Here is a look at what is making news around the country today.
Today’s national news includes 15,000 New Zealanders applying for Australian citizenship, Japan entering a defence pact with Australia, Bankruptcy in Australia up 57 per cent, and Chinese airlines resuming flights to Brisbane.
Nation
Over 15,000 New Zealanders apply for Australian residency
More than 15,000 New Zealanders have applied for Australian citizenship since the government opened a new route to citizenship last month, a rate of about 375 a day, The Guardian has reported. Of this set, about 500 have already passed a citizenship test and will become Australian citizens. Effective last July 1, special category visa holders were allowed to apply directly for Australian citizenship without becoming permanent residents first. There are currently 670,000 New Zealanders in Australia on special category visas, including about 380,000 who arrived after 2001 and are eligible for citizenship.
Politics
Japan entering a defence pact with Australia
The Japanese government will enter a defence pact with Australia to counter China’s expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific, Business World has reported. The pact would enable joint exercises and improve security cooperation. Similar to Tokyo’s current Status of Forces Agreement with the United States, the Japan-Australia Reciprocal Access Agreement will make it easier for Australian Defence Force and Japanese Self-Defense Force personnel to deploy more quickly. Through the security agreements, Japan aims to boost security ties with the United States and other like-minded countries to enhance deterrence against Beijing.
Business
Insolvency Australia says appointments rose 57 per cent
National insolvency appointments soared by 57 per cent in the June quarter as the Australian Taxation Office ramped up its debt collection activities, with cash-strapped small and medium businesses in the middle of a “perfect storm”. In terms of volume, NSW was at the forefront, recording 1,169 corporate insolvencies. Tasmania recorded the greatest percentage increase (133 per cent), followed by the ACT (64 per cent), while NSW and Queensland both recorded a 59 per cent uptick. Victoria had a 54 per cent rise, South Australia 52 per cent and Western Australia a 50 per cent increase. The number of insolvencies in the NT remained unchanged from the previous year, The Australian Business Review reported.
Travel
Chinese Airlines to resume direct flights from Brisbane to Guangzhou
China Southern Airlines will resume direct flights from Australia’s Brisbane to south China’s Guangzhou in mid-November to boost tourism and personnel exchanges between the two countries, China.org.cn has reported. The airlines will start to fly four non-stop services a week from Nov. 17, its fourth direct flight route between the two countries. The Queensland government expects the airlines to land 59,000 inbound seats at Brisbane International Airport in the first year of operation, and almost 278,000 inbound international seats over three years, generating nearly $441 million for the state’s visitor economy.
http://www.china.org.cn/world/2023-08/13/content_102217393.htm
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