AAP

Opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey has described the federal government finances as a "mess", with a reported increase in NSW royalties blowing nearly another $1 billion in the commonwealth b

The polls show Kevin Rudd is the preferred Labor leader, but punters are backing Defence Minister Stephen Smith to win the race to be leader at the next election.

A joint venture between Melbourne-based Service Stream and development giant Lend Lease has secured a contract to help build the national broadband network (NBN) in Western Australia.

The Australian share market has opened more than one per cent down after European stocks tumbled over the risk of recession and the eurozone debt crisis.

The Australian dollar was lower after European stock markets fell amid growing pessimism the European sovereign debt crisis could get worse.

Gold climbed to a near record high above $1,900 an ounce on Monday as renewed pangs of euro zone debt concerns sent investors fleeing from riskier assets.

Abbott's record lead over Gillard – The Aus; Companies face $100bn debt bill – The Fin; Gas ignored in debate: Argus – The West; NBN Co awards $400m contracts for Vic, WA – The Fin; Creditors oppose Anderson's court bid – The Fin

Motorists should expect petrol prices to rise by up to five cents a litre in the next fortnight after they dipped to a two-month low in the past week, an economist says.

Australians are on track to buy one million new cars in calendar 2011 after a big jump in sales in August, new figures show.

The Macarthur Coal board has told shareholders to accept a takeover bid by ArcelorMittal and Peabody Energy (PEAMCoal), but says a better alternative bid might still emerge.

Dymocks is launching a new publishing arm which enables budding authors to publish their creations.

The Australian share market closed weaker, extending losses from early trade as disappointing US jobs data continued to take its toll on stocks.

Aussie tourism operators are being urged to be optimistic, with experts predicting emerging markets will lift the sector eventually.

OZ Minerals is targeting mid-2015 to start construction of its newly acquired Carrapateena copper and gold project in South Australia.

The Australian economy is expected to have returned to growth in the June quarter after a contraction in the previous three months because of natural disasters over the summer.

Magnetite iron ore pellet producer Grange Resources has agreed to purchase by-product from Venture Minerals's Mt Lindsay tin and tungsten project in Tasmania.

Coal miner and iron ore explorer Aquila Resources says it will cost $368 million to develop its wholly owned Washpool coking coal project in Queensland.

Western Australian stocks proved resilient when the domestic sharemarket fell to a two-year low in August, with the market capitalisation of the state's top 100 firms easing by just 2.8 per cent.

Activity in the Australian services sector expanded in August for the first time in four months, despite continuing softness in household spending.

The federal government won't be bringing back individual workplace agreements despite a push by a major industry group for more flexibility, frontbencher Craig Emerson says.

The Australian share market has opened lower after weak US jobs data renewed fears of a second global recession.

The Australian dollar was trading around one US cent lower this morning, weakened by last week's poor US economic news.

Another down week in US stocks has capped off the dismal month of August, with bad jobs figures and a sweeping government lawsuit against banks over mortgage-backed securities cancelling out a tent

Business calls for flexible contracts – The Aus; Barnett's ambitions as big as his state – The Fin; Royalties impair 42pc tax claim – The West; High dollar is a profit season blow – The Fin; Crunch time for Alcoa's Warro-4 gas venture – The Fin

South Boulder Mines expects to start production at the world's first open pit potash mine by 2016 and possibly sooner, with start-up costs expected to be half the average for underground potash min

Predator SABMiller has claimed that takeover target Foster's Group made misleading statements when it reported its annual financial results.

The Australian share market has closed lower as investors expect poor US employment data to push the market even further down.

Borrowers can breathe easy for the next few months, as economists don't expect an interest rate rise for the remainder of 2011, while some are tipping a cut in the new year.

Uranium explorer Extract Resources says it is advancing financing talks for its $US1.66 billion Husab uranium project in Namibia, which is set to be the world's third-largest uranium-only mine.

The Southern Seawater Desalination Plant (SSDP) has been officially opened three months ahead of schedule and will soon begin to produce 50 billion litres of freshwater for the state.

Shares in Excalibur Mining jumped after the gold exploration minnow unveiled a new direction and capital structure, including a planned dual listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).