An Iraqi man was Wednesday sentenced to 10 years in jail by an Australian court after pleading guilty to smuggling asylum-seekers from Indonesia.

Sayed Omeid helped organize two boats carrying a total of 555 asylum-seekers to the Australian territory of Christmas Island in 2001, authorities said.

Asylum-seekers are living in moldy tents with little privacy on the Pacific island of Nauru, with women and children at risk of sexual assault, according to submissions to an Australian inquiry.

The Senate inquiry, which held its first public hearing on Tuesday, is looking into recent allegations about conditions for would-be refugees on Nauru, including of sexual and physical assault.

Australia on Tuesday ruled out any leniency for returning jihadists following reports that three of its nationals suspected of fighting with Islamic State were in secret negotiations with Canberra to come home.

The Australian newspaper said the three had approached authorities via intermediaries or family members, but that the talks were stalled over what punishment they would face and fears of the risk they might pose if they were reissued passports and allowed to return. 

Papua New Guinea has banned Australians from travelling to the politically sensitive autonomous region of Bougainville, officials said Monday, after Canberra announced plans to open a diplomatic mission there.

Australia revealed proposals for a new mission in resource-rich Bougainville last week, ahead of an independence referendum expected to be held within the next five years.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott Sunday said stopping people-smuggling boats was central to ending the wave of migrants fleeing to Southeast Asia, adding he would not criticize countries' efforts to turn back the vessels.

Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand triggered outrage after turning back starving and helpless migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar's oppressed Muslim Rohingya minority with little food and nowhere to go, and have come under increasing pressure to rescue them.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Friday denied the United States had plans to base B-1 bombers in the country, saying an American official had "misspoken" on the issue.

Assistant Defense Secretary for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs David Shear spoke this week of the deployment of the aircraft at a hearing on safeguarding US interests in the East and South China Seas.

Johnny Depp's pet dogs Pistol and Boo have been ordered by Australia to "bugger off" back to Hollywood or face being put down after he flew the terriers into the country illegally -- as thousands signed a petition to save them.

The actor, who is in Australia to film "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales", was given the grim warning by Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce on Thursday.

Australia will contribute an extra Aus$79.6 million (US$63.4 million) over the next two years to the search for missing airline MH370 if it is not found in the current probe, budget documents showed Tuesday.

The hunt for the plane, spanning 60,000 square kilometers (23,166 square miles), is focusing on a narrow strip of water in the remote southern Indian Ocean and is due to end later this month.

Australia will allocate an extra Aus$450 million (US$355 million) to fight home-grown terrorism and bolster intelligence agencies in its national budget Tuesday to counter "evolving threats and technological change".

The conservative government of Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced Aus$630 million in counter-terrorism funding last year after raising its terror alert to "high".

Australia Monday announced plans to go after large multinational firms shifting profits offshore to minimize taxes, with 30 companies in the government's sights.

It also outlined proposals to force companies selling digital products, such as streamed content and e-books, to pay a goods and services tax.