An Australian church leader has strongly criticised one of the country's largest financial institutions for providing financial support to an international firm that manufactures cluster bombs despite an international ban on them.

Australia is being challenged by church and development campaigners to give more focus to environmental sustainability issues as part of its Millennium Development goals pledge.

The Micah Challenge coalition in Australia has welcomed the government’s continued commitment to overseas development in the 2009-10 aid budget announced on 13 May, but says that there is a long way to go in securing justice for the poor.

Churches of all denominations across Australia have initiated prayers and practical support for bushfire victims in Victoria, where some 200 people have died in the deadliest disaster in Australian history.

The Australian Human Rights Commission is encouraging submissions to a consultation about the current state of freedom of religion and belief in the country. The deadline for receiving them is 31 January 2009.

Pope Benedict XVI, leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, has told Australians he is deeply sorry for the sexual abuse of children by some Catholic priests and has said that those responsible must be brought to justice.

Roman Catholic social justice advocates have joined in widespread criticism of new laws restricting protests during World Youth Day in Sydney this month, which Pope Benedict XVI will attend in his first visit to Australia.

The president of the Uniting Church in Australia has said his country should spend as much on reconstructing Iraq as its did on its military operations there - given the desperate need for healing and hope in the war-torn country.

After decades of debate and argument, the Anglican Church in Australia now have one female bishop, and they will get a second within 10 days of the first woman's consecration.