Australia: News & Insights

Poker machines glimmer at a pub in Sydney. With the exceptions of Las Vegas in the U.S. and China's special administrative territory of Macao, no other place offers Australia's array of gambling options.

Life

Australia's gambling addiction extends far beyond high rollers

Poker machines pull in piles of cash for pubs and clubs

1 June 2023

Australia's foreign policy moved from a "pragmatic" position of not choosing sides to effectively going all-in with the American view that China is a threat.

Opinion

Australia's defense review can't take the place of security strategy

Potential impact of ambitious arms programs undefined

22 May 2023

U.S. President Joe Biden, Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold a Quad meeting on the sidelines of the G-7 summit on May 20.

G-7 in Japan

Quad agrees to bolster submarine cables in 47-minute summit

4 leaders squeeze in meeting between G-7 sessions and dinner on Saturday

21 May 2023

Australia's flagship carrier will increase flights to Japan to 28 a week starting Nov. 26.

Transportation

Qantas to double Japan flights in bet on global travel rebound

Australian carrier's Japanese service set to surpass pre-pandemic levels

20 May 2023

China closed its doors to Australian timber imports in 2020 amid growing tensions over COVID-19.

Trade

China resumes imports of Australian timber in sign of thaw

Uncertainties remain over Beijing's restrictions on barley, wine and more

19 May 2023

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets with U.S. President Joe Biden in San Diego on March 13.

Indo-Pacific

Quad meeting in Australia canceled as U.S. politics pull Biden home

White House faces 'damage control' as debt talks also nix president's trip to PNG

17 May 2023

Joe Biden still plans to depart on Wednesday for a Group of Seven leaders summit in Hiroshima, Japan. He plans to return to the U.S. on Sunday after the summit.

Indo-Pacific

Biden cancels Quad visit to Australia to focus on debt limit talks

Historic Papua New Guinea trip also off the table in diplomatic setback

17 May 2023

A Lockheed Martin missile is showcased at a U.S. Army expo in Huntsville, Alabama in March: While America still leads in many areas of technological innovation, it is not the sole source of cutting-edge advances.

Opinion

U.S. technology controls fail to account for Pacific allies

Shift from outdated mindset needed to support collective regional security

15 May 2023

Australia posted a budget surplus of AU$4.2 billion for the year to June 2023, its first since the 2007-2008 fiscal year. (Source photos by Reuters and Getty Images)

Economy

Australia budget surplus likely a one-off as spending surges

Canberra's finances face 'downside shock' after commodity price windfall

10 May 2023

The Virginia-class USS North Dakota is seen in this photo provided by the U.S. Navy. The United States intends to sell Australia three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines in the early 2030s.

Politics

Australia expands defense budget ahead of submarines purchase

Canberra lifts nuclear ambitions in light of China's growing heft in Indo-Pacific

9 May 2023

A Re-abroad seminar. The company says it helped more than 220 people to go overseas in April, 6.5 times more than in April 2019, before the pandemic. (Photo by Natsuki Oshiro)

Work

Young Japanese seek way out of country, hit on working holidays

COVID era, weak yen and Japan's rigid work culture turn off nation's youth

3 May 2023

Vanessa Hudson, Qantas Group's next chief executive, will take over the recovering airline in November. (AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi via Reuters)

Companies

Australia's Qantas picks its first female chief executive

Vanessa Hudson's appointment comes with airline's recovery on horizon

2 May 2023

John Poulos, chief executive of Dominion Voting Systems, second from left, leaves Delaware Superior Court with the company's lawyers after reaching a $787.5 million settlement with Fox News on April 18.

Opinion

Murdochs' grip on Australian media can be unlocked

Impact of $787.5 million Fox News settlement felt half a world away

1 May 2023

Energy

BP agrees to buy Shell's stake in Australian Browse gas project

Long-stalled development could benefit China, Japan, South Korea

29 April 2023

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong addresses the National Press Club in Canberra on April 17.

International relations

Australia seeks to rebalance ties with China after three-year freeze

Foreign minister says Canberra must 'lower the heat' on potential Taiwan conflict

23 April 2023

From left, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in San Diego, California on March 13.

Opinion

AUKUS is a bad deal for Australia

Despite great cost, Canberra runs real risk of never getting its submarines

20 April 2023

With her trip to New Caledonia and Tuvalu, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong will have visited every member of the Pacific Islands Forum.

International relations

Australia foreign minister visits Pacific islands with eye on China

Climate, post-COVID economic recovery on agenda in New Caledonia and Tuvalu

20 April 2023

Cortical plans to use the funding to accelerate commercialization of its operating system and fulfill preorders. (Source photos by Reuters and screenshot from Cortical Labs and Horizons Ventures)

DealStreetAsia

Australia and Singapore AI startup Cortical Labs raises $10m

Funding round led by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing's Horizons Ventures

19 April 2023

The Australian parliament passed legislation on March 30 to force the nation's biggest greenhouse gas polluters to reduce their emissions or pay for carbon credits.

Climate Change

Albanese's emissions bill seeks to end Australia's 'climate wars'

Law seen as necessary, but industry groups unlikely to give in just yet

9 April 2023

The HMAS Stirling naval base in Western Australia will be expanded and is planned to serve as a central hub for AUKUS submarines.

Indo-Pacific

AUKUS front: Japan's top admiral visits Australian submarine base

Navy chief Sakai seeks deeper collaboration with nuclear-powered fleet

5 April 2023

The Mt. Marion lithium mine in the Goldfields region of Western Australia: The country is home to the second-largest reserves of lithium. (Handout photo from Ganfeng Lithium)

Opinion

Australia and Indonesia should forge business ties in lithium

Missing ingredient for Widodo's vision for EV sector is close at hand

3 April 2023

Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, left, has accused Rupert Murdoch's media empire of undermining democracy. (Source photos by Reuters and EPA/Jiji)

Media & Entertainment

Turnbull takes on Murdoch's Australian media empire

Former prime minister is calling for rigorous inquiry into News Corp

2 April 2023

Container ships at the Port of Felixstowe in England. CPTPP members have agreed on Britain's entry into the grouping.

Trade

U.K. accepted as 12th member of CPTPP trade bloc

Group aims to finalize first nonfounding member's accession in July

31 March 2023

Anthony Albanese, left, with Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak at U.S. Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego on March 13: The SSN-AUKUS program is set to constitute the backbone of the submarine force of both Australia and the U.K.

Opinion

AUKUS and GCAP set new Indo-Pacific security template

Technology cooperation more than a response to China's military modernization

28 March 2023

The landmark Sofitel Brisbane Central has has over 400 rooms. (Screenshot from Sofitel Brisbane Central's website)

DealStreetAsia

Singapore's CDL to buy Brisbane's biggest hotel for $119m

Canada's Brookfield selling Sofitel property in Australian city

25 March 2023