AAP

Australia's share market has surged early on news of a promising coronavirus vaccine, but the gains eased as experts urged caution about a possible breakthrough.

Scott Morrison says confidence is returning and Australia is well on its way to recovery, but concedes life is still tough for many people.

Unemployed Australians will soon receive $100 less per fortnight as coronavirus supplements are extended at a reduced rate.

Scott Morrison says two ministers who were the subject of a Four Corners program about a misogynistic culture in Canberra did not breach his code of conduct.

Australia's share market has closed at its highest level since March after investors were heartened by a decision in the US presidential election.

Crown Resorts was ignorant or apathetic to money laundering risks, an inquiry into the company's suitability to run a new $2.2 billion casino has heard.

Trade Minister Simon Birmingham is leaving the door open to taking China to the World Trade Organisation over barriers to Australian goods.

Western Australia will start banning single-use plastics within three years, while more households will transition to the FOGO three-bin system in 2020-21, the state government has announced.

Production of coronavirus vaccinations has begun in Victoria as national case numbers continue to fall.

Investors may not yet have a US election result, but they were happy with how things stand and collected gains on the Australian share market.

Macquarie Group has reported a 32 per cent dive in half-year profit after the impact of the coronavirus caused it to write down the value of assets

The Reserve Bank board is not contemplating any further interest rate reductions after slicing the cash rate to a wafer thin 0.1 per cent.

Exporters are being urged to spread their risk in case China officially suspends imports of various Australian products.

Premier Mark McGowan has heralded his state's High Court victory over Clive Palmer as a big win for all Australians.

Manufacturing of the first coronavirus vaccine for Australians will start in Melbourne next week.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has ramped up the pressure on her interstate counterparts in WA and Queensland.

Investors on the Australian share market have finished the session with gains, despite Donald Trump's threat to contest the results of the US presidential election.

Australians will soon know if Western Australia's border closure is legally valid, in a court decision that could have broad consequences for the nation's pandemic response.

Cashless debit cards for welfare recipients are not worth the human cost, senators have been told.

NAB has reported a slump in full-year earnings due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy.

Qantas boss Alan Joyce is demanding action on climate change, industrial relations and red tape as Australia recovers from the coronavirus recession.

A jump in retail spending during the September quarter and an expanding construction sector are further signs that the economy is on the mend.

Shares fluctuated on the Australian market amid early US election results, but have finished barely changed as the world waits to learn who is voted president.

An inquiry by the NSW gaming regulator has heard Crown Resorts is not suitable to hold the licence for a soon-to-be-open $2.2 billion casino in Sydney.

Australia's biggest banks appear to be chasing new home loan business by cutting their fixed rate products, rather than supporting existing customers with variable rate mortgages.

It's hard to imagine a more serious purpose for closing Western Australia's border than for the coronavirus pandemic, the High Court has been told.

Woolworths food sales jumped almost 13 per cent in the first quarter of this financial year, a result the supermarket giant says bodes well for the Christmas season.

NSW is now of greater concern than Victoria when it comes to stifling community spread of the coronavirus, Western Australia's health minister says.

Investors in Australia's share market have enjoyed the best session since October 5, but face great uncertainty with US election results due Wednesday.

Western Australia's corruption watchdog is hearing fresh evidence of alleged "misappropriation" of millions of dollars by bureaucrat Paul Whyte.

Chinese trade strikes on Australian exports have spread to timber and barley, fuelling concerns about the increasingly perilous state of the diplomatic relationship.

UPDATE: The Reserve Bank has cut the cash rate to a record low of 0.1 per cent and says it is prepared to do more if necessary.