Australia News

Published: 15 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Labor’s hate laws face mounting challenges as the Coalition and Greens rule out support, putting the proposed legislation at risk of failing in federal parliament. Designed to tackle rising antisemitism and Islamic extremism, these hate laws emerged following the Bondi terror attack, which left 15 people dead, and aim to provide urgent protections for vulnerable communities. Labor maintains...

Published: 13 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Australian author Craig Silvey has been charged with possessing and distributing child exploitation material. The focus keyword “Silvey charge” appears immediately in reports of his arrest, marking a serious legal development in Fremantle, Western Australia. Detectives executed a search warrant at Silvey’s home on Monday, 12 January, discovering evidence suggesting he was actively communicating with other offenders online....

Published: 13 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. In a move drawing political attention, One Nation MPs Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce used Gina Rinehart’s private jet to visit flood-affected Queensland communities, highlighting the practical use of private resources by elected officials. The visit, conducted over the weekend, aimed to support towns still recovering from ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji, with Joyce noting that using the Rinehart jet...

Published: 12 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. In response to the Bondi terror attack, the prime minister is fast-tracking hate speech and gun reform laws, recalling parliament early next week to ensure rapid debate. The legislation, designed to curb violent extremism and strengthen community protections, will combine tougher hate speech measures with a national gun buyback program. Albanese emphasised that the proposed laws address both...

Published: 12 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Three arrests were made after a racist attack targeted a Muslim religious leader in Victoria. Imam Ismet Purdic and his wife were allegedly forced from their car and assaulted along a Melbourne freeway, leaving the couple with significant trauma. Police confirmed the incident occurred on Saturday evening along the South Gippsland Highway, where three occupants of a small...

Published: 11 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The Adelaide festival controversy has reignited national debate over artistic freedom and cultural sensitivity. The festival controversy emerged after South Australia’s premier, Peter Malinauskas, noted that the Adelaide Festival had previously removed a Jewish columnist in 2024 despite pressure from ten academics, including Randa Abdel-Fattah. This statement highlighted perceived inconsistencies in how the festival board treated Thomas Friedman...

Published: 10 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The Victorian Liberals face mounting challenges as the party struggles to present a united front under new leader Jess Wilson. Wilson, just 35, has vowed to reposition the Victorian Liberals at the centre of politics while reconnecting with voters lost over recent years. Optimism remains, but repeated self-inflicted wounds continue to raise doubts about whether the Victorian Liberals...

Published: 09 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Victoria police has officially revoked warrantless search powers in Melbourne CBD, consolidating peace and reducing tensions across the city. The early termination ends a six-month declaration that allowed officers to conduct pat-downs and searches without a warrant, initially set to expire on 29 May 2026. By consolidating peace through this revocation, authorities aim to reassure the public while...