AAP

House of Representatives Speaker Tony Smith will step down on November 22 to serve out the rest of the parliamentary term as a Liberal backbencher.

The final round of reforms to the financial sector following the banking royal commission have been introduced to federal parliament.

The federal government decided on the overseas purchase of a new navy ship to help Australia's Pacific neighbours, despite a commitment to build it onshore.

Higher inflation figures rocked investor confidence on the Australian share market as traders pondered the prospect of an earlier rate rise.

Australian inflation grew by 0.8 per cent in the September quarter, largely driven by the rising cost of new homes and fuel.

Crown Resorts shares rocketed after the company retained its Melbourne casino licence while investors barely nudged the Aussie market before Wednesday's inflation data.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has committed to making Australia carbon neutral by 2050 in a new plan that relies heavily on existing technologies.

Its behaviour was "illegal, dishonest, unethical and exploitative", but gaming group Crown will keep its Melbourne casino licence.

Shares on the ASX closed at their highest level in more than 26 days while this week's inflation data may help the Aussie dollar to its highest position since July.

The federal government is playing up its partnership with Telstra to buy a South Pacific mobile and broadband company as a sign of its commitment to the region.

Australia's share market had a third consecutive week of gains as investors look to inflation data and a debate on whether a rate rise may be brought forward.

International travel restarting in Australia's two most populous states has been dangled as an incentive for vaccination laggards to pick up the pace.

Western Australia will delay relaxing its border to Queensland after a Gold Coast man who tested positive to COVID-19 was active in the community.

Company leaders put a positive spin on tricky times but investors were not always persuaded on a busy day of annual meetings and quarterly updates.

Investors have pushed the Australian share market to a 30-day high and the Aussie dollar to 75 US cents as the September worries of stalling growth fade.

Flight Centre is counting on a rebound in demand for travel to help it achieve a return to monthly profitability within the current financial year.

Australia's tax commissioner is facing an investigation from a powerful parliamentary committee after refusing to hand over companies' wage subsidy details.

Western Australia's premier has joined with the mining sector in dismissing calls for stronger federal oversight of Aboriginal cultural heritage.

Rising bond yields have helped flatten the Australian share market as the Reserve Bank continued its standoff with investors over when rates will go up.

Colonial First State has been ordered to pay a substantial penalty by the Federal Court after misleading nearly 13,000 of its members about their superannuation.

Investors had a winning start to the week on the Australian share market despite concerns about China and an energy shortage.

Western Australian Liberal Slade Brockman has been sworn in as the new Senate president.

The reopening trade gathered pace on the Australian share market after NSW scrapped quarantine and Qantas fast-tracked overseas flights.

Billionaire James Packer has been summoned to face a Western Australian royal commission examining whether Crown should retain its Perth casino licence.

Qantas will use a $802 million land sale to reduce debt and may yet move its headquarters to the same divested property.

Senior Morrison government ministers are confident the Liberals will strike a deal with the Nationals to get a target of net zero emissions by 2050 over the line.

The first rise of the week for Australian shares has coincided with a rise in unemployment as experts warn the economy will take time to recover from lockdowns.

WA mining magnate Andrew Forrest has slammed the state government for “dithering” on green hydrogen, days after unveiling plans to build a $1 billion green hydrogen hub in Queensland.

Western Australia’s unemployment rate has fallen to an eight year-low of 4.1 per cent while COVID-19 induced lockdowns have fuelled job losses in the eastern states.

Australia's medicines regulator has approved a key step towards the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine being given to children aged five to 11.

Australian shares are on a three-day slide as soaring energy prices make life more difficult for people trying to resume regular activity after the pandemic peak.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg believes there is a case to review the operations of the independent Reserve Bank of Australia.