The Labour Party is proposing a new rule that would give electorates the ability to prevent men from contesting a seat for the party. New Zealand Labor Leader David Shearer is now disapproving of his party’s idea of a “man ban”, for male contenders looking for a seat in office. Shearer commented on the ordeal today, saying that he did have “absolutely support” for the idea of more females... 

Tensions between Kim Dotcom and Prime Minister John Key were raised as the pair sparred at a parliamentary committee hearing on the government’s proposed surveillance law, with Dotcom voicing his opposition to the controversial legislation. The New Zealand government has proposed a change in the law to allow the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCJB) to provide support to the New Zealand... 

According to some scientists, the Atlantic Ocean is rapidly “aging” and may soon disappear from the face of the Earth. A team of researchers from Australia found a quickly forming subduction zone on the ocean floor. Usually these zones are a sign of “aging.” Scientists do not rule out that their formation is to be blamed on the Mediterranean Sea that has been “dying”... 

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has been defeated by former Premier Kevin Rudd in a Labor Party leadership vote. Former Prime Minister Rudd won the vote of the Labor caucus 57 to 45, reports on Wednesday said. The prime minister is expected to resign on Thursday, before Rudd is sworn in. Gillard said a leadership vote for the Labor Party would be held... 

The Australian government has severed all ties with Julian Assange, stating that the Wikileaks co-founder is not their concern, while the US military prosecutors denounced him as a conspirator across the duration of Manning’s court martial. Assange’s situation “doesn’t affect Australian interests,” Australia’s Foreign Minister Robert Carr told a US Senate budget estimates committee,... 

Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard meets members of the Australian Army 1st Mentoring Task Force during her visit to Multinational Base Tarin Kowt in southern Afghanistan October 2, 2010. The Australian armed forces are “illegally” holding several Afghan nationals at a secret prison in the troubled southern Oruzgan Province. Afghan officials say the prison is located at the... 

Julian Assange’s newly formed Australian WikiLeaks Party (WLP) announced that if elected, it will immediately introduce a national shield law to protect a reporter’s right not to reveal a source, as current state-based shield laws are “inadequate.” “Only a uniform shield law covering the whole Commonwealth is acceptable,” WLP spokespersons Cassie Findlay and Sam Castro said. “Government... 

In the wake of an Australian investigation into cosmetics’ brands and inaccurate information provided to consumers, Humane Society International urges companies to join forces with its global campaign Be Cruelty-Free and end animal testing. An investigation by Australian consumer watchdog group Choice appears to show representatives of major cosmetics brands such as Lancome, Dior, Clarins and... 

An Argentinian ghost town is re-emerging as a tourist destination after spending 25 years underwater. Epecuen’s revival as a visitor attraction is fitting – the scenic lakeside town was built as a tourist village in the 1920s. Epecuen was once a bustling lakeside resort in the farmlands southwest of Buenos Aires. Filled with saltwater baths and spas, the area attracted around 20,000 tourists... 

Australia says it would continue to send back illegal Sri Lankan asylum seekers if their claims are not covered by the refugee convention. “When people arrive in Australia unauthorised, any claims they make for their reasons to travel to Australia are assessed by the Department of Immigration. If these claims are not covered by the refugee convention, they will be returned to their home land wherever... 

Nearly 40 per cent of immigrants from China gaining New Zealand permanent residence last year were aged 50 or over. The number of elderly Chinese migrants arriving in the country is nearly four times the 10.7 per cent average of permanent residents in the age group from all other countries. At the same time, those leaving the country are much younger. Sociologist Paul Spoonley said a main purpose... 

The boycott, divest and sanction campaign, known as the BDS campaign, is a global civil movement that strongly opposes Israel’s occupation of Palestine. It says it hopes to promote a message of impunity of Israel in its serial breaches of international law and internal humanitarian law. The BDS movement is spreading in Australia with one of the country’s leading academic institutions, the University... 

Julian Assange’s new political party is open for membership, WikiLeaks announced on Twitter on Saturday. The party must enlist 500 dues-paying members to officially register with the Australian Electoral Commission. The WikiLeaks party was created as part of Assange’s bid to become an Australian senator in September 2013 elections in Victoria State. At the moment the party has an initial 10-member... 

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard addresses a press conference in Canberra on March 21, 2013. Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has managed to hold onto her position as the leader of the country’s Labor Party. The 51-year-old Gillard remained the party leader after a vote on Thursday, as MP Kevin Rudd failed to garner enough party support to replace her. “This is a difficult day... 

Flood wreaked havoc on the state of Queensland, Australia, in January 2011. Thousands of people in eastern Australia have been cut off from their homes by floodwaters, following thunderstorms and tornados that wreaked havoc to the region. Flooding, caused by heavy rain and stiff winds, continues in Australia. The State Emergency Service (SES) said Sunday that around 20,000 people had been cut off across...