Foreign Minister Julie Bishop

Australia's former foreign minister says she was mistaken for the spouse of a politician by US First Lady Melania Trump, in her latest comments on the subordinate role of women in conservative politics.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Tuesday said her country opposes Beijing's construction of artificial reefs and their militarisation in the disputed South China Sea, holding that freedom of navigation must be ensured.

The perpetrators who brought down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in July 2014, killing all 298 aboard, may be tried in absentia, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Sunday.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Sunday criticised comments by US President Donald Trump on French first lady Brigitte Macron's appearance

Australia looks set to fill one of two vacancies on the United Nations Human Rights Council following France's withdrawal from the process, the Herald Sun newspaper said on Saturday, quoting remarks by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Sunday the names of those responsible for shooting down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine in 2014 might be confirmed by the end of the year.

An Australian aid worker who was kidnapped in Afghanistan four months ago has been freed and is "safe and well", Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Monday.

The body of an Australian man missing in Brazil has been found, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop confirmed Saturday, as the man's family said they were "heartbroken".

An Australian security contractor working at the nation's embassy in Iraq has died in a "tragic incident", Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Friday, with reports that he was shot.

The former British colony of Australia wants Britain to stay in the European Union, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said, weeks before Britain holds a referendum on EU membership.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said today she will seek clarification from China about how it intends to use reclaimed islands in the South China Sea, including whether Beijing intends to grant access to other countries.

New Zealand led an international protest today against Japan's plans to resume killing whales in the Southern Ocean, while Australia said it was considering further legal action.

Australian police are being trained to shoot armed extremists on sight it was revealed today, in a change of tactics from "contain and negotiate" amid fears of further terrorist attacks.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said today he would attend December's UN climate conference in Paris, in contrast to expectations that his predecessor would skip the global gathering.

In a rebuff to China, US Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Tuesday that the United States military would sail and fly wherever international law allowed, including the disputed South China Sea.

Australia's former foreign minister says she was mistaken for the spouse of a politician by US First Lady Melania Trump, in her latest comments on the subordinate role of women in conservative politics.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Tuesday said her country opposes Beijing's construction of artificial reefs and their militarisation in the disputed South China Sea, holding that freedom of navigation must be ensured.

The perpetrators who brought down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in July 2014, killing all 298 aboard, may be tried in absentia, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Sunday.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Sunday criticised comments by US President Donald Trump on French first lady Brigitte Macron's appearance

Australia looks set to fill one of two vacancies on the United Nations Human Rights Council following France's withdrawal from the process, the Herald Sun newspaper said on Saturday, quoting remarks by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Sunday the names of those responsible for shooting down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine in 2014 might be confirmed by the end of the year.

An Australian aid worker who was kidnapped in Afghanistan four months ago has been freed and is "safe and well", Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Monday.

The body of an Australian man missing in Brazil has been found, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop confirmed Saturday, as the man's family said they were "heartbroken".

An Australian security contractor working at the nation's embassy in Iraq has died in a "tragic incident", Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Friday, with reports that he was shot.

The former British colony of Australia wants Britain to stay in the European Union, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said, weeks before Britain holds a referendum on EU membership.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said today she will seek clarification from China about how it intends to use reclaimed islands in the South China Sea, including whether Beijing intends to grant access to other countries.

New Zealand led an international protest today against Japan's plans to resume killing whales in the Southern Ocean, while Australia said it was considering further legal action.

Australian police are being trained to shoot armed extremists on sight it was revealed today, in a change of tactics from "contain and negotiate" amid fears of further terrorist attacks.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said today he would attend December's UN climate conference in Paris, in contrast to expectations that his predecessor would skip the global gathering.

In a rebuff to China, US Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Tuesday that the United States military would sail and fly wherever international law allowed, including the disputed South China Sea.