A Papua New Guinea team may have taken a step closer to becoming the 19th team in an expanded NRL competition. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told ABC Brisbane yesterday that they were still working on the details with the Australian Rugby League (ARL) Commission. “We’re just working through the final details … but I’ve been…
WORK has begun on a $130m strengthening and widening of Hobart Airport to accommodate larger aircraft for international flights. Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King says the upgrade will enable long-haul aircraft (like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350) to fly directly to Asia and the Pacific. The airport’s taxiways, ground lighting, electrical systems…
The juvenile pygmy blue whale off Kawau Island, near Auckland. Picture: NZ Department of Conservation A juvenile pygmy blue whale has been freed after it was trapped underneath a wharf near Auckland, New Zealand, on Monday. A NZ Department of Conservation (DOC) statement said the 14-15m long whale wedged itself underneath a private wharf on…
A record $125 million 10-year Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) Service Level Agreement (SLA) is now rolling out across the state. The Queensland Government described the SLA as the largest ever funding commitment to the SLSQ – and is the largest in Australian history. The new SLA consists of $113 million in operating funding over 10…
Former Wallaby Pone Fa’amausili is off to Auckland for next year’s Super Rugby Pacific season. The former Melbourne Rebel prop will play one season for the Auckland-based Moana Pasifika side. The 27-year-old Melbourne-born Samoan says he is excited to be playing for the team, which largely fields players of Saman and Tongan descent. “I’m extremely…
The Australian business community has never faced greater headwinds, says BCA president Geoff Culbert. Picture: ANDREW KACIMAIWAI The rise of populism is becoming a growing danger to business, says Business Council of Australia (BCA) president Geoff Culbert. He made the comment in a speech to the council’s annual dinner held in Sydney on Wednesday (September…
The firearm parts and ammunition at Gold Coast Airport. Pictures: Australian Border Force. The Australian Border Force (ABF) says the public should not carry ammunition and gun parts onboard a commercial flight without a permit. The warning follows the appearance of a 62-year-old man in Southport Magistrates Court today charged with illegal exportation of firearm…
The USCG cutter Stratton shadows a Russian submarine near Alaska. Picture: US Coast Guard The US Coast Guard says it located and tracked four Russian Navy vessels in US waters off Alaska on Sunday (US time). The four Russian Federation Navy (RFN) vessels, including two submarines, were detected 57 miles northwest of Point Hope, Alaska.…
The United Nations says it is extremely concerned by the simultaneous explosions of hundreds of pagers in Lebanon and Syria. International media reports say at least nine were killed, including a 10-year-old girl, with the injury toll put at about 2750 wounded (mostly injuries to the face and hands), including Iran’s ambassador in Beirut, Mojtaba Amani. Hezbollah…
The NSW Government is banning imports of tomato, capsicum and chilli from South Australia to prevent the spread of tomato brown rugose virus. The control order issued today (Tuesday, September 18) bans produce from infested properties in South Australia and properties linked to the infected sites from NSW. The virus’s presence in Australia was confirmed…