AAP

The bid to reduce general government sector spending in Western Australia is off to a bad start, rising 3.9 per cent in the September quarter compared to the same period in 2011.

Two Western Australian Liberal senators have broken ranks with their colleagues in declaring their support for a Labor bill to finalise the deregulation of wheat exports.

Australia is an "embarrassment" in the Asian region, a tourism conference has heard.

Property developer Stockland's incoming chief executive Mark Steinert is concerned that Australia's sluggish housing market is weighing down earnings.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott called for a judicial inquiry into the 20-year-old AWU "slush fund" affair, as Prime Minister Julia Gillard sought his apology for claims she had breached the law.

Stronger than expected business spending figures will give a boost to next yesterday's national accounts but economists doubt this will stand in the way of further interest rate cuts by the central

Australia's housing sector posted a mild rise in October, with new home sales lifting after three months of falls.

A union has accused Qantas of censorship after the airline pulled a series of in-flight advertisements promoting jobs for Australians in the mining sector.

BHP Billiton chairman Jac Nasser says he does not expect any significant increase in iron ore prices soon, following a year of heavy falls in Australia's biggest export earner.

The Australian market is slightly higher after US politicians indicated they were willing to work together to ensure the economy didn't fall off the "fiscal cliff".

Julia Gillard's position as prime minister is "entirely untenable" following fresh revelations concerning her work as a lawyer almost 20 years ago, the opposition says.

US stocks scored solid gains on Wednesday, spurred by encouraging remarks by politicians on averting looming tax hikes and spending cuts that could harm the economy.

Premier Colin Barnett has upped the ante on the controversial Browse gas project, indicating that joint venture leader Woodside Petroleum might not receive state government approval for a floating

The Australian dollar is lower after trading in a tight range on uncertainties around Greece's bailout deal and concerns about the US fiscal cliff.

Parliament is considering legislation to set up a new school funding system but there is still little detail available about how that will work.

Former prime minster Paul Keating says compulsory superannuation contributions may have to rise to 15 per cent to meet a looming blowout in the cost of caring for Australia's ageing population.

 The Australian market closed slightly lower, amid renewed scepticism about the Greek bailout deal and avoiding the US fiscal cliff.

A native title claimant group has called for a federal inquiry into its allegations that iron ore miner Fortescue Metals "heavied" its way onto land in the Pilbara.

The days of Australian banks posting returns on equity of 20 per cent or more are long gone, says Westpac chief executive Gail Kelly.

Toro Energy has pushed back financing negotiations for its proposed Wiluna uranium mine in Western Australia, as it waits for the federal government to decide the fate of the project.

As the debate about work for Australians versus foreign labour continues to rage, Commerce Minister Simon O'Brien has released a report showing local businesses have won $30 billion worth of contra

Qantas Airways chief executive Alan Joyce has defended cutting ties with, and funding to, Tourism Australia while its chairman Geoff Dixon was plotting to buy into the airline.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy says the national broadband network will hit the rollout targets in its $37.4 billion corporate plan.

Treasurer Wayne Swan has played up the prospects for Australia's resources industry with a new report showing investment in new projects has hit a record $268.4 billion, even though commodity price

Premier Colin Barnett has labelled the federal government's Asian Century White Paper "underwhelming", describing it as lacking in analysis and objectivity.

Deputy opposition leader Julie Bishop is under pressure to explain her contact with self-confessed union bagman Ralph Blewitt, as a Labor MP attacked her on Twitter as a "narcissistic bimbo".

Government spending cuts are having a negative impact on the construction sector, official figures show.

Australian stocks have opened weaker, with declines among mining-related sectors leading the broader market lower

New research claims one in four Australian consumers feel emotions close to love when considering which brand to buy.

US stocks have closed lower as fiscal cliff worries overshadow encouraging US economic data and investors shrug off Greece's revised bailout deal.

Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals has sought to reassure shareholders that the economic credentials of its biggest customer, China, remain sound following the country's recent leadership transition.