Australian Government Mulls Election Reforms

The Australian Government has released a discussion paper that proposes to introduce online voting and drop the voting age to 16. The paper, “Strengthening Australia’s Democracy”, says it notes that many Australian 16-year-olds are contributing...

Papua New Guinea Maternal Health in Crisis

Developed Pacific countries such as Australia should do more to help combat the “horrific” maternal health crisis in Papua New Guinea, a Greens statement has said. Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, said that PNG had the second highest maternal death...

UN Envoy Describes Australia’s Indigenous Policy As ‘Racist’

A visit by a United Nations envoy to Australia has erupted in controversy as the official accused the country’s government of “racist” Indigenous policies. Professor Professor James Anaya, the UN’s special rapporteur on indigenous rights and freedoms,...

Lasers Help Analyze the Health of Human Teeth

A group of researchers in Australia and Taiwan has developed a new way to analyze the health of human teeth using lasers. As described in the latest issue of Optics Express, the Optical Society’s (OSA) open-access journal, by measuring how the surface...

Australian Government to Split Renewable Energy From Emissions Bill

The Australian Government has moved to ensure the passing of renewable energy legislation in the Senate by decoupling a 20 percent renewables target by 2020 from its more controversial carbon emissions trading bill. The contentious legislation was rejected...

Australia Unveils $4.7 Million Aid Package for Zimbabwe

Australia has unveiled an additional AUS$6 million (US$ 4.7 million) aid package to help Zimbabwe rebuild its water and sanitation systems and improve long-term agricultural sustainability. A statement from the Australian government issued here said that...

Hot Summer in the Southern Hemisphere Threatens Coral with Massive Bleaching Event

A widespread and severe coral bleaching episode is predicted to cause immense damage to some of the world’s most important marine environments over the next few months.

Spanish Firm Union Fenosa to Invest A$1.9 Billion in Australian Wind Farms

Australia’s Trade Minister Simon Crean has welcomed the announcement by Spanish firm Union Fenosa to invest A$1.9 billion in a portfolio of seven Australian wind farms. The Spanish company has demonstrated a strong commitment to Australia’s...

People Smuggling Charge in Australia to Send Strong Warning

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, said the arrest and charging by the Australian Federal Police of an Indonesian man on a charge of people smuggling would send a strong message to would-be organizers in the region that...