I can only imagine what world news is reported on and emphasized in a smaller country with less of a global presence such as Australia. I'd guess it's like when I lived in Wyoming, there wasn't even a local news channel, we got the news from Salt Lake City, Utah which covered surrounding areas like the city I was in.
I love storms, they feel like a cleansing of the world, they provide water for lawns and plants and relief from high temperatures, and I like feeling sheltered and safe in my home while the storm rages outside. It's a bit different with a hurricane or major storm to be sure, but I've survived those too.