This is a developing story brought to you by Aus News Lanka, your trusted source for news for Sri Lankans in Australia and beyond. A joint investigation team from Sri Lanka’s Bribery Commission and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is expected to travel to Australia as part of the ongoing investigation into the alleged USD 2 million Airbus bribery case linked to SriLankan Airlines. The team will interview witnesses and gather evidence from people believed to have be

At AusNewsLanka, we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australia’s car market is undergoing major change, with industry experts warning that Fiat’s import halt and Peugeot’s local withdrawal may be only the beginning. The growing popularity of affordable Chinese vehicles is increasing pressure on many long-established brands. Experts say intense competition, changing consumer preferences and a crowded market could lead to more manufacturers sca

At AusNewsLanka, we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. A new property market analysis predicts that Perth and Adelaide will be home to most of Australia’s next $1 million suburbs, reflecting strong growth outside the traditional markets of Sydney and Melbourne. According to Ray White Group, nine Perth suburbs, three Adelaide suburbs, and Howard Springs in Darwin are expected to reach an average house price of $1 million within the next year. Th

At AusNewsLanka, we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australia's fuel reserves have climbed to their highest level on record, providing stronger energy security as global tensions continue. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said 55 fuel shipments, carrying 3.2 billion litres, are scheduled to arrive over the next four weeks. Australia now holds around 6.5 billion litres of fuel across all fuel types more than before the recent Middle East confl

At AusNewsLanka, we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Sydney Airport has launched a new Fast Track service, allowing international travellers to pay $20 for access to a priority security screening queue at Terminal 1. The optional pass is available to all departing international passengers and can be purchased online, including on the day of travel. After booking, travellers receive a QR code that grants access to the dedicated priority lane b

At AusNewsLanka, we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Climate experts are warning that 2027 could become the hottest year ever recorded, as a powerful El Niño event continues to strengthen in the Pacific Ocean. Europe is already experiencing record-breaking heat, while Australia is expected to face a hotter and drier summer, particularly across the eastern states. Australia's Bureau of Meteorology officially declared an El Niño event last mont

At AusNewsLanka, we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australia’s property market has faced major uncertainty over the past year, but new PropTrack data shows home prices have continued to rise in most suburbs. Despite changing interest rates, higher living costs, global economic pressures and recent tax changes affecting investors, property values increased in many parts of the country. According to PropTrack, house prices rose in 85% of Aust

At AusNewsLanka, we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Cutting Australia's annual net overseas migration below 200,000 people could reduce federal government revenue by around $80 billion over the next decade, according to new forecasts from the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO). The PBO's latest 2026–27 Medium-Term Budget Outlook says Australia's long-term budget position has improved, with a return to surplus now expected by 2034–35. The impr

At AusNewsLanka, we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Victorian public school teachers will take further industrial action next week as their dispute with the state government over wages and working conditions continues. Members of the Australian Education Union (AEU) Victorian Branch have voted to hold a 24-hour statewide strike on Thursday, July 23, along with a ban on unpaid overtime. AEU Victorian branch president Justin Mullaly said teach

This is a developing story brought to you by Aus News Lanka, your trusted source for news for Sri Lankans in Australia and beyond. A new road underpass in Dandenong will soon provide a direct connection between Princes Highway–Lonsdale Street and Cheltenham and Hammond roads, improving traffic flow for motorists across the area. The underpass has a 5.4-metre clearance, allowing trucks and other tall vehicles to travel beneath the rail bridge without restrictions. A new signal

At AusNewsLanka, we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australia's international education sector continues to face tighter visa rules and higher application fees aimed at slowing student arrivals. However, new figures show higher education student visa grants have remained largely stable. According to the Department of Home Affairs, 78,900 higher education student visas were granted to primary applicants between January and May 2026. That is v

This is a developing story brought to you by Aus News Lanka, your trusted source for news for Sri Lankans in Australia and beyond. Qantas has been named the world’s most punctual major airline for June 2026, according to aviation data from OAG. The airline achieved an 87.16% on-time arrival rate across more than 22,000 flights, finishing ahead of major international carriers. The result marks a significant turnaround after Qantas ranked much lower in the years following the p

At AusNewsLanka, we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Origin Energy will refund more than 4,500 customers after an investigation found some households were charged more than expected under one of its electricity plans. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) found customers on Origin’s “Ongoing Savers” plan paid higher costs than those on the company’s basic energy plan, despite the plan name suggesting better value. Origin h

At AusNewsLanka, we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. A major Victorian business group is calling for changes to the state’s proposed work-from-home laws, including delaying their introduction and limiting the entitlement to two days per week. The Victorian Congress of Employer Associations has urged the government to postpone the planned start date from 1 September to 1 March next year, saying businesses need more time to prepare. The propose

At AusNewsLanka, we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australia is set to replace paper passenger arrival cards with a digital system as part of a major upgrade to border processing at international airports and seaports. Travellers arriving from overseas will complete their customs declaration and travel information online before entering the country, making the arrival process faster and more efficient. More than 450,000 passengers have alre

At AusNewsLanka, we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Melbourne Airport will open a new $500 million Pick Up and Drop Off hub in October, designed to reduce congestion and improve passenger access. The new T123 Transport Hub will more than double the airport’s current pickup and drop-off capacity, replacing the existing roads that have struggled to handle decades of passenger growth. Located within the T123 multi-level car park, the new facili

At AusNewsLanka, we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. City of Moreton Bay will trial Australia’s first artificial intelligence-powered traffic light system, aiming to reduce delays and improve traffic flow. The new technology will use AI to monitor individual vehicle movements and adjust traffic signals in real time, replacing traditional systems that rely on fixed light sequences and road sensors. Mayor Peter Flannery said the system could re

At AusNewsLanka, we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. A new survey has found that more than half of Australians are using less heating this winter to keep electricity bills under control. Research by Canstar shows many households are also choosing cheaper electric heaters, even though lower-priced models can cost more to run over time. Experts say simple, no-cost steps such as wearing warmer clothing, closing doors and windows, and blocking dr

At AusNewsLanka, we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. International Monetary Fund has lowered its forecast for Australia’s economic growth, warning that momentum is slowing. The IMF expects Australia’s real GDP to grow 1.9% in 2026, slightly below its previous forecast, and 1.7% in 2027. This is well below Australia’s long-term average growth rate of more than 3%. The global growth outlook was also revised down, with the IMF forecasting the wo

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 Global Passport Index 2026 has ranked passports based on more than just visa-free travel, evaluating countries across mobility, investment opportunities and quality of life. Sweden claimed the top spot with the highest overall score, followed by Switzerland, Finland, Germany and the Netherlands. Australia ranked 28th, reflecting its strong per