Rappler's latest stories on australia
Australia heading for recession after economy contracts
Australia's gross domestic product shrinks 0.3% in January-March 2020. It is now on track to enter its first recession since 1991.
Australia probes U.S. police assault on its journalists
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne wants the Australian Embassy to investigate the incident, wherein 7NEWS journalists are slammed with a riot shield and punched and hit with a baton during a broadcast
Google rejects call for huge Australian media payout
Google's top executive in Australia says Google made barely Aus$10 million per year from news-linked advertising, a fraction of a government watchdog's estimates for the sector
News Corp to stop printing more than 100 Australian papers
News Corp Australia says the permanent changes had been brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, which had impacted the sustainability of local publishing
Australian media to be tried for contempt over reporting on George Pell
If convicted, the journalists face prison terms of up to 5 years and the media organizations fines of up to Aus$500,000
Bushfire-hit Australians still in tents as virus slows recovery
Six months after Australia's bushfire crisis and some 6 hours away from Sydney, scores of people still live in limbo
Australia watchdog suggests news boycott of Google, Facebook
The idea is among a series of bargaining tools put forward by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to encourage Google and Facebook to pay news media businesses for the use of their content
Puppy scammers target lonely Aussies during lockdown
Australia's consumer watchdog ACCC says Scammers fleeced people looking for a new pet out of some Aus$300,000 ($196,000) in April alone, 5 times higher than the normal monthly average
Australia threatens WTO action as dispute with China deepens
(UPDATED) Australia is considering going to the World Trade Organization, but says there is 'no trade war' with China
China to levy 80.5% in tariffs on Australian barley
China says it investigated Australian grain exports, and found that Australian subsidies and dumping 'substantially damaged domestic industry'
Australia extends application for Australia Awards Scholarships
PRESS RELEASE: The deadline for the submission of applications is on June 30, 2020
Nearly 600,000 Australians lose jobs as virus lockdown bites
'A very tough day. Terribly shocking, although not unanticipated,' says Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison as unemployment figures are released
Australian media group wants tech giants to pay $400 million a year
In an initiative being closely watched across the world, the Australian government is due to unveil in July details of the mandatory payments as part of a code of conduct for the tech giants' dealings with news media
China cuts Australian beef imports after warning against virus probe
(UPDATED) Tensions between China and Australia continue to rise after the latter called for an independent investigation into the origin of the coronavirus outbreak
Nearly all 38 Filipinos positive for coronavirus in Australia now recovered
Only 1 Filipino has yet to recover from the disease, says Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma Hellen De la Vega
Australia plans to lift most virus restrictions by July
Federal authorities leave implementation plans up to the country's diverse states and territories, meaning coronavirus restrictions will remain in place for weeks or months longer in areas hardest hit by the disease
Cardinal Pell knew of clergy abuse for decades – inquiry
Pell knew as far back as the 1970s and failed to seek the removal of accused priests, an inquiry reveals
Rain brings optimism for drought-plagued Aussie farmers
Australian farmers are, for the first time in a long while, confident enough to plant crops
Australia 'losing $2.5 billion a week' in virus shutdown
Australia's gross domestic product is expected to fall 10% in the 2nd quarter of 2020
Man shot dead by police in Australia stabbing spree
Police say the man stabbed one person at a motel and another outside a McDonald's in the city of Port Hedland before attacking 5 people at a mall
France, Spain to announce lockdown exit plan as Aussies hit waves
Countries are beginning to chart their path out of shutdowns imposed to stem the spread of the coronavirus, which emerged in China late last year and has now infected more than 3 million people worldwide
China envoy threatens Australia boycott over virus inquest demand
In a thinly veiled threat, ambassador Cheng Jingye warns the push for an independent inquest into the origins of the outbreak was 'dangerous'
Nearly 2 million Australians download coronavirus tracker app
(UPDATED) Experts herald the COVIDSafe app as a way of improving authorities' ability to track new outbreaks of the disease
Perth Airport seizes Virgin Australia planes to recoup debt
The operator of Perth Airport says Virgin Australia's planes are being held as collateral until the company pays 'significant' outstanding fees
Virus-stricken cruise ship leaves Australia
It is reportedly bound for Manila in the Philippines
Australia pounces on oil glut to build strategic reserve
Australia will spend Aus$94 million (US$59 million) to begin developing an oil stockpile established on United States soil
Virgin Australia collapses under coronavirus strain
(UPDATED) Virgin Australia goes into voluntary administration, but says it plans to keep operating flights
China rejects Australia's call for probe into virus response
'Any question about China's transparency in the prevention and control of epidemic situation is not in line with facts,' Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang says
Australia calls for independent probe into global virus response
Australia shares similar concerns to the United States, whose President Donald Trump has accused the WHO of 'mismanaging' the crisis and covering up the seriousness of China's outbreak before it spread
Scientists try 'cloud brightening' to protect Great Barrier Reef
In an attempt to cool waters around the reef by making clouds reflect more sunlight, researchers say they used a boat-mounted fan similar to a snow cannon to shoot salt crystals into the air
Aussie rower in lockdown unwittingly sets world record
While on COVID-19 lockdown, Georgie Rowe inadvertently smashes the world record for indoor rowing half-marathon
Australian unemployment rate to double as virus hammers economy
The doubling in the unemployment rate would see an estimated 1.4 million people out of work in Australia
Australia, New Zealand flatten virus curve but keep lockdowns intact
'Patience has got to be our virtue here,' says Australia's PM, noting that countries like Singapore and South Korea had initial success against COVID-19 but saw a surge in new cases after travel and other restrictions were eased
Kyrgios delivers on food pledge for people going hungry
Just months after leading a bushfire relief, mercurial tennis star Nick Kyrgios helps out fellow Australians affected by the worldwide health crisis
Passengers from virus-infected cruise ship leave for Australia
Uruguay residents wave flags and clap their hands in their balconies as buses take the Australian and New Zealander cruise passengers to the airport
Cardinal Pell freed after winning appeal over child sex abuse
(3rd UPDATE) The 78-year-old leaves Barwon Prison near Melbourne after the court overturns 5 counts of sexually abusing two 13-year-old choirboys in the 1990s
Virus-stricken cruise ship docks near Sydney
The Ruby Princess berths at Port Kembla after weeks stranded at sea to allow doctors to assess sick crew members and take the most serious cases ashore for medical treatment
Australia police to probe cruise ship coronavirus deaths
Authorities say they are investigating the alleged 'absolute discrepancies' between information provided and the requirements of the law
Australian plane delivers pizza, beer to locked-down outback
Pizza and beer are being delivered by plane to remote ranches in the Australian outback in an attempt to bring those in lockdown isolation a slice of cheer
Animal adoptions soar in Australia during virus shutdown
The RSPCA says adoption and foster inquiries have risen to 300% in New South Wales
60 Australian newspapers to stop printing
'The coronavirus crisis has created unprecedented economic pressures and we are doing everything we can to preserve as many jobs as possible,' says News Corp Australasia Executive Chairman Michael Miller
Great Barrier Reef suffers mass coral bleaching event
Some previously untouched areas have now suffered 'moderate or severe bleaching,' says the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Qantas probed over allegedly using crisis to try to sink rival
Virgin Australia claims Qantas engaged in anti-competitive behavior by 'trying to send a message that Virgin was in trouble and would not survive' the coronavirus crisis
Australia tells athletes to prepare for 2021 Tokyo Olympics
The Australian Olympic Committee decides an Olympics starting in July is not possible given the uncertainty around the coronavirus pandemic
Echoes of Great Depression as jobless Australians queue for help
After a record 29 years of economic growth, Australia is poised to spiral into recession as the global coronavirus outbreak wreaks havoc on the country's economy
Tom Hanks 'better' after virus quarantine in Australia
The actor and his wife, actress Rita Wilson have been released from the hospital and are doing okay
Tearful couples cancel as coronavirus hits Australian weddings
New government restrictions hit Australia’s multi-billion-dollar wedding industry, forcing many tearful couples to cancel their big day
Australia hunts 2,700 cruise passengers over virus fears
Authorities say they deemed the New Zealand-bound Ruby Princess 'low risk' and let passengers spill into the center of the country's most populous city. They later discover that 3 passengers and one of the crew tested positive.
Australia tells citizens to come home, and stop travelling abroad
'Regardless of your destination, age or health, our advice is do not travel at this time,' says the Australian foreign ministry's Smart Traveller alert
Australian carrier Qantas slashes international routes 90%
Facing a growing list of travel bans around the globe and a 'precipitous decline in demand,' Qantas says the cutbacks would continue until at least the end of May
