Tag Archives: Australia

Australia’s ABC News affiliate reports: Knowingly displaying Nazi flags or memorabilia bearing swastikas has been outlawed in New South Wales, with offenders facing up to a year’s jail time or a possible fine of over $100,000. The Crimes Amendment (Prohibition on display of Nazi symbols) Bill 2022 swiftly passed in the state’s upper house with unanimous support. It followed an …

Sky News Australia reports: Premier Daniel Andrews turned several Melbourne landmarks – including Flinders Street Station, Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Arts Centre – pink on Tuesday night as an acknowledgement of Olivia Newton-John’s “enormous contribution” to the state. “Tonight, landmarks across our city will be lit up pink to remember Olivia Newton-John, and her enormous contribution to cancer awareness, …

The BBC reports: The father of a choirboy who prosecutors alleged was sexually abused by Cardinal George Pell has launched a lawsuit against the cleric and the Catholic Church. The man is seeking damages for mental injury that he suffered after learning of the allegations, his lawyers said. In 2018 Cardinal Pell was convicted of abusing two choirboys in the …

The Guardian reports: Twelve members of a religious group in Toowoomba have been arrested after the death of an eight-year-old girl, who Queensland police say was allegedly denied life-saving medication in the belief she would be healed by God. Elizabeth Rose Struhs had type 1 diabetes and died in her family’s Rangeville home, west of Brisbane, on 7 January. Police …

The Associated Press reports: Australia’s prime minister conceded defeat after an election Saturday that could deliver a minority government. Scott Morrison acted quickly despite millions of votes yet to be counted because an Australian prime minister must attended a Tokyo summit on Tuesday with U.S., Japanese and Indian leaders. “I believe it’s very important that this country has certainty. I …

The Associated Press reports: A man told police he killed American mathematician Scott Johnson in 1988 by pushing the 27-year-old off a Sydney cliff in what prosecutors describe as a gay hate crime, a court heard on Monday. Scott White, 51, appeared in the New South Wales state Supreme Court for a sentencing hearing after he pleaded guilty in January …

The Insider reports: Brian Houston, the founder of the Australia-based Hillsong megachurch and also one of its pastors, has resigned following the church’s revelations that he behaved inappropriately with two women. “Pastor Brian Houston has resigned as Global Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church and the board has accepted his resignation,” said the church’s board. The first incident in 2013 involved …

The Daily Beast reports: He was an unvaxxed billionaire accused of spreading anti-vaccine misinformation. Now he reportedly has COVID. Clive Palmer, the 67-year-old Australian mining magnate and political provocateur, is battling both the coronavirus and pneumonia. The Australian reported that the billionaire “remains very sick.” “I’m not vaccinated and I don’t intend to be vaccinated,” the billionaire proudly declared at …

Reuters reports: Australia on Monday fully reopened its international borders to travellers vaccinated against the coronavirus after nearly two years of pandemic-related closings as tourists returned and hundreds of people were reunited with family and friends. More than 50 international flights will reach the country through the day, including 27 touching down in Sydney, its largest city, as the tourism …

The Times Live reports: A group of anti-vaccination demonstrators and conspiracy theorists have blocked roads and targeted businesses in the Australian capital of Canberra ahead of the return of federal parliament on Tuesday, in an echo of similar protests in Canada. Hundreds of cars and trucks waving Australian flags, military insignia and campaign banners for former US president Donald Trump …

ESPN reports: Rafael Nadal made history in epic fashion Sunday at the Australian Open, rallying from two sets down in the final to beat Daniil Medvedev and win a men’s record 21st Grand Slam title. The Spanish southpaw had been in a three-way tie with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic atop the all-time list for men’s major winners but now …

Reuters reports: Hip-hop artist Kanye West will have to be fully vaccinated if he wants to give concerts in Australia, Scott Morrison said on Saturday, after media said the performer planned an Australian tour in March. “The rules are you have to be fully vaccinated,” Morrison told a news conference on Saturday. “They apply to everybody, as people have seen …

Australia’s The Age reports: Federal Sports Minister Richard Colbeck says surfing legend Kelly Slater has “no chance of getting into the country” if he’s not vaccinated ahead of the upcoming World Surf League championship events in Victoria and Western Australia. The WSL has warned unvaccinated surfers they will face significant hurdles travelling the world and could be barred from certain …

ESPN reports: Novak Djokovic’s final bid to avoid deportation and play in the Australian Open despite being unvaccinated for COVID-19 ended Sunday when a court unanimously dismissed the No. 1-ranked tennis player’s challenge of a government minister’s decision to cancel his visa. Djokovic said he was “extremely disappointed” by the ruling but respected it. He released a statement shortly after …

The Washington Post reports: It was deja vu for Novak Djokovic on Saturday as the tennis star was detained for a second time by Australian authorities and placed back in the very same hotel he’d triumphantly left just this week. The strange scene of the world’s top-ranked men’s player again being escorted into a hotel housing asylum seekers came on …

NBC News reports: Novak Djokovic faces possible deportation from Australia after the country’s immigration minister canceled the unvaccinated tennis star’s visa for a second time on Friday, citing public health. It could end the Serb’s bid for a record 21st major title at the Australian Open tournament, which starts Monday. Djokovic’s lawyers moved swiftly to apply for an injunction that …

NBC News reports: Australia’s prime minister said Thursday his government’s tough policy toward visitors who were not vaccinated for Covid-19 had not changed, as it nears a decision on whether to deport Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic. Despite the cloud hanging over Djokovic’s ability to compete, Australian Open organizers included the top seed in the draw. He is slated to …

Reuters reports: World tennis No. 1 and vaccine opponent Novak Djokovic blamed “human error” on Wednesday for a mistake in his Australian immigration paperwork and apologised for breaking isolation for a photoshoot when he had COVID-19 last month. Djokovic’s cause was not helped by a mistake in his Australian entry declaration where the “no” box was ticked saying he had …

The Guardian reports: The Australian Border Force is investigating whether Novak Djokovic incorrectly declared he had not travelled and would not do so for two weeks before his flight to Australia, in the latest twist in the tennis star’s visa cancellation saga. Questions have been raised about the declaration completed by an agent for Djokovic, with social media posts seemingly …

CBS News reports: Tennis star Novak Djokovic on Monday won a court battle to stay in Australia to play in the Australian Open despite being unvaccinated against COVID-19, but the government threatened to cancel his visa a second time. Federal Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly reinstated Djokovic’s visa, which was canceled after his arrival last week because officials decided he …