The Australian Crime Commission has won access to the medical records of eight Indigenous female patients under the age of 16 despite concerns by a health service that it breaches confidentiality.
As part of the federal intervention in the Northern Territory, the Crime Commission was seeking access to the detailed health records of eight underage girls, [...]

A bungee jumping, ostrich-riding British charity worker was named the winner Wednesday of what’s been dubbed the “Best Job in the World” — a six-month contract to serve as caretaker of a tropical Australian island.
Ben Southall, 34, of Petersfield, beat out nearly 35,000 applicants from around the world for the dream assignment to swim, explore [...]

Olympic champion Elena Dementieva improved her 2009 winning streak to 12 matches on Thursday, beating Iveta Benesova 6-4, 6-1 to reach the third round of the Australian Open.
Dementieva, who won titles at Auckland and Sydney before the season’s first major, struggled with her serve early but recovered to finish the match in 72 minutes.
The 27-year-old [...]

Scientists said Sunday they had uncovered new marine animals in their search of previously unexplored Australian waters, along with a bizarre carnivorous sea squirt and ocean-dwelling spiders.
A joint US-Australian team spent a month in deep waters off the coast of the southern island of Tasmania to “search for life deeper than any previous voyage in [...]

Australian actor Hugh Jackman was named on Friday as host of February’s Oscars in a departure from the tradition of picking U.S. comedians on Hollywood’s most prestigious night.
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, which hands out the world’s top film honors, said Jackman, 40, star of the romantic epic “Australia,” will host the [...]