AAP

One of the world's healthiest marine environments will be threatened by a major oil and gas drilling program just 10km off Western Australia's pristine Rowley Shoals, conservationists say.

The Australian Workers' Union (AWU) is warning a high Australian dollar and interest rates are pushing the local steel manufacturing industry to the "brink of collapse".

Australian stocks have opened lower as local market players took their cues from a poor night on Wall Street.

Two lobby groups are at odds over legal advice suggesting the Gillard government's carbon tax could be unconstitutional.

Shares in Alumina Ltd eased after the miner's joint venture partner Alcoa said it would slash alumina production capacity to avoid adding to oversupply in the Atlantic region.

The Australian share market closed lower after a rise in domestic job advertisements for the third straight month failed to offset disappointing US employment figures.

Law firm Slater & Gordon is considering launching a class action on behalf of some former Bankwest customers over the Commonwealth Bank's takeover of the Perth-based lender.

Business confidence has improved but still remains below its long-term average because of concerns about a more pronounced slowing among emerging economies.

Australian construction remained weak in March, although the pace of decline has slowed, an industry study shows.

Premier Colin Barnett has fired a shot across Canberra's bow ahead of the Council of Australian Governments meeting, saying the balance of power now lies with the states.

Australia and China will work more closely on building infrastructure in each country under a new agreement.

The Western Australian branch of the Health Services Union says it may break away from the national body because of the damage being done to the brand by ongoing controversies.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says he believes the only way the federal government will return the budget to surplus is by "fiddling the books".

Job advertisements rose for a third consecutive month, in a sign that hiring intentions by businesses are continuing to improve, a private survey shows.

The competition watchdog has given the green light to Foxtel's $2 billion takeover of Austar, but slapped strict controls on the suitor to help protect emerging internet tv services.

Billionaire mining magnate Clive Palmer says Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board is acting as a disincentive for investment in Australia.

Virgin Australia will invest $8 million in regional carrier Skywest Airlines to help expand their existing partnership.

The Australian sharemarket has opened one per cent lower as investors reacted to weak US jobs figures released at the start of easter break.

Treasurer Wayne Swan is talking up carbon tax compensation cheques for Australian households a month before the federal budget.

US stocks tumbled Monday after last week's disappointing jobs report showed a slowdown in hiring that raised concerns about the strength of the economic recovery.

A rally on Chinese equity markets has helped the Australian dollar to recover from a three month low.

The Australian share market closed lower on the back of sharply weaker commodity prices and a negative offshore lead amid fresh concerns about the euro zone debt crisis.

The annual Diggers and Dealers mining conference may be forced to move to Perth if Kalgoorlie's conference centre is forced to close, organisers say.

It used to be the great Australian dream: a big house on a quarter acre block with a couple of kids and maybe a pet or two thrown in.

Central Petroleum is in talks to attract new joint venture partners for its ambitious helium project in the Northern Territory near the South Australian border.

BC Iron and equal joint venture partner Fortescue Metals Group have extended the life of their Nullagine iron ore mine in the Pilbara by 18 months.

Programmed Maintenance Services has bought golf course and race track maintenance company Turnpoint in a deal worth up to $12 million.

The Australian market has opened half a per cent lower due to falling commodity prices and a weakness on overseas markets.

World oil prices have tumbled as soaring American stockpiles indicate weak demand in the world's biggest oil consuming nation, dealers say.

A dreadful Spanish bond auction and the reluctance of the Federal Reserve to launch a fresh round of US stimulus have sent Wall Street share prices tumbling.

Australia has unexpectedly recorded a trade deficit for the second month in a row, in a further sign the country's buoyant trade performance of recent years has peaked.

he Australian share market has closed flat despite a sell-off triggered by disappointing trade balance numbers.