At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Millions of drivers in New South Wales are being urged to drive safer as major changes roll out to the state’s roadside camera program. From Sunday, March 1, Transport for NSW will upgrade its 10 transportable mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras. The cameras will now monitor single-lane roads in both directions. Until now, they only checked traffic moving one way. No new cameras ar

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Almost half of Australia is on flood watch as a slow-moving tropical system brings widespread heavy rain over the coming days. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the system is expected to deliver prolonged rainfall across parts of the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. The heaviest rain will fall over several days. Conditions may ease later

This is a developing story brought to you by Aus News Lanka , your trusted source for news for Sri Lankans in Australia and beyond. Southern Cross University has officially launched its Sri Lanka partnership with NSBM Green University, opening a new pathway for local students to earn an Australian Bachelor of Business without leaving the country. The national launch runs from 19–21 February 2026 at NSBM Green University, Homagama. The event brings together the Australian Hig

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Large parts of Victoria, including Melbourne, are on alert for possible flash flooding today as heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds move across the state. The Bureau of Meteorology says storms will develop through northern and central Victoria, with the heaviest rain expected to hit Melbourne’s western suburbs this morning before spreading east later today. Rainfall of 40–70mm in ju

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australia’s red meat industry is bracing for impact after Donald Trump flagged higher import tariffs. Trump plans to lift the tariff rate from 10 to 15 per cent. The increase is expected to affect Australian lamb, mutton and goat meat exports to the United States. Australian beef, however, will remain exempt after a policy reversal last year. Meat & Livestock Australia managing director Mi

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Motorists in New South Wales could soon be rewarded for safe driving, with the state government moving to make its demerit point reward scheme permanent. The program, first trialled in 2023, has been introduced to Parliament to become a lasting part of the NSW demerit system. If passed, unrestricted licence holders who stay offence-free for 12 months can have one demerit point removed. Pre

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Sri Lanka has named Nalin Perera as its new Honorary Consul in Brisbane, with responsibility for the state of Queensland. The official appointment was presented on February 19 by Yasoja Gunasekera at the Sri Lanka High Commission. Perera is a healthcare-sector businessman and philanthropist. He is actively involved in professional, community and Buddhist organisations across Australia, acc

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australia’s unemployment rate held steady in January 2026, defying expectations and strengthening the case for another interest rate rise later this year. New figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the jobless rate remained at 4.1 per cent, instead of edging up as forecast. Employment increased by 18,000, driven by a strong gain of 50,000 full-time jobs, even as part-time ro

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australia’s new New Vehicle Emissions Standard (NVES) is already reshaping the car market — and many buyers may end up paying more. The policy penalises car makers if new vehicles exceed fuel and emissions targets. The government says it will lower prices over time. So far, the opposite is happening. Several brands have dropped cheaper models because the penalties are too high. Kia has end

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Inflation has overtaken wage growth for the first time in two years, according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Figures show wages rose 0.8% in the December quarter, lifting annual pay growth to 3.4%. But with inflation sitting at 3.8%, real wages slipped by about 0.4% over the quarter. The wage index does not include bonuses or overtime. Public sector pay grew faster

This is a developing story brought to you by Aus News Lanka , your trusted source for news for Sri Lankans in Australia and beyond. Australia’s title defence at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is over. The 2021 champions have been eliminated at the group stage after the Group B match between Zimbabwe and Ireland was washed out in Pallekele due to heavy rain. No ball was bowled. The abandoned game lifted Zimbabwe to five points, putting them beyond reach of Australia. Even a

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australians may need to rethink how they live as pressure mounts on the housing market, experts warn. A new report by the Housing Industry Association and Cotality shows land prices have risen about three times faster than building and labour costs since 2000. Land is now the biggest driver of home price growth. The report says land costs reflect more than the ground itself. Before homes a

The Consulate General of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in Melbourne has announced a significant relocation of its offices, moving operations to a new premise on St. Kilda Road later this month. In an official notice released today, the Consulate confirmed that effective Tuesday, 24th February 2026 , all consular services will be conducted from their new headquarters at 432, Level 9 Suite 02, St. Kilda Road, VIC 3004 . Service Interruption Warning For members

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. A fast-moving bushfire in northern Victoria has escalated to the highest emergency level, with homes under threat. The fire started around 1pm near the Goulburn Valley Highway at Trawool and is burning out of control. It is moving south-west toward Fairview Road and the Tallarook State Forest. Residents in parts of Kerrisdale, Tallarook and Trawool have been told it is too late to leave an

This is a developing story brought to you by Aus News Lanka , your trusted source for news for Sri Lankans in Australia and beyond. In a night of dramatic contrasts at Pallekele, Sri Lanka surged into the Super Eight stage of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, delivering a crushing eight-wicket victory that has left Australia’s tournament hopes hanging by the thinnest of threads. Powered by a sublime, unbeaten century from Pathum Nissanka, the co-hosts chased down Australia's

This is a developing story brought to you by Aus News Lanka , your trusted source for news for Sri Lankans in Australia and beyond. The spotlight is on Pallekele as Australia face Sri Lanka in a crucial Group B clash of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. The match will be played Today (February 16), with the first ball at 7.00 pm Sri Lankan time (12.30 am - February 17 Melbourne Time) at the Pallekele International Stadium, one of Sri Lanka’s highest-scoring T20 venues. What’

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Large parts of Australia are in for a wet and steamy week, with heavy rain forecast to soak nearly half the country. Weather analysts say a broad low-pressure system stretching across the nation is drawing in deep tropical moisture. According to Weatherzone, this setup is likely to drive widespread rain across northern Australia for several days. The heaviest falls are expected in western

This is a developing story brought to you by Aus News Lanka , your trusted source for news for Sri Lankans in Australia and beyond. Australia has expressed support for Sri Lanka’s potential bid to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s largest free trade agreement covering 15 countries and around 30% of global GDP and population. Speaking at a forum hosted by the Pathfinder Foundation, Australian High Commissioner Matthew Duckworth said Aust

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australia Post is seeking approval to raise the price of a standard stamp by 15 cents, lifting the basic postage rate from $1.70 to $1.85 from mid-year. The proposal has been submitted to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for review. If approved, concession stamps will remain at 60 cents, and seasonal greeting stamps will stay at 65 cents. Australia Post also plans to expa

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast to hit central and south-east Queensland this weekend, with the system expected to extend into northern New South Wales. A low-pressure trough moving across Queensland from today through the weekend is set to trigger several days of wet and stormy weather. While rain on Thursday is not likely to cause flooding, it will soak the ground and increase