Over AUS$31 million of illegal tobacco has been seized and destroyed after it was grown in fields in regional Victoria; raids at two properties near the border with New South Wales were carried out after an anonymous tip-off, uncovering the illicit haul

Two sailors have died in separate incidents on the first night of the 79th Sydney to Hobart sailing regatta, after they were both hit by sail booms; they mark the first deaths in the famed race since six men lost their lives in the 1998 event

Labor Party has announced plans to cap donations to prevent billionaires from buying elections; no draft legislation has been made public, but plans would limit donor spending to AUS$20.000, or USD12.500 per candidate/year and cap campaign budget

New law to ban social media for children under 16 passed after days of heated debate; Australia set a benchmark for jurisdictions around the world with one of the toughest regulations targeting Big Tech

For a study on the gut health of the population, the Australian government agency responsible for scientific research asked citizens aged 14 and over to collect data on their flatulence via an app called Chart Your Fart