Australia Travel News

THE Australian share market closed lower after a weak lead from Wall Street, confirmation of declining domestic consumer sentiment and continuing concerns about the global credit squeeze. via The Courier Mail

“If there is a Coles and a Woolworths in a geographic location, why are they allowed to open another store in the same location?”

SUPERMARKET giants should be banned from opening new stores in areas where they already have a stranglehold, the nation's independent grocers group has told an inquiry. via AdelaideNow...

“Now we're just going to go back to talking about the weather”

A TASMANIAN town is up for sale, and gay rights activists say homophobia is to blame. via The Sydney Morning Herald

“That's life in a commodities market”

TENSIONS between Australia and China are set to rise as Kevin Rudd arrives in Beijing today amid revelations that China is preparing to buy a multi-billion-dollar stake in BHP Billiton. via News.com.au

“It was a distressing period for both our staff and passengers”

London, Airline error made me think one of my family had died, says shocked father A father-of-two described today how a leading airline led him to believe wrongly that one of his family had died as he sat ... via This Is London

“However, other cities have put forth compelling proposals.”

New cheap long-haul fares might not be quite the bargain they appear, writes Clive Dorman. via The Sydney Morning Herald

“He was always very good in front of the media, and a lot of the pain and suffering didn't show through.”

The late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin went through "a lot of pain and suffering" behind the scenes of his public life, his father says. via Manawatu Evening Standard

“We need to ensure that this monopoly position doesn't lead to the exploitation of the travelling public and their families.”

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will monitor car parking costs and revenue at the nation's five major airports, the federal government said today. via The Age

“It's also vital that the youth in search of meaning can be met and can meet us via the tools they are comfortable with.”

SYDNEY, Australia, APRIL 3, 2008 .- Pilgrims attending World Youth Day this year will have a new way to connect and stay connected before and after the July event through the social networking site ... via Catholic.net

“This struggle, like that in Redfern after the death of TJ Hickey nine months earlier, brought the racist hounding of indigenous communities across Australia to international prominence”

Supporters of accused Palm Island rioter Lex Wotton will rally in Melbourne, demanding all charges against him be dropped. via The Age

Passengers stranded on a cruise liner in Madeira for two days are finally on the move after the boat's owners reached agreement with administrators. via Daily Express

Police believe they have found the body of a Canadian tourist washed off rocks on the Australian west coast but formal identification will likely take weeks. via CANOE

“It's a strange feeling to spend half your lifetime building something up and walking away from it”

The father of late television star Steve Irwin said he quit the family's Australian conservation park because he had become a "disrupting influence," although the widow of the khaki-clad "Crocodile Hunter" ... via CBC News

Police believe they have found the body of a Canadian man who was washed off rocks at Albany, in Western Australia's south-west, almost two weeks ago. via The New Zealand Herald

“This is the first phase in our exciting new agreement with V Australia Airlines”

V Australia's arrival in America this winter will be aided by a new partnership with Northwest. via USA Today

“What I think this will give people is a spirit of participation in something that is not just themselves, it's global”

Tens of thousands of Canadians are expected to flip the main breakers in their homes and businesses tonight, turning out the lights and eliminating their energy use for one hour in recognition of Earth Hour. via CTV.ca

“But he also acted like you expect an ally to act and he has consulted closely with us.”

US President George W Bush has made it clear Australia's alliance with America is about shared values, not who is leader, as he backed Kevin Rudd's decision to withdraw combat troops from Iraq. via Wimmera Mail Times

“With Virgin Blue flying within Australia and to New Zealand and the South Pacific and Virgin Atlantic between Australia, Hong Kong and London, V Australia flights to the United States are the obvious last piece of the puzzle”

Virgin launches new premium airline Fare war, $999 return to LA SMS, free meals, drinks THE Virgin Blue Group has launched a premium, three-class international airline, V Australia, with a daily direct route ... via NEWS.com.au

While Prime Minister Kevin Rudd tours the United States, Europe and China, Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson has launched a 'Listening Tour' of Australia with a message on YouTube. via Australian Broadcasting Corporation

“Maybe on the Gold Coast. I'd love to see some Australians taking off from there.”

Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson hopes his burgeoning space travel venture will one day take off in Australia. via The Sydney Morning Herald