At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. The Australian government has stepped in to secure extra fuel, confirming the purchase of 100 million litres of diesel under new emergency powers. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government backed two diesel shipments about 570,000 barrels from Brunei and South Korea. The fuel was purchased by Viva Energy, with financial risk covered by the government. The move comes as global supply remains under pressure due to the Middle East conflict. These new powers allow fuel companies to import supply while the government absorbs the cost risks. Albanese said this is just the beginning, with more shipments expected to strengthen Australia’s fuel reserves. The announcement follows a major refinery fire in Geelong. The prime minister is cutting short his overseas trip to visit the site and assess the impact. While no injuries were reported, he warned fuel supply could be affected. Australia is also strengthening energy ties across the region. During talks in Kuala Lumpur, Albanese and Anwar Ibrahim agreed to improve cooperation and ensure stable fuel trade. Malaysia remains a key supplier, providing a significant share of Australia’s diesel, petrol, and jet fuel. The government has now secured similar energy agreements with multiple Asian partners, aiming to keep supply chains stable during ongoing global uncertainty. Officials say the strategy is focused on protecting Australians from fuel shortages and price shocks as the crisis continues. Source : ABC News Stay tuned with Aus News Lanka  – the leading platform for news for Australians .

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australia could be heading for another interest rate hike in May, as early signs of economic pressure begin to emerge. New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows unemployment held steady at 4.3% in March. Around 18,000 people joined the workforce, pointing to continued strength in the jobs market. The solid result is increasing expectations that the Reserve Bank of Australia may lift the cash rate again from its current 4.1% at its May meeting. Economists say the figures only capture the early phase of the Iran conflict, meaning the full economic impact especially from rising fuel costs has yet to be seen. Analysts warn the strong labour market gives the RBA room to act. Inflation remains a key concern, and policymakers may prioritise controlling prices over supporting employment. While Australia’s jobless rate is still low by global standards, some experts say cracks could appear in the coming months. Industries that rely heavily on fuel are already under pressure. Construction, transport, farming, and manufacturing are among the most exposed, with rising diesel costs squeezing margins. Regional businesses may also feel the strain due to higher transport expenses. Economists caution that the real impact of the conflict will take time to flow through the economy, with effects on hiring and investment likely to become clearer in the months ahead. Source : News.com.au Stay tuned with Aus News Lanka  – the leading platform for news for Australians .

This is a developing story brought to you by Aus News Lanka , your trusted source for news for Sri Lankans  in Australia and beyond. 2026 අප්‍රේල් 21 සිට 28 දක්වා ජාත්‍යන්තරව පිළිගත් “සාමය සඳහා පා ගමන” වන්දනා ගමන ශ්‍රී ලංකාව විසින් පැවැත්වීමට නියමිත අතර, එය අතිපූජ්‍ය පඤ්ඤාකර හිමියන් සහ බෞද්ධ භික්ෂූන් දොළොස් දෙනෙකුගෙන් යුත් දූත පිරිසක් විසින් මෙහෙයවනු ලැබේ. දින හතක අධ්‍යාත්මික ගමන අනුරාධපුරයෙන් ආරම්භ වී කොළඹින් අවසන් වන පූජනීය ස්ථාන කිහිපයක් හරහා විහිදේ. සාමය සහ එකමුතුකම සංකේතවත් කරන පූජනීය ධාතු සමඟ ජය ශ්‍රී මහා බෝධි පූජනීය පැළයක් වන්දනා ගමනේදී රැගෙන යනු ඇත. රජයේ පිරිසිදු ශ්‍රී ලංකා වැඩසටහනේ සහාය ඇතිව මෙම වැඩසටහන පවත්වනු ලැබේ. මෙම උත්සවය කොළඹදී පැවැත්වෙන රාජ්‍ය උත්සවයකින් සහ සංස්කෘතික ප්‍රදර්ශනයකින් අවසන් වන අතර එහිදී ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ පොහොසත් බෞද්ධ උරුමයන් සහ සාම්ප්‍රදායික අත්කම් දේශීය හා ජාත්‍යන්තර ප්‍රේක්ෂකයින්ට ප්‍රදර්ශනය කෙරේ. Source : News.lk More updates to come on AusNewsLanka .

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Emergency crews were called to the Viva Energy Corio Refinery late Wednesday night after reports of explosions and flames. The facility supplies about half of Victoria’s fuel and around 10% nationally. No injuries have been reported. However, the fire is still burning and residents have been warned about air quality in the area. The refinery remains partly operational. Diesel and jet fuel production will continue at reduced levels, but petrol output is expected to be affected. Authorities say it’s too early to determine the full impact. Chris Bowen said the incident comes at a difficult time, with global fuel supplies already under strain due to tensions in the Middle East. Early findings suggest the fire was caused by equipment failure. An investigation is underway. Viva Energy says safety is the top priority. Some petrol units were damaged, while others remain intact. Production will only return to normal once it is safe to do so. Australia relies heavily on imported fuel from Asia, which may help limit immediate shortages. But experts warn the incident reduces the country’s buffer against ongoing global disruptions. The refinery produces about 120,000 barrels per day and employs more than 1,100 workers. Around 50 to 100 staff were on site at the time and were safely evacuated. Local officials described the incident as highly unusual, with the fire expected to take several hours to fully burn out. Source : BBC News Stay tuned with Aus News Lanka  – the leading platform for news for Australians .

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Virgin Australia says its fuel bill will be $30–$40 million higher than expected for the second half of the financial year. In response, the airline will reduce domestic capacity by 1% over the next three months and increase revenue per seat targets. The airline says jet fuel prices have more than doubled since late February, driven by global supply disruptions. It is using fuel hedging and adjusting fares and flight schedules to manage the impact. Meanwhile, Qantas has taken stronger action, cutting domestic capacity by 5%. It expects to spend up to $3.3 billion on fuel, with rising refinery costs adding a potential $500–$800 million hit to profits. Both airlines say they are closely monitoring supply chains and working with suppliers to secure fuel in the coming months. The pressure comes amid ongoing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments. Disruptions in the region have pushed up fuel prices worldwide. A recent report by Morningstar DBRS warned that Australian airlines could be among the hardest hit if fuel shortages worsen, due to their reliance on imported jet fuel. For travellers, this means fewer flight options and higher fares, at least in the short term. Source : 9News Stay tuned with Aus News Lanka  – the leading platform for news for Australians .

This is a developing story brought to you by Aus News Lanka , your trusted source for news for Sri Lankans  in Australia and beyond. The global economy is facing fresh uncertainty as the Middle East conflict disrupts growth and pushes inflation higher, according to a new report from the International Monetary Fund. Before the conflict, global growth for 2026 was expected to reach 3.4%. That outlook has now weakened due to rising energy prices and supply disruptions, especially around the Strait of Hormuz. The IMF says the crisis is impacting the economy in three key ways: Higher energy and commodity prices are driving up costs and inflation Supply chains are under pressure Financial markets are becoming more volatile In its base scenario, global growth could slow to 3.1% this year, while inflation rises to 4.4%. If the conflict worsens, the outlook becomes more serious. Growth could fall to 2.5% or even 2% in a worst-case scenario while inflation may climb above 6%. Countries that rely on imported energy are expected to be hit hardest, especially developing economies with limited financial support. At the same time, major oil-exporting nations may also face losses due to damaged infrastructure and reduced production. The IMF warns that the situation is similar to the global price shock seen after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but with added risks due to ongoing global instability. To limit the damage, the IMF says ending the conflict quickly is critical. Central banks may need to tighten policies if inflation rises further, while governments are advised to avoid broad subsidies and instead provide targeted support to vulnerable households. Looking ahead, the report highlights the need for stronger global cooperation, investment in renewable energy, and long-term growth strategies to reduce the impact of future shocks. Source : NewsFirst More updates to come on AusNewsLanka .

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Melbourne’s east has a new hotspot. Dutch Rules Distilling Co. in Mitcham has reopened with a complete venue upgrade, now featuring a full kitchen, expanded cocktail bar, working distillery, and event space. Originally opened in 2022 as a small distillery, the venue has grown into a lively destination combining food, drinks, and entertainment. It caters to both casual nights out and group gatherings. The drinks menu is led by head distiller Brad Dickman, known for crafting award-winning spirits on-site. Highlights include Thai Gin, Ceylon Gin, and a Coffee Liqueur. These are used in creative cocktails like the Ceylon Martini and Thai Gin Mojito. The kitchen is headed by 2026 Young Chef of the Year, Viveik Vinoharan. His menu blends Sri Lankan flavours with modern Australian cuisine. Expect share-style dishes such as lamb biryani sausage, pork curry rigatoni, and fresh trout with pomelo and burnt ginger. Owner Danny Perera says the goal was always to bring together great food, house-made spirits, and a vibrant atmosphere in one place and the new upgrade delivers exactly that. The venue can host up to 100 guests and will offer live music, DJ nights, and tasting events, adding to Mitcham’s growing food and drink scene. Opening Menu Highlights (from April 14, 2026): Small plates like oysters, skewers, and whipped lentils Mains including lamb biryani sausage and pork curry pasta Fresh seafood and vegetarian options Desserts such as Thai gin granita and chocolate swiss roll A fresh, modern venue with strong Sri Lankan influence Dutch Rules is set to become a standout destination in Melbourne’s south-east. More updates to come on AusNewsLanka .

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. More than 150 workers were safely evacuated after a 4.5-magnitude earthquake struck near a major gold mine in New South Wales. The tremor hit on Tuesday night near Cadia Gold Mine, about 30km south-west of Orange. The quake occurred at a shallow depth of 5km and was felt across a wide area. Mining company Newmont Corporation confirmed that 153 workers underground were quickly moved to safety. All were accounted for and brought back to the surface without injuries. Operations at the mine have been paused while safety inspections are carried out. The quake’s epicentre was close to the site’s tailings dam, which previously experienced a partial collapse in 2018. However, authorities have not linked the earthquake to mining activity. Local residents described strong shaking, with buildings rattling and windows vibrating. More than 2,000 people reported feeling the tremor, according to Geoscience Australia. Experts say earthquakes of this size are rare in the region, though minor aftershocks may follow. Officials say safety systems worked as intended, and further updates will be provided once assessments are complete. Source : The Guardian Stay tuned with Aus News Lanka  – the leading platform for news for Australians .

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. The Victorian Government has introduced a new feature to help drivers spot the most expensive fuel stations in real time. The update to the Service Victoria app now highlights both the highest and lowest fuel prices through its “Servo Saver” tool. Stations charging the most appear in red, while the cheapest options are shown in green. The system uses live data from more than 1,200 fuel retailers across the state, allowing motorists to quickly compare prices nearby. The feature is part of the government’s Fair Fuel Plan, aimed at improving transparency and helping drivers save money. Around 520,000 people are already using the app. Fuel retailers are required to submit next-day prices by 2pm. Those who fail to comply risk on-the-spot fines. However, the app has faced some early issues, with reports of occasional pricing errors. The next stage of the plan will require petrol stations to lock in their prices for a full 24 hours, giving consumers more certainty. Source : 9News Stay tuned with Aus News Lanka  – the leading platform for news for Australians .

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Anthony Albanese has arrived in Singapore for key talks aimed at securing fuel supplies as global uncertainty continues. He is set to meet Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, with discussions focused on strengthening fuel trade and supply chains. The visit comes amid ongoing concerns around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil pathway affected by tensions in the Middle East. While a temporary ceasefire has been announced, Australia is preparing for potential disruptions. Australia imports around 90% of its refined fuel, with Singapore supplying more than half. In return, Australia provides liquefied natural gas, making the partnership vital for both countries. Albanese is expected to push for priority access to fuel supplies if global conditions worsen. He will also visit Jurong Island, Singapore’s main oil refining hub, where production has been impacted by supply issues linked to the Middle East. Energy Minister Chris Bowen says Australia currently has enough fuel reserves for the coming weeks, with additional supplies sourced from regions including North America. The visit also aims to strengthen broader trade and security ties, as both nations work to maintain stable supply chains during a period of global volatility. Source : SBS News Stay tuned with Aus News Lanka  – the leading platform for news for Australians .

This is a developing story brought to you by Aus News Lanka , your trusted source for news for Sri Lankans  in Australia and beyond. රජයේ අරමුණ වන්නේ පොදු ප්‍රවාහනය සියලු පුරවැසියන්ට පහසුවෙන් භාවිතා කළ හැකි ආරක්ෂිත, තාක්‍ෂණිකව දියුණු සේවාවක් බවට පරිවර්තනය කිරීමයි. මෙම දැක්මට අනුකූලව, අග්‍රාමාත්‍යවරිය මෑතකදී අලුතින් ප්‍රතිසංස්කරණය කරන ලද කොළඹ මධ්‍යම බස් නැවතුම්පොළේ නිරීක්ෂණ චාරිකාවක නිරත වූ අතර එය රටේ අඛණ්ඩ පොදු ප්‍රවාහන සංවර්ධන වැඩසටහනේ ප්‍රධාන සන්ධිස්ථානයකි. දශක හයකට වැඩි කාලයක් තිස්සේ පවතින කොළඹ මධ්‍යම බස් නැවතුම්පොළ නිසි නඩත්තුවක් සඳහා බොහෝ කාලයක් තිස්සේ බලා සිටි එකකි. දැන්, පුළුල් ප්‍රතිසංස්කරණයකින් පසු, එය ප්‍රතිසංස්කරණය කර අප්‍රේල් 8 වන දින නිල වශයෙන් මහජනතාවට විවෘත කර ඇති අතර, එය නවීකරණය කරන ලද සහ වඩාත් සුවපහසු සංචාරක අත්දැකීමක් ලබා දෙයි. මෙම ප්‍රතිසංස්කරණය පොදු ප්‍රවාහන සේවාවන්හි ගුණාත්මකභාවය සහ විශ්වසනීයත්වය වැඩිදියුණු කිරීම අරමුණු කරගත් පුළුල් මුලපිරීමක කොටසකි. සංචාරය අතරතුර, අග්‍රාමාත්‍යවරිය වැඩිදියුණු කරන ලද පහසුකම් නිරීක්ෂණය කළ අතර මගීන්ගේ සුවපහසුව සහ ආරක්ෂාව සහතික කිරීම සඳහා කරන ලද වැඩිදියුණු කිරීම් පිළිබඳව සෑහීමකට පත්විය. කාන්තාවන්ගේ අවශ්‍යතා කෙරෙහි විශේෂ අවධානයක් යොමු කර ඇත, විශේෂයෙන් දිගු දුර ගමන් කරන කිරි දෙන මව්වරුන් සඳහා පෞද්ගලිකත්වය සැපයීම සඳහා නිර්මාණය කර ඇති නවීන විවේක ස්ථානයක් හඳුන්වාදීමත් සමඟ - එය විශේෂයෙන් අගය කරන ලද අංගයකි. මෙම පරීක්ෂාවට අලුතින් ක්‍රියාත්මක කරන ලද මගී ආසන වෙන්කිරීමේ පද්ධතිය සහ වැඩිදියුණු කළ තොරතුරු සේවා සමාලෝචනය කිරීම ද ඇතුළත් වූ අතර, මේ දෙකම ගමනාගමනය වඩාත් කාර්යක්ෂම හා පරිශීලක-හිතකාමී කිරීම සඳහා නිර්මාණය කර ඇත. ඊට අමතරව, සියලුම මගීන්ගේ ආරක්ෂාව සහතික කිරීම සඳහා පරිශ්‍රය තුළ ස්ථාපනය කර ඇති නවීන නිරීක්ෂණ පද්ධති සහ අනෙකුත් ආරක්ෂක පියවරයන් අග්‍රාමාත්‍යවරිය විසින් පරීක්ෂා කරන ලදී. මගීන් සමඟ සෘජුව සම්බන්ධ වෙමින්, වැඩි දියුණු කරන ලද පහසුකම් සහ සේවාවන් සම්බන්ධයෙන් ඔවුන්ගේ අත්දැකීම් සහ ප්‍රතිපෝෂණ පිළිබඳව අග්‍රාමාත්‍යවරිය විමසීය. ප්‍රතිසංස්කරණය කරන ලද ප්‍රවාහන මධ්‍යස්ථානයේ ප්‍රතිලාභ ඉස්මතු කරමින් මගීන් වැඩිදියුණු කිරීම් පිළිබඳව තම අදහස් ප්‍රකාශ කළහ. මෙම සංචාරය මගින් පොදු ප්‍රවාහන යටිතල පහසුකම් වැඩිදියුණු කිරීම, එය ආරක්ෂිත, වඩා කාර්යක්ෂම සහ සියලු පුරවැසියන්ට ප්‍රවේශ විය හැකි බව සහතික කිරීම සඳහා රජයේ අඛණ්ඩ කැපවීම අවධාරණය කරන ලදී. Source : DailyMirror More updates to come on AusNewsLanka .

At AusNewsLanka , we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates. Australians across the south and east are experiencing extreme weather contrasts today, with strong winds, cold blasts, and near-summer heat all at once. According to Weatherzone, a powerful low-pressure system over the Southern Ocean is driving the conditions. Cold polar air is pushing north, while hot inland air is being dragged south, creating sharp temperature swings and strong winds. Bureau of Meteorology says the change first hit Tasmania overnight. Temperatures are around 17°C, but strong winds are making it feel closer to 10°C. Showers are expected across the state, with possible hail and snow in western areas. As the system moves east, Victoria and southern New South Wales will see similar cold, windy conditions. Wind gusts could reach up to 110 km/h in alpine regions, prompting warnings for dangerous conditions. In contrast, parts of New South Wales and Queensland are experiencing heatwave-like temperatures. Brisbane could reach up to 37°C in western suburbs, while Sydney is expected to hit around 33–35°C. Regional centres including Wollongong, Newcastle, and Maitland will see similar heat, while inland areas like Bourke could reach up to 39°C. Forecasters say the heat in NSW will ease quickly as cooler air pushes north later today. Snow is also expected in higher regions, including the Victorian Alps and the Snowy Mountains. It’s a day of dramatic weather shifts, with conditions changing rapidly across the country. Source : 9News Stay tuned with Aus News Lanka  – the leading platform for news for Australians .