At AusNewsLanka, we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. The ANZAC Day long weekend brings commemorations and strict trading rules that vary by state. Essential services like pharmacies, petrol stations and cafes mostly stay open. But many large retailers face limits, especially on April 25. Here’s a simple breakdown: Saturday, April 25 – ANZAC Day NSW Most big retailers must stay closed all day. Small shops and essentials (cafes, chemists, petro

At AusNewsLanka, we aim to keep the Sri Lankan community informed with timely updates. ඕස්ට්‍රේලියානු රජයට ගෙවිය යුතු ගෙවීම් සම්බන්ධයෙන් සිදුවන අක්‍රමිකතා පිළිබඳව තමන් දන්නා බව කොළඹ ඕස්ට්‍රේලියානු මහ කොමසාරිස් කාර්යාලය X හි පළ කරන ලද නිවේදනයක දැක්වේ. ශ්‍රී ලංකා බලධාරීන් මේ වන විට මේ සම්බන්ධයෙන් විමර්ශනය කරමින් සිටින බවත්, විමර්ශනයට සහාය වන ඕස්ට්‍රේලියානු නිලධාරීන් සමඟ සම්බන්ධීකරණයෙන් කටයුතු කරන බවත් මහ කොමසාරිස් කාර්යාලය පැවසීය. පරීක්ෂණ දිගටම කරගෙන යන විට ඕස්ට්‍රේලියාව ශ්‍රී

At AusNewsLanka, we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. A developing El Niño in the Pacific Ocean could bring warmer and drier conditions to much of Australia in the months ahead. Forecasters say this event has the potential to become a “super” El Niño, driven by a large pool of unusually warm water sitting deep below the central Pacific. Some areas are already recording temperatures more than 6°C above normal beneath the surface. If this warm w

At AusNewsLanka, we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Westpac has lifted its fixed home loan rates, adding pressure on borrowers amid rising global uncertainty. The bank increased fixed rates by 0.15 percentage points for both owner-occupiers and investors. The change applies to all new fixed loans and customers switching from variable to fixed rates from today. Westpac said the move reflects higher funding costs and keeps its rates in line wi

At AusNewsLanka, we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australia has taken another step to strengthen its artificial intelligence sector through a new partnership under the National AI Plan. This marks the second agreement aimed at boosting the country’s AI capability while promoting safe and responsible innovation. The plan outlines the government’s goal to unlock AI opportunities, share the benefits across the economy, and protect the public.

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Rising fuel prices are pushing up the cost of lawn care across Australia, with households now spending around $960 a year to keep their yards in shape. New research from Money.com.au shows the average cost sits at about $80 per month, covering mowing, fuel, and lawn care products. Younger Australians are feeling the biggest impact. Millennials spend the most at roughly $120 a month, follow

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. A burst of unusual pre-winter warmth is set to sweep across southern Australia this week. Cities including Adelaide, Melbourne, and Hobart will see several days of temperatures above 20°C leading into the weekend. Adelaide is expected to peak between 27–28°C through to Sunday before cooling. Melbourne will remain slightly milder, with temperatures in the mid-20s, while Hobart will also enj

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Supermarket giant Woolworths is set to defend its pricing practices in court, rejecting claims it misled shoppers with fake discounts. The case, brought by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, alleges both Woolworths and Coles briefly raised prices on everyday items before promoting them as discounted. Regulators say some “discounted” prices were equal to or even higher than

At AusNewsLanka, we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australia is ramping up efforts to counter the rising threat of drone warfare, with millions set to be invested in homegrown defence technology. Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy announced about $31 million in initial funding for two Australian companies to develop advanced counter-drone systems. The move is part of a broader plan to spend up to $7 billion over the next decade on anti-dr

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australia could soon be home to its largest AI data centre, with plans unveiled for a massive project in remote Western Australia. Known as Project Meridien, the facility is proposed for the Kimberley region, south of Broome. It’s designed to support advanced AI systems such as ChatGPT and other large-scale computing platforms. The project will be built in stages and is expected to begin o

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Millions of Australians will soon be able to claim a $1,000 tax deduction instantly no receipts required. Treasurer Jim Chalmers confirmed the plan will be written into law and is expected to apply from the 2027 tax season. The change means eligible workers can claim up to $1,000 in work-related expenses with a simple tick no paperwork or detailed records needed. Around 6.2 million people

This is a developing story brought to you by Aus News Lanka , your trusted source for news for Sri Lankans in Australia and beyond. All consular services for Sri Lankan citizens residing in Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania are managed by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Melbourne. Applications for these services can be submitted either by post or in person by scheduling a prior appointment. Please note that appointments are mandatory for all attestation services,

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. A new report from the Planning Institute of Australia says Australia’s rapid population growth is happening without a clear national strategy and it could cost the economy billions. The group is urging the federal government to introduce a long-term, coordinated plan to manage growth. Without it, Australians may face rising housing costs, longer commutes, and more pressure on infrastructu

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. The Australian government has stepped in to secure extra fuel, confirming the purchase of 100 million litres of diesel under new emergency powers. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government backed two diesel shipments about 570,000 barrels from Brunei and South Korea. The fuel was purchased by Viva Energy, with financial risk covered by the government. The move comes as global sup

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australia could be heading for another interest rate hike in May, as early signs of economic pressure begin to emerge. New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows unemployment held steady at 4.3% in March. Around 18,000 people joined the workforce, pointing to continued strength in the jobs market. The solid result is increasing expectations that the Reserve Bank of Australia m

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Emergency crews were called to the Viva Energy Corio Refinery late Wednesday night after reports of explosions and flames. The facility supplies about half of Victoria’s fuel and around 10% nationally. No injuries have been reported. However, the fire is still burning and residents have been warned about air quality in the area. The refinery remains partly operational. Diesel and jet fuel

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Virgin Australia says its fuel bill will be $30–$40 million higher than expected for the second half of the financial year. In response, the airline will reduce domestic capacity by 1% over the next three months and increase revenue per seat targets. The airline says jet fuel prices have more than doubled since late February, driven by global supply disruptions. It is using fuel hedging an

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Melbourne’s east has a new hotspot. Dutch Rules Distilling Co. in Mitcham has reopened with a complete venue upgrade, now featuring a full kitchen, expanded cocktail bar, working distillery, and event space. Originally opened in 2022 as a small distillery, the venue has grown into a lively destination combining food, drinks, and entertainment. It caters to both casual nights out and group

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. More than 150 workers were safely evacuated after a 4.5-magnitude earthquake struck near a major gold mine in New South Wales. The tremor hit on Tuesday night near Cadia Gold Mine, about 30km south-west of Orange. The quake occurred at a shallow depth of 5km and was felt across a wide area. Mining company Newmont Corporation confirmed that 153 workers underground were quickly moved to safe

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. The Victorian Government has introduced a new feature to help drivers spot the most expensive fuel stations in real time. The update to the Service Victoria app now highlights both the highest and lowest fuel prices through its “Servo Saver” tool. Stations charging the most appear in red, while the cheapest options are shown in green. The system uses live data from more than 1,200 fuel ret