Australia
Ron Brierley released from jail early due to declining health
Ron Brierley has been released from Sydney's Long Bay jail without having to serve his full original sentence.
Grace Tame received 'threatening' phone call regarding PM's reputation
Grace Tame says a senior member of an organisation funded by the Australian government asked her not to say anything controversial about Scott Morrison, in a "threatening" phone call while she was…
Australia: Anti-vax protesters, PM's poll trouble, apology to women
Australia correspondent Karen Middleton joins Kathryn to talk about the anti-vax protest that has tried to take over Parliament House in Canberra. Meanwhile Covid has ripped through aged care homes… Audio
Australia counts its koalas and there are surprisingly few left
There used to be millions of koalas in Australia. Now there are just 90 thousand in Queensland and NSW. A new report says that'll drop to 63,000 by 2032 and is calling for koalas to be declared… Audio
Peter Fitzsimons, are Australians ready to ditch the monarchy?
Former Australian rugby player and author Peter Fitzsimons is the chair of the Australian Republic Movement. He has launched a new campaign called the "Australian Choice" model. The idea is to… Audio
Covid-19 cases fall in NSW and Victoria, but death toll mounting
Case numbers are falling in Australia's NSW and Victoria, but both states are still grappling with deaths and relying heavily on rapid antigen tests.
Australian PM says his government was too optimistic before Omicron surge
Australia's prime minister says his government had been too optimistic about the impact of Covid-19 vaccinations leading to disappointment and exhaustion when the Omicron variant hit.
Australia: May election likely, RAT tests for students and 'Woden the Bogan'
Australia correspondent Chris Niesche joins Kathryn to talk about a likely May election and how Scott Morrison is struggling in the latest polling. School's back from summer - and all students will… Audio
Australia's HMAS Adelaide suffers power failure during Tongan aid mission
A massive electrical power failure has crippled the Australian Navy's largest warship as it completes its humanitarian mission to Tonga after the 14 January eruption.
Australia correspondent Karen Middleton
Across the Tasman, on Australia Day there is much finger-pointing over who is responsible for the inability to buy rapid antigen tests, or RATs, as parents prepare to send their kids back to school… Audio
Man pleads guilty to kidnapping 4yo Cleo Smith
The man accused of abducting four-year-old Cleo Smith from her family and holding her for 18 days at his house in the West Australian town of Carnarvon has pleaded guilty to a charge of child…
Australian Correspondent Brad Foster
Sydney based correspondent Brad Foster talks to Jesse about how Australia is coping with the onslaught of the omicron variant of COVID-19. Audio
Aust aid to Solomons in fight against Covid
An Australian military aircraft has landed in Honiara - the first of two flights carrying emergency medical supplies to support the Solomon Islands' response to an escalating Covid-19 outbreak.
Giant canyon discovered below Antarctic Glacier reveals history behind rising sea levels
Australian Antarctic expeditioners have discovered an enormous, 2-kilometre-deep canyon underneath a glacier that may make it more vulnerable to warming oceans.
Australia to help PNG port upgrades
Australia is to provide $US420 million to Papua New Guinea to upgrade key ports, amid concern in Washington and Canberra that China's infrastructure investment in the Pacific had a military ambition.
Australia Correspondent Brad Foster
We're heading to Australia this morning to check-in with our correspondent Brad Foster. Audio
Covid-19: 43 more deaths recorded in NSW, Victoria
Case numbers in NSW appear to be plateauing but hospitalisations in Victoria have risen.
Australia Correspondent: Brad Foster
We're heading to Australia this morning to check in with our correspondent Brad Foster about how they are coping with their rising Covid numbers. Audio
Australia to hit 1 million Covid-19 cases, wrestles with the surge
Australia is learning about exponential growth the hard way, and tackling big questions; are the numbers accurate, how to test, will the health system hold up?
Covid-19: 35k new cases in NSW, 22k in Victoria, Tasmania warns of surge
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has told employers to stop forcing staff to get a Covid test before returning to work after the state recorded 34,994 new cases and six deaths.