Michael Heath

President Donald Trump declared “full steam ahead” on the Aukus pact among the US, Australia and the UK, signaling his support for the Biden-era security agreement that had been under a cloud since his return to office.

Australia’s central bank said the risk of faster inflation at a time when the labor market is “still a little tight” underpinned its decision to keep interest rates unchanged last month, reiterating that policymakers will remain cautious and data-dependent in future decisions.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese downplayed anti-immigration protests over the weekend in major Australian cities but urged vigilance after Neo-Nazis addressed some rallies.

Australians are more worried about the Trump administration’s protectionist trade policies than China’s military buildup in the Asia-Pacific region, a new opinion poll showed.

A decline in business competition in Australia from the mid-2000s to the Covid-19 pandemic has hurt productivity and household incomes, according to new analysis by the Reserve Bank.

Australia reportedly plans to recognize a Palestinian state, joining the UK, France and Canada as concern mounts that Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip is closing down any opportunity for a two-state solution.

Australia accused a Chinese national of foreign interference for collecting information on a religious organization targeted by Beijing, a case that raises the risk of sparking renewed tensions between the two nations.

Australia’s spy chief said espionage cost the economy a minimum A$12.5 billion ($8 billion) in fiscal 2024, as he seeks to raise awareness about the intensification of foreign efforts to steal information.

Australia is evaluating the impact of potential US tariffs of 200% on pharmaceutical imports, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said, while reiterating that his nation’s subsidies for certain drugs are not up for negotiation.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese plans to travel to China for the first time since 2023, seeking to strengthen ties with his country’s largest trading partner while its top security ally US aims to check Beijing’s presence in Asia.