January 12, 2026 – Australia Headlines

1Iran vows to strike back if US attacks over anti-regime protests

Story gist: Iran vowed to strike back if the US attacks over anti-regime protests. Reports indicate the protest death toll has risen.
Left
Iran warns US against attack as protest death toll reportedly soars
— The Guardian
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Center
Iran vows to strike back if US attacks over anti-regime protests
— Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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Right
Iran’s murderous regime is in mortal danger
— The Australian
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Bias summary: Left-leaning Guardian emphasizes Iran’s warning and soaring protest deaths, highlighting regime violence. Center ABC reports neutrally on Iran’s vow amid anti-regime protests. Right-leaning Australian labels Iran’s regime ‘murderous’ and portrays it as collapsing, emphasizing its vulnerability without mentioning US threats.

2‘Mate, let’s go again’: Firefighter continues shift after home burns

Story gist: Bushfires destroyed homes in Ruffy and Longwood, Victoria. A firefighter whose home burned down continued his shift.
Left
Victoria bushfires: In Ruffy and Longwood, locals return to devastation as tales of courage emerge
— The Age
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Center
Residents ‘shattered’ after losing family relics in bushfire
— 9News.com.au
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Right
‘Monstrous’ flames leave handful of homes amid the ashes
— The Australian
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Bias summary: Left-leaning (The Age) emphasizes locals returning to devastation alongside emerging tales of courage, highlighting heroism. Center (9News) focuses on residents’ emotional shattering over lost family relics, stressing personal tragedy. Right-leaning (The Australian) underscores ‘monstrous’ flames but notes only a handful of homes lost amid ashes, emphasizing fire intensity over widespread damage.

3Intense rainfall follows ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji in sodden north Queensland

Story gist: Intense rainfall followed ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji in north Queensland. Queensland authorities warned residents to prepare, and police issued an emergency alert for Mackay Regional Council at 12:01 pm to monitor conditions and move to higher ground.
Left
Queenslanders warned to prepare
— The Age
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Center
MONITOR CONDITIONS and BE PREPARED to MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND – Emergency Alert for Mackay Regional Council as at 12.01pm
— Queensland Police News
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Right
No major right-leaning outlet from our monitored sources covered this story
Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like The Age emphasize warnings for Queenslanders to prepare, adopting a precautionary tone. Center sources such as Queensland Police News provide direct official alerts with specific instructions like moving to higher ground. Right-leaning coverage is absent, omitting potential perspectives on government response or event severity.

4Australia to discuss critical minerals with G7 in Washington next week

Story gist: Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers will meet G7 members and the Trump administration in Washington next week to discuss critical minerals. Canberra announced a $1.2 billion critical minerals reserve.
Left
Chalmers heads to meet with Trump administration on critical minerals
— The Age
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Center
US to push for quicker action in reducing reliance on China for rare earths
— Reuters
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Right
Canberra reveals warfare focus in $1.2bn critical minerals reserve
— The Australian
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Bias summary: Left-leaning The Age frames the story around Chalmers’ trip to the Trump administration, emphasizing Australian diplomacy. Center Reuters stresses US-led urgency to reduce China rare earth reliance. Right-leaning The Australian highlights Canberra’s $1.2bn reserve with warfare focus, prioritizing defense. Left omits military angle; right downplays US role and China context.