Politics

The new Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has pledged tax relief for more than 9 million Australians with incomes above a certain threshold. (Source photos by Reuters)
Markets

Australian market calm as Anthony Albanese becomes prime minister

Labor's economic policies 'not radically different' but clear win soothes nerves

23 May 2022
Australian Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese, center, shakes hands with a voter outside a polling station during Saturday's election.
Australia election

Australia's allies congratulate Albanese with all eyes on China

Early signs hint at Beijing's hopes for better ties after Morrison's election loss

22 May 2022
Anthony Albanese, leader of Australia's Labor Party, addresses supporters in Sydney after winning the federal election.
Australia election

Labor wins Australia election to end 9 years of conservative rule

Anthony Albanese is set to become nation's next prime minister

21 May 2022
Voters cast their ballots on the morning of the federal election at a Bondi Beach polling station in Sydney on Saturday.
Australia election

Australians cast ballots in vote to pick new prime minister

Labor has a lead in opinion polls, but the conservative coalition is closing gap

21 May 2022
"Teal independent" candidate for Zoe Daniel speaks to supporters in April.
Australia election

Australia's Labor, 'teal independents' tap female voter frustration

Harassment scandals, ugly statistics offer opening against ruling coalition

20 May 2022
An East Timor flag is displayed on independence day.
International relations

China looms large in East Timor 20 years after independence

By strengthening commercial ties, Beijing raises presence in western Pacific

20 May 2022
Labor leader Anthony Albanese, left, and Liberal Prime Minister Scott Morrison are both seeking to assure voters that they can manage difficult relations with China. (Nikkei montage/Reuters/Getty Images)
Australia election

China on the ballot in Australia as Solomons pact upends debate

Labor shares Liberals' hawkish tone but looks set to pursue more regional diplomacy

19 May 2022
A woman pumps gas in Sydney on March 29. Rising gasoline prices are contributing to a crisis in the cost of living in Australia.
Australia election

Soaring cost of living hangs over Australian election

The winner of Saturday's poll will have to tackle accelerating inflation

18 May 2022
Scott Morrison waves during the campaign launch in Brisbane on May 15: Morrison made a late bid for momentum.
Opinion

Australia's election is a contest about character and competence

Six-week campaign has been uninspiring and at times unedifying

18 May 2022
One challenge for countries like Australia is that Pacific states do not view relationships "as a choice or a swap," but rather additions to existing cooperation, said Lowy Institute research fellow Mihai Sora.
Asia Insight

Paradise lost? China, the Solomons and the battle for the Pacific

Security pact tests old benefactors like Australia amid vaccine diplomacy rush

17 May 2022
Australia's next prime minister will be either incumbent Scott Morrison, left, or Labor leader Anthony Albanese. (Source photos by AP and Reuters) 
Australia election

Economy key to Australian election: 5 things to know

National security vis-a-vis China also a big challenge for next government

16 May 2022
Prime Minister Scott Morrison addresses the media at Parliament House on April 10: The threat the teal independents pose to the government's reelection chances is real.
Opinion

Rise of teal independents upsets Australian political orthodoxy

New breed of candidates have galvanized middle-class voters

9 May 2022
Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese speaks during the party's election campaign launch in Perth on May 1 ahead of the federal election on May 21.
International relations

Australian opposition blames PM Morrison for Solomons 'failure'

Containing Chinese influence in Pacific becomes key issue in upcoming election

4 May 2022
U.S. President Joe Biden speaking in September 2021 about a national security initiative, joined virtually by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
2 May 2022
China and India were the main drivers for the growth in Asia's defense spending, SIPRI said. (Source photo by Reuters and Getty Images)
Indo-Pacific

'Geopolitical powder keg' Asia jacks up global military spending

SIPRI report shows Japan and Singapore raised defense budgets over 7% in 2021

25 April 2022
A display case shows photos outside Chinese Embassy in Honiara, Solomon Islands, on April 2: China is here to stay in the Pacific.
Opinion

Solomon Islands pact cements China's Pacific power status

Recent controversy is just the first step in a long-running struggle

19 April 2022
Narendra Modi, right, and Scott Morrison, upper left, hold a virtual signing ceremony on April 2: India is slowly emerging from its protectionist cocoon. (Handout photo from India's Press Information Bureau)
Opinion

India and Australia's winning deal on trade will boost the Quad

Canberra and New Delhi finally move beyond cricket, curry and the Commonwealth

18 April 2022
Scott Morrison addresses the media in Canberra on April 10: The coalition ad used evocative cinematography.
Opinion

Australia's Scott Morrison sharpens his pitch for the 'bloke vote'

Conservative coalition is counting on conservative men to win reelection

18 April 2022
Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to reporters in Sydney on Feb. 24.
Australia election

Australian PM Morrison calls general election on May 21

Trailing in polls, ruling coalition is attacking Labor for being 'pro-China'

10 April 2022
A container ship off Mumbai. The India-Australia deal is expected to almost double bilateral annual trade in the next five years.
Indo-Pacific

India-Australia trade pact pushes back against 'panda in the room'

Long-stalled deal came together as Quad partners aim to cut dependence on China

10 April 2022
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
Ukraine war

NATO, Asia-Pacific partners agree to bolster cooperation

Cyber defense, new technologies and countering disinformation will become focus

8 April 2022
The U.S., U.K. and Australia will cooperate on the development of hypersonic weapons and electronic warfare capabilities. 
6 April 2022
Scott Morrison at Parliament House on Mar. 29: things may not go according to plan.
Opinion

Do not count Australia's ruling coalition out just yet

A change of government is likely, but not definite

4 April 2022
Solomon Islands citizens tour a landing craft from a New Zealand ship that dropped off personnel and supplies in 2013. The islands' government is drawing closer to China. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy)
International relations

No China base: Solomon Islands' denial does little to quell fears

Analyst says Sogavare risks boxing himself in despite vow not to choose sides

29 March 2022
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, whose government will unveil a new budget on March 29, is seeking to engineer a come-from-behind election victory.
Economy

Australia PM faces budget test as inflation flares before election

Morrison set to court vulnerable voters amid calls to spend responsibly

28 March 2022