Hundreds of Australians are now back on home soil after being airlifted out of earthquake-stricken Vanuatu on Royal Australian Air Force flights.

Out-of-control bushfires are raging in different corners of the nation, confirming grim forecasts of a difficult emergency season ahead.

Australian rescue and medical teams have reached Vanuatu, authorities said, where at least 14 people including one French and two Chinese nationals were killed and hundreds were injured in a 7.3 magnitude earthquake two days ago.

After a powerful magnitude-7.3 earthquake struck near Vanuatu’s capital earlier this week, 148 Australian citizens have been assisted back home.

Australia’s government on Wednesday trimmed its likely budget deficit for the current fiscal year, but flagged bigger shortfalls ahead due to “unavoidable spending” on health, cost-of-living relief and veterans care.

A high and drunk driver who sped through three red lights and killed a 16-year-old girl has been labelled “a grave danger to anyone” as he was jailed.

Two people have been rescued from floodwaters after a rain-hit state was again struck by storms ahead of the festive season.

The remaining five members of the “Bali Nine” Australian drug ring have returned from Indonesia after diplomatic efforts between the countries this month to strike a repatriation deal, the two governments said.

Major surgeries will be halted at a major hospital as hundreds of nurses and midwives strike in their ongoing fight for better staffing levels amid wage negotiations.

A man has died after suffering a severe chest injury when two yachts collided on Sydney Harbour.

Australian Police have seized 2.3 tonnes of cocaine from a broken-down boat off the coast of Queensland, authorities said on Monday.

Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that criticism by Elon Musk of Australia’s social media ban on children under 16 was the X owner pushing an agenda for the social platform while indicating he was open to talking to the billionaire about the ban, legislated this week.