AAP

Ministers are standing by government grants spending, which would face public scrutiny under Labor's proposed "anti-rorting" bill before parliament.

The ASX200 has closed higher than 7500 points for the first time as robust economic forecasts and a falling dollar help investors look beyond coronavirus lockdowns.

The ports industry has questioned Western Australia's hardline stance on high-risk ships, saying pre-existing safeguards were working.

New figures show the negative impact a series of virus lockdowns have had on both retailing and the construction industry in recent months.

More than $120 million will be spent on boosting early childhood care and education in Indigenous communities, with most of the funding earmarked for an expansion of the Connected Beginnings program.

Labor and the Greens are expected to make a fresh push on Wednesday to remove the ability of Australia's green bank to invest in fossil fuel technology.

Former Australia Post boss Christine Holgate will receive a $1 million settlement for losing her job more than nine months after the acrimonious split.

Stadiums and shops could be the next frontier of Australia's coronavirus vaccine rollout, with a plan to administer drive-through jabs being weighed up.

Western Australia could face a long wait for more public housing amid concerns more rough sleepers will die on the streets of Perth.

Investors had a momentary spat about a Reserve Bank decision not to maintain the same support for a coronavirus-ravaged economy, and the ASX eased from record highs.

Younger Western Australians will be targeted in a coronavirus vaccination blitz as the state looks to boost its faltering rollout.

Vaccinated Australians have been armed with more technology to prove their status as a new poll reveals majority support for domestic travel passports.

Qantas is temporarily standing down about 2,500 employees despite the federal government yesterday announcing extra support for airlines.

Zoom Video Communications will pay $A116 million out-of-court for a class action lawsuit that claims it violated users' privacy rights.

A mega takeover deal for Afterpay ignited technology shares and helped the ASX to a record high level.

Federal Labor says Australia is in a housing crisis with a growing number of people finding themselves homeless.

Australian buy-now-pay-later group Afterpay has accepted a takeover offer from US digital payments giant Square in a deal worth $39 billion.

AstraZeneca is working on a booster shot for its coronavirus vaccine to combat mutations of the deadly disease.

Scott Morrison has warned lockdowns will be crucial until vaccination coverage targets are reached but he is confident of getting to a major milestone this year.

Australia's share market has equalled its best run of monthly gains as investors keep pushing to record levels.

The ABC's entire defence to the Christian Porter defamation case will not be publicly available after a judge agreed 27 pages should be removed from the court file.

Wealth manager AMP is embroiled in another fees for no service controversy, this time with superannuation customers.

Australia's leaders will begin charting a course to fully reopening the nation based on new coronavirus vaccination rate modelling.

Queensland authorities are on alert after a man with COVID-19 flew between Brisbane and Perth last week.

Mining giants' soaring earnings from the iron ore trade have added to investor faith the share market gravy train will not end soon.

Qantas Airways is set to make coronavirus vaccinations mandatory for all international travellers when Australia's borders reopen.

Western Australians affected by Tropical Cyclone Seroja will receive further help under a record $104.5 million disaster recovery package.

Priceline Pharmacy owner Australian Pharmaceutical Industries has rejected a takeover offer from Wesfarmers.

Scott Morrison has urged all Australians to bring forward their second AstraZeneca jab with Sydney facing an explosion of coronavirus infections.

A complete redesign of Australia's energy system is needed to ensure ageing coal-fired power generation can be safely and smoothly replaced by renewables.

A boom in inflation is no reason for investors to flee the Australian share market, which eased from a record level the day earlier.

Rio Tinto will return $US9.1 billion in dividends after recording its most profitable six months on the back of surging iron ore prices.