Australia

"Set to become third-largest economy": Australian PM hails India’s rise, awaits PM Modi's visit

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday said he looked forward to hosting PM Narendra Modi again soon, while describing India's growing economic importance

Jaishankar, Australian Dy PM discuss Indo-Pacific, strategic partnership

The high-level meeting took place on Monday and served to consolidate strategic understanding and review mutual security interests across the region

Australian court penalises X Corp $465K for breach of online safety rules

An Australian judge fined X Corp 650,000 Australian dollars (USD 465,000) on Thursday for failing to provide information to an online safety watchdog in 2023 about how it tackled child sexual exploitation content. Federal Court Justice Michael Wheelahan also ordered the Texas-based social media giant to pay AUD 100,000 (USD 71,000) of eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant's court costs within 45 days. The ruling ends a three-year legal battle in which X had argued it was not obliged to answer eSafety's questions. X admitted it contravened Australia's Online Safety Act by failing to provide a report that fully answered questions posed by eSafety in a transparency notice issued on Feb. 22, 2023, the agency's lawyer Christopher Tran said. X had to provide the answers by March 29 that year. X's lawyer Perry Herzfeld told the judge eSafety did not allege that the contravening conduct continued after May 5, 2023. "That was a period of change and transition for the company," Herzfeld sa

Australia plans nearly 1 mn migrants by 2029: Here's what it means

Country's long-term migration roadmap signals continued demand for global talent even as it makes visa grants stricter

India, Australia can expand trade in goods, services: Australian envoy

Green added that Australian visa system does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, and Indian students comprise the largest or the second-largest group there

Australia immigration: At 971,020, Indians become largest migrant group

ABS data shows Indians overtaking England-born residents in Australia, as migration patterns shift and political debate intensifies

Indians become Australia's largest migrant group, overtaking English

Some 971,020 people in Australia - or 5.2 per cent of the population - were born in India, narrowly surpassing the 970,950 born in England, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics

Australia to charge big tech firms 2% levy unless they strike news deals

A proposed News Bargaining Incentive would tax the three big tech companies 2.25% on their local revenues unless they struck agreements

Australia bans Indian migration agent for visa fraud, misleading claims

Australia cancels registration after probe finds misleading applications and breaches; experts say applicants must verify agents before filing visas

UWA vice chancellor backs greater flexibility for two-way student mobility

University of Western Australia highlights regulatory and operational constraints as it opens applications for India campuses, while taking a long-term view on growth

West Asia crisis: EAM Jaishankar speaks to Israeli, Australian counterparts

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday spoke to his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa'ar and discussed various aspects of the West Asia crisis amid a US naval blockade of Iran's ports. The external affairs minister also held a phone conversation with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and exchanged views on the situation arising out of the war between Iran and the US-Israel combine. After his call with Jaishankar, Sa'ar said Iran's action harming freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz requires "action". "Had a telecon this afternoon with Israel FM @gidonsaar. Our discussion covered different aspects of the West Asia situation," Jaishankar said on social media. The phone conversation between the two foreign ministers came amid reports of efforts by the US and Iran to hold a fresh round of negotiations after the collapse of the initial dialogue in Islamabad. "We discussed Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, and Lebanon. I said that the firm American stance in the ...

Australia tightens student visas: 4 in 10 Indian visas rejected in 2026

Australia sees record student visa refusals in 2026, with Indian applicants facing stricter checks, higher evidence requirements and rising post-study visa costs

Australia hikes skilled visa salary threshold to Rs 96 lakh from July 1

Planning to work in Australia? New salary thresholds for Subclass 482 visas from July 2026 may affect eligibility and employer hiring plans

World leaders welcome US-Iran ceasefire, calls for lasting peace in region

From UN chief Antonio Guterres to European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas, UK PM Keir Starmer, and several other leaders welcomed US-Iran ceasefire and push for de-escalation

Australia student visa: 40% Indians rejected, applications up 36% in 2026

Australia student visa: India moved to high-risk category as visa refusals rise and scrutiny tightens for students applying to Australia

Australia puts Indian students under highest visa risk tier: Impact decoded

Indian students may face stricter checks and longer processing times as Australia moves India to Evidence Level 3 under its visa risk framework

Meta, YouTube, others not fully complying with child account ban: Australia

Australia's online safety watchdog said Tuesday it was considering court against Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube alleging they are not doing enough to keep Australian children younger than 16 off their platforms. Experts say the Australian courts could decide what steps the platforms can reasonably be expected to take under the laws that took effect on Dec. 10 banning young children from holding accounts. eSAfety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant on Tuesday released her first compliance report since those laws took effect demanding 10 platforms remove all Australian account-holders younger than 16. While 5 million Australian accounts had been deactivated, a substantial number of Australian children continued to retain accounts, create new accounts and pass platforms' age assurance systems, the report said. Inman Grant said in a statement her office had "significant concerns about the compliance" of half of those 10 platforms. Her office was gathering evidence against

Australia to halve tax on fuel, underwrite spot cargoes driven by Iran war

Halving the tax would reduce the cost of fuel by 26.3 Australian cents per litre, PM Albanese said