AAP

The economy posted unexpectedly slow growth in the December quarter, but provided some good news on labour productivity.

A state government offer to pay $2000 to Aboriginal people who lost out under the "stolen wages" regime has been labelled heartless and insulting by indigenous leaders.

The Australian share market has opened sharply lower, after US markets suffered their biggest losses since November, on more worries over Europe.

Monetary policy has a key role to play in the evolution of the Australian economy, as it responds to structural change, the Reserve Bank of Australia says.

US stocks registered their biggest losses of the year on Tuesday amid worries about the looming Greek debt swap deal and slowing growth in the global economy.

The Australian dollar has dropped over three-quarters of a US cent after the Reserve Bank of Australia indicated that it is open to more interest rate cuts.

Mining lobby groups have lined up to attack plans by green groups to run a $6 million campaign attacking the coal industry.

A petition with more than 5,000 signatures opposing state government plans to redevelop the Perth waterfront has been presented at state parliament.

The federal government has given the green light for the $554 million friendly takeover of Western Australia-focused iron ore explorer Flinders Mines by a Russian steel making giant.

The Australian share market closed firmly in the red after weaker base metals prices and a downwards revision of China's economic growth target weighed on mining stocks.

Treasurer Wayne Swan sang the praises of the Bank of Queensland (BoQ) for sitting tight last month while the major banks lifted their lending rates.

Regional communities will have more access to legal services online due to the rollout of the federal government's national broadband network.

 Prime Minister Julia Gillard will invite business leaders to the first meeting of a new advisory forum set up to find ways to cut red tape, as Treasurer Wayne Swan's criticism of three mining

Far from leaving us with a hangover, the recent Chinese New Year party has given Australia a huge tourism boost.

Newcrest Mining is to become a joint venture partner with Frontier Resources in its Mt Andewa project in Papua New Guinea after taking a small stake in the junior gold and copper explorer .

The Reserve Bank of Australia has kept the cash rate at 4.25 per cent after its March board meeting, citing improved economic conditions.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan's attack on billionaire mining magnates for wielding undue influence is unacceptable and unfounded, Premier Colin Barnett says.

The Australian Greens have slammed the federal government's early axing of the solar hot water rebate scheme, saying sun power is the nation's future.

Westpac Banking Corporation has confirmed plans to send 119 technology jobs overseas to cut costs.

The Australian economy has been crawling along below trend pace for a number of years, a leading economist says.

A judge has thrown out Gina Rinehart's latest bid to keep secret her family court battle, rejecting claims the publicity would increase kidnapping or extortion risks.

 The first half of 2012 could be the best period in years for Australian agriculture, underpinned by a sizeable increase in Western Australian average farm cash.

Unions will launch a test case to lift apprentice wages to at least the minimum wages in their industry.

The Australian share market has opened more than half a per cent lower.

The Australian dollar has fallen almost half of a US cent as global markets reacted to China's reduced growth target.

Confidence among small and medium businesses took a backward step in the March quarter, a quarterly survey by information management firm Sensis found.

US stocks have fallen on worries about the slowing global economy after China lowered its growth estimate eclipsed positive numbers on the US services sector.

The Australian dollar rose 0.3 of a US cent in the absence of any major market-moving data, by contrast to what has otherwise been a volatile week.

The mining boom has helped cities in Western Australia and Queensland top a list of property hotspots to look out for this year.

The Australian stock market closed higher after a positive lead from Wall Street, shrugging off higher unemployment levels in Europe.

Sundance Resources shares were heavily traded on the ASX after the iron ore explorer entered an agreement with a private West African company about sharing infrastructure planned for the Perth-base

Water Minister Bill Marmion admits a 13.5 per cent interest rate being charged on unpaid water bills is high and says he will ask the Water Corporation to justify it.