'Deeply Torn' Fatima Payman Leaves Labor Party, Will Continue As Independent
"With a heavy heart but a clear conscience, I announce my resignation from the Australian Labor party. I have informed the prime minister that, effective immediately, I will sit on the crossbench to represent Western Australia," Payman said Thursday.
Over 200 Passenger Trains Canceled As Environmental Protests Disrupt Hunter Valley Rail Corridor
Blockade Australia spokesperson Brad Homewood said the disruption was "relatively minor" and that non-violent protest action was their only choice.
Albanese Calls Dutton's Supermarket Divestiture Policy 'Super Marxist'
The Coalition's divestment plan was met with anger from the Liberals, who said Dutton gave in to the Nationals, while ignoring Liberal values.
Australia Faces Growing Threat From Highly Infectious FLuQE Covid Subvariant
Though FLuQE has similar ingredients of the recent FLiRT virus, its extra mutation makes it more contagious, increasing risk of infection.
Political Strategist Glenn Druery Claims Labor Senator Payman, Muslim Groups Sought Election Advice
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Antony Albanese said he was not concerned about Payman's moves. "I'm not focused on it, I've got a big job," he said.
ANZ Group Sanctioned For Charging Fees From Deceased Customers
BCCC chair Ian Govey AM stated the breaches were "systemic in nature," adding that non-compliance by the bank warranted serious sanction.
Australian Regulator Gives Tech Industry 6 Months To Create New Online Child-Safety Code
Under the Online Safety Act, the eSafety commissioner has asked the tech companies to come up with a code before Oct. 3 that will check the user's age, have safe search and parental controls, and allow users to filter or blur sexual content.
Genome Mapping Of Endangered Bilby Offers Hope For Species' Survival
The new genome mapping has revealed how the elusive nocturnal omnivores grow and evolve, which will help conservationists save the species.
Labor Senator Payman Says Party Colleagues 'Exiled' Her Following Her Suspension
"Yesterday, the prime minister suspended me indefinitely from the Australian Labor Party caucus. Since then, I have lost all contact with my caucus colleagues. I have been removed from caucus meetings, committees, internal group chats, and whips bulletins. I have been told to avoid all chamber duties that require a vote including divisions, motions and matters of public interest," Payman wrote on Facebook.
Australia Raises International Student Visa Fees By 125% Amid Migration Control Efforts
The fee, which went from AU$710 to AU$1,600, came into effect on Monday. The latest move by the federal government is seen as an effort to control the spiraling migration and to ease the tight housing market.
NSW Voluntary Assisted Dying Program Sees 131 Deaths In First 3 Months
According to the report by NSW Voluntary Assisted Dying Board, 517 patients had applied for VAD. Majority of them were above 60 years, and 30% of them administered the dose themselves.
Tony Abbott, John Howard Among 27 Australians In Russia's Sanction List
In April this year, eminent Australians wrote to the federal government asking it to transfer the AU$9 billion of frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine, and pursue the "dirty money" held by Russian oligarchs in Australia.
Pharmacy Brands Refuse To Follow Government Law On Vape Sale Without Prescription
Criticizing the government move, National vice-president of Pharmacy Guild of Australia Anthony Tassone asked: "Pharmacists can only supply a schedule 3 medicine if there is an established therapeutic need. When we don't know the long-term effects of vapes on patient safety, how can a pharmacist make an informed decision?"
Mediator Supports Victorian Government On Above-Ground Rail Link To Melbourne Airport
Responding to mediator's report that "recommended against further commonwealth and state consideration of an underground option at this time," a spokesperson for the airport stated they will continue to fight for an underground train.
Coalition, Greens Hinder Labor's Build To Rent Housing Plan
To be eligible, BTR complexes must have minimum 50 houses ready for rent, available for a three-year lease, and 10% of the houses should be affordable and available at 75% of the market rate.
Stella Assange Urges Media To Use Freedom Of Information To Uncover Details Of Her Husband's Case
Julian Assange's plea deal with the U.S. also included deleting any unpublished material on the country in his possession or with Wikileaks.
Disability Advocate Groups Urge Government To Involve Them In NDIS Reform
Sophie Cusworth, acting CEO of Women with Disability Australia, said the Senate's report failed to address some of the major concerns regarding the bill, and added the community expected the government to genuinely engage with them on all stages of the NDIS reform.
Labor Allows Fatima Payman To Continue As Senator, Bars Her From Caucus
"This is not a time to be walking about expelling people for particular views. It's a time where we seek to be bringing Australians together," Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said.
Labor Senator Fatima Payman Crosses Floor To Back Palestine Statehood, Faces Possible Expulsion
"Each step I took across the Senate floor felt like a mile, [but] I know I did not walk these steps by myself, and I know I did not walk them alone," Payman told reporters.
Victoria Confirms 18-Month Pill Testing Trial At Festivals, Permanent Site By 2025
Mobile services will be launched for initial trial at 10 music festivals before fixing a permanent venue by 2025 in Melbourne.
Julian Assange To Be Freed After Plea Deal With US
On pleading guilty of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified US national defense documents, Assange is expected to be sentenced to 62 months, which he has already served in prison. If the court approves his plea, Assange will be freed facilitating his return to Australia.
Australia To Adopt Reforms To Strengthen Food And Grocery Code, Violations May Lead To AU$10M Fines
Recommendations include bringing supermarkets with an annual revenue of AU$5 billion under the code and imposing a fine up to AU$10 million for violations.
Australia Amends Vape Sale Policy, Limits Availability To Pharmacies Without Doctor's Prescription
Buyers will have to show their ID to the chemist, who will also advise them on the health hazards and offer alternate ways to quit smoking. Those who are under 18 years will need to show a prescription.
Australia Taps Ex-Liberal Treasurer Matt Kean To Head Climate Change Authority
Kean's immediate tasks would be tracking the government's progress in achieving the 2030 emission target and advising it on the 2035 goal.
Experts Call For Urgent Plan To Combat Discarded Lithium-Ion Batteries That Cause 10,000 Fires Annually
Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said the government will act urgently on the product stewardship reforms, support the waste and recycling industry and introduce incentives for safe disposal of waste batteries.
Australia Media Moguls Call For Government Action Against Meta's Decision To End News Agreements
In March, Meta announced that it will not renew contracts with media organizations to pay for news at a cost of AU$70m, as the contracts signed under the government's news media bargaining code had ended.
Aldi Offers 25% Cheaper Groceries Compared To Coles And Woolworths, Study Finds
The government-funded research to study grocery price comparisons were launched to probe allegations that the supermarket giants were indulging in price gouging with suppliers, while hiking it for consumers.
Energy Experts Reject Coalition's Claim That Nuclear Power Will Generate Cheaper Bills
Energy researcher Dr Dylan McConnell, said: "There was no credible reason to think that adding the most expensive bulk form of electricity would make electricity prices go down."
Expert Warns Against 'Short-Termism' In Labor, Coalition Immigration Policies, Urges Rational Debate
The danger with an election fought on immigration levels, as many past Australian politicians on both sides have recognized, is that it could degenerate into Trump-style name calling and civil unrest, former immigration official Abul Rizvi warned.
Andrew Forrest's Lawsuit Against Meta Over Fake Cryptocurrency Ads To Move Forward
Mining magnate Andrew Forrest alleged Meta profited from the fake advertisements that featured him promoting fraudulent crypto investments, leading to financial losses for victims.