AAP

Premier Colin Barnett predicts a carbon tax won't encourage people to reduce their electricity use.

Australia's biggest rare earths company Lynas has teamed up with German giant Siemens to produce magnets for use at wind farms.

The Australian share market has opened higher on positive offshore leads, with Wall Street surging on US economic data and commodities prices surging.

US stock markets surged on Thursday, buoyed by promising data on US job creation in June as well as a solid gain in retail sales for the month.

The Australian dollar is trading higher after a burst of positive jobs and spending data from the US and an interest rate rise by the European Central Bank overnight buoyed sentiment.

Help for steel but miners fear fuel hike – The Aus; Tax hits houses – The West; Backbench rebels over cattle ban – The Fin; ASIC gets tough on financial reports – The Aus; WA junks pay system, Oracle – The Fin

The federal government has given energy giant Shell the go-ahead to drill an exploration well near the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef without referring the proposal for environmental review.

Shares in Australia's largest livestock agent, Elders, gained ground after it said it would resume live cattle exports to Indonesia next month.

Australian stocks ended flat as gains in the retail sector were offset by losses caused by uncertainty over the government's carbon price plans.

A 38-year-old prospector who was reported missing in the Goldfields has been found safe and well.

If you have any doubts about the sustainability of Australia's resources boom, you won't get any support from the world's second and third biggest iron ore miners.

The strong Aussie dollar is giving Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane the unenviable reputation of being among the world's most expensive cities, a global survey shows.

The Australian construction industry is expected to remain weak this financial year, after it shrank for the 13th straight month as residential building slumped, a industry survey shows.

Australian wheat farmers stand to lose billions of dollars if the CSIRO's trials of genetically modified wheat are allowed to continue, Greenpeace says.

Tiger Airways faces a tough task in coming back from its month-long grounding, Virgin Group CEO Sir Richard Branson says.

Australia's jobless rate looks to have settled around a two-year low and is unlikely to go lower for the time being, economists say.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says only around 500 of the biggest polluting companies will pay the full carbon price, and small business won't be hit with extra red tape.

Premier Colin Barnett says the federal government should get live cattle shipments to Indonesia under way as soon as possible so pastoralists don't have to cull.

The death of a 27-year-old man in a crane accident has prompted BHP Billiton to suspend rail and port operations at its Port Hedland iron ore facility in the Pilbara.

The Australian share market has opened lower, despite a mildly positive performance by Wall Street overnight, and after Chinese interest rates rose.

The Australian dollar is lower on continued eurozone debt fears and after Beijing raised a key interest rate in an effort to cool inflation.

Carbon tax price revealed – The West; ASX warns boards on carbon costs - The Fin; Ludwig reopens live export cattle trade – The Aus; China takes a swipe at red tape logjam – The West; Drilling near Ningaloo cleared – The Fin

US stocks rose on Wednesday, rebounding from early losses and shaking off news of a Chinese interest rate rise and fresh eurozone debt worries.

AUSTRALIAN Employment Covenant founder Andrew Forrest says a key milestone has been passed, with more than 270 companies committing to 55,000 jobs for indigenous people.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has reassured coal mining communities their future is "absolutely" secure under her plan to tackle climate change.

A new system to regulate the offshore gas and oil industry - a direct response to the 2009 Montaro spill - has been approved by the lower house of federal parliament.

Treasurer Wayne Swan has sought to soothe worries over the financial problems in Europe, saying the outlook for Australia remains "bright".

Telstra has created a business unit to develop digital applications and appointed a new customer service chief as it prepares for life under the national broadband network (NBN).

The Australian stock market clawed its way back from earlier losses to close marginally firmer, helped by strong gains in the materials sector.

Grounded airline Tiger Airways took too long to stop selling tickets amid uncertainty about when it will be flying again, the nation's consumer watchdog says.

Truck drivers could resort to road blockades and even boycotts against Coles and Woolworths if federal Labor doesn't address rising fuel costs under its carbon tax, a union says.

Police have brushed past a protest blockade to escort Woodside Petroleum contractors to the site of a proposed gas hub at James Price Point in the Kimberley.