AAP

A high-profile anti-whaling and environmental activist has been given a suspended jail term for bursting into the offices of Western Australia's Forest Products Commission (FPC) and throw

Holden says its car making operations in Australia are viable and sustainable but it doesn't expect to grow imports while the dollar remains high.

Job advertisements posted a sharp fall in April after three consecutive months of rises, a private survey shows.

Australian residential building approvals rose 7.4 per cent to 11,501 units in March, while retail spending rose 0.9 per cent, official figures show.

Rio Tinto has named its nominees to the board of minerals explorer Ivanhoe Australia after taking effective control of the company's major shareholder.

Business conditions worsened in April, unwinding the gradual improvement in activity of the past few months, a survey shows.

Australian stocks have opened almost 1.5 per cent lower, following instability in European markets after the election of France's first Socialist president in nearly two decades.

Treasurer Wayne Swan says the International Monetary Fund has given a "ringing endorsement" to Labor's plan to return to surplus.

US stocks plunged Friday after the government reported that hiring slowed sharply last month. The report confirmed investors' fears that the US economic recovery is faltering.

Premier Colin Barnett should leave the proponents of the $30 billion-plus Browse gas hub to make their own decisions and stop upsetting investors, the Labor opposition says.

The Australian stock market has closed lower with the miners hit hardest on a day of widespread declines.

Liberal leader Tony Abbott is unlikely to ensure Western Australia gets a better deal out of the GST carve-up after backflipping on his previous stance in favour of a per capita dist

James Packer's Consolidated Media Holdings says it one-quarter stake of pay tv provider Foxtel is not for sale.

The federal government insists there will be a floor price when the carbon tax transforms into an emissions trading scheme in mid-2015, despite independent MP Rob Oakeshott suggesting he could try

Westpac's business customers have received greater interest rate relief than mortgage holders, with the bank saying the sector needs a boost in the current economy.

A union representing 600 workers at the troubled Point Henry Alcoa aluminium smelter is optimistic the plant can be saved after meeting with US executives reviewing its future.

Regional airline Alligator Airways has been grounded amid concerns it poses a serious risk to air safety.

Australian stocks have opened weaker on the back of a weak lead from Wall Street, with falls among the big miners dragging the broader market lower.

Australia's busiest air routes are set to get even busier after Qantas Airways announced plans to add more flights in the latest salvo in its battle with Virgin.

Wall Street made a brief incursion into positive territory early Thursday, but spent the rest of the day in the red as trepidation about weak data sent markets into a spin.

The Australian dollar fell about one-third of a cent to below 103 US cents after the publication of data showing weaker than expected Chinese economic output.

Australian stocks closed marginally lower on a day of low volumes as gains among finance-linked companies were offset by weakness in the energy sector.

The government is confusing the public with mixed messages by announcing new defence funding ahead of next week's budget, the opposition says.

Australia needs a strong military deterrent to protect its valuable oil, gas and mineral deposits in the country's north, the federal opposition says.

Former Liberal party adviser and lobbyist Dean Smith will be sworn in as Australia's newest senator next week.

Delays in finalising a workplace agreement could hamper earnings growth at ports and rail operator Asciano.

Optus and Vodafone say they plan to beef up their mobile coverage through sharing more of each other's network mobile sites.

Setting aside natural gas resources for the nation's own use would be counter-productive and could leave gas in the ground at a time when new supplies need to be developed, says oil and gas produce

Coles' supermarket-branded frozen vegetable line is to be completely home-grown.

British pop star George Michael will be the first headline act at the controversial new Perth Arena when it officially opens in November.

Oil and gas producer Eureka Energy has rejected a $107 million takeover offer from Aurora Oil & Gas.