokers Stephen Conroy … Continue reading Australian Prime Minister urged to use Kevin Rudd in election campaign

Australia: Kevin Rudd publicly supports Julia Gillard


Kevin Rudd has been forced to publicly reiterate his support for Julia Gillard after the Prime Minister complained of a caucus whispering campaign against her. The move came as Tony Abbott flagged a change in parliamentary tactics, saying his team would look more like an “alternative government” than an opposition this year. Mr Rudd told … Continue reading Australia: Kevin Rudd publicly supports Julia Gillard

Australian PM Julia Gillard accuses own MPs of undermining her government


Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has accused members of her parliamentary team of white-anting the government, as she demanded unity from Labor MPs. The Prime Minister is understood to have today told parliamentary colleagues that she had been informed by members of the media that some within her ranks had contacted them over the summer, … Continue reading Australian PM Julia Gillard accuses own MPs of undermining her government

Australian government compared to Nazis by Opposition frontbencher


Remarks comparing the federal government to the Nazi party are offensive and hurtful, new federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus says. Coalition frontbencher Christopher Pyne on Sunday said the federal government was unravelling like Hitler's government in the movie Downfall. Mr Pyne said the resignation of two senior ministers and Prime Minister Julia Gillard's subsequent reshuffle showed … Continue reading Australian government compared to Nazis by Opposition frontbencher

Senior Cabinet ministers resign from Australian government


The Gillard government's turbulent start to the new parliamentary year continues with the shock resignation of two of Labor's most senior Cabinet ministers, the Attorney-General Nicola Roxon and the government's leader in the Senate, the Higher Education Minister, Chris Evans. Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced a mid-level reshuffle of her Cabinet this morning announcing, among … Continue reading Senior Cabinet ministers resign from Australian government

Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd back on television


Cabinet Minister Tony Burke was unceremoniously dumped from Seven's Sunrise program by email yesterday afternoon to make way for Kevin Rudd's return to the show that made him a political star. Mr Rudd faced off against his old sparring partner Joe Hockey on Sunrise this morning after agreeing early last month to resume duties with … Continue reading Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd back on television

Australian public to endure eight month election campaign


If day one of the election campaign is anything to go by, it’s going to be a long seven months until the September poll. As many commentators lamented yesterday, the announcement by Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Wednesday has kick-started a campaign which is likely to be driven more by personality than policy. At least … Continue reading Australian public to endure eight month election campaign

Julian Assange to run for Australian Senate


Julian Assange will run for a Senate seat in the 2013 federal election and his mum reckons he'll be awesome. Christine Assange confirmed her son's candidacy on Wednesday after WikiLeaks tweeted the news. "He will be awesome," she said. "In the House of Representatives we get to choose between US lackey party number one and … Continue reading Julian Assange to run for Australian Senate

Australian firms to ramp up China ventures


Australian companies are ramping up their investments in China as they express renewed confidence about the nation's economic growth while also warning of tougher competition from Chinese rivals. Almost three quarters of the Australian firms already operating in China are likely to expand their operations in the wake of the country's leadership transition late last … Continue reading Australian firms to ramp up China ventures

Australian military responds to storm crisis in Brisbane


Brisbane will flood for the second time in three years, with Premier Campbell Newman revealing last night that nothing can stop the city's river breaking its banks and inundating thousands of properties as a powerful storm continues to batter the east coast. More than 3600 houses and residential unit lots would be affected, though not … Continue reading Australian military responds to storm crisis in Brisbane

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott rallies the troops in Australia


Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has officially kicked off his unofficial mini-election campaign, saying this year's poll is the most important in a generation. Mr Abbott released a new campaign blueprint which appears to backpedal on delivering a budget surplus within 12 months if he wins government. The coalition's 50-page photo-rich glossy policy document, Our … Continue reading Opposition Leader Tony Abbott rallies the troops in Australia

Australia: Heavy rain and destructive winds for Brisbane until Monday


The weather bureau has warned of heavy rain and destructive winds of up to 125km/h for Brisbane from tonight as central Queensland is slammed by severe weather. The bureau issued the alert this evening and warned of possible flash and riverine flooding. In the next few days about 300mm of rain is expected in Wivenhoe … Continue reading Australia: Heavy rain and destructive winds for Brisbane until Monday

Australian republic debate a distraction, says Opposition Leader Tony Abbott


Tony Abbott says Wayne Swan should concentrate on running the economy rather than raising "red herrings" like the republic debate. The Treasurer revived the republican debate in a Fairfax opinion piece today, saying a reflection on cricket's 1930s Bodyline series should hasten the creation of an Australian republic. But the Opposition Leader - an ardent … Continue reading Australian republic debate a distraction, says Opposition Leader Tony Abbott

Major oil discovery in outback South Australia worth $20 trillion


Brisbane company Linc Energy says independent studies have confirmed a major shale oil source in South Australia's far north, which officials have estimated could be worth $20 trillion. The company says US-consultants have carried out drilling and geological and seismic surveys around Coober Pedy. Linc Energy holds rights over more than 65,000 square kilometres of … Continue reading Major oil discovery in outback South Australia worth $20 trillion

Australian Prime Minister looks to East Asia, digital threat, in new security strategy


Julia Gillard has waved a final goodbye to the so-called "9/11 decade", heralding a new age dominated by threats of cyber espionage and traditional great-power conflict. Like her centre-left contemporary Barack Obama, she is moving her party away from the preoccupations her predecessor - Middle Eastern conflicts, ballooning defence and intelligence budgets, an incessant focus … Continue reading Australian Prime Minister looks to East Asia, digital threat, in new security strategy

Australian coal mining threatens CO2 target


The forecast expansion of Australian coal mining and exports would be the world's second-largest contributor of new carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels if fully realised, research by Greenpeace International has found. An analysis of the planet's 14 largest proposed, coal, oil and gas developments - to be released on Wednesday by Greenpeace - finds … Continue reading Australian coal mining threatens CO2 target

Australian Prime Minister’s speech to have China, cyber crime focus


Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, reportedly will seek to boost Labor's defence credentials in a speech singling out China and cyber attacks as key security concerns. Ms Gillard will make the comments on Wednesday in her first important speech of the election year to the Australian National University's National Security College in Canberra, The Australian newspaper … Continue reading Australian Prime Minister’s speech to have China, cyber crime focus

Australia: Single mums turn to brothels, stripping after welfare cuts


Some single mothers hit by recent welfare cuts to parenting payments have turned to prostitution and strip clubs in order to keep a roof over their family's head. The payment cuts came in at the start of 2013 and affect 84,000 single parents, mostly mothers who received parenting payments. The majority have been shifted onto … Continue reading Australia: Single mums turn to brothels, stripping after welfare cuts

Australian private sector closing jobs gap as indigenous work rises


Bold policies to close the gap between black and white Australia in employment are working, with new data revealing that employment growth for Aborigines has increased dramatically, mainly in remote areas via the private sector. A paper to be released by the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research at the Australian National University offers the … Continue reading Australian private sector closing jobs gap as indigenous work rises