AAP

Federal budget cuts to single parents, foreign aid and universities should be reversed in light of an abandoned surplus, the Greens say.

It was a boom that would seemingly go on forever.

The frontrunner for Western Australia's first uranium mine says a delay in the federal environmental assessment process won't affect the proposed project schedule - for now.

Truck drivers are warning of a campaign of civil disobedience against Coles in 2013 as they continue their fight for a safer working environment.

The cost of so-called "poles and wires" utility infrastructure has been the biggest driver of electricity prices over the past five years, the Australian Energy Regulator has confirmed.

Ratings agency Moody's has downgraded its outlook for Western Australia's AAA credit rating to negative from stable because of the state's mounting debt.

Mining services company Boart Longyear says it will continue to look for cost savings after implementing cuts that resulted in 2,500 job losses.

The Australian share market hit new 17-month highs after opening slightly higher this morning.

Treasurer Wayne Swan has accused the opposition of twisting the facts about the economy as he continues to defend Labor's decision to drop its budget surplus.

US stocks swung higher on Thursday as the market appeared to show optimism about a potential deal in Washington to prevent the economy from going over the so-called fiscal cliff.

Australia's ability to repay its debt will be unaffected by the government's admission it's unlikely to deliver a budget surplus this financial year, a global ratings agency says.

Billabong's chief financial officer Craig White has left the troubled surfwear retailer.

The Australian dollar has finished the local session below 105 US cents for the first time in more than a week as the currency loses some of its safe-haven lustre.

A building products manufacturer has been fined $45,000 after a supervisor had two fingers severed by a flywheel press.

A $30,000 fine imposed on Kentucky Fried Chicken for illegally employing children to work later than 10pm at three of its Perth outlets is not enough, an affiliation of 40 unions says.

 The Australian share market has continued its stellar run, finishing higher despite falls on Wall Street amid caution about the outcome of the US budget talks.

The future of Telstra Corporation's Trading Post is under a cloud after the competition regulator blocked a proposed deal with online classifieds operator carsales.com.

A lawyer for the ex-partner of state Treasurer Troy Buswell has asked the Liberal minister to cease legal action against his former flame.

OZ Minerals says a recent fall in the company's share price can be put down to analysts' modelling of production and costs for 2012 and 2013.

The federal government's admission that a budget surplus was now unlikely has led to opposition charges that it has mismanaged the economy - a view which appears to resonate with WA Business News r

Broadcaster Nine Entertainment has won a legal battle against some of its creditors who were worried about the structure of $3.3 billion plan to stop the company going into administration.

Perth Glory and a mining company chaired by the soccer club's owner, Tony Sage, say they are not at the centre of a federal police investigation following a raid on their offices.

Troubled agribusiness and automotive interiors supplier Elders has blamed a weak market for lower sales and earnings in the first two months of its fiscal year.

Legal action has been launched over the environmental approval process for Woodside's controversial Browse gas hub at James Price Point in Western Australia.

Qantas Airways shares were flat in early trade as the airline welcomed a preliminary decision giving its proposed alliance with Emirates the green light.

The Australian share market has opened slightly lower following a fall on Wall Street, with investors cautious about the ongoing talks to avoid the US fiscal cliff.

Businesses may get that sales boost they've been begging Santa for after all, with a new survey showing a rise in consumer spending ahead of Christmas.

US stocks have closed lower as market sentiment soured less than two weeks before the United States risks going over the so-called fiscal cliff.

Several companies associated with Perth Glory owner and businessman Tony Sage have been raided by federal police.

The Australian dollar is slightly lower following weakness in Chinese stocks.

Rare earths miner Lynas has won its latest court battle in Malaysia and is free to keep operating after opponents lost an appeal to take away its licence.

The Australian share market closed at its highest level for the year with investors betting on US policymakers to back a deal to avert $US600 billion in federal tax hikes and spending cuts.