MELBOURNE, Australia — When the Australian authorities announced the first arrest under the country’s new foreign interference laws this week, they said little about what the suspect was accused of doing, and nothing at all about the country on whose behalf he was believed to have worked. The implication, though, was clear. The man is […]

After chafing against their isolation for so long, Australians these days are finding island life a privilege when pestilence lies beyond. By Damien Cave SYDNEY, Australia — They used to call it “the tyranny of distance.” Australia’s remoteness was something to escape, and for generations, the country that hates being referred to as “down under” […]

The Australia Letter is a weekly newsletter from our Australia bureau. Sign up to get it by email. This week’s issue is written by Yan Zhuang, a new reporter with the Australia bureau. As Melbourne fights its way out of one of the longest and strictest coronavirus lockdowns in the world, outdoor pools have been […]

Daniel Andrews, Victoria’s premier, has conducted 100 consecutive daily news conferences. In Melbourne, we all watch. We are all exhausted. By Besha Rodell The Australia Letter is a weekly newsletter from our Australia bureau. Sign up to get it by email. MELBOURNE, Australia — Last weekend, Victorian premier Daniel Andrews surpassed a rather astonishing milestone: […]

Daniel Andrews, Victoria’s premier, has conducted 100 consecutive daily news conferences. In Melbourne, we all watch. We are all exhausted. By Besha Rodell The Australia Letter is a weekly newsletter from our Australia bureau. Sign up to get it by email. MELBOURNE, Australia — Last weekend, Victorian premier Daniel Andrews surpassed a rather astonishing milestone: […]

DARWIN, Australia — The mining giant Rio Tinto has been accused of environmental and human rights violations in a complaint that says an abandoned mine is leaking waste and poisoning rivers on the island of Bougainville. The claim, signed by 156 residents of the autonomous region in Papua New Guinea, is seeking an investigation by […]

As our Covid-19 restrictions ease, the mood of the city feels like the weather. By Besha Rodell The Australia Letter is a weekly newsletter from our Australia bureau. This week’s issue is written by Besha Rodell, a columnist with the Australia bureau. There are blossoms on the trees in Melbourne and days of cold rain […]

Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest city, is becoming a case study in handling a second wave of infections. There are lots of unanswered questions. By Damien Cave Australia’s second-largest city, Melbourne, grappling with a spiraling coronavirus outbreak in a country that once thought it had the pandemic beat, has now imposed some of the toughest restrictions in […]

Australia and New Zealand will ban entry to all non-residents from Friday in an attempt to limit the spread of coronavirus. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his nation’s order would come into effect from 21:00 on Friday (10:00 GMT). New Zealand’s will begin earlier – at midnight (11:00 GMT Thursday). The historic and far-reaching […]

Australia’s prime minister has ordered a 14-day self-isolation for anyone arriving in the country to try to halt the spread of the coronavirus. “This is very important,” Scott Morrison said at a briefing, adding that the measure would take effect from midnight on Sunday (13:00 GMT). The measures mirror those announced by New Zealand on […]