Australia is to set up an independent body to investigate military veteran suicides, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced. The body, led by a permanent commissioner, will review more than 400 known cases of suicide since 2001. The commissioner, who has not yet been named, will also explore and recommend ways to boost mental health […]

The Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) has announced an independent inquiry into the ongoing bushfires, promising to “leave no stone unturned”. The six-month inquiry will examine the causes of the fires, as well as how the state prepared and responded to them. State Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the inquiry would consider how climate […]

A woman has died in Australia while taking part in a contest to eat as many lamingtons as possible. The woman, aged 60, is reported to have had a seizure during the event at a hotel in Hervey Bay, Queensland, to mark Australia Day on Sunday. Contestants had earlier been filmed speed-eating the lamingtons, a […]

Australian PM Scott Morrison has been accused of lacking leadership during the bushfire crisis – by the man he replaced after a party room coup. Malcolm Turnbull, who was deposed in 2018, told the BBC that Mr Morrison had misled the country by “downplaying” the influence of global warming. Mr Morrison apologised last month for […]

Forecasters have warned of severe storms in Australia’s fire-hit state of Victoria, which could lead to flooding. Recent heavy rains have dampened many of the country’s bushfires, but also led to power cuts and road closures. The fires, which began in September, have claimed at least 28 lives, destroyed thousands of homes and scorched millions […]

Heavy rains and thunderstorms have lashed parts of Australia’s east coast, dousing some of its fires but bringing a new threat of flooding to some areas. There have been downpours in the states of Victoria, New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland, which have all been badly hit by the bushfire crisis. Major roads were closed […]

The main tourism body in Australia has estimated the country’s bushfire crisis has cost the industry A$1bn (€619m) and called for urgent help from the government to lure back visitors. Industry bosses were due to meet Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham as storms and heavy rain brought some respite from months of fierce bushfires across Australia’s […]

Rupert Murdoch’s son James has said he is “disappointed” with the ongoing “denial” in his father’s news outlets as Australia’s wildfires burn. James and his wife Kathryn Murdoch told The Daily Beast of their frustration with News Corp and Fox coverage of the climate issue. Murdoch columnists have described linking the fires to climate change […]

An employee of Australian media organisation News Corp has lashed out at the company for “irresponsible” coverage of the current bushfires engulfing parts of the country. News Corp owns The Australian, Sydney’s Daily Telegraph and the Herald Sun. Emily Townsend, a commercial finance manager at the organisation, said coverage of the crisis had diverted attention […]

Almost 2,000 houses have been confirmed destroyed in Australia’s months-long bushfire crisis, as crews prepare frantically for more forecast danger. After ferocious conditions last week, firefighters are using milder weather to boost containment lines around fires engulfing south-eastern Australia. Temperatures are likely to soar again on Friday, prompting fears that two fires could form a […]