AAP

The spillage of 15 tonnes of genetically modified canola onto Albany Highway has raised fears over contamination of nearby non-GM crops.

The federal government's leading employment index has fallen for a fourth straight month in August, following on from three consecutive monthly increases.

First it was thought the carbon tax would apply to 1000 of Australia's biggest polluters, then it was 500, and now the climate change department says it's "more like 400".

Beware of people promising gifts from Kevin Rudd and Oprah Winfrey, the boss of the Australian Tax Office has warned.

Tiger Airways Australia has been cleared to resume flights, about six weeks after it was grounded by the air safety regulator.

BHP Billiton chairman Jac Nasser says Australians should feel quietly confident amid the downturn in markets.

A referendum on piping water from the Kimberley to Perth would finally give Premier Colin Barnett the imprimatur to go ahead with the plan, Federal Liberal MP Don Randall says.

Shares in Beach Energy rose after the oil and gas producer reported a strong resource estimate for its Holdfast-1 and Encounter-1 shale gas wells in the Cooper Basin, South Australia.

Shares in WorleyParsons surged after the company announced it had won two new overseas contracts.

Consumer sentiment has fallen further into negative territory, as concerns about the state of the global economy added to persisting worries about interest rates, housing prices and the carbon tax.

Developer Stockland has posted a 58 per cent rise in annual profit, and says it expects to maintain earnings in the current year.

Treasurer Wayne Swan is confident the Chinese economy will continue to grow strongly, providing a major plank of support for Australia in a turbulent world economy.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia shares are the worst performing of the big four banks after it forecast little improvement in credit demand and potentially higher funding costs.

The federal government has not asked Treasury whether its plan to introduce a carbon tax in mid-2012 should be reconsidered given the current global market turmoil.

Australian stocks opened higher this morning as investors swooped to cover short positions and buy shares in what one trader described as an oversold market.

The Australian dollar was more than one US cent higher this morning, after the US Federal Reserve said interest rates could stay at their record lows for the next two years due to weakness in the e

US stocks rebounded strongly on Tuesday, with the Dow jumping nearly four per cent after plummeting Monday on the shock of Standard & Poor's downgrade of the US credit rating.

Wild market ride astounds watchers, shakes out value – The West; China prices rattle miners – The Fin; AMWU seeks 15pc pay rise in WA - The Fin; Business calls for targeted stimulus – The Aus; Domestic gas policy angers producers – The Aus

After falling below parity for the first time since March, the Australian dollar recovered over two US cents in afternoon trade to push back above one US dollar.

Perth market leader Mix 94.5 has suffered a two percentage point drop in the latest radio ratings, while still managing to keep itself on the top of the leaderboard.

Draft laws dealing with political lobbyists are imminent, Premier Colin Barnett says, three years after he won an election on the back of promising such legislation.

Woodside Petroleum has pledged to ensure that no populations of bilbies will be harmed during development of its proposed $30 billion gas hub in the Kimberley.

Investors are clamouring for gold as the price of the precious metal continues to set fresh records, eclipsing the platinum price.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Westpac have joined the growing number of lenders cutting home loan interest rates.

Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand have been granted permission to fly fewer seats across the Tasman in response to Chilean volcanic ash cloud.

Telstra is tipped to report a double-digit decline in net profit on Thursday, as its year-long bid to capture more customers eats into the bottom line.

Premier Colin Barnett has rubbished a push within his party for a royal commission to investigate the science on climate change.

Treasurer Wayne Swan is in a bit of a dilemma.

Mid-sized public companies still haven't got the message about increasing the number of women in senior roles, Macquarie Group chairman Kevin McCann says.

Wages for Western Australian politicians have been brought nearly in line with their federal counterparts with a 4.3 per cent pay increase which Premier Colin Barnett says is too much.

Debt-laden Centro Properties Group will consolidate its complicated funds structure into a new, publicly listed $7 billion shopping centre owner and manager.