Australia announced a AU$14.5 billion (US$15.2 billion) plan to boost funding for schools Sunday in one of the country's biggest education reforms in decades.

Australia will fire the opening salvoes in a legal battle before the United Nations' highest court in June to try to stop Japan's whale hunt in Antarctica.

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr says late British leader Margaret Thatcher made “unabashedly racist” comments, recalling what she allegedly said to him about Asian immigration after she left office.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard agreed Tuesday to hold annual prime ministerial meetings, as Chinese money drives Australia's huge resource boom.

Whistleblowing group WikiLeaks unveiled plans Saturday to field candidates in at least three states in Australia's elections and said it would be “embarrassing” if Julian Assange won but couldn't take his seat.

Australia's prime minister said Thursday that the country can't take its trading relationship with China for granted in an increasingly competitive world economy as she prepared to lead a senior government delegation to Australia's biggest export market.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Thursday demanded that Fiji's military leader Voreqe Bainimarama keep his pledge to hold free and fair elections next year.

Australia opened a national probe into child sex abuse on Wednesday, with premier Julia Gillard warning of “uncomfortable truths” as institutions including schools and churches come under scrutiny.

Australia on Tuesday gave environmental approval for a new uranium mine in its resource-rich west, with 36 conditions to guard against negative impacts from radiation and other factors.

Fugitive WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, holed up in London's Ecuadorian Embassy for nine months, has appointed a high-profile opponent of Britain's monarchy to run his campaign for a seat in Australia's upper house of parliament.