Australia

Iran trying to frame women's soccer team asylum saga as Trump-Australia conspiracy

Tasnim, a regime-affiliated outlet, cast the episode as a Western pressure campaign, while foreign reports pointed instead to players fearing repercussions if they returned to Iran.

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Iran players pose prior to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Group A match between Iran and Philippines at Gold Coast Stadium on the Gold Coast, Australia, March 8, 2026.
A PRO-PALESTINIAN rally is held outside Sydney Opera House, last month. From Sydney to New York, thousands called for the genocide of millions of Jews, celebrating October 7 as an act of defiance against evil.

Sydney Biennale opens amid accusations of anti-Israel bias, genocide claims

Out of 83 artists and collections from 37 countries, 47 are Arab and Muslim artists. No Israeli artists have been invited, nor Jewish artists other than one anti-Israeli American-Jewish artist.

|ByMEL GREEN
Iranian players gesture from the bench during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Group A match between South Korea and Iran at Robina Stadium on the Gold Coast, Australia, March 2, 2026.

After ‘unique intervention,’ Iran’s women’s soccer team allowed to stay in Australia

The five players, including team captain Zahra Ghanbari, sought protection after the team were branded "wartime traitors" for refusing to sing their national anthem before an Asian Cup match.

|ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD, TOBIAS HOLCMAN
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reacts during a briefing during a visit to the Australian Government National Situation Room in Canberra, Australia, January 9, 2026.

Australia to deploy surveillance aircraft in Middle East, send missiles to UAE, Prime Minister says

Australia's military support would help the Gulf countries defend themselves against unprovoked attacks from Iran, Albanese said, stressing Australia was "not a protagonist."

|ByREUTERS

Australia to grant visas to five members of Iranian women's soccer team after Trump appeal

The players, who were playing in the Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, stood silent last week during the Iranian national anthem, which was interpreted by hardliners in Iran as a sign of treason.

MARCH 9, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Fatemeh Pasandideh of Iran during the AFC Women's Asian Cup Group A match between South Korea and Iran at Robina Stadium on the Gold Coast, Australia, March 2, 2026.

Israel urges Australia to grant asylum to Iranian soccer players after anthem protest

Science Minister Gila Gamliel has urged Australia to provide refuge for Iranian women’s soccer players. Branded "wartime traitors" by Tehran, five players have already left the team hotel.

MARCH 9, 2026ByTOBIAS HOLCMAN
Iran players salute during their national anthem during the AFC Women's Asian Cup Group A match between Iran and Philippines at Gold Coast Stadium on the Gold Coast, Australia, March 8, 2026.

Lawyers for Bondi shooting suspect seek ban on naming his family

Lawyers for Naveed Akram on Monday requested a court in Sydney prohibit the publication of the names of his mother, brother and sister, as well as their home address and places of work and schooling.

MARCH 9, 2026ByREUTERS
One of the suspected shooters in the Bondi Beach mass shooting, December 14, 2025.

Australia officially bans Hizb ut-Tahrir, supporters or members to face 15 years in jail

Under the ban, people who support, join, or associate with the group will now face up to 15 years in jail.

MARCH 5, 2026ByMATHILDA HELLER
Supporters and members of the Islamist party Hizb Ut-Tahrir carry their party's flags and shout slogans during a rally in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, in support of Palestinians, and against Russian and the U.S. intervention in Syria October 16, 2015.

Australian far-right senator censured over 'inflammatory, divisive' comments about Muslims

"They hate Westerners, and that's what it's all about. You say there's great Muslims out there, well I'm sorry, how can you tell me there are good Muslims?" Hanson said in an interview with Sky News.

MARCH 2, 2026ByREUTERS
ONE NATION leader Pauline Hanson walks out during debate on a censure motion in the Senate chamber at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, March 2, 2026.

Australian mosques hold memorial services for 'pious and pure' Khamenei following his assassination

El Zahra Centre in Melbourne announced a Majlis [gathering] in commemoration of Khamenei, saying "We offer our condolences and congratulations to the presence of Imam Mahdi."

MARCH 1, 2026ByMATHILDA HELLER
MAJLIS IN honor of Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei at Taha Association Center Melbourne.

World responds slowly as US, Israeli attack on Iran unfolds

The exception was Australia's prime minister, while the X accounts of British, French, Italian, and German leaders had not been updated for hours by the time of publication.

FEBRUARY 28, 2026ByRUTH MARKS EGLASH, REUTERS
Vehicles line up during a traffic block, after Israel and the US launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026.

Australian PM condemns alleged mass casualty plot against mosques and parliament

Australian police charged a 20 year old man over an alleged terror plot targeting mosques, police headquarters and parliament, a case Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called deeply shocking.

FEBRUARY 28, 2026ByREUTERS
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks on the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Bill 2026 during a federal parliament sitting following the Bondi terror attack at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, January 20, 2026.

HarperCollins to publish book of conversations with Rabbi Eli Schlanger, slain Chabad emissary

The book, titled “Conversations With My Rabbi: Timeless Teachings for a Fractured World,” was written by Nikki Goldstein, a Jewish author who first encountered Schlanger during a hospital stay.

FEBRUARY 27, 2026ByGRACE GILSON/JTA
Nikki Goldstein and Rabbi Eli Schlanger celebrate Sukkot.

Countries issue Middle East travel advisories amid rising US-Iran tensions

The advisories range from warnings to diplomatic evacuations, with Dutch airline KLM announcing on Wednesday that it is suspending all flights to Tel Aviv as of March 1.

FEBRUARY 25, 2026ByREUTERS
In this handout photo obtained from the US Defence Department, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) sail in the Arabian Sea, Feb. 6, 2026.