At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australian households will soon be able to use electricity for free for three hours every day under a new federal government plan designed to make better use of excess solar energy. The Solar Sharer scheme will require energy retailers to offer free electricity during a set window in the middle of the day — the time when solar generation is high and demand is low. Wholesale prices often dr

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australian shoppers can now expect parcels to arrive any day of the week, with Australia Post bringing back weekend deliveries from this Saturday. The temporary service aims to handle the huge spike in parcels expected during the festive season. Weekend deliveries will run across all major capital cities and selected regional areas, staying in place until Christmas. Gary Starr, Australia P

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australian researchers are sounding the alarm as new data shows children are abandoning key developmental activities in favour of scrolling on social media. A University of South Australia study tracking more than 14,000 students aged 11–14 found that daily social media use has exploded — rising from 26% in 2019 to 85% in 2022, a 200% increase since before COVID-19. As screen time surged,

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Melbourne’s tram network — the largest in the world — is still far from meeting national accessibility standards, with a new audit showing little progress over the past five years. According to the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO), only 18% of tram services in 2023–24 were fully accessible, meaning low-floor trams aligned with level-access stops. Low-floor tram numbers have risen

This is a developing story brought to you by Aus News Lanka , your trusted source for news for Sri Lankans  in Australia and beyond. Western Australia has honoured its top scientific talent at the 24th Premier’s Science Awards — and Sri Lankan oceanographer Professor Charitha Pattiaratchi has taken home one of the night’s biggest titles. Professor Pattiaratchi won the People’s Choice Award, earning an impressive 7,880 votes from colleagues and supporters across the scientific

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Early forecasts suggest a damp start to summer for many parts of Australia, with several capitals tipped to see rain throughout December. Here’s what AccuWeather expects for each state and territory — including Christmas Day. New South Wales – Sydney Sydney is set for a cloudy and rainy December, with storms likely before Christmas. Temperatures will range from 19°C to 28°C. Christmas Day

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australia’s student accommodation sector is set for a major clean-energy upgrade, with the Albanese Government and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) backing the country’s biggest apartment-electrification project — and it’s happening across student housing. Through a $50 million CEFC investment into The Living Company’s Scape Australia Core Fund, up to 20 large student accommodat

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. More than a dozen Canberra schools and one Brisbane school have temporarily closed after a popular craft sand was found to contain traces of chrysotile asbestos. The ACCC this week recalled three products — Kadink Sand, Educational Colours Rainbow Sand and Creatistics Coloured Sand — after testing confirmed contamination. The sand had been used in some ACT public schools for sensory play a

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australia’s jobless rate fell to 4.3% in October, down from 4.5% in September, signalling a steady and resilient labour market. The latest ABS data showed 42,200 new jobs were created last month, while unemployment dropped by 17,000 people. Economists say the rebound confirms September’s spike was just a temporary blip. Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers called it “a very positive result,” hig

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Elite Cricket Centre officially opened its doors to the public on 8 November 2025, offering a world-class indoor facility designed for players of all levels. The centre features eight long run-up, international-standard training lanes with premium synthetic turf, four JUGS bowling machines, one Bola machine with auto-feeder and one leather ball machine to enhance precision and performance.

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Children as young as 14 could soon face adult court trials and life sentences in Victoria under a new state government plan to tackle rising youth crime. Premier Jacinta Allan confirmed the proposal, titled “Adult Time for Violent Crime,” saying the move would target serious and violent offenders. The laws mirror Queensland’s tough youth justice model introduced in 2024. The announcement c

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Victoria has been named Australia’s hardest state to do business in for the second year in a row, according to the Business Council of Australia’s 2025 report. The state ranked eighth overall, with the report pointing to high property and payroll taxes and heavy licensing rules as major hurdles for businesses — despite recent planning reforms aimed at speeding up housing approvals. In cont

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australians are feeling more upbeat about the economy, with consumer confidence jumping 12.8% in November to 103.8 points, according to the latest Westpac survey. It’s the first time optimism has outweighed pessimism since February 2022 — ending nearly four years of subdued sentiment. Westpac’s Matthew Hassan said the lift reflects stronger signs of economic recovery, driven by improving c

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. In a world-first move, Australia will ban anyone under 16 from creating accounts on major social media platforms starting December 10, 2025. The new Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 makes it illegal for platforms to allow children under 16 to sign up — even with parental consent. Platforms included in the ban are: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (Twitte

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Millions of Australians along the east coast are preparing for heavy rain, strong winds, and thunderstorms this weekend. The Bureau of Meteorology warns that a developing cold front will bring unsettled weather across much of southeastern Australia from Friday through Saturday. Forecaster Jonathon Howe said thunderstorms could hit areas from southern Victoria and South Australia up to nort

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. The Victorian Government is tightening its underquoting laws to prevent real estate agents from misleading homebuyers with unrealistic price guides. From today, CAV can compel agents to justify the comparable sales they use to set property prices - including key attributes such as a home's age, design, renovation level, size, zoning and location. Agents that fail to maintain appropriate re

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australia is set to roll out its landmark social media ban for children under 16 from December 10, marking a world-first step in online safety. Under the new rules, nine major platforms — including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, and Kick — will be classed as “age-restricted platforms.” They must take reasonable steps to block underage users or face fines of up to $49.5 mill

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. A new ARC Research Hub for Protected Cropping has been launched to make Australian farming more sustainable, productive, and climate-resilient. Backed by the Australian Research Council (ARC), the Hub brings together top researchers, growers, and industry leaders to transform the way food is produced. Protected cropping systems—which let farmers grow fresh, high-quality produce year-round

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australians are becoming more worried about rising prices, with new data showing inflation expectations climbing to 5.2%, up 0.4 percentage points from the previous survey. According to the ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Index, confidence remains weak at 84.5 points, well below the long-term average of 109.3. Rising inflation and unemployment, now at a four-year high of 4.5%, are weigh

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australian households in New South Wales, South-East Queensland, and South Australia will soon enjoy three hours of free solar power every day, even if they don’t have rooftop panels. The federal government’s new “Solar Sharer” scheme will launch in July 2026, allowing homes with smart meters to run appliances, charge electric vehicles, and power up batteries at zero cost during daylight h