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

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australians are spending more for the fifth quarter in a row, but the boost isn’t coming from shopping sprees — it’s from everyday essentials. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) says household spending rose 0.2% in September, following a flat August and a 0.4% lift in July. Overall, spending is up 5.1% over the past year, outpacing inflation at 2.7%. But the gains aren’t as good as

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Melbourne is in for a wet week, with up to 45mm of rain expected before the Melbourne Cup. The Bureau of Meteorology says steady rain will continue through Thursday, following a soggy start to the week. Temperatures are forecast to reach a cool 16°C on Monday. In just two hours on Monday morning, Hampton recorded 25mm of rain, while Moorabbin, Frankston, and Viewbank saw between 10–16mm. S

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Earth has recorded its highest temperature in 125,000 years, according to the 2025 State of the Climate Report, with scientists warning that the planet’s “vital signs” are under extreme stress. The report found record losses in forest cover, soaring fossil fuel use, and unprecedented ocean heat. In 2024, the planet’s average temperature was more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, cros

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Reports of violence and neglect in Victorian childcare centres have sharply increased, rising 32% in the past financial year. The Victorian Commission for Children and Young People received 705 notifications of reportable allegations in 2024–25, up from 534 the previous year. These included 967 separate allegations — 627 of physical violence, 152 of neglect, 78 of sexual misconduct, and 27

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Jetstar, part of the Qantas Group, will begin direct flights between Melbourne and Colombo from 28 August 2026. The airline plans to operate three weekly services using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which can carry around 300 passengers. A Jetstar team recently met with Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) to finalize coordination and preparations for the new route. The move is expected to

This is a developing story brought to you by Aus News Lanka , your trusted source for news for Sri Lankans  in Australia and beyond. මාස කිහිපයක ඵලදායී ද්විපාර්ශ්වික සාකච්ඡාවලින් පසුව, ඕස්ට්‍රේලියාව - ශ්‍රී ලංකාව සමඟ අපනයන මූල්‍ය ණය සහන ගිවිසුමක් අත්සන් කර ඇති අතර එහි වටිනාකම ආසන්න වශයෙන් ඕස්ට්‍රේලියානු ඩොලර් මිලියන 60 කි. මෙම ගිවිසුම අද කොළඹ මුදල් අමාත්‍යාංශයේදී නිල වශයෙන් අත්සන් කරන ලදී. මුදල්, සැලසුම් සහ ආර්ථික සංවර්ධන අමාත්‍යාංශයේ ලේකම් ආචාර්ය හර්ෂණ සූරියප්පෙරුම සහ ඕස්ට්‍

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Residents in Melbourne’s west were left stunned after powerful winds — likely from a tornado — tore through suburbs on Sunday afternoon, leaving a trail of destruction. The State Emergency Service (SES) received more than 650 calls for help, with reports of trees uprooted, roofs damaged, and trampolines sent flying. Werribee locals described scenes of chaos. “It ripped off my pergola like

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Tens of thousands of Brisbane residents are still without power after severe storms tore through south-east Queensland overnight, toppling trees, damaging homes, and cutting electricity to large parts of the city. By 9.30am (AEST), more than 28,000 homes and businesses were still in the dark, with Energex crews working through scorching conditions to restore service. Power has already been

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Melbourne has been in the news in recent weeks following a string of violent, high-profile crimes. These incidents followed Victoria’s Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) releasing new data that reveal the highest levels of crime on record across the state. In response, Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley declared Melbourne the “crime capital of Australia”. Some media outlets have claimed there

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. An intense heatwave is sweeping across Queensland, with authorities warning residents to stay alert as fire danger levels rise. The Bureau of Meteorology says a very hot air mass is spreading across most of the state and will linger through the weekend. Extreme and severe heatwave warnings have been issued from the north-west to the south-east. The outback town of Birdsville set a new Octo

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Missed last night’s show? Don’t worry — the Orionids meteor shower is still lighting up Australia’s skies this week. Visible across the southern hemisphere, the annual event peaks in late October but continues through early November, giving stargazers plenty of time to catch its shooting stars. Astrophysicist Dr. Sara Webb says this week offers the best chance to spot the spectacle. “Head

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Victorians are being urged to stay alert as wild weather and strong winds sweep across the state, bringing a moderate risk of thunderstorm asthma. The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of damaging winds up to 120km/h, especially across southwestern Victoria, with gusts expected to peak in Melbourne between 3pm and 5pm. Towns including Horsham, Warrnambool, Bendigo, Geelong, Wangaratta, and

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Sri Lankan community informed with timely updates. Sri Lanka Tourism’s final B2B Roadshow on Australia’s east coast concluded in Melbourne with resounding success, drawing over 120 participants, including dignitaries, travel advisors, and tourism partners. Held at Hotel Chadstone with the support of SriLankan Airlines, the evening began with lively business networking, followed by a traditional Ayubowan welcome, oil lamp lighting, and cult