Australia’s first woman prime minister, who was dumped by her own party ahead of it losing the general election, says she was the target of “aggressive sexism” during three years in power.

Prime minister-elect Tony Abbott has rekindled the sexism accusations that have dogged his political career by naming only one woman — foreign minister Julie Bishop — to the 19-member cabinet that will be sworn into government tomorrow.

New Australian prime minister Tony Abbott has rekindled sexism accusations that have dogged his career by naming only one woman to his 19-member cabinet.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has conceded the Australian election, saying the party "fought the good fight".

Australia’s ruling Labour Party appeared poised for defeat in a national election today, as opinion polls, analysts and an early exit poll suggested the conservative opposition party was on its way to a sweeping victory.

Australians headed to the polls today in an election that is expected to see opposition leader Tony Abbott guide his Liberal Party-led coalition to victory.

Newly-reinstated Australian leader Kevin Rudd put gay marriage on the election agenda, calling for a bipartisan conscience ballot on the issue and raising the possibility of putting it to a direct public vote.

After three years plotting his revenge, Kevin Rudd made a spectacular return to the labour leadership and could be named Australia’s prime minister today.

Australian prime minister Julia Gillard has been ousted as Labour Party leader by her predecessor Kevin Rudd by MPs hoping to avoid a huge defeat in upcoming elections.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard threw open her job to a leadership ballot today in response to reports that supporters of her intra-party rival Kevin Rudd were gearing up to challenge her.

Last year in Colombia there were 10 political assassinations. Routine targets include trade unionists and student activists. It is a country scourged by kidnappings and violence.

Australia’s prime minister has demanded the political scalp of the high-profile Liberal candidate Mal Brough over the “grossly sexist” wording of a menu for his federal election fundraiser.

Australia’s long wait for a Masters champion is finally over, and when Adam Scott won at rainy Augusta National on Sunday an entire nation rejoiced and breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Australia opened a national probe into child sex abuse yesterday, with premier Julia Gillard warning of “uncomfortable truths” as institutions including schools and churches come under scrutiny.

Australian prime minister Julia Gillard has faced down a leadership challenge, emerging victorious from a party vote after former leader Kevin Rudd made a last-minute decision not to run.

Julia Gillard remains Australia’s prime minister after she threw her job open to a leadership ballot but no one was willing to run against her.

Australian prime minister Julia Gillard took the nation by surprise today by declaring that an election would be held on September 14.

As part of obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the Education Department needs to urgently update its 20-year-old anti-bullying policy to include cyberbullying and teach children about their rights online, according to a child law expert.

Australians were bracing for what officials warned could be the worst fire danger day ever seen, as police searched for some 100 people still missing in ravaged Tasmania.

Shock and sympathy were the initial reactions from around the world to the shooting rampage that left 28 people dead, including 20 children, in Connecticut.

Australia’s prime minister has ordered an inquiry into claims of child sex abuse in state and religious institutions and community groups.

A second term and a Twitter record — with much to celebrate, a picture of an intimate embrace with his wife Michelle has become US President Barack Obama’s most popular tweet ever with over half a million retweets and counting.

A second term and a Twitter record – with much to celebrate, a picture of an intimate embrace with his wife Michelle has become President Barack Obama’s most popular tweet ever with over half a million retweets and counting.

Australia’s prime minister Julia Gillard did not define “misogyny” wrong in a blistering attack on a male rival – the dictionary did.

Australia plans to deport would-be asylum seekers to detention camps in Papua New Guinea and Nauru.

A boat carrying asylum seekers to Australia capsized today and 123 people were rescued from the Indian Ocean, Australia’s prime minister Julia Gillard said, less than a week after more than 90 people drowned on a similar journey.

Barack Obama’s announcement that he supports gay marriage has boosted the hopes of rights groups around the world that other leaders will follow his example.

Australian prime minister Julia Gillard said she had asked a lawmaker embroiled in a scandal over payment for prostitutes to quit the Labour Party, in a blow to her fragile minority rule.

Australian prime minister Julia Gillard has dismissed as “disgraceful” claims that she was making light of sexual harassment by allowing the parliamentary speaker to keep his job while facing allegations that he pressured a member of staff for sex.

Australia’s prime minister said her country will begin pulling its troops out of Afghanistan earlier than planned.

Australian prime minister Julia Gillard easily won an internal party vote today against the colleague she deposed two years ago, Kevin Rudd, and declared that she had put down the internal strife that has undermined her unpopular government for months.

Australian prime minister Julia Gillard won a resounding victory today against the party leader she deposed two years ago, Kevin Rudd, in a ballot of Labour Party politicians that she had ordered in hopes of putting down strife within her unpopular government.

Australian prime minister Julia Gillard called a ballot on the leadership of the ruling Labour Party, bringing to a head an increasingly bitter and ugly row with her predecessor Kevin Rudd.

Australia’s prime minister Julia Gillard put her job on the line, announcing a leadership ballot in hopes of quashing a comeback by the premier she ousted in a Labour Party coup.

Australia’s foreign minister resigned yesterday, saying he was unable to continue without prime minister Julia Gillard’s support, paving the way for his leadership challenge.

Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard has said she is "disappointed" by Kevin Rudd's decision to resign as Foreign Minister.

Australia’s foreign minister has resigned amid an ongoing leadership squabble, saying he cannot continue in his role without the support of prime minister Julia Gillard.

Australian prime minister Julia Gillard says she still has enough support to lead the government despite growing speculation that foreign minister Kevin Rudd plans to seize power.

Australian prime minister Julia Gillard said she still has enough support to lead the government despite growing speculation that foreign minister Kevin Rudd plans to seize power.

A clash between protesters and Australian police that forced bodyguards to rush prime minister Julia Gillard out of an event appears to have been set off by information released by one of Ms Gillard's own aides.

Supporters of indigenous rights have burned an Australian flag on the steps of the nation’s Parliament House.

Authorities and indigenous-rights protesters blamed each other today for a heated clash in which bodyguards had to rush prime minister Julia Gillard out of an event marking the anniversary of British colonisation.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard had to be bundled out of a Canberra restaurant by security service agents after it was surrounded by 200 furious Aboriginal rights protesters.

Australian prime minister Julia Gillard stumbled and was caught by a security guard as riot police helped her force a path through a crowd of rowdy protesters during a ceremony to mark Australia's national day.