Many regarded Australians’ respect and affection for the late Queen Elizabeth II as the biggest obstacle to the country becoming a republic with its own head of state.

Australians will go to the polls Saturday following a six-week election campaign that has focused on pandemic-fueled inflation, climate change and fears of a Chinese military outpost being established less than 1,200 miles off Australia’s shore.

Australia’s central bank has lifted its benchmark interest rate for the first time in more than 11 years.

In at least one sense, Scott Morrison is the most successful Australian prime minister in years.

John Fahey, a former president of the World Anti-Doping Agency and a key player in getting the 2000 Summer Olympics for Sydney, has died. New South Wales state government officials on Saturday confirmed Fahey's death, but gave no details. Fahey was premier of New South Wales from 1992 to 1995. Fahey retired from politics in 2001 shortly after being diagnosed with lung cancer, and had one of his lungs removed. When IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch announced Sydney as the winning bid, Fahey leapt out of his chair, turning to hug McGeoch.