Rappler's latest stories on Australia
Virgin Australia collapses under coronavirus strain
(UPDATED) Virgin Australia goes into voluntary administration, but says it plans to keep operating flights
China rejects Australia's call for probe into virus response
'Any question about China's transparency in the prevention and control of epidemic situation is not in line with facts,' Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang says
Australia calls for independent probe into global virus response
Australia shares similar concerns to the United States, whose President Donald Trump has accused the WHO of 'mismanaging' the crisis and covering up the seriousness of China's outbreak before it spread
Scientists try 'cloud brightening' to protect Great Barrier Reef
In an attempt to cool waters around the reef by making clouds reflect more sunlight, researchers say they used a boat-mounted fan similar to a snow cannon to shoot salt crystals into the air
Aussie rower in lockdown unwittingly sets world record
While on COVID-19 lockdown, Georgie Rowe inadvertently smashes the world record for indoor rowing half-marathon
Australian unemployment rate to double as virus hammers economy
The doubling in the unemployment rate would see an estimated 1.4 million people out of work in Australia
Australia, New Zealand flatten virus curve but keep lockdowns intact
'Patience has got to be our virtue here,' says Australia's PM, noting that countries like Singapore and South Korea had initial success against COVID-19 but saw a surge in new cases after travel and other restrictions were eased
Kyrgios delivers on food pledge for people going hungry
Just months after leading a bushfire relief, mercurial tennis star Nick Kyrgios helps out fellow Australians affected by the worldwide health crisis
Passengers from virus-infected cruise ship leave for Australia
Uruguay residents wave flags and clap their hands in their balconies as buses take the Australian and New Zealander cruise passengers to the airport
Cardinal Pell freed after winning appeal over child sex abuse
(3rd UPDATE) The 78-year-old leaves Barwon Prison near Melbourne after the court overturns 5 counts of sexually abusing two 13-year-old choirboys in the 1990s
Virus-stricken cruise ship docks near Sydney
The Ruby Princess berths at Port Kembla after weeks stranded at sea to allow doctors to assess sick crew members and take the most serious cases ashore for medical treatment
Australia police to probe cruise ship coronavirus deaths
Authorities say they are investigating the alleged 'absolute discrepancies' between information provided and the requirements of the law
Australian plane delivers pizza, beer to locked-down outback
Pizza and beer are being delivered by plane to remote ranches in the Australian outback in an attempt to bring those in lockdown isolation a slice of cheer
Animal adoptions soar in Australia during virus shutdown
The RSPCA says adoption and foster inquiries have risen to 300% in New South Wales
60 Australian newspapers to stop printing
'The coronavirus crisis has created unprecedented economic pressures and we are doing everything we can to preserve as many jobs as possible,' says News Corp Australasia Executive Chairman Michael Miller
Great Barrier Reef suffers mass coral bleaching event
Some previously untouched areas have now suffered 'moderate or severe bleaching,' says the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Qantas probed over allegedly using crisis to try to sink rival
Virgin Australia claims Qantas engaged in anti-competitive behavior by 'trying to send a message that Virgin was in trouble and would not survive' the coronavirus crisis
Australia tells athletes to prepare for 2021 Tokyo Olympics
The Australian Olympic Committee decides an Olympics starting in July is not possible given the uncertainty around the coronavirus pandemic
Echoes of Great Depression as jobless Australians queue for help
After a record 29 years of economic growth, Australia is poised to spiral into recession as the global coronavirus outbreak wreaks havoc on the country's economy
Tom Hanks 'better' after virus quarantine in Australia
The actor and his wife, actress Rita Wilson have been released from the hospital and are doing okay
Tearful couples cancel as coronavirus hits Australian weddings
New government restrictions hit Australia’s multi-billion-dollar wedding industry, forcing many tearful couples to cancel their big day
Australia hunts 2,700 cruise passengers over virus fears
Authorities say they deemed the New Zealand-bound Ruby Princess 'low risk' and let passengers spill into the center of the country's most populous city. They later discover that 3 passengers and one of the crew tested positive.
Australia tells citizens to come home, and stop travelling abroad
'Regardless of your destination, age or health, our advice is do not travel at this time,' says the Australian foreign ministry's Smart Traveller alert
Australian carrier Qantas slashes international routes 90%
Facing a growing list of travel bans around the globe and a 'precipitous decline in demand,' Qantas says the cutbacks would continue until at least the end of May
Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson released from hospital after virus quarantine
(UPDATED) The couple's son Chet says the couple are still self-quarantined but feeling a lot better
Aussies chide Tom Hanks over his quarantine Vegemite diet
The actor and his wife, actress Rita Wilson are isolated in a hospital after testing positive for the coronavirus
Australia supermarkets start 'elderly hour' to counter panic-buying
'Woolworths Supermarkets will be opening exclusively for the elderly and those with a disability to shop from 7am to 8am,' the company says – an effort to ease the burden of panic buying on the most vulnerable
Australia unveils $11-billion stimulus to ease virus downturn
'This plan is about keeping Australians in jobs. This plan is about keeping a business in business,' says Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison
Qantas grounds planes, CEO foregoes pay as coronavirus spreads
Qantas chief executive officer Alan Joyce will forego his salary for the rest of the financial year
Banned swimmer Sun Yang's Australian coach cuts ties – report
Denis Cotterell, who had worked with Sun Yang since the 2008 Olympics, says he is now 'retired' after the swimmer was banned for 8 years
3 foreigners from Taiwan, Japan, Australia catch coronavirus after travel from PH
But the Department of Health and the World Health Organization say the travel history of 2 of the positive cases indicate they may have contracted the coronavirus outside the Philippines
Australian special forces probed for alleged Afghan war crimes
The Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force says 55 separate incidents are being investigated as part of a years-long probe into allegations Australian soldiers committed war crimes while in Afghanistan
Australian coronavirus victims had tested negative in Japan
(UPDATED) The evacuees are positive for coronavirus but were earlier cleared in Japan
Australia launches national inquiry into bushfires
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the vast scale of the fires – which killed more than 30 people and destroyed thousands of homes – requires a new response from the bushfire-prone nation
Man suspected of killing wife, 3 children in Australia fire
Hannah Clarke dies in a Brisbane hospital just hours after her 3 children aged 3, 4 and 6 were found dead in the car on a suburban street
Malaysia suspected MH370 downed in murder-suicide – Aussie ex-PM
The disappearance of the plane has long been the subject of a host of theories, including that the pilot had gone rogue
Bushfire crisis hit 75% of Australians – survey
The scale of the impact shocks researchers
Fires contained in hard-hit Australia state, but now floods threaten
Days of recent rainfall have extinguished the largest fires and brought those that remain under control
Floods fail to end Australia's years-long drought
Hydrologists believe the deluge – which has caused flooding and doused many fires – is a taste of things to come
Will February be calmer? This week's outlook
And so it is that all our hopes for a calmer February may have been dashed. What happened last month anyway that could impact the coming weeks?
Australian Open win puts Djokovic back on top of ATP charts
Novak Djokovic returns to the No. 1 spot for the first time since October as he unseats Rafael Nadal
'Small details' – Thiem says Big Three breakthrough not far away
Despite falling short of a Grand Slam for the third time, Dominic Thiem believes he and other young guns can break the title monopoly between tennis' Big Three
'I came from nothing' – Djokovic says tough childhood made him a fighter
Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic bares he had to queue for milk and bread in war-torn Serbia when he was young
Dozens of koalas dead after logging at Australian plantation
Friends of the Earth say the incident was uncovered when local residents witnessed dead koalas being bulldozed into piles in recent days
Djokovic beats Thiem in five-set thriller to win eighth Australian Open
Novak Djokovic comes from behind for his 17th Grand Slam title to move closer to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the all-time list
Former taxi driver becomes Grand Slam-winning coach
Alex Kenin, father of Australian Open titlist Sofia, joins a long list of tennis dads who have produced champions
China coronavirus outbreak: How governments have reacted
From border closures to flight bans, here are some of the steps states have taken to limit the spread of the virus
Drunk driver slams into group of kids, kills 4 in Australia
The 29-year-old driver is charged with manslaughter and high-range drunk driving following the incident in the Oatlands suburb of western Sydney
Can he topple 'king' Novak? Thiem looks for chinks in Djokovic's armor
Dominic Thiem plays down his chances, but the 26-year-old Austrian has the weapons to trouble Novak Djokovic
Kenin stuns Muguruza to win Australian Open women's title
American Sofia Kenin becomes the youngest player to rule the Australian Open in 12 years
