DISCOVER AUSTRALIA "Your guide starts here"

Australia Victoria Falls Creek

Melbourne wakes to coldest May morning in three years
Nathan Mawby l June 2012 l Herald Sun

MELBOURNE shivered its way through the coldest May morning in three years today - and tomorrow will be colder.

The Bureau of Meteorology recorded temperatures as low as -1C in some Melbourne suburbs.

The dose of early winter weather saw the mercury in the city fall to 3.5C at 5.41am. It isn't expected to rise past 15C for the rest of the day.

At Viewbank in Melbourne's north the temperature fell to -0.3C.

At 6am, the coldest suburbs were Viewbank, Essendon and Scoresby at -.03C, 1C and 1C respectively.

Around Victoria the temperature dropped below 0C, with Coldstream shivering through a frosty -1C Charlton dropped just below 0C at 4.30am, while Stawell hit -0.5C at 5am.​

Sydney Central Station

Western Sydney set for light rail link

May 16, 2012 - 9:04AM - Sydney Morning Herald

Suburbs in western Sydney could be connected by a light rail system after Parramatta Council announced a $1 million study to kick-start the project. The proposed light rail line would improve access to Westmead, Parramatta city centre, Macquarie Park and have links to the University of Western Sydney and Macquarie University. A feasibility study will kick-off next month and the council expects to select a successful tender for the project in July. Parramatta Lord Mayor Lorraine Wearne said light rail in Western Sydney would go a long way towards relieving congestion.

It would also integrate with existing transport infrastructure such as heavy rail. "There's always plenty of talk about transport matters, whether it's the congestion on Parramatta or Victoria roads or lack of efficiency and service on our public transport networks," Cr Wearne said. "Unfortunately there's not enough action." The Western Sydney Light Rail Network is planned to be segregated from the existing road and train networks, with virtually no sharing of road space.

The council is calling on state and federal governments to get behind the project it says will support the growth of western Sydney. Cr Wearne said the Western Sydney Light Rail proposal had already received widespread support from state and federal government authorities, the University of Western Sydney, neighbouring councils and state and federal MPs. The council would also like to see the light rail improve connections to Castle Hill, Bankstown, Liverpool, Blacktown and Sydney Olympic Park.
​

Brisbanites offer their brilliant ideas as part of 'Make My City Work' campaign

Christopher Herde l The Courier-Mail

BRISBANITES have grabbed the chance to tell the world of their "bright ideas" for the city.

The Property Council officially launched its Make My City Work campaign in King George Square with the goal to gather 1000 ideas to create a "brilliant Brisbane".

Queensland executive director Kathy MacDermott said Brisbane residents have been asked for their brightest ideas for the city.

And they were not shy in talking about their ideas big small and inbetween.

Ms MacDermott said the campaign would eventually be rolled out to include the Gold and Sunshine coasts as well as Townsville.​

Resources investment hits record $261b

by Perthnow

Prime Minister Julia Gillard and former Woodside chief executive Don Voelte during a visit to the Pluto LNG project in Karratha, which underpinned Australia's resources investment record. INVESTMENT in the resources sector has hit a new record and will boost Australia's future supply of key commodities as the nation's mining boom continues, a new government report shows.

Committed investment rose to $260.8 billion in the six months to the end of April, up 12 per cent from the prior half year, the Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE) found. The total accounts for 98 projects at the advanced stage - including 39 minerals projects, 38 energy projects, 19 infrastructure projects and two mineral-processing projects. Oil and gas, iron ore, and coal and related infrastructure accounted for about 95 per cent of committed capital expenditure. "The continued growth in committed capital expenditure will result in significant increases in Australia's supply capacity of LNG, iron ore and coal,'' said BREE executive Quentin Grafton today.

Treasurer Wayne Swan said Australia's pipeline of investment in the resources sector continued to go from strength to strength. "This is a resounding vote of confidence in the future of our economy and our region and Australia's status as an excellent place to invest,'' he said in a statement. Of the $260.8 billion, more than 60 per cent was linked to just seven LNG projects. When they are complete and operating at full capacity - which is expected in the second half of this decade - Australia will be one of the world's leading LNG exporters.

``The majority of the investment to expand the world's LNG supply capacity is taking place in Australia because of our relatively large gas reserves and proximity to the Asian markets,'' Prof Grafton said in a statement. Meanwhile, in the six months to April, 25 resources projects were $23.6 billion were completed. The outcome was underpinned by the completion of the Pluto LNG project near Karratha at a capital cost of almost $15 billion, along with the $3.4 billion expansion to the Worsley Alumina refinery, also in WA.​

Melbourne soaked in wettest and coldest May day in 17 years
by The Herald Sun

MELBOURNE has had its wettest May day since 1995 - and the downpour isn't even over. Commuters are facing a long cold journey home as Melbourne shivers through its coldest day since 2000. VicRoads has advised traffic is crawling along Footscray and Smithfield Roads outbound down to half their capacity as water floods over the road. Other road closures are in effect in the state's southeast and around Phillip Island and Flinders - but all roads are suffering from extremely wet conditions.

And with the mercury yet to pass eleven degrees today people commuting home by train will need to rug up. Bizarrely, temperatures are set to rise across the evening as a low pressure cell over Melbourne clears and brings in slightly warmer temperatures that could see the mercury spike to 13 degrees later this evening, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. “It looks like at this stage it’s the coldest since the year 2000, but we’re expecting it may warm a couple of degrees as we head into the evening,” said Bureau duty forecaster Michael Efron. And while only a few sprinkles of rain are still expected in Melbourne’s west for the rest of the day, the central and eastern parts of Melbourne can expect more solid falls across the evening.

Already the deluge has seen a little over 30mm fall on the CBD for the day, up to 38mm in Clayton South and up to 35mm in Altona. Meanwhile. high winds have assailed Melbourne’s bayside suburbs, with Frankston enduring gale-force gusts up to 83km/h just after 4pm and blasts up to 72km/h hitting Melbourne Airport. The last of the wet weather is expected to fade at about midnight. Mr Efron also noted that sub-zero temperatures and rain conditions over Victoria’s alps had the potential to put some good snow falls on our mountains ahead of the ski-season. Weather bureau forecaster Scott Williams said the city received its heaviest downpour between 2pm and 3pm and the rain would being to ease as the low-pressure system drifted east.

“In the city, from about 5pm to 6pm the rain will be easing, it will be light to moderate, rather than the torrential rain that we’ve had," he said. “But it could be raining until 7pm or 8pm in the Dandenong Ranges." Mr Williams said 27mm had fallen in Melbourne so far, with the original 50mm forecast unlikely to be fulfilled. Geelong has received 32.4mm since 9am. Essendon Airport is close behind with 32.2mm, followed by Avalon at 31.2mm. “The key thing now is the wind. If there’s going to be any damage in Melbourne its likely to be in the next few hours. Now, having had a lot rain we’re facing a lot of risk of damage from the wind, especially around the eastern bayside. It's very exposed south-westerly winds,” he said.

SES spokeswoman Lachlan Quick said volunteers had received more than 160 calls for help, with minor flooding and property damage widespread throughout Melbourne and the Geelong region. “We’ve had quite a few trees down, which have become traffic hazards. We expect there to be a spike in call-outs once people start to get home,” Mr Quick said. Commuters could face a longer-than-usual trip home tonight, with Yarra Trams spokesman Jake Hatton warning customers to brace for heavy delays. “In extreme weather conditions like this, commuters need to be aware of extra time being added to their journeys,” he said. Metro trains spokesman Daniel Hoare said trains were currently unaffected by the extreme weather. However, the subway walkway at Oakleigh Station was flooded.​

Perth's coldest May morning in almost a century
by ABC News

Did you have trouble getting out of bed this morning? You could be forgiven as the mercury dropped under 2 degrees celsius in Perth metro overnight. Perth recorded its coldest May morning for 98 years with parts of the metro greeted with frost as the temperature dropped to 1.3 degrees just before 7am this morning. That equals the record low set on May 11, 1914. Spare a thought for those waking up in Jandakot where the temperature dipped below freezing with the Bureau of Meteorology recording -0.6 degrees. The duty forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology, Mark Paul, says the cold mornings are being caused by a high pressure system to the south of the state. Keep rugged up because the Bureau says the chilly mornings are set to continue through the weekend.​

Thrills and chills
by Sydney Morning Herald

Baby, it’s cold outside - but the city's entertainment is starting to heat up. Follow our guide to enjoy the best of it from June to August.

Music

If you thought winter was going to stop the finest artists on the planet from coming to Sydney, you'd be sorely mistaken. Not only is the world's biggest pop star set to take over the country this season (Lady Gaga, June 20-24, 7.30pm, Allphones Arena, Olympic Park, allphonesarena.com.au, 8765 4321, from $79), one of the greatest contemporary rock musicians will also be playing a rare Sydney show (Jack White, July 26, 7.30pm, Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park, playbillvenues.com, 9921 5333, sold out).

The erstwhile White Stripes frontman is in town for Splendour in the Grass (July 27-29, Belongil Fields, Byron Bay, splendourinthegrass.com, sold out) and is one of a handful of thrilling artists who have so far announced sideshows. The pick of the others includes two smouldering but sonically different American acts making their Australian debuts.

After her no-show in February - and underwhelming appearance on US TV show Saturday Night Live - many are looking forward to seeing if Lana Del Rey lives up to her phenomenal hype (July 26 and 27, 8pm, Enmore Theatre, enmoretheatre.com.au, sold out). Meanwhile, those of us who have been waiting a quarter of a century to see alt-rockers the Afghan Whigs finally get our wish (July 26, Factory Theatre, Marrickville, factorytheatre.com.au, 9550 3666, $60.50).

Of course, the winter festival season starts long before Splendour, with Vivid Live (today-June 3, Sydney Opera House, sydneyoperahouse.com, 9250 7777, from $29), during which breathtaking artists such as funk diva Janelle Monae (Saturday and Sunday, 9pm, from $59) and Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman Karen O will perform special shows (the latter's being Stop the Virgens, Wednesday-June 3, 8.30pm, from $59).

After that there are two big events on the Queen's birthday long weekend, showing off the funkier side of Australian music. James Morrison and the Cat Empire's Harry James Angus star at Darling Harbour's Jazz & Blues Festival (June 9-11, darlingharbour.com, free), while some of the domestic hip-hop scene's most exciting artists, including Horrorshow and Thundamentals, join forces at Come Together (June 9, Luna Park Big Top, cometogether.com.au, sold out). Headliner 360 has his own show mere weeks later (June 29, 8pm, Metro Theatre, metrotheatre.com.au, sold out).

June is a big month for Australian alternative rock, too, with three of our fastest-rising acts playing their biggest gigs yet: the ever-compelling the Jezabels (June 9, 7pm, Hordern Pavilion, $50), the relentless Matt Corby (June 12-14, 8pm, Metro Theatre, sold out) and, though you might question her presence in such emphatically established company, Lanie Lane (June 2, 8pm, Metro Theatre, $22) - but know that that's Lane's second Metro show, the first, the night before, having long since sold out.

If the Aussies are giving Gaga some fierce (but always friendly) competition as to who owns June, some of our friends across the ditch are staking a strong claim to July. With Jemaine Clement featuring as the bad guy in Men in Black 3 and Bret McKenzie brandishing an Oscar for one of his songs in The Muppets, you can fairly call New Zealand's ingenious comedy-folk duo Flight of the Conchords ''all-conquering heroes'' (July 5 at Opera House, sold out; July 6, Sydney Entertainment Centre, Haymarket, www.sydentcent.com.au, 1300 883 622, from $50).

It'll also be fun to see their fellow Kiwi Pip Brown play Anxiety, the follow-up to her ARIA Award-winning eponymous debut as Ladyhawke (July 18, 8pm, Metro Theatre, from $43.90). Finally, just as any good playlist winds down after a big opening and a strong middle, August brings winter to an attractive close with a couple of fine singer-songwriters. Brit success story Ed Sheeran (August 1, 8pm, Enmore Theatre, sold out) caps off a remarkable year or so playing to a full house before Kate Miller-Heidke (August 23, 8pm, Metro Theatre, $49.95) points us prettily towards the joys of spring.
George Palathingal

Film

People who think winter is a time to stay in and rug up in front of the TV are misguided. It's summer for the world's largest moviegoing audience (the US), which means, in an age when the films that keep Hollywood going are released almost simultaneously across the globe, your cinema will be overflowing with blockbustery goodness.

You can safely bet that if any flick is going to challenge The Avengers for most box-office records obliterated this year, it'll be The Dark Knight Rises (July 19). The third in Christopher Nolan's flawless reinvention of the Batman legend pits Christian Bale's Caped Crusader against his toughest adversary yet: the terrorist Bane (Tom Hardy), who broke Batman's back in the Knightfall comic-book series.

The other unmissable superhero film of the season is The Amazing Spider-Man (July 4). It feels soon for a reboot of the franchise (even if Tobey Maguire's third and final outing in 2007 was terrible) but the trailers suggest a wittier, thoroughly refreshed take on the web slinger - and that the film is going to make exceptional use of 3D technology.

You don't need a mask and a garish costume - or even characters from the original - to have a successful franchise, though, which is where The Bourne Legacy (August 16) and Prometheus (June 7 - like The Dark Knight Rises worth seeing on the Imax screen) - come in. The former has Jeremy Renner as a kind of successor to Matt Damon's uber-spy Jason Bourne, while director genius Ridley Scott revisits the universe of his sci-fi classic Alien for the latter (although he has denied that Prometheus is a prequel).

Over in the world of animation, the fourth instalment in the Ice Age series, Ice Age: Continental Drift (June 28), cashes in on 21st-century cinema's obsession with pirates, when the prehistoric posse gets lost on the ocean. Those reliable folk at Pixar take a chance on an uncommon type of celluloid hero - a heroine - with some of Scotland's finest actors (Billy Connolly, Robbie Coltrane and Kelly Macdonald in the lead role of Princess Merida) lending their brogues to new-school fairytale Brave (June 21).

For something completely different - for its star, let alone the viewer - Tom Cruise sings Bon Jovi and Def Leppard when playing a hair-metal divo alongside Russell Brand and Catherine Zeta-Jones in an adaptation of hit stage musical Rock of Ages (June 14), which could be hilarious in ways other than intended. Robert Pattinson endured such an experience when he left his Twilight comfort zone for the risible Little Ashes; he'll be hoping his collaboration with the masterful filmmaker David Cronenberg, the thriller Cosmopolis (August 30), fares better. Not that there won't be intentional laughs this season. The cream of the comedy crop looks like being Ted (July 12), the big-screen directorial debut of Seth MacFarlane, who created TV's much-loved Family Guy. It's about a man (played by Mark Wahlberg) who has a teddy bear that comes to life. The irreverent MacFarlane also voices the toy, so expect something closer in tone to Wilfred than Play School.
If you pine for something more highbrow, there are three promising film festivals to cater for your needs. There's a smorgasbord of world cinema, quality docos and art-house fare, amounting to more than 150 features, at the Sydney Film Festival (June 6-17, various venues, 9690 5333, sff.org.au).
Over at the Spanish Film Festival (July 4-15, Chauvel and Palace Norton Street, spanishfilmfestival.com) see Salma Hayek in As Luck Would Have It while keeping your eyes peeled for the new Almodovar.

Stage

Winter is chock-a-block with theatre, comedy and dance, starting with Belvoir's production of Matthew Whittet's exquisitely personal play about growing up, love and loss and fathers and sons, Old Man (June 7-July 1, various times, Belvoir St Theatre Downstairs, Surry Hills, 9699 3444, belvoir.com.au, $42/$36/$32/$25). Directed by Anthea Williams, the show features Peter Carroll and Gillian Jones.

In a coup for the Concourse, the English National Ballet will play an exclusive 2012 Australian season in Chatswood (June 8-June 17, various times, Performing Arts Centre, the Concourse, 1300 795 012, ticketek.com.au, $85-$195). The repertoire features George Balanchine's Apollo and Serge Lifar's Suite en blanc, the Black Swan pas de deux from Swan Lake Act III, Kenneth MacMillan's Manon and Hans van Manen's Trois Gnossiennes.

Comedy duo Drew Fairley and Kate Smith return with another furious whirl of snappy dialogue, modern farce and pop-culture references in The Unspeakable Itch, with songs by Phil Scott (June 13-July 8, various times, Darlinghurst Theatre, Potts Point, 8356 9987, darlinghursttheatre.com, $38/$33/$28).
''In theatre … the writer is lying. The actors are lying. The audience is lying, too. The whole effect is one monumental idiotic lie.'' So says Bruscon, the megalomaniacal protagonist in Austrian novelist and playwright Thomas Bernhard's The Histrionic (Der Theatermacher). Translated by Tom Wright, this Malthouse Theatre and Sydney Theatre Company production was called ''appallingly funny'' by The Age. It features Bille Brown as Bruscon, with Barry Otto, Josh Price and Jennifer Vuletic (June 15-July 28, various times, Wharf 1, Sydney Theatre, Walsh Bay, 9250 1777, sydneytheatre.com.au, $79/$40).
Arthur Miller's great classic Death of a Salesman is reworked by director Simon Stone and features Genevieve Lemon and Colin Friels, who returns to the Belvoir boards after 30 years (June 23-August 19, various times, Belvoir St Theatre, Surry Hills, 9699 3444, belvoir.com.au, $62/$52/$42/$29).

Lenny Henry's ode to music's role in his life, Cradle to Rave, traverses his devotion to Elvis, first love, learning the piano at 40 and frustrated musical ambitions (June 28 and 29, 8pm, State Theatre, city, 1300 139 588, ticketmaster.com.au, $109/$89/$84/$79). Agatha Christie's classic murder mystery The Mousetrap, which holds the title of the world's longest-running show in its current season on London's West End, has an all-Australian production (June 30-July 27, various times, Sydney Theatre, Walsh Bay, 9250 1999, sydneytheatre.org.au, $100/$85).

Australian living treasure Dame Edna Everage unveils her farewell stage tour Eat, Pray, Laugh! The Dame, and cohorts Sandy Stone, Sir Les Patterson and Barry Humphries, are not leaving showbiz - just dropping the touring life (July 5-July 14, various times, Capitol Theatre, city, 13 61 00, ticketmaster.com.au, $199/$159/$99).

Face to Face, Ingmar Bergman's extraordinary film about the psychological maelstrom of one woman, has been adapted for the stage by Andrew Upton and Simon Stone. Kerry Fox plays the lead role, Jenny, alongside John Gaden and Wendy Hughes (August 7-September 8, various times, Sydney Theatre, Walsh Bay, 9250 1777, sydneytheatre.com.au, $130-$45).

Australia's annual international festival of dance, Spring Dance, is this year curated by Rafael Bonachela, the artistic director of Sydney Dance Company (August 20- September 2, various times, Opera House, Circular Quay, 9250 7777, sydneyoperahouse.com). And the Pucci-clad, acid-tongued trolley dolly Pam Ann, alter ego of comedian Caroline Reid, takes off with Around the World (August 3 and 4, 8pm, State Theatre, city, 13 61 00, ticketmaster.com.au, $60).

Family

As every parent knows, hibernating through winter is no longer an option when you have kids going crazy inside. Thankfully, there are plenty of fabulous activities on offer to distract the tribe. It's not winter without skating shows, and this year there are two big ones - Disney on Ice: Let's Celebrate (July 11-16, 11am and 2.30pm, Allphones Arena, Olympic Park, 13 28 49, ticketek.com.au, $24.50-$69.50) and Nutcracker on Ice (June 6-10, 1pm and 7.30pm, Capitol Theatre, Campbell Street, Haymarket, 13 61 00, ticketmaster.com.au, $69-151).

If you prefer to do the skating, visit the Bondi Winter Magic outdoor rink (June 29 to July 15, noon-10pm, 8362 3408, bondiwintermagic.org.au).
Junior builders should get to the Sydney Brick Show (June 2-3, 10am-5pm, Powerhouse Museum, Harris Street, Ultimo, 9217 0111, powerhousemuseum.com, $12 adult, $6 child, $30 family), which showcases fabulous Lego creations by Australia's best builders.

Meanwhile, aspiring little adventurers will love Dora the Explorer Live! (July 4, 10.30am and 1pm, Concourse Theatre, Victoria Avenue, Chatswood; July 6-7, Theatre Royal, King Street, city, 13 28 49, ticketek.com.au, $23-49).
For something truly out of this world, the winter holiday program at the Sydney Observatory (July 2-13, Observatory Hill, The Rocks, 9921 3485, sydneyobservatory.com.au, various prices - see event schedule) features telescope and pizza nights, simulated archaeological digs and 3D space films.
But if you truly want to blow the kids' minds, take them to the Toy and Game Expo (June 9-11, Sydney Showground, Olympic Park, 6287 4567, toyandgameexpo.com.au, $15 adult, $10 child).

Art

There's no bigger art event in winter than All Our Relations: The 18th Biennale of Sydney (June 27-September 16, 8484 8700, bos18.com). Featuring the work of more than a hundred international and Australian artists, BOS18 is spread across venues including the Art Gallery of NSW, Carriageworks, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Pier 2/3 and Cockatoo Island. What better way to spend a winter afternoon? While the behemoth of the BOS rolls on, there's plenty else to see. Australian Symbolism (until July 29, daily, 10am-5pm, Art Gallery of NSW, Art Gallery Road, The Domain, 1800 679 278) is the strange tale of 19th-century Australian artists experimenting with mystical European visions in a local setting.

Marc de Jong's latest show tries to make sense of modern landscapes of shopping malls and hardware barns bigger than castles (July 10-August 4, Sullivan+Strumpf, 799 Elizabeth Street, Zetland, 9698 4696).
Meanwhile, Chris Langlois's landscapes have always had an old-world calm and his latest show demonstrates the artist's consummate skills with paint and classical composition (July 24-August 18, Rex Irwin Art Dealer, 38 Queen Street, Woollahra, 9363 3212).

​

Australia to host world's largest scientific project, The Square Kilometre Array

by The Australian

AUSTRALIA will share with South Africa the rights to host the world's largest radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Array, after a meeting of the SKA organisation's members in the Dutch city of Schiphol last night. The instrument - which consists of 3000 15m-wide dish antennas, with half to be built in each country -will be 50 times more sensitive than today's most powerful radio telescopes. Australia has spent about $400 million in state and federal funds to win the right to build the $2 billion SKA at Mileura Station, about 100km west of Meekathara in Western Australia, at the site of the Murchison Radio-Astronomy Observatory.

New Zealand will host a smaller array of antennas. By connecting the antennas, the result will be a powerful radio telescope a square kilometre in size. This will enable scientists to study cosmic phenomena such as dark energy, magnetic fields and extraterrestrial signals with greater precision than ever before, and will hopefully shed light on fundamental questions about the universe, including how it began, why it is expanding and whether it contains life beyond our planet. "We have decided on a dual-site approach," SKA board chairman John Womersley said of the decision to split the rights for the $2bn telescope.


Leading politicians from Australia and New Zealand welcomed the news, which they said would keep both countries at the forefront of global radio astronomy. "This is an outstanding result for the Australia-New Zealand bid after many years of preparation and an intensive international process," said Chris Evans, Australia's Science and Research Minister. "Importantly, it will give us the opportunity to showcase to the world our ability to successfully deliver scientific projects at this scale." The SKA Organisation has agreed that phase one of the project should be split between South Africa and Australia-New Zealand, with phase two to be dependent on satisfactory performance in the first phase.

Construction of the internationally funded telescope is due to begin in 2016, with full operation set for 2020. In phase one, additional dishes will be added to the CSIRO Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) in Western Australia, bringing the total antennas to 100. CSIRO SKA director Brian Boyle, speaking from Schiphol last night, said he was pleased to have confirmation the project would go ahead with Australia. "I am delighted the competition is over and we will begin a global collaboration. It's a very good outcome," he said. "It builds on infrastructure in both Australia and New Zealand and South Africa. It will build on Australia's current project and this will be incorporated into the SKA."​

QANTAS world's safest and oldest airline, fatality free since 1920

Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an acronym for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, New South Wales, with its main hub at Sydney Airport. It is Australia's largest airline, the oldest continuously operated airline in the world and the second oldest in the world overall. Qantas still retains a 65 percent share of the Australian domestic market and carries 18.7% of all passengers travelling in and out of Australia.

Qantas has operated a number of passenger airline subsidiaries since inception including:

• Australia Asia Airlines—operated from 1990 to 1996 to allow Qantas to serve the Taiwanese market
• Impulse Airlines—an established airline bought by Qantas in 2001, ceased operations the same year and its assets used to establish Jetstar Airways
• Australian Airlines—an international budget airline operated from 2001 to 2006[17]
• QantasLink—Qantas' regional airline brand encompassing the operations of two Qantas subsidiary airlines and a contract carrier
• Jetstar Airways—currently operating as Qantas' low-cost carrier
• Network Aviation—an established air charter carrier in Western Australia bought by Qantas in 2011; fulfills fly-in fly-out contracts with mining companies

Qantas also operates a freight service under the name Qantas Freight. Qantas operates a total of 149 aircraft with 65 ordered mainly being the 787, A380, 737-800 and has a well maintained fleet.

Qantas is the world’s safest airline, being the oldest in the world it has not had one fatality since operations began in 1920.​

Virgin Australia

Virgin Australia Airlines, formerly Virgin Blue Airlines - the airline was re-branded in late 2011. It is Australia's second-largest airline as well as the largest by fleet size to utilise the Virgin brand. Now based in Bowen Hills, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, the airline was co-founded by British businessman Sir Richard Branson and former Virgin Blue CEO Brett Godfrey. It was established in 2000 with two aircraft operating on a single route, and suddenly found itself catapulted to the position of Australia's second airline after the collapse of Ansett Australia in September 2001. The airline has grown to directly serve 29 cities in Australia from hubs in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, using a fleet of narrow-body Boeing and Embraer jets and Airbus & Boeing widebody jets.

After several years operating as a low-cost carrier it improved its services to become a so-called (self-described) "new world carrier" – essentially a business model with aspects of the "no frills" approach of low-cost carriers but offering services more in line with full-service airlines – in order to compete more effectively with Qantas in the business travel market. In 2011 it took the strategy further with new uniforms; new catering on board; new widebody aircraft to compete with Qantas on Perth – Sydney services; and the concurrent introduction of business class; together with a new livery and a renaming to Virgin Australia.

​

Jetstar

Jetstar Airways is an Australian low-cost airline headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. It is a subsidiary of Qantas, created in response to the threat posed by low-cost airline Virgin Blue (now known as Virgin Australia). The airline operates an extensive domestic network as well as regional and international services from its main base at Melbourne Airport, using a mixed fleet of Airbus A320 family and Airbus A330 aircraft. Parent company Qantas also has stakes in sister companies Jetstar Asia Airways and Valuair in Singapore, Jetstar Pacific Airlines in Vietnam and new upcoming carriers in Asia Jetstar Japan and Jetstar Hong Kong. Jetstar shares its parent's strong competition with Australia's biggest low-cost carrier Virgin Australia. Both Tiger Airways Singapore and Tiger Airways Australia are also major competitors to Jetstar in the low-cost market.​

Tiger Airways

Tiger Airways Australia Pty Ltd, operating as Tiger Airways Australia, is a low cost airline which commenced services in the Australian domestic airline market on 23 November 2007. It is a subsidiary of Tiger Airways Holdings, aSingapore-based company, which is owned partially by Singapore Airlines. The airline is based in Melbourne, Victoria, with its main base at Melbourne Airport. The airline's secondary base, Adelaide Airport, commenced operations on 1 March 2009. A smaller "virtual base" was opened in Sydney on 29 October 2009. Tiger also opened a third operational base at Melbourne's Avalon Airport, in November 2010. After the 2011 CASA grounding, the airline has shut down its bases at Adelaide and Avalon and initially only operated out of its Melbourne base since returning to the air. On 7 March 2012, Tiger Airways announced that they will reopen a second base at Sydney Airport
​

Australia has unveiled plans for the world's biggest marine park, creating a 1.2 million square mile reserve that will limit fishing and oil and gas exploration in waters surrounding the entire continent. The series of 60 reserves includes the Coral Sea, around the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef in the country's north-east, and will provide enhanced protection of threatened species such as the green turtle, dugong and blue whale. The announcement comes a week before 130 world leaders meet in Rio de Janeiro to discuss sustainable development at one of the biggest conferences in United Nations history.

Australia's environment minister, Tony Burke, said on Thursday he wanted the reserves to set a global benchmark for environmental protection and ensuring food security. The reserves cover about a third of Australia's marine territory – an area as large as India. "This is the biggest step forward the globe has ever seen," he said. "We have an incredible opportunity to turn the tide on protection of the oceans and Australia can lead the world in marine protection. This new network of marine reserves will help ensure that Australia's diverse marine environment, and the life it supports, remain healthy, productive and resilient for future generations."

But the move drew an angry response from commercial and sports fishermen who claimed it would cost jobs and lead to price hikes. It was also severely criticised by environmentalists who said it did not place enough limits on offshore mining and provided the "bare minimum of protection". The Australian Marine Alliance, which represents commercial and recreational fishermen, said the plan was "devastating" and would place a heavy burden on coastal communities.

Another group, the Gulf Commercial Fisherman's Association, said Australia had a plentiful supply of fish and would now have to rely on imported seafood.
"I can't understand it at all and I can't understand the general public wanting to eat imported fish over local fish," said Gary Ward, the group's chairman.
Responding to concerns about the impact on recreational fishing, the prime minister, Julia Gillard, told ABC Radio that "people will still be able to go and take their young son fishing." The Government has flagged a £65 million compensation package for commercial fishermen. The Australian Marine Conservation Society said the reserves were a landmark achievement which would protect atolls in the Coral Sea from bottom trawling, oil and gas exploration and seabed mining.

"It's got a long chain of coral atolls which are very important for the corals themselves and also the fish and shark species that they support," said the group's director, Darren Kindleysides. "There is a gigantic weight of scientific evidence that shows that marine reserves work in terms of protecting wildlife but also in terms of benefits to biodiversity." But the Greens party, which holds the balance of power in the upper house of Parliament, expressed reservations about the plan. "The boundaries the minister has determined have been very strongly determined on oil and gas prospectivity, and clearly determined by lobbying from the oil and gas sector," said an MP, Rachel Siewert.

The Australian Conservation Foundation said the plan exposed marine life in the north west region to continued threats from oil and gas exploration.
The announcement today followed a scathing UN report last month which warned the Great Barrier Reef's heritage listing could be restated as "at risk" unless greater care was taken to protect the area, particularly from the gas and mining boom.​

A pair of curvaceous towers dubbed the "Marilyn Monroe" and an Australian skyscraper that breathes are among those named as best new tall buildings in the world. The Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, a group of architects and structural engineers that monitors tall building projects around the world, said there had been a "renaissance" in skyscraper development. The 28-storey elliptical tower at 1 Bligh St in Sydney was named Best Tall Building Asia and Australasia for offering tenants a breath of nature amid boxy skyscrapers with its ventilated skylit atrium, a ventilated glass facade, and a green roof.​

An earthquake hit Victoria last night with millions feeling it when it struck just before 9pm (AEST), lasting up to 20 seconds in some areas. Reports started coming in from residents in suburban Melbourne, and then spread to the northeast and southeast of the state. Windows were rattled, floors rocked and roofs shaken as the quake struck at 8.53pm. The Geoscience Australia website was in meltdown as people flocked online to find out what occurred and Twitter went wild. So wild, in fact, that Tweeps reacted in that most Australian of ways - by making jokes on the #melbquake. How did the earthquake affect comedian Chris Lilley and actor Steve Bastoni?

A spokeswoman for Geoscience said its recordings showed it was a magnitude 5.3 earthquake, which was more accurate than international seismologist estimates. Geoscience identified the epicentre 16km southwest of Moe, at the Latrobe Valley in Victoria’s east. “Our preliminary information is that it’s a 5.3,” she said. The US Geological Survey reported the earthquake was almost 10km deep with an epicentre between Trafalgar and Moe in the southeast. The USGS registered it as a 5.2 quake, but Geoscience Australia clocked it at 5.3, down from an initial 5.5 reading. The SES said it had more than 30 calls for help. Readers swamped the Herald Sun with calls reporting significant tremors from everyone from the suburbs all the way across the state to country Victoria.

The quake was felt from Kilmore, Gippsland, Drouin, Rowville and inner-Melbourne. Reports came in from all over the city - from the Dandenongs in the east, Bentleigh in the southeast, Pascoe Vale in the west and through the inner city. Seismologist recorded the quake – almost 10km deep - at 8.53pm. The earthquake spread itself statewide, reaching as far as 10km across southwest of Moe in the state's south-southeast, 18km west of Morwell, 30km off Traralgon and 78km southwest of Sale. The SES says there were no major reports of damage or injuries.​

We're paying more in rent, becoming more multicultural, less religious, and moving to West Australia and Queensland, the latest census reveals. The resources boom has changed the face of Australia with Queensland and Western Australia experiencing a population boom, the latest census reveals. The 2011 census reveals Western Australia and Queensland are leading the way in the population increase, especially in small rural communities.

Nine out of 10 of the biggest increases in local government areas were in rural Western Australia, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday. While people's incomes have increased in Australia, the average rent has jumped 49.2 per cent - but in WA it's even higher at 76.5 per cent. In terms of Australia's cultural makeup, there have been huge increases in those coming from India, China and the Philippines, and a decline in post-war countries such as Italy. "This is fundamentally shifting the cultural mix of Australia,'' the 2011 census executive director Andrew Henderson said. Females just outnumbered males - 10,873,704 to 10,634,013 - and the median age was 37. In total 21,727,158 people were counted in Australia on census night, including 219,440 overseas visitors.

Of the states and territories, Western Australia experienced the biggest proportionate increase in its population at 14.3 per cent, to 2,239,169, while Tasmania's was the lowest at four per cent, to 495,352. At local government area level, East Pilbara in WA had the largest proportionate growth with its population jumping by 82.6 per cent to 11,950 in 2011. Brisbane had the biggest jump in the number of people among local government areas, with its population growing by 85,712 or nine per cent to 1,041,842. The state with the biggest increase in the number of people was Queensland, with 428,209 or 11 per cent more to 4,332,739 in 2011.

The 2011 census counted same-sex married couples for the first time, rather than the previous classification as a de facto partner. Yet the vast majority of same-sex couples - 96 per cent - still described their relationship as de facto. There were 1,338 same-sex couples who identified themselves as married, compared to 32,377 same-sex de facto couples. Meanwhile, the average rent in Australia has risen to $285 a week, from $191 in 2006, while the median monthly household mortgage repayment jumped to $1800 from $1300. The median weekly household income jumped to $1234 in 2011, up from $1027 in 2006. About one in four Australians were born overseas and 43.1 per cent of people had at least one overseas-born parent.


While the majority of Australia's migration came from Europe, Mr Henderson said there were increasingly more people born in Asia and other parts of the world now calling Australia home. The leading birthplace for those who arrived since 2006 was India (13.1 per cent), closely followed by the United Kingdom (12.1 per cent). The census showed more Australians are identifying themselves as having no religious affiliation, with that number rising to 22.3 per cent from 18.7 per cent of the population in 2006. Christianity remained the most commonly reported religion in Australia with 61.1 per cent of the population, down slightly from 63.9 per cent in 2006. More same-sex couples claiming to be married

Data released today from last year’s Census reveals that 1338 same-sex couples claim to be formally married, with almost equal numbers of gays and lesbians tying the knot. Another 32,377 same-sex couples live in de facto relationships but have been prevented from marrying due to the government’s controversial decision to continue its ban. NSW is home to almost 13,000 of those same-sex couples, with Victoria and Queensland the next most prevalent states. The total number of people who have never been married rose steeply compared to the previous Census in 2006 - up 13 per cent to 5.93m. The proportion of people married in NSW fell from 50.1 per cent in 2006 to 49.4 per cent last year, while those who were divorced or separated increased from 11 per cent to 11.3 per cent.​

The The Big Apple is the world's favorite gay destination vacation, according to a study, which asked gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender travelers from all over the world where they would most like to visit in the next three years. New York City was the big winner. Sydney placed second, Rio de Janiero third, Paris fourth and San Francisco fifth. Out Now Consulting noted that the huge desire for South Americans to see Paris helped it to beat the British capital to become Europe's top LGBT destination.

1. New York
2. Sydney
3. Rio de Janeiro
4. Paris
5. San Francisco
6. London
7. Buenos Aires
8. Tokyo
9. Hong Kong
10. Melbourne
​

Brisbane will host the G20 summit of world leaders in 2014, multiple Australian government sources have confirmed. Prime Minister Julia Gillard was preparing to make the announcement Wednesday, but a government source said word had leaked out late Tuesday due to the number of people involved in negotiations. Gillard and most of her cabinet were in Redbank Plains, near Brisbane, on Tuesday night for a community forum but refused to comment on the G20. None of the ministers or senior staff would speak on the record when asked about the G20 announcement, and Ms Gillard and many of her cabinet left straight after the forum without stopping to talk to community members or the media.

The G20, which takes in the world’s 20 major economies including the European Union, has previously announced the 2014 summit would be in Australia. Numerous high-profile world leaders would descend on Queensland, including the President of the United States and Prime Minister of the United Kingdon, if the state hosts the G20 event and the summit would be expected to focus on economic issues. Current US President Barack Obama will face an election in November against Republican challenger Mitt Romney. Members of the G20 are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.​