AAP

Australia's rich critical mineral and clean energy resources could be harnessed to drive economic prosperity as seen in the mid-2010s mining boom.

The local share market has finished up 1.2 per cent ahead the overnight release of another important monthly inflation readout from United States.

WA exports have doubled over five years to be $256 billion in the 12 months to November, while the national trade surplus was $13.2 billion in that month alone.

The Greens are pushing Labor to consider a more ambitious revamp of its safeguard mechanism scheme, to stop new coal and gas projects.

Australia and Papua New Guinea are one step closer to strengthening their relationship as the countries take the next step in committing to a new security deal.

Hotter-than-expected domestic inflation has failed to dampen the local bourse, which climbed 0.9 per cent to its highest level since mid-December.

The government is considering a tariff on polluting imports so that Australian firms covered by environmental regulations can remain competitive.

The local share market has closed lower for just the second time this year amid more "higher for longer" interest rate talk from Fed officials.

The treasurer has met with his counterparts from the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand to discuss the challenges facing their economies.

More needs to be done to entice migrants to settle in the regions, says the Regional Australia Institute, including better advertising for regional jobs.

The local share market has finished 0.6 per cent higher, with nine out of its 11 official sectors gaining ground.

An independent review of Australia's carbon credit scheme has found the scheme is sound but says after 11 years of operation there is room for improvement.

The local share market has snapped its four-week losing streak, climbing 0.65 per cent to finish the first week of the new year up one per cent.

An accountancy firm has found seven out of 10 aged care centres ran at a loss over three months in 2022, as the federal government admits the sector is a mess.

Australian coal exporters are becoming more confident that the latest reports that China will allow coal trade to resume are more than just a rumour.

Oil producers and goldminers have moved in opposite directions, with the rest of the market mostly quiet while the Australian dollar gained ground.

The Australian Defence Force will acquire new naval strike missiles and long-range rocket systems in a bid to boost national security.

Reports that China has lifted the ban on importing Australian coal would signal a significant step forward for diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The energy sector fell but every other sector of the ASX gained ground as the local bourse shrugged off Tuesday's losses, climbing 1.6 per cent.

Homes have been inundated and residents evacuated as a record-breaking flood hits a remote town in WA's Kimberley region.

The local share market dropped 1.3 per cent, with every sector in the red and the big banks hitting three-month lows as sentiment soured.

The local share market dropped 1.3 per cent, with every sector in the red and the big banks hitting three-month lows as sentiment soured.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the government is closely monitoring the situation in China, where a wave of COVID-19 infections is sweeping through the country.

The local share market has closed 0.6 per cent lower with nearly all sectors in the red, and lost a similar amount for the week.

A 12-month cap on the price of gas has begun as part of the federal government's energy relief measures agreed by state and territory leaders.

The local share market has advanced for a second day, rising 0.5 per cent with nearly every sector in the green.

The Reserve Bank needs to take on board the lessons learnt from its poorly communicated forward guidance, a parliamentary committee has found.

The majority of West Australian police members polled by the union voted to reject the government's latest pay offer.

The ASX has recovered most of Tuesday's sharp losses suffered after the Bank of Japan's surprise move on bond yields, closing up 1.29 per cent.

TPG and Telstra will appeal after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission declined to approve their proposed $1.8 billion network-sharing deal.

The local share market has fallen 1.54 per cent after Japan's ultra-dovish central bank unexpectedly eased its attempts to control bond yields.

Australia's foreign minister has left Canberra on a plane to Beijing for diplomatic talks with her Chinese counterpart, breaking a four-year diplomatic freeze.