AAP

A future Labor government will pump more than $6 billion into child care, cutting costs for almost all families and allowing more women to return to work.

Australia's share market finished higher for the fourth consecutive session and major sectors thrived after a stimulus-led rally from Wall Street.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has taken aim at Western Australia and Queensland over their strict border closures, saying they should only be in place for health reasons.

UPDATED: The state government has promised a debt-fuelled record $27 billion infrastructure spend over the next four years in a pre-election budget.

About 2,500 new affordable homes are expected to be supported through an extra $1 billion outlined in the federal budget.

Australia's share market has closed above 6,000 points for the first time since early September after a big-spending federal budget helped widespread gains.

Australia's refugee intake has been quietly cut by 5,000 places a year, leaving advocates up in arms.

Scott Morrison denies his government's budget hinges on a coronavirus vaccine being found next year, saying various tax cuts and business incentives will roll out regardless.

Keeping Western Australians safe and creating jobs will be the major focus of a pre-election state budget that is expected to forecast a modest surplus.

Scott Morrison has defended a federal budget scheme to give bosses weekly cash payments to employ people aged under 35.

Adani is back in court over its controversial scheme to pump Galilee Basin floodwater to its Carmichael coal mining project in central Queensland.

Qantas and Jetstar have won a Federal Court case launched by a union after ordering aircraft engineers to stop work without pay amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Australia's share market has finished higher on the strength of the materials and energy sectors and a late rally before the federal budget.

Billionaire James Packer agrees he engaged in shameful and disgraceful conduct by threatening a businessman over a proposal to privatise Crown Resorts.

The gradual reopening of other state borders is making it harder to justify following suit in Western Australia, the state's chief health officer says.

Reserve Bank officials have left the cash rate unchanged at a record low 0.25 per cent, allowing Treasurer Josh Frydenberg's federal budget to have the economic limelight.

University students will soon pay much more for law and arts degrees under controversial changes set to pass the Senate.

Millions of Australians will have income tax cuts fast-tracked in a federal budget set to focus on driving business investment and job creation.

Australia's share market has had its best session since June 16 as fund managers bought in after a negative September and a big-spending federal budget looms.

OZ Minerals has completed the purchase of Cassini Resources for what management hope will prove a long-life copper-nickel mine in Western Australia.

The federal finance minister has questioned the wisdom of Western Australia handing down a budget surplus in the middle of a global economic downturn.

The federal government will spend $1.1 billion on Western Australian road and rail projects, as part of a broader infrastructure package.

Every West Australian household will receive a $600 credit towards their electricity bills as part of the upcoming state budget.

Every Western Australian household will receive a $600 credit towards their electricity bills as part of the upcoming state budget.

Australia's share market has finished steeply lower on news US President Donald Trump tested positive for COVID-19.

Federal MPs are being urged to develop national principles to protect Aboriginal cultural heritage following the destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters.

ANZ will pay a $10 million penalty for wrongly charging 69,000 customers more than $3 million in fees.

New Zealanders will soon be allowed to visit NSW and the Northern Territory when Australia opens its first international border since the coronavirus pandemic hit.

Western Australia will continue to be exposed to risks from ships arriving from coronavirus hotspots, the maritime union has warned.

Senior cabinet ministers are promising big changes in aged care after a damning report criticised the federal government's coronavirus response.

Western Australian authorities will keep a close watch on the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Victoria amid growing pressure to reopen the state's borders.

The Maritime Union of Australia has agreed to end its industrial action at Patrick Terminals at its wharves in Fremantle, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.