Governments, aid agencies and humanitarian actors must spend twice as much on disaster preparedness activities that could save millions of lives, according to Robert Tickner, CEO of Australian Red Cross.

Australia's religious communities have united to call for urgent action on climate change at a time when the country is facing its worst drought on record - writes Mathhew Fenwick for Ecumenical News International.

As Christmas approaches, Australian families are turning to church financial counsellors in increasing numbers who say that a new set of families has emerged who need help: those with steady income, but unmanageable debts.