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.

Four Christian peace protestors who broke into the Pine Gap defence intelligence facility in Australia in 2005 have won a major victory after the Northern Territory's Court of Criminal Appeal decided to quash their major conviction.

In the latest twist to the long-running Pine Gap protest drama, a Christian anti-war activist is calling on the Australian Federal government to review the implemntation of laws used to prosecute her.

A festival atmosphere was evident on the lawns outside Parliament House in Canberra yesterday. Thousands of people celebrated outside in the wake of Kevin Rudd's apology to the Stolen Generations. Doug Hynd was there to see it.

The first opening of the Australian Parliament after the election of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s Labour Government has proved a historic moment in the history of Australia – with an apology finally being made to indigenous people.

Kevin Rudd's own values are shaped by faith, says Doug Hynd, but there are conflicting responses from within the churches to the way in which Christians should and should not engage a plural political process.

Australians have voted for change, says David Wood. The new premier is a Christian, but he points to a tradition which is outward looking and generous, not insular.