Asian Correspondent Australia News

Australian politician knocked down by kangaroo

By AP News Thu, May 16, 2013 7:54PM UTC

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — An Australian politician taking his morning jog through the national capital came out second best Thursday after crossing a kangaroo. Shane Rattenbury, a minister in the Australian Capital Territory government, which administers the city of Canberra, said he was running on a sidewalk in inner-suburban Ainslie

Australia: New parties enter fray for election 2013

By Rowena Dela Rosa Yoon Tue, May 14, 2013 7:56PM UTC

“Are you a joke party? Not at all! We’re a formally registered party with the Australian Electoral Commission.” The Pirate Party Australia (PPA) may sound a little frivolous at first, but it has a serious agenda – freedom of information and freedom of the Internet. It also believes in the

Australia government forecasts $19.4 billion deficit

By AP News Tue, May 14, 2013 6:33PM UTC

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The Australian government’s promise to deliver a budget surplus in the current fiscal year has blown out to a 19.4 billion Australian dollar ($19.4 billion) deficit as a fading mining boom coupled with a buoyant Aussie dollar slows the economy. The projected deficit for the 12

Australia to slow increase in foreign aid spending

By AP News Mon, May 13, 2013 3:19PM UTC

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia will slow a projected increase in foreign aid spending as a cost-cutting measure in the new annual budget plan to be revealed Tuesday. Foreign Minister Bob Carr said on Monday that Australia’s long-standing pledge to increase its foreign aid spending to 0.5 percent of gross

Indonesia detains boat carrying 96 asylum seekers

By AP News Mon, May 13, 2013 11:30AM UTC

BALI, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian authorities say they have intercepted a wooden boat carrying 96 Middle Eastern asylum seekers who were trying to reach Australia. Local maritime police chief Lt. Col. Tubuh Musyareh says the fishing boat was stopped Sunday off Benoa port on Bali island. Two Indonesian crewmembers were