Asylum-seekers costs to spiral
This represents a blow-out of nearly $380 million on the estimate in the mid-year economic review released late last year. It also represents an increase of about $260 million on the $739 million figure provided at additional estimates in February. The budget has revealed that asylum-seeker costs have continued to rise across the forward estimates, More...
An aussie becomes world’s oldest graduate at 97
An Australian man will break his own record as the world’s oldest graduate when he receives his masters degree at the age of 97, local media report. Allan Stewart, who entered the Guinness World Records in More...
Australia lowers growth forecast
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has lowered its growth forecast amid a slowdown in the country’s non-mining sectors. The central bank cut its growth forecast for 2012 to 3% from its earlier projection More...
Qantas delays delivery of A380s
Qantas will delay the delivery of two A380 planes by almost four years as it announced fresh spending cuts in a bid to streamline its operations. The airline said it will reduce its capital expenditure by a further More...
Australia faces the end of Big Dry
Australians call it the Big Dry and, after nine parched years, it’s over. It’s the drought that has afflicted large areas of this vast country and now the federal government is about to declare it officially More...
KFC must pay $8.3m to poisoned girl in Australia
Fast-food giant KFC has been ordered to pay $8.3m (£5.1m) to the family of an Australian girl left severely brain damaged after being poisoned by a chicken meal. Monika Samaan fell ill with salmonella poisoning More...
Australia bushfire starter jailed
An Australian man has been sentenced to 17 years and nine months in jail for starting a blaze that killed 10 people. Former volunteer firefighter, Brendan James Sokaluk, 42, started what became known as a “Black More...
India’s hugging saint spreads love in in Australia
India’s ‘hugging saint’ has embraced 31 million people around the world and has now taken her special brand of hands-on spirituality to Australia. Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, known to an army More...