Geopolitical Monitor - Region: Oceana

Feb. 23 (BBC News) - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has warned that his country is now under a permanent and increased threat of militant attack.

SYDNEY December 1, 2009 (AP) - Australia's Parliament defeated legislation to set up a greenhouse gas emissions trading system on Wednesday, throwing a central plank of the government's plans to combat global warming into disarray.

October 16, 2009 (AFP) - Five Muslim men were Friday found guilty of plotting a jihadist attack using guns and explosives to protest Australia's involvement in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

August 20, 2009 (The Age) - LEADING infectious disease experts in Australia have called on the federal government to abandon its mass swine-flu vaccination plan because of fears the vaccine is a contamination risk that could spread blood-borne diseases.

August 3, 2009 (Al Jazeera) - Australian police have arrested four men in Melbourne suspected of planning a "suicide terrorist attack", in one of the biggest counter-terrorism operations in the country.

CANBERRA June 22, 2009 (Reuters) - Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was facing his biggest political crisis on Monday with rivals accusing his government of abuse of power and a belligerent Senate poised to reject a key election promise.

CANBERRA April 30, 3009 (Reuters) - Fiji's military government ruled out any election this year and said on Friday it would extend emergency laws, defying an international deadline for the country's suspension from the 16-nation Pacific Islands Forum.

April 15, 2009 (Stuff.co.nz) - Fiji's military have been given permission to shoot civilians without fear of being prosecuted.

November 26, 2008 (News.com.au) - PRIVATE intelligence company has been engaged by police to secretly monitor internet and email use by activist and protest groups, a report says.