Tag: Turnbull

Australia braces for new prime minister after bitter coup

  by Martin Parry Agence France-Presse SYDNEY, Australia  (AFP) — Australia was bracing for yet another change of prime minister Friday after a revolt against Malcolm Turnbull by hardline conservatives in his Liberal party, with his near three-year reign hanging by a thread. Former home affairs minister Peter Dutton, an ex-police officer and right-winger, has been the stalking horse seeking to unseat Turnbull after a party backlash against his more moderate approach to politics. Turnbull survived […]

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Australia PM Turnbull in crisis with second leadership challenge

  by Martin Parry Agence France Presse SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s tenuous grip on power was under intense pressure Thursday with the man who wants his job launching a second leadership challenge in a week and senior ministers defecting. Former home affairs minister Peter Dutton, an ex-police officer and right-wing conservative, said he was confident he now had the numbers to unseat Turnbull, considered a moderate. “Earlier this morning I […]

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Australia offers cash assistance to farmers as worst drought in 400 years cripples land

  (Eagle News) — The Australian Government is implementing strategies to assist farmers, as a crippling drought — said to be the worst in the last 400 years  — has taken over vast areas of pastoral heartlands affecting thousands of farmers who heavily rely on their farms to sustain their households. The Federal Government has announced that they will be providing cash payments of up to Aus$12,000 to assist farmers and drought stricken communities. The […]

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Australia foils ‘terror plot’ to bring down airplane

  by Glenda Kwek Agence France Presse SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia has foiled an Islamist-inspired “terrorist plot” to bring down an airplane with an improvised explosive, authorities said Sunday, after four people were arrested in raids across Sydney. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the plot appeared to be “elaborate” rather than planned by a lone wolf, as security was beefed up at major domestic and international airports across the nation. “I can report last […]

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Trump meets Australian Prime Minister Turnbull in New York

NEW YORK, United States (Reuters) — United States President Donald Trump met with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in New York on Thursday (May 4). It was their first face-to-face talks since an acrimonious phone call about refugees early in Trump’s term. Trump and Turnbull were to hold their meeting aboard the USS Intrepid, a World War Two aircraft carrier that was turned into a museum and is moored on Manhattan’s west side. They also […]

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Australia toughens foreign worker visas; says Australian jobs for Australians

CANBERRA, Australia (Reuters) — Australia will abolish a temporary work visa popular with foreigners and replace it with a visa requiring better English-language and work skills, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Tuesday (April 18). Turnbull rejected suggestions the visa policy change was in response to far-right wing political parties, such as One Nation, demanding more nationalistic policies. He said the visa change would attract better skilled workers and see Australians employed over cheap foreign […]

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Japan’s Abe pushes Pacific trade deal in Australia

Sydney, Australia (AFP)  — Japan and Australia will work together to ensure the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal comes into force, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Saturday, making no mention of strong US opposition. After talks with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Abe took the lead on the trade pact covering 12 Pacific Rim nations that was ratified by Japan’s parliament last month. “We agreed that we should demonstrate anew to the world the importance of free […]

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Australia in political limbo after voters punish government

  by Martin Parry SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia was in political limbo Sunday after voters failed to hand Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull the stability he craved in calling an election, with the nation instead facing the prospect of a hung parliament. The former banker went to the polls early looking to shore up support and deliver a strong government based on a “jobs and growth” agenda after ousting fellow Liberal Tony Abbott in a party […]

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Turnbull topples Abbott, to become Australia’s fifth PM in eight years

(Reuters) — Australia will have its fifth prime minister in eight years after the ruling Liberal Party on Monday (September 14) voted out Tony Abbott in favour of longtime rival Malcolm Turnbull, following months of infighting and crumbling voter support. Turnbull, a multi-millionaire former tech entrepreneur, won a secret party vote by 54 to 44, Liberal Party chief whip Scott Buchholz told reporters after the meeting in Canberra. Australia is set to hold elections before […]

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