Prime Minister Scott Morrison fired the starter's gun on his re-election drive Monday, promising to keep Australians safe in a dangerous and sometimes "evil" world.

Australian and US authorities on Friday announced they had seized around a billion dollars worth of methylamphetamine -- or "ice" -- in a bust that revealed new ties between Mexican cartels and Aussie biker gangs.

Heavy rain continued to pelt Australia's flood-ravaged northeast Tuesday, prompting the authorities to warn of further flash flooding in the hours ahead.

Tens of thousands of people sweltering through a brutal heatwave in southern Australia were left without power Friday, as the grid struggled with surging demand.

Australia is investigating reports a Chinese-Australian dissident is missing and may have been detained in his native country, officials said Wednesday.

Australia's minister for women is set to retire from politics, a major blow for the embattled minority government amid accusations it has a problem with female representation ahead of crucial national elections.

Australian police are investigating the delivery of suspicious packages sent to foreign embassies and consulates in Melbourne and Canberra, police and embassy sources told AFP Wednesday.

The packages -- which are still being examined but are not believed to be harmful -- were delivered to facilities in the capital and several addresses across the southern Australian city, police confirmed.

Australia said Tuesday it will "carefully consider" the asylum claim of an 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled alleged abuse from her family and is now in the care of the U.N. in Bangkok, after she fended off deportation in a gripping, live-tweeted ordeal.

Police said a Somali immigrant killed one person and wounded two others in a rush-hour stabbing spree in the heart of Australia's second city Friday, labelling it a terrorist attack.

Scott Morrison was sworn in as Australia's seventh prime minister in 11 years Friday after a stunning party revolt against Malcolm Turnbull, which the new leader admitted had left the government "bruised and battered".

Former home affairs minister Peter Dutton, an ex-police officer and right-winger, was the driving force behind the move to oust Turnbull after a Liberal Party backlash against his more moderate policies.