CANBERRA, ACT, Aug. 16 -- The Prime Minister of Australia issued the following media release: Buongiorno and happy Ferragosto. This is a fantastic celebration. Of course, today I want to pay tribute and begin by thanking as well the faith leaders, including His Grace, Bishop Umbers, for the procession. Because today is, of course, in acknowledgement of the feast, celebrating the Assumption into Ascension into Heaven of the Virgin Mary. It is also a celebration that goes back many hundreds o...
CANBERRA, ACT, Aug. 16 -- The Prime Minister of Australia issued the following media release: The Albanese Government and Minns Government have reached an agreement to deliver a NSW Gun Buyback Scheme to reduce the number of firearms and make communities safer. New South Wales will be the first state to commence the Commonwealth Government's National Gun Buyback Scheme, with both governments agreeing to share the costs of the buyback 50:50. Following the deadly antisemitic terrorist attack at...
CANBERRA, ACT, Aug. 16 -- The Prime Minister of Australia issued the following media release: ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER:Good morning. Can I begin by passing on the thoughts of the Australian government to our close friends and partners in Indonesia, and all those who've been affected by the very significant earthquake that struck there yesterday morning. I extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives. Australian officials in Indonesia c...
CANBERRA, ACT, Aug. 15 -- Australian Federal Police issued the following media release: This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police, the National Disability Insurance Agency, and NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Editor's note: Arrest vision available via Hightail The AFP has charged an Adelaide man over an alleged multi-million-dollar dishonesty plot against the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The Adelaide man, 38, a director of a registered NDIS p...
CANBERRA, ACT, Aug. 15 -- Australian Federal Police issued the following media release: This is a joint release between Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police and Australia Border Force Editor's note: Images are available via Hightail The AFP is seeking information from members of the public after 298kg of cocaine was found hidden inside a tractor that had been imported to Melbourne in a shipping container. Australian Border Force (ABF) officers discovered the illicit cargo on Monday (...
CANBERRA, ACT, Aug. 15 -- The Prime Minister of Australia issued the following media release: Prime Minister Albanese will welcome the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, HE Mr Anutin Charnvirakul, to Australia from 17 to 20 August 2026. Australia and Thailand share substantial trade and investment links. Thailand is Australia's fourth largest trading partner in Southeast Asia and our 11th largest trading partner overall. The Prime Ministers will meet in Canberra on Wednesday 19 August...
CANBERRA, ACT, Aug. 15 -- The Prime Minister of Australia issued the following media release: Five years on from the fall of Kabul our thoughts are with the people of Afghanistan, who continue to face violent repression at the hands of the Taliban, as well the Afghan community in Australia and around the world. We acknowledge the brave contribution and sacrifices made by more than 39,000 Australian Defence Force and civilian personnel who conducted or supported operations in Afghanistan over 2...
CANBERRA, ACT, Aug. 14 -- The Treasurer of Australia issued the following media release: The Albanese Government has appointed Melinda Cilento as a part‑time member of the Reserve Bank of Australia Monetary Policy Board, for a fiveyear term from 1September 2026. MsMelinda Cilento is a highly respected economist with broad and deep expertise and experience. This appointment will help ensure the Board has the right mix of skills and perspectives. MsCilento has held senior economic policy...
CANBERRA, ACT, Aug. 14 -- Australian Federal Police issued the following media release: Editor's note: Arrest vision is available via Hightail.  A South Australian man is expected to appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court on 29 September, 2026, charged over a series of allegedly threatening online messages directed at the AFP. The AFP's National Security Investigations (NSI) team began an investigation in January, 2026, after receiving information about allegedly threatening message...
CANBERRA, ACT, Aug. 14 -- The Prime Minister of Australia issued the following media release: ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER:It's great to be here in Castle Hill with Minister for Energy and Climate Change Chris Bowen, with a fellow who's known to everyone, Ian Thorpe, a legendary Australian and a brand ambassador for Fox, who are a battery company, with Dave McElrea from the Smart Energy Council, and our host Kunal Kapoor from RKS Energy Solutions. It is great to be here, and what we're see...