AAP

Illegal dumping of asbestos in Perth should stop after a landfill levy for the dangerous material is dropped, the state government says.

BHP Billiton has confirmed that the global mining giant is preparing for the departure of chief executive Marius Kloppers by preparing a succession plan.

Buru Energy and its partner Mitsubishi Corporation have signed the first-ever State Agreement covering onshore gas exploration, to support the develoment of their expansive tenements in the Canning

Business leaders will be invited to nominate talented women to sit on government boards to help them break through the glass ceiling.

Retailer Harvey Norman's profit in the first quarter of the 2012/13 financial year has dropped by 20 per cent because of falling sales.

Work has resumed at troubled auto parts maker Autodom's Victorian sites, shoring up a supply of components to Ford.

Downer EDI shares have soared more than seven per cent after the engineering firm said it was on track to achieve its full-year profit expectations.

Skilled workers in Australia's eastern states view a move west as akin to relocating overseas, with the cost of living, social isolation and remote job locations compounding reasons why they're sta

News Corporation says its Australian newspapers are suffering from weak advertising markets and the shift of readers online.

Australian construction activity is weakening at a slower rate than before, but has now been in contraction for 29 months, an industry study shows.

Australian stocks are slightly higher after positive leads from Europe and Wall Street.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia has lifted its first quarter cash profit to about $1.85 billion but warns difficult economic conditions are beginning to hit businesses.

US stocks closed with solid gains as the country goes to the polls to choose between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney for president, with the economy the key issue in the tight election.

The Federal Court has made a ruling in favour of traditional owners following a five-year native title dispute with miners in the Pilbara.

Macmahon Holdings has apologised to shareholders for its recent earnings downgrade, as the mining contractor undertakes a review of costs and construction projects.

 Network Ten is expected to begin sacking journalists after failing to obtain sufficient voluntary redundancies, a union says.

The Australian stock market finished higher as investors sat on their hands ahead of the US presidential election.

The Australian dollar rallied to its highest level in almost six weeks after the Reserve Bank of Australia opted to keep the cash rate on hold for November.

Labour costs in Western Australia's mining industry remain high, despite commodity price falls and a slow down in the sector, the world's second biggest gold miner says.

Australian house prices have edged higher in recent months, but it's too early to say if the struggling sector is in recovery.

Industry, retailers and unions have questioned the central bank's decision to leave the cash rate unchanged following its monthly board meeting, when many market economists were predicting a furthe

Central Petroleum has signed a $190 million deal with oil and gas giant Total to explore for shale gas in central Australia.

Construction giant Leighton has signed a new $1.4 billion funding agreement and raised another $US500 million ($484 million) from an issue of notes.

On the day the Melbourne Cup runs 30 minutes after the reserve bank announces its interest rate decision, overseas travel figures are never going to make anyone sit up and take notice.

Treasury has costed three coalition policies and assessed their impact on businesses at the request of the federal government.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has kept the cash rate on hold for November, citing higher than expected inflation and signs of improvement in the global economy.

Engineering company Monadelphous Group has been awarded a $100 million contract to construct the coal handling plant for the BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance Caval Ridge Mine Project.

Australia's live export industry says the controversial slaughter of 21,000 sheep in Pakistan is not an indication its animal welfare protections are failing.

Receivers have been appointed to troubled auto car parts maker Autodom Limited as efforts continue to minimise any disruption to vehicle production at Ford and Holden.

Australian stocks have opened flat in quiet trade as market players await a Melbourne Cup day interest rate decision from the central bank.

A US federal judge has thrown out a suit by Apple claiming that Google subsidiary Motorola Mobility is seeking unreasonably high licence fees for the use of patents on wireless technology.

US stocks have scored gains on the eve of the presidential vote, with President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney locked neck-and-neck in the race for the White House.