AAP

Australia has joined the US and other allies in accusing China of masterminding a global hacking campaign using contract criminals.

Australian shares ended lower amid a broader sell-off in Asian markets, as worries over the economic impact of lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne weighed on investor sentiment.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics is set to release its preliminary retail spending for June, which will take into account Victoria's previous lockdown.

Telstra is considering taking over the Pacific operations of a communications service provider in partnership with the Australian government, which would block China from buying the assets.

Australia's troubled vaccine rollout has been given a much-needed boost with the arrival of one million Pfizer doses.

Scott Morrison has urged world leaders to ramp up production of mRNA vaccines such as Pfizer's at a historic APEC meeting to discuss recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eight crew members on board a cargo ship that berthed at Fremantle port this morning have tested positive for COVID-19.

Australia's share market had its best week in the past six while a spate of takeover bids and coronavirus lockdowns will keep investors alert for more.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says supplies are not yet sufficient to bring large numbers of pharmacies into the COVID-19 vaccination program.

Western Australia will reintroduce a hard border to Victoria, effectively blocking residents of the entire east coast from travelling west.

Millions of workers and business owners forced into lockdown have been promised easier access to financial support.

Financial services group AMP will not face criminal prosecution three years after a banking royal commission found it had charged fees to thousands of dead customers.

Senior federal ministers say they are open to the idea of a national vaccine lottery to encourage Australians to get the jab.

Shares have eased to their worst performance of the week as Victorians prepare to join their NSW counterparts in coronavirus lockdown.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced a state-wide lockdown from midnight tonight following confirmation of two new locally-acquired cases of COVID-19.

Telstra chief executive Andrew Penn says asset sales are needed to fund services in rural and regional Australia.

The federal government has come under fire for its COVID-19 disaster relief plan, which will not extend to Western Australians affected by last month's snap lockdown.

Australians with a disability living in group homes may need to wait for aged care residents to be fully vaccinated before receiving their first dose.

Western Australian authorities will consider further ramping up border restrictions for Victoria if more locally acquired coronavirus cases are detected.

The leaders of a takeover offer for Sydney Airport are disappointed it has been rejected, and claim the business has plenty of challenges.

A company behind a controversial mine expansion plan in Tasmanian wilderness has stopped works at the site after legal threats from conservationists.

Australia is tracking a Chinese surveillance ship making its way towards Queensland ahead of a joint military exercise with the United States.

Buy now, pay later providers had a spectacular crash, but the ASX continued to creep towards record levels.

Western Australia's hard border to NSW is set to remain for at least another two months with a coronavirus outbreak in Sydney no closer to being controlled.

Scott Morrison says cautious decisions from medical experts have slowed Australia's coronavirus vaccine rollout but has backed their independence.

A new website has been set up to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's mental health, with information on social and emotional wellbeing, country, spirituality and homelessness.

Lucrative top-tier mining assets have mostly gone in Australia, so workers need to be flexible to help make new investment possible, mining giants have warned.

Investors were staring at gains for just about the whole trading day on the Australian market but have nothing to show for it.

Meal kit delivery provider HelloFresh wants to buy rival Youfoodz for $125 million as merger and acquisition activity continues on the share market.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has downplayed his role in securing faster Pfizer shipments for Australia.

A major union will ask the Fair Work Commission to guarantee fruit pickers earn minimum wage.

Two of the biggest miners on the ASX had whopping gains as investors lapped up China's decision to ease lending rules and ramp up economic activity.